SCHIZOPHRENIA

DOC I HAVE SCHIZOPHRENIA

Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder characterized by symptoms involving:
1.personality
2.Thinking non logically
3.emotionally unstable responses,
4.Behaving abnormally in social situations
5.tendency to withdraw from reality to a private personal world

Schizophrenia is a complex illness.
The cause is yet unknown.
1.genetic factors - schizophrenia has a history of
a family member with the disease.
2.environmental events may trigger schizophrenia in people who are genetically more at risk for it.
3.Schizophrenia affects both men and women equally.
4.It usually starts in the teen years or young adulthood, but may start later in life.
It usually begin later in women, and is milder.
5.Childhood-onset schizophrenia begins after age 5. Childhood schizophrenia is rare.

Schizophrenia symptoms develop slowly over months or years.
1.difficulty keeping friends and working.
2.anxiety,
3.depression,
4.suicidal thoughts or behaviors.

Early symptoms are:
1.Irritable or tense feeling
2.Difficulty sleeping
3.Problem concentrating
4.problems with thinking, emotions and behavior develop, including:
a. Lack of emotion (flat affect)
b. Strongly held beliefs not based in reality (delusions)
c. Hearing or seeing things that are not there (hallucinations)
d. Problems paying attention
e. Thoughts jump between unrelated topics ( loose associations)
f. Bizarre behaviors
g. Social isolation

Paranoid schizophrenia symptoms include:
1.Anxiety
2.Anger or argumentative
3.False believes that people are trying to harm him(paranoia).

Disorganized schizophrenia symptoms include:
1.Difficulty with thinking and expressing ideas clearly
2.Childlike behavior
3.Showing little emotion

Catatonic schizophrenia symptoms include:
1.Lack of activity
2.Muscles and posture rigidity
3.Grimaces or odd expressions on the face
4.No response to other people

Chronic:
All types of Schizophrenia tend to have the following:
1.blunting of affect or emotion
2.incoherant thought
3.delusions
4.hallucinations
5.apathy or withdrawl from society

Diagnosis
1.thorough interview of the person and family

members:
a.length of the symptoms
b.ability to function whether it has changed
c.Developmental background
d.Genetic and family history
2.Brain scans (such as CT or MRI) and blood tests to rule out other disorders

Complications
Having schizophrenia increases the risk for:
1.alcohol or drugs abuse:
Using alcohol or other drugs increases the risks of recurrence.
2.Physical illness:
People with schizophrenia may become physically sick due to an inactive lifestyle and side effects
from medication.
3.Suicide

TOOTHACHE

DOC I HAVE TOOTHACHE

Toothache is the pain around the teeth or jaws usually following a tooth problem.

Toothache can be very severe and may cause the sufferer many sleepless nights.

The causes of Toothache are:

Tooth Problems such as :
1.Dental caries which is caused by the action of the bacteria that lives in plague, a sticky coating of saliva and food debris that forms on the surface of the teeth.

2.a broken tooth

3.an exposed tooth root

4.dental abscess

5.gum disease

Disorders of the temporo-mandibular joints such as:
1.temporomandibular joint arthritis

2.injuries to the jaw or joint

The Symptoms of Toothache is basically pain.
However the pain can be mild to severe or excruciating and chronic.
The toothache may be made worse by chewing on hard food or cold or even heat.

The symptom of toothache and its causes can only be determined by a  professional dental examination which includes X-rays .

the most common cause of toothache is

1.the dental caries and abscess,
a.sensitivity of the tooth to hot/ cold foods and drinks.
b.Pain occurs when the dentin is damaged.
c.Visible pits or holes appear on the enamel

2.Gum disease is the second most cause ot toothache.
Gingivitis or infection of the gums can cause the erosion of gum and bone tissue that surrounds and keep the tooth in place.
As a result of the gum infection and destruction of the bone of the tooth, the nerve of the tooth is affected and send pain signals to indicated the severity of the gum and tooth infection.

3.Tooth roots that are exposed are no longer protected by the gums aand bone of the tooth. The exposed tooth roots can be become very sensitive to cold hot or sour foods.

4.Broken tooth means a fracture of the bone of the tooth. Biting on the bone fracture can severe excruciating pain.

5.Impacted tooth such as wisdom tooth can cause pain if the tooth is pressing against the gums and the nerve surrounding the gums.

6.Temporo-mandibular joints inflammation caused by habitual clenching of teeth
or grinding of teech can caused irritation of the temporo-mandibular joints resulting in spasm of muscles and jaw pain.

Treatment of Toothache:
1.scrape the teeth to remove plague
A flouride gel may be applied to protect the teeth from plague

2.If a cavity is present, the dental surgeon may fill the tooth with fillings made of dental amalgam in molars and premolars and composite resins for the front teeth.

3.in the case of a large cavity or a broken tooth, the dentist will drill the decayed portion of the tooth, fill the cavity and cover the tooth with an artificial crown.

4.root canal treatment involves removal of the tooth’s pulp and replacing it with an inert material.

5.The entire tooth is taken out if the decay is very advanced

6. Brufen or other NSAID pain killers are given for temporo-mandibular joints inflammation and also to relieve toothache in general.

7.Local anesthetic cream or clove oil has been used to apply to tooth with relief of pain

Preventing Decay
Tips for preventing caries include:
1.diet low in sugar
2.good oral hygiene:

a.Brushing teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
b.Cleaning between teeth daily with floss.

3.regular dental visits and assessment.

4.a protective plastic coating that can be applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth where decay often starts.

BIRTH CONTROL METHODS

DOC I NEED BIRTH CONTROL METHODS

Hormonal Methods:

1.Birth control pills

Birth control pills is taken daily.

