Congestive heart failure (CHF) happens when the heart is structurally damaged and not strong enough to pump blood to the tissues of the body. Caused by coronary artery disease, high blood pressure or cardiomyopathy, fluid accumulates and backs...
If you have OCD, you probably engage in ritualized behaviors, such as obsessive hand washing, checking doors or light switches multiple times, avoiding certain colors or images or adopting elaborate procedures for seemingly mundane tasks. Those...
Feeling worried or anxious is the body's natural reaction to stress and danger, but for some people, the anxiety becomes overwhelming, persistent or irrational, manifesting as an anxiety disorder. According to the National Institute of Mental...
Anxiety is a normal response to stress. Anxiety can be good in that it can motivate one to succeed, meet deadlines or set goals, but when anxiety becomes excessive and overwhelming, it can manifest itself in physical symptoms such as heavy chest...
Psychodynamic psychotherapy, a form of talk therapy, is based on principles of psychoanalysis. One of these principles represents the idea that early childhood experiences and relationships influence adult choices, behaviors and feelings. Another...
Asperger's syndrome is one of several psychiatric disorders categorized as pervasive developmental disorders of childhood. As with all of these disorders, the child with Asperger's has significant to profound functional impairment in the areas of...
Antihistamine therapy is your first line of defense against allergic rhinitis, commonly known as hay fever. Allergic rhinitis is one of the most common medical conditions in the United States, according to Capital Allergy and Respiratory Disease...
Forget the couch and grab your yoga mat. A therapist can help you with mental, physical, relational, career-oriented or sport-based goals. A yoga therapist will give you personal yoga attention based on your specific needs; you will learn how to...
There is debate in the medical community about whether such a thing as male menopause actually exists. The disorder is more accurately termed "late-onset hygonadism" or "andropause." Sufferers complain of non-specific symptoms like weight gain,...
We identify positive and negative things by our thoughts and behavior. When thoughts are negative, our behaviors can be negative as well. Therefore, the link between thought and behavior has been found to be very beneficial in helping others to...
Motor neuron disease, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is a nerve disease characterized by increasing loss of body movements due to degeneration of the motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. ALS has...
Autism is a developmental disorder characterized by impairments in social interactions, communication and odd, restricted patterns of behavior. A decision about the best possible autism program for one particular child should always be made after...
Decreases in testosterone levels are common as you age. This male sex hormone lessens by roughly 1 percent a year after age 30. The gradual decline in testosterone often leads to an increase in body fat, decrease in muscle mass, loss of bone...
Leukemia is a frightening diagnosis, and until the last few decades it was a disease with few good treatment options. But advances in chemotherapy and other types of treatment have markedly improved the likelihood of achieving remission and...
The stresses involved in daily life can bring anxiety and often force us to live in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment. Juggling the responsibilities of home, family, work and friends can be challenging, and knowing how to naturally calm...
Gastric cancer will kill 10,570 americans and lead to 21,000 new cancer cases in the United States in 2010, according to the National Cancer Institute. Gastric cancer develops from genetic mutations in the tissue that make up the lining of the...
A limb-sparing pelvectomy is a life-changing experience, requiring extensive postoperative care, including physical therapy. In an internal pelvectomy, doctors remove part of your pelvis without amputating your leg. The prevalence of this surgery...
Back injuries can run the entire gamut from a relatively uncomplicated herniated disc to a complicated break. Because your spine is responsible for the stability, structure, flexibility and protection for your entire body, even a mild back injury...
ADD, or attentional deficit disorder, is a commonly diagnosed behavioral disorder in children, affecting between 3 and 5 percent of school age children. According to the National Institutes of Health, boys are diagnosed with attention deficit...
Residents in an assisted living community require additional help with bathing, dining and other activities of daily living. Many residents can remain independent on many levels, but often need extra assistance, leading to feelings of...
Physical therapists may recommend a temporary brace to strengthen joints and help extremities regain good form. People with muscular dystrophy are prone to a stiffening of the muscles, which may cause walking difficulties and other problems. A...
A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is the result of a blow to the head in which the brain suffers damage. A number of complications can occur from a TBI that require both immediate and ongoing, long-term treatment, according to...
Exercising after surgery is often necessary to help you return to your normal daily life. Physical therapy may begin almost immediately or several days after surgery, depending on the nature of the operation. There are four main types of exercise...
Fracturing your wrist can be a painful and debilitating injury that requires weeks of rehabilitation in order to return to normal daily activity. Your doctor will prescribe a physical therapy or an occupational therapy treatment plan to help you...
Physical therapy and gait training are very important pieces to recovering from a lower limb amputation. Proper gait training is an essential component to regaining independence. Working together with your physician, therapist and prosthetist you...
If you have been studying yoga for a long time, it's likely you have considered sharing that passion with others. What better way to let others in on your joy than by teaching? Many schools offer a variety of yoga-related courses to certify you to...
Occupational therapy helps people perform everyday functions so they can be involved in meaningful occupations. It is a system that heals on many levels and draws from backgrounds as diverse as psychology, anthropology and medicine. The ancient...
Sensory processing disorder, SPD, is the inability to organize the use of the senses. People who struggle with sensory issues can misinterpret just one type of signal—such as touch or hearing—or struggle with all of the senses working...
Lysine is an essential amino acid that cannot be manufactured in the body and must come from the diet. Some people supplement their diet with single amino acids such as lysine for sports nutrition or to treat health conditions. Lysine is a...
Deciding on a type of therapy and a particular therapist can be a difficult process. Get tips on therapy and choosing a therapist from a licensed clinical social worker in this video.
Couples often use therapy to examine issues they have difficulty discussing at home. Learn how to get started with couples therapy from a licensed clinical social worker in this video.
Age is the biggest factor when considering therapy for a child. Learn how to get started with child's therapy from a licensed clinical social worker in this video.
