Depression: Prevalence, Causes, Complications..

Depression is a real illness that is characterized by a great sadness, hopelessness, loss of motivation and the feeling of not having value as an individual.

In the medical community, major depression is the term often used to describe this disease. Depression usually occurs in the form of periods of depression that can last from 2 weeks to several years, even a lifetime. Depending on the intensity of the symptoms, depression is described as mild, moderate or severe. In more severe cases, depression can lead to suicide.

Depression affects mood, thoughts and behavior, but also the organic functions. This explains why a person who suffers from depression or other more vulnerable to colds and other infections, the immune system is weakened.

Depression?

The term "depression" is still taboo there not so long ago, is often incorrectly used in everyday language to describe the inevitable periods of sadness, boredom and melancholy that all are called to live at a time when to another.

For example, being sad after the loss of a loved one or a sense of failure in case of problems at work is quite normal. But when these feelings come back every day for no particular reason or overly persistent, it may be depression. Depression is a real illness is chronic, which responds to specific diagnostic criteria.

Besides the sadness, the depressed person maintains negative thoughts and demeaning: "I'm really no", "I'll never", "I hate what I am." She feels worthless and difficult to plan for the future. She has no interest in activities previously enjoyed. Sometimes it is rather the predominant irritable.

Prevalence

Depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders. According to a survey conducted by the public health authorities in Quebec, approximately 8% of people aged 12 and over reported having experienced a period of depression in the past 12 months1. According to Health Canada, about 11% of Canadians and 16% of Canadians suffer from major depression during their vie75.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), by 2020, depression will become the second leading cause of disability worldwide, after cardiovasculaires2 disorders.

Depression can occur at any age, including childhood, but it appears for the first time more often in late adolescence or early adulthood adulte76.

Causes

It is not known exactly what causes depression, but it is a complex disease involving multiple factors related to heredity, biology, life events and the environment and habits of life.

Heredity. Following long-term studies on families as well as twin (separated at birth or not), it has been shown that depression has a certain hereditary component, although it did not identify specific genes involved in this disease. Thus, a history of depression in the family can be a risk factor.

Biology. Although the biology of the brain is complex and still poorly understood, it has been observed in depressed individuals deficiency or imbalance of certain neurotransmitters such as serotonin. This deficiency disrupts communication between nerve cells in the brain. Other physiological problems, such as a hormonal disturbance (hypothyroidism or menopause, for example) can also contribute to depression.

Environment and lifestyle. Bad habits (smoking, low physical activity, excess télévision88 or video games, etc..) And living conditions (poor economic conditions, stress, social isolation) is likely to harm deep psychological . For example, the accumulation of stress at work can lead to burnout and eventually to depression.

Life events. The loss of a loved one, divorce, illness, job loss or other trauma can trigger depression in people predisposed to the disease. Similarly, abuse or trauma in childhood make them more susceptible to depression in adulthood, especially because they disrupt the operation of sustainably genes related to stress.


Complications

There are several potential complications related to depression:

- Abuse of drugs or alcohol.
- Family or professional conflict, social isolation.
  Increased risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. In fact, depression is associated with a higher risk of heart problems or stroke. Moreover, the fact of depression may accelerate slightly the onset of diabetes in people already risque70. The researchers argue that people with depression are also less likely to exercise and eat well. In addition, some medications can increase appetite and cause weight gain. All these factors increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.
- Suicide. With accidents is one of the leading causes of premature death in Canada for people under 45 years. Depressive men over 70 are the most at risk of suicide.

Tips for good digestion...

Bloating, constipation, flatulence, diarrhea, heartburn, headache, vomiting ... digestive problems can positively ruin your life. Some principles food to help relieve them.

If your digestion is difficult, aware that what's in your plate as well as the way you eat can affect the quality of hours after meals.

A meal in good conditions for digestion excludes any form of stress: a bad habit is to eat a sandwich and a salad on a corner office at the computer. Take the time to sit down, chew food in a quiet and well ventilated.

Prefer several small meals rather than big heavy meals. The enemies of digestion are gargantuan meals and fat followed by a period of inactivity. Take your lunch and take a short walk in the evening, avoid large meals and do not sleep on a full stomach, it is better to eat early in the evening. A good way to help digestion is to loosen your belt so as not to obstruct the bowel activity.

