Plastic A Potential threat?

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Facts ; To just remind, as we all know

• nOnce thrown, it takes some time, roughly just around 30 human generation may witness; or may be more than that (around 1000 years).

• nIf burnt, produces toxic gases nPlastic covers, as well as material kept inside, puts serious threat for water pollution.
  

• nPlastic has become an integral part of our daily life, take for instance the plastic (polythene) bags, Plastic bags have made our life so easy and comfortable

• nBe it vegetable or grocery shopping, or purchase of other items such as books or clothing, everything comes in plastic bags.

• n They are light weight, reusable, water proof and very convenient to carry things, Their usage has increased tremendously in recent years.

• nThese plastic bags cannot be digested or passed by the cows or other animals that eat them, so they stay in their stomachs.

• n This can prevent proper digestion of food and can lead to a very slow and painful death of poor animals

• nPlastic bag litter also affects the marine environment (lakes, rivers, oceans) Many whales, seals and turtles, as well as birds are killed due to plastic bag litter

What we throw comes in our own way?

• nIt’s not a religious statement alone!!! Mother nature can not digest this man made plastic “CREATURE”, it is kept safe for generations.

• nIt’s kind of gift saved for our generation.

• nWater pollution, packed material inside the cover can cause more severe threat to environment, and ultimately humans.

What about recycling it?

• nRecycling of plastic is a remedy. Plastic bags can be recycled but it is a difficult and costly affair.

• nSo they are usually thrown in landfill sites. These plastic bags take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade, breaking down into very small toxic particles that contaminate the soil as well as the water channels entering the food chain and posing a health hazard to man and animals.

• nIt is estimated that globally, a million plastic bags are consumed every minute. India is a major contributor to this staggering statistic. This is a disaster already in the making. Why? Unfortunately, the list is long – but here is a flavour:

1. nChoked Drains : Light poly-bags settle in drains. They cause backflow and water logging. Poly-bag induced water logging triggers off landslides in the mountains
2. Soil Degradation : Poly-bags are non-porous and non-biodegradable. They obstruct free flow of water and air, choking the soil and suffocating plant roots. Toxic chemical additives cause soil quality degradation.
3. nAnimal Deaths : Cows eat poly-bags and die. National Geographic estimates that over 100,000 marine animal deaths per year are directly related to ingestion of plastic bags
4. nFood Hazards : Most plastics today come from petrochemicals. Laboratory studies show that some of these chemicals are linked to cancer and kidney damage and may interfere with the reproductive system.
5. nMosquito Breeding : Stray poly-bags act as receptacles of water, sufficient enough for mosquito breeding.
6. nPolluting Industry : Manufacture of poly-bags, mainly in small moulding shops, with no environmental standards involve hazardous materials and emit obnoxious gases posing serious problems for workers and the environment.
7. nDisposal Hazards : If disposed through landfills, poly-bags continue to pollute soil for many years. If burnt they emit hazardous gases that pollute the air.

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Earth!!! But What about oceans??

• nIf I told you the world’s largest garbage dump was almost twice the size of continental United States would you believe me?

• nThe Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the collective name for two gigantic masses of garbage floating in the Pacific Ocean

• nThe two masses are known as the Western Pacific Garbage Patch and the Eastern Pacific Garbage Patch.

• nThe Great Pacific Garbage Patch was discovered in 1997 by Charles Moore, an American oceanographer. He came across it by chance while taking a short cut home from a Los Angeles to Hawaii yacht race. After steering into the North Pacific gyre, he found himself surrounded by garbage. Not just a little bit of garbage, but a virtual continent of garbage. All day, every day, for about a week, his vessel sailed through a sea of garbage.

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Following this alarming discovery, Moore sold his oil business and became an environmental activist.

What we can do? This is a global issue!!!

• nCertainly it is global issue and agencies are involved worldwide.

• nWe can contribute by tiny things. As Ocean is nothing but collection of drops.

• nGoing for shopping, always carry bag.

• nWe can target from vegetable shopping.

