Depression Symptoms
Recognizing the symptoms of depression is important for getting the timely help. Common signs are decreased pleasure, difficult sleeping, appetite change and nervous.
Mental and metabolic symptoms of depression
- Decreased pleasure – losing interest in doing normal daily activities,
- Difficulty sleeping – trouble falling asleep, wake often during sleep, or significantly increased need to sleep including during the daytime.
- Appetite change – eating volume change may increases or decreases from normal.
- Change in body weight – sudden gain or loss relating to appetite change.
- Difficult concentrating – even not able to concentrate in your normal interest and other thoughts or feelings get in the way.
- Low energy – feel tired most of the time.
- Nervous – feel anxious and cannot be able to sit still.
- Guilty feeling – have a feel “never do anything right” and a thought of worthless and as a burden to others.
- Sadness – feel very sad, particularly in the morning than in the rest of the day.
- Suicidal thought – always feels and wants to die or thinking to hurt themselves.
If you have three or more of these above symptoms, it is time to get help.
Physical sign and symptoms of depression
- Appearance of preoccupation
- Lack of eye contact
- Memory loss, poor concentration, and poor abstract reasoning
- Pacing, hand wringing, and pulling on hair
- Psychomotor retardation or agitation, such as slowed speech, sighs, and long pauses.
- Self-deprecatory manner, or belligerence and defiance (especially in adolescents)
- Slowed body movements, even to the extent of being motionlessness or catatonia
- Tearfulness or sad countenance
Depression Causes
Depression may develop because of stress of diabetes control, also may result from the metabolic effects of diabetes on the brain. Whatever the cause, it is certain that people with diabetes are at greater risk for depression.
Causes of diabetic depression
Being new diagnose with diabetes is itself a major life stress, because it requires:
- large number of physical & mental accommodations,
- have to learn about a complex system of dietary and medical interventions,
- need to alter lifestyle at work and school,
- fear or anxiety about a complication of diabetes such as hypoglycemia or ketoacidosis,
- when facing diabetes complications such as nerve damage,
- having trouble keeping blood-glucose levels target, feel losing control on diabetes,
- even tension between you and your doctor may make you feel frustrated,
- financial burden due to a costly healthcare requirement for diabetes
Other physical causes of depression
- alcohol or drug abuse
- thyroid problems
- side effects from some medications
Depression can block good diabetes self-care. If you are depressed and have no energy, chances to avoid important tasks such as regular blood-glucose testing, and can make it difficult to care for your diabetes the right way. Of course, this will produce serious consequents by affecting glucose levels.
So what to do: the first step is to find if depressed, secondly getting help to overcome it.
Angina Causes
Angina is a symptom of an underlying heart disease. Angina pain is the result of reduced blood flow to heart muscle. Many activities or conditions can trigger angina.
Causes of Angina
Research suggests that angina pain start when the inner layers of the coronary arteries damages due to certain factors, they are:
- Smoking
- High cholesterol level
- High blood pressure
- High sugar level in the blood or diabetes
Plaque may start to build up at the location of damage arteries, which narrows or blocks the arteries, reduces blood flow to the heart muscle. Some plaques are harder and stable; causes the arteries to become narrow and stiff. This can reduce blood flow to the heart and cause angina.
Stable Angina causes
Physical exertion is the most common trigger of stable angina. Slightly narrowed arteries may allow enough blood to reach the heart when the demand for oxygen is low, that is when sitting. However, during exertion like walking or climbing stairs, the heart works harder and needs more oxygen.
Other triggering causes of stable angina include emotional stress, Exposure to extreme temperatures, Heavy food, Smoking.
Unstable Angina causes
Arteries that partially or totally block by a blood clot causes unstable angina. Blood clots may form and then partly dissolve, and later form again. Angina can occur each time a clot blocks an artery.
Variant Angina causes
A sudden contraction of the coronary artery; tighten and narrow the artery and slows or stops blood flow to the heart, causes variant angina. It may occur in people with or without CAD.
Causes of contraction in the coronary arteries are cold exposure, mental stress, blood-vessel narrowing medications, smoking, and cocaine.
