Pet Therapy and Depression

Learn what research is saying about the role of companion animals in helping people cope with depression.

By Dennis Thompson Jr.

Medically reviewed by Niya Jones, MD, MPH

PrintE-mail

Can owning a cat, dog, or other pet help you cope with the blues? Pet therapy, also known as animal-assisted therapy, is recognized by the National Institute of Mental Health as a type of psychotherapy for treating depression and other mood disorders. Being around pets appears to feed the soul, promoting a sense of emotional connectedness and overall well-being.

How Pets Help Treat Depression

Peter Ashenden, president and CEO of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, has a 17-pound Shih Tzu named Bella who never leaves his side. Ashenden, who has bipolar disorder, credits 4-year-old Bella with keeping his mood level and steady, even on his worst days.

"Bella goes everywhere with me, whether it be a gala dinner or board meetings," Ashenden says. "She is my companion. By having Bella with me, it brings a piece of home with me wherever I go."

Ashenden benefits from Bella's presence in several different ways:

• She forces him to remain active even when his depression flares up. Bella needs to be walked two to three times a day. "No matter what's going on with me, that's something that requires I get out of the house — these activities help me remain engaged."
• She keeps him from feeling socially withdrawn. People approach Ashenden because they want to meet Bella, he says. "Sometimes going out of your comfort zone can be difficult — Bella helps break that ice for me."
• She provides him with constant companionship. "I'm never alone," he explains. "One of the symptoms of depression is that people isolate and tend to withdraw."

Ashenden's experience with Bella isn't unique. Researchers have found that interaction with pets — even if they don't belong to you — can reduce anxiety, ease blood pressure and heart rate, and offset feelings of depression. One example showed that exposure to an aviary filled with songbirds lowered depression in elderly men at a veterans' hospital; another example noted the improved moods of depressed college students after they interacted with a therapy dog.

However, it seems that direct contact with an animal is necessary to achieve psychological benefit. People who were shown photographs of cuddly pets as part of a study did not experience the same decrease in symptoms of depression as people who actually were able to play with and touch animals.

Ask Dr. Mark Babyatsky

Help for Nighttime GERD

Q: My acid reflux is so bad when I lie down at night that it keeps me tossing and turning. What can I do for reflux when I am sleeping? 

— Tony, Arizona

A: 

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is caused by the reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus. When you are sitting or standing, the force of gravity reduces reflux, whereas lying down worsens reflux and its associated symptoms. One way to improve GERD during sleep is to elevate the head of your bed at least six inches above the feet with a surgical wedge or wooden boards.

Other measures that can improve GERD when you are sleeping are:

• Avoid eating less than four hours before bedtime. Food stimulates acid secretion, which can damage the lining of the esophagus and increase the volume of the refluxed contents.
• Avoid alcohol, smoking, peppermint, caffeine, and high-fat foods. These substances cause relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter, which normally helps keep stomach contents from refluxing into the esophagus.
• Weight loss also lowers the amount of pressure on the abdomen, which can help decrease reflux.

Alok adds: Hv light meal easily digestible in Dinner and hv hearty breakfast. 

Do self study and note carefully which items in dinner must hv caused u more trouble and avoid those item in dinner. 

Dental care .......or suffer in pain and spend more on dentist

How often do you smile?

In the next five minutes I am going to tell you some food items
that will help you give a confident smile.

1. Your teeth need calcium and phosphorus for strength and to
remineralize themselves. Hence milk, nuts, meat, chicken and cheese
are ideal for oral health. Cheese has a low carbohydrate, and high
calcium and phosphate content enabling it to balance the mouth's
pH. So, instead of chocolates and sweets have a small cube of
cheese everyday!

2. Vitamin C foods bestow healthy gums. Periodontal diseases can
increase with vitamin c deficiency as it is a great antioxidant
needed to repair connective tissue and aid bone regeneration. So
have oranges, lemons, kiwis, gooseberries and vegetables like
broccoli, green pepper, cauliflower, tomatoes and sesame seeds and
more. Add these acidic foods in to a large meal.Vitamin D
deficiency increases the risk of gum bleeding. So get some exposure
while you can.

