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China catches up with West in diabetes, too

After working overtime to catch up to life in the West, China now faces a whole new problem: the world\’s biggest diabetes epidemic.
One in 10 Chinese adults already have the disease and another 16 percent are on the verge of developing it, according to a new study. The finding nearly equals the US rate of 11 percent and surpasses other Western nations, including Germany and Canada.
The survey results, published on Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine, found much higher rates of diabetes than previous studies, largely because of more rigorous testing measures. With 92 million diabetics, China is now home to the most cases worldwide, overtaking India.
\”The change is happening very rapidly both in terms of their economy and in terms of their health effects,\” said David Whiting, an epidemiologist at the International Diabetes Federation.
\”The rate of increase is much faster than we\’ve seen in Europe and in the US.\”
Chronic ailments, such as high blood pressure and heart disease, have been steadily climbing in developing countries like China, where many people are moving out of farms and into cities where they have more sedentary lifestyles.
Greater wealth has led to sweeping dietary changes, including eating heavily salted foods, fatty meats and sugary snacks – boosting obesity rates, a major risk factor for Type 2 diabetes, which accounts for 90 percent to 95 percent of all diabetes cases among adults.
\”As people eat more high-calorie and processed foods combined with less exercise, we see an increase of diabetes patients,\” said Huang Jun, a cardiovascular professor at the Jiangsu People\’s Hospital in Nanjing, Jiangsu province.

Depression is a very widespread problem today affecting one in four women and one in eight men. Many people are aware of the many symptoms of depression, including feelings of hopelessness or helplessness, obsessive negative thoughts, loss or gain in appetite, insomnia or an increased need for sleep, social withdrawal, irritability and loss of memory or concentration, and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide. It is tempting to think that depression is sadness and the causes of depression will simply disappear and the negative feelings will subside. However, the causes of depression are not so simple, and while a negative event may trigger depression, the causes of depression are not external factors alone. Many of the causes of depression are issues with the sufferer.

Causes of depression are 40 – 70% hereditary and children of depressed children are more likely to be depressed. This would mean that the potential for depression lies in one\’s genetic makeup, and a stressor may trigger a latent potential for depression. However those who dispute heredity as one of the causes of depression cite other true observations that those who live with depressed individuals are more likely to be depressed, and a depressed parent may lack parenting skills or the necessary energy or patience to deal with a child properly, and may be one of the causes of depression. It is hard to know who really wins the nature versus nurture argument, but once we learn more about the role heredity plays among the causes of depression, the better we will understand how genes have an impact on our moods.

Whether causes of depression are hereditary or not, there is a physiological basis for the problem, which refutes claims that depression is nothing more than a bad mood that will pass. Low serotonin levels have been shown to be one of the causes of depression, and loss of neurotransmitters in the hippocampus has also been identified as one of the causes of depression. Seasonal affective disorder is also one of the causes of depression, and it has been shown that those who are deprived of light and warmth in the wintertime and become depressed as a result are not merely suffering from the “winter blues” but have a problem caused by the shorter days and longer nights. Seasonal effective disorder can develop into full blown depression if it not treated as one of the series causes of depression. Hormones may also play a role as one of the causes of depression, especially among those women who suffer from Pre Menstrual Syndrome or post-partum depression. In fact, while one out of every four women suffers from depression compared to one in every eight men, this discrepancy disappears among women who have undergone menopause, when there are lower levels of estrogen. More study is needed to determine whether these hormonal fluctuations are actual causes of depression, or merely triggers.

Losing one\’s job, getting a divorce or a death in the family may not be actual causes of depression, but they can trigger the problem in those who have a predisposition for the problem. Certainly, such events can cause sadness and a feeling of worthlessness, but if these feelings are not persistent, they are normal aspects of the grieving process and are not causes of depression. However, if the negative feelings are prolonged and obsessive, they may be triggers in setting off depression. There are some physical aliments which are included among causes of depression. Hepatitis and heart conditions can be causes of depression, in addition to Aids and other illnesses which cause weakness and fatigue.

About the author:
Juliet Cohen writes articles for depression treatment and depression clinic. She also writes articles for depression home remedies.

There are scores of methods that are in use today to help overcome depression. The most popular treatments that we hear of are therapy and medications under the guidance of a qualified doctor. But since depression is a widespread disorder and has a long history there are numerous other treatments available. A health treatment that is not classified as standard western medical practice is called “alternative”. These alternative treatments for depression are also not so popular. Physical exercise, self-help books, acupuncture, massage therapy, aromatherapy, herbal medicines, homeopathy, meditation, and yoga are but some of the alternative treatments for depression. Each of these treatments has its own different success rate.

