Eating disorder : A brief understanding

Eating disorder treatment depends on your particular disorder and your symptoms. It may include psychological counseling (psychotherapy), nutrition education or medications such as antidepressants.

Eating disorder treatment also involves addressing other health problems caused by an eating disorder, which can be serious or even life-threatening if they go untreated for long enough.

If an eating disorder doesn't improve with standard treatment or causes health problems, hospitalization or an inpatient program may be necessary.

Having an organized approach to eating disorder treatment can help you manage symptoms, regain a healthy weight, and maintain your physical and mental health.

Where to start

You may start by seeing your family doctor or mental health counselor such as a psychologist. You may also need to see other health professionals who specialize in eating disorder treatment, such as:

·         Your primary care doctor or other medical doctors involved with your care.

·         A psychiatrist, a medical doctor specializing in medication management, when medications are necessary. Some psychiatrists also provide psychological counseling.

·         A dietitian to provide nutritional counseling when a meal plan is necessary.

It's best if everyone involved in your treatment communicates about your progress so adjustments can be made to your treatment as needed. Involving your partner, parents or other family members is also important.

For young people still living at home, parents will be actively involved in treatment and may supervise meals.

Managing an eating disorder can be a long-term challenge. You may need to continue to see your doctor, psychologist, or other members of your treatment team on a regular basis even if your eating disorder and related health problems are under control.

Setting up a treatment plan

At the beginning of your treatment, you and treatment professionals will come up with goals and guidelines. This will make it clear what to do if you're not able to stick with your plan or if you're having health problems related to your eating disorder.

Your treatment team will consider what your needs are and what resources are available in your area. The cost of treatment programs may be a factor. Hospitalization and outpatient programs for treating eating disorders can be expensive, and insurance may not cover all of the costs of your care. However, don't avoid treatment because of the potential cost. Work with your doctor to identify affordable treatment options.

Psychological counseling for an eating disorder

Psychological counseling (psychotherapy) is generally the most important eating disorder treatment. It involves seeing a psychologist, psychiatrist or other mental health counselor on a regular basis.

Counseling may last from a few months to years. A number of different methods of counseling are used to treat eating disorders. They include:

·         Cognitive behavioral therapy. This type of counseling is a short-term, structured treatment that helps you address the thoughts, feelings and behaviors related to your eating disorder. It can help you learn to recognize and change distorted thoughts that lead to eating disorder behaviors.

·         Interpersonal psychotherapy. Another short-term treatment, interpersonal psychotherapy focuses on resolving relationship issues that contribute to your eating disorder. This type of treatment may be especially helpful if you have depression along with an eating disorder.

·         Family-based therapy. With family-based therapy, family members attend counseling sessions. This type of therapy can be especially useful for parents learning how to help a teen with an eating disorder.

·         Group cognitive behavioral therapy. This type of treatment involves meeting with a psychologist or other mental health provider along with others who are diagnosed with an eating disorder. It can help you address thoughts, feelings and behaviors related to your eating disorder, learn skills to manage eating disorder symptoms, and regain healthy eating patterns.

Treatment may involve a combination of types of counseling. Your psychologist or counselor may ask you to do homework, such as keep a food journal to review in counseling sessions, and identify triggers that cause you to binge, purge or do other unhealthy eating behavior.

Nutrition education

Dietitians and other professionals involved in your treatment can help you better understand your eating disorder and help you develop a plan to maintain healthy eating habits. Goals of nutrition education generally include:

·         Education about how nutrition affects your body

·         Meal planning

·         Establishing regular eating patterns — generally, three meals a day with regular snacks

·         Taking steps to avoid dieting

Nutrition education may involve cognitive behavioral therapy techniques to help you recognize faulty beliefs and thought patterns and understand how your eating disorder causes nutrition issues and physical problems.

Medications for eating disorders

Medications may help you follow your treatment plan. They're most effective when combined with psychological counseling. Antidepressants are the most common medications used to treat eating disorders, but depending on the situation, other medications are sometimes prescribed.

