More often than not schizophrenia and multiple personality disorder (MPD) are perceived to be the same disorder due to the belief that schizophrenic patients develop multiple personalities. In reality however, the two are distinctly different psychiatric disorders. WebMD recently published an article addressing this common misconception and offering specific defining characteristics of both schizophrenia and MPD.
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Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, a protective membrane covering the brain and spinal cord. The inflammation may be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, and even sometimes, but less commonly by specific drugs. Meningitis can be life-threatening because of the inflammation’s proximity to the brain and spinal cord. Because of its proximity to the brain the condition is classified as a medical emergency and any symptoms should receive immediate care from specialists.
Medicine Plus recently published an article identifying the major symptoms of meningitis that are commonly over looked.
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Autism is a brain development disorder that is characterized by impaired communication and social interaction coupled with repetitive behavior. According to the ASA 1 out of every 150 children is diagnosed with Autism. That makes autism the fastest growing developmental disability in the United States with an annual growth of 10%-17%. Autism is one of the greatest researched developmental disorders in the United States, but a mystery that continues to plague researchers is why boys are four times more affected then girls. According Time Magazine, the journal of Molecular Psychiatry found a genetic clue that can help account for this discrepancy.
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Stroke is the leading cause of disability in adults and the third leading cause of death in America. According to the CDC woman are three times more likely to suffer from stroke than man and thus are two times more likely to die from stroke. In fact, twice as many women die of stroke than they do of breast cancer each year. Unfortunately, women are still more concerned about getting tested and minimizing their risk for breast cancer as opposed to stroke. Stroke.org recently published an article aimed at informing women of the unique risk factors they posses.
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Despite its name, sleepwalking, also known as somnambulism actually involves more than just walking. Sleepwalking behaviors can range from harmless (sitting up), to potentially dangerous (wandering outside), ones. Regardless the actions of the sleepwalkers take part in during sleepwalking episodes it is unlikely that they’ll remember ever having done it. There are numerous questions that people have in regards to sleepwalking, in particular if sleepwalking is harmful? A recent WebMD article discussed the facts behind the many myths of sleep walking.
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As recommended by the CDC, Americans should receive eight hours of sleep per night to maintain good health. Unfortunately, the CDC also reported that the majority of American adults (63%) do not get that recommended eight hours of sleep needed for good health. This grouping of 63% excludes those with chronic sleep disorders such as insomnia. The question is then raised, since sleep is so crucial to good health, what can be done to insure we get a good night sleep? Helpguide.org recently released a section on sleep that offers tips on how to get the most out of a night’s sleep.
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Strokes are a result of a temporary interruption of blood flow to the brain which is induced by blockage of the arteries. Stroke has grown to become the third leading cause of death in the in the United States taking the lives of 143,579 Americans per year. Additionally, there are 600,000 Americans who suffer a stroke each year and attempt to return to their daily activities with the devastating burden of the after affects of a stroke. The after effects of a stroke often leave patients disabled and unable to return to their routine lifestyle. The Stroke Center recently published an article which offered stoke patients advice for how they could attempt to best return to their daily routines and minimize the after effects of their stroke.
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Anxiety disorders affect more than 18% of Americans. One of the most negatively perceived and embarrassing anxiety disorders is Trichotillomania. Trichotillomania is an impulse control disorder characterized by the repeated urge to pull out body hair. Patients pull hair from all over their bodies; however, the most common places for patients to pull out hair from are their eyelashes, eyebrows and head. Usually, this chronic hair pulling results in either noticeable bald patches or complete baldness of the body. Trichotillomania is commonly lumped into the category of obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD), but while it exhibits many similar characteristics as an OCD, it is not an OCD. A recent trich.org article discusses the unique characteristics of Trichotillomania and offers one doctor’s unique treatment suggestions.
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Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that affects the part of the brain that regulates when one is asleep and awake. Unfortunately, due their use for comic relief in common pop-culture, the seriousness of narcolepsy is commonly overlooked. Narcolepsy affects 1 in 2,000 Americans predominately between the ages of 10 to 25. Depending on the severity of the condition, Narcoleptics often have trouble with standard daily activities such as driving and working. A recent article by helpguide.org discusses narcolepsy in detail and specifically focuses on the causes of the condition.
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Depression is one of the most common health conditions in the world, affecting about 18.8 million American adults. Specialists say that individuals who pursue quick and effective treatment usually are able to see improved symptoms within a week of treatment. Over 50% of patients suffering from depression are treated with antidepressants. What are antidepressants? Most patients consume them but do not have a full understanding of what antidepressants are and how they work. A recent MedicineNet article provides an in depth analysis of antidepressants and the effects they have on your body.
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