SkyBlue Cross Alternative Health Blog

Tuesday, 17 April 2012

Finding the right Depression Treatment

By:http://www.skybluecross.com
Depression or prolonged sadness is actually quite common in the United States, around 9.5 percent of the American population actually suffers from this illness, however, not all of them get to be treated, thus, depression and its ill-effects continue to be a burden to some individuals. This illness may seem quite simple to treat but in reality, it takes more than a little cheering up to actually cure depression. Constant visits to a cognitive behavior therapist is a must as well as taking all the prescribed medicines that the doctor will ask the patient to take – none of these exactly come cheap, but the amount of suffering that a person is going through because of depression is enough reason already for others to start taking notice and face depression head on through the various depression treatments that are available today.

 Depression oftentimes can easily get in the way of an individual’s daily activities and his or hers’ normal functions, one’s zest for life can quickly and easily dissipate due to depression. And in place of an individual’s sunny disposition is more or less a person who hates his or herself, having no self-confidence, trying to isolate one’s self from the world and basically just not caring about living any more. More so, a person suffering from depression isn’t the only one who’s going to suffer from this destructive illness, his or her loved ones are sure to follow suit. By seeing the individual grow through such rough patches, basically not caring about anything or anyone anymore, it’s highly likely that not only will depression one’s relationship with one’s self but with his or her loved ones too. But this shouldn’t really pose as such a problem since people who suffer from depression are actually lucky that there are all sorts of depression treatments that can be used to aid an individual through the course of having a sound mental health.

 Depression treatment actually starts with the patient openly acknowledging his or her illness, by just being honest with one’s self, it’ll be a lot easier not only for the doctor but for the patient most of all, to actually cure depression and find an appropriate depression treatment for him or her.

 From various medications (like Zoloft antidepressant depression treatment) to all sorts of psychotherapies promising to be the best depression treatment. The patient, as well as his or her family are sure to get the best, positive results from these depression treatments.

 Psychotherapy, a popular type of depression treatment actually includes short-term therapy sessions, usually from ten to twenty weeks promising to actually be able to make positive results for the depression patient. This type of depression treatment actually helps the individual by slowly making them to actually open up about their feelings, the root of their problems, more so, the root of their depression. Healthy verbal exchanges between the cognitive behavior therapist and the depression patient is great depression treatment that’ll positively affect the depression patient by helping him or her discuss and talk about whatever they’ve been keeping inside.

 Various medications that are available for depression treatment are actually great for helping the depression patient to regulate his or her mood swings, to actually help him or her sleep better and as well as be more pleasant towards others.

Monday, 16 April 2012

Atkins and Diabetes

By:http://www.skybluecross.com/


 The Atkins diet principles lay the foundation for a healthy, more balanced way of eating than the standard American diet. Its emphasis is on using good carbohydrates in balance with adequate protein. This is in stark contrast to what most Americans eat on a daily basis. The average American eats lots of processed foods that have hidden sugars and highly processed carbohydrates. This has put most Americans on the road to diabetes and pre-diabetic conditions. What is sad is that diabetes has a predictable set of stages and that they can be easily recognized.

 The road to diabetes has to do with something called the glycemic index. All carbohydrates are rated on this index with regards to the level of insulin reaction they produce. Foods that have a high glycemic index rating will cause your pancreas to release a lot of insulin to break down the amount of sugars and carbohydrates (which produce high amounts of glucose). The refined carbohydrates and sugars that make up the vast majority of the American diet rank very high on the glycemic index.

 We are able to more readily digest these foods as children, because our bodies function more efficiently in our youth. There may have been side effects, like weight gain and mood swings, but they didn’t stand out. As we age, however, these symptoms begin to grow and become more prevalent. The nation-wide obesity epidemic is a result of high-carbohydrate diets and unstable blood sugar levels.

 Many people who are overweight are also insulin resistant. Insulin resistance means that the insulin is not doing its job in removing glucose from the blood stream. The pancreas gets over worked and it releases massive amounts of insulin, sometimes 20 times more than the body actually needs. This results in the blood sugar dropping to extremely low levels. This sets off a chain reaction in the body that leads to a release of adrenaline to correct the blood sugar problem.

 With age, blood sugar and insulin difficulties become more aggravated. The condition is called “hyperinsulinism” and is a precursor for type II diabetes. It is normally accompanied by high blood pressure and high triglycerides.

