Depression and Anxiety

Depression takes many different forms. Even though many Americans suffer from depression, they don’t know it or if they do, they won’t admit it even to themselves.

Depression afflicts about 14 million Americans. |It is also estimated that less than a third of those affected will ever seek treatment|Fewer than 4.7 million of those, about 1/3, will seek checkup help|Unfortunately only a very small percent, less than 1/3, will go for treatment. What are the reasons? Perhaps it is because clinical depression is classified as a mental illness. That label is one people tend to avoid.

It wasn’t that long ago that society shunned those unfortunate enough to be categorized with mental illness. When depression became apparent in people they were often sent away to clinics for the mentally ill. Times have changed now, thank goodness. But what hasn’t changed are old stereotypes. This motivates many people to hide their condition from others or even from themselves.

Many factors contribute to depression. Diagnosis isn’t simple. Many things have to be considered such as genetics, biology and even outside influences. Depression can stem from drug or alcohol abuse, or even from simple everyday stress. These elements and more can lead to depression.

In what ways can those who suffer from depression be treated? There are many options for treatment and even cure, just as there are many causes for depression.

These options are generally considered after evaluating the individual afflicted with depression

Many claim they have a cure for depression. A cure for depression is realistic when safe and effective treatments are considered.

Has the method being considered been clinically proven to be effective in the treatment of depression?

Does it have an appropriate dose to be effective if a drug or herb? Have high quality control standards been used when accepting the method? Let’s examine some of the more popular cures.

For years the typical treatment for many forms of depression has been prescription drugs and psychotherapy. SSRI, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, are prescribed to treat depression.

One of the most popular, Prozac, was first used in the United States in 1988. Drugs like Paxil, Zoloft, Lexapro, Celexa, and Luvox as well as others are also used. Case history shows all of these to be effective. However, prescription drugs are expensive and offer many side effects.

Becoming more common are natural treatments. St Johns Wort extract is one herbal cure gaining popularity quickly. It must have between three and five percent hyperforin to work.

It has been proven to work as well as Prozac with fewer side effects. If those who have the disease don’t seek treatment, a cure does no good.

Seek medical care at once if you or a loved one suffer from depression.

Stop Smoking - Relationship Between Cancer and Smoking

Heavy, long-term cigarette smoking is often said to cause cancer, most prominently lung cancer and cancer of the larynx. And, the evidence is very strong, amounting to near certainty. But, interestingly enough, exactly how it does so is not fully known. It remains an active area of research.

Normal cells that experience damage are able to repair themselves on their own. Sometimes cells are completely removed and then are replaced by the body’s lymph system. This process can start to go wrong, however.

Cells can grow abnormally, taking on inappropriate shapes and performing incorrectly. When they do, and that growth reaches a certain level that the body can’t cope with, the result is cancer.

It is known that cigarette smoke contains many carcinogenic substances.

Tar, for example, is present in cigarette smoke chiefly from the burning paper that holds the tobacco, about 10-14 mg per cigarette. It gradually builds up in the alveoli, the small sacs in the lung that make possible absorption of oxygen into the blood stream. It’s believed that their presence is a continual irritant to the cells. That irritation eventually leads to uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells.

Nitrosamines are another compound and are also present in cigarettes. Hundreds of different studies administered with small mammals have proven that these compounds are also carcinogenic. Nitrosamines such as NNK, NNN, and NAT are all present in cigarette smoke in extremely small amounts, about 56.53 nanograms.

One nanogram is equal to one billionth of one gram. Even though that seems like an extremely insignificant amount of something, even these small amounts can cause problems. Like dogs noses that can detect scents from just a few molecules, some parts of the human body are extremely sensitive. Remember too that these small amounts add up over time and eventually can become serious.

Medical research has found no relation between smoking one or two cigarettes on a daily basis and the development of cancer. It is also true that very few smokers smoke so few cigarettes every day. The truth is that a twenty year smoker who takes in a pack of cigarettes every day has a two to four times higher risk of developing larynx or lung cancer than someone who does not smoke.

Panic Attack or Anxiety Attack?

Although panic attacks and anxiety can be related to each other, they can also be completely separate entities with their own set of symptoms. Either of these conditions can become problematic if the symptoms escalate beyond the normal range. It is at this point, that treatment will need to be sought.

Anxiety is a reaction to stress, and this is considered to be normal. It is something that can help someone deal with tense situations in different areas of one’s life, such as at work, school, or just something that requires facing a crowd of people. If anxiety starts to become an excessive and irrational dread of facing everyday situations, it has crossed into the area of a disabling disorder.