3. Fresh raw onions in the diet can destroy various types of
bacteria, including Streptococcus mutans that cause cavities. So
eat onions, and chew a mint afterwards!

4. Mint will help you get rid of the foul smell of onions,freshen
your breath, destroy all bacteria and clean your teeth and tongue.

5. Celery is a great food for those who love their teeth. It is
chewy producing a lot of saliva, which in turn neutralizes
bacteria. Celery is also an abrasive food and serves to massage
your gums, and clean teeth. So have those crunchy apples and
carrots for dental health.

6. Catechins in green tea can kill the bacteria in the mouth that
turn sugar into cavity causing plaque. You can enjoy the health
benefits of green tea by having 2-5 cups a day.

7. Grape seed extract contains polyphenols which prevent tooth
decay and gum disease by thwarting the growth of bacteria.

8. Though water cannot called a "food" drinking plenty of water in
necessary to hydrate gums and stimulate the secretion of saliva.
That's one of the reasons why it is important to drink a glass of
water after eating food.


At last not the least, avoid eating as much sugar as possible and
smile along!

I would be happy to answer any other queries you might have.
Follow us on Facebook at : http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=K9oJA&m=1pgK7BEwxjnKG9&b=idXrG175baZjI7SfGQdDBA

Wishing you good health,

Regards,
Puneet Aggarwal
puneet@puneetaggarwal.com

must read for those whose pop medicines for fast cure and saving troubles

Alok adds: understand the reasons of repeat attacks of sickness, know what causes allergies, do not go to sleep immediately after eating, eating in  right proportion, right combination ( like do not intake milk and curd together) ..and so on and try home remedy /kitchen items as remedy/ dadi maa ke nuskhe available easily now on net.

Health Matters With Dr. Sanjay Gupta | 1 Comment

Why Antibiotics Aren't a Cure-All

Overuse and misuse of antibiotics is a public health concern. How can you protect your family?

By Dr. Sanjay Gupta

More from Dr. Gupta:

If your child has strep throat, antibiotics will likely be a part of their treatment. But would antibiotics help with a common cold or seasonal flu? The answer is no, for the simple reason that antibiotics treat bacterial infections not viral ones. Yet many people still think of antibiotics as a magic cure-all.

The over-prescription of antibiotics has become a public health concern. Half of the prescriptions for antibiotics in the United States may actually be unnecessary, according to a recent study; and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports the highest rates of antibiotic use are among children.

What’s the story behind these numbers — and what are the health consequences of so many antibiotics being prescribed?

“Doctors need to do a better job of setting criteria for using antibiotics, and when they are using them to make sure they’re using the right ones,” said Amanda Beach, MD, a pediatrician at St. Vincent Medical Group in Carmel, Ind. “If we keep using antibiotics for illnesses that aren’t bacterial, then they’re not going to be effective.”

Since the 1940s, antibiotics have been extraordinarily beneficial in fighting infectious diseases. But these drugs can target bad bacteria that cause illness as well as good ones. Beneficial bacteria help our digestive system break down food. Scientific evidencesuggests that gastrointestinal or “gut” bacteria may even protect against autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.

"Our findings suggest potential strategies for using normal gut bacteria to block progression of insulin-dependent diabetes in kids who have high genetic risk," said Jayne Danska, PhD, lead researcher in a January study.

The increased use of antibiotics over decades has had the adverse effect of making bacteria stronger and more resistant to drugs. Incidence of infections like MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a dangerous staph bacteria, has increased at an alarming rate. The situation is so serious, the CDC lists antibiotic resistance among its top concerns.

So why are many people quick to turn to antibiotics?

“Parents want to be reassured their child is going to be okay, and some parents associate that with getting medicine,” said Ian Paul, MD, a professor of pediatrics at the Penn State College of Medicine.

Paul points out that first-time parents may be more inclined to want immediate treatment for their child, whereas parents with multiple kids may be better informed about their options. “Increased awareness about antibiotic resistance has helped parents realize that they don’t cure everything,” said Paul.

