Depression is not a normal part of aging. Rather, it is a serious mental health condition that, if left untreated, can cause substance abuse, physical illness, higher mortality rates and even suicide, reports HelpGuide.org. If you know of an...
Witnessing a violent death of a loved one is a traumatic experience. Many individuals suffer from both traditional grief responses, such as anger, denial and sadness, along with traumatic grief that can include survivors' guilt, fears and...
According to the International Association for the Study of Pain, or IASP, approximately 6.6 million people worldwide die each year from cancer. Symptoms vary widely depending on the type of cancer, extent of spread and location of the cancer....
Until the late 20th century, depression was considered an adult mental health issue, explains the National Institute of Mental Health. Now, however, mental health professionals understand that depression may also impact children and adolescents....
Psoriasis is a non-life-threatening skin disease that tends to run in families. An overproduction of skin cells causes the formation of patchy areas of rash, covered by silvery white flakes of dead skin cells. The National Psoriasis Foundation...
Dementia is not a disease, but a series of symptoms that may include loss of cognitive function and changes in personality, mood or behavior. People who experience early signs of dementia may fear irreversible mental decline. In fact, depression,...
Once a cancer patient is terminal, the aim is no longer to achieve a cure but to manage any distressing physical or psychological symptoms. Palliative care focuses on the comfort and care of those nearing death. The palliative care team chooses...
Depression is an episodic mood state that manifests as emotional distress. Feelings of sadness, emptiness and hopelessness are the most common signs. Depression, however, also affects our physical health and cognitive functioning. Physically we...
In the 1960s, psychiatrist Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross changed the way the world viewed the grieving process as well as the respect owed to the dying. Her five stages of grief, listed in the book "On Death and Dying," were used to describe the...
Many women live with bladder-control problems for years before seeking medical treatment due to being too embarrassed or ashamed. Urinary incontinence (the loss of bladder control) is not a normal part of the aging process or a consequence of...
Depression is a psychiatric disorder characterized by low mood, bouts of crying, thoughts of suicide, appetite changes, sleep disturbances, loss of energy and increased fatigue, decision-making problems, problems concentrating and irritable or...
According to 2010 statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 17 percent of American children and adolescents aged 2 to 19 years are obese. Low levels of cognitive stimulation in the home, meanwhile, have been...
Unipolar depression, also known as major depressive disorder, afflicts approximately 14.8 million American adults each year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Per the criteria of the American Psychiatric Association, its...
Autism, which is more formally referred to as autism spectrum disorder or autistic disorder, is a brain development disorder that can occur in children. An estimate provided by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke indicates...
Most people suffer from some level of stress and/or anxiety on a daily basis. Stress can cause symptoms of anxiety, and anxiety can cause stress. As everyone develops stress differently, the symptoms may vary from person to person. You may...
As teenagers grow up, the experiences of emotional and physical stress intensifies as a natural part of development. Natural causes of stress like hormonal and physical or bodily changes are considered very stressful; combine these normal...
Intestinal migraines are a variant form of migraines that occur almost exclusively in children. Abdominal rather than head pain predominates with intestinal migraines, which are also known as abdominal migraines and childhood periodic syndrome....
If you think being addicted to the Internet sounds silly, you may be surprised to know that it is absolutely real. A University of Maryland study published in "The New York Times" asked 200 students to go 24 hours without using the Internet. The...
Being addicted or dependent on drugs and alcohol is a serious issue. The effects of this type of dependency can have harmful effects on health and lifestyle. Many people also lose touch with friends and family members. Some people may lose their...
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive form of dementia that is said to affect more than 5 million Americans. The difference between the early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and signs of normal brain aging is largely a matter of degree. Occasional...