i had surgery to have a programable shunt put in for hydrcephalaus been having trouble with concentration and decision making before surgery just wondering if the surgery is going to help that

Posted by JamieHanson on may 7th, 2011 at 12:00am

People suffering from Schizophrenia are mentally sick which affects their ability to perform their daily activities perfectly in society. Schizophrenia is generally a scary psychic problem that takes the sufferers from the actual world to a world of distressing misconception, hallucination, risk and so on. the symptoms of Schizophrenia can be classified into two types, positive symptoms and negative symptoms. Positive symptoms of Schizophrenia consist of disorder in thinking ability, hallucinations, delusions and immobility that come and go. Negative symptoms of Schizophrenia consist of uncommon conduct for example bare looks, unhappiness, crazy behavior, intense voice, bad eating habits, deficiency of concentration and low performance level. Some of these symptoms may be visible constantly. Listed below are few common symptoms of Schizophrenia.

1. Hallucinations: this is the most typical symptom that the affected individual goes through caused by this mental disorder. the sufferer can feel, touch, hear, smell and see all those things which actually don’t exist. Because the brains receptive nerves get lazy, it responds to wrong sensory feedback and thus the person suffers from these kinds of fictional issues. Further there are 4 types of hallucinations, that are, Auditory hallucination, Olfactory hallucination, Tactile hallucination and Visual hallucination. Person suffering from tactile hallucination believes that a few fictional hands are touching him/her or perhaps a few insects are creeping all over his/her body. While in case of auditory hallucination, the patient can hear and communicate to a non existent personality. He/she can even hear his/her inner voice. Olfactory hallucination influences the person on his/her sense of smell whereas person suffering from visual hallucination can find things that are not existent, for e.g. fictional family members or friends with whom he/she speaks or spends time.2. Imprecise thoughts: Imprecise thoughts do not allow the patient to carry out his daily activities in an orderly manner. Plus, he/she is not able to present himself/herself or speak appropriately. Thus, it not only hinders the patient’s daily tasks but also create a wrong image in the society.3. Sudden moods changes: In such a case, the patient either can feel really pleased or really sad. Thus, this person is unable to maintain a good image in public due to his or her unpredictable behavior.4. Illusions and delusions: the patient follows the illusions which are actually unreal. a person suffering from delusion believes all the delusions whether or not its true or false.for instance, a patient suffering from Schizophrenia is actually poor and not well known and everyone around know this. but the patient believes other way round and acts like one of the celebrities or a well-known character. Or suppose, the sufferer feels that he is spied by some unknown forces around him/her.5. Confusion: Individuals suffering from Schizophrenia are usually perplexed and unconfident. the person feels frightened about some kind of imaginary danger approaching him or her.

So, a person suffering from any such symptoms should be instantly hurried to a medical doctor for quick support. the person suffering from Schizophrenia should be treated immediately since it may lead him to critical conditions.

Know more about schizophrenia symptoms and also know what is bipolar disorder at schizophrenia-symptoms.org

under Disease & Illness

People suffering from mold allergies have an immune system which overreacts when they breathe in mold spores. a mold allergy can cause coughing, itchy eyes, runny nose and other symptoms, just like any other allergy. Mold allergies can be linked to asthma in some people. In these cases, exposure to mold spores make is difficult to breathe. the best defense against a mold allergy is to avoid or reduce your exposure to mold. Medications can help keep the allergy reactions in check, since it’s not always possible to avoid mold.

Mold Allergy Symptoms and Causes

Mold is found everywhere in nature, but only certain types cause allergies. Alternaria, aspergillus, cladosporium and penicillium are some of the more common molds that cause allergies. Mold allergy symptoms differ among individuals, with intensities varying from minor to acute. some people have symptoms year-round while others experience reactions during particular seasons. others notice their symptoms during damp weather, or when in places that have high mold concentration.

The signs and symptoms of mold allergy are typical of other upper respiratory allergies. These symptoms include coughing, post nasal drip, itchy eyes, nose and throat, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing and watery eyes. Individuals with asthma and mold allergy may experience an asthma attack that is triggered by mold exposure. Sometimes the attack can be very severe. Asthma symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath, tight chest and wheezing.

Mold allergy symptoms are caused by the response of an overly sensitive immune system, like any allergy. Your body interprets the airborne mold spores that you inhale as foreign invaders. In response, it develops allergy-causing antibodies. Your body produces antibodies that remember the invader; any repeated contact with those mold spores will cause a repeat of the immune system reaction. the symptoms of runny nose, sneezing and others, is the result of the body releasing histamine.