Parental attitudes toward medication can also influence how doctors handle treatment. CDC research suggests that pediatricians prescribe antibiotics 62 percent of the time if they perceive parents expect them to — as opposed to only 7 percent of the time, if parents don’t press for them.

“Doctors need to make sure parents have appropriate expectations,” Beach said. “Parents need to realize their kids aren’t going to be 100 percent better in two days even if they’re on antibiotics.”

Beach thinks doctors can do a better job educating parents about the differences between a bacterial infection and a virus. That can be especially tricky when dealing with a common childhood condition likean ear infection, which can be caused by either bacteria or viruses. 

“Most parents just don’t understand that most of the time if a child’s eardrum is just red with no fluid or swelling, it’ll clear up on its own,” Beach said. “You tell parents to watch their child and if the symptoms get worse, then to bring them in again and we’ll see if antibiotics are necessary.”

Paul agrees that “you have to balance many factors when choosing whether or not to prescribe, and sometimes it can be very difficult to tell if it’s a viral or bacterial infection.”

Another consideration is what type of antibiotic to use. Broad-spectrum antibiotics, such as the commonly used azithromycin (“Z-pack”) and erythromycin, attack a wide range of bacteria. But there are also narrow-spectrum drugs available when doctors identify and want to target specific bacteria that are the underlying cause of illness.

“You want to save the broad-spectrum drugs for an emergency, or when you don’t know what the infection is,” said Paul. “If they’re prescribed for everything, they lose their effectiveness over time, as we’re seeing with resistant bacteria strains.”

The good news is that antibiotic prescriptions for children have come down, as awareness of the consequences of overuse grows. “Over-prescribing still exists, but not to the extent that it once did,” Paul said. “Doctors should do the best they can to help parents understand their child’s illness and when antibiotics are necessary.”

Last Updated: 05/06/2013

Tummy reducing exercises

'Low T' Therapy: Is It for Me?

'Low T' Therapy: Is It for Me?

Despite widespread ad campaigns, testosterone replacement isn't a panacea, but can help some men, experts say

WebMD News from HealthDay

By Serena Gordon

HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- When men are young, testosterone tends to get a bad rap, often blamed for aggressive and overly competitive behavior. But as men get older, the bad rap continues, though for a different reason.

In older men, it's low testosterone that has captured attention.

Testosterone, the male hormone, plays a vital role in many body functions, and low testosterone levels can leave men tired, uninterested in sex, infertile and with thinning bones, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

It's also a fairly common problem in older men. As many as four in 10 men older than 45 have lower than normal levels of testosterone, according to the American Urological Association.

But, replacing lost testosterone isn't a panacea, despite what you might have seen on TV.

"There's been a lot of advertising, and every guy that comes in now asks about testosterone," said Dr. Ryan Terlecki, a urologist at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. "They've been led to believe that it's a fountain of youth, but it's not a cure-all."

For example, many men hope that testosterone therapy will help treat erectile dysfunction. But, Terlecki said that though testosterone is a treatment for low libido and taking replacement testosterone may increase a man's sex drive, it's not a direct treatment for erectile dysfunction.

Testosterone replacement also isn't an option for men who want to preserve their fertility. That's because when a man takes testosterone therapy, the testosterone receptors in the body tell the brain that there's enough testosterone, and, in turn, the brain signals the testes to stop producing sperm.

Terlecki said it's possible that sperm production could return to normal levels after testosterone therapy is stopped. But there's no solid evidence that it will, so doctors prefer to err on the side of caution if a man believes he might still want to have children.

Men who have active prostate cancer or male breast cancer also aren't candidates for testosterone therapy.

However, other men with symptoms of low testosterone may want to consider it. For starters, that includes men who "might notice a drop in energy and low libido," Terlecki said.

Dr. Steven Canfield, chief of urology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, said that symptoms of low testosterone that men might notice also include "the development of breast tissue, a loss of body hair, small or shrinking testicles, no need for shaving, flushing, sweats and bone loss."

