An Overview of Schizophrenia

Published on: 14 March 2016 Last Updated on: 12 July 2021

Schizophrenia remains one of the most misunderstood mental health disorders in the U.S. Many people assume that schizophrenia refers to a complete inability to accept life. However, schizophrenia actually describes a severe, chronic brain disorder characterized by abnormal thought processes and rationale. Many of the symptoms of schizophrenia are similar to other mental health conditions, which makes accurate diagnoses difficult for mental rehabilitation experts.

Prevalence of schizophrenia

Schizophrenia affects between 0.5 percent and 1 percent of individuals around the globe. The first episode tends to occur at age 21 for men and age 27 for women, explains the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). About 33 percent of those with schizophrenia attempt suicide and 10 percent will succeed. In a Canadian study, schizophrenia diagnoses resulted in a total cost of $6.85 billion for the U.S. and Canada.

Risk factors

Across mental health facilities, mental health professionals have yet to determine an exact cause of schizophrenia. However, a family history of schizophrenia, exposure to toxins while in utero, increased immune system response, older age of a person’s father, and exposure to psychotropic substances during adolescence have been thought to be the primary risk factors for developing schizophrenia (Mayo Clinic).

Signs and symptoms

The signs and symptoms vary from person to person. According to the Mayo Clinic, most signs and symptoms reveal abnormal brain functioning and include the following:

1. Hallucinations :

Hallucinations may involve any of the five senses; however, hearing voices is the most common hallucination

2. Delusions:

Delusions are similar to hallucinations. Delusions occur when a person has a false belief about a given event or situation. For example, a person may believe he or she has a role in global politics when it is not true

3. Thought disorders:

Thought disorders are unusual, counter-productive ways of thinking

4. Movement disorders:

Movement disorders are characterized by repetitive, involuntary movements, which are most commonly noticed in the face. Alternatively, someone with schizophrenia may become catatonic, which means he or she does not move at all

5. Disruptive emotions and behaviors:

Emotional states in schizophrenic individuals may mirror the ups and downs of other mental health disorders, such as bipolar disorder.

6. Poor cognitive functioning:

Someone with schizophrenia may be incapable of understanding information and making decisions on the basis of the information. Furthermore, working memory and difficulty concentrating are common aspects of poor cognitive functioning

Treatment Options

Depending on the severity of the episode, treatment for schizophrenia may occur in inpatient mental health facilities. However, outpatient treatment is a vital aspect of treatment after discharge.

1. Antipsychotic medications:

Antipsychotic and atypical antipsychotic medications focus on eradicating the symptoms of schizophrenia. Some of these medications may cause serious side effects

2. Psychosocial treatment:

Psychosocial treatment involves teaching a person to readapt to life through physical, speech, and occupational therapy

3. Integrated Treatment :

If a person with schizophrenia has a co-occurring mental health disorder, the treatment must include address all other disorders

Although schizophrenia can present some of the most difficult symptoms in mental health therapies, the disorder can be effectively managed. However, understanding the symptoms and treatment options of schizophrenia plays a significant role in preventing the disorder from developing further.

Abdul Aziz Mondol

Abdul Aziz Mondol is a professional blogger who is having a colossal interest in writing blogs and other jones of calligraphies. In terms of his professional commitments, he loves to share content related to business, finance, technology, and the gaming niche.

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8 Fitness Hacks That Will Make Your Life Better

