Facts About Death Worth Knowing

Death is always sad but if you look hard enough, it can be quite interesting. This list may be macabre but it is also quite fascinating!

Economic Burial

Promessa is a Swedish company which offers economic burials, if that’s what the family of the deceased wants. They will first immerse the body in a certain chemical in order to freeze-dry it and then attach a machine to it which pulverizes it. The end result is that the body turns to dust.

Eating Enzymes

There are certain enzymes in our body which kick-start the digestion process and keep it going till the waste is ready to be removed. These are the same enzymes that devour your body on the third day of your death. The bacteria attacks the dead cells and a certain gas is released which adds weight to the body

Dead Cells

When the embryo is developing, a number of cells have to kill themselves. This is programmed and quite routine and happens so that the child is born with normal and not webbed feet.

Dead American People Are Not Environmentally Friendly

Americans that are buried in the U.S.A are not too eco-friendly. This is because about massive volumes of formaldehyde, ethanol and methanol are used to embalm the body. This fluid seeps into the soil and destroys it bit by bit. Cremations, on the other hand, release harmful noxious gases into the air which only enhances the holes in the ozone layer.

Devoured by Vultures

There is a certain group of people called Zoroastrians in India which place their family members’ dead bodies on the terrace. This is done so that they are eaten by vultures and so that the body is given back to nature.

21 grams

An experiment was carried out by a doctor in Massachusetts in 1907 with the help of a deathbed that was specially designed for the occasion. It was found that the human body loses 21 grams almost instantly. People believe that the soul weighs 21 grams and when it leaves the body, it loses that much weight.

Long Hair and Nails

Even though it is not known for sure, people believe that a person’s hair and nails keep growing long after his death. This is because they are both made of keratin and dead cells and therefore, the death of the body does not affect them all that much.

Lack of Oxygen

The most prominent cause of death is lack of oxygen, no matter what the scenario is. However, it’s a fact that you cannot kill yourself by holding your breath. When the brain does not get enough oxygen, the muscles start competing with each other and literally spasm out of control which is what kills the person.

Soapy Corpse

When a corpse is buried and if the combination of the temperature and humidity in the air is just right, certain tissues in the body will transform into a substance whose texture will resemble that of soap. This happens because of the damp environment and the lack of oxygen in the air

Get Buried in Outer Space

A US based company can send the remains of your loved ones into space as long as you are ready to pay them a hefty fee. A memorial service will be held and you can watch the launch.

No known cure Diseases

Modern medicine had seen dramatic advancement at controlling various diseases affecting man. Nonetheless, there still remains an assortment of diseases that has no cure. (click on sub title for more)

Common Cold
The common is a viral infection that is defined as an acute type of ailment that initially affects the upper respiratory tract. In the more advanced cases, the infection reaches the lower portion and can cause secondary infections that affect the middle ears and the eyes.

Cancer
This incurable disease has more than 100 distinct forms which is generally defined by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal and invasive cells in the body.

Asthma
Asthma is a chronic disease affecting the lungs. It generally leads to the inflammation of airways and causes shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing.

AIDS/HIV
AIDS is a contagious disease that affects the immune system. HIV is the pathogen that causes AIDS. An individual that is afflicted by AIDS are prone to a wide variety of malignancies and infections.

Diabetes Type 2
This incurable disease impairs the metabolism of carbohydrates resulting to the inability of the body to produce insulin and maintain the normal level of blood sugar.

Creutzfeldt – Jakob disease
This incurable and very rare disease is a highly degenerative ailment that attacks the central nervous system. The probability occurrence of this disease is placed at one in a million individuals.

Influenza
This incurable ailment is more commonly known as flu. There are three major types of flu designated as type A, type B and type C.

Lupus Erythematosus
This incurable disease is more commonly referred to as lupus. It is an autoimmune disease that results to inflammation in specific parts of the body.

Polio
This type of incurable disease is sometimes referred to as infantile paralysis. It is a highly infectious disease that attacks the nervous system which can lead to paralysis when not properly managed.

Ebola
This viral disease causes severe and extremely serious hemorrhagic fever which oftentimes results to death. It is zoonotic and also affects chimpanzees and gorillas.

Myth about cancer

Cancer is one of the most dreaded diseases affecting man. It is one major challenge whose treatment and medical solution has eluded experts and practitioners for many years now. Cancer easily leads the kind of diseases that are dreaded by most of us. It is essential that we slay all the myths and misconceptions that are associated with cancer. Here is our list of the top 10 wrong notions about cancer.

There is already a cure but medical science is still deferring its release
This is just one of those conspiracy theories that abound in our society today. This legend is all pure crap as this will definitely run counter to the Hippocratic Oath of medical practitioners and that is to save lives. Further, if there is indeed a cure for cancer, would it not be illogical for a pharmaceutical company to defer the release of a sure fire cash cow.

Cancer cases is on the rise
In its absolute terms, the statement is correct. However, we have to qualify this assumption by taking into account several variables that define the overall profile of modern society. It is essential that we look at the prevalence of cancer cases with the context of increasing population and life expectancy. Further, with the advent of modern technology, we are now witnessing the transfer and sharing of ideas and information. This leads to heightened awareness on the latest events and developments related to cancer.

