Common 8 Symptoms of Sleep Deprivation

The loss of sleep is a common problem in modern society, affecting many individuals at some point in their lives. Sleep deprivation occurs when an individual gets less sleep than they should. People vary in how little sleep is needed to be considered sleep-deprived. Some people such as older adults seem to be more resistant to the effects of sleep deprivation, while others, especially children and young adults, are more vulnerable. Although occasional sleep interruptions are generally a nuisance, ongoing lack of sleep can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness, emotional difficulties, obesity and a lowered perception of quality of life.

Source

Causes of Sleep Deprivation

What usually causes sleep deprivation in adults, and how do these causes differ from those in teens or even children? Research suggests that sleep deficiency is typically due to the following factors:

• A disorder that disrupts sleep, whether a thyroid disorder, dealing with pain, or something like acid reflux or sleep apnea. Snoring can also disturb sleep.
• A demanding, busy schedule.
• High amounts of stress.
• Effects of certain medications or stimulants.

Symptoms

The main symptom of ongoing sleep loss is excessive daytime sleepiness, but other symptoms include:

• yawning
• moodiness
• fatigue
• irritability
• depressed mood
• forgetfulness
• lack of motivation
• clumsiness
• reduced sex drive

Treatment

Treatment is only required when a person physically cannot get to sleep, due to either physical or psychological difficulties. A therapist or sleep specialist will be able to offer guidance and coping techniques for reaching a restful state and sleeping. There are two main avenues of treatment for sleep deprivation: Behavioral and cognitive measures and medications.

Examples of Asymptomatic Diseases

Common 8 Sleep Deprivation Symptoms

The loss of sleep is a common problem in modern society, affecting many individuals at some point in their lives. Sleep deprivation occurs when an individual gets less sleep than they should. People vary in how little sleep is needed to be considered sleep-deprived. Some people such as older adults seem to be more resistant to the effects of sleep deprivation, while others, especially children and young adults, are more vulnerable.


Source

Causes of Sleep Deprivation

What usually causes sleep deprivation in adults, and how do these causes differ from those in teens or even children? Research suggests that sleep deficiency is typically due to the following factors:

• A disorder that disrupts sleep, whether a thyroid disorder, dealing with pain, or something like acid reflux or sleep apnea. Snoring can also disturb sleep.
• A demanding, busy schedule.
• High amounts of stress.
• Effects of certain medications or stimulants.
• Eating a poor diet that can lead to blood sugar fluctuations.
• Eating too close to bedtime, or not eating enough with dinner/later in the day (such as if you’re fasting).

Symptoms

The main symptom of ongoing sleep loss is excessive daytime sleepiness, but other symptoms include:

• yawning
• moodiness
• fatigue
• irritability
• depressed mood
• forgetfulness
• lack of motivation
• clumsiness
• reduced sex drive

What is Difference Psychologist vs Psychiatrist

If you have mental health concerns, you should definitely seek help and someone you can talk to. But where do you go? How do you know what type of doctor you should talk to? Do you look for a psychiatrist or psychologist? If you’re unsure what the difference is, you’re not alone. There’s a lot of confusion out there. There are similarities, but there are important differences, too.


Source

The four main differences between psychiatrists and psychologists are:

• Psychiatrists are medical doctors, psychologists are not.
• Psychiatrists prescribe medication, psychologists can’t.
• Psychiatrists tend to treat complex and serious mental illness, psychologists tend to treat less serious conditions.
• You need a referral from your GP to see a psychiatrist, while you don’t for a psychologist.

How they’re Alike

Psychiatrists and psychologists are different types of doctors trained to help you deal with mental health issues. Both are there to talk you through your problems. Their goal is to provide you with the means to manage the issues in your everyday life. Although there are differences in the two fields, psychiatrists and psychologists often work together in the treatment of patients. A psychologist is not able to write prescriptions, but may recommend a patient be seen by a fellow psychiatrist in order to receive medications

Treatments provided

Psychiatrists can provide a wide range of treatments, according to the particular problem and what will work best. These include:

• medication
• general medical care, including checking your physical health and the effects of medication
• psychological treatments
• brain stimulation therapies such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
• Psychologists focus on providing psychological treatments.

Conditions treated

Psychiatrists tend to treat people who need their medical, psychological and social needs considered. These are usually people with complex conditions, for example:

• severe depression
• schizophrenia
• bipolar disorder.