 After years of using a high-carbohydrate diet, you will finally become fully diabetic. Insulin is the body’s primary fat creator and extra pounds usually accompany late onset diabetes. Pre-diabetic conditions, if not treated effectively, will lead to diabetes indefinitely.

 However, there are easily identifiable warning signs to diabetes that appear early. Your family doctor can perform insulin level tests that will let you know if you are at risk for pre-diabetic conditions, and studies show that low-carb diets like Atkins can help. Controlling your blood sugar is one of the most effective methods to controlling pre-diabetic conditions.

 The Atkins diet helps effectively control blood sugar. The combination of proteins, fats and good carbohydrates will keep your body satisfied without the roller coaster effect. Controlling carbohydrates in quantity as well as type will help limit the insulin spikes. This will let your pancreas work in the way that it was meant to be, and it will decrease the likelihood of your developing pre-diabetic conditions. It’s a vicious cycle that, if left unchecked, can lead to diabetes later in life. When the Atkins diet is followed effectively it produces stable blood sugar throughout the day and helps you stay off the road to diabetes.

Atkins and Appetite Suppression

By: http://www.skybluecross.com/

One of the most common, and surprising, effects of following the Atkins diet is appetite suppression. Many followers of the plan report that the between meal hunger pangs they used to experience fade away very quickly. This makes it easier to stay on the diet and continue to lose weight. While other diets have their followers starving between meals, the Atkins diet offers relief from constant hunger. The Atkins diet, with its specific combination of foods and ingredients, has powerful appetite suppressing effects.

The first key component is the amount of protein in the Atkins diet. Protein, more so than carbohydrates, has the power to satiate hunger. If you’ve ever eaten a carb heavy meal and then felt hungry afterward, you know that carbohydrates don’t have much staying power. Protein, when combined with a small amount of healthy fats, can keep you feeling full for long periods of time.

One of the most powerful appetite suppressing foods on the Atkins diet are eggs. Eggs are a great form of quick and easy protein. A recent study showed that eating eggs for breakfast would actually stave off hunger pangs through the rest of the day. The research concerned two groups of women. One group ate eggs for breakfast and the other had a breakfast of bagels and cream cheese. The calorie count for both breakfasts was exactly the same. The subjects kept track of what they ate the rest of the day and answered questions about their levels of hunger and satisfaction throughout the day. The results showed that the women who ate the eggs for breakfast felt more satisfied throughout the entire day. They ate less at each meal than the women who were in the bagel group.

Eggs contain about 6 grams of protein each. This helps to even out blood sugar and produces a feeling of satisfaction. Both of these factors help to curb cravings. Egg yolks also contain lutein and xenazanthin. These nutrients have been shown to have incredible effects on eye health. So it’s important to eat the whole egg, and not just the white. Eggs contain choline that is important in brain functioning and memory. These nutrients are just an added benefit to the appetite suppressing qualities.

Broccoli and cauliflower, two of the acceptable vegetables on the Atkins program, also have appetite-suppressing effects. These vegetables are very bulky and they help make your stomach feel full. When your stomach feels full, it will actually create a chemical response in your body. Your body will reduce its appetite because it believes that your stomach is full of high calorie foods. This will happen regardless of what is in your stomach. You can achieve the same results with water and psyllium husk fiber. Both broccoli and cauliflower provide bulk in your diet and are essential vegetables on the Atkins plan.

The Atkins diet focuses on eating small protein balanced meals a few times per day. This will help keep your blood sugar stabilized and avoid carbohydrate cravings. With high carbohydrate diets, you are riding the wave of carbohydrate highs. After you eat, you feel great and full. Then a few hours later, you come crashing down and are hungrier than you were previous to eating the carbohydrate. This cycle continues and, over time, you will eat more and gain weight. The protein, fat and vegetable meals of the Atkins plan put your blood sugar back in balance. They provide just enough of each type of food, with a proper amount of carbohydrates (from the vegetables). The vegetables provide quick carbohydrate energy, and the protein gives the meal staying power. This combination helps suppress your appetite.

The Atkins diet is actually a craving control diet that can help suppress your appetite. If you’ve had a problem with carbohydrate cravings before, this new way of eating will help control those cravings. The more you eat on the plan, the better your cravings will be controlled and the easier it will be to follow the diet.

Back Pain and Hypercortisolism

By: http://www.skybluecross.com
Some of the common problems that cause back pain merge from musculoskeletal conditions and neurological conditions. However, back pain also arises from arthritis, muscle disorders, etc, including multiple myeloma. Muscle myeloma is abnormalities and proliferation of the plasma cells within the bone marrow. According to etiology aspects, doctors believe that multiple myeloma derives from genetics, environment, and unknown sources.