Atherosclerosis Treatment
Atherosclerosis treatments may include lifestyle changes or home remedies, medicines, and when needed medical procedures or surgery.
Primary goals of atherosclerosis treatment
- Relieve from symptoms
- Reduce the risk factors to slow down, stop, or reverse the plaque buildup
- Precautionary measure to lower blood clots forming
- Widen the arteries or bypass it
- Properly manage diseases causing atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis Lifestyle Changes
It can often help prevent or treat atherosclerosis.
- Avoid saturated fat and include unsaturated fats.
- Limit fatty and sweet foods.
- Add some fibers; whole-grain cereals such as oatmeal and oat bran, Fruits such as apples, bananas, oranges, pears, and prunes and Legumes such as kidney beans, lentils, chick peas, black-eyed peas, and lima beans.
- Fish a heart-healthy food - A good source of omega-3 fatty acids, which can help protect the heart from blood clots, inflammation and lower the risk of heart attack.
- Limit the amount of sodium salt - choose low sodium foods.
- Properly manage high pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. They are the risk factors of atherosclerosis.
- Increase physical activity – consult doctor for your suitable plan.
- If over weight and obese - losing weight in steps, helps a lot.
- If smoking – plan to quit. Furthermore, avoid exposing to second-hand smoke.
- Limit alcohol – too much alcohol raises blood pressure and serum triglycerides.
- Plan to reduce or avoid stress – because stress triggers many cases of heart attack.
For more detail, information and tips visit Therapeutic Lifestyle changes section.
Atherosclerosis Medical Procedures and Surgery
- Angioplasty is to open up blocked or narrowed coronary arteries, by inserting a tube into the blocked arteries and slowly inflate it to open up the blockage. If require a small mesh tube (call as stent) is placed in the artery to keep it open after the procedure. Angioplasty help to regain normal blood flow in arteries.
- Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) are a surgical procedure, using arteries or veins from other areas in the body to bypass, that go around the blocked arteries. CABG can normalize the blood flow to the heart, relieve chest pain, and possibly prevent a heart attack.
- Bypass grafting in peripheral arteries, in this surgery, use a healthy blood vessel to bypass a narrowed or blocked blood vessel in the legs. It improves blood flow to the leg.
- Carotid artery surgery is similar to angioplasty, and it removes plaque buildup from the carotid arteries in the neck. It improves blood flow to the brain and helps to prevent stroke.
Atherosclerosis Diagnosis
Atherosclerosis diagnosis starts on medical and family histories, atherosclerosis risk factors, physical exam, and diagnostic tests.
Specialists involved in the diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerosis:
- Condition affects the coronary arteries – needs to consult a cardiologist, a doctor specialized in treating heart problems.
- Condition affects the peripheral arteries – needs to consult a vascular specialist, a doctor specialized in treating blood vessel problems.
- Condition affects the carotid arteries – needs to consult a neurologist, a doctor specialized in treating nervous system disorders.
Atherosclerosis Physical Exam
During the atherosclerosis physical exam:
- Doctor may examine arteries by stethoscope for any abnormal whooshing sound called a bruit. A bruit may indicate a plaque causing poor blood flow.
- Doctor may also check pulses at various locations for any abnormality such as weak or absent pulse, a sign of blocked artery.
Atherosclerosis Diagnostic Tests and Procedures
- Blood Tests to examine the level of fats, cholesterol, glucose, and proteins in the blood. Any abnormal levels may indicate risk factors for atherosclerosis.
- EKG (Electrocardiogram) records electrical pulses of heart. Electrical pulse strength and timing, helps to find previous or current heart attack and risk of coronary artery diseases (CAD).
- Chest X-ray is the picture of heart, lungs, and blood vessels. It helps to reveal indication of a hear failure.
- Ankle-Brachial index test is to compare the blood pressure in ankle and in arms to examine blood flow in extremities. Any abnormality indicates peripheral artery disease (PAD).