Practice regular physical activity. Physical inactivity promotes constipation when physical activity helps intestinal transit smoothly. If you're stressed, choose relaxation, yoga or walking. If you are active, choose biking, swimming, gymnastics, or any help for good digestion!

Eat fiber! They activate the transit absorb up to 25 times their volume in water and increase stool volume. Cooked, they are less irritating to the intestines. You can find fiber in fruits and vegetables, but also in whole grains.

Drink plain water, which hydrates the intestinal contents. Limit alcohol, tea and coffee. Fruit juices should be drunk sparingly due to their laxative effect.

Our board
Indigestion should not last more than twelve hours, time for your body to perform the digestion. Beyond this period, consult your doctor. It may be a virus, food poisoning or appendicitis.

Health Tips against gastroenteritis...

It is not yet winter and there is already talk of an outbreak of gastroenteritis throughout France. Do not panic if you or a loved one is reached. Here are our tips to heal.

A study by Inserm Invs announced in mid-December that the annual epidemic of gastroenteritis began in France. As every year, approximately 1 million French should suffer this winter. But you will not be one of them! To know the right thing at the onset of symptoms (diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain), here are some simple steps to take.

Hydrate 

Gastroenteritis désydrate strongly. It is therefore advisable to drink large quantities of at least two liters per day. Water, salted broth, tea or sweet tea is very good for this, as long as you move them to remove any gas.

Feed on

You are sick and you do not particularly want to eat. But we must eat when you are suffering from gastro! If you do not obsess appetite, make small meals all day long. It is usually recommended to nibble, then you can! Preferred foods are starches (rice and pasta), fish and meat, carrots, always well cooked. For dairy products, hard cheeses and yogurt are suitable.
Avoid: fresh fruits, except bananas, which should be eaten ripe. It is recommended to eat rather compotes or frozen. He must avoid all vegetable fibers contained in fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as greasy foods, which can cause nausea and diarrhea.

Protect your family

Gastroenteritis is highly contagious. Better to wash their hands regularly: this is the best protection against the disease. If this is your child sick ets, it is best to wash your hands after systematically changing diapers or giving him his bottle.

If symptoms persist

If you lose too much weight and the diarrhea and vomiting persist, you should consult your doctor. Any blood in the stool should lead to visit immediately.

These habits quickly improve the health status of adults in a few days. Néanmois, it is strongly recommended that infants and elderly or frail to consult a doctor at the first signs of gastroenteritis.

TORTICOLLIS: THE BOOST OF SWEET MEDICINE...

A cold, a little stress, and it is the neck toast. When one is blocked by a stiff neck, it is relieved by rest and boost alternative medicines.

1. TORTICOLLIS: AND ESSENTIAL OILS AND HOMEOPATHY

Torticollis is a warning sign: the body says I can not stand it, stop! "Says Dr. Dominique Blanc, osteopath. Airflow, bad position in front of the screen ... The pain from a muscle spasm that prevents movement. Good reflexes? Rest and warmth. In principle, the pain passes after two or three days. Otherwise, see your GP, especially if it is accompanied by a stiff neck, fever or headache.

Essential oils reduce pain

Massage the sensitive area. "Apply 2 drops of essential oil of rosemary camphor, three or four times a day," advises Danièle Festy, pharmacist. Attention, the essential oil of rosemary camphor is not suitable for pregnant women.

If symptoms persist : mix 1 drop of essential oil of rosemary camphor, helichrysum, peppermint and wintergreen fields with 3 drops of vegetable oils hypericum and arnica. Massage three to five times per day.
Another solution : to relax with a hot stone massage. Warm some smooth pebbles in a water bath, then place them on the painful area before or after the application of essential oil. Relaxing effect guaranteed!

Homeopathy reduces contractures

If the shoulder muscles (trapezius) are contracted and almost as hard as wood. A dose of Actaea racemosa 9 CH once.

If the pain gets worse at the slightest movement. Associate Lachnantes 5 CH 5 CH and Bryonia. Take 3 pellets every hour if torticollis is always painful and space as soon as you can move again head. The symptoms subside in principle the day.

Sleep would lose weight!..

A U.S. study showed that sleep quality was playing on the body mass index (BMI). How does sleep we would he lose weight?

