Mental Health
Bipolar Disorder
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Stigmas Facing those with Mental Health Disorders - [07/21/08]
Summary: 9 out of 10 people with a mental health disorder report facing stigma and discrimination. Often the stigmas exist even in those that would be expected to accept a person's mental health disorder. This includes 36% of family, 35% of employers, 31% of neighbors, and 25% of friends. Those discriminating the least are children at 5%, teachers with 8%, and shopkeepers and public transport workers, both at 10%.
Comment: The stigmas faced by those with mental health disorders make it harder for them to enjoy their life and have the same opportunities as others. Discrimination and stigmas can affect people with mental health disorders by making it harder for them to get jobs, make new friends, and go out to public shops and restaurants. It is important to find friends and family members who are accepting of mental health disorders, and learn to cope with the stigmas.
Read article - Medical News TODAY July 21, 2008
Ten Health Tips for a Healthier You - [07/13/08]
Summary: A healthy lifestyle is the key to treating, preventing, or lessening the effects of almost every disease and condition. These ten tips are designed to help build a healthier body and lifestyle.
Comment: Tips include: walking 20 to 30 minutes a day, for weight loss, eating "black" foods, such as black mushrooms or licorice, to prevent cancer, heart disease, and slow aging, and preventing dimensia by treating hypertension.
Read article - Health News Digest. July 13, 2008.
Save Money on Prescriptions - [06/21/08]
Summary: When the economy goes into a recession money for prescription drugs can be cut. This is dangerous for your health, so tips are provided to spend less on your prescriptions. The tips include choosing generics, checking online, using a discount program, mail-order medications, and shopping around.
Comment: Bipolar disorder medications can be expensive, yet they are very important to your health. Using half of the prescribed amount, or skipping doses, can be very dangerous and even ineffective towards treating the condition. Taking dangerous steps to save money, such as sharing a prescription, can be avoided if the patients follow the tips and are smart about their prescriptions.
Read article - HealthNewsDigest.com June 21, 2008
Poor Sleep Linked to Suicidal Behavior - [06/14/08]
Summary: Adolescents with bipolar or unipolar disorder, or who suffer from episodes of depression are also more likely to suffer from sleep disturbances. A strong association has been also been found between poor sleep and suicidal behavior.
Comment: Amount and quality of sleep can make a significant difference in an adolescent's behavioral, mental, and overall health. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has made a few suggestions for teenagers to obtain a good nights sleep, they include: following a consistent bedtime routine, establishing a relaxing setting at bedtime, and getting a full night's sleep every night.
Read article - Medical News Today. June 14, 2008.
Exercise Can Help Release Negative Feelings - [05/31/08]
Summary: A new book has tips on how to use exercise to releave sadness, anger, hopelessness, and other emotions. The author suggests walking, running, tennis, and cycling as well as methods of thought to uncover causes of your feelings.
Comment: Exercise has long been known to help relax and calm the body and the mind. This article describes several scenarios through which a patients can use exercise to combat stress.
Read article - HealthNewsDigest.com. May 31, 2008.
Leisure Activities Can Boost Health and Well-Being - [05/10/08]
Summary: The American Heart Association and American College of Sports Medicine have established guidelines recommending 30 minutes of moderate daily activity for adults. Among older adults, experts have found that leisure activities that keep people engaged and physically active help to promote a healthier life and help prevent many diseases linked to aging. Ballroom dancing, for example, develops movement and balance, keeps the mind active, and requires participants to be emotionally engaged. Other suggested forms of movement are gardening, yoga, water aerobics, and tai chi.
Comment: The most beneficial leisure activities are those are intellectual, physical, spiritual, social, and purposeful. In fact, any purposeful movement, even as simple as playing the Nintendo Wii, provide significant benefits to elderly people over more sedentary activities.
Read article - Health News Digest. May 10, 2008.
Optimists Enjoy Better Health - [05/09/08]
Summary: According to a series of studies, optimists enjoy better health than pessimists. But people who are healthy are likely to have a brighter outlook than people who are ill. So scientists adjusted their analyses to account for pre-existing medical conditions and found that existing illnesses do not tarnish the benefits of optimism.
Comment: One explanation may be that optimists lead healthier lifestyles. Or it could be that optimism has biological benefits.
Read article - Harvard Health Publication. May 9. 2008.
Mental Illness Costs the Nation Billions of Dollars - [05/07/08]
Summary: Major mental disorders, such as bipolar disorder, cost the nation at least $193 billion annually in lost earnings. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), indirect costs include lost earning potential, treatment for coexisting conditions, Social Security payments, homelessness, and incarceration.
Comment: The huge indirect social costs of mental illness dwarf the direct costs of medication, clinic visits, and hospitalization. The findings from this study should help mental health advocates argue for more public funding to treat mental illness in an attempt to avoid the significant social costs.
Read article - National Institutes of Health. May 7, 2008.
Four Tips for Understanding Medical News - [03/29/08]
Summary: The April 2008 issue of Harvard Men's Health Watch explains how to understand medical advice that seems to change from day to day: 1) Know the differences between types of research. 2) Focus on results published in respected medical journals. 3) Don't get frustrated by contradicting research. 4) Fit each piece of information into the larger puzzle.
Comment: Given the variety of sources for medical information and the amount of research data released every data, it can be overwhelming to try to understand what the latest news really means. The practical philosophy suggested by Harvard medical staffers may be conservative, but it is also the safest and most reliable approach to adopting new medical ideas.
Read article - Medical News Today. March 29, 2008.
Read article - Harvard Health Publications. April 1, 2008.
Would Health Info Exchange Violate Patient Privacy - [03/22/08]
Summary: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has just awarded $38.1 million to develop systems to exchange patient data between healthcare providers and payers, including the government. A recent statement from the Citizens' Council on Health Care (CCHC) condemned this as a violation of a patient's Fourth Amendment privacy rights, accusing the government of "surreptitiously conducting research and 'sentinel surveillance'" amounting to what CCHC president Twila Brase calls "unreasonable search and seizure."
Comment: Ms. Brase's concerns about patient privacy are reasonable, but her accusations inflate and skew the real value and intent of exchanging patient records. Regional health information exchanges have been proposed in many states for the purpose of improving the quality and efficiency of health care, making it possible for healthcare providers to make more accurate treatment decisions and deliver more affordable services. The benefits to patients include better-coordinated treatments among diverse healthcare providers, including less wait time. The second and third links below describe such an initiative underway in Maine.
Read article - Medical News Today. March 22, 2008.
Read article - Boston.com. January 16, 2008.
Read article - 3M News. March 27, 2007.