Mold Irritant Symptoms

Mold allergy symptoms are the most common trouble that results from mold exposure. however, this exposure can cause other illness without resulting in an allergic reaction. Mold can cause irritant and toxic responses, in addition to infections. These infections can be the source of many illnesses, including pneumonia, skin infections and flu-like symptoms. An irritant reaction can have similar symptoms to an allergic reaction. however with an allergy the symptoms usually get increasingly worse with each repeated exposure. An irritant reaction will have the same intensity no matter how many times you are exposed.

Toxic Mold Symptoms

Some molds produce mycotoxins. Your body can suffer a toxic reaction if you eat, drink or inhale any of these mycotoxins. Symptoms of a toxic reaction are similar to those of an irritant reaction; eye and skin irritation, difficulty breathing and flu-like symptoms. other reported symptoms include dizziness, extreme fatigue, headaches, lack of concentration and nervousness.

Risk Factors and Complications

A number of factors can increase the likelihood of homeowners developing a mold allergy. These include a family history of asthma and allergies, a house with high humidity levels above 60 percent or a house that is poorly ventilated. those with an already weakened immune system are also at greater risk of developing a mold infection. usually an allergic reaction to mold isn’t serious, though hay fever-type symptoms can be uncomfortable. but sometimes the reaction caused by mold can be dangerous. These include asthma, sinus infection, and lung infection or inflammation.

If you have concerns see your doctor. Do not attempt to self-diagnose your symptoms. even doctors don’t try to diagnose their own problems. Realize that allergic reactions, irritant reactions and toxic exposure can share similar symptoms. If you believe you are suffering from mold allergy symptoms or any other medical condition, seek qualified medical advice.

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Adrenals fatigue is basically a very common syndrome experienced by many but also one of those ailments that are most often disregarded. It is most of the times similar to just the average stress and exhaustion that an individual feels after a hard day’s work, but its duration is lengthened drastically lasting to a number of days, weeks, months or even years!

You might think that adrenals fatigue is only a mild situation, but if not properly treated it might lead to a more severe form of stress that could also end up in major depression and all those negative results that come with it.

Adrenals fatigue may come in different forms depending on the person’s stress tolerance level. Some may easily be stressed while others are very much adapted to stress or they may have utilized very good coping mechanisms. It is true that a little stress in our daily lives actually help us grow and enhances our skills but exposing ourselves to too much stress can also have a lot of disadvantages.

Common symptoms that were reported by several people having the syndrome are: easy fatigability, decreased level of concentration, weight gain especially on the midsection, decreased libido, depression, mood swings, and general disinterest to name a few. There are still a lot more symptoms of adrenals fatigue since as I have mentioned earlier that it usually present differently in various individuals.

You may at first experience difficulty in getting out of bed although you’ve had at least eight hours of sleep – that’s adrenals fatigue presenting to you in a form of extreme feelings of exhaustion despite rest. I am not saying that you should just skip your usual naps and not sleep because it does not resolve adrenals fatigue, in fact, you should rest in order to recharge your body. What you can do to revive your lost energy is actually to start gradual changes in your lifestyle such as diet and exercise.

Start with your caffeine intake. You should lessen your daily caffeine intake because not that it only keeps you awake at night, but it also constricts your blood vessels that would lead to palpitations and worst is hypertension. instead of coffee, just take water, fruit juices and teas. Moderate exercise will actually do wonders in your energy. Complemented with supplements found in the diet and pharmaceutically prepared multivitamins, you should be up and running in no time!

I think it depends on the person, but when it happened to me, I was very quiet, in my own world a lot of the time, I had no inclination to do anything, I didn't want to be left on my own, I was very tearful, and lethargic, had to practically be dragged out of bed, and made to eat too, to be frank I just didn't care about anything.
If you think someone close to you is having a breakdown, then I suggest they get to their Doctors asap, and all you can really do is be as supportive as you can towards them. my parents got me a kitten, and she was a godsend, she always gave me hugs and fuss when I felt at my worst, and she helped me a great deal.

Believe me if it happens, you'll know it.

Lack of concentration, suicidal thoughts, constant crying and a total change of usual character. it is not nice when this happens to someone. A friend of mine suffered and took her own life. So if you do think this is happening het help or offer help asap.