 The physical condition merges from a single tumor, which starts in the bone marrow and disseminates into the liver, lymph nodes, spleen, bones, and kidney. Tumors of this nature set up in plasma cells, which manufacture abnormal counts of immunoglobulin. The tumor then triggers activities, such as osteoblastic, which leads to destruction of bones and extends all through the body.

 Symptoms emerge from the actions, which include headaches, hemorrhaging, height loss, severe, and constant bone pain, splenomegaly, fractures, hepatomegaly, deformations of the skeletal muscles, ribs, sternum, and renal calculi. Multiple infections often emerge from the tumor as well.

 As you can see, the symptoms will cause back pain as well, since the skeletal system, muscles, ribs, etc, are affected.

 How multiple myeloma is noted:
 Doctors order x-rays, bone marrow biopsy, blood chemistry, bone scan, hematology, urine chemistry, immuoelectrophoresis, and Bence Jones tests to note multiple myeloma.

 If the doctor spots diffusions that point to spherical punch-outs of bone lesion, the search carries on to discover potential osteoporosis. As well, the doctor will look for osteolytic lacerations of the cranium, and widespread of demineralization.

 Doctors will look for various signs that diagnose multiple myeloma, including monoclonal spike, increases in count of juvenile plasma cells, and so on. Once tests are completed management, interventions, and other steps are taking to avert paraplegia, gout, acute renal failure, seizures, hemorrhaging, urolithiasis, infections, and fractures.

 If you are diagnosed with multiple myeloma, it is recommended that you sway away from lifting heavy objects. Lifting may cause constipation. In addition, you should avoid over-the-counter medications, since it to can cause variant symptoms to emerge. You will need to wear braces, casts, or splints also to avoid fractures.

 Occult blood could set in if you have multiple myeloma, which doctors will often recommend that you watch for its symptoms. Strength training exercises or exercises that exercise the muscles is highly recommended to those with multiple myeloma. Doctors often set up medical management schemes, which include diet forced fluids, transfusion therapy, mouth and skin care, etc.

 As the management scheme is setup, the doctor will monitor the patient, since falling is dangerous. In addition, the patient is monitored, since bruising and infections could set in and increase the symptoms. Activities and bed rest is incorporated into the scheme. The patient must also learn stress reduction strategies.

 Post-radiation and post-chemotherapeutic treatments are issued in severe cases. In addition, the patient is monitored for infections, bleeding, and imbalances of electrolyte. Patients are encouraged to monitor symptoms at home, including symptoms that merge from fractures, seizures, and renal calculi.

 If you are diagnosed with multiple myeloma, you will experience pain over the entire body. You can minimize the pain by following your physician’s recommendations. In addition, you will need to learn more information about your disease from the ACS. (American Cancer Society)

 Unfortunately, back pain emerges from a variety of conditions, including cancerous diseases. In fact, hemophilia can cause back pain, which we can discuss briefly.

 Hemophilia is an inherited bleeding disorder. The disease is characterized by various symptoms, yet it is separated from Hemophilia A and B. VIII is the common disorder, which deficiencies. Deficiencies also emerge IX B disorders. To learn more about back pain, study diseases, disorders, muscle skeletal disorders, and so on

Sunday, 15 April 2012

Back Pain and Multiple Myeloma

By: http://www.skybluecross.com

 Some of the common problems that cause back pain merge from musculoskeletal conditions and neurological conditions. However, back pain also arises from arthritis, muscle disorders, etc, including multiple myeloma. Muscle myeloma is abnormalities and proliferation of the plasma cells within the bone marrow. According to etiology aspects, doctors believe that multiple myeloma derives from genetics, environment, and unknown sources.

 The physical condition merges from a single tumor, which starts in the bone marrow and disseminates into the liver, lymph nodes, spleen, bones, and kidney. Tumors of this nature set up in plasma cells, which manufacture abnormal counts of immunoglobulin. The tumor then triggers activities, such as osteoblastic, which leads to destruction of bones and extends all through the body.

 Symptoms emerge from the actions, which include headaches, hemorrhaging, height loss, severe, and constant bone pain, splenomegaly, fractures, hepatomegaly, deformations of the skeletal muscles, ribs, sternum, and renal calculi. Multiple infections often emerge from the tumor as well.

 As you can see, the symptoms will cause back pain as well, since the skeletal system, muscles, ribs, etc, are affected.

