Sleep problems linger after childhood cancer

Sleep problems and fatigue are common among childhoodcancersurvivors and can dramatically reduce their thinking and reasoning abilities.

Advances in childhood cancer treatment mean about 80 percent of patients today will become long-term survivors. But therapies also leave survivors at risk for a variety of problems. Particularly vulnerable for neurocognitive problems are those who were younger than age 6 when their cancer was found or those whose treatment included high-dose cranial irradiation, steroids or certain chemotherapy agents known as anti-metabolites. These problems can profoundly impact a survivor's life as cognitive problems make it less likely survivors will hold a job, live independently, marry or form other social connections. Designing more effective therapies requires better understanding of that variability.

Researchers in America and Canada did an analysis of questionnaires completed by 1,426 participants in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study, an investigation of long-term outcomes of survivors of eight different childhood cancers who were treated between 1970 and 1986, and 384 healthy siblings. Participants completed several tests proven to reliably measure memory, organization, task efficiency and emotional regulation - all indicators of neurocognitive functioning. The participants also completed questionnaires to measure fatigue, sleep quality, daytime sleepiness and vitality.

More than 20 percent of participants reported cognitive impairment, such as trouble with attention and memory. Those at a two-fold higher risk of memory problems included survivors treated with high-dose cranial irradiation as well as those who scored highest on measures of daytime sleepiness and decreased vitality. Research found survivors with low vitality scores were three times more likely to have problems controlling their emotions. Fatigue and poor sleep quality were also linked to an increased risk of neurocognitive problems. The link was independent of the survivor's age, sex or cancer treatment.

This is the first study to show that childhood cancer survivors are particularly vulnerable to impaired memory, emotional control, organization and related neurocognitive skills due to fatigue and sleep problems. The researchers suggest that survivors might benefit from periodic screenings for fatigue and sleep disturbances and hope this will lead to new strategies for improved neurocognitive functioning in this growing population.

Read more at:http://doctor.ndtv.com/storypage/ndtv/id/5125/type/news/Sleep_problems_linger_after_childhood_cancer.html?cp

All you want to know about Chemotherapy

What is chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy is the use of medications to treat cancer. It has played a major role in cancer treatment for half a century. Years of testing and research have proved chemotherapy to be an effective cancer treatment. It may be the only treatment, or it may be used in combination with other treatments, such as surgery and radiation therapy. Chemotherapy works by killing rapidly dividing cells. These cells include cancer cells, which continuously divide to form more cells, and healthy cells that divide quickly, such as those in the bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract, reproductive system and hair follicles. Healthy cells usually recover shortly after chemotherapy is complete.

What is chemotherapy used for?

The main advantages of chemotherapy are that unlike radiation, which treats only the area of the body exposed to the radiation, chemotherapy treats the entire body. As a result, any cells that may have escaped from the original cancer are treated. Depending on what type of cancer a person has, the doctor may use chemotherapy to: Eliminate all cancer cells in the body, even when cancer is widespread Prolong the life by controlling cancer growth and spread Relieve symptoms and enhance the quality of life In some cases, chemotherapy may be the only treatment. But more often, it is used in conjunction with other treatments, such as surgery, radiation or a bone marrow transplant, to improve results. For example: Neoadjuvant therapy:The goal of neoadjuvant therapy is to reduce the size of a tumour before surgery or radiation therapy. Adjuvant therapy:This is given after surgery or radiation. The goal of adjuvant therapy is to eliminate any cancer cells that might linger in the body after earlier treatments.

What are the types of chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy may not be limited to a single drug. Most chemotherapy is given as a combination of drugs that work together to kill cancer cells. Combining drugs that have different actions at the cellular level may help destroy a greater number of cancer cells and might reduce the risk of cancer developing resistance to one particular drug. The doctor will recommend drug combinations that have been tested in people with similar conditions and have been shown to have some effect against the particular type of cancer.

What chemical the doctor recommends is generally based on the type, stage and grade of the cancer, as well as the person's age, general health and willingness to tolerate certain temporary side effects.