Breast cancer only affects women
Not true. Both male and female can have breast cancer although the incidence is much higher in women while cases in male are stilled considered rare. It is estimated that 2000 American men are afflicted by breast cancer annually.

Surgery will lead to the spread of cancer in the other parts of the body
This is a medical myth and it is amazing that a lot still believes that such modality can do more harm than good for the cancer patient. This misconception may be traced back during those past times where medical practitioners could do no more than diagnose the disease and of which surgeries are entirely exploratory.

A positive attitude and outlook are the only things that you need to beat cancer
A positive attitude is indeed essential in the overall management of the disease. It is the reason why medical practitioners and staff maintain a pleasant and light demeanor when dealing with their cancer patients. However, it is just one element of the overall treatment approach.

Artificial sweeteners can trigger cancer
This is one myth about cancer which is obviously a product of intense marketing intramural in the corporate world. This notion was entirely based on a 1969 study where mice that were fed with cyclamate developed cancer. What was not mentioned about the study was that the mice in the experimental group were given doses of cyclamate which is equivalent to 800 cans of soda daily for an extended time period.

Large masses and lumps are cancerous
Some of these abnormal growths in our bodies are benign. However, it is important that one should undergo a thorough screening in order to ascertain if the lump of mass is cancerous, pre-cancerous or benign.

Cell phones can cause cancer
This is one of the raging controversies today although the general consensus is that there is no reason to believe that using cell phones predisposes one to have cancer.

There is no cure for cancer
This statement has to be properly qualified as we would have to go through some technicalities in order to come up with a valid answer. However, we can state that cancer is incurable but the patient suffering from cancer can be cured. It is patently false to tell someone that his cancer cannot be cured.

Cancers are all the same
This is the biggest misconception about the disease and is being complicated by the emergence of a slew of “cure all” fixes and remedies being offered in the market today. In reality, there are more than 100 types of cancer and they all have their peculiarities and differences. It is important to note that because of the divergent types of cancer, medical intervention in the management and treatment of these cancer types also varies.

Major Cause of Death

At the world’s current population over 57 million people die every year. The causes are varied, but there are ten diseases and accidents which are the major reasons behind these deaths.

Ischaemic Heart Disease – 12.6%
Commonly classified as heart attacks, this disease is characterized as reduced blood supply to the heart muscles. There are many causes behind the occurrence of this problem and they range from age factors, dietary habits, diabetes, smoking, hypertension and sedentary lifestyles among other aspects. It is the most common cause of death in Western countries and the reason behind most hospital admissions.

Cerebrovascular Disease- 9.7%
These are generally known as strokes and are related to diseases related to the vessels supplying blood to the brain. Hypertension is the most important cause behind this. It damages the blood vessel lining, causing neurological damage and complications which often lead to death. Swift medical response can often prevent fatalities.

Lower Respiratory Infections- 6.8%
Pneumonia, lung abscess, acute bronchitis are all symptoms of lower respiratory infections. Among infectious diseases they are the leading cause of death. Symptoms could include fatigue. weakness, shortness of breath and high fever. Antibiotics have become an effective form of treatment, but among the lower economic strata these are difficult to get or cost too much.

HIV/AIDS- 4.9%”:
AIDS is a disease of the human immune system and is now believed to have spread in pandemic proportions through the world. According to a UNAIDS 2009 report 60 million people have been infected, with over 25 million deaths, and 76% of them have occurred in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is believed to have originated in central Africa in the early twentieth century.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease – 4.8%:
In England it is believed one out of every 59 people will be diagnosed with having COPD. It is most commonly caused by tobacco smoking and also by coming in contact with noxious gases. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are a part of this group of diseases. In 1990 it was the sixth most prevalent cause of death, but due to a progressive increase in the number of smokers it is going higher as a cause of death as the years go by.

Diarrheal Disease-3.2%:
The second most common cause of death among infants worldwide and also the most common cause of death among poor people, diarrhoea can however be treated very easily with Oral Rehydration Salts and Zinc Tablets. The loss of fluids due to this disease leads to dehydration and also electrolyte imbalances.

Tuberculosis – 2.7%:
TB is a very common and deadly infectious disease which attacks the lungs and it kills over 50% of it’s victims. It can spread through the air when the infected person coughs or sneezes and thus distributes the infected particles. One third of the world’s population is infected with TB and new infections occur at the rate of one per second.

Malaria – 2.2%:
Widespread in tropical and sub-tropical regions, malaria at one stage was one of the most major causes of death worldwide. With better medicines and injections, the incidence has decreased but it is still very prevalent in Asia and Africa

Cancer of Trachea/Bronchus/Lung – 2.2%:
Cancer is one of the main causes of death, and among all types of cancer lung cancer is among the worst offenders. Once again, smokers are the most vulnerable, since they account for almost 85% of the cases.