• nEven purchasing from vegetable malls, after shopping, return their plastic bags, so it can be used by others

• nDo it proudly, others also will see you, and follow you. After all we all are humans.

• nIt goes well with the other grocery items.

• nWhen throwing the garbage, do not put the bio-degradable things inside plastic bags. As it will not degrade, moreover pollute and can cause death of some animal by consuming plastic.

• nKeep the garbage in bucket or paper bags and directly throw to garbage collector

• nSpread awareness in your family, educate children, so they should not make mistakes unknowingly.

• nJust count, how many plastic covers we dump daily. Make target to reduce it daily.

• nEven if you are not able to reach zero plastic bag, throw them consciously.

• nSay proudly, I am the eco-friendly human, will try to leave greener world to coming generation

Always remember it’s the intention, which makes the difference…

“Spread this awareness every where..”

For beauty and good health blueberries are must

Blueberries

For beauty and good eating for years to come, plant a few blueberry bushes this spring. Blueberries are easy-to-care-for, multiple-use plants which have a place in almost any-sized yard. They are attractive, well-behaved shrubs which are rarely bothered by insects or diseases. In the spring, they are covered with white, bell-shaped flowers. Between June and September, depending on variety, mature plants produce lots of delicious berries. Then in the fall, the leaves turn a sensuous scarlet. Blueberry bushes are widely available in local nurseries and are frequently planted solely for their landscape rather than for their food value. Blueberries grow wild over the eastern United States. In Connecticut, we've found the low-bush type growing prolifically at the Branford shore and in New Haven's West Rock State Park. They also do well high in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and in most of Maine. Our farm has many wild high-bush blueberries. All of these plants are loaded with small, flavorful berries. We also have several plantings of the large-berried, cultivated varieties which breeders have developed fairly recently from native types.


Blueberries are important food for wildlife, especially bluebirds, grouse, scarlet tanagers, deer, bears and chipmunks. They were widely used by Native Americans who dried large quantities for the winter. These were powdered to make "Sautauthig," a pudding with cornmeal, honey and water, and were used as a seasoning for smoked meats and stews. The natives were onto a good thing. Besides their wonderful flavor, blueberries have been found to have the highest antioxidant activity when compared to 40 other fruits and vegetables.

Antioxidants help prevent cancer, heart disease and the effects of aging. One-half cup of blueberries provides as much antioxidant power as five servings of broccoli, peas or apples. If you are primarily interested in the beauty of the plants and in supporting your local bird population, variety is not important. If you are interested in harvesting a crop of berries for fresh eating and for making jams, pies, muffins and pancakes, you have a wide choice of varieties with different ripening dates, flavors and sizes. With careful selection, it is possible to pick fresh blueberries over a two-to-four-month period. In any case, plant several varieties to ensure good pollination. If you are interested in eating the berries, you need to protect them while they are ripening. Birds have more time to check on the progress of the berries than we do and will eat many or most of them unless the plants are covered. This can be as simple as a net thrown over each individual bush, or it can be a more elaborate cage affair over many plants.

One workable arrangement has five blueberry bushes as a foundation planting on the south side of the house. During fruiting season, the posts of a decorative rail fence in front of the bushes support lightweight pipes which hold up netting, also attached to the house, in a way which allows the picker inside. These five bushes will provide all the blueberries a family could want for fresh eating, drying and freezing. To enjoy delicious blueberries all year, pack freshly-picked berries in plastic freezer containers.


Later, they can be added to muffin, cake or pancake batters straight from the freezer without defrosting. Blueberries require acid soil, which is what we have mostly everywhere in Connecticut. They need plenty of sunshine for plentiful yields. Blueberries have shallow roots and appreciate a steady supply of moisture. This means they should be planted with lots of organic matter and compost in the root zone. Blueberries are also helped by a mulch of wood chips, sawdust, oak leaves or shredded bark, which help keep the soil acid. Plant them about six-to-eight-feet apart. They will bear a full crop after six to eight years, and with care, can produce berries for decades.


Plant some blueberry bushes this spring for years of delicious, healthy eating.

