Depression in Women

Is depression common in women?


What are the symptoms?

Doctors continue to learn about how women are affected by depression, but there are some common symptoms. If you're depressed, you may have some of these symptoms nearly every day, all day, for 2 weeks or longer:
* Feeling sad or crying a lot
* Losing interest or pleasure in things you used to enjoy (including sex)
* Feeling guilty, hopeless or worthless
* Thinking about death or suicide
* Sleeping too much, or not being able to go to sleep or stay asleep
* Losing your appetite and losing weight (or eating too much and gaining weight)
* Feeling very tired or slowed down
* Having trouble paying attention and making decisions
* Having aches and pains that don't get better with treatment




What causes depression?


Depression seems to be related to a chemical imbalance in the brain that makes it hard for the cells to communicate with one another. Stressful life events, such as the death of a loved one, a divorce or moving (such as leaving home to go to college), may lead to depression. Taking certain medicines, abusing drugs or alcohol, or having other illnesses can also cause depression.Women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) are more likely to become depressed. Depression is more common a week before a woman's period and in the weeks after a woman gives birth (this is called postpartum depression). In some women, taking birth control pills may cause symptoms of depression



How is depression treated?


Depression can be treated with counseling, medicine or both. It's also important to take good care of yourself, to exercise regularly and to eat healthy foods. See the list of dos and don'ts later in this handout. Counseling alone may help if the depression isn't severe. Antidepressant medicines are very effective in treating depression. There are many different kinds of antidepressants. Your doctor will decide which one is right for you. Medicine alone or medicine with counseling can help most women who have depression



Some dos and don'ts when you're depressed



* Don't isolate yourself. Stay in touch with your loved ones and friends, your religious advisor, and your family doctor.
* Don't make major life decisions (for example, about separation or divorce). You may not be thinking clearly right now, so your decisions may not be the best ones for you.
* Don't blame yourself for your depression. You didn't cause it.
* Don't be discouraged about not feeling well right away. Be patient with yourself.
* Don't give up.
* Do exercise every day to make yourself feel better and to get more energy.
* Do eat balanced meals and healthy food, and get enough sleep.
* Do take your medicine and/or go to counseling as often as your doctor tells you to. Your medicine won't work if you only take it once in a while.
* Do set small goals for yourself, because you may have less energy.
* Do encourage yourself.
* Do get as much information as you can about depression and its treatment.
* Do call your doctor or the local suicide crisis center right away if you start thinking about suicide

Hair Diseases and Hair Loss

Did you know that the average person has 5 million hairs? Hair grows all over your body except on your lips, palms and the soles of your feet. It takes about four months for healthy hair to grow an inch. Most hairs grow for up to six years and then fall out. New hairs grow in their place.
Men - and some women - lose hair as they grow older. You can also lose your hair if you have certain diseases, such as thyroid problems, diabetes or lupus. If you take certain medicines or have chemotherapy for cancer, you may also lose your hair. Other causes are a low protein diet, a family history or poor nutrition

Ayurvedic Food: 'Food for Life'

In Ayurvedic science diet is considered an important complementary part to medicine. A special diet consistent with the doctor's diagnosis and the recommended treatment is one of the core therapies in Ayurveda.
As a result, ayurveda food is taken very seriously at Barberyn Ayurveda resorts. But this doesn't mean a strict regime of bland, tasteless or bitter vegetarian dishes prescribed by physicians. On the contrary, our kitchen is one of our greatest assets and the dishes our cooks prepare will surprise and delight you every day of your stay.

At breakfast you'll find a buffet with fresh fruit, fruit juices, herbal soups, home-baked breads & cookies and a selection of Sri Lankan breakfast dishes. For lunch we offer a wide selection of mild fish, vegetable and herbal curries arranged in a beautiful buffet. In the evening we serve you a set vegetarian menu on an option with fish except on Saturdays when we have our Sri Lankan night with an extended buffet where chefs prepare typical local dishes in your presence.
In Ayurveda food and drinks are classified according to their taste - sweet, salty, pungent, bitter and astringent - and thus by their influence on the doshas (body energies). The goal is to represent all tastes in every meal, but with specific combinations recommended for each individual guest.
At Barberyn Ayurveda resorts you will find an Ayurvedic dortor or dietician at hand during meal times to advise you on the suitability of specific vegetables, herbs and spices and to help you select / avoid the dishes according to your prescribed treatment. Your herbal elixir and the instructions from the doctors at the health centre will be on your individual table.