Road Traffic Accidents -2.1%:
This should come as no surprise since every daily newspaper is full of tales of road accidents. Disability and significant financial costs are also among the resultant problems due to road accidents. This number is definitely going to increase, in direct proportion to the phenomenal rise in the number of vehicles in the world.

Eating Disorder

Here is a serious look at the Top 10 most terrible eating disorders which are predominantly characterized by bizarre food and mental disorders that bring about various abnormal eating behaviors.(Click on sub title for more)

Anorexia Nervosa
Latest studies have shown that there is about 1 in every 100 teenage girls who suffer from varying degrees of Anorexia Nervosa. There are even girls as young as 8 years old who have been hospitalized for this eating disorder.

Bulimia Nervosa
This eating disorder is characterized by binge and purge episodes where the individual usually resort to induced vomiting to complete the cycle.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder
BDD is a corollary disorder that is normally associated with Anorexia and Bulimia and often continues to manifest in the behavior of an individual long after the other symptoms have been successfully controlled.

Night Eating Syndrome
NES is relatively new eating disorder that commonly affects the obese and the morbidly obese. Night Eating Syndrome sufferers also experience insomnia.

Anorexia Athletica
This is technically not classified as an eating disorder but an effect of another validated serious eating disorder. Their predominant behavior goes beyond the normal inclination of most of us after a good session in the gym.

Binge Eating Disorder
BED is generally categorized as a separate condition from bulimia. It is generally believed to be the pre-cursor of the latter and is the most common eating disorder.

Bigorexia
This eating disorder is generally defined as the direct opposite of anorexia and is the only eating disorder in our list that affects more men than women.

Pica
This is the most interesting among all the eating disorders in our list. Pica is generally seen as both a psychiatric problem and eating disorder. It is characterized by the unmitigated compulsion to eat non-food and non-nutritional stuffs.

Prader-Willi Syndrome
This eating disorder is mainly due to chromosomal abnormality. Its common symptoms include mental retardation, motor skill anomaly and stunted growth.

Orthorexia
This eating disorder is characterized by the obsession with healthy foods. As a distinction to anorexia, those individual suffering from orthorexia exhibit an abnormal level of obsession to pure and healthy foods.

Mental Disorder

Mental disorders make up for a tenth of the diseases in the world. While some mental disorders, albeit life-altering, are quite common, these are definitely not.(Click on sub title for more)

Stockholm Syndrome
This disorder is often seen among those who have been abducted in the past. The hostage begins to feel sympathy, compliance as well as loyalty with the person who has kidnapped him. The risk does not matter and the hostage may also refuse to testify again him.

Lime Syndrome
This mental disorder is seen amongst the hostage takers wherein they become in tune with the needs of those who they have kidnapped. They become emotionally attached to them and end up releasing them quite quickly.

Diogenes Syndrome
This mental disorder is associated with a Greek philosopher who decided to live like an animal. Therefore, those who suffer from this disorder resign themselves to a life characterized by unusual and reclusive tendencies; a type of hoarding that is compulsive and self neglect. Diogenes Syndrome is associated with such senior citizens that are slightly senile.

Paris Syndrome
This mental disorder is very common among those Japanese tourists who become anxious in Paris and have severe mental meltdowns. Even though it is quite rare, the experience can be quite harrowing for those who suffer from it. These polite tourists suffer from a major culture shock as they cannot understand why the city is nothing like it is portrayed in the movies.

Stendhal Syndrome
Those who suffer from this mental disorder find it difficult to stand before beautiful artwork. They are instantly anxious, confused and dizzy. Some may even hallucinate if they see ‘too much art’ in one place. This term is also used to describe that condition which is associated with people who experience the same symptoms after being exposed to natural beauty.

Jerusalem Syndrome
Those who suffer from this mental disorder feel compelled to visit Jerusalem. They have such ideas that are religious and obsessive at the same time and are laced with delusions as well. This disorder is not exclusive to a single denomination and is known to affect Christians and Jews that belong to diverse backgrounds. It may even strike those who have visited Jerusalem and were completely normal before entering the city.

Capgras Delusion
This is a rare disorder and those suffering from it believe that either an acquaintance, family member or spouse has gone missing and an imposter who looks exactly like the person has taken his place. Capgras Delusion is common among those who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia or those who are recovering from brain surgery.

Fregoli Delusion
This disorder is the opposite of the above mentioned disorder and those who suffer from it feel that different people they meet are not different but in fact that same person. The patient believes that this one person continuously changes his appearance.

Cotard Delusion
This disorder is quite rare and those who suffer from it believe themselves to be dead. They are sure that they do not exist and that their veins run dry. Some may even think that they are immortal.

Reduplicative Paramnesia
Those who suffer from Reduplicative Paramnesia believe that a particular area, location or place is either duplicated or has the ability to exist in more than two places at the same time. They may also believe that that one site has been shifted to another location. For example, a patient who is standing in a restaurant will convince himself that he is in fact at a another restaurant which is located in some other part of the country.

