It was a worldwide day of reckoning. On September 11, 2001, the entire world became a witness to the darkest evil as well as the highest good that man was capable of doing. On that day, it was as if time had stopped and everyting stood at a standstill. It was a time when most people began to ponder about their lives and how they lived, individually and collectively as human beings.
Amidst the concrete rubble and stench of death, people from all walks of life came together to lend each other a hand. Each came to bring their skills to save the trapped and wounded; all worked together with a heart that wanted to provide comfort in a time of great crisis for the people of New York and the rest of the United States. Yet the cries of shock and protest against that act of terrorism resounded from different countries around the globe. It was a defining moment in modern history, a turning point in the on-going war against terror.
Reminiscent of the horrors of the holocaust during World War II, and the devastation wrought by the atomic bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the events of 9/11 has been recorded as one of the most destructive man-made disasters of the 21st century.
Surely, even relatively smaller scale incidents produce the same kind of gried and sense of loss. Day after day, other tragedies happen to people around the world, around the clock. Vehicular accidents, kidnappings, robberies, rapes, hurricanes and other natural disasters all bring death and destruction.
The tragic 9/11 bombings of the World Trade Center generated extensive media coverage worlwide. Millions of viewers who are not really closely related to any of the victims felt a great sense of loss, fear, anger, surprise, shock and disbelief.
Those who escaped and survived the collapse of the World Trade Center bore scars on their body and within themselves. Many of the survivors, including their families now suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This is a type of anxiety disorder is acquired when an individual's undergoes a life-threatening experience or a very traumatic event. Those with PTSD have an anxiety attack whenever they remember the traumatic incident. Some of of the symptoms of PTSD include having a feeling of history repeating itself; sleep problems like insomia; nightmares; a feeling of isolation; agitation or irritability; and even guilt.
Many PTSD sufferers report that they always feel and think that the tragic event is happening all over again. These painful memories are called flashbacks and may consist of images, sounds, smells, or feelings that can be triggered by even the most ordinary things. A person having a flashback may lose touch with reality and believe that the traumatic incident is happening all over again. The anxiety can be very distressing and could lead to another panic attack. PTSD usually occurs about three weeks after the traumatic incident. In some cases, signs of PTSD may be delayed and would only start to appear after a couple of years later.
Insomia or having some troubles getting sleep may be caused by worrying or unresolved feelings about the tragic event. Nightmares may be about the same traumatic experience or it could be anything that is frightening and threatening to the person. Survivors of the 9/11 terrorist attack may even develop a feeling of isolation characterized by not feeling close to people. It is similar to socio phobia in the sense that there is fear in being with strangers, and sometimes, even with their own loved ones. People experiencing PTSD are highly irritable and get angry even at the slightest provocation. Guilt haunts people with PTSD. They feel guilty about surviving the tragedy while others did not. They feel irrational guilt that they could have done something for others who were in the same tragedy, or blame themselves for being the cause of the incident or accident.
Anti-anxiety medications may help people with PTSD feel less afraid and tense. It may take weeks before they experience its full medical benefits. Consulting with health care specialists and counselor for therapy may greatly help.
It is important that we keep family ties and other relationships tight. We need to surround ourselves with people who will always be there to reassure us, affirm us and comfort us in times of life's great challenges. People suffering from PTSD need a lot of reassurance, comfort, and encouragement. Survivors of 9/11, as well as other people suffering from PTSD, need enough time for “wool gathering” in order to heal from the hurts and pains of their tragic memories.
Showing posts with label insomnia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label insomnia. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Friday, December 10, 2010
A Look at the Thalidomide Tragedy
Today we are all aware that some diseases and medications can have adverse effects during pregnancy both for the mother and the unborn child. Unfortunately, this knowledge comes with a tragically high price, having come from one of the most horrific medical accidents in history.
In the late 1950s to the early 1960s, a drug called thalidomide was put on the market by the German pharmaceutical company Chemie Grünenthal, who discovered the chemical accidentally while attempting to find an inexpensive way to manufacture antibiotics. After some testing on animals, who were subjected to extremely high doses of the drug, the company concluded that the drug was harmless and had no side effects. They were wrong.
