Tag: Medical Help

Advanced Medications for Back Pain Treatment

Fortunately for most patients, the present medicines, option treatments and therapies available work well. But just as each person has individual sets of symptoms and conditions, not all treatment options may be appropriate. Now if you are a back pain patient, it is best to seek medical help to customize a treatment plan that would work best for your case.

Discussed in the following section of this article are the available back pain treatment medications. Though it must be understood that they apply differently and may have varying effects.

Drug therapies
Today’s patients have a wide spectrum of medication choices to treat their persisting back pains. Some drugs are especially designed to treat certain conditions only but many are rather so versatile that their use may apply even for releasing muscle tension, inflammation and treat spasm. Yet, as unfortunate as any treatments may be, there are medications that may have extreme side effects. It is wise that you first discuss with your doctors the medications you will take and the plans to conquer or even minimize the side effects.

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
This type of medications often consist of aspirin, Naproxen, ibuprofen, Ketoprofen and a lot more others. These anti-inflammatory drugs often induce healing from back pain and reduce inflammation and swelling. When used on minimal doses, NSAIDs may act as mild analgesics but larger doses may bring the effects of genuine anti-inflammatory drugs. The most common side effects of conventional Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs are gastrointestinal conditions. However with the newer released items for NSAIDs (e.g. COX-2 Inhibitors), patients may be allowed to take higher doses without the accompanying risks of side effects.

Acetaminophen
Acetaminophen such as Anacin-3, Valadol, Phenaphen, and Tylenol, are commonly known to have the effects of ordinary analgesics- the typical alternatives to NSAIDs. Analgesics medications are employed for acute pain treatment. However, on some special instances these may also be used as treatments for chronic pains.

Opiods
Because of their addictive nature, Opiods are rarely used as treatment for back pain but if so, only for the most severe cases that needs immediate, quick pain relief. These medications are generally not prescribed and many physicians refute that they may do more harm than good. Opiods include codeine and morphine, meperidine (Demerol), Oxycontin.

Muscle Relaxants
Muscle Relaxants are known to induce the efficiency created in most Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and are often prescribed only for severe back pains. These include medications such as cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), methocarbamol (Robaxin), carisoprodol (Soma), and diazepam (Valium).

In order for these medications to work at their optimum, guidelines for using them must be followed and the doctor’s advises are the only things that may help you best aside from other medical assistance.

Help Someone Having a Panic Attack

Panic attacks often occur to anyone without warning. So whenever someone had an attack, it is important that you know what to do.

Understand what a panic attack is. A panic attack is a sudden surge of overwhelming fear or anxiety. It is manifested by several signs and symptoms. During an attack, a person experiences increased heartbeat or palpitation, chest pain, hyperventilation or shortness of breath, stomach churning, upset stomach, trembling and shaking, muscle tension, sweating, dizziness and light-headedness, hot or cold flashes, tingling sensation or numbness, fear of dying, going crazy or losing control and feeling detached from the surroundings.

Seek for emergency medical help. It is important to call for a health professional especially if a person experiences an attack for the first time.

Identify the cause of the symptoms. The signs and symptoms of panic attack are similar to medical conditions. Hyperventilation or shortness of breath can be a sign of asthma. Chest pain, increased heartbeat or palpitation and sweating can be a heart attack. Talk to the person and determine if the symptoms are caused by other medical conditions. When in doubt, a health professional will be a great help.

While waiting for help, find the cause of attack. Once it is established that the cause of the symptoms is really a panic attack, find the source of the panic and take the person away from it. Do not make an assumption about what the person needs. A person who is suffering from the attack may know exactly what to do or has medications which will get him through the attack, so it is best to ask.

Don’t surprise the patient. Be predictable with your movements. Do not grab, hold or restrain. Keep him calm and stay calm yourself. Reassure the person that everything is going to be fine but do not dismiss his fear by saying “it’s all in your mind” or “don’t worry about it” or “you are overreacting.” Take note that the fear is very real to the victim so it dismissing the fear has no effect or can even make the matter worse.

Help the patient to control his breathing. Many patients breathe heavily during an attack; others hold their breath. Using deep breathing technique is a very effective way to purge the symptoms of a panic attack as well as calm the patient down. Guide the person and tell him to breathe in for 3 slow counts. Then ask him to hold his breath for 3 slow counts and breathe out for another 3 slow counts. Do this several times until the person is calm. You can also advice him to breathe into a paper bag. This way, he will re-breathe his carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide helps correct the blood acid level that had been disturbed by excessive breathing. But be careful when using paper bags since they may trigger another fear.

Stay with the person throughout his ordeal. Never leave a person especially if he is having difficulty in breathing. Be patient. They may act rude or unfriendly but remember that it is temporary and will go back to normal as soon as the attack is over.

Do not forget that for the patient, the thoughts are real. Reassure him the help is on the way. Never allow the patient to do things that will put his life at risk.

Understanding Panic Attacks

What is a panic attack?

A panic attack is a sudden attack of exaggerated anxiety and fear. Often, attacks happen without warning and without any apparent reason. Some people may experience just one episode of panic attack, while others can have recurring episodes. Recurring episodes usually happen after a person is exposed to various events or situations that may “trigger” panic. While it is generally harmless, panic attacks can severely disable a person physically, emotionally and psychologically. In extreme cases, panic attacks can lead to panic disorder.