Lose weight sleeping, we all dream! Who has not wanted to have fun without deprivation, and lose everything without effort? Is it the promise of the study just published? According to American researchers who presented their findings at the 105th meeting of the "American Thoracic Society", San Diego, sleep influences thinness.

More specifically, the body mass index (BMI) among others depend on the quality and amount of sleep. To achieve such results, the researchers examined the sleep of 14 nurses Army Medical Center "Walter Reed Army" in Washington. The activity and energy expended by these women were also analyzed.

Each nurse wore an armband to measure their body temperature, its activity, its different positions and elements evaluated in motion and at rest. "In analyzing the results and separating them according to the categories of" short sleepers "and" long sleepers ", we realized that those who sleep less have an average body mass index of 28.3 kg / m², while those who sleep a lot have a mean body mass index of 24.5. those who sleep less are experiencing difficulty falling a sleep, "said Arn Eliasson, the lead author of the study.

Paradoxically, it appears that overweight people are more active than others, for example, they walk over them. Indeed, overweight individuals travel on average 14,000 steps per day, while others would not 11,300, a difference of 25%. This would these people spend 1000 calories more than the others on average per day.

The researchers wanted to explain these overweight individuals despite this additional energy expenditure. Arn Eliasson said that sleep contributes to hormonal balance, which would change the situation. Do not sleep as needed reduce leptin levels in the body, also called satiety hormone. And lack of this hormone could encourage these people to eat more.

Another factor in weight gain, stress: it could also be responsible for reducing the quality of sleep time, and could also cause increased hunger, etc.. "Stress and lack of sleep pourraientt make these people less organized than others, so that they would require more work to perform similar tasks," said Arn Eliasson. "This could further increase their stress and encourage behavior as nervous nibbling."

Other scientists are working on these issues in order to assess the role of stress and sleep our metabolism.

True / False on orphan diseases..

Orphan diseases plague the lives of three million French. Yet we are all concerned. Are you aware of the main challenges?

An orphan disease is rare.

TRUE. An orphan disease affects a small number of people compared to the general population. The threshold is accepted in Europe on a person with 2000, less than 30,000 people for a given disease in France.

Few people are affected by this problem.

FALSE. More than 3 million French people suffer from a rare disease. In Europe, 27 million people are victims of an orphan disease. And 6-8% of the world population would be concerned, directly or indirectly, by these diseases.

There are hundreds of rare diseases identified.

FALSE. Nearly 7,000 rare diseases identified are more or less disabling unknown and neglected. And five new diseases are described every week in the world.
Fifty rare diseases affect each a few thousand people in France, the most famous being cystic fibrosis with 5 000-6 000 patients in France.
Five hundred others did reach a few hundred, as progeria or premature aging that affects only 100 cases worldwide. And thousands of others affect only a few dozen people.

These rare diseases are serious.

TRUE to 65%. Approximately 80% of diseases have an impact on life expectancy. And 35% are directly involved in death before the age of one year. They cause significant discomfort in everyday life in over 65% of cases. They are causing a complete loss of autonomy in 9% of cases.

There are few treatments.
FALSE. Or almost zero treatment currently exists.

Diet pills: beware of danger?

As we approach the sale of non-prescription anti-obesity pill, AFSSAPS up to the plate and warns against the risks of drugs to lose weight.

A few days before the arrival of Alli pill to treat obesity sold without a prescription, the French Agency for Safety of Health Products has reiterated its warning on medicines for weight loss.

As a reminder, Alli, launched in the U.S. in June 2007, is in the intestines by eliminating a quarter of the fat ingested. Taking this treatment (2 € per day for 6 months) is accompanied by a reduced-calorie diet, low in fat and physical exercise to help weight loss.

Specialists Philippe Lechat, Director of the Evaluation of Medicinal and Biological Products and Anne Castot, Head of Evaluation, recalled that overweight must be accompanied by a medical care, over the long haul, to achieve sustainable results.

Moreover, this support is most essential since it plays a vital role for sustainable change dietary habits and the maintenance of weight loss upon discontinuation of treatment.

The experts also revealed the adverse effects of the diet pill Alli, soon for sale without a prescription in France. This medicine can cause gastrointestinal side effects, including flatulence and stool incontinence, it is not associated with a low fat diet.