Chemie Grünenthal began distributing free samples of the drug in 1955 without further research or clinical trials done on the drug. Epilepsy patients began taking thalidomide to prevent seizures, and they reported experiencing deep sleep and calming and soothing effects after taking the drug. Other side effects were reported but these were dismissed as negligible. On October 1, 1957, doctors in West Germany began prescribing thalidomide user the brand name of Contergan to their female patients to combat the nausea and vomiting coupled with insomnia associated with morning sickness during pregnancy. Its use gradually spread worldwide, selling under a variety of brand names such as Distaval Asmaval, Distaval Forte, Tensival, Valgis, Valgraine and others. Thalidomide was also marketed as a powerful hypnotic sedative.
Pregnant women began reporting certain side effects while taking the drug, such as sleepiness, drowsiness, constipation, skin rash, severe headaches, stomach aches, peripheral neuropathy (numbness and pain in your arms, hands, legs and feet), nausea and vomiting, giddiness or nervousness at higher doses, shivering, buzzing in the ears, depression or mood-swings, and a general sense of illness. Within a year, women who had taken the drug during pregnancy began reporting the births of babies with a myriad of birth defects, more commonly phocomelia, which presents itself in short, malformed, flipper-like arms and legs. Other birth defects include missing limbs, incomplete fingers or toes, fused appendages, deafness, blindness, disfigurement, cleft palate,and malformations of the eyes and ears, heart, genitals, kidneys, digestive tract (including the lips and mouth), and nervous system. In some cases the mothers had only taken one thalidomide tablet; it was later determined that a single dose can have disastrous side effects on a fetus especially when taken at a critical point within the first trimester of pregnancy. This is because the drug is a teratogen, causing congenital deformities as it passes through the placental barrier between mother and fetus.
Initially, Chemie Grünenthal refused to acknowledge the growing number of cases of thalidomide deformities and deaths in newborn babies; however, its disastrous side effects were gaining widespread media attention. Articles in several highly regarded medical journals began detailing the drug's numerous side effects. In the United States, the drug had been repeatedly denied approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The officer in charge of the application, Frances Kelsey, felt that there was not enough data on thalidomide's teratogenic effects based on her earlier work on the effects of a drug called quinine. Kelsey wanted more extensive studies on its effects on human metabolism especially during pregnancy, as well as the drug's chemistry, pharmacology and stability from Richardson-Merrell, the pharmaceutical company waiting for FDA approval for the sale of thalidomide under the name Kevadon.
By the time thalidomide was withdrawn from markets worldwide, it was too late for the victims and families affected by this medical disaster. It has been estimated that some 10,000 infants were born with deformities as a side effect of the drug, with about half of that number or less surviving into adulthood because of the high mortality rate among victims.
In the late 1950s to the early 1960s, a drug called thalidomide was put on the market by the German pharmaceutical company Chemie Grünenthal, who discovered the chemical accidentally while attempting to find an inexpensive way to manufacture antibiotics. After some testing on animals, who were subjected to extremely high doses of the drug, the company concluded that the drug was harmless and had no side effects. They were wrong.
Chemie Grünenthal began distributing free samples of the drug in 1955 without further research or clinical trials done on the drug. Epilepsy patients began taking thalidomide to prevent seizures, and they reported experiencing deep sleep and calming and soothing effects after taking the drug. Other side effects were reported but these were dismissed as negligible. On October 1, 1957, doctors in West Germany began prescribing thalidomide user the brand name of Contergan to their female patients to combat the nausea and vomiting coupled with insomnia associated with morning sickness during pregnancy. Its use gradually spread worldwide, selling under a variety of brand names such as Distaval Asmaval, Distaval Forte, Tensival, Valgis, Valgraine and others. Thalidomide was also marketed as a powerful hypnotic sedative.
