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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10 healthy habits to improve your health

Your health is the single greatest asset that you can ever possess. It can determine how successful you will be in business and whether you will live to achieve your lifetime resolutions or not. You should, therefore, never gamble with your health by failing to take due caution to lead a healthy lifestyle. As part of the good health practices that you should endeavor to keep in your life, being disciplined forms the foundation for ensuring that you safeguard your health. Here are 10 healthy habits that can help improve your health. 1. Observe your diet: Your dietary habits have a direct effect on your health. Whatever you consume or fail to consume consequently affects your ability to lead a healthy lifestyle. When thinking about diet and its effect on your health, emphasis should be put on particular issues such as the kind of food you eat, eating habits or schedule, and the portions you consume. As part of the initiative to lead a healthy lifestyle and improve on your health, you should endeavor to consume a balanced diet in fair and well-distributed portions during breakfast, lunch, and supper. Your daily servings should comprise portions of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vegetables, minerals, and water or fluids. 2. Exercise well: Physical exercise forms the backbone of maintaining a perfect body physique. Well-structured physical exercises impart your body with numerous health benefits including helping keep your muscles active. Aerobic exercises can also help with cardiac health through the maintenance of a good distribution of blood across every organ including the skin. Well-focused physical exercises can also help in maintaining a perfect balance of certain physical attributes such as body weight and overall body shape. When thinking about exercises as part of your routine, you should endeavor to maintain a perfect balance between the different kinds of body exercises you have, including aerobic exercises and body-trimming exercises. 3. Slotting time for health check-ups: Irrespective of whether you feel sick or not, health checkups are crucial when it comes to improving your health. Finding time to either visit a health facility for a health checkup or even utilize the Home Doctor Service for convenience when securing appointments with your nutritionist or doctor allows you to evaluate the progress you have gained so far in your bid to lead a healthy life. 4. Get sufficient sleep: Your sleeping patterns do directly or indirectly influence how healthy you will be. Without sufficient sleep on a daily basis, you will stand to lose out on your productivity while detrimentally affecting your physical health. As a recommendation, your body needs not less than eight hours of uninterrupted sleep to maintain the right physiological condition for body growth. Lack of sufficient sleep compromises your immune system, thereby leading to vulnerabilities to disease conditions. 5. Meditate often: Meditation is often disregarded when it comes to the observation of healthy lifestyles. However, research has shown that sufficient meditation on a daily basis does have physiological and mental benefits. Meditating sufficiently gives your body an opportunity to deeply relax, something crucial for your immune system. The practice is also crucial in helping control stress, anxiety, and other forms of emotional suffering that can take a toll on your health. Besides, meditating sufficiently helps in building mental awareness while improving your ability to control addictions. 6. Taking water, lots of water: Staying hydrated is a crucial factor in maintaining your body's health. The human body is 60% water while all other crucial organs in the body such as the brain, lungs, kidneys, bones, and muscles are comprised of between 60 and 85% water. The only way to stay sufficiently hydrated is to take not less than 2 liters of water on a daily basis. To help nature this habit well, you should endeavor to drink water even when you do not feel thirsty. 7. Socialize effectively: Being social, surprisingly, has a huge benefit on your health and can help much when it comes to your health improvement habits. Socializing with your friends helps brighten your moods through laughing and playing. This practice helps improve your mental capacity and general immune health through the production of certain hormones. Such hormones, when circulated in the body, help maintain a perfect physiological condition for a healthy life. Such a social life also helps keep away detrimental health practices such as stress and being frightened. 8. Cook for yourself more often: Sometimes, it pays to give yourself an additional challenge when it comes to your diet. You may, therefore, prefer cooking for yourself rather than eating out. Hotel or restaurant-prepared food does not offer you much of the flexibility that you often desire. Cooking for yourself ensures that you observe the strict dietary habits that you so much need to lead a healthy lifestyle. Also, the experience of cooking in the kitchen gives you a positive mental challenge. It also serves as an opportunity for social development that is crucial for your general body health. 9. Have a proper schedule: Whereas it may sound unbelievable, the kind of schedule you lead on a daily basis can directly influence your ability to live a healthy life. To enhance your health, you should endeavor to ensure that your day is well planned with activities being slotted rightly. Such planning comes in handy in helping keep away unwanted habits while also taking charge of your health. A properly planned schedule is the right platform that ensures that any health-based resolution you set in place is upheld and regarded accordingly. 10. Have a good interaction with nature: Nature has an indirect way of helping keep your body healthy. Interacting with nature more often as part of your routine schedule gives your body an opportunity to experience some benefits. You should, therefore, endeavor to factor in much time to take a break from your office or home enclosures and have a nature walk. Any sightseeing events such as strolling down the forest and beholding trees and birds help your body to relax as much as possible. Read Also: The Top 6 Vitamins And Minerals All Women Over 40 Should Take How To Live Healthily Even If You Have A Full-Time Job The Health Benefits Of Figure Skating Explained