To monitor the occurrence of adverse effects of this product, a regional pharmacovigilance center will be named.

Eye Surgery: sight correction through laser...

Your dream you wake up in the morning and see clearly! One possibility offered by the eye surgery. Explanations.

Until the fifteenth century, myopes had no way to see clearly. It was only after that first appeared lenses. Then in the 60s the first soft contact lenses. And as you can not stop progress, you can even now get rid of myopia in minutes with the laser. Operation coveted by the myopic tired of wearing contact lenses or glasses. With eye surgery, completed the daily ritual of laying lens constraints hygienic panic if we forget his glasses at home.

Where is myopia?

To see clearly, the eye should project an image on the retina. If the image is formed in front of the retina, it becomes blurred. This is called myopia. Often sighted are very close and pain away, but some can not see myopia correctly only a few centimeters. Obviously, the discomfort is daily. Get bread without glasses or contact lenses can be a real nightmare, as out of the house without saying goodbye to a friend or neighbor simply because you did not recognize! Myopia appears during childhood or adolescence and progresses up to 20 years, sometimes more. That myopia is high or low, it can be corrected using the laser to change the thickness of the cornea.

Intervention

A visit to your ophthalmologist is essential. It will let you know any conditions that may prevent the transaction and the specifics of your visual system. The intervention lasts only a few minutes (between 10 and 15 on average). It is done under local anesthesia (using anesthetic eye drops). Before the operation, it is necessary to remove the lenses and put in each eye antibiotic eye drops. The excimer laser was the first real technique using laser, followed Lasik, which remains the most common method. In the case of the latter technique, the laser power varies with each myopia and recovery is rapid. The procedure, which takes about twenty minutes, involves cutting a small portion in the cornea followed by laser treatment.
After surgery, it is important to avoid getting bacteria. To avoid contamination, bathing, swimming, strong winds, rubbing his eyes with his hand should be avoided.
Price side, it will take between 2500 and 3000 euros. If you prefer to opt for an even more sophisticated, there is a technique called femtosecond cutting the flap of the cornea laser directly. The main advantages are the precision and comfort but the price is higher: about 3500 to 4000 euros.
Unfortunately for the wallet, these operations are not covered by Social Security. However, there is additional insurance that can take over a part of the intervention.

Who is affected?

Refractive surgery does not address the myopia of more than 10 diopters. The operation is only possible if the myopia has stabilized. Generally, it takes at least 22 years old to have in order to qualify. The thickness of the cornea also plays an important role in the intervention. Presbyopes can also take advantage of new surgical techniques. Your ophthalmologist may suggest several solutions: special lenses, multifocal implants or surgery of the cornea Laser (whose goal is to make multifocal, that is to say, allow a clear vision of near and far for each eye).

Ocular implants

Low myopia (between -1 and - 4 diopters) or presbyopia can opt for ocular implants. It is placed inside rings of the cornea. Myopia strongest will turn instead to intraocular lenses but their cost is quite high. These solutions have some drawbacks: a good doctor's, eyestrain can be annoying. But these implants are reversible so in case of problems, they can be easily removed. Rely on average between 500 and 1000 euros per implant.

True / False on contraception...

The pill helps you some cancers it? The IUD is it only for women who have had a child? The morning after pill is it 100% reliable? As many questions as you may be asking again then test your knowledge to counter misconceptions about contraception.

1. Pill makes you fat

False:
This bad reputation dates back to the 60's when the pill has made its appearance on the market. At the time, the doses of estrogen were significantly higher and could cause water retention. Today, the very low dose of estrogen and progestin next generation greatly reduce the risk of gaining weight. While some women take a few pounds at the beginning of the pill, it can result from a cons-indication for oral contraception.

2. The pill helps some cancers

False:
No study has shown that the pill increases the risk of developing breast cancer. In addition, the pill provides protection against cancers of the ovary, colon and endometrial cancer.

3. The morning after pill is 100% effective

False:
The effectiveness of the morning after pill is not complete: 95% if taking occurs within 24 hours after intercourse, 85% between 24 and 48 hours and 58% between 48 and 72 hours. Beyond three days, consult a doctor and do a pregnancy test if your period is delayed more than 5 days. Note that making emergency contraception is exceptional and does not replace other means of contraception. In addition, it does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases.

