Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, known as PTSD for short, refers to a condition that may develop after a traumatic event. PTSD is quite common--at some point in their lives, about 8 percent of people in the U.S. will develop PTSD. Women are twice as...
A panic attack is the sudden onset of great fear that produces a bodily response. Common panic responses include sweating, shaking and choking. Panic attacks may be caused by psychological distress or medicinal drugs. When these episodes occur...
Iritis is an inflammation of the iris, the colored area of the eye. The iris constricts or dilates to control the size of the pupil, the black area at the center of eye. By controlling pupil size, the iris moderates the amount of light that enters...
Victims of relationship abuse don't just carry physical injuries. Abuse has numerous affects on nearly every aspect of a survivor's life. These affects have far-reaching implications, often affecting her employment, other relationships and mental...
Recent research shows that high levels of blood cholesterol appear consistently in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder. These patients also demonstrate lower levels of high-density lipoprotein, or HDL, cholesterol, the good cholesterol....
Post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, involves a debilitating mental illness. PTSD occurs in survivors of any form of high stress event: combat, a natural disaster, sexual assault, physical abuse or any incident that directly threatens life....
According to a 2007 review in the "Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine," sleep occurs in a progressive series of stages. People typically experience light sleep, deep sleep and then rapid eye movement sleep. This last stage is also known as REM...
Anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder and phobias. Benzodiazepines and antidepressants are often used to treat anxiety disorders. RxList.com explains that benzodiazepines reduce the...
Yohimbine is an extract from the bark of the African yohimbe tree, Pausinystalia yohimbe. For centuries, yohimbine was used as an aphrodisiac by indigenous people wherever the tree was found. According to "World Journal of Urology," early studies...
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a form of anxiety disorder triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. According to MayoClinic.com, symptoms characteristic of PTSD involve memory disturbance, increased arousal or anxiety...
Approximately 7.7 million in America over the age of 18 have PTSD, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. PTSD, the acronym for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, is a mental disorder that occurs after a person experiences a traumatic...
Dehydroepiandrosterone, DHEA, plays an important role in the health of women. As the most prevalent steroid, DHEA affects a broad range of physiological and behavioral processes. Scientists consider DHEA a prohormone, a trigger for the production...
Anxiety can make a person feel apprehensive or fearful, but too much can interfere in the patient's life, resulting in an anxiety disorder. Certain factors, like early trauma or substance use, can exacerbate the symptoms, or even cause anxiety to...
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is an anxiety disorder that occurs after a traumatic event, according to the Mayo Clinic. The event may have happened directly to you, or you may have watched it happen to someone else, or a group of...
Anxiety is characterized by worry and fear about events and activities. Fears can be real or imagined. Situations can range from fear of job loss, work or academic performance, relationship problems and divorce. Anxiety signals are cues there is...
Anxiety is an unpleasant state of mind characterized by a feeling of uneasiness, fear, and worry. There are many treatments for anxiety, and exercise has recently been shown to be effective in alleviating its symptoms. Whether you have an anxiety...
Serotonin is a chemical that is naturally produced by your body to help your brain and nerve cells function, according to the Mayo Clinic. The availability of serotonin in your brain has been linked to mental health disorders, such as depression,...
Zoloft, the brand name of sertraline, is a prescription medication used to treat major depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. It belongs to the class of...
Lexapro belongs to a newer class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. Serotonin, a chemical secreted throughout the brain, contributes to a general sense of well being and regulates energy levels, sleep...
In general, antidepressants enhance the availability of naturally occurring chemicals called neurotransmitters to the brain and are categorized into groups based on the chemicals in the brain they affect. There are three types of antidepressants...
Increased cholesterol caused by stress occurs when the stress contributes to unhealthy eating habits. If someone is under stress, this person may abandon his healthy eating habits and indulge in consuming foods he desires, rather than foods that...
The side effects of anxiety are dependent on an individual's experience with anxiety. Anxiety can increase a person's motivation, drive to succeed, need to accomplish goals and energy levels. When a person has the ability to use his anxiety for...
Symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, include depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and the feeling that you have no control over your life. Regular exercise is a positive coping mechanism that can help ease symptoms associated with...
Naturopathy is an alternative and non-invasive form of treatment for healing various physical or mental health concerns, such as anxiety. Naturopathy is considered a holistic approach that utilizes one or a combination of healing techniques such...
Anxiety can be a healthy response to stress or pressure and can help people cope, according to researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health. It's when the anxious, fearful feelings interrupt daily actives and become excessive and...
Social anxiety refers to a condition in which people have behavioral and emotional issues in certain social situations. The Mayo Clinic says that some signs of social anxiety include worrying about potential humiliation, avoiding situations in...
Psychiatrists prescribe both Paxil, or paroxetine hydrochloride, and Wellbutrin, or bupropion, to treat depression. Paxil is also approved to treat obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety...
A 2010 survey in the "Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine" indicated that 30 percent of people experience insomnia. This paper revealed that the presence of sleep disorders was associated with decreases in health quality. A 2009 study in the...
Anosmia, or loss of the sense of smell, proves a relatively common disorder, especially among older adults. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research states that approximately 1 to 2 percent of the North American population...
Post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is an psychiatric disorder most often associated with any serious psychological trauma. Learn more about the causes, symptoms and treatments for PTSD in this medical video.