Ayurveda Resort

Ayurveda is fast becoming a household name with all those interested in "alternative medicine". Yet Ayurveda is not an alternative medicine. It is one of the oldest forms of medical science known to man - originating 5000 years ago. Ayurveda is more than a system of herbal medicine. It is a way to a healthy & long life and can complement modern medicine. Ayurveda has two main aims: It treats the symptoms of a disease and it helps individuals to strengthen their immune system. Ayurveda treats the body, mind and spirit of a person as a whole entity, and works on the basis that the mind and body affect each other, and together can overcome disease

Mother gives birth to five baby girls

Doctors in Oxford have helped a woman deliver quintuplets defying the odds set out by the new mum's Russian doctors, reports claim. The 29-year-old mother gave birth to five healthy baby girls four weeks preterm on Saturday at John Radcliffe Hospital, marking the first woman to give birth to quints in the UK for five years. A team of 18 doctors and nurses assisted the birth of the sisters weighing between 1lb 13oz to 2lb 2oz by caesarean section. During the multiple pregnancy, doctors in Russia reportedly advised the mother to have selective terminations to minimise risk, however she declined. Dr Lawrence Impey, a clinical specialist in high-risk pregnancies, told the BBC: "[The] mother is recovering well and the babies are doing well." The last set of quintuplets to be born in the UK was delivered in Northern Ireland in 2002, meaning that the miracle babies are now at school age

Healthy eating for people with diabetes

Having diabetes does not change the kinds of foods you should eat. Nutritious foods can improve everyone's health. Choose foods that keep glucose levels in good control and that provide enough calories to maintain a healthy weight. If you monitor your blood glucose consistently, you will learn how different foods effect blood glucose level.
The amount of each type of food you should eat depends on your diet, your weight, how often you exercise, as well as other existing health risks. Everyone has individual needs, which is why you should work with your doctor and, possibly, a dietician to develop a meal plan that works for you.
But there are some solid, general recommendations to guide you. The Diabetes Food Pyramid, which resembles the old USDA food guide pyramid, splits foods into six groups in a range of serving sizes. The Diabetes Food Pyramid differs in that that food groups are based on carbohydrate and protein content instead of their food classification type. A person with diabetes should eat more of the foods in the bottom of the pyramid (grains, beans, vegetables) than those on the top (fats and sweets). This diet will help keep your heart and body systems healthy

Foods like bread, grains, beans, rice, pasta, and starchy vegetables are at the bottom of the pyramid because they should serve as the foundation of your diet -- together as a group, they are loaded with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and healthy carbohydrates. But the key is, choose sources with plenty of fiber. Choose whole-grain foods such as whole-grain bread or crackers, tortillas, bran cereal, brown rice, or beans. Use whole-wheat or other whole-grain flours in cooking and baking. Eat more low-fat breads such as bagels, tortillas, English muffins, and pita bread.

For snacks, try pretzels or low-fat crackers.

1 slice bread
1/2 small bagel, English muffin, or pita bread
1/2 hamburger or hot dog bun
4 - 6 crackers
1/2 cup cooked cereal or pasta
1/3 cup cooked rice
3/4 cup dry cereal
1/2 cup cooked beans, lentils, peas, or corn
1 small potato
1 cup winter squash
1/2 cup sweet potato or yam
A serving can be:

Vegetables
(3 - 5 servings)

Choose fresh or frozen vegetables without added sauces, fats, or salt. You should opt for more dark green and deep yellow vegetables, such as spinach, broccoli, romaine, carrots, and peppers.
1 cup raw vegetables
1/2 cup cooked vegetables
1/2 cup tomato or vegetable juice
A serving can be:

Fruits
(2 - 4 servings)