Some types of chemotherapy medications commonly used to treat cancer include:

1. Alkylating agents: These medications interfere with the growth of cancer cells by blocking the replication of DNA. Example: Mechlorethamine
2. Antimetabolites:These drugs block the enzymes needed by cancer cells to live and grow. Example: Methotrexate.
3. Anti-tumour antibiotics:These antibiotics are different from those used to treat bacterial infections and interfere with DNA, blocking certain enzymes and cell division and changing cell membranes. Example: Doxorubicin
4. Mitotic inhibitors: These drugs inhibit cell division or hinder certain enzymes necessary in the cell reproduction process. Example: Etoposide and Vinorelbine
5. Nitrosoureas:These medications impede enzymes that repair DNA. Example: Cisplatin and Cisplatinum.

How is chemotherapy given?

One usually receives chemotherapy in cycles, depending on the condition and the type of drugs used. Cycles may include taking the drugs daily, weekly or monthly for a few months or several months, with a recovery period after each treatment. Recovery period allows the body to rest and produce new, healthy cells. Chemotherapy drugs can be taken in a number of forms. The treating doctor determines what form(s) to use primarily based on what type of cancer a person has and what drug(s) will best treat the cancer. Chemotherapy is given through the following methods: Intravenous (IV):Chemotherapy is injected into a vein, using a needle inserted through the skin. This allows rapid distribution of the chemotherapy throughout the body.  Oral: The patient swallows this kind of chemotherapy as a pill.  Topical: This type of drug is applied to the skin to treat localised skin cancers.  Injection: The doctor injects the drug directly into the muscle using a needle on the skin or into a cancerous area on the skin. Chemotherapy medications, regardless of how they're given, generally travel in the bloodstream and throughout the body. The intravenous route is the most common, allowing chemotherapy drugs to spread quickly through the system. In cases where the doctor wants to direct chemotherapy to a more confined area, for example, to ensure a tumour is exposed to more of the drug, he may insert a catheter directly into that area or into a blood vessel supplying the tumour.

What are the various side effects of chemotherapy?

Since chemotherapy drugs can affect healthy cells, one of their disadvantages is that the person may experience side effects, some temporary and some long term. Not every drug will cause every side effect. The treating doctor can tell what to expect from the drugs.

Temporary side effects might include:

• Hair loss
• Dry mouth
• Mouth sores (stomatitis)
• Difficult or painful swallowing (oesophagitis)
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Constipation
• Fatigue
• Bleeding
• Susceptibility to infection
• Infertility
• Loss of appetite
• Changes in the way food tastes
• Cognitive impairment, sometimes referred to as chemo brain
• Liver damage

How long these temporary side effects last, depends on what drug(s) are being taken and for how long. Most side effects subside shortly after the chemotherapy treatment is stopped. Most short-term side effects can be minimised with medication. For example, the doctor can give medications to help relieve nausea or build up the blood counts. One must always tell the doctor if one is uncomfortable with a side effect. If the side effects are more than one is willing to endure, one can change treatments.

As people with cancer are living longer after treatment, doctors have discovered that some treatments cause long-lasting side effects or side effects that become apparent long after treatment ends. These long-term side effects are rare. Before one begins treatment, one must discuss with the doctor about the long-term effects. Some chemotherapy drugs can cause:

• Organ damage, including problems with heart, lungs and kidneys
• Nerve damage
• Blood in urine (haemorrhagic cystitis)
• Another cancer, including Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, leukaemia and some tumours
• Infertility

The doctor can explain about the signs and symptoms to watch for after the treatment. Knowing what long-term side effects to watch for can help one stay healthy after treatment.

While beginning chemotherapy can be frightening, one must know that new medications are helping reduce unpleasant side effects. But chemotherapy will always cause some significant side effects. One must keep in mind that many people with cancer are living longer than ever - thanks partly to chemotherapy.

Read more at:http://doctor.ndtv.com/topicdetails/ndtv/tid/109/Cancer_Chemotherapy.html?cp

Hormone therapy boosts prostrate cancer survival

Just six months of hormone therapy, along with radiation, cuts the risk of dying from locally advanced prostate cancer in half when compared to radiation alone.