Eat beans and live healthy

Beans

Health researchers have determined that increased consumption of fruits and vegetables leads to reduced risk of heart disease and cancer. Nutritionists at the National Cancer Institute and other health professionals recommend eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Snap beans are a fair source of Vitamins A and C, calcium, iron, and potassium. Beans should be light yellow in color or green; firm and crisp in texture; and smooth with no evidence of seeds bulging. Avoid beans with flabby, tough pods and bulging seeds. Boiling or steaming fresh beans in water kills many food-borne, illness-causing organisms that may be present. This is a viable option for individuals who are especially susceptible to these organisms (immune compromised persons and young children) to reduce their potential risk.


Storage: Store unwashed in perforated plastic bags in the warmer part of the refrigerator. They will keep up to a week. Wash beans with large amounts of cold tap water. Double washing is recommended. After the initial washing, transfer the beans to a colander in order to offer a secondary washing to remove any remaining potential soil that may have stuck to the beans as it was removed from the initial wash. Do not use soap because beans and other vegetables are porous and can absorb detergent ingredients.


Food safety tip: The level of acid in green beans is very low. Keep in mind when canning greenbeans, a pressure canner is a must. A boiling water bath for processing does not get hot enough to kill bacteria. By not heating the beans enough, you create an atmosphere that is just right for botulism.

Rickets

Rickets

A bone abnormality of childhood. The term refers to a group of disorders in which there is a defect in the mineralization of bone matrix or osteoid. In adults, the disorder is referred to as OSTEOMALACIA, as the defect occurs only in the matrix and the growth plates have already sealed. In children, the disorder is referred to as rickets because the mineralization abnormality is located at the growth plate. Rickets is often classified as calcium- or phosphate-deficient rickets.

The major skeletal problems are seen at sites in the body where there is rapid bone growth, such as in the forearm, knee, and the costochondral junctions. Thus, the child with rickets may have bone abnormalities, such as a bowing of the legs and the wrists. Abnormalities may also be seen at the ends of ribs, such as a beading known as rachitic rosary.

Rickets can cause growth abnormalities as well as be associated with abnormalities of nerve and muscle function, depending on the cause. Children with severe metabolic abnormalities have bone pain, sweat excessively, and are more prone to developing infections.


Vitamin D-Dependent Rickets

Type 1 and type 2 rickets are caused by rare congenital errors of vitamin D metabolism. With type 1 rickets, there is a defect in the enzyme in the kidney
that coverts vitamin D stores to its most active form. Children with type 1 rickets typically have symptoms in their first two years of life. Calcium and 2,5-dihydroxyvitamin D levels are low, while, parathyroid hormone levels are elevated. Large doses of vitamin D preparations are used to treat this condition.
In children with type 2 rickets, the children are resistant to the effects of vitamin D. Their vitamin D blood levels are normal or elevated. This disorder is usually diagnosed in children before they reach age two. Rarely, this condition has been diagnosed in adults. Very large doses of vitamin D are needed by patients to correct their low calcium levels and to lead to normal bone mineralization.


Hypophosphatemic Rickets

Another form of rickets is hypophosphatemic rickets.
This disorder causes an abnormal reabsorption of phosphorus from the kidneys. Typically, male children are affected. They present with growth problems, low blood phosphorus levels, and lowerleg abnormalities. The abnormal gene that causes this disorder has been named PHEX. There have been rare reports of females with a mild form of this disorder. Growth hormone has been effectively
used with patients to improve growth, although these children are not growth hormone deficient.

Radioactive iodine

Radioactive iodine

A substance used for both diagnostic purposes and therapeutic reasons in suspected or known cases of thyroid disease. The iodine isotopes I-123, I-125, and I-131 can all be used for radioactive iodine uptake studies and scans of the thyroid gland. Typically I-123 is chosen, although technetium pertechnetate is also often used as it is less expensive and more readily available. For uptake purposes, only an iodine isotope can be used.