Who gets panic attacks?

The condition affects many people. It is believed that 10% of the total population is suffering from panic attacks, yet many are still undiagnosed or under-diagnosed. They tend to occur more on young adults. Female are twice as prone to have an attack as male. It is also said that the condition is genetically inherited so panic attacks may run in the family.

How do I know if I am having an attack?

A panic attack can be identified with different signs and symptoms. They include increased heartbeat or palpitation, chest pain, hyperventilation or shortness of breath, stomach churning, upset stomach, trembling and shaking, muscle tension, sweating, dizziness and light-headedness, hot or cold flashes, tingling sensation or numbness, fear of dying, going crazy or losing control and feeling detached from the surroundings.

The signs and symptoms of panic attacks are similar to a heart attack. The former is not dangerous, the latter can be deadly. It is best therefore to seek for emergency medical help, especially if the patient experiences it for the first time.

What cause an attack?

Many panic attacks happen without any apparent reason; they just come out of the blue. However, attacks may be caused by past traumatic experiences such as death of a loved one, family conflicts, bad relationships, divorce of parents, car accident, public humiliation, etc. An attack may occur when a person is exposed to various events or situations almost similar to the past that may “trigger” panic.

Stress is closely linked to panic attacks. Triggers include stressful life event as well as stressful working and living environment. Genetics is also believed to cause an attack.

What should I do during an attack?

Panic attacks peak from 5 to 10 minutes; it rarely lasts for more than half an hour. But during this time, you can experience discomfort such as those signs and symptoms mentioned above. Since the increased in heart rate is the main reason for experiencing other symptoms, it is important to take control of your breathing during an attack. Breathe slowly and deeply as you can. Breathe in slowly for 3 counts then hold your breath for the next 3 slow counts. Then, exhale for 3 slow counts.

Do this until you are calm. If you are able to stand, get up slowly and walk around. It is also helpful to breathe into a plastic or a paper bag. This allows you to re-breathe your carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide helps correct the blood acid level that had been disturbed by excessive breathing.

While practicing deep breathing, try to focus your attention away from the cause of panic. Replace your anxious thoughts with happy ones. If available, do something that will occupy your mind such as solving puzzles and playing word games.

Advising a Person with Bipolar Disorder

Have you ever wondered if what you know about bipolar is accurate? Consider the following paragraphs and compare what you know to the latest info on bipolar.

Whenever faced with someone who has a problem with being loving to reality and begins to manifest certain qualities that are unusual, it is the best advice that the person undergoes treatment.

In the case of someone who suffers from bipolar disorder, it is wiser to bring someone to a medical facility once he or nymphet has exhibited signs of troublesome issues. Identification of possible symptoms can be probable.

Once you obtain spotted someone in the family or a close compatriot who is experiencing attacks of the disorder, you have to seek for medical help as soon as the symptoms occur. Unlike being sorrowful because of a breakup or being angry considering of substantial workload, the disorder will not verve away unless someone makes a move.

Although, humans who are going on suffering are somehow reluctant to seek for treatment or dont yen to get involved in any kind of medical attack at all.

Oftentimes, people who are already exhibiting some prominent symptoms doesnt recognize that the extreme mood swings are negatively changing the way they deal with life and other mortals. It only doesnt affect the person but further the people around him.

If you are one of those who can be a probable candidate for the psychological disorder, there will be times that you may enjoy the sudden feeling of now more productive cycles of euphoria. But, these feelings are accompanied by more tragic ones that may navigate your absolute attitude into a negative, self – destructing one.

These emotional drawbacks can steward overflowed by crashes of emotions that are bound to leave you worn out, depressed, and getting into legal or financial trouble.

If you dont want to experience more of whats yet to come, get treatment immediately once signs and symptoms are no problem. Dont be ashamed to seek professional advice from people who knows how to deal with your problem.

Mental health providers are experts in bringing back the part of your life and making it healthy again. Medical teams can help you overcome and help you to learn manage the symptoms of your disorder.

Now, if you are really reluctant to pole to a medical facility, the very first step is to confide to the people that you love or who are near you. These people can be someone in the family who understands you most or even a very close friend. You can also go to a pastor or priest.

Do away with suicidal thoughts

People suffering from the disease can have suicidal episodes or morbid thinking. Fact is, thoughts of killing oneself because of despair and anxiety is very common among sufferers of the disorder. The clout these thoughts are overcoming your argumentation, its span to seek for help from trusted people.

Reaching out is better than dealing with the disorder alone. Some of the best things to do when tendencies arise are:

Contact your psychologist or your mental health provider and confide regarding your thoughts and how you feel.

Contact a member of the family or a close friend.

Talk to a spiritual leader, a minister, or a pastor who is in charge of your community

Name a crisis hot line

Helping yourself at early stages can produce results that can make gradual coping from bipolar disorder. All you need to do is ask help from people around you.
So now you know a little bit about bipolar. Even if you don’t know everything, you’ve done something worthwhile: you’ve expanded your knowledge.