Here Are Different Types of Birth Control

Contraception is a term used to prevent pregnancy. There are different types of them around. Some are used by men while others are for women.


There are two major methods of birth control namely barrier or hormonal. Aside from that, the other types include sterilization otherwise known as surgery, withdrawal, natural family planning and the simplest which is abstinence.

Let’s talk about each of them.

• The first is the barrier method wherein the male or the female uses a condom to prevent the sperm from ever entering the female’s uterus. The male condom comes in many brands, color and flavors and is usually made of latex rubber. This is placed over the penis when it is erect prior to intercourse.

The female condom on the other hand is made of polyurethane and is seven inches long. This allows it to protect the cervix, vaginal canal and the immediate areas surrounding the vagina. It is inserted into the woman’s vagina also prior to intercourse.

• Another barrier is known as spermicides. It is a chemical designed to kill sperm and this is available as foam, jelly, foaming tablet and as a vaginal suppository.

• You also have the diaphragm that is a soft rubber dome which stretches over a flexible ring that contains spermicides in the form or cream or jelly.

This is placed inside the woman’s vagina and placed over the cervix. Women should take note that this should not stay inside for more than 3 hours prior to intercourse.

• The cervical cap is a small cup made of the same material as a condom. It is also filled with spermicidal cream and inserted into the girl’s vagina and placed over the cervix.

• The last is the contraceptive sponge which is a soft saucer shaped device made from the same material as the female condom.

Now that we have discussed the different barriers, it is time to discuss about hormonal birth control methods.

Hormonal devices appear in the form or an implant, patch, pill or shot. They are designed to prevent the woman’s ovaries from releasing an egg monthly, cause the cervical mucus to thicken so the sperm will have a difficult time penetrating the egg or thin the lining of the uterus which reduces the chances of a fertilized egg from ever implanting on the uterus wall.

Some experts believe that they are very effective but they cannot protect you from sexually transmitted diseases or STD’s.

• Birth control pills can be acquired from your health provider. Depo-Provera is an injection that costs a little bit more than the pill and can prevent pregnancy for 3 months. Something similar to Depo-Provera is lunelle but this can only prevent pregnancy for up to one month.

• The Nuva Ring or vaginal ring is a flexible ring that is inserted into the vagina for three weeks before this is removed and replaced with a new one. The ring contains chemicals such as estrogen and progesterone that releases this into the body.

• The birth control patch works like the ring as it releases hormones into the body while the IUD is a small plastic device that contains hormones and copper and changes the cervical mucus to decrease the chances of an egg from fertilizing.

• Withdrawal is simply removing your penis out of the girl’s vagina before ejaculation. Sterilization closes the fallopian tubes permanently and this is better known as tubal ligation. Men can have the same thing and this is called a vasectomy.

• Natural family planning is simply controlling the number of kids that you want to have.

• Abstinence is not engaging in sexual intercourse at all that is perhaps the most effective type of birth control.

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Understanding The Different Types of Birth Control Pills

There are many different types of birth control pills. Women nowadays have a lot of option when it comes to this subject. That is great news. The only downside of it all is how those pills affect a woman's body to accumulate the pounds and gain weight.

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Have You Heard Of The Birth Control Patch

If you don’t like wearing a contraceptive or taking it orally, you can slap it to your skin because there are birth control patches available in the market.


The birth control patch is a thin, beige colored, four and a half centimeter square patch that is applied to the skin. Each patch contains hormones that release chemicals into your bloodstream.

The chemicals found in the patch are progesterone and estrogen that are designed to prevent ovulation which is the release of an egg from the ovaries during a female’s monthly cycle. When this happens, a girl can have intercourse without the risk of getting pregnant.

The birth control patch also does something else and it thickens the mucus that is produced in the cervix making it difficult for the sperm to ever reach the eggs. Sometimes, the hormones themselves may affect the lining of the uterus so if ever the egg is fertilized, it will have a difficult time attaching itself to the walls of the uterus.

Proper usage of the birth control patch is done based on her monthly menstrual cycle. This will be applied to the skin for 3 weeks in a row and then on the fourth week, she remains patch free so she can have her monthly period.

The patch should be applied to one in four areas of the body namely the abdomen, buttocks, upper arm or torso. The trick is making sure that the patch is placed on the same day each week because this is the only way to make sure that it is effective.

So, if you decide to put on a patch on a Tuesday, this should be replaced on Tuesday the following week. Once you remove the old one, put the new one close to the previous area as this avoids skin irritation. Do not apply the new patch if the skin has a cut, is color red or irritated.

First time users of birth control patches are advised to use an additional form of contraception during the first 7 days of use. This is a failsafe in the event that the birth control patch falls off.

Birth control patches are waterproof and sweat proof so you can continue doing your daily routine. You must never apply soap and other skin products because this may affect its ability to stick on your skin.

Because the birth control patch releases chemicals into the bloodstream, you may experience some side effects. This includes abdominal pain, breast tenderness, fluid retention or raised blood pressure, irregular bleeding, headaches, menstrual cramps and nausea.

Not all women may also use birth control patches. If you are 35 years of age, suffer from blood clots, chest pain, diabetes, high blood pressure, headaches, known or suspected tumor, hepatitis, heart diseases and allergic to patches, it is advised that you find another birth control method.

Some drugs may also complicate the effectiveness of the birth control patch. These include certain antibiotics that are used to treat seizures, migraines and tuberculosis. When you speak to your doctor about birth control methods, it is best to undergo a physical examination and reveal to him or her any other relevant information about your medical condition.

Birth control patches are easy to use. You just have to put it in the same area each week and best of all, it doesn’t cause any interruptions when you are having sex.

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What Are The Different Forms of Birth Control

Although there are many different forms of birth control, some women are afraid to take any of each because they are scared of the side effects. The most common that these pills have as an effect relates with the issue of gaining weight.


Ask a woman who is not afraid of getting fat. You will not find so many. But if indeed there is a case wherein a woman chooses to gain more weight for health related issues, they will resort to other means. This is especially true if the person involved is not sexually active and don't have a dependence on birth control pills.

But if the person who wants to gain weight and has also used the pills, she may just continue doing so for the purpose of adding up more pounds. There is nothing wrong with that especially if she is only doing what she thinks is right.

A woman knows her body better than anybody else. But to get a scientific truth to the claims, she may also opt to see a doctor to ask for advice on what pills to take for the purpose of adding more weight. If that is not what she wants to happen, she may also ask for a suitable birth control that will match her body type.

Other Forms of Birth Control
If you don't want to depend on the pills to avoid getting pregnant, there are other types of contraception that you can choose from. For whatever reasons, may it be because you don't want to add on to your weight or whatever else, here are some of the other types that you can choose to avail.

Implant Contraception
Through this method, a rod will be inserted under a woman's skin. This rod will release small amounts of progestin, a type of hormone, into the bloodstream. This is not so popular because it causes heavy bleeding.

Injected Ones
You can also opt to inject that contraception. This method can be done just once in every three months. Most of this type contains only progestin. This will stop a woman from ovulating and will halt the eggs that have been fertilized to be implanted on the uterine lining.

Condom for Women
This can also be called Fermidom or female condom. This can be likened to a loose pouch that is used to line the vagina. This has flexible rings at its two ends. This can be bought without prescription, but isn't really that popular that is why it is hard to find it in stores.

Condom for Men
This is being used by men during the sexual act itself to avoid his discharges from being transferred into his partner that may later cause pregnancy. This will also help prevent transmission of the diseases caused by sex.

The Natural Family Method
This can be done by religiously looking at your calendars. Women must take note when they last had their menstrual period so that they could avoid making love with their partners on those days when they are fertile.

The abovementioned are some of the different forms of birth control. Choose the one that fit you best if you don't want to opt for the pills. That way, you will avoid getting pregnant and you will also not be subjected to the pills' main side effect, that is gaining weight.

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Here Different Types of Birth Control Pills

Birth controls pills have been in use since 1960 when the US Food and Drug Administration approved it. Today, there are more than 40 different types to choose from which you can get from your local health rep.


Another name for the pill is called oral contraception. There are two types namely combination and progestin pills. Both are made of hormones and before you can buy it, you need to get prescription from your doctor.

Progestin pills were first introduced in the 1970’s. This pill does not contain estrogen so it does not always prevent ovulation. For this to work, the female must take this at a certain time during the day and this must be taken regularly because one missed pill could greatly reduce its effectiveness.