Pregnant women began reporting certain side effects while taking the drug, such as sleepiness, drowsiness, constipation, skin rash, severe headaches, stomach aches, peripheral neuropathy (numbness and pain in your arms, hands, legs and feet), nausea and vomiting, giddiness or nervousness at higher doses, shivering, buzzing in the ears, depression or mood-swings, and a general sense of illness. Within a year, women who had taken the drug during pregnancy began reporting the births of babies with a myriad of birth defects, more commonly phocomelia, which presents itself in short, malformed, flipper-like arms and legs. Other birth defects include missing limbs, incomplete fingers or toes, fused appendages, deafness, blindness, disfigurement, cleft palate,and malformations of the eyes and ears, heart, genitals, kidneys, digestive tract (including the lips and mouth), and nervous system. In some cases the mothers had only taken one thalidomide tablet; it was later determined that a single dose can have disastrous side effects on a fetus especially when taken at a critical point within the first trimester of pregnancy. This is because the drug is a teratogen, causing congenital deformities as it passes through the placental barrier between mother and fetus.
Initially, Chemie Grünenthal refused to acknowledge the growing number of cases of thalidomide deformities and deaths in newborn babies; however, its disastrous side effects were gaining widespread media attention. Articles in several highly regarded medical journals began detailing the drug's numerous side effects. In the United States, the drug had been repeatedly denied approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The officer in charge of the application, Frances Kelsey, felt that there was not enough data on thalidomide's teratogenic effects based on her earlier work on the effects of a drug called quinine. Kelsey wanted more extensive studies on its effects on human metabolism especially during pregnancy, as well as the drug's chemistry, pharmacology and stability from Richardson-Merrell, the pharmaceutical company waiting for FDA approval for the sale of thalidomide under the name Kevadon.
By the time thalidomide was withdrawn from markets worldwide, it was too late for the victims and families affected by this medical disaster. It has been estimated that some 10,000 infants were born with deformities as a side effect of the drug, with about half of that number or less surviving into adulthood because of the high mortality rate among victims.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
A Basic Overview of Chinese Medicine
There is an undeniable mystique that accompanies Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM, a range of traditional medical and therapeutic practices developed in China over thousands of years. In fact, one of the earliest known compilations on Chinese medical practices dates back to 2698 B.C. To the uninformed, it is assumed that TCM is all about the use of exotic products such as bat excrement and cow urine as medicine. Many also wrongly assume that the diagnosis and treatment offered by TCM practitioners is nothing more than just guesswork; and that these practitioners do not really have actual abilities to discern the patient's symptoms.
In truth, Traditional Chinese Medicine is a complex and centuries-old system that has been shown to be effective in the treatment and management of various ailments ranging from sinusitis to muscle spasms. Chinese herbal concoctions have also shown efficacy in providing migraine reliefs and lower back pain relief, and everything in between.
The core concepts of traditional Chinese medicine can be found in Chinese philosophy, with Wu Xing and the concept of yin and yang as the primary foundations of both diagnosis and treatment practices. The basic perception of the body in Chinese medicine is that it is a whole, but with separate parts. The parts are designed to work together in harmony, generally by balancing their naturally opposing concepts against one another. Each part not only serves a physical function, but is also important to mental processes. This explains the belief in Chinese medicine that what affects one's physical health also has consequences for one's mental health, with each imbalance in the body having a counterpart imbalance in the mind. This aspect echoes the principles of yin and yang, which is best summarized as a blending of two opposing but complimentary concepts, with neither one being superior in any way over the other. Disharmony is said to occur when yin or yang becomes more prevalent in the body than the other. This disharmony or imbalance is thought to be the reason behind human illnesses.
The Wu Xing aspect comes into play in terms of analyzing how the disharmony came about. Wu Xing is similar to the classical concept of the basic elements which are composed of fire, water, wood, earth, and metal. Each of these elements can be found in the body, with varying concentrations in different areas of the body. Combined, the elements produce a delicate balance and results in the normal state of a person's physical and mental health. This balance can be affected by internal and external factors, which can sway the elemental balance in a variety of ways. In theory, an increase in certain elements in areas that perform certain functions can sway the yin and yang balance, thus affecting a person's health.