But, he said, there are less specific symptoms, too. Men with low testosterone might also notice "a decrease in self-confidence, feeling sad or depressed, problems with sleeping, memory problems, reduction in body mass, and a decrease in work performance," Canfield said.

All it takes to tell if a man's testosterone level is low, he said, is a simple blood test.

Although low testosterone is common in older men, it's not necessarily a normal part of aging. Other conditions that are common with aging, such as obesity ordepression, can cause lower levels of testosterone, according to research presented at the Endocrine Society meeting in Houston this year.

Canfield said that testosterone levels can drop if testicular tissue is lost, which can happen with age. And Terlecki said that prior testicular trauma, undescended testicles and radiation treatment to the testicles also can cause lower testosterone levels. Testosterone levels can drop because of a pituitary tumor, though that's rare, he said. And some medications, such as narcotics, can also lower testosterone levels.

Several options exist for treating low testosterone. For men who want to keep their fertility, Terlecki said, the drug clomiphene can be prescribed. In men for whom that's no longer an issue, testosterone replacement therapy can boost testosterone levels.

Options for testosterone replacement, Canfield said, include injections, patches, a gel and implantable pellets. He said that a pill form of testosterone is available in other parts of the world, but not in the United States.

Injections are given once every two weeks, Terlecki said. The downside to this option is that injections provide a large dose of testosterone in the beginning but it drops fairly quickly.

Topical formulations, such as testosterone gel, are put on in the morning and absorbed within two to six hours and, if used consistently, provide a steady consistent dose of testosterone. "But, men have to remember to do it," Terlecki said. "And, they have to wait while the gel dries. It may leave the area feeling a little tacky."

Also, it's important not to expose children, pregnant women or women who may become pregnant to the testosterone on the skin because it can alter their hormonal balance.

Patches can provide a longer-term steady dose of testosterone, but they may cause irritation, Terlecki said. And implantable pellets, according to Canfield, can provide a steady, long-acting dose of testosterone. They're injected just underneath the skin on your backside during an outpatient office procedure.

This option is becoming increasingly popular because it lasts for four months and generally is inexpensive, Terlecki said.

Risks of testosterone therapy include an increase in the size of the prostate, water retention, worsening sleep apnea, a lower sperm count and an increase in the platelet count, which could increase the risk for blood clots, according to Canfield.

Both men agreed that testosterone therapy won't solve all of a man's health issues.

"The most important thing men need to know is that testosterone therapy isn't a substitute for taking care of overall health," Terlecki said. "A lot of men come in obese, with a poor diet and no exercise, and they want to blame low testosterone. While testosterone may play a role in their overall health, it needs to be viewed in context with these other factors."

All it takes to tell if a man's testosterone level is low, he said, is a simple blood test.

Although low testosterone is common in older men, it's not necessarily a normal part of aging. Other conditions that are common with aging, such as obesity ordepression, can cause lower levels of testosterone, according to research presented at the Endocrine Society meeting in Houston this year.

Canfield said that testosterone levels can drop if testicular tissue is lost, which can happen with age. And Terlecki said that prior testicular trauma, undescended testicles and radiation treatment to the testicles also can cause lower testosterone levels. Testosterone levels can drop because of a pituitary tumor, though that's rare, he said. And some medications, such as narcotics, can also lower testosterone levels.

Several options exist for treating low testosterone. For men who want to keep their fertility, Terlecki said, the drug clomiphene can be prescribed. In men for whom that's no longer an issue, testosterone replacement therapy can boost testosterone levels.

Options for testosterone replacement, Canfield said, include injections, patches, a gel and implantable pellets. He said that a pill form of testosterone is available in other parts of the world, but not in the United States.

Injections are given once every two weeks, Terlecki said. The downside to this option is that injections provide a large dose of testosterone in the beginning but it drops fairly quickly.

Topical formulations, such as testosterone gel, are put on in the morning and absorbed within two to six hours and, if used consistently, provide a steady consistent dose of testosterone. "But, men have to remember to do it," Terlecki said. "And, they have to wait while the gel dries. It may leave the area feeling a little tacky."