Are you unsatisfied or bored of your everyday fitness routine? Worry no more as the following tips can help in keeping you focused, motivated and healthy. Eat More Meals Eating more meals and eating more food are entirely different things. Ensure that you break your meals into portions of reduced quantity and eat at regular intervals. In an ideal routine, you should consume a meal every 3 hours. This way, your blood sugar levels, and appetite can be kept in check. Moreover, you will not feel like binging on junk foods and snacks. Read also: Meals That Matter: The Best Foods And The Ways They Make You Fit Begin The Day With Lemon Water We all want to start our day healthy. But, how do you ensure that? Pick up the habit of drinking a glass of water with some lemon drops in the morning. This can help in boosting your immune system and will keep your digestive system healthy. Also, lemon water is well known for its detoxifying and antifungal properties. It will do a perfect job in cleansing your system and will ensure that you are active and focused all day. The “New Exercise” Rule When I hit the gym, I often see people doing the same workouts day after day. Many of us fail to realize that our body has a great ability to adapt and exercises are no exception. When you do the same workouts over and over, it can adversely affect the effectiveness of your workouts. Also, doing the same exercises over and over again can contribute to injuries. Ensure that you devote some time during the weekends to look for more efficient and new workouts on the internet. Not only will it be a learning curve, but it can also take your overall fitness to the next level. Also, if your decline bench press muscles worked today, ensure that you work a different muscle group the next day. Utilize The Internet What makes you hate the most about the gym? The majority will point out to the fact that gym and health clubs membership are costly and often unaffordable. So, how do you curb these costs and still manage to get fit? By exercising at your comfort inside the home. You can consider setting up a home gym and also make use of internet resources like youtube. As a result, your trainer will be at your service 7 days a week and 24 hours a day. Google for fitness tutorials and quit thinking about coughing up money for a fitness coach. Also, make use of subreddits such as r/fitness on Reddit. Get Out Of The Gym What is the most essential factor for growth? It is 'change.' If you keep on doing the same thing every day, then you might end up losing motivation, focus, and interest. Exercising daily at the gym is great. But, limiting yourself to the four walls of the gym can hurt your interest to exercise. Read also: What Are Popular Mind And Body Exercises Available At A Gym? It might be hard to get the benefits of incline bench press outside the gym, but the scenery, the sunshine, and the fresh air can more than compensate for the same. If you are not interested in taking a solo trip or hike, ask your buddies to tag along. Change Your Commute This is a very effective hack. How do you go to your school, college or office on a daily basis? Well, it is time to rethink it again, Choose to walk or bike for a portion of the whole of your commute. This way you will stay more active. Burn more calories and stay off public transport. If you are a person who chooses to use your car to work, then switching to a bike can help you reduce your carbon footprint as well. Exercise To Fast Music Studies point out to the fact that listening to songs which are fast-paced can make people exercise longer and harder. So, ensure that your phone is loaded up with songs which are heart thumping and fast-paced. This can increase the effectiveness of your workouts Get A Workout Buddy Are you a person who procrastinates anything and everything? Then, you should follow this hack no matter what. Working out with a friend will make you less likely to skip the gym and more likely to finish a workout. Ask a buddy with identical fitness levels to hit the gym with you and be wonderstruck at how far you can push yourself. The tips listed above are sure to help in keeping you fit and healthy. Ensure that you reward yourself for achieving fitness goals. This can help a lot in increasing motivation. Read also: Get Up And Workout! Things To Consider 5 Rowing Machine Workout Tips Every Fitness Person Should Know

Niclosamide – An All-In-One Medication

Most of the medications available in your cabinet offer multiple benefits and there is every possibility that you have a few of them. Even though these medications are designed specifically for one ailment, they can also be used for other medical issues. A typical example of this type of medication is Niclosamide. Before it was discovered to be effective in fighting Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, and bacterial and viral infections, it was primarily an anthelmintic medication. Some research also indicated that niclosamide can also help fight against numerous cancers. Niclosamide and the benefit it offers have been described below. What Is Niclosamide? Niclosamide is an antiparasitic medication that is used to fight parasites in many individuals globally. Antiparasitic medications like niclosamide can be used to expel worm infections from broad tapeworm, fish tapeworm, dwarf tapeworm, and beef tapeworm. However, it is powerless against other worm infections like pinworms and roundworms. Worms are parasitic in nature. They stick to the wall of tee intestines, grow and produce eggs. Even though they can be less severe, they can cause severe health complications particularly when they become more invasive which has been a serious health issue worldwide. In the world today, infections from soil-transmitted helminths (STH) have affected more than two billion individuals. Although this infection can be easily prevented, many individuals still end up enduring severe discomfort, pain and suffering from its infection. This is the primary use of an anthelmintic medication. The growth of niclosam for about five years now has been quite significant as a result of its antitumor properties and has since been approved by the FDA. Apart from its primary use, it is potent against other viral or bacterial infections, Parkinson’s disease, and diabetes. Studies also indicated that the medication is more effective than mebendazole and flubendazole which has made it the top choice for handling tapeworm infections. It is also the only option used for mass chemotherapy. The Effectiveness of Niclosamide Niclosamide is a medication that helps to fight infection from tapeworm. Dead tapeworms get expelled from the body whenever one goes to the toilet. While these can be visible to the eyes sometimes, they might not be visible all the time as many of them are killed in the intestine. You can easily cure these infections by consuming the medication on an empty stomach 2 hours before or after every meal. Furthermore, it is recommended by doctors that the medication should be consumed after taking breakfast. The specific procedure used by the medication remains to be completely understood even though it is primarily used as an anthelmintic drug. However, for more than a decade, several studies have discovered the therapeutic ability of the medication in different signaling cascades. Read Also: Does medicine really help in treating Arthritis?Is It Worth Studying Medicine In The Caribbean Islands?Caribbean- The Most Exotic Destination To Study Medicine