If some-one you know is acting out of the ordinary and keeps getting worse then may-be. they could just be really stressed. if your worried maybe get intouch with family? A nervous B D can gradually build up till the person can't tell what's "real" or not..

What are the symptoms when someone has cancer and it goes to their brain?

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mainly confusion but also lack of concentration, ramblings that make no sense or repeating the same thing over and over. can look quite vacant and eyes are sort of glazed over.

All of the above answers are good. it would depend what part of the brain the tumors are pressing on. it could also cause violent behavior and loss of motor control like a stroke etc.

in my experience it was slurred speech or a slightly 'drunk' countenance.

The uncle of my mother just died of longcancer that went to the brain, and he was functionalizing perfectly normal until the end of his life, but I'm not sure if that's allways the case

Headaches, vomiting, dizziness, blurred or double vision, falling, confusion.

Unlike in the past, the word autistic today resonates among parents and the public. However, many people still do not understand the condition.

Many think autistic kids are retarded. But in fact they are pretty much like normal kids, it’s just that they simply have some behavioural problems.

Their language skills develop more slowly and they don’t know how to interact with others in an acceptable way.

However, if their behaviour is adjusted at an early stage, they can lead a relatively full life.

Because of their emotional aggression, short concentration span, taciturn character and communication barriers, autistic children are often rejected by society.

Many of them are deprived of their educational right even though the 1997 constitution states clearly that “people have equal right to access free and fundamental education provided by the government for at least 12 years”.

Fully realising the value of education, Ladda*, Nong Ball*’s mother, has never tired of seeking educational opportunities for her child, despite constant rejection from schools that claimed they didn’t have the staff to take care of autistic students.

“I tried to enroll my son in many schools but they all turned us down,” said Ladda.

PHOTOS: SOMKID CHAIJITVANIT

“One school allowed Nong Ball to study with other kids but when I asked the school whether it would accept him, the principal told me that she hadn’t made a decision yet.

“This meant Nong Ball wasted three months at that school.”

Over the years, Nong Ball went from one school to another. At one school, a terrible incident occurred when they wouldn’t allow him to join in art classes.

The teacher said that Nong Ball was aggressive and bullied other pupils and had to be taken care of by an assistant teacher. so the assistant tied Nong Ball’s leg to a pillar in the classroom.

“I didn’t know about it but one parent who saw the incident couldn’t stand seeing it so she told me,” said Ladda.

“That day Nong Ball quit the school. I asked the teacher if she had tied my son to a pillar and she admitted it, claiming she couldn’t take care of him because he was too aggressive.”

Then, when she felt there was nowhere to turn, someone suggested Somthavil School to Ladda.

“When I took Nong Ball there, the school accepted him immediately,” beamed Ladda.

Somthavil School is a refuge for parents with autistic kids and other special needs children. it is the first institution in Thailand that runs a home school system, which provides appropriate education to each autistic child until they finish secondary school.

The school aims to allow autistic children to fully develop and arm themselves with knowledge and morality so they can live a normal life and contribute to society.

Home School of Somthavil School is the brainchild of owner Somthavil Sangkasaba and Ajarn Yingthanom Thiemmedh, who well realised the problems parents with autistic children go through.

The two veteran teachers know these kids are always rejected by many schools or they may be bullied by normal students who don’t understand autism.

Also, normally-trained teachers are unable to fully develop autistic students.

According to Somthavil director Oratai Piyaphichetkul, their home school is different from others because the school, not the home, is the centre of teaching and learning.

“Our first experience with an autistic child was in 1982,” said Oratai.

“He was sent to our school via Dr Phenkhae Limsila, a specialist in autism, with a document identifying him as an autistic child. We accepted him though at the time we had no idea about the condition. We sent him to learn with normal kids. Apparently, he could socialise with others. He enjoyed talking with his friends and looked happy at school.”

‘‘Special students’’ participate in cooking and music classes to develop skills.

The school took more autistic students until it decided to send their teachers to be specially trained to handle these special kids.

“So far, out of 500 students, we have 100 autistic students but we call them ‘special kids’,” explained Oratai.

The school coordinates with Dr Phenkhae when it comes to the selection of autistic students.

They will then be sent to Ban Kru Or to adjust their behaviour and enhance skills such as their communication. after that they are sent to Somthavil School to join classes with normal kids under the “Good Buddy” scheme.

“Our normal kids are well acquainted with special students so they will not ridicule them,” said Oratai.

“The atmosphere in our school is filled with compassion and generosity. Initially autistic kids will come to school two days a week and after they adjust to the new environment they attend normal weekly classes.”