 How multiple myeloma is noted:
 Doctors order x-rays, bone marrow biopsy, blood chemistry, bone scan, hematology, urine chemistry, immuoelectrophoresis, and Bence Jones tests to note multiple myeloma.

 If the doctor spots diffusions that point to spherical punch-outs of bone lesion, the search carries on to discover potential osteoporosis. As well, the doctor will look for osteolytic lacerations of the cranium, and widespread of demineralization.

 Doctors will look for various signs that diagnose multiple myeloma, including monoclonal spike, increases in count of juvenile plasma cells, and so on. Once tests are completed management, interventions, and other steps are taking to avert paraplegia, gout, acute renal failure, seizures, hemorrhaging, urolithiasis, infections, and fractures.

 If you are diagnosed with multiple myeloma, it is recommended that you sway away from lifting heavy objects. Lifting may cause constipation. In addition, you should avoid over-the-counter medications, since it to can cause variant symptoms to emerge. You will need to wear braces, casts, or splints also to avoid fractures.

 Occult blood could set in if you have multiple myeloma, which doctors will often recommend that you watch for its symptoms. Strength training exercises or exercises that exercise the muscles is highly recommended to those with multiple myeloma. Doctors often set up medical management schemes, which include diet forced fluids, transfusion therapy, mouth and skin care, etc.

 As the management scheme is setup, the doctor will monitor the patient, since falling is dangerous. In addition, the patient is monitored, since bruising and infections could set in and increase the symptoms. Activities and bed rest is incorporated into the scheme. The patient must also learn stress reduction strategies.

 Post-radiation and post-chemotherapeutic treatments are issued in severe cases. In addition, the patient is monitored for infections, bleeding, and imbalances of electrolyte. Patients are encouraged to monitor symptoms at home, including symptoms that merge from fractures, seizures, and renal calculi.

 If you are diagnosed with multiple myeloma, you will experience pain over the entire body. You can minimize the pain by following your physician’s recommendations. In addition, you will need to learn more information about your disease from the ACS. (American Cancer Society)

 Unfortunately, back pain emerges from a variety of conditions, including cancerous diseases. In fact, hemophilia can cause back pain, which we can discuss briefly.

 Hemophilia is an inherited bleeding disorder. The disease is characterized by various symptoms, yet it is separated from Hemophilia A and B. VIII is the common disorder, which deficiencies. Deficiencies also emerge IX B disorders. To learn more about back pain, study diseases, disorders, muscle skeletal disorders, and so on.
 

Saturday, 14 April 2012

Creating Effective and Efficient Relationships

By:  http://www.skybluecross.com

Relationships of all kinds are often perceived as very delicate things, that require extra effort to maintain. However, a relationship can also be something that can provide security and can also be long lasting despite many trials.

Building an effective and lasting relationships is a necessity for several reasons. For example in a group or organization, the well being of the people depends on how efficient and effective that group or organization works.

The group or organization is also dependent on how the members work well with the management.

An ineffective group or organization can really be very frustrating. An effective group or organization can also ask so much on their members, that sometimes the members would be having no life outside the walls of the area where they work or sacrifice the other aspects of their life just to meet deadlines. For an organization or group with this kind of scenario, relationships can be stressed or suffer from breakdown.

People or other entities who depend on these groups or organization also suffer.

Society is defined as a web of relationships, which requires all parties to work and contribute their share in order to achieve a common goal. Having a relationship that is good, where cooperation and respect are manifested, can make society work better. In this way each member works for the good of the whole and towards achieving a common goal. This can only be attained with effective and efficient relationships.

Understanding the other parties' feeling and position creates an effective and efficient relationship. The easiest method to understand what is important to another party is to ask them what they want and listen to what they have to say. When the other party realizes this, they would feel the importance given to them

Effective and efficient relationships require parties to openly express their feelings and positions on all matters pertinent on the relationship. Assuming that the other party understands our needs and give us when we need it without asking for it is not a good practice.

Respect is the key to relationship. In order to create a more effective relationship, parties should treat each other with respect. We can show respect just by listening to the other party and by trying sincerely to understand how they function. You can also show respect to other parties by confirming that they are doing everything they can.

The opposite of respect is quick forming of judgements based on unfounded facts and prejudice.

Respect is the very foundation for a great relationship. This also means respecting yourself and respecting others.

Another key area in forming an effective relationship is to tackle differences of the other party directly. Differences between parties or people are quite interesting. For example in a conversation where each party listens to the other party, you may observe that each is having two different perspectives.