There are advantages using progestin pills. Since it does not contain estrogen, it can be used by nursing mothers as well as those who are suffering from certain health conditions such as migraine headaches, cardiovascular disease or thromboembolism.

The combination pill contains estrogen and progestin and there three types available.

The first is called Monophasic pills and this contains the same amount of estrogen and progestin because the hormone levels are the same. So, users are less likely to experience mood changes that are a direct result from fluctuating hormone levels in the body.

Some examples of these are Alesse, Brevicon, Desogen, Levlite, Loestrin, Modicon, Nelova and Yasmin. The newest among them is Seasonale that was introduced into the market in 2003. Each pack contains 91 tablets and is designed to prevent menstruation for the entire time period. Tests have shown those who take it will experience only 4 periods in one year.

You also have multiphasic pills that were introduced 10 years after progestin was made available to the public. Just like the others, the person has to take them at a specific time. Some say this is an improvement than those which came out in the past because of reduced number of incidents of side effects associated with birth control pills such as amenorrhea, breakthrough bleeding and spotting.

Biphasic pills can change the level of hormones once during the menstrual cycle. Some examples of these include Jenest, Mircette, Necon 10/11, Nelova 10/11 and  Ortho-Novum 10/11.

The third type is called triphasic since it contains three different doses of hormones. Taking them will gradually increase the dose of estrogen and progesterone into your body. Examples of these includes Cyclessa, Ortho-Novum 7/7/7, Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Triphasil, Tri-Levlen, Trivora, and Tri-Norinyl.

There are emergency contraceptive pills or ECP but these are not supposed to be used as a contraceptive. It is designed to protect the woman after unprotected sex and so far, only one pill has been approved by the FDA and this is called plan B that contains the progestin called levonorgestrel. The difference between the other birth controls pills to this is one is that you can purchase this over the counter.

What type of birth control pill should you use will depend on what your doctor will recommend after you have undergone your medical evaluation. One thing that you may have to deal with regardless of what you take is the side effects. Until such time that doctors have developed a better pill, this is something you will have to deal with to prevent getting pregnant.

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Best Of Candid Look into Yeast Infections

What may arguably be the most commonly known yeast infection or form of candidiasis in the world today is thrush, which affects mostly female genitalia. (It is rare, though not impossible, for men to
contract the disease.) But yeast infections actually do not limit themselves to either gender, and simply affect certain areas of the human body.

Yeast infections are infections confined specifically to the skin or mucous-like membrane, caused in human beings by a genus of fungi called Candida. It appears in laboratory-cultured agar plates as large, round colonies colored white, cream or whitish-gray. One of its most famous (or rather infamous) species is Candida albicans, though it must be noted that Candida albicans is not the only species that causes yeast infections in human beings.

Candida albicans lives peacefully with other flora in the human body, its growth kept in check by a certain bacteria. It makes its home inside the dark, warm, wet areas of the body. This is why yeast infections are found in areas such as the ears, the mouth, the blood, the gastrointestinal or “gut” area – and yes, the area “down there.” However, it also likes human skin, particularly warm, wet sections which like skin folds and armpits.

Candidiasis is also called “yeast infection” is because Candida albicans’ normal form is that of single oval yeast cells. When in yeast form, it duplicates itself through budding. This means the cells create genetic clones of themselves through bulbs that “grow” out of them. These bulbs stay attached to the parent cells for a while before letting go.

So what actually causes yeast infection? First, the human body’s temperature must be at a specific level and the pH levels must be balanced, two of the conditions necessary for Candida albicans and its partner bacteria to grow without disturbing other flora. But when the temperature and pH levels change, these bacteria die. This leaves the Candida albicans cells free to change into fungi and to replicate with no control over themselves.

Candida albicans fungi mark their territories during this population boom by causing any of these sensations: burning, itching, soreness, or tingling. Sometimes, two of these sensations can be felt at once. It’s a bad idea to scratch the irritated areas, since this act would only compound the overgrowth of the fungi.

Other signs include fatigue, drowsiness, muscle aches, pain or swelling in the joints, dizziness, fluid retention, tissue swelling, loss of balance, lack of coordination, lack of concentration, poor memory, mood swings, depression, anxiety, irritability, and cravings for sugars, carbohydrates and alcohol. But these are also common symptoms for other sicknesses, so they must be taken into consideration along with more reliable indicators.

The overgrowth also causes specific side-effects in afflicted areas. To name a few, yeast infections create white-or cream-colored patches inside the mouth, reaching as far as the soft palate. They cause digestion problems and make even bowel movement difficult. Afflicted penises have patchy sores near the head or on the foreskin. Candidiasis is also responsible for discharges from the ear, the bowels (in the stool) and the genitalia.

Yeast infections can cause serious, sometimes even fatal, diseases. This is particularly true for sufferers with weakened or underdeveloped immune systems, diabetes, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). However, sufferers can be permanently cured through immediate and proper diagnosis and medication.

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Here Are Couple of Tips to Prevent Yeast Infection

It’s not that difficult really. There are a number of simple and easy to follow ways in preventing yeast infection. You don’t have to make things as complicated as they sound. Simple, straight to the point prevention tips as well as solutions or cure can help make your life a lot easier and a lot comfortable
compared to having a yeast infection. A couple of tips to prevent yeast infection are to follow so sit tight and continue reading.

Yeast infection results from the increase growth of the fungi Candida. The fungus is present in most of us so there’s no actual ways of preventing contact with the said bacteria. However, what you can avoid is having contact with a moist environment. Fungus grows well in a warm, most environment, and Candida is not an exception.

Among the things that you better avoid in order to prevent the full development of the infection includes wet clothing especially bating suits. These are quite obvious since we just mentioned that fungus likes growing in warm and wet environment. Tight fitted pants, most especially jeans are a no-no. You should avoid leotards and spandex as well. The tight contact of the clothes to your skin prevents the area to breathe. The close skin contact also might cause some uncomfortable feelings and also trigger some reactions worsening the situation.

Nylon material on your underwear is also a good thing to avoid. Cotton would be ideal choice being clean and has a fabric that allows breathing space. Likewise, avoid pantyhose. Or you really want to wear pantyhose, just wear cotton underwear underneath.

Other tips that we suggest cover your personal hygiene. Keeping yourself clean especially down there is something that all women should do. Keeping your vagina clean and dry  after you take a bath or a shower will help prevent the unnecessary growth of the Candida fungus. If you’re accustomed in using deodorant napkins, perfumed tampons, or other feminine hygiene products that have been colored or perfumed, start avoiding them right away. Stick with the all natural stuff. It’s better for you, for the environment, and especially better for me.

If you have a pretty active sex life, be sure to insist using condoms. Although yeas infection is not a sexually transmitted disease, having safe sex is just a good advice. Okay, let’s move on shall we?

Normally medicines should be good for you but in order to prevent yeast infection, it is best to avoid antibiotics since this will upset the balance of microorganism in your body favoring the growth of the Candida fungus. Unless prescribed by your doctor, stay away from antibiotic pills for a while.

Also, foods high in carbohydrates and sugar are a source of food for the yeast as well. So unless you want to keep feeding your yeast something that will help it grow, then you better stick with some fresh foods like vegetables and fruits for a while. Also, in eating your food, it has been recommended to eat fresh fruits and vegetables separately from cooked food. When you combined cooked and fresh, the food will tend to ferment in your stomach. The fermented food will harbor the growth of more bacteria aside from the fungus that you already have.

The more you should learn t control your food intake if you are diabetic. Monitoring and keeping the appropriate amounts of sugar level is a good way to keep you healthy as well as keep the fungus at bay.

These are but a few tips to prevent yeast infection. As you move along your research, you will get to know more about the techniques that can be used to avoid yeast infection as well as other methods that would help you cure the infection, in case you already have one.

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Dealing And Enjoying The Best Of Diet to Treat Yeast Infection

If you believe that yeast infection is something that you only get from direct contact with someone that has it, then think again. There are a number of possible causes of yeast infection. Among the possibilities include using oral contraceptive pills, taking oral steroids, about to get your period, being
a diabetic, use of applications like soap, douche, hygiene products, and wearing tight, damp, and/or warm clothing. There are a number of solutions to treat the infection. But unknown to some, having the correct diet to treat yeast infection is also as important.

Detoxing, that would be the more appropriate term when it comes to a yeast infection diet. Yeast infection is a direct result of an overgrowth in some areas of a natural occurring microorganism, or Candida albicans as it is known in the scientific community. There may be some variations in the suggested diet but most often than not, with a strict adherence to the regimen, it is possible to encounter some relief from the infection in as early as three weeks.