Keep Stress Away

Stress is one of the leading ailment that crosses racial, economical and status boundaries worldwide and knows no age. Unfortunately, very few are well versed with stress management methodologies. Having recognized the agony that people suffering from stress go through, the article seeks to offer a helping hand on how to minimize stress. It is not possible to wish away stress but it is possible for one to handle it. Discussed herein are top ten ways to keep you free from stress.

Talk about what is affecting you
First and foremost, experts recommend that you talk about what is affecting you rather than bottling it in. Talk about the issues that are affecting you with someone whom you trust and who will offer a keen ear without passing any judgment. In as much as you won’t be able to alter what is affecting you, speaking openly about it will enable you to release some of the tensions inside you. In addition, you can physically let what is affecting you be writing it down or engaging in an exercise.

Take immediate action
Take immediate action. The only way you can make progress in managing stress is by taking an action to help alleviate it. Small steps may seem insignificant but eventually has a huge impact. This will enable you to have a sense of control on the situation affecting you. No matter how minute the action may seem take a step towards it.

Learn to understand your body
Of importance is learning to understand your body. Having a better understanding of the body’s reaction to stress will enable you discover new ways of counteracting it. Once you understand your body’s signals the easier it becomes to identify to minimize the stress. For instance, you may opt to take a short break as a way of clearing your mind.

Take control
Take control. Endure that you are in control at all times. Be certain that you are aware of ways through which you can keep yourself feeling better and making certain that your needs are met. You can engage in numerous hobbies such as swimming and jogging that can help you to release some of those built in pressures. Moreover, being in control prevents you from keeping to yourself. Take immediate steps to ensure that you receive professional help from qualified and certified medical personnel. Internet technology has made access to such help possible through the number of websites setup by registered medical personnel.

Avoid putting much pressure on you
Avoid putting so much pressure on you. The number one leading cause of stress in the world today is trying to handle so much in short time. Try and prioritize your tasks and lay off those that do not seem if immediate importance. Where possible, delegate some of the tasks. Remember, asking for help is not a sign of weakness.

Take a French leave
Take a French leave. As the saying goes, “a change is as good as a rest”. Sometimes when under stress, a little get away can help in releasing the pent up steam. If you can afford it, take a trip outside town. Alternatively, you can treat yourself to a spa.

Prioritize your work
Given the bustles and pressures from the society, it may be nearly impossible to avoid all that may be coming your way. In such instances, it is advisable that you prioritize your work and slowly work through them.

Help other people
Sometimes, the best way of managing stress is by offering a helping hand to those around you. By giving or volunteering it makes you have a sense of belonging, empowerment as well as importance. There are a number of websites online from where you can get information on how to be a volunteer.

Attain your own success
Attain your own success. Whereas, it may be near impossibility to impact the whole world, you can start by making a change on yourself. Start by learning to love and care for yourself. These qualities will enable you to attain your goals and objectives. Make certain that you make an affirmative step in ensuring that you are working to attain your goals.

Mingle
Mingle with other people. To avoid feeling the weight of stress, socialize with other people. Being around people is like an anesthetic. It makes you feel a temporary relief and with time you can be sure that all the built up pressures will go away.


In closing, remember that your happiness lies in your own hands and as such you need to all that you can to avoid scenarios where you are likely to be stressed.

Sleep Disorder

Every body loves sleeping but unfortunately, some of us suffer from sleep disorders that end up ruining the entire experience. Let us look at the 10 most bizarre disorders related to sleep.(Click on sub title for more)

Rapid eye movement behavior disorder
Those who suffer from this disorder act out during their dreams. Such actions are usually violent and they can end up injuring themselves or those who are sleeping next to them. With the help of consistent therapy and certain drugs, this condition can be treated and the patient can resume the natural paralyzed state.

Night Terrors
Those who suffer from night terrors are plagued with unexplainable terror and find it difficult to wake up. They wake up slowly after an episode and can be found gasping and screaming. They do not remember the night terror and can end up hurting anybody who tries to help them.

Bruxism
Those who suffer from this sleep disorder tend to grind their teeth as they sleep. This condition is quite common and can damage the teeth irreversibly if left unchecked. It can cause extreme facial pain and can also lead to acute arthritis of certain joints. Unfortunately, a majority of the bruxers do not know that they have a condition which is why it becomes difficult to treat them.

Restless Legs Syndrome
Those who suffer from the Restless Legs Syndrome feel the urge to move their legs as they want to stop such sensations that make them uncomfortable. Even though medicating a patient which suffers from this condition is considered to be controversial, doctors prescribe opioids or methadone in order to provide temporary relief to such patients.

Non-24-hour sleep-wake syndrome
This sleep disorder is quite rare and the bodies of those who suffer from it do not recognize the sleep cycle. The patient finds it difficult to sleep in a proper pattern and the cycle they follow changes almost every day. The body may take over a week to complete a sleep-wake cycle in some cases.

Sleep Apnea
Those who suffer from this sleep disorder stop breathing in intervals when they are asleep. Usually, the patients are not aware that they stopped breathing even after they wake up. Once it is recognized, it is treated with the help of a PAP or Positive Airway Pressure device. Patients can also undergo treatment and medication.