Someone who has attempted suicide or has suicidal thoughts will usually be seen by a psychiatrist.

Causes of Pain Between Shoulder Blades

Shoulder blade pain is a very common experience, with causes ranging from simple strains to serious conditions, such as heart attacks or liver problems. Determining the cause of shoulder blade pain can be difficult. People experiencing shoulder blade pain need to know the possible reasons for the pain and what precautions to take.

Causes

There are many possible causes for pain between your shoulder blades. An injury to a muscle or tendon is a common reason for this type of pain. Muscle strains can result from:

• heavy lifting
• poor posture
• working at a computer for extended periods of time
• exercise

Sometimes, you can even strain a muscle during sleep. Injuries to other parts of your body, such as rotator cuff tears, spine fractures, or other injuries that cause trauma, can also lead to pain between your shoulder blades.

Other causes for shoulder blade pain include:

• degenerative disc disease, or a herniated or bulging disc in the spine
• scoliosis
• osteoarthritis in the joints around your neck, spine, or ribs
• spinal stenosis, or a narrowing of your spinal cord
• acid reflux
• fibromyalgia
• certain cancers, such as lung cancer, lymphomas, liver cancer, esophageal cancer, mesothelioma, and cancers that spread to bones
• nerve compression

Diagnosis

Your doctor will begin by taking a careful history and doing a physical exam. Many causes of shoulder blade pain can be diagnosed based on your medical history. Doctor will perform a careful physical exam, yet studies suggest that it’s often difficult to diagnose the cause of shoulder blade pain based on physical exam alone. Other tests and studies may include:

• Radiological studies. Radiologic studies may include a chest x-ray, a CT scan of your chest or other regions of your body, an MRI of your chest or other regions, and/or a PET scan if you have a history of cancer.
• Heart tests. If your doctor is at all concerned that your pain may be originating in your heart, tests such as an EKG or stress test may be recommended.

Treatment

Treatment depends largely on the exact cause of the pain. For simple cases of overuse, strain, or sleeping poorly, a person may be able to try a range of treatments from home. These may include:

• rest
• ice
• medications, such as ibuprofen
• medicated rubs and ointments
• stretching
• massages

What is Extrinsic Motivation?

Extrinsic motivation is reward-driven behavior. It’s a type of operant conditioning. Operant conditioning is a form of behavior modification that uses rewards or punishments to increase or decrease the likelihood that specific behaviors will recur. In extrinsic motivation, rewards or other incentives, like praise, fame, or money, are used as motivation for specific activities. Unlike intrinsic motivation, external factors drive this form of motivation. Being paid to do a job is an example of extrinsic motivation. You may enjoy spending your day doing something other than work, but you’re motivated to go to work because you need a paycheck to pay your bills. In this example, you’re extrinsically motivated by the ability to afford your daily expenses.

Extrinsic Motivation Can Involve Tangible or Psychological Rewards

Extrinsic motivation is defined as our tendency to engage in activities in order to gain some type of external reward. It is important to note that these rewards can be either tangible or psychological in nature. Money and trophies are two common types of tangible rewards. People engage in activities that they might normally not find terribly enjoyable or rewarding in order to earn a wage. Athletes often engage in strenuous and difficult training sessions in order to be able to compete in sporting events in order to win trophies and awards. Psychological forms of extrinsic motivation can include praise.

Examples of extrinsic motivation

Examples of external extrinsic rewards include:

• competing in sports for trophies
• completing work for money
• customer loyalty discounts
• buy one, get one free sales
• frequent flyer rewards

How Effective Is Extrinsic Motivation?

So just how well do extrinsic rewards work for increasing motivation? This type of motivation can be highly effective. Just look at all of the examples in your own life of things that you do in order to gain some type of external reward. You might shop with a store loyalty card in order to gain points, discounts, and prizes.

Understanding the Results

Why would rewarding an already intrinsically rewarding behavior lead to this sudden disinterest? One reason is that people tend to analyze their own motivations for engaging in an activity. Once they have been externally rewarded for performing an action, they assign too much importance to the role of the reinforcement in their behavior. Another possible reason is that activities that initially feel like play or fun can be transformed into work or obligations when tied to an external reward.