4. The IUD may be prescribed for women who have never had children

True:
Gynecologists may recommend IUDs to nulliparous women (women who have not had children) if they have a steady partner and they can not take another method of contraception.

5. The hormonal IUD decreases the rules

True:
Unlike copper IUD may increase menstrual important and painful, the hormonal IUD reduces the duration or the abundance of rules, to delete some women.

6. The contraceptive patch is applied to any part of the body

False:
The patch should never be applied on the breasts because they are very sensitive to hormones.

7. The implant placement is painless

True:
Placement of the implant is done under local anesthesia and no pain should be felt.

8. Spermicides protect against sexually transmitted diseases

False:
Spermicides do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases. Only préservatis male and female can do.

New methods of contraception: vaginal ring..

Available from 2004 pharmacy, the vaginal ring has gradually managed to get a place among the means of contraception in sales and appeal to a non-negligible number of women who want to get rid of the pill.

It is a flexible, transparent ring of 5.4 cm diameter that continuously releases a low dose of estrogen and progesterone. It fits into the vagina and left in place for a period of 3 weeks. Must then remove one week, during which your rules appear. Then, in a new place the same day at your previous cycle.

Do not worry, the ring fits easily and holds firmly in place. In a crouched position, lying or standing with one foot in height, pinch it between your thumb and forefinger and then insert into the vagina with one finger until you feel no more discomfort. If the ring is placed, you or your partner will not feel it during intercourse.

The ring is ideal for the heads up, women who travel a lot or have irregular hours because we must think twice in the month during insertion and withdrawal. It is a means of contraception whose use is controlled by women and can be stopped at any time. Moreover, "it tends to reduce the risk of fungal or yeast infections, and increase libido," says Dr. Jonathan Ouahba, obstetrician-gynecologist in Paris www.lagynecologie.fr. Low-dose hormones, it rarely causes minor bleeding among rules and may reduce some side effects such as weight gain or breast tenderness. But as with any method of contraception, it is possible that what benefits a woman agrees not necessarily to another.

"The cons-indications are the same as those that apply to the pill," says the doctor. Diabetics, women with a disease in the liver, gallbladder, high blood pressure or with heart problems should not use this type of contraception. Its main drawback is its relatively high price: a ring costs about 15 euros and is not reimbursed by social security.

Virtual sports coaches, slimming shape: the bootcamp Valerie Orsoni...

Most dynamic sports coaches put his energy into your weight loss in a program where it follows you every day!

The principle

LeBootCamp is a course developed by Valerie Orsoni weight loss, a sports coach famous for having coached stars in the United States. It consists of 4 phases: detox, attack, defense and stabilization to not believe in fad diets, a diet and exercise as walking 30 minutes per day on an empty stomach.
Its approach is based on four pillars: nutrition, fitness, motivation and stress management.

The test

Everything goes through the internet and the site delivers daily videos with tips Valérie Orsoni, a forum to share with other members, a weight curve interactive follow its evolution, a private blog to fulfill what you eat, bathroom Fitness interactive exercises categorized by body parts, and a daily email program includes unlimited questions to a team coach.

The daily mail contains: a motivational message, a video or sound recording to help you start the day off right, a Sports Council to help you squeeze more movement into your day, nutritional counseling easy to apply, a trick or secret star, the results of a new study and the recipe of the day.

Strong point

The personality of the coach! His energy feels in the pages of your site and the familiar close to us. Every week, you can chat in a chat room and ask your questions live to the entire team of the BootCamp.

Weak point

The program is well established and very focused "practice". Perhaps when registering on the internet marketing side very or is intended as a brake. We prefer to call before going.

Conclusion

Program leading and motivating but probably a little difficult for most defeatist as everything seems so easy. But for those who know sesame let contaminated by the motivation of the coach to the continued presence and everyday well-crafted, the program is really the point.

Sport: I tested the Waterbike..

Cycling in the water, he was thinking! Imagine that someone had this idea by creating the Water Bike. For some time either in group or in a specialized center you can enjoy this new activity, halfway between aerobics and cycling. We tested it for you!