Tips for Managing Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence is a condition that is caused by issues with muscle control in the bladder, which can lead to the inability to hold urine, leakage when you cough or sneeze, or a frequent need to urinate. As a result, dealing with urinary incontinence is stressful and can be embarrassing. If you suffer from urinary incontinence, there is hope for management. You may be feeling self-conscious, but this is a common condition that many people, of different ages and demographics, experience. You are not alone, and there are plenty of things you can do to help control urges and build up muscle strength in your pelvis. Here are some basic tips to follow and options to try to manage urinary incontinence. Different Ways You Can Reduce The Urinary Inconsistence Try Out Some At-Home Exercises: Taking on some basic pelvic muscle exercises can help you build up strength to hold your urine flow. These muscles are responsible for your ability to control your bladder and can be strengthened naturally through some simple exercises. Performing daily kegel exercises can help you naturally gain control over your bladder muscles. Essentially, doing a kegel exercise means pretending you are holding back a stream of urine and will help you get better at strengthening your ability to do so when the time actually comes. Certain other exercises can be beneficial, too. A study from the University of California at San Francisco found that certain yoga poses can help with urinary incontinence by targeting the pelvic muscles. Find Products That Work For You: In the past, adult diapers were the most common thing people could buy to help with leaks and accidents. But not everyone enjoys wearing an adult diaper. Fortunately, urinary incontinence is common, and because of that, there are plenty of options that can cater to your own lifestyle and preferences. There are different types of pads and liners you can purchase for your undergarments, including specialized ones for swimming that no one will even notice. You can also choose specially designed underwear that passes as regular underwear and won’t cause any additional self-consciousness. Additionally, there are some more innovative devices to try, including incontinence rings, if you want to take on something a little more advanced. Develop New Behavioral Techniques: Get yourself into a routine that helps you take control of your bladder. For example, limit your caffeine intake, as caffeine is a known factor for increased urination. Alcohol is also a known factor, and reducing the amount you drink can make a substantial difference. Develop a new bathroom schedule as well. Train yourself not to go to the washroom just as a precaution, and work on holding your bladder for a longer duration between washroom visits. If you feel the need to urinate frequently, distracting yourself and focusing on something else can also be helpful. Maintain a Healthy BMI or Body Weight: Obesity, being overweight, and/or a high BMI can lead to a higher risk of developing urinary incontinence or other bladder problems. Therefore, taking measures to eat healthier and exercise more often can help you reach a healthier weight and therefore help with overall bladder function. Losing just 5% of your BMI can be beneficial in managing urinary incontinence, so every little bit helps. Aim to cut out processed foods, sugars, and make sure half of each meal contains a good serving of fruit and vegetables. Start with adding a little bit of exercise to your daily routine, even if it’s just a brisk walk a few days a week. The differences will be noticeable. Read Also: What Doctor Says About Snoring 3 Health Advantages Of Good Night’s Sleep

An Overview of Schizophrenia

Prevalence of schizophrenia

Risk factors