Radioactive iodine is given orally. It is absorbed from the gut and then trapped by the thyroid
gland. The more active the thyroid is, the more iodine trapped in the gland. Thus, a radioisotope
uptake scan will provide an excellent measure of the physiological activity of the thyroid.

The patient is brought into the nuclear medicine department, and the amount of radioactive activity taken up by the thyroid is counted and reported as a percentage. The typical normal range in the United States is from 15–30 percent. With GRAVES’ DISEASE, the percentages usually range from 40–100 percent. In THYROIDITIS, however, the percentage is usually very low, in the 0–5 percent range.

The amount of iodine that is trapped by the thyroid depends on the diet and the amount of iodine available in the food supply, and it also varies greatly around the world; however, it is fairly consistent throughout the world.

Technetium is more often used to scan the thyroid gland or, in essence, to obtain a picture of the
thyroid. It can also help to determine if a palpable abnormality is a nodule; whether the activity in the thyroid gland is homogenous or heterogeneous; if there is other active thyroid tissue around the thyroid gland or elsewhere; and whether functional and/or nonfunctional hot nodules are present.

Nodules that take up iodine or technetium are known as hot nodules and are rarely malignant.
Nonfunctional or cold nodules may have a 5–15 percent risk of malignancy.

Effects of Radioactive Iodine
The major, long-term effect of radioactive therapy is HYPOTHYROIDISM that necessitates the use of lifelong thyroid hormone therapy. Concern has been raised that the use of radioactive iodine therapy may lead to an exacerbation of Graves’ ophthalmopathy (bulging eyes), although most endocrinologists do not feel this is a significant problem.

When there is concern about the possible worsening of these EYE PROBLEMS, patients are often pretreated with a glucocorticoid medication, such as prednisone, to help minimize the impact.

What is cow? What is cow-urine?

What is cow? What is cow-urine?

From vedic reference:
In a calm voice a cow Nandini says to King Dilip "Na kevalam payasa prasutim - ve hi man kam dugham prasannam"
Trans : "Whenever I am pleased and happy I can fulfill all desires. Don't consider me to be just milk supplier"Cow is abode of gods. She is Kamdhenu (desire fulfiller) personified. She is receiver of the auspicious rays from all heavenly constellations. Thus it contains influences of all constellations.

Wherever there is a cow, there is influence of all heavenly constellations, blessings of all gods are there. Cow is the only divine living being that has a surya ketu nadi (vein connected to sun) passing through her backbone. Therefore the cow's milk, butter and ghee has golden hue. This is
because Surya ketu Vein, on interaction with solar rays produces gold salts in her blood. These salts are present in the cow's milk and cow's other bodily fluids.


What is cow urine?

In cow blood there is pran shakti (Life Force). Cow urine is cow's blood that is filtered by kidney.
Kidneys filter blood. Whatever elements are present in blood are present in cow urine also.

Tips For Healthy Skin

The following tips will help maintain healthier skin:

• Bathing – Adjust the water temperature when
showering or bathing so it is warm, rather than hot.
Mild bar or liquid soaps, with built-in moisturizers,
should be used when possible. Excessive bathing can
lead to dry skin. In the winter, unless physical exercise
has led to sweating, older adults can bathe every
second or third day. It is important to shower after
swimming in a chlorinated pool.

• Moisturizers – Apply skin lotion to the entire body
after toweling off. Inexpensive, basic moisturizing
lotions generally are as effective as more expensive
ones. Gentle, fragrance-free lotions are available for
sensitive skin.


• Fluids – Make certain to drink plenty of water daily.

• Sun Protection – Many skin problems are the result of
sun damage. Always wear a sunscreen with a Sun
Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 30 when going
outdoors. Consider looking for a body lotion with a
built-in sunscreen. Always wear a wide-brimmed hat
and sunglasses when outdoors.

• Moisture in the Home – Air in a home can become
especially dry in the winter months when furnaces are
running and humidity outdoors is generally low.
Running a humidifier can help maintain moisture in the
home.

