Medicine Information Article:

Food for Thought

Depression is a disorder marked by sadness, low energy, impaired concentration, and feelings of dejection. Some people believe that depression is normal. Hectic daily activities and the conflict between family and career cause constant stress. Yet depression and anxiety as a response to stress are not normal. They can be signs of illness, which may worsen and result in physical symptoms or an inability to function.

Life was much simpler for the last two generations. Father worked; mother stayed home. This is no longer the model. Some now view families as an "endangered species." There are more single mothers working than ever before. There is greater stress and competition for well-paying jobs. The result: long hours at work, away from the family. Children are raised with limited supervision. Thus we see more children with emotional problems derived from a lack of knowledge as to who they are and what their role is in today's society. Similarly, adults suffer from the loss of nurturing that family time should provide.

Until recently, mental health was not discussed openly. However, there is a growing awareness that choosing therapy can be helpful, even necessary, to cope with today's life. Psychiatric help is often sought for the entire family. Today, being healthy means not only having a sound body, but also a sound mind and spirit.

People exercise their bodies daily, yet they neglect to "exercise" their feelings and emotions. Young men are taught to hide and deny emotions. Women are reluctant to seek help in coping with their depression, anxiety, or distressed relationship. The same fitness fanatic who exercises daily, eats right and has two physicals a year will neglect the mind until a crisis is reached. Emotional problems don't just happen, but are cumulative and they can be avoided at times with the same "daily fitness" and "annual physical" approach we use when caring for our bodies.

The Chinese say "the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Just like it's better to maintain a healthy heart than recover from a heart attack, dealing with emotional issues is easier before the chaos of a crisis breaks. Think about "exercising your emotions" and give your mental health professional a call.

Debra S. Gorin, M.D. received her medical degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine. She is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. She has been in private practice as a Psychiatrist for the past sixteen years in the Fort Lauderdale area. Dr. Gorin treats all types of stress-related, emotional and psychiatric problems of children, adolescents, and adults. She is also a trained hypnotherapist. Visit her website ( http://www.doctorgorin.com) to view her growing library of psychiatric and health-related articles. Dr. Gorin's weblog can be viewed at http://debragorinmd.blogspot.com She can be contacted at couchdoctor415@yahoo.com

Raw Food For Better Health

A Good Raw Diet for Your Health - These days, we're seeing more and more instances of a variety of autoimmune disorders. Diseases like MS, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and a host of others seem to be on the rise. Some say that it's merely due to better diagnostic tools; and others say that it's environmental factors: pollution and the foods we eat that are leading to more people being hit by these maladies.

The Undiscovered Secret For Safer Surgery

Surgery carries undeniable risks with it, no doubt about it. But the dangers of anesthesia, of cutting, drilling, and using lasers is nearly always overshadowed by the overwhelming benefits of the surgery. What if there were a simple, safe way to avoid many of these pitfalls by significantly decreasing the amount of anesthesia a patient needs in order to stay safe anesthetized? Well, there is!

Prescription Drugs Safety Tips

While prescription drugs are very effective treatments for many diseases, it's important to know that no drug, prescription or over-the-counter, is completely safe. While drugs are crucial for controlling or curing illness, many have significant side effects. Learn basic tips to help reduce potential risks and get the most benefit from a drug.

Personalized Medicine - The New Era, Genetic Assessments and You

This article briefly touches upon the fact that personalized medicine has always been a reality for health care practioners. In this day and age, knowledge of the human genome, genetics, DNA, and genetic propensities for illness has opened up a new door regarding personalized medicine and nutrition.

Which Drug is Most Frequently Implicated in Childhood Colitis?

Ulcerative colitis usually does not affect the full thickness of the wall of the large intestine and rarely affects the small intestine. I have seen the info on colitis just would like to see if there is anything else that can be done. The cause of ulcerative colitis is unknown, and currently there is no cure, except through surgical removal of the colon.