Health and Medicine: February 2015

Myths and Facts About Therapy

Myth: It's All About Your Mother

If therapy makes you think of lying on a couch talking about your childhood, you may be in for a surprise. Real-world therapy has very little in common with fictional scenes on TV. Although discussing the past may be helpful in some situations, most current therapies focus on solving problems in the present and future.

Fact: It's All About Tools

Therapy provides tools for solving problems and enhancing quality of life, says psychologist Parinda Khatri, PhD. These tools may include relationship skills, anger management, or techniques for controlling thoughts and actions. "You don't have to go into past issues," Khatri tells WebMD. "You can be very focused on the present and specific problems you are targeting."

What Is Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a chronic, disabling brain disorder that affects about 1% of Americans. It may cause people to hear voices, see imaginary sights, or believe other people are controlling their thoughts. These sensations can be frightening and often lead to erratic behavior. There is no cure, but treatment can usually control the most serious symptoms.

Head transplants, or body transplants depending on how you look at them, are not just a thing of quirky horror movies. The first documented procedure was carried out back in the ‘50s when surgeon and transplant pioneer Vladimir Demikhov grafted the head and forelimbs of a puppy onto the body of a different dog. Disturbingly, he followed this with his more famous work, which involved the creation of two-headed dogs. Unsurprisingly, none of his animals lasted for more than a few days.

What Is Type 2 Diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes strikes people of all ages, and early symptoms are subtle. In fact, about one out of three people with type 2 diabetes don't know they have it. This chronic condition thwarts the body's ability to use the carbohydrates in food for energy. The result is elevated blood sugar. Over time, this excess sugar raises the risk for heart disease, loss of vision, nerve and organ damage, and other serious conditions.

Stay Active

Exercise can often help your Crohn's symptoms. It also strengthens your bones, muscles, and immune system. Physical activity is a great way to ease stress, too. Drink plenty of water before and after you exercise to prevent dehydration.

Take Your Meds

Many of the same drugs used to treat flares also help you control Crohn's disease. Some work on your immune system, or curb inflammation, or help prevent or treat infections. Your doctor will prescribe the drugs that you need based on your symptoms, the severity of your Crohn's disease, and what you have already tried. Take them exactly as your doctor prescribes.

What Is Celiac Disease?

Celiac disease is a digestive disorder that occurs in reaction to gluten, a protein found in rye, barley, wheat, and hundreds of foods made with these grains. The body's immune system reacts to the gluten and causes damage to the intestine. Celiac disease, also known as celiac sprue or gluten-sensitive enteropathy, is fairly common. One in 133 Americans has the disorder and needs to follow a gluten-free diet.

What is Ulcerative Colitis?

Ulcerative colitis is a form of inflammatory bowel disease. It causes chronic inflammation of the cells that line the rectum and colon (large intestine). This inflammation can lead to sores called ulcers, which may bleed and interfere with digestion. There are medications to calm the inflammation, as well as strategies to lessen the effect ulcerative colitis has on daily life.

What Are Kidney Stones?

As the kidneys filter waste from the blood, they create urine. Sometimes, salts and other minerals in urine stick together to form small kidney stones. These range from the size of a sugar crystal to a ping pong ball, but they are rarely noticed unless they cause a blockage. They may cause intense pain if they break loose and push into the ureters, the narrow ducts leading to the bladder.

What is Ebola?

Ebola is a deadly disease caused by a virus. There are five strains, and four of them can make people sick. After entering the body, it kills cells, making some of them explode. It wrecks the immune system, causes heavy bleeding inside the body, and damages almost every organ.

The virus is scary, but it’s also rare. You can get it only from direct contact with an infected person’s body fluids.

The Truth about Tattoos

You don't have to look far in a crowd to see a tattoo today. Among people 18 to 30 years old, one person in four is inked. In the next few years, 40% of this age group likely will be. Once a guy thing, now up to 65% of those with tats are women. Thinking of a tattoo for yourself? Find out why people get them, the health risks involved, and your options if you change your mind.

Why Do I Have a Unibrow?