Kleine-Levin syndrome
Those who suffer from this disorder feel the need to sleep for about 20 hours on a daily basis. When they wake up, they eat a lot and indulge in intense and continuous sexual activities. Even though there is no definite treatment, doctors recommend certain stimulants like modafinil.

Somniloquy
Patients with this disorder talk in their sleep and can be very loud. While some speak as they dream, others start rattling off long speeches and more often than not, the speech is not clear. Those who suffer from this problem do not undergo medication. Doctors recommend the use of mouth guards as this can prevent sleep talking.

Narcolepsy
This is a neurological disorder related to sleep which causes patients to fall asleep randomly. They create a pattern which forces them to fall asleep unexpectedly after which they find it difficult to wake up and stay awake. Patients may also suffer from hallucinations and sleep paralysis.

Sexsomnia
Those who have this condition indulge in sexual activities as they sleep. Patients are usually aware that they have a problem but they are embarrassed to get help. This sleep disorder can be controlled without medication and with minimal effort.

Unsual Phobia

A phobia is a consistent fear of a particular object, situation or person. While some are afraid of heights, others are scared of men in top hats. Let us look at the 10 most unusual phobias.

Ithyphallophobia 
Also known as Phallophobia and Medorthophobia , this is the fear of erection. Surprisingly, it is a very common phobia and creates unimaginable stress for those who are scared of an erect penis. It can make people want to hide from their friends, family and colleagues. Those who suffer have this phobia need to be exposed to their fear in order to get over it.

Ephebophobia
This is the fear of youth and can impact the person psychologically and socially. It has been proposed that if a large chunk of the society has this phobia, it can damage the economic health of the country. Those who have this phobia tend to avoid and loath teenagers.

Coulrophobia
People who have this phobia have an irritational fear of clowns. While it is considered to be normal amongst children as it is felt that they may grow out of it, a good number of adults and teenagers have the phobia as well. They find the mere appearance of the clown treacherous and even though they know that the fear is illogical, they cannot shake it off without consistent therapy.

Ergasiophobia
Ergasiophobia is the fear of work and can lead to severe psychological problems. Those individuals who have this phobia generally suffer from an additional health problem like depression.

Gymnophobia
This is the fear of nudity and those who have this phobia are scared about either seeing others in the nude or having someone see them naked. The cause of this phobia may be low self-esteem related to the individual’s inferior opinion about his own body. They also feel that if somebody sees them naked once, they will continue picturing them the same way every time they meet them.

Neophobia
Neophobia is the name given to the fear of new experiences of new things. Those who have this phobia are completely against trying any thing new, visiting new places or breaking their set routine. They become angry, irritated and frustrated if they are asked to carry out any of these activities. A majority of the neophobics just want to preserve their traditions and pass them on to their children.

Paraskavedekatriaphobia
Paraskavedekatriaphobia is fear of Friday the 13th as this day is considered to be unlucky in almost every part of the world.

Panphobia
Also known as Pantophobia and Omniphobia, Panphobia is the fear of everything. A panphobic will be scared all the time but will not know why. They are always waiting for something bad to happen and are therefore, extremely cautious. Those who have this fear usually go on to become schizophrenic. Out of all the phobias mentioned in this list, Panphobia is the hardest to recover from because the fear is so vague.

Taphophobia
Taphophobia is the fear of being buried alive. It was considered to be perfectly normal many years back as technology was not as developed as it is today. Those who have this phobia are scared that they will be incorrectly pronounced dead and hence, buried alive.

Pteronophobia
Pteronophobia is the fear of being tickled by feathers. Some babies are constantly tickled by feathers and hence, grow up feeling trapped. Those who are scared of being tickled suffer from the same irrational fear.

Child Disorder

Special Education has evolved throughout 20th century. We no longer see children and adults with disabilities as being retarded. Many curriculum guidelines have taken out the term, retardation, and made it impossible for doctors to institutionalize children with disabilities. Here are just 10 childhood disabilities that are prevalent in our school systems.

Learning Disability:
The disorder affects the brain’s ability to receive and process information. A learning disability thus is not a problem with intelligence. Individuals with learning disabilities see, hear and understand things differently.
Example: Dyslexia

Gifted:
There is no definition for giftedness. Many see children who are gifted as talented and creative. They have a wide range of abilities that are both academic and leisurely. There is also a well-developed attention span, deep curiosity and the ability to grasp, retain and synthesize information.

Language Delay:
This is a failure to develop language abilities on the usual evolving timetable. A person with language delay experiences a postponement in the development of the underlying knowledge of language.

Pervasive Developmental Disorder:
This is a severe disorder that strikes to 10 to 15 out of 10,000 children. The disorder affects intellectual skills; responses to sights, sounds, smells and other senses as well as the ability to understand language or to talk. Children with PDD may undertake strange postures or perform unusual movements.
Example: Autism

Seasonal Affective Disorders:
Children may appear depressive during winter and summer and active during the fall and spring. These mood changes are usually due to seasonal changes and the inability to adjust to the variations.

