The belief of depression being a disorder of prolonged sadness is not always the case! If it is it is only a minor part of depression! Depression is a multifaceted condition involving both psychological and physiological factors with no one unified hypothesis however it is perceived that there is close relevance with anxiety. Depression is not defined as a sign of emotional weakness nor is it considered as a personality trait or a character flaw. Symptoms of Depression
Symptoms of depression in children and adolescents
Symptoms of dysthymia (minor chronic depression) are less intense however longer-lasting and the number of symptoms will be less. The majority of depression and anxiety happens to go undiagnosed and untreated, regularly because people report only some symptoms they experience! Primary care doctors/ general practitioners fail to see those symptoms as a possibility of someone having depression! Which does not benefit people who are experiencing those symptoms; they are left not knowing where to turn to or look for help! If you are someone or know someone who is experiencing four or more of the symptoms listed above for more than 2 weeks please know that support and help is available! As a naturopath and nutritionist it is my job to look for the causes of disease and treat those accordingly! Possible causes for depression could be derived from physical sources, hormonal disorders, infections, pre-existing medical conditions, medications both prescribed and non-prescribed and/or environmental influences! Having depressed feelings is quite different to having a depressive illness! It takes a world full of darkness to see a world full of darkness and to see a world full of light! Everyone has a shining star within them if your star has low light in other words if you have low spirits for a while don’t be concerned! However if you feel you can’t shine your star brightly in other words cannot lift yourself out of your misery please consider seeking help from a non-judgemental naturopath and nutritionist like me! Cardiovascular disease is a broad description that refers to conditions involving the heart and blood vessels which affects the cardiovascular system such as Atherosclerosis (Plaque build up in-side arterial wall) and Angina (Chest pain resulting from impaired blood and oxygen flow to the heart).
Possible risk factors that may play a role in the development of cardiovascular disease are: Hypertension Hypertension is associated to atherosclerosis by a high diastolic reading alone of 100. Diastolic readings indicate the amount of pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats. A diastolic reading of 90 and higher is considered hypertension and if left untreated can result in atherosclerosis and angina upon exertion. Dyslipidemia High total cholesterol and LDL levels are resultant from prior damage and inflammation to the endothelium being vulnerable to circulating fatty substances such as in this case LDL cholesterol particles which enter into the endothelial lining due to the white blood cells inability to mop excesses up; this results in a build up of plaque which gradually over time leads to artherosclerosis. Cigarette Smoking Free radical components of cigarette smoke are what is considered to impair the form; structure and functionality of the endothelium (inner lining of blood vessels) which results in atherosclerosis. Poor sleep quality Broken sleep and constant tiredness indicates a sign of unstable angina. Unstable angina occurs at rest with little to no physical exertion. It is the extreme amount of chest pain that results in broken sleep. Diabetes mellitus/Insulin Resistance/Metabolic Syndrome Impaired glucose metabolism coupled with cardiovascular disease has an increased risk of further cardiovascular events. Elevated risk is associated to hyperglycaemia and hyperinsulinemia with both being atherogenic in nature. Metabolic syndrome is related with an inflammatory state, higher level of clotting factors, decreased ability to break down clots and endothelial dysfunction that notably increases the risk of cardiovascular events. Obesity and Diet Obesity and consumption of saturated fats has no direct correlation to suggest a cause to cardiovascular disease. Obesity may increase the risk factors like hypertension and elevated blood cholesterol levels which if left untreated can lead to cardiovascular disease. Trans-fatty acids increase the risk of cardiovascular disease by promotion of pro-inflammatory responses and endothelial dysfunction. Nutritional deficiencies like B6, Folic acid and B12 are involved in the development of cardiovascular disease as they all lead to increasing homocysteine. Homocysteine when in excess stimulates inflammatory pathways in vascular cells. Psychological Stress Psychological stress and depression has potential to provoke or maintain inflammatory processes implicated in cardiovascular disease. Depression and stress along with isolation are separate risk factors for cardiovascular disease. After major depressive episodes there is a three to five fold increase in developing cardiovascular disease if left untreated. Signs and symptoms Cardiovascular disease does not align to one unified collection of symptoms. In saying this though given its association with obesity, hypertension and metabolic conditions, any diagnosis of either one or more should note the possibility of existing atherosclerosis and dyslipidemia. A presenting symptom of chest pain could indicate atherosclerosis, dyslipidemia, angina, myocardial infarction, insulin resistance and/or metabolic syndrome. Treating cardiovascular disease through nutritional medicine comes with many benefits without causing harm such as:
Bacteria are free-living organisms, with intracellular processes that may be susceptible to chemical interference—antibiotics. Some of these processes are similar to those used in our own, or our commensals’ (e.g., bacteria in our gut) cells, accounting for many side effects. “Stages” may refer to the bacterial load or to the physical effects caused by the infection but don’t refer to the life cycle of the bacteria themselves—syphilis, a bacterial disease that can progress in stages, is the same germ whether it is in a genital chancre or the brain, and can be transmitted—or eradicated—while completely asymptomatic. Viruses are chunks of genetic code, wrapped in protein, that are able to penetrate host cells (often species-specific) and insert themselves into the nuclear (in the cells’ nucleus) DNA, where they can commandeer the cells’ reproductive machinery to replicate themselves and spread to other cells or tissues (or organisms). Because replication, host cellular injury, and immune response may all produce symptoms related to the infection, and because viral replication may not occur at a constant rate, some viral infections may be thought of as having “stages:” Herpes simplex virus may be “latent” (asymptomatic) or “active” (causing blistering), though the period of infection is permanent—antivirals (and normal immune function) suppress replication and symptoms but don’t eradicate the viral DNA. Only eradication of the infected cells—as with common colds—clears the infection. Common signs and symptoms that may be experienced with an infection are fever; stomach upset; changes in bowel motions; fluid retention; headaches; changes in appearance of skin i.e. shiny raised rash or blisters anywhere on the surface of the skin. Signs and Symptoms of an infection are difficult to diagnose whether its bacteria or virus invading the body!! Antibiotics might kill bacteria but cannot kill a virus!! Antibiotics also may not succeed to kill a bacteria if the bacteria is super resistant if you are someone who experiences frequent bouts of infection and antibiotic treatment is not proving its effectiveness optimally, then have you considered a second opinion maybe try a third opinion to heal from the inside out by finding the root cause to the infection!! Could it be your experiencing changes in your life, and/or diet and lifestyle that has slowed you down? Unsure of the cause? Let me help you find it so you can defeat infection and dis-ease to create and encourage wellness and vitality!! Do you want to find out how strong you truly are it doesn't take much? Just small changes can make the world a difference on your perceived outlook on life! One of those is by means of communication which some males have tendencies to not do when it comes to their own health and well-being! Strength does not come about by harboring and suppressing emotions and feelings that need to be listened to and heard! The moment you start to hold on to everything internally your body physically is beginning to manifest chronic illness! Mentally you are experiencing anxiety and potentially other affective disorders i.e depression or perhaps you may be experiencing PTSD which is inhibiting communication (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)! Emotionally and Spiritually you lose connection with your own worth and value! If your a male that relates to harboring and suppressing how you feel about life i.e. health; work/career; studies; finances; family; children's health and welfare; relationships; etc you should consider investing in some time to communicate how you feel to a holistic health care practitioner like me who is only to happy to listen to you and if desired provide you some professional advice and recommendations on what you can do further to help yourself realise how strong you truly are! |
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November 2023
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