5 Ways To Get Healthier In The New Year

Every year, millions of Americans swear to themselves they are going to be healthier in the new year. In keeping with this tradition a “New Year's Resolution” is promised and they began to become excited about the new changes about to happen in their lives. Sadly, by February 14th, 80% of these new promises are abandoned and people return to their old habits and old life. If you are someone who has made a New Year’s Resolution this year, then you must first understand that nothing will change unless you are ready to make a change. It doesn’t matter how big the promise you made to yourself is, if you’re not dedicated and consistent, nothing will happen. However, this year is different. For once, you’re not going to be merely a statistic. You are going to advance your promise and build on a new life and a new you. If you are ready to take on the challenge, more than likely, you have committed to becoming healthier in some form or fashion this year. If this is true, you will need a jumpstart on your progress to get your body back on track. Here are five ways you can use to get healthier in the new year and become that person you’ve always wanted to be. 5 Ways To Get Healthier In The New Year: #1- Eat The Right Foods The very first thing you have probably noticed about your New Year’s Resolution in being more healthy is that the foods you used to eat no longer apply to you. When you begin to understand that the majority of your health and how you feel originates from the foods you eat, you begin to realize that there are a lot of options you have been including that shouldn’t be there. First and foremost, you need to do an account of your cupboard and refrigerator. Throw out all of the processed foods, foods with high sugar and high-fat content. Throw out the sodas and minimalize your caffeine intake. Remember, everything you put into your body is going to be converted into something. It will either be converted to fat or metabolized into energy and picking the right fuel for your body is essential. Make sure to include foods that have leafy greens and other vegetables, legumes, nuts, and foods that are high in protein and still lean. Some of the best foods that fit these criteria are fish like salmon. Each of these options is going to help your body get back on track and allow you to get the most out of every meal you eat. One of the biggest failures in a diet plan is that plenty of people know they need to diet, but they fail to plan it out. Don’t forget about planning. This is where you consider all of your meal options for the week. Eventually, time will get away from you at some point during the week and you will be tempted to drive through a fast-food restaurant. Proper planning can help you avoid this catastrophe. Get the right foods by thinking smartly. #2 - Do A Detox Some people have learned that one of the best ways to get your body back on track to being more healthy is by doing a detox regime. If you have eaten processed foods, high fat, plenty of sugar, or anything negative like this, a detox will help your body flush out all of these unwanted materials so you can start fresh. There are many kinds of detox programs that you can try. Take some time to learn about each one so you can be educated enough to pick the one that is correct for your body. Look at the testimonies of every customer to determine which program would be the most beneficial for you. When you’re looking for a detox, try to stay as organic and natural as you can. Don’t consume anything that has chemicals or harsh substances in it because the purpose is to get these unwanted materials out of your body, not put more in. #3 - Try Herbal Health For Once When you begin to realize that organic and natural solutions are the best route to take for brand new health this year you start to understand that plants can provide the most benefit for your body. When you think of health and wellness, you should think of wholeness. If your body looks great but your mental state is suffering, you’re not healthier. Since your mind is part of your body, don’t forget to include this important muscle in your routine. Herbal remedies are the best option for your mind as it responds better to botanical solutions. For instance, pure natural CBD oils are some of the best remedies you can use to provide homeostasis for both your mind and your body. It has been said that CBD oil can help with cognitive function, provide a feeling of balance, helps with pain and inflammation, aids in PTSD and depression, and much more. Your mind is an important aspect of your health and many people disregard this aspect of their wellness. Herbal health is an important aspect of overall wholeness because it includes every aspect of your life - your mind and your body and that’s important. #4 - Get A Healthy Gut Did you know that the gut microbiome plays a very important role in your overall health? That is why you must always consider gut health when you are adopting new routines in your daily diet. The gut is a crucial system of the body because it helps your system break down food and metabolize energy. This is only a small portion of what the gut is responsible for, however, at times people can have problems with their gut which can lead to bigger issues later. Issues like yeast overgrowth are a common problem that occurs. It is imperative to manage issues like yeast overgrowth and maintain harmony within the digestive system. When it comes to gastrointestinal health in the twenty-first century, many people are becoming more educated about how to use preventive measures to keep a healthy gut. They understand the symptoms of GI conditions and can monitor these changes periodically. However, one of the most important parts of this process is to include a functional medicine doctor like a chiropractor into your monthly routine to ensure gut health. Symptoms of poor gut health could be constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, and much more. If you feel like you have one or more of these conditions in your gut, it is important to consult your primary functional medicine practitioner to develop an ongoing process to keep these symptoms at bay. Just because you have some or all of these ailments doesn’t mean your body cannot be healthier in the new year. It just means you need to be more proactive with your body in order to ensure better gut health. When your gut is happy, your entire body functions properly and the way it should. #5 - Drink More Water One of the most commonly known facts about health is how we should all be drinking more water. Make sure you’re getting your eight cups every day. Everyone already knows this, however, it is one of the easiest things to forget about. You can become consumed by exercise and diet and forget some of the simplest things for your health. Essentially, water is needed to carry oxygen throughout the body. It helps with a massive amount of wellness-related items in your body and when you decline your body of this much-needed asset, you suffer the consequences. Make sure you are getting your daily amount of water every day, and make sure this water is filtered goodness, not that town stuff that is full of fluoride. Be Who You Know You Can Be If you are considering a healthier in the new year, then you probably already know how difficult it can be to make these changes happen. The one thing you should focus on is small goals and meeting those goals every week in order to be healthier in the new year. So many people push themselves to lose 100 pounds in the first month, and then they fail so they give up. Aim small, miss small and that is the key to changing your lifestyle so you can be who you know you can be in your life. You must get healthier in the new year with the above tips. Read Also: Why City Living is the Healthiest it’s Ever Been How to Stay Healthy and Fit Despite a Hectic Schedule