Some of them have been received positively by a number of people while others have been rejected outright. Still others have been found to alleviate the symptoms of depression. So, the decision to opt for alternative treatments for depression is solely your\’s and most physicians refrain from making recommendations of this kind. Procedures like acupuncture have had a positive impact on some patients with depression. Studies have indicated that this is because acupuncture tends to focus on the body\’s nervous system and stimulates endorphins and enkephalins which are known to relax the mind. Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese method of healing in which fine needles are stuck into specific points in the mind.

Yet another of the alternative treatments for depression, which addresses the nervous system is yoga. It stimulates circulation, increases concentration, and energizes mind and body. The exercises that are part of a yoga workout are also beneficial to maintaining your physical health. A healthy body contributes to a better, active, mind. For many people, a combination of medication and alternative treatments for depression can be the best solution. This is particularly true in the case of individuals suffering from severe depression. Feel free to discuss your options with your physician before you decide on the actual course of treatment – be it mainstream or alternative.

There are a few disadvantages of alternative treatments for depression, one being that they are often more expensive than regular treatment. Quite a few insurance providers may not cover alternative treatments for depression. Also, many reputed specialists who offer these services may not be available for appointments at short notice. They usually have long waits and advance bookings. This might mean a delay in getting you the help you seek. Untreated depression is not good and can often lead to disturbances in a person\’s daily life by disrupting his normal schedule.

But if traditional medications and treatments do not work for you, it might be a good idea to try some alternative treatments for depression. Doing something different might just be what you needed. Insomnia, stress, substance abuse, physical illness, and suicidal tendencies are some problems that could worsen if depressed people do not receive immediate help. So whichever form of treatment you choose make sure that it works for you and if does not, get back to your physician and seek guidance on what needs to be done next.

About the author:
Juliet Cohen writes articles for depression treatment and depression clinic. She also writes articles for depression home remedies.

We are all concerned about the health of our children from the moment that they emerge into the world, but an overlooked aspect of their health could turn out to be one of the biggest factors. A child\’s mental health, and, later in life, an adolescent\’s mental health, have huge effects on the way that our children and teens live. Problems like depression can affect the quality of life for your adolescent, and can even affect their physical health.

If you think that your adolescent may be depressed, look for the signs described in this article. If they exhibit several of the signs, consult with your pediatrician to see if they think that your teenager might be suffering from depression. Adolescent depression can cause symptoms such as:

Irregular sleep - Sometimes teenagers are just on a different sleep schedule than their parents. It is perfectly normal for a teen to stay up late at night and to want to sleep in well into the next day. This is not an attitude problem, but a rewiring of their brains that drives them to these \”abnormal\” hours. They will return to \”normal\” as time goes on. What is not normal is a teen that sleeps all the time, going to bed early, sleeping late, and retiring for naps. It is also not normal for an adolescent to suffer from insomnia. While these could be symptoms of other problems, they can also be signs of depression.

Lack of energy - Despite all that extra sleep, does your adolescent still seem fatigued or tired much of the time? Low energy and lots of sleep could be signs of a problem with the thyroid, it could be something else entirely, or it could be an example of a symptom of depression.

Loss of interest - It might be hard to tell if your child has become disinterested in things that used to interest them if they are not open with you, but it pays to pay close attention. If your adolescent is no longer interested in things like keeping in contact with their friends or in playing the latest video games, whatever he or she used to be excited about, then it could be cause for concern.

Change of appetite - Is your always-hungry teen suddenly disinterested in food? Is your teenager suddenly and uncharacteristically eating all the time (particularly \”comfort foods\” or sweets)? These could both be signs of depression, and should be watched carefully. They could also indicate problems like an eating disorder, and so should be taken seriously no matter what the circumstances.

Irritability - While it can be hard to tell if your teen is irritable in general or just snappy with you as an authority figure, it is good to note that excessive irritability may be a sign of depression.

A bleak outlook - If your child is suddenly talking in the negative or talking about suicide, chalking it up to \”mood swings\” can be a mistake that can have deadly consequences. This may be one of the most overlooked of the depression signs in adolescents because many parents feel that it is normal to be pessimistic in the teenage years. This is also often paired with self-loathing, which may manifest in a variety of ways including verbally (\”I\’m such a loser\” or \”No one likes me, anyway\”), self-abuse like cutting, or talk of suicide.