One of the basic necessities in diet programs is drinking adequate amounts of water. Water is an important aspect of detoxing. It helps flush out the toxins inside the body. It has been also suggested that fresh fruit juices and even green tea be added to the liquid intake. But emphasis is given to drinking at least eight glasses of water per day.

It is also important to eat food that is fresh. It would be best to void processed and highly fatty foods, not only for your yeast infection but for your general health as well. Don’t overcook your food as well. Foods have a tendency to loose much of its nutrients when heat is applied so be sure to cook your food just right. Steamed and sautéed would be the ideal cooking preparations. Vegetables don’t need cooking, just make it a salad and you’re ready to go. However, we do suggest that you avoid eating sweet vegetables like carrots, corn, potatoes, onions, and sweet potatoes.

Eat a lot of garlic. Garlic contains antibacterial properties which help in eliminating the overgrowth of yeast. Be generous with your fresh greens and limit your intake of meat. Fish, beef, lamb, poultry and eggs are okay in moderation. It has been suggested that an ideal serving of meat should be no larger than half the size of your palm. Adding more to this portion would be too asking to your digestive organs.

Sometimes there are other foods that you would like to include in your diet. Eating the foods you like will not affect much your diet as long as you eat them in moderation and in relatively small portions. Yogurt is something that you could add as well as small servings of brown rice or buckwheat.

For condiments, sea salt is okay as well as pure virgin olive oil. In fact, you can be liberal with the use of olive oil. Fresh ginger can be a good condiment for your yeast problem as well. Plus you can use it in a number of dishes like salads, tofu, meat dishes, and soups. Not only does it contain properties that might help treat the infection, but it is generally good for your digestion as well.

A good diet to treat yeast infection is a necessary step in the general treatment of the infection. You must learn to be healthy when it comes to your hygiene and the food you eat.

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A Complete Guide on How to Confirm a Yeast Infection

The best way how to confirm a yeast infection is either you make an appointment with your doctor to perform a diagnosis or taking an over the counter test. Your doctor will perform a physical assessment and take a sample of your vaginal discharge. An over the counter test, on the other hand,
works much like a home pregnancy kit test where the pH balance in your system is tested to confirm the presence of a yeast infection.

It is always a good idea to confirm that you have a yeast infection before finally deciding to treat it with over the counter medications. You may end up doing even more harm to your self if you treat a condition that you do not have. A yeast infection is a bothersome condition, to say the least. However, self medicating a suspected yeast infection may disrupt the normal pH balance of the vaginal area, causing the proliferation of microorganisms which may lead to actual infections.

The trouble with resorting to over the counter yeast infection medications right away is that women are using them for the treatment of something they do not actually have. A woman who goes through certain signs and symptoms in and around her vaginal area may immediately think she is experiencing a yeast infection. But the truth is there are many other infections that also demonstrate the presenting signs and symptoms of a yeast infection. These may include bacterial vaginosis, Chlamydia and even gonorrhea.

However, there are three specific signs and symptoms of a yeast infection: discomfort, appearance and odor.  If you are experiencing the stated signs and symptoms, you are most likely suffering a yeast infection.

The most obvious symptom of a yeast infection is the discomfort in the affected area. This is certainly one of the revealing and most common symptoms of a yeast infection. The kind of discomfort is often described as an intense burning or itching sensation. Pain in urinating is experienced because of the irritated lining of the vaginal area. In severe cases the infected individual may experience extreme discomfort in the area that carrying out normal daily activities such as walking is impaired. Sexual intercourse too becomes painful for most affected women.

Another way which will help you consider the likelihood of a yeast infect ion is by taking note of the appearance of the affected area. Most individuals afflicted with a yeast infection describe in their private area – specifically, in the vaginal area – in terms of an unsightly white clump of material that resembles curdled milk. Redness and soreness is evident in the affected area. A discharge may or may not be present, depending on the case. Note that only about 20% of women afflicted the infection report the presence of a discharge in the vaginal area. The discharge may be clear to whitish or slightly yellowish, and may be anywhere from thin to thick consistency.

Lastly, another sign that may help how to confirm a yeast infection is the distinct odor. The discharge may or may not be accompanied by a starchy odor, the kind that resembles bread or beer. Notice that yeast is used in bread making as a leavening agent, and in beer making for fermentation. That is because the infection basically is a fungal infection – commonly caused by Candida albicans, a form of yeast.

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Best Of Caution And A step ahead, preventing yeast infection

There are a lot of ways to avoid yeast infections. With just observing some basic hygiene and healthy lifestyles, you can avoid the embarrassment, anxiety and even anguish that are brought about by
having an infection. That is why we emphasize the advantage of knowing and applying the different ways in preventing yeast infection. It is better to be prepared now than suffer the consequences later.

Several experts on the subject have recommended a number of procedures for preventing the overgrowth of yeast in our body. From changing your diet to adapting several health preferences, one can decrease the chance of having a massive growth of yeast.

Among the first advices would be maintaining a clean body. Yeast loves areas that are most. The more you tolerate having these areas, the more chance you’ll have an infection in your hands. So it would be a good idea to keep the vaginal area dry whenever possible. This includes after you had a swim, had a rigorous exercise, or had taken a shower. Dry the area thoroughly. Take off wet clothing immediately. You never want to give the yeast an opportunity to grow.

Speaking of clothes, a better chance of preventing such an infection would be to wear clothes that are made from light materials and provides enough ventilation. There’s a higher chance that the yeast grow excessively in the vaginal area due to wearing tight pants, jeans and other pieces of clothing. It would be better to wear cotton made clothes to allow the skin to breathe and helps with the prevention of yeast overgrowth. Cotton panties would be a better choice than nylon and lycra since the latter two can trap air which is an ideal environment for yeast growth. Panty hoses are also not recommended unless you wear cotton underwear underneath.

Maintain a healthy and clean body. That is a basic necessity and should be observed whether you have or don’t have an infection. Washing your heads every time you go to the bathroom would be a good start. Also be aware that scented tissues, pads or tampons, feminine spray products, and even deodorants can cause irritation to the vagina and can in turn increase the growth of yeast in the area resulting to a full yeast infection. And definitely avoid using douches since it washes away the natural protective membrane of the vagina. This leaves the vagina more susceptible to, not only yeast, but other infections as well.

Moreover, petroleum-based lubricants should be avoided during sexual intercourse. Water-based lubricants are a better option since it does not trigger the overgrowth of yeast in the vagina area.

Sugary foods might also trigger the growth of yeast. It would be a good idea then to watch your sugar intake. According to studies, yeast tends to grow faster with a higher level of sugar in the blood and in the digestive system. You might need to avoid sugary foods but plain yogurt is good for you. Yogurt contains microorganisms that help balance out the growth of yeast. It contains “friendly” bacteria so to speak. A cup a day of plain yogurt might help prevent the growth of yeast.

Prevention is definitely a great move against yeast infections. If more women learn to adapt a lifestyle that is not ideal for yeast growth, then they will have no problems with the physical stress as well as emotional effects the infection brings. Simple, small actions can do wonders in preventing yeast infection.

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Now Is The Best Time To Be aware of the various symptoms of yeast infection

Yeast is a fungus. Yes that’s something you should know about. Why? Well, because knowledge is part of finding a solution to your problems. The truth is, vaginal infections do vary. Despite some inherent similarities, there are different causes of the infection and each one may require specific
kinds of treatment. If you don’t know which one is which, you might end up applying a different treatment which may cause more hard that good I bet. Yeast infection symptoms don’t have much unique characteristics which would allow you to distinguish. Of course, we do encourage that you have your doctor examine your condition to get more accurate diagnosis and thus a more effective treatment.

Yeast, or Candida as it is known scientifically, are present on any normal human skin. Also, moist areas like the mouth and more specifically you vagina, are common places where yeast can grow. Do not be alarmed. According to studies, a large number of women carry yeast in their vaginal area. In fact it is said that almost 50% of women have yeast. So, if it is normal why the infection? There are actually several reasons, one of which is when there is an excess presence of yeast in the area. Another one is when new yeast materials are placed into the same area.

Some other reasons include taking oral contraceptives, diabetes mellitus, use of vaginal sprays like perfume and even hygiene sprays for women.

