¤ All About Debbie ¤

• Asthma
• Costochondritis
• Insomnia
• Peri-menopause
  
• Scoliosis

Asthma is a chronic lung condition. It is characterized by difficulty in breathing.

People with asthma have extra sensitive or hyper-responsive airways. The airways react by narrowing or obstructing when they become irritated. This makes it difficult for the air to move in and out. This narrowing or obstruction can cause one or a combination of the following symptoms:

• wheezing
• coughing
• shortness of breath
• chest tightness

This narrowing or obstruction is caused by:

• Airway inflammation (meaning that the airways in the lungs become red, swollen and narrow)
• Bronchoconstriction (meaning that the muscles that encircle the airways tighten or go into spasm)

Costochondritis (cos-to-kon-dry-tis), also known as Tietze Syndrome, is the inflammation of the cartilage where the ribs attach to the breastbone. Initially the symptoms are like those of a heart attack with pain moving from side to side of the chest and to the arms and neck. In fact many sufferers rush to the emergency room fearing an attack.

In the beginning the pain is usually worse and it hurts to breathe, wear a bra or move suddenly. Eventually the pain subsides to a dull, constant ache or tenderness in the ribs. The cause of this condition is usually unknown but it can be the result of trauma to the rib cage, a viral infection or part of an inflammatory disease. The symptoms usually disappear spontaneously within eight weeks but sometimes it takes up to a year and in some individuals it remains a chronic condition. When it is a chronic condition the pain seems to wax and wane and any sudden movement or lifting of heavy objects could make the condition worse.

Some sufferer's start thinking that there is something wrong with their lungs when they start finding difficulty in breathing. However there is no reason for alarm. This happens because due to the swelling around the ribs, the lungs cannot expand fully.

Stress contributes to the pain because it makes the muscles tense. Other things, which hurt are lifting, pushing, pulling, sneezing, coughing, long hours of driving or using the computer, repetitive motions and caffeine. Cold, rainy and humid weather also make a lot of sufferers feel worse. Ideally these situations should be avoided but where it is not possible it is important that they be carried out with care.

The first action to take after being diagnosed with Costochondritis is to make sure you get plenty of rest and apply heat to the affected area. There are many anti-inflammatory medications that can be bought over the counter like aspirin or ibuprofen but your GP can prescribe something stronger if he thinks it is necessary. Cortisone shots are another alternative but they are not a cure and are not recommended as they are said to weaken the cartilage after long periods of use. Physiotherapy and acupuncture have also helped some people.

If you are a sufferer the most important thing to remember is not to overdo it, as strain will aggravate the condition. Talk to your GP and when you find the treatment that works best for you stick to it.

Costochondritis (cos-to-kon-dry-tis), also known as Tietze Syndrome, is the inflammation of the cartilage where the ribs attach to the breastbone. Initially the symptoms are like those of a heart attack with pain moving from side to side of the chest and to the arms and neck. In fact many sufferers rush to the emergency room fearing an attack.

In the beginning the pain is usually worse and it hurts to breathe, wear a bra or move suddenly. Eventually the pain subsides to a dull, constant ache or tenderness in the ribs. The cause of this condition is usually unknown but it can be the result of trauma to the rib cage, a viral infection or part of an inflammatory disease. The symptoms usually disappear spontaneously within eight weeks but sometimes it takes up to a year and in some individuals it remains a chronic condition. When it is a chronic condition the pain seems to wax and wane and any sudden movement or lifting of heavy objects could make the condition worse.

Some sufferer's start thinking that there is something wrong with their lungs when they start finding difficulty in breathing. However there is no reason for alarm. This happens because due to the swelling around the ribs, the lungs cannot expand fully.

Stress contributes to the pain because it makes the muscles tense. Other things, which hurt are lifting, pushing, pulling, sneezing, coughing, long hours of driving or using the computer, repetitive motions and caffeine. Cold, rainy and humid weather also make a lot of sufferers feel worse. Ideally these situations should be avoided but where it is not possible it is important that they be carried out with care.

The first action to take after being diagnosed with Costochondritis is to make sure you get plenty of rest and apply heat to the affected area. There are many anti-inflammatory medications that can be bought over the counter like aspirin or ibuprofen but your GP can prescribe something stronger if he thinks it is necessary. Cortisone shots are another alternative but they are not a cure and are not recommended as they are said to weaken the cartilage after long periods of use. Physiotherapy and acupuncture have also helped some people.

If you are a sufferer the most important thing to remember is not to overdo it, as strain will aggravate the condition. Talk to your GP and when you find the treatment that works best for you stick to it.