You should never treat these symptoms in your adolescents as a bid for attention. While one or two of the symptoms may be symptomatic of other problems or just of being a teenager, they could also be symptoms of depression. If you see any number of these symptoms in your adolescent, it is imperative that you get into contact with their pediatrician as soon as possible.

While you may be able to talk to your teen about the depression, it really depends on your relationship with your adolescent and how you think that they will respond to your line of questioning. You should never accuse if you see warning signs of depression in your adolescent, but should talk gently with them to find out if they are willing to share their problems.

Depression in adolescents is a serious problem, but with close attention on your part and the intervention of a pediatrician with the right therapies or medications, you can effectively eliminate the immediate dangers of this terrible disease. Diagnosis and intervention can be the tools that help you save your adolescent from the dangers and pitfalls of this illness, and your awareness is what will get them there.

About the author:
About Author:
Stephanie Larkin is a freelance writer who writes about mental health topics including Community Support Services | Depression Anxiety Treatment

Major Depression: Major depression is probably one of the most common forms of depression. You probably know a handful of people who suffer from it. The sufferer seems to walk around with the weight of the world on his or her shoulders. He or she seems disinterested in becoming invIt interferes with one\’s normal functioning and often include physical symptoms. A person may experience only one episode, but often there are repeated episodes over an individual\’s lifetime.olved in regular activities and seems convinced that he or she will always be in this hopeless state. There is a lack of interest in sexual activity and in appetite and a weight loss.

Treatment

Although major depression can be a devastating illness, it is highly treatable. Between 80 and 90 percent of those diagnosed with major depression can be effectively treated and return to their usual daily activities and feelings. Many types of treatment are available, and the type chosen depends on the individual and the severity and patterns of his or her illness. There are three well-established types of treatment for depression: medications, psychotherapy, and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). For some people who have a seasonal component to their depression, light therapy may be useful. These treatments may be used alone or in combination. Additionally, peer education and support can promote recovery. Attention to lifestyle, including diet, exercise, and smoking cessation, can result in better health, including mental health.

Dysthymia

Dysthymia is another mood disorder. People who have it may feel mildly depressed on most days over a period of at least two years. They have many symptoms resembling major depression, but with less severity.

Symptoms of depression may surface with other mood disorders. They include seasonal major depression (also known as seasonal affective disorder), postpartum depression, and bipolar disorder.

Treatment

Therapy

Psychotherapy or cognitive therapy (also known as \”talk therapy\”) is used to alter people’s self-defeating thoughts.

Behavioral therapy may help people learn how to act in a more \”positive approach\” to life and to communicate better with friends, family, and co-workers.

Bipolar Disorder

This condition is characterized by mood that alternates between periods of depression and periods of elation and excitable behavior known as mania (see symptoms below). For people who have bipolar disorder, the depressions can be severe and the mania can seriously impair one\’s normal judgment. When manic, a person is prone towards reckless and inappropriate behavior such as engaging in wild spending sprees or having promiscuous sex. He or she may not be able to realize the harm of his/her behavior and may even lose touch with reality.

Treatment

There are some medications which have become famous for this: Zyprexa, Depakote, lithium are all guilty some of the time (not always; it doesn\’t happen to everybody). And now that we\’re paying more attention to this problem, it\’s becoming clear that other medications can do it: all of the new-generation antipsychotics (Zyprexa, Risperidone, Seroquel at least; Geodon very little, aripiprazole more than Geodon but less than the rest) and many of the old-generation medications like Haldol can cause weight gain. Even some antidepressants that were never really suspect in this way are now known to cause weight gain (slower than the medications listed above, though, and perhaps less often), such as Prozac and Paxil.

Keywords: Depression, types of depression, depression treatments, bipolar disorder, dysthymia, major depression

About the author:
Read about Penis Enlargement Exercises and Premature Ejaculation Cure. Also read about Breast Enlargement Enhancement Products

Many people turn to medication to help them cope with anxiety and depression. Zoloft is a popular anti-depressant found on the market today and it has had some very positive effects on patients who use it for depression. There are times that I do consider seeking medical advice on whether or not I should take a medication to relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression and this medication is appealing, but I do want to consider Zoloft side effects before taking a big step.

From what I have read, Zoloft is a wonderful medication for many people. It helps to elevate the symptoms people who suffer from anxiety and depression have but Zoloft side effects are important to consider as well. I have to determine if my depression is seasonal. My anxiety and depression may be linked to a particular event. It may pass. I have to determine if Zoloft side effects are worth the relief of my anxiety and depression.

