MEDITATION

DOC WHAT IS MEDITATION?

Meditation is a method to make the mind calmer and more focused.

Meditation can also help to understand body and mind interaction.

Meditation can help to transform the mind:
1.from negative to positive,
2.from disturbed to peaceful,
3.from unhappy to happy.

Overcoming negative minds and cultivating constructive thoughts is the purpose of the transforming meditations found in the Buddhist tradition.

There is the need for Meditation because:
1.many people feel stressed and over-worked as the result of the hectic pace and stress of modern life
2.there appears to be insufficient time in the day to get everything done.
3.The stress and tiredness make people unhappy, impatient and frustrated.
4.Loss of self confidence in achievements can cause despondency or irritation.

The Purpose of Meditation is:
1.The purpose of meditation is to make the mind calm and peaceful.
2.If the mind is peaceful, there will no worries and mental discomfort and true happiness will be achieved
3.Meditation training will help the mind to gradually become more and more peaceful and a purer form of happiness will be obtained.
4.Eventually the person will be able to stay happy all the time even during the most difficult circumstances.
5.Training in meditation creates an inner space and clarity that enables the person to control our mind regardless of the external circumstances.
6.Gradually the person develop mental equilibrium, a balanced mind that is happy all the time.
7.In this way the person will come to experience a permanent inner peace known as nirvana where day and night in life after life there will be only peace and happiness.

The Benefits of Meditation are:
1.Meditation will remove all distracting thoughts and there will a sense of inner peace and relaxation.
2.When the otherwise incessant flow of distracting thoughts is calmed through concentrating on the breath, the mind becomes unusually lucid and clear.
3.The mind will feel lucid and clear and the body will feel refreshed.  
4.It is possible to experience inner peace and contentment just by controlling the mind without having to depend at all upon external conditions.
5.Much of the stress and tension comes from our mind
6.When the turbulence of distracting thoughts subsides and their mind becomes still, a deep happiness and contentment naturally arises from within.
7.This feeling of contentment and well-being helps the mind to cope with the busyness and difficulties of daily life.
8.Many of the problems in life including ill health are caused or aggravated by this stress and can be overcome with meditation.
9.Difficult situations will become easier to deal with.
10.The mind will naturally feel warm and well disposed towards other people, and the relationships with others will gradually improve.

A Simple Breathing Meditation

1.The first stage of meditation is to stop distractions and make the mind clearer and more lucid. This can be accomplished by practising a simple breathing meditation.
2. Choose a quiet place to meditate and sit in a comfortable position.
The most important thing is to keep the back straight to prevent the mind from becoming sluggish or sleepy.
3.First stop distractions and make the mind clearer and more lucid.
4.Sit with our eyes partially closed and turn the attention to the breathing.Breathe naturally, preferably through the nostrils, without attempting to control the breath.Be aware of the sensation of the breath as it enters and leaves the nostrils.
5.remain focused single-pointedly on the sensation of the breath
6.Slowly by focusing on the breathing, the mind becomes relaxed and that is the essence of meditation .

TINNITUS TREATMENT

DOC I NEED TINNITUS TREATMENT

Treatment depends on the type of hearing loss and degree of tinnitus.
A.Medicines and others
1.antianxiety or antidepressant medication

2.relaxation techniques help when stress is a factor.

3.Avoiding caffeine which may worsen symptoms.

4.Biofeedback may  diminish tinnitus in some patients.

5.Avoid aspirin  in large quantities

6.protection of hearing and avoiding loud noises

B.Non-invasive.
The treatment can be in the form of
1.hearing aid,
Hearing Aid  may have dual functions. It helps to improve hearing acuity, clearer speech understanding as well as to cover the tinnitus effect. However, it may be unsuitable for people with a reduced sound tolerance level, and sensitivity to loud, unpleasant sounds .

2.Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT),
Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) has been widely used for many years.
The approach is to desensitize the tinnitus via a broadband tinnitus masker (such as the sound of a fan, radio, or white noise machine) along with a specific course of counselling to retrain the brain of sufferers until they are habituated to the tinnitus and it is no longer disturbing.

The therapy may be long-term and time-consuming.

3.Neuromonics tinnitus treatment -very successful in ‘desensitizing’ patients towards their tinnitus.
The sound stimulus is transmitted at specific intervals coordinated with embedded music  2-3 hours a day when the tinnitus is most disturbing.
The idea is to desensitize the brain’s limbic system until patients becomes used to it and get relief.
The treatment can occur while reading, relaxing, doing house chores, computer work or before going to bed. During the treatment process, patients are guided through an interactive and progressive programme of care with the audiologist, as they adjust to each stage of treatment. The audiologist will then assess the patients’ progress.

It is a 6 months program involving the following stages:
1.Pre-conditioning stage (first 2 months) – use of special shower sound to interact with the tinnitus.
2.Active stage (subsequent 4 months) – constant interaction with the tinnitus.

At the end of 6 months program, the sufferer enters the maintenance stage when he/ she can manage without clinical support.
Generally, the treatment involves stimulating the hearing pathways affected by tinnitus or hearing loss with a customized music therapy.

Over 90% reported:
a.A relief from their tinnitus
b.Ability to sleep well
c.A sense of control over their tinnitus
d.A decreased sound disturbance from tinnitus

4.Counselling & Educational Support
If the tinnitus is not serious, the patients can see a counsellor or a psychologist for direct counselling program, and educational support. The purpose is to provide :
a.advice and information about tinnitus;
b.explain what self-help strategies are available for patients and how they work;
c.current medical treatment and management,
d.availability of group support and facilities.