Developmental Disorders:
This disorder occurs at a specific stage in a child’s development, often delaying the development.
Example: Down Syndrome

Behavioural Exceptionalities:
Mental health professionals view behavioral exceptionalities from environmental, psychodynamic and psychosocial perspectives. The disorder represents students with behavioural and/or emotional issues.
Example: Adjustment Disorder

Neurological Disorder:
This is a disorder of the body’s nervous system. Despite misconceptions, they are not just abnormalities in the brain. Neurological disorders can be pinpointed in the spinal cord and the nerves as well.
Example: Tourette’s Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy

Deaf/Hard of Hearing:
This is a disorder that affects someone’s hearing. The ability to detect certain frequencies of sound is completely or partially reduced.

Blind:
This is a condition caused by physiological and neurological factors. Children who are blind may have vision loss. They have a visual acuity less than 20/60.

Common Food Allergies

Food allergies should not be confused with intolerance for certain food items. Lactose intolerance is caused by a scarcity of the enzyme lactase and can lead to bloating and digestive problems. Whereas,  a milk allergy can cause severe immediate or delayed reactions, whenever a food item containing milk in any form is consumed. Allergies which occur in childhood often go away after a certain length of time, but adult allergies normally remain through a lifetime.

The most common food Allergies are as follows:

Fish

Fish allergies are among the most widespread allergies in the world. Shellfish is frequently the main culprit but there are many who are allergic to all types of fish. It does not seem to affect children as much as it does adults, and in some cases people are allergic only to cooked fish and not raw fish. The reactions are severe and anaphylaxis can be one of the resultant problems

Shellfish

Shellfish allergy is probably the most common allergy among adults. It generally appears later in life and in some cases the reactions can occur even from airborne particles when shellfish is being boiled or cooked. Cat food which often has shellfish ingredients in it can also cause an allergic reaction.

Peanuts

Allergy to peanuts is also one of the world’s most prevalent ones. This allergy is different from nut allergy since peanuts are generally considered to be legumes rather than nuts. A lifelong allergy, in some cases it is so acute that even eating food from a utensil in which peanuts have been cooked earlier can cause an intense reaction.

Tree Nuts

Other nuts such as walnuts, pine nuts, cashews, macademia nuts, almonds and pecans can be a cause of an allergic reaction in some people. There are some who are allergic to only one kind of nut, but as a safety precaution they stay away from all varieties of nuts.

Eggs

This is one of the few allergies which seems to go away once a child grows older. The proteins in the eggs known as ovumucoid, ovalbumin and conalbumin are responsible for creating these allergies. Cooking does not kill all of them, hence eggs are not consumed in any form by these children or the rare adults who suffer from egg allergies.

Chocolate

Imagine having to live a life without being able to consume chocolates! But there are quite a few human beings who get a bad reaction when they consume chocolate in any form and have to maintain a distance from all products containing cocoa.

Wheat

Wheat is so much a part of a diet that it is difficult to eat a meal without consuming it in some form or the other. There are many allergenic components in wheat which cause different types of allergies but most of the get bundled under the common denominator of wheat or gluten allergy.

Milk

1% to 7% of the children all over the world suffer from some form of milk allergy, which is however often confused with lactose intolerance. Milk allergies are very prevalent among children and often carry over on even when they are adults. Dairy products in all forms are taboo for them, and this includes foods such as cheese and icecreams etc.

Soy

Many children who are allergic to milk are also allergic to soy. Lately soy has been used in much larger quantities in many prepared food items, hence the number of cases of soy allergy have been increasing. Many vegetarians, specially from East Asia use soya as one of the basic ingredients in their diet, thus it is difficult to avoid eating it in those households. However it is believed to be prevalent mainly among children and most of them outgrow it as they grow older.

Berries

It is rare to find a person who is allergic to berries of all types, but there are many who are unable to consume a particular type of berry. This is generally the care with raspberries or strawberries, and occasionally blackberries may be the culprit. It is much more prevalent in Western countries.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Signs

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a psychological disorder which causes individuals to have thoughts and fears in their minds, in the form of obsessions. These excessive thoughts and fears are mitigated by compulsions, prompting individuals to excessively do things in a certain way.

Excessive Confessions:
This is caused by a fear of doing something wrong. I never knew this was a sign and so I put it as #1 to see if readers would agree.

Excessive Sexual Thoughts:
We all have sexual thoughts, but those with OCD have excessive thoughts which intrude into daily activities. This is a type of obsession and many people would use a compulsion listed below to mitigate it.

Washing hands repeatedly:
This is a form of compulsion. This is usually done to stop obsessions and images of contamination from popping into their minds.

Checking things too much:
People who are obsessive-compulsive have a tendency to check things too much. This again is used to mitigate obsessive thoughts. In this situation, people may be afraid and obsessed about intrusions, so they repeatedly check if they locked all the doors.

Arranging:
This is an example of an obsession. Those with OCD have an obsession with symmetry and numbers. If someone misplaces their belongings or place it the wrong way, people with OCD get easily frustrated.

Excessive doubts:
Those who suffer from OCD may experience excessive doubts. They lack confidence and will need to use compulsions in order to make sure that everything is done properly. An example of this is the excessive calling of loved ones to see if they are okay.