Just as important, a short course of hormone therapy has few of the side effects seen with longer treatment regimens of two to three years. Hormone therapy in men, also known as androgen-deprivation therapy, lowers levels of the male hormones that encourage prostate cancer to grow.

A halving of the risk of dying from these more advanced prostate cancers clearly has very major significance for men affected. Early diagnosis of prostate cancer remains the goal, but at least men presenting with more advanced tumours can now be offered treatment proven to have a much better chance of cure.

As part of the Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group trial, researchers in New Zealand randomly assigned 802 men with locally advanced prostate cancer to radiation alone, or three months of hormone therapy plus radiation, or six months of hormone therapy and radiation.

Over an average of 10.6 years of follow-up, men who received six months of hormone therapy and radiation were found to be significantly less likely to die from prostate cancer than men who had radiation alone - 11 percent vs. 22 percent, respectively. They were also much less likely to die from any cause - 29 percent vs. 43 percent, the researchers found. Hormone therapy over three months had no effect on the spread of prostate cancer, or dying from the cancer or any other cause, compared with radiation alone. Compared to a six-month bout of the hormone therapy, androgen-deprivation therapy over an extended period can result in serious side effects, including erectile dysfunction, hot flashes, fatigue, osteoporosis, high cholesterol, anaemia and cardiac death.

The above study with locally advanced prostate cancers has shown that adding just six months of hormone treatment to radiotherapy halves the numbers of deaths from prostate cancer in the next 10 years.

Read more at:http://doctor.ndtv.com/storypage/ndtv/id/5093/type/news/Hormone_therapy_boosts_prostate_cancer_survival.html?cp

Acupuncture helps ease hot flashes in cancer treatment

Acupuncture might help reduce the hot flashes that frequently affect prostate cancer patients while they're on hormone therapy.

Acupuncture, a popular form of alternative medicine, involves inserting ultra-thin needles into the skin.

Hormone therapy designed to reduce levels of testosterone in the body is one of the standard treatments for prostate cancer. However, about half of patients who undergo hormone therapy suffer from hot flashes similar to those that women experience during menopause. It is a nuisance as 60 percent of men on hormonal treatment get hot flashes. Usually it's mild and self-limiting and improves with time. But there are some men who suffer.

Researchers followed 14 American men who were taking hormone treatment for prostate cancer and suffered from hot flashes. They received acupuncture twice a week for 30 minutes over four weeks. Their reported level of hot flashes dropped markedly.

It is not clear whether the acupuncture reduced the hot flashes or a placebo effect played a role. It's also possible that the symptoms went away on their own, which commonly happens to men on hormone therapy. However, clearly these men described getting better, and it happened over a very short period of time. The study also found that acupuncture relieved palpitations and anxiety often associated with hormone therapy for prostate cancer.

Though small and not conclusive, the study shows that physicians and patients have an additional treatment for something that affects many men undergoing prostate cancer treatment and actually has long-term benefits, as opposed to more side effects.

Read more at:http://doctor.ndtv.com/storypage/ndtv/id/5181/type/news/Acupuncture_helps_ease_hot_flashes_in_cancer_treatment.html?cp

What is artificial pancreas?

What isartificial pancreas?

  Artificial Pancreas is an equipment consisting of insulin infusion pump + a glucometer + a computer which calculates the dose of insulin and controls rate of infusion of insulin by the pump. It is still in an experimental stages in the world. It is yet not available any where.

New technology for bone cancer patients

New technology for bone cancer patients

Earlier when one was diagnosed with bone cancer, it lead to the amputation of the limb. But now, an implant is used  known as, Limb Preservation System (LPS), combined with a few cycles of chemotherapy. LPS is a new type of prosthetic & increasingly ised in bone surgeries related to limbs. Doctors are affirmative that this new technology can change the lives of 1000s suffering from bone cancer.