The treatment for the condition, whether it be sinusitis, lower back pain, knee pain, migraine headaches, visual migraines, insomnia or whatever else ails the patient is ultimately determined by where the imbalance is and what caused it. For example, an excess of water that swayed the balance more to the yang in the nasal area is sometimes cited to cause problems such as colds and sinusitis. To counter this, a traditional Chinese doctor might prescribe a formula composed of herbs and more exotic ingredients to help suppress the water element and, thus, restore balance to the yin and yang.
Traditional Chinese medicine also espouses a number of other treatments, including those based on the manipulation of the patient's diet.
Another famous aspect or branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine is called acupuncture, a technique that involves the insertion of needles into the skin on specific points around the body to help restore “balance” between the Yin and Yang. Acupuncture is also the branch of TCM that is concerned with the treatment of what Western medicine would term as mental health disorders including anxiety and phobias. Acupuncture is seen as an effective means of balancing the flow of “chi” or internal energy throughout the body. In TCM, the need to balance the yin and yang of the mind and heart is as important as attaining balance in the human body.
Modern TCM practitioners in China, however, do acknowledge that there are situations when the traditional remedies can no longer put the body back in proper balance. In most cases, when such situations are encountered, the patient is advised to consult a doctor who practices Western medicine. However, this does not create a conflict between the two schools since most Chinese patients and doctors actually appreciate the “balance” between Eastern and Western medical theory and practice. For example, Chinese people will have no problems with surgery for appendicitis. At the same time, they will see no conflict in using traditional herbal formulas to help recover after the surgery, or to prevent the appendicitis in the first place. This is often in sharp contrast to the attitude of some practitioners of traditional Western medicine who tends to dismiss other medical philosophies, theories or schools as mere quackery.
In truth, Traditional Chinese Medicine is a complex and centuries-old system that has been shown to be effective in the treatment and management of various ailments ranging from sinusitis to muscle spasms. Chinese herbal concoctions have also shown efficacy in providing migraine reliefs and lower back pain relief, and everything in between.
The core concepts of traditional Chinese medicine can be found in Chinese philosophy, with Wu Xing and the concept of yin and yang as the primary foundations of both diagnosis and treatment practices. The basic perception of the body in Chinese medicine is that it is a whole, but with separate parts. The parts are designed to work together in harmony, generally by balancing their naturally opposing concepts against one another. Each part not only serves a physical function, but is also important to mental processes. This explains the belief in Chinese medicine that what affects one's physical health also has consequences for one's mental health, with each imbalance in the body having a counterpart imbalance in the mind. This aspect echoes the principles of yin and yang, which is best summarized as a blending of two opposing but complimentary concepts, with neither one being superior in any way over the other. Disharmony is said to occur when yin or yang becomes more prevalent in the body than the other. This disharmony or imbalance is thought to be the reason behind human illnesses.
The Wu Xing aspect comes into play in terms of analyzing how the disharmony came about. Wu Xing is similar to the classical concept of the basic elements which are composed of fire, water, wood, earth, and metal. Each of these elements can be found in the body, with varying concentrations in different areas of the body. Combined, the elements produce a delicate balance and results in the normal state of a person's physical and mental health. This balance can be affected by internal and external factors, which can sway the elemental balance in a variety of ways. In theory, an increase in certain elements in areas that perform certain functions can sway the yin and yang balance, thus affecting a person's health.
The treatment for the condition, whether it be sinusitis, lower back pain, knee pain, migraine headaches, visual migraines, insomnia or whatever else ails the patient is ultimately determined by where the imbalance is and what caused it. For example, an excess of water that swayed the balance more to the yang in the nasal area is sometimes cited to cause problems such as colds and sinusitis. To counter this, a traditional Chinese doctor might prescribe a formula composed of herbs and more exotic ingredients to help suppress the water element and, thus, restore balance to the yin and yang.
Traditional Chinese medicine also espouses a number of other treatments, including those based on the manipulation of the patient's diet.