Choose whole fruits more often than juices. They have more fiber. Citrus fruits, such as oranges, grapefruits, and tangerines, are best. Opt for fruit juices without added sweeteners or syrups.
1 small fresh fruit
1/2 cup canned fruit
1/4 cup dried fruit
1/2 cup fruit juice
A serving can be:

Milk
(2 - 3 servings)

Choose low-fat or nonfat milk or yogurt. Yogurt has natural sugar in it, but it can also contain added sugar or artificial sweeteners. Yogurt with artificial sweeteners has fewer calories than yogurt with added sugar.
1 cup milk
1 cup yogurt
A serving can be:

Meat, Fish, and Meat Substitutes

(2 - 3 servings)
Choose fish and poultry more often. Remove the skin from chicken and turkey. Select lean cuts of beef, veal, pork or wild game. Trim all visible fat from meat. Bake, roast, broil, grill, or boil instead of frying.
2 - 3 oz. cooked lean meat, poultry, or fish
1/2 - 3/4 cup tuna
2 - 3 oz. cheese
1 egg*
2 Tbsp. peanut butter*
4 oz. tofu*
A serving can be:
*equivalent to 1 oz. of meat
Fats, Sweets, and Alcohol
In general, you should limit your intake of fatty foods, especially those high in saturated fat, such as hamburger, cheese, bacon, and butter. Sweets are high in fat and sugar, so keep portion sizes small.
1/2 cup ice cream
1 small cupcake or muffin
2 small cookies

Political Head was killed in SLAF air attack

The LTTE Head quarters announced that the Head of the LTTE Political Division, S P Tamilselvan, was killed in a Sri Lankan Air Force aerial bombardment today at 6.00am. The full text of the announcement made by the LTTE Head Quarters is as follows: "With deep sorrow we announce to the people of Tamil Eelam, the Tamil people living all over the world and the international community that at 6.00am today, Friday 2nd November 2007, Head of our organization's Political Division, Brig. S P Tamilselvan was killed by the Sri Lankan Air Force aerial bombing. With him Lt Col Anpumani (Alex), Major Mihuthan, Capt Nethagy, Lt Adchgivel, and Lt Vahaikumaran were also killed

Military officials said Friday they had received a report of a top-level gathering near the northern town of Kilinochchi, the political capital of the LTTE, where Thamilselvan was based, and ordered the air raids

World Toilet Summit 2007

" Millions of people in India have no access to proper toilets "

A World Toilet Summit has opened in the Indian capital, Delhi, with more than 40 countries taking part.

The four-day meeting will examine solutions and technologies that can be used to provide a basic need for nearly half the world's population.
According to estimates, 2.6bn people around the world lack access to a hygienic toilet.
The United Nations hopes to halve this figure by 2015 as part of its millennium development goals.
In India alone, more than 700 million people have no access to toilets which have proper waste disposal systems.

It is as important an issue as anything," says Bindeshwar Pathak of Sulabh International, an NGO that promotes the use of low-cost toilets in India and is joint organiser of the summit.
"It is mostly the Asian, African and Latin American countries that lack basic sanitation. So that's what we will be discussing at the summit," he adds.
It is a sight familiar to anyone travelling around India by train

Early morning, many Indian villagers head to the nearest railway track and squat by its side relieving themselves.
Others use their fields, the forests or any piece of open land that they can find.
Women are particular badly off - they either have to head out before dawn or in the night when it is relatively more private, but it means they are vulnerable to disease or even sexual assault.
The UN wants to remedy the situation by 2025.
But the problem is that it is quite expensive for most countries in the developing world to set up western-style toilets and sewage systems.
But there are alternatives.
Anita Jha, vice-president of Sulabh International explains, "We have several models of traditional Indian-style squat toilets. These range in cost from 700 to 3,000 rupees ($18 - $75) and also use very little water."
"That makes them very useful in countries with a water scarcity problem," she says.