Taking an antidepressant may be especially helpful if you have bulimia nervosa or binge- eating disorder in that it can help reduce symptoms of binge eating and vomiting. Antidepressants can be helpful to reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety or obsessive- compulsive disorder, which frequently occur along with eating disorders.

You may also need to take medications for physical health problems caused by your eating disorder.

Hospitalization for eating disorders

Hospitalization may be necessary if you have serious physical or mental health problems or if you have anorexia and are unable to eat or gain weight. Severe or life-threatening physical health problems that occur with anorexia can be a medical emergency. In many cases, the most important goal of hospitalization is to get back to a healthy weight. Achieving your ideal weight can take months, so you'll probably need to continue outpatient treatment to accomplish your goals once you get out of the hospital.

Hospital day treatment programs

Day treatment programs are structured programs that generally require attendance for three to eight hours a day. Day treatment can include medical care, group, individual and family counseling, structured eating sessions, and nutrition counseling. You may still be able to work or attend school if you're in a day treatment program.

Residential treatment for eating disorders

With residential treatment, you live at an eating disorder treatment facility. A residential treatment program may be necessary if you need long-term care for your eating disorder or you've been in the hospital a number of times but your mental or physical health hasn't improved.

Ongoing treatment for health problems

Eating disorders can cause serious health problems related to inadequate nutrition, overeating, bingeing and other factors. The type of health problems caused by eating disorders depends on the particular type of eating disorder and its severity. In many cases, problems caused by an eating disorder require ongoing treatment and monitoring. Health problems linked to eating disorders can include:

·         Electrolyte imbalances, which can interfere with the functioning of your muscles, heart and nerves

·         Heart problems

·         Digestive problems

·         Nutrient deficiencies

·         Dental cavities and erosion of the surface of your teeth from frequent vomiting (bulimia)

·         Low bone density (osteoporosis) as a result of long-term malnutrition (anorexia)

·         Stunted growth caused by poor nutrition (anorexia)

·         Mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder

Taking an active role

You are the most important member of your treatment team. In order for your treatment to be a success, you need to be actively involved in your treatment and informed about your eating disorder, and so do your family members. Your psychiatrist or other members of your treatment team can provide education and tell you where to find information and support. It's a good idea to search for resources on your own as well.

Resources that can help you understand and cope with your eating disorder include:

·         Books and self-help workbooks

Diabetes Warning Signs

Because type 2 diabetes can lead to serious health complications, it's important to be aware of any diabetes warning signs and get tested for diabetes if you have these symptoms. Treating diabetes early, when treatment is most effective, can help prevent complications.

We'll explain the various diabetes warning signs and also warning signs of specific diabetes problems. Discover why it's important to listen to your body and alert your doctor if you notice any new signs or problems.

Warning Signs of Diabetes

Sometimes type 2 diabetes can develop without any warnings signs. In fact, about a third of all people who have type 2 diabetes don't know they have it. That's why it's important to talk to your doctor about your risk for diabetes and determined if you should be tested.

Common warnings signs of diabetes include:

·         Increased thirst

·         Increased hunger (especially after eating)

·         Dry mouth

·         Frequent urination or urine infections

·         Unexplained weight loss (even though you are eating and feel hungry)

·         Fatigue (weak, tired feeling)

·         Blurred vision

·         Headaches

·         Diabetic coma (loss of consciousness)

If you have any of the above mentioned warnings signs of diabetes, give your doctor a call and schedule a diabetes test. With the right diabetes diet, regular exercise, and medications, if needed, you can manage type 2 diabetes and live an active, productive life.

If you have symptoms of the following diabetes complications, it's important to seek immediate medical attention. Each brief discussion links to more in-depth information.

Hypoglycemia and Diabetes

As you'll learn in this health topic, hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, occurs when the level of sugar or glucose in the blood drops too low to fuel the body. Hypoglycemia is not a disease but a condition that results from a variety of causes.

Hypoglycemia is most commonly a complication of diabetes treatment (diabetic hypoglycemia). You can develop hypoglycemia by taking too much insulin or other diabetes medications or by delaying a meal. Hypoglycemia can also be the result of some medications, other diseases, or too much activity.