•Warning Signs – Make an appointment with a family
physician if skin is excessively dry, flaky and itchy.
Also talk to a doctor about moles that change in
appearance, skin infections or rashes, skin growths or
changes in skin color.

atherosclerosis/arteriosclerosis

Atherosclerosis/arteriosclerosis

A complex pathological condition in which the body reshapes and also damages the surface of the blood vessels as a direct consequence of various interactive metabolic processes that involve lipids (fats), white blood cells, antibodies, platelets, and other hormones and proteins. The current theory about what causes atherosclerosis is that most atherosclerosis is a product of an inflammation of the endothelium (the lining of blood vessels that comes into direct contact with circulating blood). This inflammatory process is ongoing and may progress and regress, depending upon the local conditions to which the endothelium is exposed. If the damaging process to the vessel continues, the blood vessel may become occluded (blocked).


However, more frequently, plaque accumulates from within the endothelium and finally ruptures into the lumen of the blood vessel, exposing lipids and other proteins directly into the bloodstream. This sets off a massive cascade of events that perpetuates the problem locally. The body harnesses the white blood cells, proteins, hormones, interleukins (hormones made by the white blood cells),
and the platelets, ultimately creating an occlusive blood clot (thrombus).
This clot results in even more blocking of blood flow and also prevents sufficient oxygen from reaching the affected organ. Depending on the severity of the blood flow blockage, atherosclerosis may lead to a heart attack, stroke, or other serious
medical problems. Experts now know that most myocardial infarctions
(heart attacks) occur in blood vessels that are only initially less than 50 percent blocked but, because of less stable caps on the vessel’s lining, are much more likely to rupture. In contrast, vessels that have not yet ruptured but have progressed to 80–99 percent occlusion have thick, fibrous coverings which, although they limit blood flow, are much less likely to rupture and lead to a complete occlusion. In addition, as the condition has typically progressed slowly, the tissue that is endangered has often had sufficient time to develop collateral
blood vessels upon which to rely. These are vessels that have bypassed the diseased area and, thus, help the organ—and the patient—to survive.


Risk Factors

Risk factors for atherosclerosis, include the following:
• High levels of “bad” cholesterol (low-density
lipoproteins)
• Low levels of “good” cholesterol (high-density
lipoproteins)
• Obesity
• DIABETES MELLITUS
• Hypertension
• An age of 65 and older (the risk for atherosclerosis
increases with age)
• Lack of exercise
• Insulin resistance syndrome
• A family history of atherosclerosis

Anovulation

Anovulation

The failure to release an egg in the ovulation process, which then leads to INFERTILITY.
Women with regular menstrual cycles typically have predictable times of ovulation. Those women with AMENORRHEA (failure to menstruate) usually have complete anovulation and, thus, do not ovulate at all. Women with irregular cycles (oligomenorrhea) have an erratic pattern of ovulation. Anovulation has many different etiologies (causes).

POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME (PCOS) is often a cause of anovulation. Patients with PCOS often have insulin resistance syndrome (IRS). In addition to IRS, LUTEINIZING HORMONE secretions are often abnormal.


The combination leads to hyperandrogenism, the likely underlying cause of the anovulation. Other causes of anovulation are HYPOTHYROIDISM and MENOPAUSE. The physician should screen the patient for thyroid dysfunction before attempting any direct treatment for anovulation.


Said Brinda N. Kalro, M.D., in a 2003 article in Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics, “With the availability of ovulation-inducing agents, there is a possibility that thyroid disorders may be overlooked in women presenting with menstrual irregularities and anovulation. Pregnancy in women with overt thyroid disease is uncommon, but when it does occur, it can be fraught with complications and have grave consequences. Therefore, evaluation of the thyroid axis in women presenting with thyroid problems is imperative.”