Ostegenic sarcoma is one of the most common bone cancers in children & teenagers. The only cure until now was limb amputation. LOPS is proving to be extremely useful as far as preserving the limb is concerned if the patient is young. Due the made-to-order nature of LPS, the correctness of size is ensured which in turn saves the patient from limping. The patient doesn’t have to wear any external prosthesis or mobility aids such as a crutch. The new prosthetics are made up of Titanium, & Cobalt Chrome. The material is lighter than the available cement implant & is ideal for youngsters. A person with an LPS implant can lead a healthy life style & can even indulge in sports.

The new device plays a vital role in saving the loss of excess bone during a bone replacement surgery. Thus, patients of bone cancer can get rid of the cancer cells without having to sacrifice unnecessary portions of the bone.

Everything about pneumonia

If you've been diagnosed with pneumonia, it means you've got an infection in your lungs that prevents them from working properly. Pneumonia is a serious illness, and you'll feel very sick. You'll have a fever and a cough. You may also feel like you can't catch your breath.

You're more likely to get pneumonia if you're older than 65 or if you smoke or drink a lot. You're also more likely to get it if you've already got another serious illness that has weakened your body and its natural defenses against infection (your immune system). Children under 2 are also at an increased risk of getting pneumonia.

Pneumonia can be dangerous for older & or already ill people. If you think you have pneumonia,  call your doctor right away. If you get treatment quickly, and if you rest and follow your doctor's advice, you are likely to make a full recovery. If you are older or have another health condition, you may not recover as quickly as someone who is younger or healthier.

Key points for people with pneumonia

• Pneumonia is serious and can sometimes kill. If you think you have it, see your doctor right away.
• Most people with pneumonia can be treated at home. You need to go to the hospital only if you are very sick.
• Antibiotic drugs are the main treatment for pneumonia. The sooner you take them, the better your chance of making a good recovery.
• It's important to be sure that you recover completely. Go to your doctor if any symptoms- fever/ cough, persist.
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• There are vaccines that may protect you against pneumonia. Your doctor will probably recommend getting these if you are at a high risk of getting pneumonia because you are older or in poor health. There is also a special vaccine for children. It should be given to all babies between 2 months old and 23 months old.

What happens when you get pneumonia?

You get pneumonia when harmful germs get past your lungs' defense systems and start to multiply. This causes an infection. The infection causes your lung tissue to get inflamed and produce too much fluid. This clogs your lungs, so they have a hard time working.

Often, the germs are already in your nose and throat. Sometimes they are in tiny drops in the air (for example, after someone sneezes), and you breathe them in. You can get an infection in just one of your lungs or in both of them.

An x-ray showing normal lungs.

An x-ray showing pneumonia.

If an infection gets into your lungs, your lungs become inflamed. This is one of the ways that your body tries to fight an infection. What happens is that special chemicals are released by your body's cells. And this makes more blood flow to the infected area. Along with the blood, infection-fighting parts of the immune system also travel through your body to the site of the infection.

Even though inflammation is one of the ways that your body responds to an infection or an injury, it can cause other problems in your body. In the case of pneumonia, it irritates your airways and makes your lungs heavy and stiff because of the extra blood. This is why you have trouble catching your breath. Also, fluid made by the inflamed tissue builds up in the tiny air sacs at the end of your airways. And this makes it difficult for oxygen to come into your body and for carbon dioxide to leave.

Meanwhile, your immune system responds to the infection that has gotten into your lungs. For example, cells in your blood (called white blood cells) are an important part of your body's defense system. If you have an infection, the white blood cells travel to that area, where they surround the invading germs and destroy them.

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All you want to know about psoriasis

Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes scaly red patches on your skin. There's no cure for psoriasis, but there are treatments that can help.

Psoriasis causes scaly red patches on your skin.

Our skin is made up of several layers of cells. The top layer is called the epidermis. All the time, new skin cells form inside the epidermis. Then they slowly move to the outside of your skin. When the cells reach the surface of your skin, they fall off. This turnover of skin cells usually happens over three to four weeks.