Llodra Vs Match-Fixing

"Gambling seems to be an ever increasing burden in the sport of tennis. Although it's clear the BBC supports gambling, I personally would like to see it eradicated"

Wimbledon doubles champion Michael Llodra is the latest player to reveal he has been approached about throwing an ATP Tour match.
Arnaud Clement, Llodra's partner at Wimbledon, said on Monday he had been approached, while Andy Murray has said "everyone knows" match-fixing goes on.
"I was in my hotel room and somebody called to ask me not to try too hard the next day," Llodra said.
"That was four years ago. I said 'no' and hung up."
Llodra added that he may have been "one of the first players to have been approached", but with these stories only coming to light now it is hard to be sure how long this has been going on.
"We have the feeling that a lot of people have been approached," added Llodra. "There's a lot of talk about it on the circuit.

Wherever there is money, you have crooks. It's difficult to stop because there is a powerful ring behind it."
However, Clement said he had not heard of many players who had been approached.
Bets on a match in August between Russia's Nikolay Davydenko and Argentine Martin Vassallo Arguello were voided by online exchange Betfair because of unusual betting patterns. World number four Davydenko won the first set but his odds then drifted out before he eventually retired with a foot injury

Olympics 2012 action

"The Games will contribute but the Games will not solve all the problems of the world"
Jacques Rogge

The International Olympic Committee has urged London 2012 organisers to get on with their preparations for the Games.
IOC boss Jacques Rogge told BBC Sport that London "is doing OK" but must focus on delivering the Games on time.
"We urge them to work as soon as possible and to prepare today for the unforeseen of tomorrow," said Rogge.
He also said the IOC had "no regrets" about giving the 2008 Games to Beijing despite recent international criticism of China's foreign policy.

Rogge stressed that the Swiss-based IOC was "basically happy" with the progress in London and remained optimistic a permanent tenant for the Olympic stadium will be found.
"That would be something that would please the IOC very much and we are very keen on that," he said.
"We know that Seb Coe and LOCOG (the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games) are working very hard to find a solution."

Work has started in Stratford but legacy issues remain unresolved
The current plan is to reduce the stadium's capacity from 80,000 to 25,000 in 2013 and use it as a multi-sport venue with athletics and community facilities at its heart.
But that plan depends on a football or rugby club becoming an "anchor tenant" to subsidise the stadium. So far that has proved to be beyond Coe and his team, partially because important aspects of the post-2012 plans remain undecided.
Premiership club West Ham have already said they are not interested in moving to Stratford as the capacity is too small, and Leyton Orient are reported to be concerned the capacity is too high.
A spokesman for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport told BBC Sport: "We completely share Jacques Rogge's view that there is not a day to waste as we prepare for the 2012 Games.
"His endorsement of the progress made so far reflects the IOC's very positive comments during their visit to London in June.
"And we whole-heartedly agree with his assessment of the importance of a strong long-term legacy for venues including the Olympic Stadium - which is exactly what we are working towards.

"We are committed to venues that both serve our top sportsmen and women and provide lasting benefit for local communities, with long-term 'anchor' users providing stability and security for these facilities."
The shadow recently cast over the preparations for the 2008 Games in Beijing is of a very different nature.
China has been condemned by human rights campaigners for its links with the Sudanese government which is embroiled in a four-year conflict with rebels in Darfur.
China buys two-thirds of Sudan's oil output and is the African state's biggest arms supplier following a 25-fold increase in weapons sales between 2002 and 2005.
International experts say 200,000 people have died and 2.5m have fled their homes in Darfur since the conflict started in 2003.
The Save Darfur Coalition - an umbrella group of 180 religious and human rights groups - has accused China of taking an "ambiguous" stance towards Sudan.
China has also been attacked for its continued support of the military regime in Burma, where recent pro-democracy demonstrations have been crushed.

The Chinese government only agreed to back a critical statement from the United Nations Security Council to Burma when the threat of an Olympic boycott was raised by campaigners.
Rogge said he understood why human rights groups used the Olympics to apply pressure on China, but disagreed with those groups' criticisms of the IOC itself.
"I respect them for what they're doing. It is absolutely legitimate that they get the most from the Olympics," he said.
"But where they make an error is to criticise the IOC for not solving the problems.
"Why would we be able to succeed where generations of heads of state and governments who have come to Beijing have not succeeded? We are a sports organisation - there are limits to what we can do.
"Does that mean that we don't strive for human rights? No, of course we are in favour of human rights, and we've proven that many times in the past.
"But don't expect from the IOC what the IOC cannot do. The Games will contribute but the Games will not solve all the problems of the world.