There are several tell tale signs that you might have some infection in your sensitive parts. But like what have been mentioned earlier, the symptoms of vaginal yeast infection have a number of similarities with symptoms of other infections

The first sign of possible yeast infection is experiencing itchiness in that region. There may be several other conditions where itchiness is the primary indication. That may be, but combining itchiness with the following other symptoms would help you narrow down your list of culprits and eventually identify the disorder as yeast infection. Other symptoms include burning, and soreness. A good indication also would be if pain is being experienced during intercourse.

Sometimes, pain is also felt during urination. You might want to have yourself checked since pain should never be ignored. If you feel pain, and this applies to all parts of your body, consult your doctor quickly. The matter might be worse than you earlier thought it was.


Also, the presence of vaginal discharge may be a good indication as well. Take note, however, that vaginal discharge is not always observed in women with yeast infections. Nevertheless, it is something that you should take note of. The discharge is often odorless and has a whitish color. The appearance and texture is similar to, pardon the comparison, to cottage cheese. Vulvodynia is the term used to describe the pain experienced in the vulvar area.

After knowing the symptoms and, of course, proper consultations from your doctor, hopefully your yeast infections might have been cured completely. There are times, however, when yeast infection occurs with the same women. An estimated size of 5% will experience problems of recurring yeast infections. The reasons why yeast infections recur may be due to more underlying medical conditions that you have.

For the most part, it would be best to observe closely your health and the various yeast infection symptoms to get to know what steps you would need to undertake next.

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Understanding And Examining Yeast Infection Causes

Candidiasis is the scientific name for yeast infection.  Yeast is everywhere in our bodies particularly in our mouths, abdomen, under arms, nail beds or any part of our body that has skin folds.  For women, yeast can usually be found under the breasts and the vagina.  But if the yeast in our bodies
reach more than the normal levels, that’s when yeast infection strikes.  Yeast infection causes our bodies to produce too much yeast and is triggered by a fungus called Candida Albicans.  This fungus likes to thrive in moist areas of our bodies.  The most common symptom of yeast infection is severe itching in the affected area.  

Common Yeast Infections

Yeast infection can happen to anyone.  In fact, it affects men, women and even children. The most common types if yeast infection are, vaginal yeast infections, thrush, diaper rashes and nail bed infections.

Vaginal Yeast Infection

The most frequent yeast infection in women is vaginal yeast infection when there is abnormal growth of yeast in the vagina that causes vaginal burning, itching and discharge. This type of infection is usually caused by taking antibiotics and steroids but it can also be prompted by pregnancy, sperm, diabetes and taking birth control pills.  Vaginal yeast infection happens more to women after menopause.

The first symptom of vaginal yeast infection is noticing a white cheesy discharge from the vagina that causes the area to itch.  Experiencing pain during sexual intercourse and urination is another symptom.

Thrush

Thrush is a yeast infection of the mouth.  Thrush can occur to people who take anti-inflammatory medicines, antibiotics or birth control pills.  A person is likely to get thrush if they are a smoker or wear dentures that are either too loose or too tight.  Mothers can also get thrush from their babies through breastfeeding.

An indication that of thrush infection seeing white creamy cuts that appear slightly raised anywhere in the mouth.  These cuts can sting especially if they are scratched off.  Other symptoms of thrush include having trouble swallowing and fever especially if the infection has spread to the throat

Diaper Rash

Diaper rashes can also be caused by yeast infection and it happens to babies not older than two years old and to adults who use diapers.  Since the candida fungus thrives in moist places, it’s not uncommon that it would infect the area where the diaper meets the skin.  Diaper rashes appear as bright red splotches in the skin and it can occur after taking antibiotics.

It’s easy to spot a diaper rash. The irritated area of a diaper rash can spread all over a baby’s bottom, their genitalia or in specific areas.  It can also appear in the folds of the skin.

Nail bed Infections

Yeast infection can also occur on the skin under the nails.  Aside from the common causes of yeast infection, nail bed infections also happen when the hands are exposed to water frequently or when a manicure had been badly done.    

Nail bed infections are painful and the area around the nail will appear red and swollen.  The worst kind of nail infection can cause the fingernail to separate from the skin so that the nail bed turns into an ugly shade of yellow or white.

Yeast infection is a treatable disease and it goes away without any complications.  These common types of yeast infections get cleared up in one to two weeks.  The best defense against yeast infection causes is having a strong immune system that will protect you from the recurrence of the disease.

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Best Way Of Facing the Facts of Vaginal Yeast Infection

Vaginal yeast infection, also known as candidiasis, is a brought about by the abnormal increase in the number of species of Candida, of which Candida Albicans is the most common culprit. A type of fungus, Candida Albicans is normally present on the human skin and in various areas of the body
where it is generally warm and moist.

Under a variety of conditions, a change in the environment where they live in causes them to increase in quantity beyond normal, causing the infection. Among the signs and symptoms of vaginal infection include: itching, burning and painful sensation in the vaginal area; redness and soreness in the affected region; a noticeable discharge. Encountering these may help you properly identify the signs and symptoms of vaginal yeast infection.

Itching, burning and painful sensation

For some women, the easiest way to identify if she is suffering from vaginal yeast infection is that she itches severely in and around the vaginal area. The itching may not be present at all times. But when it does, it itches so badly a lot she finds it difficult to perform normal daily activities, such as to ambulate.

Urination may also go together with a burning sensation, or be generally painful for her to do so. But this bothersome urination may also be present with other forms of infections, such as urinary tract infection (UTI). One good way to tell apart the burning sensation that is caused by a yeast infection from that which is caused by a urinary tract infection is to notice when exactly the sensation is experienced. The urine is acidic in nature. So if the burning sensation is felt when the urine reaches outside, then it is most likely brought about by a yeast infection. Urinary tract infection, on the other hand, causes a burning sensation as the urine passes through the urinary tract on its way out.

Redness and soreness in the affected region

A slight to severe redness localized in the vaginal and vulvar areas is another sign of yeast infection. Soreness and irritation of the said areas may also be presenting symptoms, which make sexual intercourse an extremely painful experience for the woman.

Unusual seepage down there

Most women associate a thick discharge that somewhat resembles cottage cheese with vaginal yeast infection. Its consistency may typically range from thick and not clumpy at all, faint yellow to white, and to thin and clear. The discharge may or may not have a starchy odor to it, something that resembles the smell of bread or beer. Yeast, by the way, is used in making bread as a leavening agent, and in the fermentation of beer.

Since not everyone who has vaginal yeast infection gets a discharge, still the best and easiest way for a woman to tell whether or not she is experiencing yeast infection symptoms is that she itches in and around the vaginal area.

Yeast infection in other body parts

As mentioned earlier, Candida is normally present in the skin and in most areas of the body that are warm and moist. This means that signs and symptoms of candidiasis may also appear in different areas of the body in many different ways.

Yeast infection may occur in the mouth, in diaper areas and skin folds. And in people with weakened immune system, such as those with AIDS, yeast infection may also affect the gastrointestinal tract, such as the esophagus and the stomach.

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Great Places Of Finding Yeast Infection Treatments

Yeast infection can strike at anyone at any age.   It’s a disease triggered by a fungus called Candida Albicans that causes the body to produce abnormal amounts of yeast.  Although yeast is found everywhere in the body, too much of it can be dangerous.  The most common types of yeast infection
are vaginal yeast infection, thrush, diaper rash and nail bed infection.  Yeast infection is a highly treatable disease that virtually goes away without any complications.  There are a lot of available yeast infection treatments for each type of infection and here are some of them.

Treating Vaginal Yeast Infections

Vaginal yeast infection is easily treated with over the counter antifungal creams like Miconazole, Tioconazole, Butoconazole, or Clotrimazole which should be applied to the infected area for one to seven days.  Using birth control methods like a condom or a diaphragm is not advisable during this period.  For pregnant women it’s best to consult a physician for a remedy.

To prevent vaginal yeast infection from occurring, avoid using douches, feminine sprays, scented toilet paper and deodorant tampons.  It is also best to wear cotton underwear and avoid wearing tight pants or panty hoses.  When wearing a wet suit or a bathing suit, it is recommended to change out of it right away.

Treating Thrush

The yeast infection of the mouth called thrush can be treated with medicated mouthwashes or lozenges that dissolve in the mouth.  A recommended mouthwash to use should contain nystatin that can kill the yeast fungus.

The best prevention for thrush is maintaining good oral hygiene by brushing the teeth at least twice a day, flossing at least once a day and using a mouthwash.  For those using dentures, clean them thoroughly before using it.  For breastfeeding mothers, it’s best to have a breast check up for yeast infections.