Effects are reversible;

lessens menstrual cramps; makes the periods regular; reduces acne; reduces risks of developing ovarian and endometrial cancer;

no protection against STIs; may interfere with other medications

2.Hormonal Injections:

Depo-Provera is an injection that costs a little bit more than the pill but may prevent pregnancy
for 3 months.

Lunelle injection is a monthly progesterone injection but  can only prevent pregnancy for up to one month.

Effects are reversible;

only 4 times a year;

reduces the risk of developing endometrial cancer   

 May cause irregular bleeding or spotting;

no protection against STIs.

3.The Nuva Ring

The Nuva Ring or vaginal ring is a flexible ring that is inserted into the vagina for three weeks
before removal .
The ring contains chemicals such as estrogen and progesterone that releases this into the body.


The birth control patch releases hormones into the body like the the oral pill.

Other methods of birth control are:

1.The Intra Uterine Device

The Intrauterine Device or IUD is a small plastic device that contains hormones and copper.
It thickens the cervical mucus to decrease the chances of an egg from fertilizing as well
physically prevent the sperms from entering the uterus easily.
The device is long-lasting (up to 5 years); no interruption to intercourse;may cause irregular
bleeding or spotting; no protection against STIs; IUD rarely may fall out; a physician is required to insert and remove the IUD

2.Withdrawal Method

The withdrawal method is removal of the male penis out of the girl’s vagina before ejaculation. Effectiveness is 80%.no protection against STIs

3.Sterilization of women and Male reproductive tubes

Sterilization or tubal ligation closes the fallopian tubes permanently and prevent the sperms
from entering the fallopian tube to fertilize the egg.
Men can also have their spermatic duct ligated.
This is called a vasectomy.
Effectiveness is 99.5%;No interference with intercourse;Usually Irreversible; surgery risks; no
protection against STIs

4.Rhythm Method

Natural family planning is using the Rhythm method when sexual intercourse is avoided during the fertile period. Effectiveness is 70-80%; no protection against STIs


5.Abstinence

Abstinence is not engaging in sexual intercourse at all .Effectiveness is 100%.NO STIs.

How to choose your birth control method:

Factors such as  
1.age,
2.frequency of sexual activity,
3.family history regarding genetic disease
4.comfort level when using a particular method,
5.level of desire to be pregnant in the future
are important when choosing an appropriate birth control method.

The usage of a condom has the advantage of  protection against most STIs while hormonal method
is more effective as birth control.

BIRTH CONTROL

DOC I NEED BIRTH CONTROL

Birth Control or Contraception is a term used to prevent pregnancy and control births.

There are different ways of preventing pregnancy:
1.men - includes:
a.condoms
b.withdrawal before ejaculation
c.abstinence during the fertile period
d.vasectomy

2.women - includes:
a.female condom
b.diaphragm
c.cervical cap
d.contraceptic sponge
e.spermicides
f.oral contraceptives
g.birth control patch
h.Progesterone injections
i.Nuva ring
j.IUD
k.sterilization by tubal ligation
l.Rhythm method

Basically there are two major methods of birth control :
1. barrier
2. hormonal.

Other birth control methods include
1.sterilization otherwise known as surgery,
2.withdrawal,
3.natural family planning
4.abstinence which is the simplest method.

In the barrier method , the male or the female uses

1.the condom to prevent the sperm from ever entering the female’s uterus.
The male condom comes in many brands, color and flavors and is usually made of latex rubber.
The condom is placed over the penis when it is erect prior to intercourse.

The female condom on the other hand is made of polyurethane and is seven inches long.
This protect the cervix, vaginal canal and the  areas surrounding the vagina.
The female condom is inserted into the woman’s vagina also prior to intercourse.
Effectiveness is 95%;Protection against certain STIs;May break or slip; makes noises during
intercourse

2. Another barrier method is to use spermicides which is a chemical designed to kill sperm.
The spermicide is available as foam, jelly, foaming tablet or vaginal suppository.
Effectiveness 82% is greatly increased when it is used with a condom, diaphragm or cervical cap;May provide lubrication; can be used by women who breastfeed or smoke;No protection against STIs; may cause allergic reactions in some people

3.the diaphragm that is a soft rubber dome which stretches over a flexible ring that contains
spermicides in the form or cream or jelly.This is inserted inside the woman’s vagina and
placed over the cervix.
The diaphragm should not stay inside the vagina for more than 3 hours prior to intercourse.
Effectiveness 94%;Protection against certain STIs;  Proper insertion is required; may dislodge during intercourse; may cause allergic reactions in some people (due to the spermicide used)

4.The cervical cap is a small cup made of polyurethane just like the condom.
The cup is filled with spermicidal cream and inserted into the girl’s vagina and placed over the
cervix.Effectiveness is 91% (for women who have not given birth) 74% (for women who have given birth before)     Protection against certain STIs; can be fitted 24 hours before intercourse;Proper insertion is required; may dislodge during intercourse; may cause allergic reactions in some people (due to the spermicide used); may cause vaginal discharge and odour

5.the contraceptive sponge is a soft saucer shaped device made from polyurethane like the female
condom.

Besides the above Barrier methods, there are the hormonal birth control methods.

1.Hormonal birth control method can be in the form of an implant, patch, pill or injection.
The purpose is to a.prevent the woman’s ovaries from releasing an egg monthly
b.thicken  the cervical mucus so the sperm will have a difficult time penetrating the egg

c.thin the lining of the uterus so that the chances of a fertilized egg implanting on the uterus wall
is reduced.
d.effectiveness is 98-99%