- Echocardiography produces actual moving picture of the heart. It provides information about the size and shape of heart, heart chamber and valve functioning. It is useful to pinpoint the areas of poor blood flow, contraction abnormalities and any injury in heart muscles.
- Computer tomography (CT) scans – produces images of the heart, brain or other body parts. It helps to identify hardening and narrowing of arteries.
- Stress Testing is by making the heart work hard and beat faster, make the hearts to work hard by exercising, if not able to do exercise, then medication it used to speed up heart. When heart work harder it needs more blood and oxygen, if the arteries are narrowing it cannot provide enough blood or oxygen. Any abnormality such as heart rate, heart rhythm, blood pressure, shortness of breath, and chest pain are helpful in the diagnosis.
- Angiography - A catheter (thin, flexible tube) is inserting into a blood vessel in the arm, thigh, or neck. Inject a special dye that can be visible on X-ray into the arteries. By seeing the x-ray picture, doctor can diagnose any blockage in the arteries and its severity.
Atherosclerosis Symptoms
Atherosclerosis usually has no symptoms until it reaches a serious condition that is a very narrow or total blockage of arteries. Many people even do not know until they have a heart attack or stroke.
Depend on which artery is affected; some may have signs and symptoms of that disease.
Heart muscles are nourishing by oxygen and nutrient-rich blood supplying through the coronary arteries. If plaque narrows or blocks these arteries, develops a condition called coronary artery disease (CAD) or coronary heart disease, and it may cause a common symptom of angina.
Coronary artery atherosclerosis symptoms
- chest pain or discomfort
- pressure or a squeezing pain in the chest
- discomfort in shoulders, arms, neck, jaw or back
- shortness of breath
- arrhythmias, an irregular heartbeat
This pain gets to worsen with activity and go away after rest. Stress can trigger this pain.
Brain is nourishing with nutrient and oxygen-rich blood by the carotid arteries. If plaque narrows or blocks these arteries, develops a condition called carotid artery disease, and it may cause the symptom of stroke.
Carotid artery atherosclerosis symptoms
Sudden;
- Numbness,
- Weakness,
- Dizziness
Legs, arms, and pelvis are nourishing with nutrient and oxygen-rich blood by the peripheral arteries. If plaque narrows or blocks these arteries, develops a condition called peripheral arterial disease, and it may cause the symptom of peripheral arterial diseases.
Peripheral artery atherosclerosis symptoms
Extremities;
- Numbness,
- Pain,
- Rarely dangerous infections
UTI Prevention
Prevent UTI by just blocking the entry of bacteria, which can cause infection, do this by following some simple steps.
Tips for preventing UTI
There are some steps to reduce the risk for bladder infections and other UTIs, they are:
- Avoid urethra irritating products (e.g., bubble bath, scented feminine products).
- Clean the genital area before and after sexual intercourse.
- Change soiled diapers in infants and toddlers promptly. Clean the area with mild soap water.
- Drink plenty of water, which helps to remove bacteria from the urinary tract.
- Do not frequently resist the urge to urinate. If having an urge to urinate do not hesitate to visit the bathroom.
- Instead of bath, take to shower.
- Urinate after sexual intercourse and clean the area with mild soap or detergent and water.
- Women and girls should wipe from the front to back after voiding to prevent contamination of the urethra with bacteria from the anal area.
- Stop smoking, nicotine can irritate the bladder.
UTI Treatments
Treat UTI more often with antibacterial medications. The type of medication and treatment duration depends on the type of bacterial.
Medications for UTI
Bladder infections, kidney infections, and other urinary tract infections are most commonly treating with antibacterial medications. The type of medication used, and the treatment duration depends on the type of bacteria.
Treat most UTIs with
- Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim®, Cotrim®, Septra®),
- Amoxicillin (e.g., Amoxil®, Trimox®),
- Fluoroquinolones (e.g., Levaquin®, Cipro®).
The infection symptom may start disappearing within a couple of days, but normally prescribe one to two weeks of medication to prevent any kidney infection.