Panic attacks and anxiety differ in the fact that, while anxiety usually builds to a point, panic attacks can hit at any time with no warning. Unlike anxiety, a panic attack is an irrational fear of something that can’t be named. There is rarely any obvious reason for the feelings of panic, and is much more intense than the feelings of anxiety or being overly stressed.

One out of every 75 people in the world will have a panic attack at some point in their lives. The good news is that most of these adults will never have another panic attack. However, these statistics show that panic attacks and anxiety are the most common emotional disorders, even more so than bipolar disorders, ADHD, depression, OCD schizophrenia, phobias, and alcohol abuse. In addition to this, people suffering from panic and anxiety disorders rarely go looking for help with their problem.

There are some similarities between the two disorders as well as the fact that anxiety can lead to panic attacks. If you experience enough anxiety about something, it can easily become serious and intense enough to work into a full blown panic attack. This is why if you notice yourself starting to be overly anxious about something, or just life in general, it is time to seek help in getting it under control before it becomes too much for you to handle.

Panic attacks and anxiety are not pleasant and can actually become quite debilitating. But people who suffer from anxiety or panic attacks can take some comfort in knowing there is help around to lead a regular life. All it takes is asking for the help you need.

Smoking Helps you Relax?

In my job, I’ve helped a lot of people quit smoking. And I’ve heard a lot of reasons why smoking is a good thing.

Smoking helps you think, relaxes you, de-stresses you, keeps you from getting upset at your family, tastes good with coffee, tastes really good after a meal. Basically, makes things “better” and makes you feel “better”.

I know you don’t completely believe these reasons, or why know you should quit smoking. I also know a part of you DOES believe these things, and more.

The obvious and overlooked part is you must have a strong reason to continue smoking or you would have already stopped. By the way, there is no law that says your reason to keep smoking has to make any logical sense. It rarely does.

You’ve probably already proven your reasons untrue. Smoking might taste better with coffee because the coffee taste on your tongue covers the bad taste of smoking???

Even when you know the reason doesn’t make sense, that knowledge doesn’t always help you stop. It might just add to your frustration in the struggle to stop. Just one more reason to stop that doesn’t out-weigh the craving to continue.

There are two important sides to this. The feeling that smoking will make you feel better and, the feeling you want to feel better than. That’s what needs to be changed.

If you’re hungry you feel like eating. If you’re tired, you feel like sleeping. If you feel bad (stressed, over-burdened, upset, alone, whatever…) you want to feel good. And, whatever your mind has learned feels good, you feel like doing.

This feeling to do something is what you probably call a craving. Many smokers have more than one type of craving going on. The ‘after you wake up’ craving might feel different than the ‘after a meal’ craving. The same principles apply.

SO, how do you change these things? I can write on and on about this (and I have on my web site) It will come down to changing the feelings, motivations and beliefs involved.

First, the ‘bad feeling’ side of things needs to be addressed. If it’s too much stress, get it managed, if it’s a situation that makes you lonely, do what you can to fix it, or look for help.

Second, the ‘looking to feel better’ side of things needs to be updated. (it’s common that this is about mistaken beliefs, formed when young, that smoking is about being an adult, in control, strong willed, independent, etc…) Of course, a cigarette is only leaf and chemicals wrapped in paper. The good feeling is the emotions your mind has attached to this action. It could just as easily be ice cream or cookies that your mind has attached good feelings with.

And that’s the bottom line. The bulk of the quit smoking issue is about behavior modification - changing the way you feel. That’s why the success rate of most prescription medication and nicotine replacement (like the patch and nicotine gum) alone is so low. The only current exception is Chantix and even Pfizer, the makers of Chantix, recommend behavior modification go along with the medication.

Anxiety and Panic Attacks

Anxiety and panic attacks are related but have their own unique symptoms. Both conditions cause problems if the symptoms become extreme. If they do, then that’s the time to find treatment.

Anxiety is a reaction to stress, and this is considered to be normal. It is something that can help someone deal with tense situations in different areas of one’s life, such as at work, school, or just something that requires facing a crowd of people. If anxiety starts to become an excessive and irrational dread of facing everyday situations, it has crossed into the area of a disabling disorder.

Panic attacks and anxiety differ in the fact that, while anxiety usually builds to a point, panic attacks can hit at any time with no warning. A panic attack is a sudden feeling of overwhelming fear of something that cannot be named. There is rarely any obvious reason for the feelings of panic, and is much more intense than the feelings of anxiety or being overly stressed.