Successful diagnosis and treatment of the underlying disease may resolve a woman’s anovulation. If the cause cannot be determined, sometimes ovulation can be stimulated with fertility drugs. These drugs should be administered and monitored by a physician who is experienced in treating women with infertility.

adrenal cortical cancer

Adrenal cortical cancer

A malignant tumor of the cortex of the adrenal gland, also known as an adrenocortical carcinoma or adrenal cancer. Only about one or two people in a million develop this very rare form of cancer. When it occurs, it is usually found among adults who are in their 40s or 50s, although adrenal cortical cancer also can be seen in children under the age of five years. It more commonly occurs in females. Sometimes adrenal cortical cancer is found among patients diagnosed
with MULTIPLE ENDOCRINE NEOPLASIA, type 1 (MEN 1). A tumor found in the adrenal medulla or in an area other than the adrenal cortex is known as a
PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA. Some tumors actively secrete hormones, while
others do not. Different studies have shown variable percentages of patients with actively secreting tumors. Patients with actively secreting hormones are discovered upon a physical evaluation of the patient, who typically presents with signs and symptoms of CUSHING’S SYNDROME or virilization (male symptoms in females). This includes hair where it is not typically seen in females, such as on
the chest, face, and so forth.

In the case of patients who have a nonsecreting tumor, the tumor is usually identified because of symptoms caused by its large size. In other cases, the tumor is found serendipitously when the patient has had an imaging study for an unrelated issue. An inactive tumor is more commonly seen in older patients. This type often progresses at a faster rate than those that are hormonally active.
An adrenocortical tumor is usually curable only when it is identified in an early stage, when the tumor is still confined to the adrenal gland. At this point, that particular adrenal gland can be surgically removed. Patients can then live a normal life, with the other adrenal gland taking over full duty to make the appropriate levels of hormones needed by the body. However, discovering this tumor at an early stage is not common. In fact, an early tumor, if discovered, is usually found accidentally.

By the time adrenal cortical cancer is usually identified, it has often metastasized (spread to other organs), typically to the lung, liver, lymph nodes, and bones.

endocrine glands

Endocrine glands

Ductless glands in the endocrine system that secrete hormones needed for normal functioning as well as for the sustaining of life. These glands work via hormones that are typically secreted into the bloodstream and travel to other organs to have their effects. If the hormones act upon nearby cells, even upon other cells within
the same gland, they display the paracrine effect.


The endocrine glands are the following: the adrenal glands, hypothalamus, ovaries, pancreas, parathyroid glands, pineal gland, pituitary gland, testes, thyroid gland, and the thymus. As researchers learn more and more about the human body, all organs in the body can clearly act as endocrine glands, which is to say, they secrete hormones.

For instance, the gastrointestinal tract is now known to synthesize and secrete over 40 hormones, many of whose function and operation are still unknown. The heart makes a hormone called atrial natriuretic factor or peptide that is involved
in the body’s salt and water balance.

Osteoporosis and Seniors

Osteoporosis and Seniors

Middle-aged and younger people may develop OSTEOPOROSIS. However, it is the most dangerous when present among elderly individuals because of the increased risk for bone fractures. In addition, the rate of hospitalization for vertebral fractures caused by osteoporosis increases dramatically with age. For example, among people between the ages of 65–74 in the United States, 6.7 people per 1,000 are hospitalized because of an osteoporotic vertebral fracture. This rate nearly quadruple for people age 75–84, to a rate of 26 people per 1,000. The rate of hospitalization for vertebral fractures rises still higher for people ages 85 and older, with a rate of 39 people per 1,000.



Many people believe that only older women are at risk for osteoporosis. However, older men are at risk as well. In some studies, such as the Rotterdam Study, bone loss in men ages 70–75 was actually worse than the bone loss found among same-aged women.

Some experts believe that bone loss is linked to declining levels of growth hormone among elderly individuals, but studies to date have not borne out this hypothesis. Further studies are needed to determine if administering growth hormone could improve bone density levels in older individuals.

However, studies on providing another substance, vitamin D, to elderly individuals who were deficient in vitamin D have demonstrated that bone density can improve with this supplementation. In one study, femoral bone density increased 2–7 percent over 18 months in elderly women given vitamin D, while it declined 4–6 percent in the group that received the placebo.