It's no secret that some gals grow excess hair between the eyebrows. Most often, stray hairs on the face are a harmless trait that runs in the family. (Hi, Mom!) Plucking or threading can clean up your look for a few weeks. For lip or chin hair, a depilatory cream for the face is an option -- kept well away from the eyes. Laser hair removal and electrolysis are long-term solutions.

Does Anything Banish Cellulite?

A pinch will show lumpy skin on just about every woman. Cellulite is just a normal fat layer under the skin. Exercising to firm muscles can sometimes make it less visible. Doctors question whether special cellulite creams really work for long. For a quick fix before slipping on shorts, rub on a self-tanner. Cellulite is less noticeable on darker skin. Cosmetic procedures are another option.

Potted Plants

Have indoor allergies? Beware. Triggers such as mold, dust, and pet dander lurk around every corner -- often in unexpected places.

Take a good look at your houseplants. Mold spores, like the ones shown here, can grow in the pots and spread to the floor. To minimize this, remove dead leaves, use saucers, and avoid over-watering.

Too Much Fluid?

If you're always rushing to the bathroom, you might assume that the solution is to drink less. Wrong! If you drink less, your urine becomes highly concentrated, which can irritate the bladder. In fact, cutting back on fluids too much may make you run to the bathroom more, not less. There's one exception: try to reduce your intake a bit after 6 p.m. You'll be less likely to get up in the night to go to the bathroom.

Check Your Planner 3 Times a Day

Whether you have ADHD or just too much to remember, organizing tips can help you manage your time and activities better. Get into the habit of putting all your appointments and activities on a calendar. It doesn't matter if it's a day planner, a smartphone app, or just a plain old desk calendar. Keep it in one spot and check it at least three times a day. Make it a habit to check at the same times each day.

ADHD Affects Adults, Too

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is not limited to children -- 30% to 70% of kids with ADHD continue having symptoms when they grow up. In addition, people who were never diagnosed as kids may develop more obvious symptoms in adulthood, causing trouble on the job or in relationships. Many adults don’t realize they have ADHD, leaving them mystified about why their goals seem to slip out of reach.

What's That?

Wondering about that rash, welt, or bump on your child's skin? Sickness, allergies, and heat or cold are often behind kids' skin changes. Most aren't a big deal and are easy to treat. You can learn to tell what many of them look like. Of course, always check with your child's doctor to know for sure and get the right treatment.

Ringworm

Worms don't cause ringworm. It's caused by a fungus that lives off dead skin, hair, and nail tissue. It starts as a red, scaly patch or bump. Then comes the telltale itchy red ring. The ring has raised, blistery, or scaly borders. Ringworm is passed on by skin-to-skin contact with a person or animal. Kids can also get it by sharing things like towels or sports gear. Your doctor may treat it with antifungal creams.

Could It Be Alzheimer's?

It's normal for our loved ones to become a bit forgetful as they age. So how can we separate a harmless "senior moment" from a more serious problem like Alzheimer's disease? One in eight people 65 and older have this devastating form of dementia. In its first stages, Alzheimer's may not be obvious to friends and family. But there are some early warning signs to watch for.

What Is Bronchitis?

Bronchitis is a respiratory disease in which the mucus membrane in thelungs' bronchial passages becomes inflamed.

As the irritated membrane swells and grows thicker, it narrows or shuts off the tiny airways in the lungs, resulting in coughing spells that may be accompanied by phlegm and breathlessness.

Birthmark Basics

Birthmarks gain attention when there's a media blitz about someone with a visible mark, such as New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees. News reports suggest that he was born with this birthmark on his right cheek, which doctors checked early on and found to be harmless. Folk wisdom calls such babies "touched by an angel," but a doctor's advice is best.

Birth Control: How to Decide

With so many options, choosing a form of birth control can be daunting. Begin with a few questions: Do you need to protect against STDs? How important are convenience and cost? What about effectiveness? Only abstinence is 100% effective, but other methods come close -- as our effectiveness chart shows in a glance. Review this slideshow, then ask your doctor which options are best for you.

What Is Autism?