Those with psoriasis, this  happens much faster. The new skin cells take only three or four days to reach the surface. So the extra cells on your skin’s surface build up and make flaky patches. Sometimes the extra cells cause bad dandruff on your scalp.

the cause of psoriasis is not known as to why it happens to only some people. The genes you get from your parents may play a part. About one-third of people with psoriasis have a relative with the condition. ¹

About half of people with psoriasis have markers on a particular chromosome, where seem to be associated with psoriasis. It isn't necessary that genes may start psoriasis, it may happen when the immune system over-reacts to something or goes hay wire. Some medicines, like lithium salts, beta blockers can also start this condition.

This over-reaction by the immune system seems to cause the inflammation and the quick turnover of skin cells that cause psoriasis symptoms. Hence treatments for psoriasis include drugs that affect the immune system as well as steroid creams that dampen down inflammation.

Some people with psoriasis find that their symptoms come and go. Others have flare-ups, when their symptoms get worse. There’s some evidence that flare-ups of psoriasis may be linked to: 

• Something stressful happening in your life
• Your habits, such as cigarette smoking
• Being overweight
• Not eating enough fruits and vegetables.

You can get different types of psoriasis.  

It's important to know that psoriasis is:

• Not infectious. This means you can't catch psoriasis and you can't pass it on to anyone else
• Not caused by poor skin hygiene
• Not a form of skin cancer.

5 fruits to keep you cool during summer, black plum, litchi, mango, musk melon,

The fruit is useful in spleen enlargement. The seed of the fruit is well-known diabetes. It reduces the quantity of sugar in the urine and quenches the maddening thirst. The fruit is also a good source of antioxidants.

The luscious litchi/lychee or Chinese Hazelnut is a very delicious fruit.  This sub-tropical fruit has very good cooling, demulcent and aphrodisiac properties. It is also a good thirst-quencher.

It's not for nothing that Mango is called the 'King of Fruits' in India. The vastly delicious fruit is a storehouse of vitamins A and C. The ripe mango tones the heart, improves complexion, stimulates hunger, improves vision and is greatly helpful in liver disorders, loss of weight and physical abnormalities. The popular mango powder (amchur) made from green/unripe mango is very beneficial in scurvy and pyorrhea.

Muskmelon is a popular tropical fruit which is readily available during the summers. The fruit contains Vitamin A, B, C and minerals like magnesium, sodium and potassium. It has zero cholesterol and is safe for blood cholesterol patients. When consumed with jaggery, it helps in the curing of skin diseases. It greatly reduces the body heat when consumed regularly.

The succulent, scarlet-red watermelon is a delicious and health-building fruit. It contains large quantities of easily assimilable sugar. Being an alkaline fruit, it can be easily enjoyed by persons with acidosis. Its juice quench the thirst like anything. Rich in vitamin A,B, and C, products based on its juice can serve as wonderful cooling drinks. The fruit is also beneficial for combating hypertension.

Finger length linked to men’s risk of knee injury

Finger length linked to men’s risk of knee injury

“Manly” hands might signal an increased risk of suffering a knee injury. A study of over 1,000 middle-aged and older adults, found a higher risk of knee injuries among men with a bigger discrepancy in the lengths of their index and ring fingers. The cartilage that cushions the joints is sensitive to testosterone, so it’s possible that greater exposure to the hormone makes the tissue more vulnerable to damage. Since the finger pattern has also been tied to aggression, it's possible that men with the pattern are more likely to be in situations where they can be hurt, according to the study.

ps- for recipes view my blog

http://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/

Don't have unnecessary heart scans

When symptom-free people have heart scans to look for clogged arteries, they can end up with overtreatment and side-effects, researchers said. In a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, they found people who had the scans were much more likely to be put on medications and undergo surgery than those who chose standard health screening. The scans, called coronary computed tomography angiography or CCTA, produce a detailed image of the heart that reveals cholesterol buildups in the coronary arteries. If they get big enough, such buildups may cut the blood flow and cause a heart attack. So, in theory, treating them early on might help stave off the increasing heart attacks.