Treating Diaper Rashes

Diaper rashes caused by yeast infection can be treated with over the counter antifungal creams that contain nystatin or through supplements like acidophilus.

Protecting infants or adults from diaper rashes means keeping the covered area clean at all times.  It also helps to allow the skin to breathe by not using a diaper at least an hour a day.  It’s also recommended to use cotton diapers more often than the disposable ones since cotton allows the skin to breathe more easily.



Treating Nail Bed Infections

Yeast infections of the nail bed are more difficult to treat.  A prescription for an antifungal pill is needed but it can also be treated with antifungal laquer which is only proven to work in mild to moderate infections when the nails have not yet been infected by the fungus.

To prevent this infection from occurring and recurring is to regularly keep the skin dry and clean.  It is also advised to avoid contact with anyone who is infected with this disease. Wearing gloves when gardening also lowers the chance of nail bed yeast infection from occurring.  Another way to go about this is to avoid sharing personal items such as nail clippers or socks.

Yeast infections and its different types are highly treatable and preventable diseases which should last an average of one to two weeks and any time exceeding this means a trip to the doctor.  Information on yeast infection treatments and preventions are available through online medical journals and medical sites but for highly advanced states of yeast infection it’s always best to consult a physician.

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How To Calculate Carbohydrate Counting Diet

Carbohydrates a very big impact on blood glucose levels as they are converted to sugar
by the body in the process of turning the food into energy.  Too many carbohydrate
servings can increase blood sugar levels.  It is important for a diabetic to control the

number of carbohydrates that are eaten at each meal and balance the carbohydrates with
protein while limiting fat intake.

In this type of meal plan foods are grouped into three different categories:  carbohydrates,
proteins, and fats.  The majority of foods that you eat contain carbohydrates and this will
be the largest food group.  Foods in this group include:

* Grains – breads, crackers, rice, cereal, pasta
* Dairy – milk, yogurt
* Vegetables that are considered starchy – corn, peas, and potatoes
* The rest of the vegetable family
* Fruit, including fruit juices
* Desserts and other treats – chosen in limited amounts

This diet will require you to measure your foods for serving sizes and read food labels to
determine how many servings are carbohydrates it should be counted as.  It is standard to
consider 15 grams of carbohydrates as one serving.  For instance, if you are having
crackers as a snack and are allowed one serving of carbohydrates you would look at the
food label to figure out how many crackers you can have.  If the serving size is 20
crackers and that equals 30 grams of carbohydrates, for a diabetic that would be
considered two servings.  In this example, you would half the serving size and eat 10
crackers to equal 15 grams of carbohydrates.

After some time and experience you will become adept at counting carbohydrates and
knowing what foods work well with your blood glucose levels and what ones don’t.  No
two diabetics respond the same way to every food, you will need to learn what your own
ideal diabetic diet is.

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Understanding Wonderful Benefits of the Exchange Diet

The exchange diet is one that allows you to pick and choose the foods you eat from each
of the six food groups based on portion sizes.  When you begin eating with this diet, it
may seem like a lot of work but as you get used to the portions sizes and the common

substitutions that you make it will get easier.

One of the benefits of the exchange diet it the flexibility you have in your meal planning.
As long as you are eating the correct number of exchanges from each food group you will
maintain better control of your blood glucose levels.

If you get bored quite easily by eating the same food day in and day out, the exchange
diet might be for you.  There are endless possibilities to combine different foods together
at meal times.  You can have broccoli for dinner three nights in a row but make it a
completely different meal each time.  One night you can have one small potato, ½ cup of
steamed broccoli and a one ounce pork chop; the second night have ½ cup of cooked
pasta tossed with ½ cup of broccoli and one ounce of cooked chicken; and the third night
try 1/3 cup of rice mixed with ½ cup of broccoli and one ounce of lean ground beef.

The exchange diet also takes the guess work out of meal planning for diabetics.  It is laid
out in a very straight forward and easy to understand manner.  If there are foods that you
cannot find on the exchange list given to you by your dietician, call and find out which
group it belongs too and what a proper portion size is.

At first you should weigh and measure your foods to ensure you are using the proper
amounts but as time passes you will be able to do this by sight.

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Some Great Benefits of a Healthy Diabetic Diet

Benefits of eating a healthy diet are for everyone but for a diabetic there can be even
more reasons to follow a nutritious meal plan.  Keeping a stable blood glucose level is the

biggest reason for a diabetic to follow a diabetic diet.  It takes commitment and patience
to stick with the diet and plan out all meals each week.  But the more that it is done the
easier it will become.

Another benefit of eating a healthy diabetic diet is reducing the amount of insulin that is
needed.  By eating good carbohydrate choices and lean meats you will lower the insulin
requirements for your body.  The foods you eat all affect on your blood sugars and when
you do not choose the best foods for your body it will need more insulin to process them.
In addition to extra insulin requirements, you will suffer from high blood sugars also
known as hyperglycemia.  This condition can have serious long-term effects on your
body and its organs.

By continuing with a healthy diet and combining it with regular exercise you can lose
excess body weight.  This too is good for your insulin requirements and blood glucose
levels.  By incorporating exercising into your daily routine you can give your body’s
metabolism a boost and help it process the foods you are eating.  When the foods you
take in are healthy choices your body is going to function better.

If you do not follow a healthy diet you can suffer from:

* Low blood sugar from not eating enough – hyperglycemia
* High blood sugar from eating too much or eating the wrong foods –
hypoglycemia
* Gain weigh and in turn increase your daily insulin requirement
* Lack the energy needed to exercise on a regular basis

Eating well can help control your diabetes and prolong your life expectancy.

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Producing The Best Of Artificial Sweeteners for Diabetics

The food industry has come up with a solution for people on diets or with diabetes that
have a sweet tooth.  They are known as artificial sweeteners and they are used in
everything from chewing gum, coffee sweeteners, and even baking.  There is some

controversy over the use of them as some of them are totally synthetic and others are
derived from the actual sugar plant.  But to a diabetic who doesn’t want to give up on
their favorite pop or chewing gum they can be a life-saver.

The four different kinds of artificial sweeteners are:  saccharin, aspartame, sucralose,
acesulfame potassium.  Each of these types can be found under various product names
and brands.  Not all are made the same way and they have different uses.  Some you can
buy in liquid or powdered form for baking needs and others like aspartame is only found
in foods that you purchase pre-made.

 The use of these artificial sweeteners will not raise blood sugar and are safe for a
diabetic to use.  Care and attention is still needed because the food items you put sugar in
or on most likely will have an affect on your blood sugar.  Still follow your diabetic diet
but use some artificial sweeteners to make it a little sweeter.

Some diabetics may want to use honey as a substitute for sugar.  You certainly can make
this substitution, however, honey is very similar to sugar in carbohydrate content and the
effects it will have on your blood glucose level.  It is best to enjoy honey in small
moderations if at all.

Aspartame has been linked in some medical studies with Alzheimer’s disease.  Speak to
your doctor about the benefits and risks of using any of the artificial sweeteners if you
have any concerns about the potential health risks.

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Best And Easy Meal Planning for Diabetics

Meal planning is essential to a successful diabetic diet.  It will prevent times when you
don’t have anything ready for dinner and grab something that you probably shouldn’t be
eating.  The planning of meals should begin before you head to the grocery store in the

form of a list and meals you are going to make for those ingredients.

Once a week you should sit down and plan what meals you are going to eat and make for
the next week.  When you are making your meal plan, don’t forget to include all meals
and snacks too.  If you are hungry and know what your next meal is going to be you are
going to be better prepared.

In the beginning, meal planning will take some time.  Depending on what diet your are
following (the Exchange Diet, Counting Carbohydrates, or the TLC Diet) you are going
to have to get used to the foods you can have, the portion sizes and how they can be
cooked.

Plan each day out in its entirety.  Make it realistic; don’t plan to make lasagna on a night
that you know you won’t be home until late.  Save the meals with more preparation for
when you have time and make extra so you can have left-overs when time is tight.

When you are in the grocery store, do not go hungry.  If you do, there is more chance that
you will buy food that you do not need.  Another trick while you are pushing around the
cart is to only get what is on your list.  If you are in line paying for your food and notice
something that snuck its way in – put it back.  This will not only make sure you stick to
your meal plan but can save you money too.