Autism is a brain disorder that limits a person's ability to communicate and relate to other people. It first appears in young children, who fall along a spectrum from mild to severe. Some people can navigate their world, some have exceptional abilities, while others struggle to speak. Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) affect about one child in 68, striking nearly five times as many boys as girls.

Breast Cancer Today

Breast cancer today is not what it was 20 years ago. Survival rates are climbing, thanks to greater awareness, more early detection, and advances in treatment. For roughly 200,000 Americans who are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, there are plenty of reasons to be hopeful.

Breast Cancer Symptoms

There are often no symptoms of breast cancer, but sometimes women may discover a breast problem on their own. Signs and symptoms to be aware of may include:

Genital Warts (HPV)

You don't have to have sex to get an STD. Skin-to-skin contact is enough to spread HPV, the virus family that causes genital warts. Some types cause warts and are usually harmless, but others may lead to cervical or anal cancer. Vaccines can protect against some of the most dangerous types.

Signs: Pink or flesh-colored warts that are raised, flat, or shaped like cauliflower. Often there are no symptoms.

Wash Your Hands

If you get a cold or flu this year, you may have your dirty hands to thank. Many viruses are spread that way. You pick up germs on your fingers and then get them in your mouth or eyes.

The solution: Wash your hands with soap often and well. It's a key way to prevent a cold or flu.

Get Your Flu Shot

You may think of the flu as a minor problem, but it can be severe, sidelining you for days. It can even be dangerous, especially for young children, older adults, and pregnant women. One little vaccine may save you and your family a lot of misery. It’s a myth that a flu shot can give you the flu.

What Is Chronic Pain?

What condition do more than 100 million Americans share -- maybe including you? Whether it's caused by arthritis, migraines, fibromyalgia, or bad backs, chronic pain -- the kind that hangs on for weeks, months, or years -- can change your life. Never ignore pain. Whatever the intensity -- mild, moderate or severe -- treatment usually can help.

Lung Cancer: The Big Picture

Lung cancer is the top cause of cancer deaths in both men and women. But this wasn't always the case. Before the widespread use of mechanical cigarette rollers, lung cancer was rare. Today, smoking causes nearly 9 out of 10 lung cancer deaths, while radon gas, pollution, and other chemicals play a smaller role. Newly developed drugs can offer hope for people diagnosed today.

Peanuts Can Be Dangerous

Peanuts are one of the most common cause of food-related allergy death. They can trigger anaphylaxis -- a reaction that may be fatal if not treated right away. Symptoms usually start within minutes of exposure. But they can also start within seconds or take hours to develop. Call 911 at the first sign of swelling, hives, trouble breathing, a rapid pulse, or dizziness.

Shellfish, Fish, Anaphylaxis

About one half of anaphylaxis cases are related to food. Shellfish, such as shrimp, lobster, and crab are triggers for some people. Shellfish and fish allergies can be so serious that just the cooking vapors can sometimes trigger an allergic reaction. As a reaction gets worse, tissues swell, blocking airways, and people can have deadly heart and circulation problems.

U.K. Moves Closer to 3-Parent Babies

The United Kingdom is on course to become the first country to approve the creation of babies using DNA from 3 people.

The new in vitro fertilization technique, developed at Newcastle University, uses genetic material from a “second mother” to repair faulty DNA.

Supporters have hailed the decision as a milestone for progressive medicine. Opponents have warned it could lead to so-called "designer babies."

Fresh Herbs

Fresh herbs can help make other foods heart-healthy when they replace salt, sugar, and trans fats. These flavor powerhouses, along with nuts, berries -- even coffee -- can be part of heart-wise eating.

Fact: Rosemary, sage, oregano, and thyme contain antioxidants.

Upswing: Caffeine

Blood sugar can rise after drinking coffee -- even black coffee with zero calories -- thanks to the caffeine. Likewise, black tea, green tea, and energy drinks can hinder blood sugar control in people with diabetes. Each person reacts differently, so it's best to track your own responses to foods and activities. Ironically, other compounds in coffee may help prevent type 2 diabetes in healthy people.