Osteoporosis is considered primary osteoporosis if no illness or cause can be found for it. It is usually reated with medications such as alendronate (Fosamax) to build up the bones. Other drugs that are prescribed for osteoporosis are risedronate (Actonel), raloxifene (Evista), and calcitonin (Miacalcin).

Osteoporosis is considered to be secondary if other factors have caused this medical problem. Many older people have secondary osteoporosis that
was originally caused by hypogonadism, THYROTOXICOSIS, and HYPERPARATHYROIDISM. Some medications, such as GLUCOCORTICOIDS and anticonvulsants, can also cause secondary osteoporosis. Some lifestyle
choices, such as alcohol abuse and smoking, can induce secondary osteoporosis as well. With secondary osteoporosis, a variety of treatment
recommendations can be made based on the underlying cause of the osteoporosis. For example, people who smoke should immediately stop smoking.


Endocrine diseases and disorders such as hypogonadism, thyrotoxicosis, and hyperparathyroidism can and should be treated. If medications are inducing secondary osteoporosis, physicians may change the drug or lower the dose. For example, if glucocorticoid drugs have caused secondary osteoporosis, physicians may decide to prescribe thiazide diuretics to correct this problem.

Never be depressed for you now know why

Depression

Clinically abnormal condition of low mood state with the inability to enjoy life and function at optimal levels. Depression may be caused by events in a person’s life, or it may be triggered by an endocrine disorder or other illness. In some cases, depression is misdiagnosed when the underlying problem is actually an endocrine disease, such as HYPOTHYROIDISM or CUSHING’S SYNDROME, and the patient is not truly clinically depressed. It is also true that patients may have an endocrine disorder as well as depression.

Most physicians consider depression highly treatable, and many patients respond very well to antidepressant medications. Most of the modern selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have response rates in the 80 percent range. Many different types of antidepressants are available.

Consequently, even if the first medication does not work, another medication may be efficacious.

Patients may also need to receive short-term therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), in which the therapist teaches the patient how to identify and challenge irrational beliefs that are self-defeating and destructive.

Mother's first contribution to the intellectual child

Breast-feeding

Providing nutrition to newborns, older infants, and sometimes toddlers through milk produced by a woman’s breasts. Breast-feeding is also known as lactation. Breast-feeding is strongly encouraged as a positive and nutritious way to feed a baby.


Some studies have indicated that women with HYPOCALCEMIA (below-normal levels of calcium in their blood) may actually show improvement in this condition during pregnancy and lactation, largely because of the production of PROLACTIN, a hormone linked to pregnancy, childbirth, and breast-feeding. Some women who were hypocalcemic may even become temporarily hypercalcemic while breast-feeding, as may some women with previously normal calcium blood levels.

A very small number of women, however, such as women with DIABETES MELLITUS who have proliferative retinopathy (an eye disease that may cause blindness), should consider refraining from breastbreast-their babies. The act of breast-feeding can worsen their retinopathy. Physicians have also discouraged breast-feeding among women being treated
for hyperthyroidism, although this view is moderating. A recent report in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, which studied 51 infants who were nursed by mothers taking methimazole (Tapazole), an antithyroid drug, revealed that the babies had normal THYROID-STIMULATING HORMONE (TSH) levels as well as other normal thyroid levels.

The children’s intellectual development, at 48 and 74 months, was normal as well.

Be aware of bone related diseases

Bone diseases

Illnesses that cause an underproduction of bone mass, such as osteoporosis, an overproduction of bone, such as PAGET’S DISEASE and ACROMEGALY, or abnormal bone, seen to varying extents in OSTEOPOROSIS, fibrous dysplasia, and Paget’s disease. Disorders of bone may be induced by nonendocrine causes, such as cancer, infection, vitamin deficiency, disorders of cartilage production, and genetic defects.



Bone density can be measured using a variety of techniques, most commonly with the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan (DEXA SCAN). Bone biopsies are helpful in some cases. Blood and urine tests can help to determine the activities of the major cells within the bone, namely, the osteoclasts, which help to break down the bone, and the osteoblasts, which help to create the new bone.