We'll explain more about some warning signs of hypoglycemia in this health topic, including nausea, a jittery or nervous feeling, a rapid heartbeat, mood changes, blurred vision, and difficulty walking. Severe hypoglycemia can lead to loss of consciousness, seizures, coma, and may be fatal.

Hyperglycemia and Diabetes

In this health topic, we explain the dangers of hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar levels, and diabetes. Hyperglycemia causes many of the warning signs of diabetes listed above. Hyperglycemia may be caused by skipping or forgetting your insulin or diabetes medicine, eating too many grams of carbs for the amount of insulin administered, simply eating too many grams of carbs in general, or from stress or infections.

In this health topic, we discuss hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic syndrome (HHNS), an extremely serious complication that can lead to diabetic coma and even death in type 2 diabetes. This serious condition occurs when the blood sugar gets too high and the body becomes severely dehydrated. To prevent HHNS and diabetic coma in type 2 diabetes, check your blood sugar regularly as recommended by your health care provider; when you are sick, check your blood sugar more frequently, drink plenty of fluids, and watch for signs of dehydration.

Other Warning Signs of Diabetes Complications

Other warning signs of type 2 diabetes' complications may include:

·         Slow-healing sores or cuts

·         Itching of the skin (usually around the vaginal or groin area)

·         Frequent yeast infections

·         Recent weight gain

·         Velvety, dark skin changes of the neck, armpit, and groin, called acanthosis nigricans

·         Numbness and tingling of the hands and feet

·         Decreased vision

·         Impotency

If you have any of these diabetes warning signs, contact your health care provider right away so you can have a diabetes test. Even people with pre-diabetes can have the increased risk from heart disease seen in people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Too much television can give you diabetes

A new study from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researchers has indicated that prolonged TV viewing is associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and premature death.

"The message is simple. Cutting back on TV watching can significantly reduce risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and premature mortality," said senior author Frank Hu, professor of nutrition and epidemiology at HSPH.

"We should not only promote increasing physical activity levels but also reduce sedentary behaviour, especially prolonged TV watching," he added.

Hu and first author Anders Grontved, a doctoral student and visiting researcher in the HSPH Department of Nutrition, conducted a meta-analysis, a systematic assessment of all published studies from 1970 to 2011 that linked TV viewing with increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and premature death.

Eight large prospective cohort studies from the United States, Europe, and Australia met the researchers'' criteria and were included in the meta-analysis.

The results showed that more than two hours of TV viewing per day increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and more than three hours of daily viewing increased risk of premature death.

"Sedentary lifestyle, especially prolonged TV watching, is clearly an important and modifiable risk factor for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease," Grontved added.

The study has been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association .

Corp to keep a tab on food stalls at Onam fairs

Onam fairs as well as the food stalls, set up at various places in the city to boost the festive mood, will come under the scanner of the Kochi corporation as the officials have decided to start conducting surprise checks from Friday.
Food inspectors and health inspectors will check the food items like 'payasam', chips and other eatables offered at these fairs, said standing committee chairman, Health Committee, T K Ashraf. Four vehicles would be allotted to officials for the purpose.
"It has been brought to our attention that sub-standard food is being sold at road-side eateries and stalls set up for the festival season. There would be regular inspection till September 7," he told ToI. Raids will be conducted at all zones. It is also decided to grade hotels and eateries in the city. "Grading will be based on quality of food and cleanliness practised in hotels and restaurants," he added.

Keep your brain sharp with these simple tips

Every day you wake up, you can either "use it or lose it." Your brainpower, that is. Cognitive abilities such as concentration, attention, memory, hearing and motor coordination, and executive functions like planning and multitasking deteriorate over the time unless used regularly.

Scientist used to think that the brain stopped growing and developing after a certain age — that a person had a finite brain capacity — until it would eventually deteriorate once the person reached old age. We now know that’s not true. In fact, current scientific research shows that what used to be considered “normal” memory loss as a result of aging (called age-related cognitive decline) is not necessarily normal at all. You can actually stimulate the brain and increase your brain capacity, or at least not lose any gray matter, throughout your life.