Home Remedies for Breast Pain During Pregnancy

Women of all ages report having breast pain, also known as mastalgia. Pain can occur before and after the menopause. However, breast pain is most common in younger menstruating women. While nearly 70 percent of women report breast pain at some point during their lives, only around 15 percent require medical treatment. The severity and location of breast pain can vary. Pain can occur in both breasts, one breast, or in the underarm. Severity can range from mild to severe and is typically described as tenderness, sharp burning, or tightening of the breast tissue.

Many women have breast tenderness and pain, also called mastalgia. It may come and go with monthly periods (cyclic) or may not follow any pattern (noncyclic).

• Cyclic pain is the most common type of breast pain. It may be caused by the normal monthly changes in hormones. This pain usually occurs in both breasts. It is generally described as a heaviness that radiates to the armpit and arm.

• Noncyclic pain is most common in women 30 to 50 years of age. It may also occur in only one breast. It is often described as a sharp, burning pain that occurs in one area of a breast.

Symptoms

Symptoms of breast pain caused by periods:

• dull, heavy or aching pain
• pain that begins up to 2 weeks before a period, gets worse and then goes away when the period ends
• usually affects both breasts and sometimes pain spreads to the armpit

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with your doctor if breast pain:

• Continues daily for more than a couple of weeks
• Occurs in one specific area of your breast
• Seems to be getting worse over time

What can I do for breast pain?

• Acetaminophen, such as Tylenol
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), naproxen (Aleve or Naprosyn), or aspirin (Anacin, Bayer)
• If breast pain becomes severe or lasts longer than 3 weeks, call your doctor to discuss your symptoms.

Treatment

For many women, breast pain resolves on its own over time. You may not need any treatment. If you do require treatment, your doctor might recommend that you:

• Eliminate an underlying cause or aggravating factor. This may involve a simple adjustment, such as wearing a bra with extra support.
• Use a topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medication. You may need to use NSAIDs when your pain is intense. Your doctor may recommend you apply an NSAID cream directly to the area where you feel pain.
• Reduce the dose of menopausal hormone therapy. You might consider lowering the dose of menopausal hormone therapy or stopping it entirely.

When you're trying to get a clear diagnosis of your breast pain, take charge. Keep a chart of your menstrual periods and breast pain cycle so you can judge whether or not the pain is related to your hormonal cycle. Then, consult with your doctor and have a clinical breast exam done. During your visit, your doctor will also review your health history and list of medications.

Causes and Signs of Wrist Tendinitis

Wrist tendinitis, also called tenosynovitis, is a common condition characterized by irritation and inflammation of the tendons around the wrist joint. Wrist tendinitis usually affects one of the tendons, but it may also involve two or more. Often, wrist tendinitis occurs at points where the tendons cross each other or pass over a bony prominence.

Source

Symptoms

The symptoms of tendinitis include:

• Pain or tenderness at or near a joint, especially around a shoulder, wrist, elbow, or ankle
• Stiffness that, along with the pain, restricts the movement of the joint involved
• Mild swelling or thickening of the tendon near the joint

Causes

Wrist tendinitis is an overuse condition which occurs due to repetitive strain or friction of the tendon. It usually occurs in a tendon which rubs over a bony prominence or where excessive repetitive strain has been placed on the tendon. Whilst tendinitis is the most common term used to describe this injury, it is often technically incorrect. Investigations and biopsies have often found no inflammatory cells present. Wrist tendinitis symptoms and treatment are usually the same whether the injury is inflammation or degeneration.

Diagnosis

Tendinitis is typically diagnosed by a physical exam alone. If you have the symptoms of overuse tendinopathy, your doctor may order an ultrasound or MRI scans to help determine tendon thickening, dislocations and tears.

Treatment

Rest from aggravating activities. Continuing to use the wrist when it is painful will prevent healing and could make the injury worse. A chronic tendon injury that has not been looked after in the early days is much more difficult to treat. Wearing a wrist splint or support may help with resting, particularly if you need to use your hands. By immobilizing the wrist the tendons have to work a lot less and have a chance of healing. Apply cold therapy to ease pain and swelling particularly in the early days or when the wrist tendinitis is very painful. Preventing Future Problems

7 Benefits of Oatmeal Baths

When you have itchy skin, you want to stop the itch as soon as possible. Sometimes, you have no anti-itch medications around, and you can’t get to a pharmacy. A home remedy can often be found in your kitchen. Oatmeal baths can soothe skin that’s itching from any one of a number of causes, from poison ivy to pregnancy-related conditions. Oatmeal is made from common oats, Avena sativa.