Why Going To The Dentist Is A Must

Going to a dentist is rarely a fun way to spend your time. Starting from taking time off work and ending with keeping your mouth open for too long, the visit can be downright unpleasant. How important is going to the dentist anyway? Maybe biannual visits are overrated. Can you get away with visiting that doctor once a year or whenever a tooth bothers you? Unfortunately, skipping a dentist appointment can lead to unfortunate consequences. Let’s find out why. Why Going To The Dentist Is A Must: 1. Saving Your Teeth: The teeth are prone to a significant number of damaging factors throughout our lives. Starting from solid foods and ending with bad habits, such as smoking. Even if we take great care of our teeth, brushing, flossing, and washing them after each meal, tooth decay can start anyway whenever our immune system is weakened by a cold. Catching tooth decay at its early stages is possible only when you visit a dentist. According to the experts from Bajars & Bajars, a dental clinic in San Diego, when you see the black spots on the tooth or feel it aching, most likely it’s too late. You may have to go through an unpleasant procedure of a root canal. If you catch the problem early enough, you may end up getting a simple filling. 2. Enjoying A White Smile: How important is a perfect smile for you? White teeth are a sign of good health. They make you more attractive to others. And we aren’t just talking about romantic encounters. A white smile can help you get your dream job, get assistance from a passerby, get your point though, and much more. No matter how well you brush your teeth, you can’t get all the plaque out. During biannual dentist visits, your doctor removes the plaque, helping your teeth stay clean and white until the next appointment. 3. Checking Your Gums: Your oral health doesn’t stop with your teeth. Gums are prone to many diseases, which can lead to painful and costly manipulations. By checking your gums in a dentist’s chair on a regular basis, you are taking care of your health and getting peace of mind. Your mouth is constantly under attack by food and drinks. Small scratches and cuts can lead to unfortunate problems. A dentist can discover them early when the treatment is still quick and simple. 4. Getting Advice: A dentist can give you proper advice about gum and teeth care. More often than not, simply brushing and flossing your teeth is not enough to maintain excellent oral health. Each mouth needs a special approach, and the care techniques may change with time. By visiting a dentist once every 6 months, you can get the care advice, which is suitable for your mouth at the time. 5. Saving Money: By caring for your mouth timely, you save yourself from paying substantial amounts of money for tooth care. What starts with a minor cavity, which can be easily filled, can turn into a tooth extraction and implant. The longer you can keep your teeth intact, the more money you’ll save. 6. Maintaining Your Digestive Health: The condition of your teeth directly affects your digestive system. If for some reason, you can’t chew properly, you may be faced with numerous problems in the GI tract. Teeth infections caused by decay also influence the rest of your organism. By going to the dentist once every six months, you can prevent problems, which don’t even seem related to teeth. Going to a dentist is a must for anyone, who wants to save time and money while enjoying a great appearance and excellent health. Read Also: 5 Dental Hygiene Tips For A Healthier Smile 6 Ways To Relieve From Tooth Pain And Sensitivity Naturally

An Overview of Schizophrenia

Prevalence of schizophrenia

Risk factors