Bipolar Disorder Is More Than Just Mood Swings

During the course of our lives, we all experience ups and downs. Some days we feel happy and care-free, while on other days we just can't shake the blues. While we may find these mood changes bothersome, they do not disrupt our lives.

In some people, more specifically those diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, mood changes are so drastic and severe that those suffering from the disorder often cannot function in the normal world. Once called Manic Depressive Disorder, the disease responsible for these drastic mood swings is now called Bipolar Disorder.

Those suffering from the disorder will fall into one of four subcategories of the disease. These subgroups include Bipolar I, Bipolar II, Cyclothymic Disorder and Bipolar NOS.

In order for a patient to be classified as Bipolar I, they must have experienced at least one or more manic episodes or mixed episodes. During a manic episode patients will experience an extremely elated or euphoric mood. Along with an elated mood, the patients will usually also have increase mental or physical abilities. They also require little sleep during these episodes.

That sounds great, right? So what's the problem? While the manic episodes can bring on an elated mood, those suffering a manic episode may also be suspicious or irritated, have a low attention span or be easily distracted. Worst yet, a deep depression can sometimes follow one of these elated periods.

During these periods of depression, the patient may feel unable to even get out of bed each day. These individuals may also suffer what is called a mixed episode. This is defined as a period of time when symptoms of mania and clinical depression can occur at the same time. Bipolar individuals are often most dangerous, sometimes to others but mostly to themselves, during this state as their moods are in constant flux and easily changed.

Of all four subcategories of Bipolar Disorder, more people are diagnosed with Bipolar II. In order to be diagnosed as suffering from Bipolar II, the patient must have suffered at least one hypomanic phase and one depressive phase. A hypomanic phase is similar to a manic phase, but is generally not as debilitating or destructive as the manic phase can be.

The third subgroup of Bipolar Disorder is the Cyclothymic Disorder. Bipolars in this subgroup often show signs of mood cycling from hypomania to depression but those around them usually accept the mood swings as a personality trait instead of a disorder. Also, the periods of depression do not meet all the criteria of a major depressive episode.

The fourth subcategory of this disorder is Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (NOS). This subgroup generally contains those who are suffering from some type of Bipolar Disorder, but do not fall into any of the above subcategories.

Bipolar Disorder is a disease of variations in mood. It can wreak havoc on the lives of those suffering with it and also those who must try to live and work with these people. There is help for those diagnosed with any form of Bipolar Disorder. Don't give up hope.

Your Real Face is One Layer Down

Adult acne treatments are numerous, and if you have deep acne scars from your adolescent years, there are several methods that are proving to be effective in correcting your unsightly problem. A surgical procedure called punch elevation corrects boxcar scars that have sharp edges and normal appearing bases. A punch tool is used to excise the base of the scar which leaves the wall intact. After the base is excised, it is then elevated to the surface of the skin and attached with steri-strips, sutures or skin glue called Dermabond. This method is proving to be effective as it lessens the risk of producing a visible scar that can be seen when wound edges are sutured. It also lessens the risk of texture or color differences that are usually found with graft replacement.

Acne scar removal can be performed using a technique called subcutaneous incision, which is also referred to as subcision. Performed under local anesthesia, it is used to break up the fibrous bands that cause rolling scars. It is performed by inserting a specially-beveled needle under the skin so that is parallel with the skin surface. The needle is gently advanced and careful attention is focused on staying between the dermis and the subcutaneous tissue levels. The needle is then advanced and retracted in a piston-like motion that cuts the tethering bands. Some bruising does occur that usually abates within a week or two. There is a risk of bleeding and the formation of subcutaneous nodules. With the proper use of anesthetics and bandaging bleeding can be controlled, and the subcutaneous nodules can be treated by using injections of corticosteroids into the nodule.

Many skin defects are treated by using a technique called laser resurfacing. The most popular type of laser used for acne scars is carbon dioxide (CO2) and erbium lasers. The lasers work by burning the top layers of skin to a precise depth. The skin heals by replacing the layers that were burned with new skin. Postoperative care is critical after undergoing laser resurfacing. It is an important factor which determines the success of your acne treatment.

Sinus Headache - Don't Be Fooled, It May Be A Migraine!

How many times have you heard of a person complaining of a sinus headache? Although they may actually be suffering from this type of headache, chances are that it is another kind of headache-most likely a migraine. Any kind of headache is annoying and painful. It does matter if you want to get the proper treatment. The treatment program for a migraine headache is different than the treatment program for a sinus headache because the root cause is different.

Typical Sinus Symptoms

The typical symptoms for a sinus-type headache are pain in the back of the forehead, cheeks and around the eyes. The pain is usually worse first thing in the morning and it can range from a mild discomfort to extremely severe. Some other symptoms that may also occur when you are experiencing a sinus headache include, but are not limited to, green or yellow nasal discharge, a stuffy nose, fever, tiredness, and possibly swollen lymph nodes. The fever and other symptoms may indicate an actual sinus infection and should be treated by a doctor. On the other hand if the pain is only in the cheeks it is probably a migraine-9 out of 10 headaches are migraines.

What Is A Migraine Headache?

Statistically, only 1 out of 30 people who claim they are suffering from a sinus headache actually are-the rest have a migraine. Migraines can be triggered by many of the same things that trigger headaches of the sinus variety-allergies and weather conditions included. They also cause pain in the same areas. If you are treating your migraine with sinus headache medicine it will probably not cause any problems, but it may not treat all of the causes as effectively as if you were to get a medication specifically designed for migraines-and why treat your body for something that you don't have.

Don't Get Confused!

One complication that you can get from taking sinus headache medication for a migraine is rebound headaches. These are headaches that are caused by a reaction to overmedication over a long period of time. Besides that, migraine medication can also treat the nausea, sensitivity to light and other symptoms that sinus headache medication will not touch.

Make Note Of Your Symptoms

The next time you feel a headache coming on take careful notice of the symptoms. Where is your pain located? Is it in your cheeks alone or is it also in your forehead and around your eyes? Do you have nausea? Is your sensitivity to light greater than normal? If so, you probably are not suffering from a sinus headache. With that in mind you need to start treating your headache like a migraine. Recognize the symptoms that precede this type of headache like blurred vision, seeing spots and jagged lines, etc. Without prompt treatment, a migraine can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days.

See Your Doctor

However, if, after checking your symptoms, you still feel like you are suffering from a sinus headache it is time to make a visit to your doctor. If your sinuses are infected you can cause serious problems by delaying treatment. Once you get to the doctor, make sure that you can accurately describe your symptoms and their progression. Let them know what medications you have already tried and how effective (or ineffective) they were. Your doctor will ask you questions about your medical history and may take a sample of your nasal secretions to test for allergies or infection. After you get the proper diagnosis, you can begin to get the proper treatment and medications and you will begin to experience greater relief than you may have known before.