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How Simple To Adjust your Diabetic Diet for Special Occasions

Birthday parties, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and more are holidays and special
occasions that are centered on food.  For most people these are times to anticipate the
celebration and the eating.  For a diabetic it can be a stressful time, you want to partake in

all of the good food too but most times it is not made with a diabetic in mind.  If the
frequency of these events is not too often, you can adjust your diet for special occasions
so you too can have some of the treats available.

The hardest part about preparing for a special occasion is if you do not know what is
going to be served.  If this is the case, a quick call to your host or hostess can be made.
Most people will not mind you asking especially if you have dietary needs that need to be
taken into consideration.  Once you do know what is being served, plan your meals for
that day accordingly.  You may want to have fewer carbohydrates with your breakfast
and snack to make up for the extra ones you will have at a birthday party where pizza is
being served.

Another option for special occasions is to offer to bring a dish for everyone to share.
Make it something that you enjoy as a treat but still follows the guidelines for your
diabetic diet.

For family favorites and traditions, be creative and look for ways to make the same dishes
with less fat or sugar.  You can do this by substituting regular sugar for sugar substitutes
or choose whole wheat flour instead of white for the extra fiber content.

During the holidays and other occasions, closely monitor your blood sugars.  Even with
extra care, the change in your diet can still result in a blood sugar that is too high or low.

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Complete Details On A Diabetic Diet for Vegetarians

If you are a vegetarian who has been diagnosed with diabetes, you can still maintain your
diabetic diet.  In some cases a vegetarian diet may be a healthy way to keep your blood

glucose levels stable - that is if you are eating lean high-quality proteins and are
following other rules for eating as a diabetic.

As a lot of vegans and vegetarians eat a larger amount of fruits and vegetables in a day
than a non-vegetarian and their fiber intake is much higher too.  An increased amount of
fiber in a diabetic’s diet can help blood sugars because it slows down the process of the
body digesting carbohydrates.  A vegetarian’s diet is usually lower in cholesterol as well
and it can help ward off cardiovascular disease including heart attacks and strokes.

If you are diabetic and are considering a switch to a diabetic diet some of the benefits you
might derive include a higher rate of weight loss and better blood sugar readings.  This is
dependant on the types of vegetarian meals you choose as some meatless meals can be
just as fattening as ones that contain meat.

Speak to your doctor and dietician before making the switch.  You will need information
on how to transition yourself to your new diet.  You will also get a list of meat
alternatives you should eat in order to get enough protein in a day.  These can include
tofu, nuts, eggs, and seeds.

As with any change, once your switch to a vegetarian diet give yourself and your body
time to adjust.  There are many recipes and ideas for vegetarian dishes and you will find a
lot of variety and flexibility in the meals that you prepare.  Check your blood sugars
frequently to make sure your blood glucose levels remain stable during the change.

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Best Way Of Getting it right, diagnosing yeast infection

Knowing what you have is always part of the battle. In case of medical conditions it is highly important to get the right diagnosis to get receive the proper treatments. In some cases, a wrong assessment of a condition or illness will result to more complications and can even lead to death. The
same is true with diagnosing yeast infection. More often than not, people will not consult their doctors because they believe that what they have read on the internet suffice to make an accurate diagnosis of the condition that they have. Unfortunately, that is not always the case.

Yeast infection has been one of the more common infections that are often misdiagnosed. Thinking that what they have is yeast infection, women will often buy and apply various treatments in their attempt to cure a condition that they do not have in the first place. So instead of being cured of a simple condition, these women will end up with a more complicated condition requiring full treatment procedures. They will then have to spend twice the time and twice the money for their treatment. It’s totally a waste.

Why does this keep happening? There are a number of reasons really but one of them is the fact that we think we’re better than the doctors we come to for help. Some of us think that we are paying these doctors too much for simple diagnosis that we can do ourselves. Or we think we are paying too much for the medicine that they prescribe.

Other times we find our selves in a position as experts in a filed few, if there’s one at all, of us really know about. Just because we have experienced having an itch or infection once or twice we think that we already know everything, from causes to treatments. When faced with an itching predicament, first thing you should do is wash the area with soap and warm water. This way you can eliminate some of the other causes of itchiness in the affected area.

Now in terms of cleaning the affected region, one should avoid using various products like douches and hygiene washes since these can easily irritate more the vaginal area. Also, keep in mind that antibiotics can aggravate yeast infection so it is recommended that one should not take any antibiotic pills when one has yeast infection. In fact, even taking a single antibiotic pill can worsen the infection.

Also, it is best not to panic in situations that you think you have yeast infection. Sometimes the whitish discharge is just part of your menstrual cycle. The same goes with pain and discomfort. However, if you are feeling pain that seems to quite unusual, then consulting your doctor would be the best action you should take.

Recurring infections should also be looked at by your doctor. If despite several medications, the infection keeps coming back bringing with it the other symptoms of the condition, then checking with your doctor is an absolute necessity. There may be some underlying conditions behind which you failed to notice or failed to consider.

Diagnosing yeast infection should not be done by amateurs like you and me. Getting a right diagnosis is imperative to have a treatment schedule that would efficiently help you solve your existing problems.

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Tests as Important Assessment Tools On Mental Health

Central to mental health assessment is the use of reliable and validated assessment tools. Among them are the mental health tests.


In order to accurately conduct diagnosis, prognosis and assessment of symptoms, mental health professionals have developed various types of tests that are apt to the needs of each mental health issue. Obviously, only the subjects within the concern of a specific issue are covered in the tests. Here are some of the basic categories of mental health tests:

Neuropsychological Tests

If a neuropsychological cause is suspected in an individual, the clinician would use a paper-and-pencil test to determine any deficit in sensorimotor and cognitive capacities. These may include a tendency to disregard one or several items in a visual field or attention problem. Among the most common neuropsychological tests is the Bender-Gestalt Test which aims to asses the person's sensorimotor skills by making them reproduce nine drawings.

A person who may have a diagnosable mental illness may be able to reproduce different figures, change the positioning of the figures drawn or change the parts of some of the figures copied. After this activity, they would be asked to remember the image. Most people with mental disorders usually have memory deficits. While this test may not sufficiently identify the specific type of brain damage among people assessed, it is a reliable tool to conclude that a person may or may not have brain damage.

Intelligence Tests

While the use of intelligence tests is usually more productive in educational and industrial settings, it is however useful in determining whether a person is mentally healthy or not. In the clinical setting, these tests are used to have an insight on the person's intellectual capacities, strengths and weaknesses especially when mental damages are suspected.  These tests normally were designed to measure basic intelligence, abstract reasoning, verbal fluency and spatial memory. Results from intelligence tests are used in identifying to which bracket of intelligence a person belongs. People with relatively low scores on IQ tests have some forms of mental disability while those scoring way beyond the average individual may have lower susceptibility to the development of mental disorders. However, this should not be taken as a generalization.

Symptom Questionnaires

The most prevalent type of test these days, symptom questionnaires is used by clinicians and laymen alike. In their original forms, symptom questionnaires are used to directly asses whether a person manifests or feels symptoms of a specific disorder. However, such questionnaires could also cover a wide variety of symptoms from different mental disorders.

Personality Inventories

These are questionnaires that are helpful in assessing people's typical manner of behavior, thinking and feeling. These provide the fundamental information on assessing a person's well-being (a very important aspect in mental health), ways of coping, self concept, perception, attitudes, beliefs and vulnerabilities.

Versions of these personality tests are normally seen on online resources. In fact, many people get their mental health assessments from these resources. While these may be helpful as self-help tests, many of the mental health tests on websites are not validated and may have low reliability. These are powerful tools however many are not tested for their validity and reliability. If these two important concepts of psychological testing are not met, the purpose of the test may be defeated.

In case you are using online tests, please be aware that it should be PhD-certified or PhD-approved. Any other types of certifications confirming that someone expert in the field of psychological testing has given his approval of the tests are helpful.

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How Common Mental Disorders Are On Mental Health Statistics

At any time of the year, there is one person in every group of five people who has a diagnosable mental disorder. This means that 1/5 of all families in the United States have family members who are experiencing developing or aggravated symptoms of mental impairment. This translates to
approximately 20% of the American society.

Mental health or the lack of it is experienced by all types of people in America- from children to elderly, from Native Americans to Hispanics, from physically healthy individuals to those who have chronic diseases.