The ability of the brain to change and form new connections is a concept called brain plasticity, or neuroplasticity. It is greatly influenced — for better and worse! — by the foods you eat, getting enough (and the right kind of) exercise, being engaged socially, limiting stress and challenging your brain intellectually to learn new things. 

Here are five simple things you can do to keep your brain sharp. 

1. Keep learning! Keep your mind motivated and your brain active in any field that makes you constantly learn: reading, problem solving, brain fitness exercises, learning a language, playing an instrument or a memory game.

2. Exercise your brain by exercising your body with challenging movements. Exercise boosts brainpower on multiple fronts: it increases heart rate which helps pump more oxygen to your brain and it releases hormones which both control stress and help stimulate new brain cells and the formation of new connections. Studies have shown that the exercises that benefit your brain the most are those that call on multiple skills such as coordination, rhythm and strategy.

Here are three moves that challenge your brain and motor network, the group of nerve cell connections that help you move. (Want more? Try these three brain-boosting exercises.) Do this circuit daily:

• Raise your left arm overhead while lifting your right knee up to your chest. Repeat with your right arm and left leg. Repeat the entire set 10 times.

• Clap your hands overhead while raising your right leg. Repeat, raising your left leg.

• Balance on one leg closing both eyes. Hold for 10 seconds. Then repeat with the opposite leg. (This works your proprioceptors — sensors that provide information about joint angle, muscle length and muscle tension, which gives your brain a sense of your body position in space.)

At the very least, make sure you get some cardiovascular exercise daily. Even just 15 or 20 minutes of brisk walking daily will help your brain (and your heart!).

3. Feed your brain. Eating can influence your brain in a powerful way. The best brain foods are those high in antioxidants and brain-boosting omega-3 fatty acids, and low in sugar and refined carbs. Make sure these five great brain foods are part of your diet: berries, salmon, walnuts, leafy greens and avocado.

4. Be a social butterfly. Keep yourself socially active and make sure you are surrounded by great friends. You can join a book club, walking club or a gym. Research has shown that maintaining strong, meaningful relationships not only helps fight off depression, which can impair cognition, but social interaction actually stimulates the brain.

5. Mediate daily. Chronic and acute, high stress, which most people today face in their daily lives, impairs memory and concentration. Meditation helps reduce stress and increase oxygen flow to the brain. Practice daily meditation to achieve a powerful, calmer mind and a more focused brain.

Life is about choices and choosing the right health program is really important for you. Your best days are yet to come!

Preventing DIABETIES is in your hands

When you consider that "glucose-intolerant" is another term for "diabetic," it's easy to see what you shouldn't eat. Namely, glucose-rich foods, such as bread, rice, pasta, and potatoes. But Mary Vernon, M.D., prefers a more positive approach: "I like to emphasize what people can enjoy." So, use the guidelines below to build a prescription diet. One caution: If you're currently taking medication for high blood pressure or high blood sugar, consult your physician first, as this diet will cause both to drop.
The Rules

·         Eat until you're satisfied, not stuffed.

·         Don't skip meals, especially breakfast.

·         Include protein, such as meat, cheese, and nuts,
with every meal and snack.

The Foods

Vegetables: Down as many as four servings a day of nonroot vegetables. That means broccoli, asparagus, spinach, and any other leafy green vegetable. One serving is 1 cup raw—about the size of a baseball—or 1/2 cup cooked (half a ball).

Meat and eggs: Eat as much of these foods—which include poultry and fish—as you want (i.e., until you're full).

Cheese: Have up to 4 ounces of hard and firm cheeses daily—for instance, Parmesan, American, and cheddar. One serving is about the size of two dominoes.

Fruit: Limit yourself to 1 cup of berries or melon a day.

Nuts: One ounce a day.

Extras(Help yourself)

Condiments: Mustard, horseradish, soy sauce, and Tabasco sauce.

Salad dressings: Oil and vinegar, and full-fat dressings—such as ranch—that contain no more than 2 grams of carbohydrates per serving.

Oils: Olive and canola are best; use only small amounts of other oils.

Beverages: Drink 64 ounces of water a day. Then consume only two servings of diet soda per day and unsweetened tea and coffee as desired (decaf when possible).