Also, it's important not to expose children, pregnant women or women who may become pregnant to the testosterone on the skin because it can alter their hormonal balance.

Patches can provide a longer-term steady dose of testosterone, but they may cause irritation, Terlecki said. And implantable pellets, according to Canfield, can provide a steady, long-acting dose of testosterone. They're injected just underneath the skin on your backside during an outpatient office procedure.

This option is becoming increasingly popular because it lasts for four months and generally is inexpensive, Terlecki said.

Risks of testosterone therapy include an increase in the size of the prostate, water retention, worsening sleep apnea, a lower sperm count and an increase in the platelet count, which could increase the risk for blood clots, according to Canfield.

Both men agreed that testosterone therapy won't solve all of a man's health issues.

"The most important thing men need to know is that testosterone therapy isn't a substitute for taking care of overall health," Terlecki said. "A lot of men come in obese, with a poor diet and no exercise, and they want to blame low testosterone. While testosterone may play a role in their overall health, it needs to be viewed in context with these other factors."

Tulsi has many benefits ....but this is news to me but worth trying

तुलसी के बीज से यौन समस्याओ का उपचार:: जब भी तुलसी में खूब फुल यानी मंजिरी लग जाए तो उन्हें पकने पर तोड़ लेना चाहिए वरना तुलसी के झाड में चीटियाँ और कीड़ें लग जाते है और उसे समाप्त कर देते है . इन पकी हुई मंजिरियों को रख ले . इनमे से काले काले बीज अलग होंगे उसे एकत्र कर ले . यही सब्जा है . अगर आपके घर में नही है तो बाजार में पंसारी या आयुर्वैदिक दवाईयो की दुकान पर मिल जाएंगे शीघ्र पतन एवं वीर्य की कमी:: तुलसी के बीज 5 ग्राम रोजाना रात को गर्म दूध के साथ लेने से समस्या दूर होती है नपुंसकता:: तुलसी के बीज 5 ग्राम रोजाना रात को गर्म दूध के साथ लेने से नपुंसकता दूर होती है और यौन-शक्ति में बढोतरि होती है। यौन दुर्बलता : 15 ग्राम तुलसी के बीज और 30 ग्राम सफेद मुसली लेकर चूर्ण बनाएं, फिर उसमें 60 ग्राम मिश्री पीसकर मिला दें। और शीशी में भरकर रख दें। 5 ग्राम की मात्रा में यह चूर्ण सुबह-शाम गाय के दूध के साथ सेवन करें इससे यौन दुर्बलता दूर होती है। मासिक धर्म में अनियमियता:: जिस दिन मासिक आए उस दिन से जब तक मासिक रहे उस दिन तक तुलसी के बीज 5-5 ग्राम सुबह और शाम पानी या दूध के साथ लेने से मासिक की समस्या ठीक होती है गर्भधारण में समस्या:: जिन महिलाओ को गर्भधारण में समस्या है वो मासिक आने पर ५-५ ग्राम तुलसी बीज सुबह शाम पानी के साथ ले जब तक मासिक रहे , मासिक ख़त्म होने के बाद माजूफल का चूर्ण १० ग्राम सुबह शाम पानी के साथ ले ३ दिन तक तुलसी के पत्ते गर्म तासीर के होते है पर सब्जा शीतल होता है . इसे फालूदा में इस्तेमाल किया जाता है . इसे भिगाने से यह जेली की तरह फुल जाता है . इसे हम दूध या लस्सी के साथ थोड़ी देशी गुलाब की पंखुड़ियां दाल कर ले तो गर्मी में बहुत ठंडक देता है .इसके अलावा यह पाचन सम्बन्धी गड़बड़ी को भी दूर करता है .यह पित्त घटाता है ये त्रीदोषनाशक , क्षुधावर्धक है . नोट :: तुलसी के बीज,सफेद मुसली और माजूफल का चूर्ण आपको पंसारी की दूकान या आयुर्वैदिक दवाओ कि दूकान से मिल जायेंगे