One out of every 75 people in the world will have a panic attack at some point in their lives. The good news is that most of these adults will never have another panic attack. However, these statistics show that panic attacks and anxiety are the most common emotional disorders, even more so than bipolar disorders, ADHD, depression, OCD schizophrenia, phobias, and alcohol abuse. In addition to this, people suffering from panic and anxiety disorders rarely go looking for help with their problem.

Of course, there are similarities between panic attacks and anxiety attacks, and anxiety attacks can lead to panic attacks. Suffer from enough anxiety and it can escalate into a panic attack. So if you begin to find yourself becoming overly anxious, it’s time to get help in bringing it under control before it gets too much to cope with.

Anxiety and panic attacks are unpleasant and can be devastating. But people who suffer from anxiety or panic attacks can take some comfort in knowing there is help around to lead a regular life. They simply need to ask.

Burning Belly Fat, You Will Need More Than Ab Machines to Make It

Getting great abs is the goal of the majority of people who start a workout or dieting program. After all, that’s why we see in celebrities, movie stars, athletes and models and that’s what we strive to be like. But let me guess, it seems that no matter how much you try, and how much time you spend in the gym lifting weights, you can’t seem to get a 6 pack or cut abs. Am I right? That’s because the majority of people aren’t attacking their goal in the right way. Simply using an ab machine won’t result in you having great abs!

Why ab machines won’t give me great abs? Your abdominal muscles and stimulating them to grow in size and strength when you’re using an abs machine, you are targeting. Wonderful, and it is needed for abs and belly fat lose that you want. But this is only one part of the whole plan to get you amazing results.

No matter how much muscle you build, if you have an excess amount of fat on your belly and around your midsection, you won’t be able to see those abs you’ve been spending hours on with machines! They will be hidden by unsightly extra weight, and even if they are firm and solid underneath, they will never outwardly appear as a great six pack.

This assumes the abs machines are real quality products. Where they purport that their product will target your abs in the best way possible that there are so many scams out there and infomercials. At the very least ensure that the ab machine you are using is legitimate.

So now what do I do to lose that belly fat and reveal my great abs? What you need to do now is follow a well planned nutritional program that gets the right kind and the right amounts of food into your body. Your body is like a machine, and it needs the right kinds of fuels to get it working properly. Stop stuffing yourself with the discount items, the junk food that has an insane amount of fat and sugar.

Stick to a well balanced diet that contains lots of fruits and vegetables. Your body also needs plenty of protein to build muscle as well. Keep a close watch on your daily caloric intake to make sure you are burning more than you are eating. It’s a simple formula really: if you burn more than you eat, you’ll lost fat and end up with great abs! Seeing results on the ab machine means you have to eat less calories than you are burning otherwise you will never see results.

Eating well doesn’t need to be difficult and it should not be considered a “diet”. The key is not having to eliminate your favorite foods but rather limiting their amount and the time at which you eat it.

The secret to losing abdominal fat and having strong abdominal muscles lies in not only exercising your abdominal muscles but also a sound diet plan.

4 Tips on Managing ADHD

Despite what people think, ADD (an acronym for Attention Deficit Disorder) is not a catch all phrase for a bunch of common behaviors nor it is a pseudo ailment. The reality is, scientist have been able to link ADD with certain malfunctioning neurological responses that are lacking in individuals who do not have this disorder.

Also called attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) this condition affects a small population of children (roughly 8-10 percent) and a number of adults who may have missed being diagnosed when they were young.

Top symptoms of ADD/ADHD that can be found in both child and adult sufferers and often include: - Trouble focusing - Hyperactivity and inability to sit still - Impaired social interaction - Irresponsible behaviors - Moody and insulting - Extremely forgetfulness There is a segment of society that believes that ADD/ADHD symptoms can be easily controlled through will power. What they don’t realize PET and CAT scans have uncovered circuitry abnormalities and lower metabolic activity in the part of the brain that controls our emotions and basic responses. The neurotransmitter dopamine is also severely lacking in the ADD brain.

Despite this knowledge, many parents refrain from seeking a diagnosis for their child and mature men and women feel ashamed and closet their impairment. This only serves to exacerbate the problem and clinical depression may even result.

Today, individuals with ADD need not suffer in silence.

Children and adults with ADD/ADHD can seek out the assistance of an experienced ADD doctor for analysis. The doctor will perform a series of diagnostic tests that will allow them to make an informed prognosis in regards to the condition and help them regulate it.