Everyone gets depressed at one time or another and everyone has anxiety at one time or another. Sometimes we need to use medication to help resolve the anxiety and depression, but sometimes the cure is worse than the disease. Zoloft side effects include sleeplessness. I have bouts of insomnia, so Zoloft may really have a negative effect on me.

Other Zoloft side effects include nausea and diarrhea. That’s depressing in itself. In addition, the medication may interfere with sex drive. This would send my husband into a deep state of depression that no medication could fix. The makers of the anti-depressant also include anxiety and nervousness among the Zoloft side effects. Anxiety is what I’m trying to avoid.

My depression and anxiety do interfere with my daily routine on occasion. Some days I just want to stay in bed. Many times I have to call off work because I just feel fatigued and overwhelmed. I think that I may not be alone in that. Zoloft side effects would seem small if I were really suffering from anxiety and depression.

I guess that the best thing for me to do is consult my physician. I can consider Zoloft side effects and discuss it openly with my doctor. Who knows, maybe I’ll find that I just get a little down every once in awhile and I get a little anxious. I may discover that I am quite normal in that. Sometimes we make things out to be worse than they really are.

About the author:
Muna wa Wanjiru is a Web Administrator and has been researching and reporting on Internet Marketing for years. For more information on Zoloft Side Effects, visit his site at Zoloft Side Effects

Major depression is a mood disorder present in people that experience severe depressive episodes either overnight or gradually over time. A person who has been functioning normally may be plunged into despair by a psychological trauma, but most often the onset of depression is gradual, occurring over a period of weeks or several months. The person experiences profound changes in most aspects of his or her life, such as decreased motivation and loss of pleasure or interest in usual activities. Other characteristic features include increase or decrease in appetite, sleep disturbances, loss of energy, difficulties in thinking, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, or recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.

Major depression symptoms is the most severe category of depression, with the most defining symptoms present. A single episode can occur once and be treated successfully, never again requiring treatment, or the episodes can be recurring with periods of life crisis. All types of depression involve changes in the brain chemistry, altered levels of the different neurotransmitters that are necessary for brain function. Antidepressant medications are usually required to treat the symptoms of depression either for periodic episodes or for those patients who have been diagnosed as chronic sufferers. Post-partum depression after the birth of a child is an example of an episodic occurrence of depression, which is easily treated and should never be ignored. Research has shown that women are twice as likely as men to experience depression, mostly because they tend to analyze their depression and seek treatment.

According to the Diagnostical and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, major depression symptoms is one and a half to three times more common among first-degree biological relatives of persons with the disease, than among the general population. Other features can also be present, such as the presence of psychosis that can further categorize the type of depression present. The type of antidepressant therapy prescribed by the psychiatrist should be specific for the type of symptoms present, and may require more than one medication. Psychotherapy is also recommended in conjunction with antidepressants and other prescribed medication, to treat the psychological basis for the depression, to decrease the occurrence of symptoms, and therefore decrease the need for medications.

In a large percentage of patients with major depression symptoms, their first episode is not their last. Many factors contribute to the likelihood of recurrence. The most significant factors are how many previous episodes a person has had, how young the person was when the first episode occurred, if the person has a supportive family, and what type and amount of stressors are present. Some people are able to return to their normal pre-episode level of functioning, but most are not. The longer an episode of major depression symptoms lasts, the less likely it is that the person will fully recover. This can result in serious impairment in job status, income, marital relationships, and recreational activities.

There are many treatments available for persons with major depression symptoms, and they no longer have to suffer in silence, as many once did. New pharmaceutical advances have allowed those who suffer from major depression symptoms and other psychological disorders to live a normal life, and not be kept as a prisoner of their symptoms. If you know someone who is living with major depression symptoms, encourage him or her to seek treatment from a qualified mental health practitioner and comply with his or her prescribed plan of treatment.

About the author:
Muna wa Wanjiru is the Web Administrator for http://www.merpetsales.com and has been researching and reporting on Internet Marketing for years. For more information on Major Depression Symptoms, visit his site at Major Depression Symptoms

The heart matters in impotence

Men with heart disease who also complain of erectile dysfunction die sooner than other male heart patients, researchers reported on Monday.
They found that men who had both conditions were twice as likely to die from any cause and twice as likely to have a heart attack than men with heart disease alone.
The researchers expressed concern that using drugs such as Pfizer\’s Viagra or Eli Lilly\’s Cialis to treat erectile dysfunction could mask the symptoms that point to widespread heart and artery disease, and said men complaining of impotence should be checked by a cardiologist.
\”Erectile dysfunction is something that regularly should be addressed in the medical history of patients; it might be a symptom of early atherosclerosis,\” Dr Michael Bohm of the University of Saarland in Germany, who led the study, says in a statement.