After dropping my phone and made an appointment for a first test session (this is recommended before taking the subscription), I get into my nice gym bag: my swimsuit, a towel (although the center to make available) and a bottle of water to put into practice the famous "drink, eliminate."

Upon my arrival, I discovered several cabins before me. At one point, doubt assails me, and I wonder if I have not confused the place with my traditional UV center. The sliding door opens the hostess enough to reassure me. In this small room, there is a sort of big bath inside which is installed a bike. As I lay in battle dress, the water begins to flow to fill the basin. Before it reaches the level of the door, the woman has to settle on the bike in explaining that once the door closed tight (better) the water will flow down to my waist.

If I turn the small button it tells me to the left, the work will help me refine the legs, if the contrary, it is right, I musclerai. To be consistent, so I decided to refine before muscle. The meter indicates 30 minutes. A trifle I thought, as I begin to ride, full of goodwill. Except that more water rises, the more I find that the minutes scrolls slowly.

The water changes color, which soothes, I pedal again and again and I see life in pink, then blue, then yellow. In addition, there are jet propelled on my buttocks and the top of my thighs. Undaunted, I pedal pedal pedal or should I say, "I train, I train, I train."

In any case, what is certain is that it is effective and not unpleasant. The water is neither too hot nor too cold, I see the thermometer from 26 to 30 ° As for my efforts.

Several hundred pedal strokes, and a dozen clips shown on the screen in front of me later, it remains for me more than ten minutes. I'll get there, there's no doubt! And while the timer stops and the pool begins to empty, I'm almost sad that the time has passed so quickly because once the rhythm is taken, it could continue for several more minutes.

The session is over, once dried, rehydrated and dressed, I'm already thinking again. In the corridor I meet even a TV host who told me how she found it great! I confirm cycling in water, it is a sport to do and redo. Taking up appointment, I said all along to see the first results, it will be ten sessions Waterbike.

Miha Bodytec, sport new generation!..

This new machine will make waves for sure! Combining exercises building muscle electrostimulation, it multiplies the effort! We tested it for you! Account ...

The concept

It is a workout supervised by a coach, where we practice a combination with a waistcoat with electrodes connected to a machine. Electrodes placed on the garment and not the skin, deliver a current which forces muscles to contract. The interest here, compared to passive electro belts for use on the couch is that stimulation occurs while the muscle is already mobilized by the movement you make with the coach, which can multiply the recruitment muscle fibers so deeply stressed!

The Promise

The electrodes being placed anywhere on the body, current works on multiple muscles simultaneously which greatly optimizes the ratio effort / time! Each muscle group is also stimulated at an intensity chosen according to the desired work and sensitivity. The machine uses only low currents harmless and painless, so interrupted by burst pulse: intensity increases, stabilizes parallel exercise then returns to 0.

This training is suitable for athletes who want to increase their strength and muscle mass but also to women wanting to sculpt their shape: muscular energy expenditure is very high and most importantly, Mihabodytec active connective tissue in depth: it acts on the fat mass promoting metabolic activity.

In practice

You put a t-shirt and shorty moistens the coach to make them conductive, then it connects the electrodes to the vest. It defines the student sets the current for each muscle group and the target. The session lasts about 20 minutes where it connects movements gym classics in rhythm with the waves of currents. It ends with a recovery phase-relaxation. Personal settings are stored on a smart card to avoid having to re-adjust everything every time, and in order to follow the evolution of the intensity of the workout.

The test

The session lasts 20 minutes but it should be a one-hour on-site time to dress and then change. The effect of wet clothes is quite strange and it feels harnessed as a cosmonaut with the vest, quite impressive. But we understand the whole point of the thing at the meeting! Initially, it is difficult to anticipate and make the movement of the exercise just upstream of the current wave: it is caught by the rise of the discharge. But when we picked up the pace, we see that it is working really hard! No shortness of breath, but you can feel the effort of the muscles.
At the end, you feel totally retonifiée with the impression of having worked for an hour and not 20 minutes! The body looks tight, toned, and what surprised me the most was as flat! In fact, the muscles contracted as deeply and are "assembled" giving effect arched. We leave with a lot of energy!

Our opinion:

Convincing. The equipment is daunting and it can be daunting to have to practice in wet clothing, but the effect is the appointment. A great innovation, especially adapted to the requirements of an urban clientele hurry!