Schizophrenia is the most disturbing of all chronic mental disorders. To compound matters, it has no cure either. However, if detected earlier on and treated properly, one can live an active, productive life and can also be fairly well adjusted to social needs. Properly treated means not only medication but a therapy which is lifelong. Complete therapy is a package of medication, counselling, rehabilitation and long-term strong family support. Early detection improves prognosis significantly. Causes of schizophrenia The exact causes of the ailment are not known. The current thinking is that a combination of factors like heredity, defects in fetal development, brain chemistry like the imbalance of neurotransmitters, dopamine serotonin, and glutamate are the causes. This imbalance causes them to react differently to sensory stimuli like loud music, bright light etc. This problem in processing the sensory stimuli can lead to hallucinations or delusions. Another reason attributed to the cause is exposure to severe infection, especially viral. In some cases, if women in gestation have been exposed to viral infection, the child is found to have a higher risk of developing schizophrenia later in life. Similarly, those who are had severe infections are also found to run a higher risk.

A diagnosis of schizophrenia shatters the family as it is a chronic mental condition of great disturbing features, has no cure and has periodic flare ups. The family is subjected to never-ending anxiety, long drawn disturbances, and has to make permanent commitment towards looking after the patient. This needs great endurance and an unending amount of patience. However, an early detection and proper treatment which involves medication and its uninterrupted administration, counseling, rehabilitation and managing periodic episodes ensures an active, productive, and socially acceptable life. Importance of an early diagnosis cannot be overemphasized. Awareness of the initial signs are a prerequisite to early detection. Some of the early signs that can easily be noticed and common are: Hearing, smelling or seeing something that isn’t there: The patient periodically mentions that he is hearing voices which nobody else hears. Feeling indifferent to very important situations: Patient does not exhibit any reaction to the news of any untoward events. A change in personal hygiene and appearance. A constant feeling of being watched: The patient will often mention that he is being watched and spied. Deterioration of academic or work performance: This is easily noticeable, especially doubts would have been raised in the family.

Erectile dysfunction (ED), a.k.a. impotence, is said to affect as many as 30 million men in the US alone. The problem occurs when a man cannot maintain or achieve an erection during a sexual encounter. In fact, symptoms might even include a reduced libido. While doctors will get on with surgery, implants, pumps and prescription medications, there are many natural ways to solve this problem. Read on to know more. Exercising Of all the lifestyle changes that can impact and solve the problem of ED, exercise is the biggest. Exercise works positively on the body by helping to improve blood flow, which is critical and important for a good and strong erection. Exercise also helps improve blood pressure by increasing the blood’s nitric oxide levels the exact way in which Viagra also works. In fact, it has been proven that weight-bearing exercises can also increase the natural testosterone production in the body, which is a critical aspect of erectile strength and sex drive. Quitting smoking and drinking According to many doctors, alcohol is a depressant which could lead to both short-term (temporary) or permanent (long-term) erectile dysfunction. Heavy drinking of alcohol weakens the central nervous system, which is responsible for nitric oxide production and release, a chemical vital for producing and maintaining an erection.

If you’re a man, until you hit your late 30s, health issues are the last thing on your mind. When they do start nagging you, you begin off small; let’s say with an aching back or a knee. However, with age, health concerns shift to bigger problems such as cancer, erectile dysfunction, heart diseases and even dementia, which is on the rise today. Listed below are the most-heard health problems of men, along with tips for diagnosis and prevention. Cardiovascular problems According to the American Heart Association, an average of 2 in every 3 adult men suffers from some variant of cardiovascular disease. In fact, stroke and heart diseases are one of the leading causes of men’s death in the USA. In order to avoid being plagued with it, there are several things that men can do to reduce the risk. These include: Get cholesterol levels checked every five years after they turn 25 Keep their blood pressure under control Quit smoking and drinking Increase their physical activity to minimum 30 minutes every day, and most days of the week Eat a less fat-based diet and a more plant-based diet Erectile dysfunction ED is more common than we think, specially among men who have had their prostate removed or those with diabetes.

Skincare usually doesn’t feature anywhere in men’s health, but it is an equally important part of it. While men don’t need to clock hours in front of the mirror and dab facial products, they certainly need to follow some skin care regimes that will leave them with a fresher, better-looking skin. They are listed below. Clean your face: Splashing cold water and cleansing first thing in the morning helps wash away dead skin. Use an exfoliating scrub occasionally for a deeper cleanse. Avoid scrubbing if the skin gets red, itchy and irritated. Moisturize: Moisturizing should automatically follow cleansing, since it helps seal the moisture. Since most facial lotions are oil-based and work for normal skin, they’re a boon for flaky, dry skin. Men should look for a water-based product if they have oily skin. Stay hydrated: The skin needs water more than anything else, and drinking 6-8 glasses of water every day does the trick for your skin. Men should also monitor how much caffeine, tea and alcohol they’re consuming, because they can dehydrate the body, and one needs to take that into account. However, consuming coffee, tea and alcohol with food and water can counter the effects. Don’t consume too much sugar:

Statistics say that close to 52% of the men across the globe have erection-related issues, with around 40% of American men reporting erection difficulties at the shocking age of 40. This is one of the major men’s health issues that needs immediate attention. Sadly, the number could be higher because of the sensitivity of the subject. However, there are numerous solutions to solve the problem of erectile dysfunction (ED). According to studies in the Journal of sexual medicine, yoga has been reported to improve ejaculatory control, partner synchronization, sexual performance, desire, sexual satisfaction, and erection. Listed below are 4 yoga poses that help beat ED! Naukasana (boat pose): This pose helps activate men’s sexual hormones and helps them last longer by strengthening their hips, thigh muscles and buttocks, leading to better erections. In order to this pose, one needs to lie down on the floor with their arms beside the body and feet against each other, and inhale and exhale while keeping arms straight all the time. As one exhales, he should lift his feet and chest off the floor, while holding this position for 10 successive breaths. After the pose, one can return to the original position by breathing out slowly.