Initially, the school does not focus on academic matters but pays more attention to the behavioural adjustment.

Then follows the process of meditation practice. Academic emphasis comes last. Eventually, autistic students will be sent back to Dr Phenkhae for further assessment.

Nong Nee*’s father also found it difficult to find the right school for his daughter, especially as she grew older.

“Nong Nee is our first-born. When she was one month old, she was diagnosed as having Downs syndrome,” said Somchai*, adding, “I felt like my whole world had collapsed. When I came to my senses, I asked the doctor about Nong Nee’s development. He said she would learn how to wai when she was 10.”

But Somchai never gave up. He took Nong Nee to regular physical therapy sessions until her development was at the Slow Learner Level. Aged 10, she could do more than a simple wai.

“After that she joined classes with normal kids and we found that she became the forgotten child at the back of the class,” said Somchai.

“Finally, I sent her to study at Somthavil School and her development has been much better. I want my daughter to glean life’s experiences. But it would be great if she can improve her academic skills. I don’t want to hinder her. But I admit that her competence is limited, so her life skills are more important to her in the future.”

Currently, there is still no conclusion about the real cause of autism. But it is widely believed there are many factors including genetics, vaccines and the environment.

Usually, all abnormalities happen when the child is still in the womb. Some show symptoms when they are still young. Others show signs of autism when they grow older.

The treatment of autism needs help from many specialists including psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, speech therapists, occupational therapists and special education teachers.

The treatment of autistic kids has no fixed rule. But no matter which method we choose, we should start from our love since familial love is the powerful treatment. Parents should be patient and show understanding when it comes to the development of their kids since some autistic children are also geniuses.

Nong Por’s* mother Pornsri* is among many parents who uses the power of love to help him develop normally.

“Ours is an academic family so we embrace the concept of home school,” said Pornsri.

“We wrote a curriculum of our own after realising that Nong Por was a slow learner. We hired a teacher to teach him at home. However, Nong Por still went to school as usual.”

Once he was a lively and confident child but soon he became taciturn and withdrawn. Nong Por couldn’t express his inner feelings with friends as he once did, and it was then Pornsri realised she had to find him a new school.

She approached Dr Phenkhae for advice and he encouraged her to let him socialise with other children instead of learning at home because by nature, humans are gregarious.

Dr Phenkhae suggested Pornsri visit Somthavil School and when she did, she immediately knew it was a dream school for her son.

“To me, Somthavil is more than a school. it is a small community of autistic kids. it is a holistic learning centre. Our purpose is not aimed at academic achievement. But we want our child to stand on his own feet,” Pornsri stressed.

Names have been changed.

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With age comes wisdom. and for many women, age also brings hot flashes, vaginal dryness and moodiness. This is menopause, the time in a woman’s life when her menstrual periods stop. That’s something many women would look forward to if the change were swift and uneventful. Alas, that is not usually the case.

During perimenopause (the time leading up to menopause) and menopause, women may experience hot flashes, moodiness, sleep disturbances, declining sexual desire and weight change. Declining levels of estrogen, along with other hormonal changes, are usually responsible for the discomfort women suffer.

Some women barely feel a thing and get through the “change of life” with few complaints. others live with symptoms so severe that the impact on quality of life is enormous. Symptoms attributed to declining estrogen levels include:

• Vasomotor problems, including hot flashes

• Somatic issues, such as muscle and joint pain, headache, dizziness, tingling and urinary frequency

• Psychological changes, including problems with sleep and concentration, depression and mood swings

• Sexual problems, such as low libido and vaginal dryness

The HRT scare

The easiest way to alleviate symptoms is to replace waning levels of estrogen with drugs. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may be an easy solution but it’s not without controversy. since the 2002 release of data from the long-term health study, Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), which suggested an increase in cancer, heart disease and other health problems related to HRT, more and more women are reluctant to rely on HRT.

Yet, some of the results of the WHI have been called into question. In a 2009 article in the Bulletin of the New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases, the authors report design flaws in the WHI study, including study subjects that were older and sicker than normally would be treated for menopausal symptoms. Flawed study notwithstanding, many women still prefer to use “natural” means of dealing with their symptoms. Alternatives to HRT do exist, although they are not necessarily safer or produce the same level of relief.

The hype and hope of soy

Soyfoods like tofu and edamame contain beneficial phytoestrogens (plant estrogenlike substances) called isoflavones that appear to reduce the risk of certain kinds of cancer and heart disease, as well as ameliorate hot flashes. The research results have been strong in some studies, but uncertain in others.