Teens with irregular periods more likely to be obese

Teenagers who have irregular periods are more likely to be overweight and to have early warning signs of diabetes and heart disease than those with regular menstrual cycles. There may be a misconception in adolescent medicine ... that ‘it takes a couple of years after menarche to get the engine running' and hence one might not want to be concerned about irregular adolescent menstrual cycles. Even in young teenagers, irregular menstrual cycles are not normal. 

I can vouch for this, as I always had irregular periods, when I was a teen & the doctors also said, once I grow old , have kids, it will improve, but it never did. I was & am still obese at 58. In case, any of you've teens with this problem, please insist with your gynae, to look into it carefully & get her treated as early as possible, so she doesn't face obesity & other concerned problems later in life.

ps- those interested in vegetarian recipes, are free to view my recipe blog-

http://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/

Preterm birth linked to inhaled steroid use in childhood

Pre-term birth is linked to childhood use of inhaled corticosteroids, which is used for asthma or other breathing problems. Pre-term birth is associated with respiratory morbidity later in life, including asthma.  

Yoga benefits women with breast cancer

For women with breast cancer undergoing radiation therapy, yoga offers unique benefits beyond fighting fatigue, according to new research.

While simple stretching exercises improved fatigue, patients who practiced yogic breathing, postures, meditation and relaxation techniques as part of their treatment plan experienced improved physical functioning, better general health and lower stress hormone levels.

They also were better able to find meaning in their cancer experience.  The combination of mind and body practices that are part of yoga clearly have tremendous potential to help patients manage the psychosocial and physical distress associated with treatment and life after cancer, beyond the benefits of simple stretching.

 Women who practiced yoga also had the steepest decline in their cortisol ( stress hormone) across the day, indicating that yoga had the ability to regulate this stress hormone. Cancer is a fight within the cells of the body and the yogic method reduces the restlessness that results from it .

Benefits of papaya

The fruit contains an enzyme that mimics the body’s own digestive enzymes. That’s why it’s been used for centuries as a stomach-soother.  Papaya is very tasty raw, but for a sweet treat,  combine it with a cup of ice and plain yogurt for a delicious, daily slimming smoothie. Bonus: Papaya is a rich source of vitamins C and A, two powerful antioxidants linked to increased immunity and disease prevention.

Schizophrenia- all you want to know about it

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that makes it difficult to tell the difference between real and unreal experiences, to think logically, to have normal emotional responses, and to behave normally in social situations.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Schizophrenia is a complex illness. Even experts in the field are not sure what causes it.

Genetic factors appear to play a role. People who have family members with schizophrenia may be more likely to get the illness themselves.

Some researchers believe that environmental events may trigger schizophrenia in people who are already genetically at risk for the disorder. For example, infection during development in the mother's womb or stressful psychological experiences may increase the risk for developing schizophrenia later in life. Social and family support appears to improve the illness.

Schizophrenia affects about 1% of people worldwide. It occurs equally among men and women, but in women it tends to begin later and be milder. For this reason, males tend to account for more than half of patients in services with high numbers of young adults. Although schizophrenia usually begins in young adulthood, there are cases in which the disorder begins later (over age 45).

Childhood-onset schizophrenia begins after age 5 and, in most cases, after normal development. Childhood schizophrenia is rare and can be difficult to tell apart from other developmental disorders of childhood, such as autism.

Symptoms

Schizophrenia may have a variety of symptoms. Usually the illness develops slowly over months or years. Like other chronic illnesses, schizophrenia cycles between periods of fewer symptoms and periods of more symptoms.

At first, you may feel tense, or have trouble sleeping or concentrating. You can become isolated and withdrawn, and have trouble making or keeping friends.