Counting:
This is a form of compulsion. Many people with OCD use counting to help them mitigate obsessions. They are self-conscious and feel they need to stop. They, however, cannot and that becomes a problem.

Praying excessively:
Believe it or not people who are obsessive-compulsive have a fear of religion (obsession). They would excessively pray (compulsion) in order to mitigate their thoughts.

Refuse to touch others:
There are those who are germaphobes, but this is different. This is quite different than what Seinfeld made it out to be in one of their episodes. It is not voluntary and is not always triggered by someone’s actions.

Collecting:
Individuals with OCD may also not throw things away. They would keep things for long periods of time, with or without sentimentality.

Health Food Myth

HEALTHY FOOD MYTH

Over the years, a number of myths have been formed about healthy food which when revealed, are quite shocking.

Eating too much fruit will lead to blood sugar problems
If you are eating healthy food, you must be eating some fruits too. Many people believe that since these fruits contain natural sugars, they will instantly have blood sugar problems. They feel that if they eat too much fruit, they will get a sugar rush that will subside soon, leaving them empty. This is not true. Fact is that if your blood sugar is high, it has nothing to do with the fruit.

Fruit can lead to Candida
Many people believe that if they eat too many mangoes, bananas or apple, they will get Candida. They self-diagnose themselves and panic to no extent. Fact is that this is not true and if they do not believe it, they should visit a doctor.

Carrots will improve your eyesight
Many people who have thick glasses and those who find it difficult to even recognize themselves in the mirror without their contacts start nibbling on carrots day in and day out with the hope that it will improve their eyesight. However, while carrots are definitely good for you as they are healthy, they will not change your eyesight. Therefore, keep those glasses on and stop overdosing on the carrots.

Eating too many bananas will lead to an overdose of potassium
While too much of supplemental potassium will definitely cause problems, natural potassium is completely safe. Even though bananas contain about 1,200 mg of this element, you do not need to worry.

Fruit can lead to the development of cancerous cells in the body
This myth is completely untrue. In fact, the more fruit you eat, the more you will keep cancer at bay. Therefore, those patients who have cancer should munch on a whole of fruits through the day instead of avoiding it. People believe that since cancer cells expand after feeding on sugar, fruits are dangerous. However, this is simply not true.

Frozen fruits and vegetables are not as nutritious as fresh ones
Many people believe that the fruits they purchase from the grocery store are much safer than those that are canned. However, this is not true because who knows how long these fruits and vegetables have been sitting around? Even though fresh fruits may taste better than frozen ones, there is absolutely no difference in their nutrition value.

When choosing between butter and margarine, always go the latter
People try to avoid butter because they feel that by consuming it, they may increase the risks of cholesterol problems. However, what they don’t realize is that margarine is as bad, if not worse because it has double the effect as it contains harmful trans fats.

Bananas are fattening
Just because this fruit is sweet, people believe that it is fattening as well. However, one medium-sized banana contains only 105 calories. They are good for your health because they contain healthy doses of fiber, potassium and magnesium which together make the immune system stronger and more powerful.

If you cook vegetables, you take away their vitamin content
This is definitely not true as cooking the vegetables will actually help your body absorb the vegetable nutrients. However, if you over boil them, the vegetables will eliminate themselves.

Whole grain bread is better than the rest
While this can be true, always be sure to go through the fiber content mentioned behind the packaging to be completely sure.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis facts

• Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease.
• Psoriasis has no known cause.
• The tendency toward developing psoriasis is inherited in genes.
• Psoriasis is not contagious.
• Psoriasis gets better and worse spontaneously and can have periodic remissions (clear skin).
• Psoriasis is controllable with medication.
• Psoriasis is currently not curable.
• There are many promising therapies, including newer biologic drugs.
• Future research for psoriasis is promising.

What is psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a noncontagious skin condition that produces red, dry plaques of thickened skin. The dry flakes and skin scales are thought to result from the rapid proliferation of skin cells that is triggered by abnormal lymphocytes from the blood . Psoriasis commonly affects the skin of the elbows, knees, and scalp.

Some people have such mild psoriasis (small, faint dry skin patches) that they may not even suspect that they have a medical skin condition. Others have very severe psoriasis where virtually their entire body is fully covered with thick, red, scaly skin.

Psoriasis is considered a non-curable, long-term (chronic) skin condition. It has a variable course, periodically improving and worsening. It is not unusual for psoriasis to spontaneously clear for years and stay in remission. Many people note a worsening of their symptoms in the colder winter months.

Psoriasis is seen worldwide, in all races, and both sexes. Although psoriasis can be seen in people of any age, from babies to seniors, most commonly patients are first diagnosed in their early adult years.

Patients with more severe psoriasis may have social embarrassment, job stress, emotional distress, and other personal issues because of the appearance of their skin.

