Ratchet's
Medical Dreams

Alcohol and its effects on health

It is known that excessive consumption of alcohol is dangerous to the general health of human body. Abuse of alcohol can cause alcoholism, cardiovascular and liver diseases, and cancer. Abuse is dangerous especially for pregnant women, as it can cause the fetal alcohol syndrome - also known as DAS, and it consists of a permanent damage of the central nervous system, though causing strong disabilities and malformations - and a number of birth defects. Moderation is the key to enjoy a good glass of wine and keep our body healthy and far away from risk of premature death. It has also been studied that a moderated consumption of alchool can reduce risks of dementia and Alzheimer syndrome, and especially heart attacks. My father has been working on a few off-town travellers who were indeed moderate wine drinkers, and he found that they were in good health, and their cardiovascular system was working properly. So yeah, drink a glass of wine and keep away from addiction ;) That's all that must be done not to turn alcohol into a suicidal instrument.

posted by Ratchet @ 2:06 PM - 0 Comments

Human Pathology by MIT

I've started reading about another course by MIT today, the HST.035 Principle and Practice of Human Pathology. I'm almost done reading the first Lecture Note available in the OCW page, the Introduction to Human Pathology and Diagnostic Medicine one :) It's really interesting! And I hope I'll do good in college and University someday, seen that I'm already studying the 'big subjects' :P My dad and mom are going to help me with this tonight. If you like the subject, I suggest taking a look at it from the link I added above. Granted it's amazing free knowledge! *_*

posted by Ratchet @ 3:57 PM - 0 Comments

Preventing Breast Cancer

What I'm going to give out in this article is a bunch of useful tips to successfully prevent breast cancer, granted that we must be aware that changes in cells mutations are often out of our control.

1 - Be active!
Physical exercise helps cell staying 'in shape', and maintain their regular functioning. Sedentary life is an at-risk situation, as it lowers the body immunitary defenses. On the contrary, movement increases them.

2 - Eat well!
Healthy meals, an adequate intake of vegetables and fruit, and a moderate consumption of meat and sugars helps keep cells healthy.

3 - Check up!
Regularly check up your breasts at home, and get visited often, starting from the 18th year of age. Ultrasounds, senologic visits and mammographies should be taken regularly after the 30th year of age.

Breastcancer.org is a good source of additional tips on how to prevent and fight breast cancer :)


Thanks cancerinfo.ws for the image.

posted by Ratchet @ 3:11 PM - 0 Comments

About Depression

A depressive disorder can be apparently mistaken for a GAD, but it usually gets more serious as time passes. I may involve manias, masochism and suicidal thoughts, pessimism and irritability, and a general bodily and psychical 'malfunction'. Treatments include electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and psychotherapy.

If you think you might have depression, can read more about it on MedicineNet, as it has detailed descriptions of symptoms and treatments. You may also join their discussion forum and seek for active help.

Meaningful changes in lifestyle can help get rid of depression anyway, a good fruit/vitamins intake, aerobics and an increased social life being on top list.

posted by Ratchet @ 2:28 PM - 1 Comments

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Anxiety is a normal condition in human life, but excessive anxiety can be dangerous for a general wellbeing and for a person's mental health. This pathologic condition is called Generalized Anxiety Disorder, or GAD. When this is the case, living itself become a continuous source of worry and depression, which usually leds to more serious mental issues and drug addiction or alchoolism. Physical symptoms also include:

- Headaches
- Tension
- Sweating
- Trembling
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Tiredness
- Insomnia
- Panic attacks

As for the causes, these are still unknown, but they're usually linked to brain chemistry and a stressful/abuse environment. Treatments include both medicaments (anti-anxiety, anti-depressive, soothers) and psychological/psychiatric therapy. Daily exercising, yoga/meditation and lowering the daily dose of caffeine help improve the anxiety attacks as well, and help getting a more positive view of life.

Here you can watch a video of one of the many treatments that have been thought of to fight GAD.

posted by Ratchet @ 1:08 PM - 0 Comments