Once you are officially diagnosed with the disorder, there is a lot you can do about it.

1. Medication - slowed down and impaired neurons actually benefit from stimulants because they help to make the neurons fire correctly. Psychostimulants like Ritalin for children and amphetamines for adults are commonly prescribed to combat the many problems associated with ADD/ADHD. 2. Self management - this aspect may be a tab bit easier fro adults, but parents can help a child in this arena. Doing small things like making a to-do list, getting an organizer or planner, or planning to arrive someplace early as opposed to on-time may help you mitigate some of the more aggravating aspects of the disorder. 3. Talk with ADHD doctor - your doctor will be a veritable fountain of tips that can help you place you on the road to controlling your ADD symptoms. Be sure to ask lots of questions and take the acquired info to the internet for further study. Knowledge is power. 4. ADHD support Groups and behavioral therapy - At an ADHD support meeting you may learn valuable insights from people who know what it is like to deal with such a complex neurological problem. For instance, you could acquire from a host of dietary aids or holistic remedies that can help you get lower some of the more off putting aspects of your ADD behaviors. Behavioral therapy will also help as it can provide one-on-one counseling. A qualified therapist who understands ADD/ADHD psychology can retrain your thought processes so you recognize your ADD symptoms and learn how to control them by treating attention problems.

Combating ADD will take a multi-pronged approach, but with due diligence and proper education you should be able to gain control of your disorder and feel more in control of your own destiny. If you suspect you have ADD/ADHD contact a reputable doctor in your neck of the woods to get evaluated so you can be well on your well to greater health and a even better life.

Two Fast Ways To Eliminate Thigh Fat

I’m sure you want to lose that uncomfortable, depressing flab on your thigh, right? It is definitely possible, but if you think that you can lose thigh fat fast by using weight loss pills or miracle diet supplements, well you’re wrong! And if you’ve been told that there is some special workout to do in order to specifically target thigh fat, whoever told you that was wrong as well.

As a matter of fact, whether you want to lose thigh fat, belly fat, arm fat, or any other fat, there is no way for you to spot reduce certain areas of your body. You have to lose fat in all areas of your body. You can’t pick and choose where you want to burn fat; your body will decide where to start for you!

Therefore, it only makes sense to do things that would help you burn fat from all parts of your body. Basically, you want to follow a healthy diet and do resistance training and cardio workouts! This is the only way to lose thigh fat, as well as all other body fat!

1. The diet: The diet you choose to follow for the purpose of weight loss is very crucial. If you choose low-calorie or low-fat diets, they won’t help you burn fat because these diets don’t boost your metabolic rate!

Besides the fact that these diets aren’t very enjoyable, they can actually slow down your metabolism! This happens because your body does not get enough nutrients with a low-calorie or low-fat diet. So your body believes that it is going into starvation mode because of the lack of essential nutrients. It immediately stops the fat burning process by slowing down your metabolism, and stores fat so that it can survive in case of starvation. Having a balanced diet with certain portions from each of the food groups is the key to weight loss.

With such diets, you will lose a few pounds initially for sure, but as soon as you quit them and return to your normal eating habits, you gain back all the weight you had lost!

So what types of diets should you choose? You should choose a diet that includes eating fruits and vegetables for sure. Natural fruits and vegetables are not only great for increasing your metabolism; they are also extremely effective at suppressing your hunger!

But choosing a healthy diet for every day of the week isn’t always enough; you should also choose a diet which allows you to cheat at least once a week. On this cheating day, you are free to eat whatever you want. Now don’t think that taking a short break from your diet will make you gain weight; far from it, it will actually help you lose fat by increasing your metabolism by confusing it!

Another advantage of cheat days is that they will help to improve your dedication to your diet plan for the rest of the week by reducing, if not eliminating, cravings for unhealthy foods.

2. Exercises: Diet plans play a big role in weight loss, but they are not they only solution. Many people incorporate exercises into their routine, which can dramatically increase weight loss! Strength training and cardio exercises are the best ways speed up weight loss. Strength training has a double advantage, you will not only burn fat fast, but you will tone up your body by increasing lean muscle!

Lean muscle is really important to overall health. It makes your body stronger and also helps you burn fat, even while you’re resting. As a matter of fact, you can easily burn around fifty more calories per day for every pound of muscle! This is because muscles need more calories in order to sustain themselves.

Follow these two important tips and you’ll be amazed at how fast you get rid of your thigh fat!