Insomnia is too little or poor-quality sleep caused by one or more of the following:

• Trouble falling asleep
• Waking up a lot during the night with trouble returning to sleep
• Waking up too early in the morning
• Having un-refreshing sleep (not feeling well rested), even after sleeping 7 to 8 hours at night

Insomnia can cause problems during the day, such as excessive sleepiness, fatigue, trouble thinking clearly or staying focused, or feeling depressed or irritable. It is not defined by the number of hours you sleep every night. Although the amount of sleep a person needs varies, most people need between 7 and 8 hours of sleep a night.

What are the different types of insomnia and what causes them?

Insomnia can be:

• Transient (short term) insomnia lasts from a single night to a few weeks.
• Intermittent (on and off) insomnia is short term, which happens from time to time.
• Chronic (on-going) insomnia occurs at least 3 nights a week over a month or more.

 
Chronic insomnia is either primary or secondary:

• Primary insomnia is not related to any other health problem.
• Secondary insomnia can be caused by a medical condition (such as cancer, asthma, or arthritis), drugs, stress or a mental health problem (such as depression), or a poor sleep environment (such as too much light or noise, or a bed partner who snores).

Do women suffer from insomnia more than men?
Women are twice as likely to suffer from insomnia than men. Some research suggests that certain social factors, such as being unemployed or divorced, are related to poor sleep and increase the risk of insomnia in women. Also, insomnia tends to increase with age.

Sometimes peri-menopausal (the time leading up to menopause) women have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep; hot flashes and night sweats often can disturb sleep. Pregnancy also can affect how well a woman sleeps.

How is insomnia diagnosed?
If you think you have insomnia, talk to your doctor. It might be helpful to complete a sleep diary for a week or two, noting your sleep patterns, your daily routine, and how you feel during the day. Discuss the results of your sleep diary with your doctor. Your doctor may do a physical exam and take a medical history and sleep history. Your doctor may also want to talk to your bed partner to ask how much and how well you are sleeping. In some cases, you may be referred to a sleep center for special tests.

How is insomnia treated?
If insomnia is caused by a short-term change in the sleep/wake schedule, as with jet lag, your sleep schedule may return to normal on its own.

If your insomnia makes it hard for you to function during the day, talk to your doctor.

Treatment for chronic insomnia includes:

• Finding and treating any medical conditions or mental health problems.
• Looking for routines or behaviors, like drinking alcohol at night, that may lead to the insomnia or make it worse, and stopping (or reducing) them.
• Possibly using sleeping pills, although controversy surrounds the long-term use of sleeping pills. You should talk to your doctor about the risks and side effects.
• Trying one or more methods to improve sleep, such as relaxation therapy, sleep restriction therapy, and reconditioning.

1. Relaxation Therapy. This type of therapy aims to reduce stress and body tension. As a result, your mind is able to stop "racing," the muscles can relax, and restful sleep can occur.
2. Sleep Restriction. Some women suffering from insomnia spend too much time in bed trying to fall asleep. They may be helped by a sleep restriction program under the guidance of their doctor. The goal is to sleep continuously and get out of bed at the desired wake time. This treatment involves, for example, going to bed later or getting up earlier and slowly increasing the amount of time in bed until the person is able to sleep normally throughout the night.
3. Reconditioning. This means using your bed only at bedtime when sleepy or for sex. Avoid other activities in your bed, such as reading or watching TV. Over time, your body will relate bed and bedtime with sleep.

 What can I do to sleep better?

• Try to go to sleep at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning.
• Do not take naps after 3 p.m. Avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol late in the day or at night
• Get regular exercise. Exercise during the day--make sure you exercise at least 5 to 6 hours before bedtime.
• Make sure you eat dinner at least 2 to 3 hours before bedtime.
• Keep your bedroom dark, quiet, and cool. If light is a problem, try a sleeping mask. If noise is a problem, try earplugs, a fan, or a "white noise" machine to cover up the sounds.
• Follow a routine to help relax and wind down before sleep, such as reading a book, listening to music, or taking a bath.
• If you can't fall asleep within 20 minutes or don't feel drowsy, get up and read or do something that is not too active until you feel sleepy. Then try going back to bed.
• If you lay awake worrying about things, try making a to-do list before you go to bed.
• Use your bed only for sleep and sex.

See your doctor if you think that you have insomnia or another sleep problem.

Peri-menopause refers to the transitional period of time before menstruation actually stops, which is marked by changes in the menstrual cycle, along with other physical and emotional symptoms. This is the 3 to 5 year period prior to menopause when ovarian hormone production is declining and fluctuating, causing a host of symptoms.