General statistics

a. Nearly 9% of the American general population suffers from all forms of phobias.

b. 5% have major depression

c. Nearly 4 million individuals suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

d. 2 million Americans have Schizophrenia

e. MAnother 2 million have Bipolar Disorders

f. MNearly 2.5 million have Panic Disorders


Statistics on the Prevalence of Mental Disorders in Children

• It is estimated that around 7 to 12 million children have symptoms of psychological disorders.

a. ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – 5% to 10% of the children population is diagnosable with ADHD. It is the most prevalent clinical disorder among children. Half of all children with this psychiatric disorder do not receive diagnosis.

b. Manic Depression – 30% of all children aged 6 to 12 ld who have manic depression are likely to develop Bipolar Disorder, a type of disorder that has symptoms of mania or a sense of "high" on activity plus periods of depression.

c. Conduct Disorder – 10% of all American children have conduct disorder.

d. Depression – In every group of 33 children there is one who has symptoms of clinical depression

e. Learning Disorders – Almost 20% of all American children have learning disability. Half of them have diagnosable ADHD.

f. Suicide – Suicide is the fifth leading cause of death among children.


Statistics on the Prevalence of Mental Disorders in Young People

a. General Data - Nearly 75% of all young people who suffer from mental disorders do not get the help they need. Like in the general population, 1 in every 5 adolescent have a diagnosable psychological disorder which include minor depression, drug-dependence, Attention Deficit Disorder, Anorexia Bulimia, Hypochondriasis, Gender Identity Disorders and Eating Disorders, and more aggravated disorders.

b. Anorexia Nervosa – This disorder is more common among females than males affecting an average of 150 individuals in any given time. Thus, 1% of all female young people population is affected by anorexia nervosa and 10% of all affected individuals die due to suicide, cardiac arrest and starvation.

c. Bulimia Nervosa – One to three out of 100 people show signs and symptoms of bulimia nervosa.

d. Anxiety Disorder – 10% of the young adult population have anxiety disorders.

e. Depression – One in every eighth individuals have clinical depression. One in every five young people have emotional problems and 30% of all adolescents who were diagnosed for emotional problems are depressed.

f. Juvenile Delinquency – More than 150, 000 American teenagers are under the criminal justice system. The majority of them have more than two mental disorders. 57% of all juvenile delinquents have reported of prior hospitalization associated with their mental problems.

g. Schizophrenia - In every 1000 adolescents, there are three people who are suffering from Schizophrenia.

h. Serious Emotional Disturbances – 10% of all young adults have severe disturbances in their emotional states.

i. Suicide – For ages 15 to 24, this is the leading cause of death. There are at least 500, 000 individuals who take their own lives yearly.


Statistics on the Prevalence of Mental Disorders in Adults

a. Depression – Depression is the leading psychiatric disorder among elderly affecting 5% of the entire elderly population.

b. 6.5 million Adult people have severe mental disorders.

c. In every group of 100,000 people, there are at least 240 of them suffering from a type of mental illness

d. 6000 adult Americans commit suicide each year

e. Approximately 1 million old Americans suffer from organic mental disorders

f. An estimated 15% of the adult population experience dementia

g. 1 million adult Americans have severe Alzheimer's disease

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Total Perspectives on Mental Health Recovery

If you have a chronic disease like heart attack or diabetes, you will have to live life with it. You will learn to adjust after each attack and would know the signs that there is an acute attack budding. The same is true with recovery from a mental illness. You cannot expect that during treatment, you will be
a renewed man. Symptoms would still be apparent and you would experience things that are sometimes hopeless and debilitating but still you have to adjust through them. And with each adjustment, you would feel that you are starting to move forward, leaving your mental illness behind.

Mental health recovery is all about improvement from a bad case to something better. It is a continuous process and definitely not a linear one. You would move from square one to square two but you should always be ready to move one step back. You would learn newer ways to control the symptoms of your mental illness and would have insights on how to cope with them. There would be a lot of disappointments and errors the results from these errors are oftentimes rewarding.

Mental health recovery is a lifelong process as much as mental illness took years to develop sometimes even decades. A person could struggle through years of being controlled solely by a mental disorder and will have to face a lifelong effort to get out of it. You may achieve a life beyond the chains of your previous mental illness symptoms but you would still have to bout with intermittent attacks of symptoms.

One crucial factor to all kinds of illnesses is early intervention. Someone who presents symptoms of schizophrenia during earlier stages have a better chance of easier recovery with early intervention than someone who has aggravated case. Likewise, any signs of relapse that are recognized and treated early could define the barrier between going through the same disorder again or completely shutting all doors towards total recovery.

However, recovery from a mental disorder is just one of the many parts of the process. A person suffering from mental illness should also work to restore his mental health or sense of well-being.

Many individuals who have histories of mental illness often resort to a life that is withdrawn from the public due to social stigma and discrimination associated with the mental disorder. This leads to impaired sense of self-worth thus invaliding the whole idea of recovery.

For most people, the hardest stage of the recovery process is not the beginning but the end. In this stage, a person has to reclaim everything that he has lost during the entire period he had the mental illness plus every lost opportunity that he would have taken prior to the onset of symptoms.

Sadly, reclaiming these bits of life is far harder than all the aspects of recovery combined. Going back to "what could have been" takes a very long time as well as mending the damages caused by the mental illness due to very limited opportunities opened to people who have suffered a mental disorder.

But this shouldn't be. You may not be able to go back to your previous job or do the things that you used to do but you could redirect your life to something different but equally rewarding. This has happened before to other people, it will happen to you.

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The Roles of Psychiatric Nurses On Mental Health Nursing

With the introduction of newer issues and recent needs, the concepts in mental health nursing or psychiatric nursing expanded dramatically. From the need to provide nursing care for mental health patients during the end of the 19th century, nurses are nowadays commissioned to provide
psychiatric-mental health services on a variety of settings.

A psychiatric nurse works on different settings such as community mental health programs, psychiatric hospitals and facilities, the academe and even in the criminal justice system. There are only two levels of psychiatric nursing: the basic and the advanced. Both of which have various responsibilities.

For the basic level, the psychiatric nurse will carry out the physician's orders. These are registered nurses who are equipped with the knowledge on developing, implementing and assessing nursing care plans; they also administer medications and provide direct nursing care. They are usually found in family-based settings, assisting the family members in dealing with a member's mental disorder. However, they may also be found in education settings where their primary role is to teach the public or other mental health care providers about mental health and psychological disorders. They may also assist with counseling and intervention.

On the other hand, registered nurses who also have a master's degree or a doctoral degree in mental health nursing could qualify as Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners. Having more advanced skills and knowledge on this field, they could practice assessments, diagnoses and treatments for patients of mental health. Depending on the state, they are also qualified to practice psychotherapy and case management, and prescribe medications. Also, they may choose to hold administrative positions in schools and hospitals and may also conduct researches of their own.

These are the basic roles of psychiatric nurses. But due to the development of further needs in the management of psychiatric disorders, the roles were expanded to meet the demands.

For example, the problems presented through the need of nursing care facilities in high security areas such as those similar in forensic nursing. The nurses working in this setting need to meet the balance between protecting the public from the potential harm caused by the patients and providing an environment that will also aim to offer therapeutic interventions.

Another change in the roles of psychiatric nurses is the extension of psychiatric services to prisons. This pose the challenge to psychiatric nurses to give the same mental health care services to inmates regardless of the boundaries set by the lack of facilities and trained people to do the work.

Lastly, the need to advance psychiatric custody to disordered individuals who are under the criminal justice system. As we may know, not all correctional institutions have dedicated units for inmates with psychiatric disorders. But in the past years, psychiatric facilities are being integrated into the criminal justice system. Because of the formation of the mental health courts, newer responsibilities were added to psychiatric nursing.

Mental health nursing, like many other professions, have met fundamental changes in the past recent years. This may be largely attributed to the improvements of newer facilities therefore newer needs for professionals which are mirrored in nursing professions. In many areas of psychiatric though, there is no doubt that there are fewer changes. However, as seen in the mental healthcare, these changes have prepared the way towards better systems and better people working in the field.  

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Dealing And Understanding What Mental Health Jobs Are

Now that you’ve finished your medical degree, it’s time to find a job. In hospitals or medical facilities, nothing can be more difficult and demanding as mental health jobs. That is why we often see a great demand of these jobs when we make job searches in the internet or in advertisements.
Also, the increase in mental patients in most facilities and institutions contribute to the increase in demand for these jobs.

Contrary to what most people think, there are many aspects of mental health. In the field of psychology alone, there are other areas of specialization such as neuropsychology, geropsychology and health psychology. There is also what we call school psychologists. These are the counselors in most schools and universities. Another kind is called developmental psychology, which focuses on a man’s psychological development through life. There is also what you call industrial psychology, which focuses on the mechanics of employees in the workplace.