Beijing's Olympic plans are taking shape but smog is still a worry
"We gave the Games to a country that represents of one fifth of mankind. We gave the Games to a country that will change, that is changing. We have no regrets."
Rogge pointed to recent reforms in China's judicial, media and property laws as evidence that the Olympic effect was already being felt. He also praised the emerging superpower for addressing its poor record on child labour.
The 55-year-old, who sailed for Belgium in three Olympics, said he was also satisfied with the steps the Chinese were taking to tackle doping and brushed off concerns about Beijing's air quality.
A recent United Nations report was critical of China's attempts to improve the air quality in Beijing, stating that pollution was three times higher than the level recommended by World Health Organisation standards.
And on Friday, Beijing's weather office warned children and the elderly to stay indoors as heavy fog was exacerbating the city's air quality problems.
An IOC inspection team visited Beijing last week and admitted that pollution remained a concern but said it was confident proposed traffic controls and factory shutdowns would have a positive effect.
Rogge added: "If the atmospheric pollution is too high at certain times then we might consider rescheduling.
"But this is not exceptional for the Olympics. We have a similar situation in the Winter Games with snow. And it's the same with the wind and sailing, rowing or canoeing."

Brazil will host nation for the 2014 football World Cup.

"This World Cup will have such a big social and cultural impact in Brazil " (Fifa president Sepp Blatter)


The South American country was the only one bidding to host the tournament, which was due to be staged on the continent under Fifa's rotation system.
Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said: "Soccer is more than a sport for us, it's a national passion."
Brazil have won the tournament a record five times and hosted the World Cup once before, in 1950, when they lost 2-1 in the final to Uruguay.


It is the first time the World Cup is being held in South America since Argentina hosted, and won, the 1978 tournament
Brazil is setting aside around £550m to update its stadiums, including the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro which hosted the 1950 World Cup final.
And that money will need to be spent wisely as Fifa's inspection report has identified 18 grounds with more than 40,000 capacity that could host games. These will be whittled down to nine or 10.
However, of the 18, four would have to be re-built from scratch and all of the others need to undergo substantial renovation.
So basic are the facilities at the moment that most of the stadia are not even equipped for television commentary.
Fifa president Blatter said, however, that he had been impressed by Brazil's plans for 2014 despite the fact they were the only bidders.
"The task was not easy - for us it was a real big challenge to have the same list of requirements and the same conditions for only one candidate," he said.
"There was an extraordinary presentation by the delegation and we witnessed that this World Cup will have such a big social and cultural impact in Brazil.
This is the country that has given to the world the best football and the best footballers, and they are five times world champions."
Fifa's inspection report added: "Brazil has a rich history of hosting sporting and other international events.
"But the standards and demands of the World Cup will far surpass those of any other event staged in the history of Brazil in terms of magnitude and complexity.
"The inspection team wants Fifa experts to review the process and progress of host city selection to ensure that adequate financing is committed and secured."
As news filtered through, celebrations broke out in various towns around the country with fireworks and festivities set to continue into the night.
Around 100 people unfurled a green and yellow banner, emblazoned with the words 'The 2014 World Cup is ours', at the foot of the famous Christ the Redeemer statue which overlooks Rio.
Meanwhile, women's world champions Germany will host the 2011 Women's World Cup after beating off competition from Canada.