As the illness continues, psychotic symptoms develop:

• Appearance or mood that shows no emotion (flat affect)
• Bizarre movements that show less of a reaction to the environment (catatonic behavior)
• False beliefs or thoughts that are not based in reality (delusions)
• Hearing, seeing, or feeling things that are not there (hallucinations)

Problems with thinking often occur:

• Problems paying attention
• Thoughts "jump" between unrelated topics (disordered thinking)

Symptoms can be different depending on the type of schizophrenia:

• Paranoid types often feel anxious, are more often angry or argumentative, and falsely believe that others are trying to harm them or their loved ones.
• Disorganized types have problems thinking and expressing their ideas clearly, often exhibit childlike behavior, and frequently show little emotion.
• Catatonic types may be in a constant state of unrest, or they may not move or be underactive. Their muscles and posture may be rigid. They may grimace or have other odd facial expressions, and they may be less responsive to others.
  • Undifferentiated types may have symptoms of more than one other type of schizophrenia.
  • Residual types experience some symptoms, but not as many as those who are in a full-blown episode of schizophrenia.

  People with any type of schizophrenia may have difficulty keeping friends and working. They may also have problems with anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts or behaviors.

  Signs and tests

  A psychiatrist should perform an evaluation to make the diagnosis. The diagnosis is made based on a thorough interview of the person and family members.

  No medical tests for schizophrenia exist. The following factors may suggest a schizophrenia diagnosis, but do not confirm it:

  • Course of illness and how long symptoms have lasted
  • Changes from level of function before illness
  • Developmental background
  • Genetic and family history
  • Response to medication

  CT scans of the head and other imaging techniques may find some changes that occur with schizophrenia and may rule out other disorders.

  Treatment

  During an episode of schizophrenia, you may need to stay in the hospital for safety reasons, and to receive basic needs such as food, rest, and hygiene.

  MEDICATIONS

  Antipsychotic medications are the most effective treatment for schizophrenia. They change the balance of chemicals in the brain and can help control the symptoms of the illness.

  These medications are helpful, but they can have side effects. However, many of these side effects can be addressed, and should not prevent people from seeking treatment for this serious condition.

  Common side effects from antipsychotics may include:

  • Sleepiness (sedation) or dizziness
  • Weight gain and increased chance of diabetes and high cholesterol

  Less common side effects include:

  • Feelings of restlessness or "jitters"
  • Problems of movement and gait
  • Muscle contractions or spasms
  • Tremor

  Long-term risks of antipsychotic medications include a movement disorder called tardive dyskinesia. In this condition, people develop movements that they cannot control, especially around the mouth. Anyone who believes they are having this problem should check with their doctor right away.

  For people who try and do not improve with several antipsychotics, the medication clozapine can be helpful.Clozapine is the most effective medication for reducing schizophrenia symptoms, but it also tends to cause more side effects than other antipsychotics.

  Because schizophrenia is a chronic illness, most people with this condition need to stay on antipsychotic medication for life.

  SUPPORT PROGRAMS AND THERAPIES

  Behavioral techniques, such as social skills training, can be used during therapy or at home to improve function socially and at work.

  Family treatments that combine support and education about schizophrenia (psychoeducation) appear to help families cope and reduce the odds of symptoms returning. Programs that emphasize outreach and community support services can help people who lack family and social support.

  Important skills for a person with schizophrenia include:

  • Learning to take medications correctly and how to manage side effects
  • Learning to watch for early signs of a relapse and knowing how to react when they occur
  • Coping with symptoms that are present even while taking medications. A therapist can help persons with schizophrenia test the reality of thoughts and perceptions.
  • Learning life skills, such as job training, money management, use of public transportation, relationship 
    • building, and practical communication
    Family members and caregivers are often encouraged to help people with schizophrenia stick to their treatment.
    What families can do?
  • Educate and inform yourselves more about the disorder
  • Join/form support networks and groups
  • Engage in advocacy; disability benefits, health insurance coverage
  • Fight stigma; break down barriers of ignorance, prejudice ad discrimination
  • Protest wrong portrayal by media
  • Identify subsequent caregivers in the family/network
  • Make financial/ physical arrangements for patient's continued care
  • Look after your own physical and mental health.
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  • What should be done
  • Lack of continuity of treatment can break the trend of improvement. then despite the best of care, such persons improve only to a certain extent. the importance of early detection, regular treatment, good family support, meaningful activity or vocation & empowerment & encouragement of the patient are very important. Only then there will be better results for a greater percentage of people living with schizophrenia.
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