Mark Messina, Ph. D., M. S., a soy expert and nutrition professor at Loma Linda University in California, reports, “In an analysis that includes 17 studies, we found that in about 80 percent of the studies that evaluated the efficacy of isoflavones there was a statistically significant improvement in hot flashes; severity and frequency was reduced by about 50 percent. My view, therefore, is that isoflavones represent an alternative to estrogen for the treatment of hot flashes.”

On the other hand, a 2004 meta analysis published in Obstetrics and Gynecology found that the evidence from studies done between 1966 and 2004 to assess the efficacy of phytoestrogens for the treatment of menopause suggests that those found in soy foods and extracts do not improve hot flashes or other menopausal symptoms.

Why are the findings inconsistent?

“Individuals differ dramatically in their metabolism of isoflavones,” explains Messina. Belinda Jenks, Ph. D., R. D., director of scientific affairs and nutrition education at Pharmavite, studies equol, a metabolite of a soy isoflavone. she adds, “Approximately 50 percent of Asians and 20 to 30 percent of North Americans and Europeans have the ability to produce equol in their gut. Studies in Japan have documented an association between milder menopausal symptoms in equol producers compared to nonequol producers.”

Although the evidence for soy seems inconclusive, there is enough to suggest some women may benefit from eating it. Messina suggests that 50 milligrams — the amount in two servings (about 3-4 ounces each) of soyfoods such as tofu or soyburgers — are needed daily to alleviate hot flashes in most women.

Remember that whole soyfoods, such as soybeans and tofu, are healthful and offer benefits beyond reducing menopausal discomforts— they are high in fiber and protein, and isoflavones also appear to protect against cancer and heart disease.

Questionable botanicals

There are many plant-based foods that contain components that may have a favorable effect on menopausal complaints. Positive reports for botanicals are often anecdotal— women reporting that a particular remedy was helpful. Scientific research for most botanicals, on the other hand, has not supported their effectiveness.

Be aware also that just because something is “natural,” that doesn’t mean it’s safe. Some plant-based treatments can damage organs or interfere with traditional prescription medications, and few have gone through extensive safety testing.

The botanical with the strongest research is black cohosh, an herb in the buttercup family. In a 1996 to 2002 review of complementary and alternative therapies for menopausal symptoms published in Annals of Internal Medicine in 2002, researchers concluded that black cohosh showed promise for the treatment of menopausal symptoms, though the research was not conclusive at that time.

According to a current report from the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements, the evidence on black cohosh’s efficacy is encouraging and it’s probably safe for short-term use, but the science is not yet sufficient to warrant recommending it. Because dietary supplements are regulated as foods and not drugs, composition may vary from product to product, which may explain why black cohosh works for some women and not for others.

Dong quai, a traditional Chinese medicine, has not been shown to reduce symptoms associated with menopause, nor has evening primrose oil, vitamin E or chasteberry. yet their effectiveness continues to be touted in articles and advertisements.

Maca, a derivative of a plant found in the Andes, has shown promising results in preliminary trials, but scientists reported in International Journal of Biomedical Science in 2005 that, although there was a decrease in symptoms among subjects taking maca, a significant placebo effect occurred, casting doubt on the strength of the results.

Why is there no consensus? there are many theories about why research on natural treatments to beat menopausal symptoms has been so equivocal. Some doctors believe that it is difficult to differentiate among symptoms of menopause and those resulting from normal aging. others point to the “placebo effect,” as some studies show an improvement in symptoms in the placebo group almost equal to the treatment group.

According to an article published in 2001 in Social Science and Medicine, when controlling for age, education, health and economic status, Caucasian women reported significantly more psychosomatic (associated with the body and the mind) symptoms than other racial groups, whereas African-American women reported more vasomotor symptoms like hot flashes.

The authors believe that this pattern of results argues against a universal menopausal syndrome.

Before you try HRT or alternative treatments:

• Exercise daily to keep bones and heart strong.

• try yoga or meditation for relaxation.

• Avoid caffeine and alcohol before bedtime, especially of you have trouble sleeping.

• Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day.

• be sure to get enough calcium, Vitamin D and protein.

• If you smoke, stop.

• try vaginal lubricants.

• Practice Kegel exercises (contracting and relaxing pelvic muscles).

• Use a fan at night to keep cool.

• Consult your health care provider about depression, sleeplessness and mood swings.