Diabetic Diet

If you have diabetes, your body cannot make or properly use insulin. This leads to high blood glucose, or sugar, levels in your blood. Healthy eating helps to reduce your blood sugar. It is a critical part of managing your diabetes, because controlling your blood sugar can prevent the complications of diabetes.
Wise food choices are a foundation of diabetes treatment. Diabetes experts suggest meal plans that are flexible and take your lifestyle and other health needs into account. A registered dietitian can help you design a meal plan.
Healthy diabetic eating includes
>Limiting sweets
>Eating often
>Being careful about when and how many carbohydrates you eat
>Eating lots of whole-grain foods, fruits and vegetables
>Eating less fat
>Limiting your use of alcohol

Diabetic Diet

If you have diabetes, your body cannot make or properly use insulin. This leads to high blood glucose, or sugar, levels in your blood. Healthy eating helps to reduce your blood sugar. It is a critical part of managing your diabetes, because controlling your blood sugar can prevent the complications of diabetes.
Wise food choices are a foundation of diabetes treatment. Diabetes experts suggest meal plans that are flexible and take your lifestyle and other health needs into account. A registered dietitian can help you design a meal plan.
Healthy diabetic eating includes
>Limiting sweets
>Eating often
>Being careful about when and how many carbohydrates you eat
>Eating lots of whole-grain foods, fruits and vegetables
>Eating less fat
>Limiting your use of alcohol

Diabetes Type 1

Diabetes means your blood glucose, or blood sugar, is too high. With Type 1 diabetes, your pancreas does not make insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps glucose get into your cells to give them energy. Without insulin, too much glucose stays in your blood. Over time, high blood glucose can lead to serious problems with your heart, eyes, kidneys, nerves, and gums and teeth.
Type 1 diabetes happens most often in children and young adults but can appear at any age. Symptoms may include
>Being very thirsty
>Urinating often
>Feeling very hungry or tired
>Losing weight without trying
>Having sores that heal slowly
>Having dry, itchy skin
>Losing the feeling in your feet or having tingling in your feet
>Having blurry eyesight
A blood test can show if you have diabetes. If you do, you will need to take insulin for the rest of your life

Diabetes and Pregnancy

Diabetes is a disease in which your blood glucose, or sugar, levels are too high. When you are pregnant, too much glucose is not good for your baby. Out of every 100 pregnant women in the United States, between three and eight get gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes is diabetes that happens for the first time when a woman is pregnant. Gestational diabetes goes away when you have your baby, but it does increase your risk for having diabetes later.
If you have already have diabetes before you get pregnant, you need to monitor and control your blood sugar levels.
Either type of diabetes during pregnancy raises the risk of problems for the baby and the mother. To help reduce these risks, you should follow your meal plan, exercise, test your blood sugar and take your medicine.

Breathing Problems

When you're short of breath, it's hard or uncomfortable for you to take in the oxygen your body needs. You may feel as if you're not getting enough air. Sometimes mild breathing problems are from a stuffy nose or hard exercise. But shortness of breath can also be a sign of a serious disease. Many conditions can make you feel short of breath. Lung conditions such as asthma, emphysema or pneumonia cause breathing difficulties. Heart disease can make you feel breathless if your heart cannot pump enough blood to supply oxygen to your body. Stress caused by anxiety can also make it hard for you to breathe. If you often have trouble breathing, it is important to find out the cause

Asthma

Asthma is a chronic disease that affects your airways. Your airways are tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs. If you have asthma, the inside walls of your airways become sore and swollen. That makes them very sensitive, and they may react strongly to things that you are allergic to or find irritating. When your airways react, they get narrower and your lungs get less air. This can cause wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and trouble breathing, especially early in the morning or at night.
When your asthma symptoms become worse than usual, it's called an asthma attack. In a severe asthma attack, the airways can close so much that your vital organs do not get enough oxygen. People can die from severe asthma attacks.
Asthma is treated with two kinds of medicines: quick-relief medicines to stop asthma symptoms and long-term control medicines to prevent symptoms

Hemochromatosis

Iron overload disease

Hemochromatosis is an inherited disease in which too much iron builds up in your body. It is one of the most common genetic diseases in the developed countries.
Iron is a mineral found in many foods. Your body normally absorbs about 10 percent of the iron in the food you eat. If you have hemochromatosis, you absorb more iron than you need. Your body has no natural way to get rid of the extra iron. It stores it in body tissues, especially the liver, heart and pancreas. The extra iron can damage your organs. Without treatment, it can cause your organs to fail.
The most common treatment is to remove some blood, just like when you donate blood. This is called therapeutic phlebotomy. Medicines may also help remove the extra iron. Your doctor might suggest some changes in your diet