Signs and symptoms

Peri-menopause causes some subtle (and some not-so-subtle) changes in your body. Some things you might experience include:

• Menstrual irregularities. The time between periods may be longer or shorter, your flow may also change between light to very heavy and visa-versa, and you may skip some periods. As ovulation becomes more erratic, the absence of progesterone may lead to longer and heavier periods.
• Hot flashes and sleep problems. About 75 percent to 85 percent of women experience hot flashes during peri-menopause. Intensity, duration and frequency vary. Sleep problems are often due to hot flashes or night sweats.
• Mood changes. Hormonal fluctuations may be responsible for the mood swings, depression and irritability you may experience during peri-menopause. But sometimes the mood swings may be because of other symptoms you are suffering from.
• Vaginal and bladder problems. When estrogen diminishes, your vaginal tissues may lose lubrication and elasticity, making intercourse uncomfortable or painful. Low estrogen levels may also leave you more vulnerable to urinary infections. Loss of tissue tone may contribute to urinary incontinence.
• Decreasing fertility. As ovulation becomes less regular, your ability to conceive decreases. However, as long as you're having periods, pregnancy remains a possibility. If that's not what you want, use birth control until you've had no periods for 12 months.
• Loss of libido. During peri-menopause, sexual desire and arousal may gradually decline. The cause may be hormonal, but it can also result from other stresses in your life or your attitude toward aging.
• Body and skin changes. As your estrogen levels decline, your muscle mass decreases, body fat increases, and your waist and abdomen thicken. Lower estrogen levels also affect collagen in your skin, so it gradually becomes thinner and less elastic.
• Loss of bone. As your estrogen levels decline, you may lose bone more quickly than you replace it, increasing your risk of osteoporosis.
• Changing cholesterol levels. Declining estrogen levels may lead to unfavorable changes in your blood cholesterol levels, including an increase in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol — the "bad" cholesterol — which contributes to an increased risk of heart disease.

For most women, the discomforts associated with peri-menopause are minimal and manageable.

Treatment for peri-menopause:
Specific treatment for peri-menopause will be determined by your physician based on:

• your age, overall health, and medical history
• current symptoms
• your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies your opinion or preference

More and more physicians are treating peri-menopausal symptoms. These treatments may include:

• low-dose birth control pills (to keep hormone levels more constant)
• antidepressants (to stabilize mood swings)
• progesterone (to treat premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, symptoms)

Other lifestyle changes your physician may recommend include the following:

• Add soy and flax to your diet.
• Exercise regularly.
• Take vitamin E.
• Identify what triggers hot flashes (i.e., coffee, tea, etc.) by keeping a diary or record - to help reduce their likelihood.
• Discuss other herbal treatments such as ginkgo biloba, Evening Primrose Oil, and black cohosh (which may have some effectiveness in relieving certain symptoms), with your physician.

Scoliosis is a lateral (sideways) curvature of the spine most commonly seen in girls during early adolescence.

The most common type of Scoliosis is called idiopathic scoliosis, which makes up about 85% of all cases. It affects about 5 in 1000 people. Up to 80% of cases of idiopathic Scoliosis occur in young girls between the ages of 10 and 16 years. Other types of Scoliosis may occur at birth or as a result of another underlying disease, such as muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy, but these cases are less common.

The cause of Scoliosis is unknown and there is no known way to prevent it. The severity of the condition depends on how early the symptoms begin. If a curve occurs just before or during puberty, the growth spurt can sometimes make it worse. If the curve first appears toward the end of puberty, it will probably be very mild. Once the child stops growing, the curvature will not progress any further.

Mild Scoliosis does not cause any problems and may even go unnoticed. A child with mild Scoliosis can participate in all activities with the possible exception of heavy contact sports. In severe cases, Scoliosis may affect the shape of the chest and interfere with lung function.

Signs and symptoms

• The head appears off-centre.
• One hip or shoulder may be higher than the other.
• The patient walks unevenly, with a rolling gait.
• Clothes do not seem to hang evenly.
• Lower back pain and fatigue may occur after prolonged sitting or standing.

Health care

As with all conditions your Doctor should be consulted to diagnose and treat Scoliosis. The outcome will depend on the severity of the curvature and at what stage it is detected. Your Doctor may refer you to an Orthopedic specialist.

• Scoliosis is usually discovered during routine screening at school. The child is asked to remove his/her clothing above the waist and stand with the back facing the examiner. They slowly bend forward to touch the toes, while keeping the knees straight. The spine is then examined for straightness.
• If a curve is seen, X-rays will be taken to determine the severity.
• In 90% of cases, Scoliosis remains mild and requires no treatment.
• If the curve is greater than 20 degrees, treatment may be needed. This may involve a brace combined with an exercise programme. The brace will not cure the Scoliosis, but can prevent it from getting worse.
• In severe cases, where the curve is greater than 40 degrees, surgical correction may be recommended. Steel rods are inserted into the spine to straighten it. The surgery is risky but the results are usually very good.

Diet Tips

• Scoliosis is NOT caused by nutritional deficiency. However a healthy diet is recommended to promote normal growth and development.
• It is advisable for adolescents to restrict the intake of 'fast foods' which are high in calories and low in nutritional value.
• Drink 6 to 8 glasses of fresh water each day.