Another famous aspect or branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine is called acupuncture, a technique that involves the insertion of needles into the skin on specific points around the body to help restore “balance” between the Yin and Yang. Acupuncture is also the branch of TCM that is concerned with the treatment of what Western medicine would term as mental health disorders including anxiety and phobias. Acupuncture is seen as an effective means of balancing the flow of “chi” or internal energy throughout the body. In TCM, the need to balance the yin and yang of the mind and heart is as important as attaining balance in the human body.
Modern TCM practitioners in China, however, do acknowledge that there are situations when the traditional remedies can no longer put the body back in proper balance. In most cases, when such situations are encountered, the patient is advised to consult a doctor who practices Western medicine. However, this does not create a conflict between the two schools since most Chinese patients and doctors actually appreciate the “balance” between Eastern and Western medical theory and practice. For example, Chinese people will have no problems with surgery for appendicitis. At the same time, they will see no conflict in using traditional herbal formulas to help recover after the surgery, or to prevent the appendicitis in the first place. This is often in sharp contrast to the attitude of some practitioners of traditional Western medicine who tends to dismiss other medical philosophies, theories or schools as mere quackery.
Monday, February 8, 2010
3 Simple Steps To A More Restful Sleep Tonight
Picture this: It's 5:27 PM. You're hungry after a busy day at work, itching to get home to see your family, and now you're stuck in traffic. Frustration sets in. But you're used to it since this is an every day occurrence.
So you finally stroll into your house at 6:04 PM, your 2 young children are clamoring for your attention, and they're hungry too. You pop some frozen dinners in the microwave knowing full well they're not healthy, but also knowing that you just don't have time to think, much less cook. After a quick dinner consisting of Salisbury Steak you're day's not even close to over.
Now it's time to do laundry, read with the kids, and of course a day's work left over from the office. When do you have time to rest? At night you keep telling yourself.
But every night it's the same old story. You flop into bed past 1 AM and close your eyes. Your mind is still racing from the day that just passed and the busy day ahead. So you toss and turn, hoping that you'll be able to get at least a little shut-eye before your 6:00 AM wake up call (an annoyingly loud alarm clock
you've had for 15 years).
And the next day it starts all over again. You're tired at work, you don't have time to eat, you're stressed, and you can't get out of the vicious cycle.
So what do you do?
First thing's first: take a deep breath. You're probably stressed out just reading this far.
To get a more restful sleep tonight do the following:
1) Get a notebook and take 5 minutes right before laying down to free write. What you want to do is get every thought from the past, present, and future out of your head and on paper where it's safe and secure. This will free the clutter from your head and allow you to rest easier.
2) Get a new alarm clock that wakes you up gradually with classical music. This will do absolute wonders for your morning routine. What you want to do is set the alarm to go off 15-20 minutes earlier than you usually wake up. It will turn on very quietly and slowly bring you out of your slumber.
3) Add a few very healthy snacks to your daily routine. One of my favorites is a 2 oz pre-packaged bag of baby carrots. They taste good, they're good for you, and they take no prep-time. When you're hungry at work or on the way home, munch on these. Another great snack is raw almonds. Eating healthier works
amazingly well to help you sleep better.
Please use these 3 simple tips to enjoy a more restful sleep tonight.
So you finally stroll into your house at 6:04 PM, your 2 young children are clamoring for your attention, and they're hungry too. You pop some frozen dinners in the microwave knowing full well they're not healthy, but also knowing that you just don't have time to think, much less cook. After a quick dinner consisting of Salisbury Steak you're day's not even close to over.
Now it's time to do laundry, read with the kids, and of course a day's work left over from the office. When do you have time to rest? At night you keep telling yourself.
But every night it's the same old story. You flop into bed past 1 AM and close your eyes. Your mind is still racing from the day that just passed and the busy day ahead. So you toss and turn, hoping that you'll be able to get at least a little shut-eye before your 6:00 AM wake up call (an annoyingly loud alarm clock
you've had for 15 years).
And the next day it starts all over again. You're tired at work, you don't have time to eat, you're stressed, and you can't get out of the vicious cycle.
So what do you do?
First thing's first: take a deep breath. You're probably stressed out just reading this far.
To get a more restful sleep tonight do the following:
1) Get a notebook and take 5 minutes right before laying down to free write. What you want to do is get every thought from the past, present, and future out of your head and on paper where it's safe and secure. This will free the clutter from your head and allow you to rest easier.