Source

How to Prepare an Oatmeal Bath

If you're using a store-bought product, follow the directions on the package. Dermatologists suggest:

• Make sure the water is lukewarm, not hot.
• Sprinkle the recommended amount or 1 cup of your DIY oatmeal under running water as the tub fills.
• Soak for about 10-15 minutes.
• After the bath, gently pat yourself dry so your skin still feels damp.

1. Polyphenols in oatmeal soothe the skin

Research points to polyphenols called avenanthramides, found mainly in oats, for their ability to soothe itching and irritated skin. Avenanthramides exhibit anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative and anti-itching activity.

2. Itchy skin remedy

Itchy, dry skin often has a high pH level, but oatmeal can help normalize your skin’s pH, which can relieve itchy, uncomfortable skin. Oatmeal baths also soften and moisturize your skin, which helps lock in moisture and protect skin from exterior irritants.

3. Calms atopic dermatitis or eczema

Topical corticosteroids are the first-line treatment for eczema, and have been used widely for decades to treat various inflammatory skin conditions. But when applied daily for long periods of time, topical corticosteroids can produce unwanted side effects. Some of these include:

• Thinning of the skin
• Stretch marks
• Easy bruising and tearing of the skin

4. Face wash

Oatmeal contains chemicals known as saponins that are characterized by their intense cleansing properties. Saponins are commonly added to shampoos and detergents for its emulsifying and foaming abilities that create a rich lather. This makes oatmeal ideal to use as a face mask, cleanser or soap for every skin type, especially sensitive skin.

5. Relieves dryness

Oats impart a protective layer over the skin’s surface, which helps retain its natural moisture. During your oatmeal bath, the natural starches in oats will absorb water and bind to your skin. And the polyphenols or avenanthramides will work to relieve your dry skin.

Causes of Floating Poop

Stools normally sink in the toilet. But your diet and other factors can cause your stools to change in structure. This may result in floating. Floating stools are usually nothing to be concerned about. They’re not always a symptom of an illness or disease. Your stools will most likely return to normal without any treatment.


Source

Causes

Many things can cause floating stools. Naturally, floating stools are due to what you eat. A change in your diet may cause an increase in gas. Increased gas in the stool allows it to float. Floating stools may also happen if you have a gastrointestinal infection. Floating, greasy stools may be due to severe malabsorption, especially if you are losing weight. Malabsorption means your body is not properly absorbing nutrients.

Celiac disease

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that causes damage to the lining of the small intestine when gluten is eaten. Gluten is a protein found mainly in wheat products. Currently, there is no cure for celiac disease. The symptoms go away when gluten is avoided.

Cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited and often fatal disease that causes an excess production of thick mucus in the lungs and digestive tract. The excess mucus in the pancreas prevents the proper absorption of nutrients, which can cause floating stools.

Symptoms

There are a number of symptoms that a person could experience. However, the signs that appear for one person may be different from what appears for another. It all depends on what the underlying cause is. Here’s a list of some of the typical symptoms:

• Abdominal pain or cramping
• Abdominal swelling or bloating
• Abnormally foul-smelling stools
• Diarrhea
• Gas
• Bloody stool (the blood may be red, black texture)

Is Influenza Contagious?

Influenza, or flu, is a respiratory illness caused by a virus. Flu is highly contagious and is normally spread by the coughs and sneezes of an infected person. Although very unpleasant, flu is rarely life-threatening. You can also catch flu by touching an infected person by shaking hands for example. Adults are contagious 1-2 days before getting symptoms and up to 7 days after becoming ill. This means that you can spread the influenza virus before you even know you are infected.


Source

Signs and symptoms

Seasonal influenza is characterized by a sudden onset of fever, cough, headache, muscle and joint pain, severe malaise, sore throat and a runny nose. The cough can be severe and can last 2 or more weeks. Most people recover from fever and other symptoms within a week without requiring medical attention. But influenza can cause severe illness or death especially in people at high risk.
Illnesses range from mild to severe and even death in some cases. Hospitalization and death occur mainly among high risk groups. Worldwide, these annual epidemics are estimated to result in about 3 to 5 million cases of severe illness, and about 290 000 to 650 000 deaths. The effects of seasonal influenza epidemics in developing countries are not fully known, but research estimates that 99% of deaths in children under 5 years of age with influenza related lower respiratory tract infections are found in developing countries.