UTIs caused by the bacteria such as chlamydia trachomatis and mycoplasma hominis require longer treatment duration with:
- Tetracycline (e.g., Achromycin®),
- Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or doxycycline (e.g., Periostat®)
Kidney infections may require hospitalization and may even need a six weeks of antibiotic treatment to prevent any serious kidney damage.
Over-the-counter pain relievers (e.g., Tylenol®, Advil®) and a heating pad may use to relieve discomfort caused by UTI. Drinking plenty of water helps to cleanse bacteria out of the urinary tract. In addition, you should avoid coffee, alcohol, and smoking.
UTI Tests
If suspect a urinary tract infection, should examine their urine sample for any pus, red blood cells or bacteria present in the urine.
UTI diagnosing test
Dipstick tests, available over the counter, are quite reliable in making a reasonable diagnosis of UTIs with symptoms. Dipstick tests may also be useful for identifying UTIs in children and infants. The test uses a chemical on a stick that when dipped in urine reacts to nitrites, substances released by many of the bacteria that cause UTIs. A positive test result often eliminates the need for urine cultures; an expensive test used to detect bacteria. A negative dipstick test helps to avoid unnecessary antibiotics. These tests are not entirely accurate; however, and studies report that they may miss up to 25% of actual UTIs. If having persistent UTI symptoms, but the dipstick test is negative, should check with the doctor for more accurate tests.
A clean urine specimen is required to diagnose a urinary tract infection (UTI). Collect the urine sample after cleaning the area around the urethral opening to prevent bacteria in the genital area from contaminating the sample.
Take Urinalysis to determine the level of white blood cells (WBC) that destroy harmful bacteria (leukocytes) in the urine. A large number of WBC may indicate bacterial infection.
Sometime, you need urine culture to reveal whether have an infection; assess the type of bacteria to determine the treatment. Although no simple test can differentiate between an upper and lower urinary tract infection, the presence of fever and flank pain, indicate that the infection likely involves the kidneys.
Even if bacteria are present in the culture, a diagnosis of UTI depends on symptoms and gender:
- Presence of at least 100,000 bacteria per milliliter of urine usually provides the evidence of infection in women with symptoms.
- A count of 100,000 bacteria per milliliter in a woman without symptoms indicates asymptomatic bacteriuria. The decision to treat or not depends on the woman's risk factors for complications.
- For young women with symptoms, a diagnosis of infection can reasonably be made with counts as low as 1,000 bacteria per milliliter.
- Men have an infection with a count of only 1,000 bacteria per milliliter.
UTI Complications
When treated properly, urinary tract infections very rarely lead to complication. Nevertheless, when left untreated, a UTI can be life threatening.
Untreated UTI complications
If not treated in time, lower urinary tract infections can advances to the upper urinary tract and develop complications. Symptoms that indicate upper UTI (e.g., pyelonephritis) in adults include the following:
- Chills
- High fever
- Nausea
- Pain under the ribs
- Vomiting
If not treated in time, pyelonephritis could permanently damage the kidneys.
Younger children and older adults are at the greatest risk of kidney damage due to urinary tract infections. Because these symptoms may often be mistakenly, diagnose as some other condition.
Pregnant women who had urinary tract infection may have a risk of delivering low birth weight or premature infants.
UTI can cause significant impairment of the quality of life during symptom periods, and affect social function, vitality, and emotional well-being.
Obstruction and Widespread Infection - Severe upper urinary tract infections may cause obstruction that results in widespread infection and even life threatening. Patients who develop UTIs in the hospital are at more risk for such infections than others are. In kidney infection that obstructs the ureter, a mortality rate is more than 40%. Suspect this specific condition in people with diabetes who have severe UTIs.
Women with diabetes have more frequent and more severe UTIs than women without it and are often hospitalization for kidney infections. In fact, the most serious, but rare, complications of urinary tract infections (pyelonephritis, widespread infections, abscesses, inflammation of the bladder wall) occur most often in patients with diabetes.
Kidney Damage - In high-risk adults, recurrent UTIs may cause kidney’s scar, which over time can develop hypertension and eventual kidney failure. People with frequent UTIs who develop serious kidney disease are likely to have been other predisposing diseases or structural abnormalities.