Thursday 6 February 2014

The role of resilience in mental and emotional health

Being emotionally and mentally healthy doesn’t mean never going through bad times or experiencing emotional problems. We all go through disappointments, loss, and change. And while these are normal parts of life, they can still cause sadness, anxiety, and stress. The difference is that people with good emotional health have an ability to bounce back from adversity, trauma stress

This ability is called resilience. People who are emotionally and mentally healthy have the tools for coping with difficult situations and maintaining a positive outlook. They remain focused, flexible, and creative in bad times as well as good. One of the key factors in resilience is the ability to balance stress and your emotions. The capacity to recognize your emotions and express them appropriately helps you avoid getting stuck in depression, anxiety, or other negative mood states. Another key factor is having a strong support network. Having trusted people you can turn to for encouragement and support will boost your resilience in tough times.

Physical health is connected to mental and emotional health Physical health is connected to mental and emotional healthTaking care of your body is a powerful first step towards mental and emotional health. The mind and the body are linked. When you improve your physical health, you’ll automatically experience greater mental and emotional well-being. For example, exercise not only strengthens our heart and lungs, but also releases endorphins, powerful chemicals that energize us and lift our mood.

The activities you engage in and the daily choices you make affect the way you feel physically and emotionally. Get enough rest. To have good mental and emotional health, it’s important to take care of your body. That includes getting enough sleep. Most people need seven to eight hours of sleep each night in order to function optimally. Learn about good nutrition and practice it.

The subject of nutrition is complicated and not always easy to put into practice. But the more you learn about what you eat and how it affects your energy and mood, the better you can feel. Exercise to relieve stress and lift your mood. Exercise is a powerful antidote to stress, anxiety, and depression. Look for small ways to add activity to your day, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator or going on a short walk. To get the most mental health benefits, aim for 30 minutes or more of exercise per day. Get a dose of sunlight every day. Sunlight lifts your mood, so try to get at least 10 to 15 minutes of sun per day. This can be done while exercising, gardening, or socializing. Limit alcohol and avoid cigarettes and other drugs. These are stimulants that may unnaturally make you feel good in the short term, but have long-term negative consequences for mood and emotional health Article Resource By http://www.helpguide.org/

Improving Emotional Health

Strategies and Tips for Good Mental Health

Mental and Emotional Health People who are emotionally healthy are in control of their emotions and their behavior. They are able to handle life’s challenges, build strong relationships, and recover from setbacks. But just as it requires effort to build or maintain physical health, so it is with mental and emotional health. Improving your emotional health can be a rewarding experience, benefiting all aspects of your life, including boosting your mood, building resilience, and adding to your overall enjoyment of life.

What is mental health or emotional health? Mental or emotional health refers to your overall psychological well-being. It includes the way you feel about yourself, the quality of your relationships, and your ability to manage your feelings and deal with difficulties.

Good mental health isn't just the absence of mental health problems. Being mentally or emotionally healthy is much more than being free of depression, anxiety, or other psychological issues. Rather than the absence of mental illness, mental and emotional health refers to the presence of positive characteristics. Similarly, not feeling bad is not the same as feeling good. While some people may not have negative feelings, they still need to do things that make them feel positive in order to achieve mental and emotional health.

People who are mentally and emotionally healthy have: A sense of contentment. A zest for living and the ability to laugh and have fun. The ability to deal with stress and bounce back from adversity. A sense of meaning and purpose, in both their activities and their relationships. The flexibility to learn new things and adapt to change. A balance between work and play, rest and activity, etc. The ability to build and maintain fulfilling relationships. Self-confidence and high self-esteem. These positive characteristics of mental and emotional health allow you to participate in life to the fullest extent possible through productive, meaningful activities and strong relationships. These positive characteristics also help you cope when faced with life's challenges and stresses Article Resource By http://www.helpguide.org/

What Causes Belly Pain?

Pain is the body's way of signaling that something is going on. Stomach pain alerts us to something that's happening inside us that we might not know about otherwise.

Some reasons for stomach pain are obvious — like when someone gets hit in the gut or eats spoiled macaroni salad. Often, though, belly pain might be hard to figure out. With so many organs in the abdomen, different problems can have similar symptoms.

Here are some of the things that cause tummy troubles: Infection When bacteria or viruses get into a person's digestive system, the body reacts by trying to rid itself of the infection — often through vomiting or diarrhea. Bacterial infections cause what we call "food poisoning."

Bacteria are also responsible for other conditions that may give a person belly pain, such as pneumonia, urinary tract infections, strep throat, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), or the rare condition toxic shock syndrome. Viruses, another type of infection, are behind what we call "stomach flu." Both bacteria and viruses can be easily passed from person to person.