Causes

There are many different strains of the flu virus, and they mutate often. This is why people continue to come down with the flu year after year. The flu is a very contagious illness that spreads easily. Coughs and sneezes are strong enough to transmit droplets from the mouth and nose. You can also get the flu through personal contact, saliva, and by touching contaminated surfaces such as doorknobs or faucets. When someone else breathes in those respiratory droplets or touches any contaminated object and then touches their nose, mouth, or eyes, the virus spreads. A person is contagious with the flu from one day before symptoms appear to up to five days after becoming sick.

Positive Reinforcement vs Negative Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement involves the addition of a reinforcing stimulus following a behavior that makes it more likely that the behavior will occur again in the future. When a favorable outcome, event, or reward occurs after an action, that particular response or behavior will be strengthened. One of the easiest ways to remember positive reinforcement is to think of it as something being added afterwards. By thinking of it in these terms, you may find it easier to identify real-world examples of positive reinforcement. Sometimes positive reinforcement occurs quite naturally.


Source

What’s the “Positive” in Positive Reinforcement?

The term “positive” is used in conjunction with reinforcement to denote a specific form of reinforcement. It does not mean something “good” but instead the term positive relates more to the mathematical term of “adding”. This is because positive reinforcement is the addition of something as a result of a behavior. Before you engaged in the behavior, what you wanted was not present but after you engaged in the behavior what you wanted is present.

Different Types of Positive Reinforces

There are many different types of reinforces that can be used to increase behaviors, but it is important to note that the type of reinforce used depends on upon the individual and the situation. While gold stars and tokens might be very effective reinforcement for a second-grader, they are not going to have the same effect on a high school or college student.

Natural reinforcers are those that occur directly as a result of the behavior. For example, a girl studies hard, she pays attention in class, and she does her homework. As a result, she gets excellent grades.

When Is Positive Reinforcement Most Effective?

When used correctly, positive reinforcement can be very effective. According to a behavioral guidelines checklist published by Utah State University, positive reinforcement is most effective when it occurs immediately after the behavior. The guidelines also recommend the reinforcement should be presented enthusiastically and should occur frequently. The shorter the amount of time between a behavior and presenting positive reinforcement, the stronger the connection will be. If a long period elapses between the behavior and the reinforcement, the weaker the connection will be. These schedules of reinforcement can have a powerful influence on how strongly a response is and how often it occurs.

Causes of Black Stool

Black stool isn't always due to a big problem. There are many reasons stool could appear black, and iron supplements or even coffee could be to blame. This is especially true for people who have had ostomy surgery or a colectomy, because food is not being digested as fully as it is in people who have not had any abdominal surgery. However, if you have had gastrointestinal bleeding in the past, there is a foul smell, or the problem goes on for longer than a few days, that's a good enough reason to see your doctor.


Source

Causes

Black, Tarry Stools

Bleeding in the upper portion of your digestive system can cause black, tarry stools. Ulcers or another form of irritation in your esophagus or stomach known as gastritis can often cause bleeding. When the blood mixes with digestive fluids, it takes on the appearance of tar. Certain medications can also lead to black-colored stools. Iron supplements and bismuth-based medications, for example, can darken your stools. Sometimes, serious blood and circulation abnormalities in your digestive system can cause black, tarry stools. These can include the following:

• Bowel ischemia is a reduction of blood flow to the intestines.
• Vascular malformation is misshapen veins.
• Varices are large, protruding veins in the intestines.

Dietary Causes

The foods you eat can cause your stools to appear bloody, black or tarry. Eating red or black foods can give your feces a dark color without the existence of blood. The following can discolor your bowel movements:

• black licorice
• blueberries
• dark chocolate cookies
• beets
• red fruit punch

Symptoms

Black stools are a worrisome symptom because it may be due to a large amount of bleeding into the GI tract, most often from the upper GI tract including the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. Red blood cells are broken down by digestive enzymes in the intestine and turn the stool black. These stools tend to be tarry (sticky), and very bad smelling. This can be a medical emergency and black tarry stools should not be ignored. Blood from nosebleeds or from dental procedures or mouth injuries can be swallowed and may be the cause of black stool.