2) Get a new alarm clock that wakes you up gradually with classical music. This will do absolute wonders for your morning routine. What you want to do is set the alarm to go off 15-20 minutes earlier than you usually wake up. It will turn on very quietly and slowly bring you out of your slumber.
3) Add a few very healthy snacks to your daily routine. One of my favorites is a 2 oz pre-packaged bag of baby carrots. They taste good, they're good for you, and they take no prep-time. When you're hungry at work or on the way home, munch on these. Another great snack is raw almonds. Eating healthier works
amazingly well to help you sleep better.
Please use these 3 simple tips to enjoy a more restful sleep tonight.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
A simple effect and safe way to get a good night's sleep.
Why is it sometimes just so hard to get a good, restful night's sleep'
For many of us, every evening can frequently be one of "tossing and turning", where we are just unable to settle and get off to sleep.
Some of this grueling sleep deprivation is voluntary. But with "Too much to do'" "Too much to see'", "Too many responsibilities'" - All this can lead to not sufficient sleep.
For many people, sleep is a desperate requirement. People toss and turn, but the sleep does not come. Others get to sleep only to awaken later in the middle of the night. The following morning, millions of people head off to work bleary-eyed, trying to be productive. It's a vicious cycle.
In due course exhaustion can get bad enough that a person seeks help from their doctor, who obligingly writes a prescription for some pills. At first, they work well and the insomniac person gets some much needed relief.
However, the real nightmare is all to often about to start. After a while, the sleeping pills just stop working. Unfortunately, by then, the person is addicted. The doctor has been told the drugs are not addictive by the drug manufacturer. Anecdotal proof, often hidden from us however, suggests drug manufacturers aren't telling doctors the whole story. There's big money in having a 'non-addictive' sleeping pill. As the saying goes, 'Money Talks.'
It turns out that there is alternative way, but not one health insurance or the National Health Service will pay for. Because there are no large drug companies established behind this alternative, health insurance companies or even your own health care provider just don't recognize it as a health-giving alternative choice.
Contrary to what doctors almost always are taught , both in medical schools and from drug companies, nutrition plays a large part in getting a good night's sleep.
There are a number of vitamins and minerals that strengthen sleep. An Internet search for 'insomnia vitamins' and 'insomnia minerals' provides a wealth of information about these nutritional supports.
Staying off nicotine, caffeine and alcohol helps in obtaining a good night's sleep, as does having a good diet and obtaining regular exercise
Amino acids are lesser known for their worth in being able to get sufficient sleep, but they are just as vital. L-Tryptophan, for example, is called 'essential' for a reason. Individuals can't survive without it.
Without adequate L-Tryptophan, or its easier-to-get cousin, Solgar 5-HTP (5-Hydroxy Tryptophan), human beings are not able to calm down. Sound familiar' Generally, about 100 mg of Solgar 5-HTP provides enough relaxation that sleep becomes an option for an average adult.
(5 HTP might not be commonplace in some health food store, but it can be bought on-line here -
http://www .solgar .co.uk/modules/shop/view .asp'catid=18&Prodcode=5-HTP2 )
Experimentation to find an proper dosage is safe and easy.
Sleep becomes an opportunity with enough L-Tryptophan in the brain. This is where L-Theanine, another commonly available amino acid, comes in. It's a sleep time amplifier, providing more rest in less time. A dose of 100 mg at bed time is a good starting place.
Finally, GABA (yet another amino acid) works for some people. Most sleeping pills work on the same part of the brain that uses GABA . Sadly, for technical reasons, just taking GABA does not always work that well. Trying 200 mg at bed time is a good starting place. It may or may not work.
Anyone having trouble getting a good night's sleep can leave the sleeping pills in the cabinet. Instead, trying some Solgar 5-HTP, as an economical option. This supplement is a safe and non-addictive substitute.
For more information on Insomnia, please visit:-
http://www .solgar .co.uk/healthnotes/healthnotes.asp'org=boots&ContentID=1222004
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