C.Surgery
Surgery of the acoustic nerve to block the tinnitus only for individuals who're becoming or definitely deaf.

Other surgeries may be used when the tinnitus is caused by a tumor across the ear,  the tumor is usually eliminated.

Prognosis:
Depending on the type of tinnitus, symptoms will tend to recur over time.
Stress level, diet, and  noise exposure can worsen tinnitus.
Many people find their tinnitus annoying but can learn to adapt without difficulty.

Prevention:
1.Protect your hearing at work.
2.When around any noise that bothers your ears (a concert,  hunting), wear hearing protection or reduce noise levels.
3.Everyday noises such as blow drying the hair or using a lawnmower can require noise protection.Keep ear plugs or earmuffs handy for these activities.

TINNITUS

DOC I HAVE TINNITUS

Tinnitus is the symptom of perception of sound in the human ear or head in the absence of external sounds.
It is not a illness.
The sound is sometimes accompanied by hearing loss and dizziness in a syndrome known as Meniere's diseas

It affects a large proportion of adult population.
Almost 12 percent of men who are 65 to 74 years of age are affected by tinnitus.
1.Construction site workers
2.MP3 player users
3.Rock concert goers
4.Gun and rifle users

The causes of Tinnitus are:
1.hearing loss is the most common cause.
Age or trauma to the ear (through noise, drugs, or chemicals)cause the damage of the portion of the ear for hearing (the cochlea) becomes damaged.
Because the cochlea do not send the normal signals to the brain, the brain becomes confused and essentially develops its own sound (the tinnitus) to make up for the lack of normal sound signals.

2.ear trauma is usually noticed in both ears, because both ears are usually exposed

3.the harmful effects of excessively loud noise from firearms, high intensity music, or other sources is a very common cause of tinnitus because of  hearing damage

4.ear infection or excess wax in the ear can affect  the ear.

5.drugs such as aspirin (if overused), aminoglycoside antibiotics and quinine may damage the hearing nerve.

6.brain tumor known as an acoustic neuroma which grow on the nerve that supplies hearing can cause tinnitus.
This tinnitus usually affects one ear unlike  the hearing loss  seen in both ears.

Signs & Symptoms
The sound that they perceive in the ear or head has been described as:
1.ringing,
2.whistling,
3.vacuuming,
4.hammering,
5.buzzing
6.humming sounds.

About 2% of tinnitus sufferers have:
1.Disturbed sleeping patterns.
2.Anxiety and depression.
3.Inability to relax and concentrate.
4.Sensitivity to loud sounds and noises.
5.A negative impact on work, family and social life.

An ENT doctor may be consulted for tinnitus:

1.When medical and/or surgical contraindications are not present.
2.family members are worried or concerned about the “non-stop” tinnitus.
3.Your sleep, concentration and general health is affected.

Exams and Tests
1.complete history and physical examination of the head and neck
2.A complete hearing test (audiogram)
3.auditory brainstem response
4.brain scan such as a computerized tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may also be required.
5.blood tests for hyperthyroidism may be taken.
6.spinal tap may be rarely performed to measure the fluid pressure in the skull and spinal cord.

EATING DISORDERS

DOC I HAVE EATING DISORDERS

Eating disorders is defined as the persistent refusal of a person to eat resulting in marked loss of weight.


It is a psychological problem with patient becoming obsessed with his or her so called obesity with intent to lose weight as a result  


This condition is more prevalent in women than in men.


Onset usually occur in puberty.

Eating disorders include:
1.anorexia nervosa - refusal to eat or eating very minimally
2.bulimia - eating followed by vomiting
3.binged eating with induced vomiting

The most common cause is obstensible fear of obesity resulting in excessive dieting.

There is this distorted image of the body size related to social norms and psychosexual conflicts.

Other causes are:
1.anxiety


2.depression


3.low self esteem


4.troubled family and personal relationships


5.history of physical or sexual abuse


6.cultural and social norms that value people on basis of physical appearance and not inner qualities and strength


7.sometimes may be hereditary - It may run in families

Symptoms of eating disorders are:
1.progressive and excessive weight loss


2.loss of muscle mass (thin stick like)


3.loss of bone mass with osteopenia, osteoporosis , possible fractures,


4.Damage to esophagus, lining of stomach, gastritis, bloating from gas


5.Associated induced endocrine changes (amenorrhea, hirsutism)


6.Stunted growth due to  insufficient growth hormones as a result of  malnutrition


7.Weakened immune system with icy hand and excess hairs on the skin (body too cold)


8.Anemia and Induced vitamin deficiency due to poor nutrition


9.Fainting spells, sleep disruptions, mental confusion, seizures due to insufficient nutrients to the brain


10.Low blood sugar with chills, giddiness, shaking and restlessness from insufficient absorption of sugars


11.Disruption of body fluid mineral balance especially potassium can affect the heart with irregular heart beat , cardiac arrest and death


12.general organ failure resulting in kidney and liver damage from insufficient nutrients to the body's organs


13.Constipation, urinary and anal incontinence, resulting from weakened perineal muscles of the pelvis

14.Mental development and psychological development may be affected from the lack of nutrients to the brain

Treatment of eating disorders:
1.Hospitalization is necessary when the condition becomes life threatening


2.Weight restoration to improve mood and health of patient

3.Correction of nutrition and metabolic deficiency in patient


4.Psychotherapy and counseling of individual to develop healthy ways of controlling one's life


5.Use of antidepressant and serotonin blockers and other newer medications for depression and anxiety


6.Support groups to help family and nutritional counseling

Prognosis of eating disorders:
1.Good in mild cases


2.Poor in severe cases,may be fatal