Consumer Guide to Choosing Best Cellulite Cream

Cellulites are the lumps and bulges in the skin formed due to the excessive deposits of fat molecules in to the hypodermal cells of the skin. It distorts the look of the skin and makes it appear dimpled and uneven. This starts when fat stored in cells pushes the connective tissue upward and changes the surface of the skin. The worst part of the story is that still many women considering it as the external body weight gain tries to cure it with the help of strict dietary and exercising schedule.

Cellulite creams do help to a greater extent in curing and removing the bulges caused by cellulite stored in the hypodermis of the skin. The cellulite distorts the body shape and can make you feel uncomfortable within your own body.

Regular workouts and drinking plenty of water really help in keeping the body fit but it cannot flush the cellulite formation from the skin epidermis. This helps in preventing excess of fats from storing into the body cells and instead utilizes the stored calories into the release of energy. But exercises alone won’t be able to help you get rid of cellulite since this is bulges of fat under the skin.

It’s very easy to apply cellulite cream and lotion on body parts like thighs, buttocks and belly where cellulite usually appears by massaging it slowly in a circular motion. Cellulite cream has a good amount of oxygen content which when applied penetrates into the denser and deeper skin zones where cellulite gets embedded. Oxygen is one of the most essential elements for detox and prevents bacteria, viruses, and fungus and is anti-inflammatory.

Most women want to look attractive and feel good about their appearance. Cellulite not only changes the physical appearance but can also distort mood and personality. Lumps of skin accumulate under belly, thighs, and abdomen distorts the body structure and makes you feel uncomfortable with your own body.

Lots of low quality products are available on the market claiming to be the best cellulite removal lotions and cream. So, it would be better if you compared the top rated creams by a review panel. The body shape cellulite cream review shares exact knowledge to make the best choice for the cellulite treatment that best fits you.

Cellulite is usually treated by cream or body shape cellulite solution. Apply cream by massaging it gently on affected areas and this will help in stimulating the blood circulation, soften the fats stored, and suppress the bulges and lumps. The most cellulite prone zones of body are lower abdomen, buttocks, thighs and calves. Massage these parts with right proportion of cellulite cream to get back healthy look and the right shape for your body.

There is a great market of cellulite treatments so make sure that you buy the original one and do not get scammed into buying a knock-off cream with sub par ingredients. Do not give into the marketing gimmicks or the wide array of cellulite cream and lotions brands available in the market. Conduct a search and find out the best cream for cellulite reviews from a reputable cellulite cream review panel.

Top Medications for the Treatment of Acid Reflux

The doctor may prescribe a number of medications, after taking into account your age, preexisting diseases, possible side effects, and life stages.

Each medication is designed slightly differently. Some will help abdominal muscles to work better. Others assist in clearing the stomach and reducing acid production. Even though the majority of medications can be purchased at any local drug store, consulting with your doctor before taking medicine is always a better choice.

The grand majority of acid reflux sufferers take antacids. Antacids neutralize stomach acid and are most effective if used in the bicarbonate or hydroxide form. Antacids contain calcium, aluminum, or magnesium salts. Although they are purchasable over the counter, side effects can include diarrhea resulting from magnesium and constipation from aluminum. Since individuals with diabetes can experience potentially deadly results from diarrhea induced by magnesium salts, medicating acid reflux with antacids should be a decision that is not taken with first understanding the potential risks based on your particular health situation.

Another treatment option, foaming agents like Gaviscon create foam in the abdomen that covers over excessive stomach acids, preventing them from reentering the esophagus and damaging the esophageal sphincter.

Medications we hear of, frequently, like Pepcid, Zantac etc, come under the category H2 blockers. These drugs actually decrease acid production. Cimetidine ,Pepcid, nizatidine, and Zantac come in this category. and fifty percent of Acid Reflux sufferers find relief from these medications. It is , however, advisable at all times to fix the dosage in consultation with your doctor, and avoid trial and error methods.

Proton pump inhibitors are still another type of drug. They reduce the amount of gastric acid you produce on a more long term basis. Drugs falling into this very potent category are Prilosec, Prevacid, Protonix, Nexium, Zegerid, and Acipex. Differing from other acid reflux medications, these drugs are available by prescription.

Prokinetics help strengthen the Lower Esophageal Sphincter and make the stomach empty faster. They are not very popular due to the side effects often observed such as depression, anxiety, and fatigue. Sleepiness, co-ordination etc.

Ideally, the doctor will normally recommend a combination of the various drugs based on your own specific Acid Reflux situation.