Work towards a win-win solution for both parties.

This can be done when at least one party acknowledges that the relationship is important. That party would then exert more time, effort and energy to understand the other party's needs and deal with it to get it out of the way. Should they fail, it is comforting for that party to know that they tried.

Effectively listening and no pre-judging. This is important if parties are to understand each other.

Informal discussions are conducive for parties. They bring out issues and concerns comfortably. They also feel more relaxed making them think more clearly.

Developing an atmosphere where the other party can express their feelings when they need to.

When parties fail to express whatever is on their mind or their feelings, it can get in the way of building an effective relationship.

Parties should be aware that certain things exist naturally but should be controlled in any dealings in any relationship. Human nature is one. Some of these things found in a relationship also include a history of stereotyping or mistrust, blaming the other person or party for a strained relationship, excluding the other party's feelings when focusing on a task, no clear and defined objectives, roles and expectations of each party in a relationship is also unclear.

Relationships are important to anyone, addressing issues and problems right away is a must to further improve the relationship. As they say 'No man is an Island'.

"Relaxing with a Mental PDA" Your 5 minutes daily program to Stress management

By: http://www.skybluecross.com
We all have this favorite expression when it comes to being stressed out, and I wouldn't bother naming all of them since it may also vary in different languages. But when it comes down to it, I think that it is how we work or even relax, for that matter that triggers stress. Ever been stressed even when you're well relaxed and bored? I know I have.

 Since Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. is unavoidable in life, it is important to find ways to decrease and prevent stressful incidents and decrease negative reactions to stress. Here are some of the things that can be done by just remembering it, since life is basically a routine to follow like brushing your teeth or eating breakfast. You can do a few of them in a longer span of time, but as they say-- every minute counts.

 Managing time

 Time management skills can allow you more time with your family and friends and possibly increase your performance and productivity. This will help reduce your stress.

 To improve your time management:

 · Save time by focusing and concentrating, delegating, and scheduling time for yourself.
 · Keep a record of how you spend your time, including work, family, and leisure time.
 · Prioritize your time by rating tasks by importance and urgency. Redirect your time to those activities that are important and meaningful to you.
 · Manage your commitments by not over- or undercommitting. Don't commit to what is not important to you.
 · Deal with procrastination by using a day planner, breaking large projects into smaller ones, and setting short-term deadlines.
 · Examine your beliefs to reduce conflict between what you believe and what your life is like.
 Build healthy coping strategies

 It is important that you identify your coping strategies. One way to do this is by recording the stressful event, your reaction, and how you cope in a stress journal. With this information, you can work to change unhealthy coping strategies into healthy ones-those that help you focus on the positive and what you can change or control in your life.

 Lifestyle

 Some behaviors and lifestyle choices affect your stress level. They may not cause stress directly, but they can interfere with the ways your body seeks relief from stress. Try to:

 · Balance personal, work, and family needs and obligations.
 · Have a sense of purpose in life.
 · Get enough sleep, since your body recovers from the stresses of the day while you are sleeping.
 · Eat a balanced diet for a nutritional defense against stress.
 · Get moderate exercise throughout the week.
 · Limit your consumption of alcohol.
 · Don't smoke.

 Social support

 Social support is a major factor in how we experience stress. Social support is the positive support you receive from family, friends, and the community. It is the knowledge that you are cared for, loved, esteemed, and valued. More and more research indicates a strong relationship between social support and better mental and physical health.

 Changing thinking

 When an event triggers negative thoughts, you may experience fear, insecurity, anxiety, depression, rage, guilt, and a sense of worthlessness or powerlessness. These emotions trigger the body's stress, just as an actual threat does. Dealing with your negative thoughts and how you see things can help reduce stress.

 · Thought-stopping helps you stop a negative thought to help eliminate stress.
 · Disproving irrational thoughts helps you to avoid exaggerating the negative thought, anticipating the worst, and interpreting an event incorrectly.
 · Problem solving helps you identify all aspects of a stressful event and find ways to deal with it.
 · Changing your communication style helps you communicate in a way that makes your views known without making others feel put down, hostile, or intimidated. This reduces the stress that comes from poor communication. Use the assertiveness ladder to improve your communication style.

 Even writers like me can get stressed even though we're just using our hands to do the talking, but having to sit for 7 or 8 hours is already stressful enough and have our own way to relieve stress. Whether you're the mail guy, the CEO, or probably the average working parent, stress is one unwanted visitor you would love to boot out of your homes, especially your life.

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