Abhishek Agarwal asked:


Anxiety disorders are one of the most common mental illnesses in America, with over 40 million cases reported last year. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for anxiety disorders to be accompanied or triggered by bipolar disorder. When this is the case, special care must be given when devising a treatment plan for the sufferer. Bipolar anti-anxiety medications should be recommended in most case, along with regular therapy.

Understanding Bipolar/Anxiety Treatments

As with most mental illnesses being treated with medication, the bipolar anti-anxiety medication is just a part of the overall treatment plan. These patients suffering from both disorders tend to have an overall lower success rate in treatment than when the conditions exist singly, unless supervised very closely and monitored for changes. People suffering from both disorders are more prone towards ******* and substance abuse, and should be monitored accordingly.

Since the symptoms of either disorder can trigger the other, it is imperative that both disorders be treated at the same time. But special care must be given to the selection of medications when treating these two conditions concurrently.

Bipolar Anti-Anxiety Medications

When both bipolar disorder and anxiety disorders are present, medical treatment through prescription medications is almost always necessary. It is always the doctors aim to stabilize the mood of the patient through the use of bipolar anti-anxiety medications. This is necessary since the introduction of the normal anti-depressants that are prescribed for anxiety disorders can trigger manic episodes in someone with bipolar disorder if their mood has not been stabilized beforehand. Even if care is taken to stabilize the patients mood before prescribing anti-anxiety medications, it is not uncommon for manic episodes to occur as a result.

Benzodiazepine, a form of tranquilizer, is sometimes used to treat bipolar disorder with anxiety disorders. They seem to treat the anxiety disorders symptoms without triggering manic episodes caused by bipolar disorder. The biggest problem with benzodiazepine is that, like any tranquilizer, it is extremely prone to abuse, and is habit-forming. Withdrawal from benzodiazepine can cause the disorders to return and even get worse.

Often the treating doctor will find themselves needing to change the patients bipolar anti-anxiety medications to different combinations and dosages. Finding just the right treatment for someone suffering from both conditions is difficult, and requires close attention and frequent adjustments by the doctor.

Other Pieces of the Puzzle

While bipolar anti-anxiety medications are an important part of a successful treatment plan, they are not the only thing that needs to be done. Therapy is extremely important as well. The medications help the patient get through day-to-day life, while the therapy aims to combat the problem from it’s roots. In all cases, patients on a combination of bipolar anti-anxiety medications and regular therapy were far more likely to successfully combat their condition.



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Jamesdragnou asked:

Medical and Non–medical Treatments

Treatment for obesity will be most successful if you create a long-term plan with your doctor. A reasonable goal might be to begin making lifestyle changes by increasing physical activity and limiting calories. It is expected that an individual with a BMI ?30 kg/m2, as well as those with a BMI of 25.0–29.9 kg/m2 in addition to two or more disease risk factors must attempt to lose weight either with medical or non-medical treatments. Non-medical means are:

Lifestyle Modification – By adhering to a program of diet, exercise, and behavior therapy, one adheres to a particular regimen for a discrete period of time, implementing dietary and behavioral changes that can be sustained indefinitely to promote health. Dietary Interventions – Designed to create a negative energy balance, dietary intervention reduced one’s daily energy intake so much so that it stays below one’s energy requirement limit. This greatly varies by sex, weight, and level of physical activity involved. Physical Activity – The greatest benefit of physical activity is its facilitative action in weight loss maintenance. Behavior Therapy – This type of therapy provides patients a set of principles and techniques to facilitate their adherence to the diet and activity goals that they have set for themselves. Over-the-counter herbal weight loss supplements – These supplements are generally known as ‘fat burners’ and work by boosting the body’s metabolism. Doctors have often prescribed these weight loss supplements, though the progress has always been closely monitored. However, these supplements are strongly discouraged due to a lack of labeling of ingredients on these products, and because they have the ability to cause a drastic increase in blood pressure and heart problems.

Medical intervention includes:

Pharmacological Interventions – As BMI or disease risk increases, more intensive options are available for the treatment of obesity. Two medications — sibutramine (Reductil) and orlistat

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Alien asked:

Description

Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory, not degenerative, disease. It first appears as an inflammation in a joint’s synovium, the membrane that lines and lubricates the joint. Once inflamed, the membrane thickens and become sore and swollen-which in turn may limit the affected joint’s movement. In time, this inflammation spreads to other parts of the affected joint, causing even more stiffness and pain. Eventually, the inflammation can spread to organs, such as the heart, lungs, and eyes. Its ability to spread throughout the body makes rheumatoid arthritis a systemic disease-a disease that affects the entire body.

Inflammation is not a harmful state, per se. It’s actually your body’s normal response to infections and injuries, caused when your white cells battle an invading organism. Typically, the inflammation subsides after the infection is wiped out. However, with rheumatoid arthritis, the autoimmune system seems to fight the body instead of protecting it.

While the disease can strike at any time, it usually occurs between the ages 20 and 50. It affects approximately three times as many women as men.

Unlike illnesses that have a set progression of symptoms, rheumatoid arthritis is unpredictable. What symptoms appear, how often they appear, and what joints and organs are affected vary widely, depending on the individual. In some sufferers, rheumatoid arthritis will flare up occasionally, only to be followed by periods of normal health. Others experience recurring attacks without returning to a state of full wellness in between. Many experience a slow and steady increase in the severity of their symptoms over time.

Some people with rheumatoid arthritis develop small lumps under the skin near the elbow, ears, or nose, or on the back of the scalp, over the knee, or under the toes. Called rheumatoid nodules, these painless and non-problematic bumps range from the size of a pea to the size of a Ping-Pong ball.

While medical experts have not identified a single cause for rheumatoid arthritis, possibilities include heredity, viral or bacterial infection, and emotional stress.

Signs and Symptoms

Pain, swelling, redness, and warmth in the affected joint-most commonly affects the smaller joints of your hands and feet, but elbows, knees, and ankles can be affected

Usually affects joints symmetrically (both hands, for example)

Overall stiffness and achiness, especially after periods of stillness, such as sleeping or long plane rides

Symptoms are worse in the early morning and lessen as the day progresses. General malaise/weakness

Anemia

Pain usually occurs during rest and movement

Conventional Medical Treatment

A series of blood tests, along with a thorough physical exam and medical history, can confirm whether you have rheumatoid arthritis. X-rays may also be helpful. Strategies for treating rheumatoid arthritis differ, depending on whether it is active or in remission. During a flare-up, a combination of rest, heat, and medication is prescribed. Anti-inflammatory drugsaspirin, in particular are the first line of treatment and may ease symptoms. There are several other medications used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Your doctor may prescribe gold salts, penicellamine, methotrexate, azathioprine, or anti-malarials, depending on how your symptoms progress. Corticosteroids can temporarily relieve pain and inflammation, but they are usually reserved for those with more serious disease.

Physical therapy plays a major role in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. It is most effective when swelling and inflammation of the joint are suppressed with medications. Physical therapy can reduce deformity and restore function.

In severe cases, surgical removal of affected joint lining can prevent damage to other joint structures and cartilage. Another surgical procedure fuses the painful, uncushioned bones together but is only performed on the wrist, feet, ankles, and thumbs because it restricts motion. Tendon transfer is another surgical option for repairing damaged tendons and ligaments it is performed most frequently on the hands. Another option is arthroplasty, or joint replacement, which is usually performed on knees, hips, and shoulders.

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