His team studied 1,519 men in 13 countries taking part in some larger studies of various heart disease treatments. As part of the study the men were also asked if they had erectile dysfunction.
More than half of them, 55 percent, did, Bohm\’s team said in a report published in the journal Circulation and also presented at a meeting of the American College of Cardiology.
During the two years of the study, 11.3 percent of the patients who reported erectile dysfunction died, compared to 5.6 percent of those with mild or no impotence problems.
\”It has long been known that erectile dysfunction is a marker for cardiovascular disease,\” says Dr. Sahil Parikh at University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio, who was not involved in the study.
The first impotence drug, Pfizer\’s Viagra, known generically as sildenafil, was at first developed to lower blood pressure, he said.
\”They realized it had this other effect, which patients quite enjoyed,\” Parikh says in a telephone interview.
Viagra and rival drugs such as Eli Lilly\’s Cialis and Bayer AG\’s Levitra all work by increasing blood flow.
\”In order to have proper erectile function, you have to have adequate blood flow to the genitals. If you have atherosclerosis, whether in the arteries on the neck, which can cause stroke, or the arteries of the heart, which can cause heart attack … it is the same disease.\”
But while the erectile dysfunction drugs help blood flow all over the body, they do not treat the underlying hardening and narrowing in the arteries that is causing the problem.
\”If patients have erectile dysfunction, we have to be very aggressive about screening and treating them for heart disease,\” Parikh says.
When Viagra came onto the market, many health experts welcomed it as a way to get men who might otherwise neglect their health to go to a doctor. But Bohm and Parikh both agreed that patients – and their doctors – need to look hard at the hearts of men with erectile dysfunction.
\”Men with ED going to a general practitioner or a urologist need to be referred for a cardiology workup to determine existing cardiovascular disease and proper treatment,\” Bohm says.
\”The medication works and the patient doesn\’t show up any more,\” he adds. \”These men are being treated for the ED, but not the underlying cardiovascular disease.\”
The drugs are wildly popular. Viagra alone had sales of nearly $2 billion in 2009.

Thinner smokers get higher risk of lung cancer: research

A recent research showed that thinner smokers have a higher risk of lung cancer than their fatter counterparts, local media reported on Wednesday.
Researchers from the National University of Singapore surveyed 63,257 middle- aged and elderly Chinese Singaporeans from 1993 onwards. It examined the relationship between smokers\’ body mass index (BMI) – a measure of obesity – and their chances of lung cancer, local English newspaper the Straits Times reported.
The research found that pack-a-day smokers with a BMI of at least 28 were six times as likely to get lung cancer as equally heavy people who had never lit up.
But thinner pack-a-day smokers, who had a BMI of less than 20, were 11 times as likely to get the disease as non-smokers of a similar weight and BMI.
Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in men in Singapore, and the third most common in women.

Muscle cells can control fatty acid uptake

Swedish researchers have found that blood vessels and muscles of the heart could regulate the uptake of fatty acids that people take through meat, milk products and other food.
The researchers showed that VEGF-B can control levels of fatty acid transport proteins (FATPs) in the vascular wall. VEGF-B signaling from the muscles to these cells led to an increase in FATPs and thus a greater intake of fat through the vascular walls, according to a statement issued by Sweden\’s medical university Karolinska Institute (KI) on Monday.
\”Mice that lacked either the VEGF-B protein or its receptors in the walls of the blood vessels had a lower intake of fat to the muscles and the heart, and less accumulation of fat in the different tissues,\” said associate professor Ulf Eriksson, who led the study at KI\’s Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics.
\”Instead, we found that the residual fat accumulated in the white adipose tissue, causing a slight weight increase in the mice, \” he added.
Their most striking finding was that the mice that lacked VEGF- B, and that consequently had lower muscular fat uptake, increased the uptake of sugar to the heart, the statement said.
It is hoped that these results can one day be developed into new treatments for several metabolic diseases, including type II diabetes.
Karolinska Institute becomes famous around the world partly because the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine is decided here every year.