Mental health nurses are those who have graduated the regular nursing course. During the course training, they need to specialize in mental health in order to qualify as mental health nurses.

Doctors who specialize in mental health are commonly called psychiatrists. Each state would impose qualifications before one can practice. For most countries, they are those who graduated the regular physician’s course, and a few years of specialization in psychiatry. There is also a field called psychotherapy, which deals more on counseling and therapy instead of the clinical aspect of treatment.

Mental health jobs can also be found in medical schools where mental health courses are offered.

Aside from those mentioned, there are other jobs in the mental health field. Some of them are medical or hospital social workers, psychiatric technicians and other hospital personnel. Some mental health centers hire other hospital personnel such as dieticians, physical therapists, pharmacists, dentists, laboratory staff, radiologists, speech pathologists, optometrists, and many others.

As for the pay, the salary range for these jobs is quite wide. Depending on a person’s education and experience, one can earn twice as much as those who work in the same position. And like jobs in other industries, companies prefer applicants who are better qualified and trained. This can be seen in their educational background and previous job experiences.

Aside from the skills necessary to carry out their jobs, an unwritten qualification is added, and that is, their ability to care for the patients and listen to their needs. Mental health patients have extra needs than ordinary medical patients. That is why there is a need for mental health workers to be more patient and understanding than workers in other medical fields.

Health care industries shall continue to expand in the coming years. This means that more mental health jobs shall be available. If you want a job in the mental health field, it is easy to find one. You just have to know where to find them. Make a search for jobs wanted within your area. You can visit the website of the medical facility or company that you wish to work in to see their job opportunities. Or you may register in a job support website. These websites not only provide you with a list of the jobs available, they also provide articles on career advice, industry news and articles, and tips on job hunting and interview.

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Have You Heard Of Child Hearing Protection?

It is necessary to protect a child’s hearing. Using the hearing ability, a child is able to socialize and communicate and develop a good relationship. If you are really serious about protecting your child’s hearing then you should the following things: You should considerably reduce the volume of your
TV, stereo and radio.

When a child is in noisy surroundings then the child should use a hearing protection. Places such as cinemas, motor races and rock concerts make a lot of noise; hence, hearing protection is a must. When a child is near chain saws and law makers, then also he or she should wear a hearing protection.

Understanding normal speech becomes a difficult task for children who have hearing impairments. If your children are ignorant about effects and causes of hearing loss then you should make them aware of it.

It is very necessary that children wear protection when participating in outdoor games such as fencing, boxing, football, rugby and ice hockey. Proper protective equipment is a must while playing these sports. Negligence may damage your child’s ear.
There are many hearing devices available in the market that is extremely useful in child hearing protection.

A child’s ears are delicate; hence, child hearing protection is a must. In order to remove wax, you should take the help of soft cotton swabs, cotton wool or your fingers. All foreign objects must be kept away from your children. If you suspect something wrong in your child’s hearing ability then contact the doctor immediately.

You should that your child’s ears are protected from environmental elements such as snow, rain, heat and wind. You children should wear hats when walking under hot sun, especially during summers. Ear muff is another option to protect your child’s ears. Wearing ear plugs when attending rock concert can protect your ear from loud noise.

Some hearing diseases are responsible for child hearing protection. Diseases such as glue ears and otitis media may damage your child’s hearing ability. A common cause of hearing impairment in children is excessive noise. Undesirable sound is noise. Noise can be harmful to your child’s ear. In fact children should not be allowed to visit places where the noise levels are high.

Child infections such as chickenpox, measles or meningitis may be responsible for hearing loss. Certain medicines such as antibiotic streptomycin can cause hearing loss.

In some cases a physical child abuse is responsible for hearing impairment. In order to protect children from physical abuse child protection laws are being strictly implemented. A physical child abuse is considered a serious offence. Stringent action will be taken against those involved in it.

Today punishing children physically in schools is considered a crime. A severe child abuse may lead to permanent hearing damage. A permanent hearing damage has no medicine. Surgery cannot repair it. A hearing aid cannot restore your child’s hearing ability. A child’s ears are delicate, hence physical child abuse is not recommended.

An ear injury to a child that is caused by a physical child abuse may lead to permanent damage. Child hearing protection is necessary for the benefit of the child.

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Mental Health of Children The Aspect Budding Disorders

We would like to think that we have built our environments in such a way that they minimize the factors that could result to psychological and behavioral disturbances among individuals. Thus, optimizing our mental health. But statistics tell us that the majority of our population's mental health
is largely subjected to negative environments.

Complications brought about by negative environment

For many children, symptoms of psychological disorders are linked to the negative stressors in the environment. In the United States alone, one in every five children suffers severe physical abuse and one in every group of five lives below the poverty line. Additionally, psychosocial structures in cities where there is poor housing expose children to violence that could detriment their mental health. (You can imagine how many children in other countries which have far lower economic status and far fewer programs for child protection are subjected to negative stressors.)

Both of the above stressors are considered as traumatic experiences to children that could resurface as psychological disorders during adulthood.

A negative or a positive environment during childhood explains why there are adults who are more likely than not to develop psychological disorders and there are those who are not affected by these at all.

For example, children who repeatedly experienced sexual trauma or sexual abuse are most likely to develop dissociative disorders such as multiple personality disorder. The rate of victimization within intimate relationships only reinforces the dissociative response. Also, repetitive exposure to violence or to the activities of a dysfunctional environment could also contribute to the development of severe dissociative disorders. These mental illnesses root from the child's effort to deny the violence, abuse, or trauma they experience as coping mechanism so as to protect his mental wellness. However, failure to completely get over these experiences would result to the impairment of his psychological wellness and even his social and emotional well-being.

Parental deprivations

Some researchers assumed that the large difference in number of psychological disorders being treated these days as compared to prevalence in the past century is largely contributed by dysfunctional family structures and parental deprivations. Indifference and neglect by familial figures, maternal-social deprivations, isolation and separation from parents are viewed as the root causes of psychological disorders such as depressions, mental retardation, psychomotor impairments and the manifestations of autistic-like behaviors among children.

Pathogenic Parent-Child Relationship

The traumatic interpersonal relationship between a parent or a parent-figure and a child is viewed as a negative environment for the child's growth and development. This relationship only means that their relationship is structured in the manner that it damages a child's psychological well-being. These give stress to certain beliefs that are psychologically unfavorable to the child such as irrational beliefs on self-blame, irrational explanations on traumatic experiences, maladaptive behaviors, unconscious guilt, shame and doubt about oneself. These beliefs are very powerful and could lead the child to over generalize negative incidents.  

Children experience all sorts of negative environments including war and violence, daily stress, economic problems and accelerating negative effects of technological changes. But among these, the most aggravated is the disabling relationship he has with his immediate environment- his parents, his family and his direct interaction to his society. Above everything else, there is a need to modify these negative environments in order to develop children with better mental health and in the future, adults who can readily adapt to the stressors from their environments.  

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Benefits of the Carbohydrate Diet For diabetic Person

The carbohydrate counting diet groups foods into three main groups:  carbohydrates,
proteins, and fats.  You dietician will provide you with the number of carbohydrates you
can have in a day and how that is divided up amongst your meals and snacks.  Your

dietician will also educate you on how you can determine the numbers of carbohydrates
are in some of your favorite foods by reading food labels.

The biggest benefit of the carbohydrate counting diet is that it does not eliminate any
foods.  A diabetic can choose any food they wish to eat as long as they only eat enough of
it to meet their carbohydrate needs.  The trick to this is to choose wholesome foods that
will fill you up longer.  The same amounts of carbohydrates that are in a small handful of
potato chips are not equal to the two slices of bread you can have instead.  But it is nice
to know that if you really want to – once in awhile – you can treat yourself.

Another benefit is keeping a consistent amount of carbohydrates in your body.  This can
help regulate your insulin needs and control.  If your body has the same amount of
carbohydrates to process at the same times each day it will be beneficial to your health
and blood glucose readings.

When you choose a carbohydrate counting diet it is important to make sure you are doing
it correctly.  If you don’t you can too much or too little and both situations can be
detrimental to your diabetes.  Have a dietician teach you how to properly count
carbohydrates and closely monitor your blood sugar levels to make sure the diet it
working for you.

As with any new diet, give it time for you to adjust and learn how to plan your meals
properly.

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