Preventive maintenance helps in saving equipment from running into unexpected faults, whether it’s home gym equipment or something else. Moreover, it helps the equipment to stay in operation for a longer time. This form of maintenance is done when the equipment is still in operation and hasn’t been put on hold. Preventive maintenance is more complex than run-to-failure maintenance but less complex than predictive maintenance. Here is how to carry out preventive maintenance on your home gym equipment in seven easy steps: Inspect equipment The first step in preventive maintenance of your home gym equipment is an inspection. You need to prepare a list of all the missing hardware. You will also need to inspect closely for checking whether there is some hardware that has started to loosen. After you’ve prepared a checklist of all the missing or loosened hardware, get them fixed before using the gym equipment. Look for signs Once you’ve taken care of all the missing or loosened hardware, it’s time to examine home gym equipment for cracked or damaged welds and excessive wear. Keep a clean cloth to ward off the dust from the equipment and clearly see whether there are any signs of excessive wear or cracking welds.

Modern living has numerous benefits with technology making tasks simpler and quicker. However, with all this comfort comes a host of problems. Lack of physical activity is one. Today, jobs are largely desk-based, forcing people to spend hours sitting in one position. This causes numerous health problems, not the least of which is a bad back. One way to counter this trend is to stay active. Even if you can’t make it to the gym, you can easily exercise at home. A treadmill is a great investment because it offers numerous benefits. There are different types you can choose from to meet your budget. Let’s take a look. Types of treadmills There are two types of treadmills some more basic and others with advanced features. Your budget will largely decide which to purchase. Motorized: Motorized treadmills boast a list of features to make running more enjoyable. They may have mp3 support so that you can listen to music when running as well as large LED displays that show the time, calories burnt, heart rate etc. These treadmills also feature additional exercise options like dumbbells and sit-up bench. You can also adjust the incline automatically. Manual: Manual treadmills are a no-frills option, but are no less effective.

Everyone wants to look good and fit in their best pair of jeans. But if you are overweight, it takes a lot of effort to shed those extra pounds. Along with a good workout session, you also need to eat healthy to lose weight effectively. When we talk about eating healthy, many people get confused about what to eat and what to avoid. A good diet plan called the Atkins Diet chalked out by a cardiologist, Dr. Robert C. Atkins helps to achieve our weight loss mission quickly. Overview of Atkins diet This diet has gained popularity over the years to work wonders for people who are finding it difficult to lose weight. This is one of the first diet plans that entered the market as the weight loss diet plan. This diet has low carbohydrates meal plan that makes you lose weight fast. Limiting your intake of carbohydrates changes the metabolism of the body. This process is called ketosis where the body stops metabolizing the glucose as energy and instead, starts converting the stored fat into energy. The main purpose of this diet plan is to change your eating habits, thereby helping you lose weight while improving your health conditions.

Prostate cancer that has reached its stage IV or metastatic state is treatable but unfortunately not curable. Metastatic prostate cancer can usually be treated by standard therapies such as hormone therapy, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy. Using these treatments over a period of time, metastatic prostate cancer can be controlled for several years. Hormone therapy The simple theory behind the treatment through hormone therapy is that it deprives a man’s body of male hormones that are necessary for prostate cancer cells to grow. The treatment of hormone therapy, initially can be achieved with orchiectomy, which means removal of one or both the testicles, or luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) analogues solely or in combination with an anti-androgen. Chemotherapy Just like hormone therapy, chemotherapy is a systematic therapy in which the cancer-fighting drug circulates in the blood and to the parts of the body where the cancer may have spread. It can also kill or eliminate cancer cells at sites that are at great distances from the original cancer. Conventional chemotherapy drugs that are available for the treatment can have serious side-effects including loss of immunity, loss of hair, nausea, etc. because the drugs used in chemotherapy kill all kinds of cells that come in its way.

Humans have created a long list of diets in the quest to stay healthy. Low-carb, low-calorie, low-fat and high-protein are just a few examples. Yet, there is one diet that includes foods our systems were designed to sync with, the paleo diet. It’s based on foods thought to have been available during the Paleolithic period. The idea is to consume vegetables, fruits, roots, nuts, and meat and doing away with other modern’ foods like dairy, grains, processed foods, and oils, alcohol, etc. Paleo diet meals offer several benefits.If you are looking to get your health on track, here’what is in store for you. Helps build muscle The paleo diet is rich in protein that helps build the body and increase energy levels. If you’re physically active, you need more protein to gain strength and muscle. Protein also staves off hunger pangs by pushing up peptide YY, the satiety hormone that makes you feel full. You eat fewer calories and in turn lose weight. Improves digestive health Modern day foods consist of numerous processed products that are high in salt and sugar and low in nutrients. Since paleo diet meals do away with processed items, your digestive system stays healthier and stronger.