The good news is you can often avoid them simply by washing your hands properly and often and by not sharing cups, straws, or utensils with others. Constipation Being constipated is one of the most common reasons for frequent belly pain. People usually become constipated because their diet doesn't include enough fluids and fiber. Body Basics: Digestive System Irritation and Inflammation When one of the body's internal organs becomes irritated or swollen, that can bring on belly pain. Pain from problems like appendicitis, ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is the body's way of telling us to get medical help Article Resource By http://kidshealth.org

Tuesday 21 January 2014

Health and Care Problems - Typhoid Fever

What is typhoid fever?

Typhoid fever is a serious disease spread by contaminated food and water. Symptoms of typhoid include lasting high fevers, weakness, stomach pains, headache, and loss of appetite. Some patients have constipation, and some have a rash. Internal bleeding and death can occur but are rare.

Who is at risk? Typhoid fever is common in most parts of the world except in industrialized regions such as the United States, Canada, western Europe, Australia, and Japan, so travelers to the developing world should consider taking precautions. Travelers to Asia, Africa, and Latin America are especially at risk, and the highest risk for typhoid is in south Asia. About 300 people get typhoid fever in the United States each year, and most of these people have recently traveled.

About 22 million cases of typhoid fever and 200,000 related deaths occur worldwide each year. What can travelers do to prevent typhoid fever? Get vaccinated for typhoid: woman getting vaccination Ask your doctor or nurse about a typhoid vaccine. This could be pills or a shot, and your doctor will help you decide which one is best for you. Typhoid vaccine is only 50%-80% effective, so you should still be careful about what you eat and drink. (See tips below.) See Vaccine Information Statements (VIS) Adobe PDF file for more information. Eat safe foods: Eat Food that is cooked and served hot Hard-cooked eggs Fruits and vegetables you have washed in clean water or peeled yourself Pasteurized dairy products Article Resource By http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/

Fitness Fast Care - Yellow Fever

What is yellow fever? Aedes aegypti mosquito Yellow fever is a disease caused a virus, which is spread through mosquito bites. Symptoms take 3–6 days to develop and include fever, chills, headache problems, backache, and muscle aches. About 15% of people who get yellow fever develop serious illness that can lead to bleeding, shock, organ failure, and sometimes death. Who is at risk?

You should receive a yellow card called the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) to prove that you have had yellow fever vaccine. Some countries require all travelers to show proof of yellow fever vaccination before they can enter the country. Other countries require proof of vaccination only if travelers have been in a risk area, so if you are visiting multiple countries, the order of travel may be important. Proof of vaccination is not valid until 10 days after you get the vaccine, so plan to get the vaccine early if you need it.

Travelers to certain parts of South America Adobe PDF file and Africa Adobe PDF file are at risk for yellow fever. See the box below for specific information about the country where you are traveling. What can travelers do to prevent yellow fever? Travelers can protect themselves from yellow fever by getting yellow fever vaccine and preventing mosquito bites. Get yellow fever vaccine if recommended or if required: Visit a yellow fever vaccination (travel) clinic and ask for a yellow fever vaccine. You should receive this vaccine at least 10 days before your trip.

After receiving the vaccine, you will receive a signed and stamped International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP, sometimes called the “yellow card”), which you must bring with you on your trip. The vaccine lasts for 10 years. In rare cases, the yellow fever vaccine can have serious and sometimes fatal side effects. People older than 60 years and people with weakened immune systems might be at higher risk of developing these side effects. Also, there are special concerns for pregnant and nursing women. Talk to your doctor about whether you should get the vaccine. Note: CDC’s recommendation is different from the country’s requirement.

A vaccine recommendation is designed to keep you from getting yellow fever; a vaccine requirement is the country’s attempt to keep travelers from bringing the yellow fever virus into the country. CDC does not have any control over other countries’ vaccine requirements or how they are enforced. Prevent mosquito bites: Cover exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats. Use an appropriate insect repellent as directed. Higher percentages of active ingredient provide longer protection.

Use products with the following active ingredients: DEETExternal Web Site Icon (Products containing DEET include Off!, Cutter, Sawyer, and Ultrathon) Picaridin (also known as KBR 3023, Bayrepel, and icaridin products containing picaridin include Cutter Advanced, Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus, and Autan [outside the US]) Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or PMD (Products containing OLE include Repel and Off! Botanicals) IR3535 (Products containing IR3535 include Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus Expedition and SkinSmart) Always follow product directions and reapply as directed: man spraying insect repellent on his arm If you are also using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and insect repellent second. Follow package directions when applying repellent on children External Web Site Icon.

Avoid applying repellent to their hands, eyes, and mouth. Use permethrin-treated External Web Site Icon clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents). You can buy pre-treated clothing and gear or treat them yourself: Treated clothing remains protective after multiple washings. See the product information to find out how long the protection will last. If treating items yourself, follow the product instructions carefully. Do not use permethrin directly on skin. Stay and sleep in screened or air conditioned rooms. Use a bed net if the area where you are sleeping is exposed to the outdoors. If you are bitten by mosquitoes: Avoid scratching mosquito bites. Apply hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to reduce itching Article Resource by http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/