There are five types of psoriasis:
plaque, guttate, lnverse, pustular, and  erythrodermic. Plague psoriasis is the most common form, appears as red patches, raised or lesions covered with a silvery white buildup of dead skin cells, it is called scale. Psoriasis can occur on any part of the body and is associated with other serious health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease and depression

Plague Psoriasis
is the typical form with scaly, red, raised patches – the plaques – which vary in size from a few millimeters to many centimeters. They tend to be symmetrical and prefer the extensor surfaces such as the backs of the elbows and the fronts of the knees. The lower back and sacral area (top of the buttocks) is another common site for large plaques. Although the plaques can be very large and widespread, they generally cover 5% or less of a person’s body surface.

Guttate Psoriasis
is also known as teardrop or raindrop psoriasis. It tends to occur in children, adolescents and younger adults., and is a generalized rash of small spots up to 1 centimetre in diameter. It tends to follow an infection, often of the throat, when it appears very suddenly a week after the infection. It is widespread but does spare the palms and soles, and clears up after several weeks or months depending on how quickly treatment is started. Up to 50% of people affected will not have a further attack, but it may become chronic or evolve into one of the other types of psoriasis.

lnverse Psoriasis
develops in the natural folds of the skin, such as the armpit, the breast folds, the pubis, the genital area, the groin, and the buttock crease. The area affected appears highly inflamed but lacks scales because of the body’s natural lubrication. It can cause troublesome nappy rash in infants but is mainly found in older people. The reason for the lack of scale is the decreased water loss from two surfaces of skin lying against each other.

Pustular Psoriasis
Can affect just the hands and feet, with round yellow pustules (raised areas of skin containing pus) appearing under the skin surface of the palms or soles, or both. They gradually turn brown as they reach the surface and are shed as scales. The pustules are sterile and not due to infection. This pattern is most often seen in middle-aged people who are smokers. Generalised pustular psoriasis, with sheets of very small pustules on a background of very red, hot skin, is a medical emergency. A person can become very ill from loss of heat, and fluid, and feel very feverish. It is sometimes triggered if large amounts of strong steroid creams have been used to treat widespread plaques or after oral steroids

Erythrodermic Psoriasis
Also is an emergency. Like many medical terms, erythroderma is from the Greek – for red or inflamed and skin. The whole of the skin turns red and leads to loss of fluid and heat, as with pustular psoriasis. There are no pustules but urgent admission to hospital is needed to replace lost fluid and to prevent hypothermia (low body temperature). The underlying psoriasis also needs to be treated once the person has been stabilized. Erythroderma can occur with other skin diseases such as eczema but is, thankfully, quite rare. It can occur slowly but, as with pustular psoriasis, often develops suddenly after incorrect use of sudden withdrawal of steroid treatment.

What causes psoriasis?
The exact cause remains unknown. There may be a combination of factors, including genetic predisposition and environmental factors. It is common for psoriasis to be found in members of the same family. The immune system is thought to play a major role. Despite research over the past 30 years looking at many triggers, the "master switch" that turns on psoriasis is still a mystery.

Is psoriasis curable?
No, psoriasis is not currently curable. However, it can go into remission and show no signs of disease. Ongoing research is actively making progress on finding better treatments and a possible cure in the future.

Is psoriasis contagious?
No. Research studies have not shown it to be contagious from person to person. You cannot catch it from anyone, and you cannot pass it to anyone else by skin-to-skin contact. You can directly touch someone with psoriasis every day and never catch the skin condition.


What is the treatment for psoriasis?
There are many effective treatment choices for psoriasis. The best treatment is individually determined by the treating physician and depends, in part, on the type of disease, the severity, and the total body area involved.

For mild disease that involves only small areas of the body (like less than 10% of the total skin surface), topical (skin applied) creams, lotions, and sprays may be very effective and safe to use. Occasionally, a small local injection of steroids directly into a tough or resistant isolated psoriasis plaque may be helpful.

For moderate to severe disease that involves much larger areas of the body (like 20% or more of the total skin surface), topical products may not be effective or practical to apply. These cases may require ultra-violet light treatments or systemic (total body treatments such as pills or injections) medications. Internal medications usually have greater risks.

For psoriatic arthritis, systemic medications are generally required to stop the progression of permanent joint destruction. Topical therapies are not effective.

It is important to keep in mind that as with any medical condition, all medications carry possible side effects. No medication is 100% effective for everyone, and no medication is 100% safe. The decision to use any medication requires thorough consideration and discussion with your physician. The risks and potential benefit of medications have to be considered for each type of psoriasis and the individual patient. Some patients are not bothered at all by their skin symptoms and may not want any treatment. Other patients are bothered by even small patches of psoriasis and want to keep their skin clear. Everyone is different and, therefore, treatment choices also vary depending on the patient's goals and expressed wishes.

An approach to minimize the toxicity of some of these medicines has been commonly called "rotational" therapy. The idea is to change the antipsoriasis drug every six to 24 months in order to minimize the possible side effects from any one type of therapy or medication.

In another example, a patient who has been using strong topical steroids over large areas of their body for prolonged periods may benefit from stopping the steroids for a while and rotating onto a different therapy like calcitriol (Vectical), light therapy, or an injectable biologic.