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Disability and Breath Suppression: The Dangers of Prescription Drugs

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Certain disabilities can affect one’s ability to breathe. These can include paralysis, especially when it is caused by spinal injury of specific nerve roots above and between the third and fifth vertebra; disabilities caused by loss of muscle control, such as happens with Lou Gehrig’s disease; or other physical causes.

When breathing is affected, a person may be required to use breathing-assist devices such as ventilators to help him or her breathe. Some people may rely solely on these devices, while others can sometimes breathe on their own. Still, no matter how much or how little breathing must be assisted, any suppression of breathing can be dangerous.

Some prescription drugs can suppress breathing, especially if they are taken in high dose. This can be even more dangerous if breathing is already compromised from a disability. That is why it is so important for people with disabilities that affect breathing to take care when using prescription drugs.

Unfortunately, paralysis, especially when it is caused by spinal cord injury, can cause what is known as “phantom pain.” This is a sensation of pain that is truly felt in a paralyzed area, even if there is no feeling or sensation in the area in which the pain is being felt. Prescription drugs are often prescribed to help dampen the sensation, but patients are cautioned against taking more than is needed.

This does happen, though, and can sometimes lead to prescription drug addiction. When this occurs, it is important to get help, such as prescription drug rehab, as soon as possible. It is possible to find drug rehabilitation facilities that have the capacity to help a patient who suffers from a disability that causes breathing suppression. If a facility cannot help, the staff members or others can help find one that can.

Filed Under: Disability, Health Care Tagged With: Health, Prescription drug, Spinal cord injury, Substance dependence

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder as a Disability

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Things like frequent hand-washing, repetitive counting, habitual cleaning and activities like nail-biting or hair-pulling may seem annoying for some people. For those who suffer with these conditions, these annoyances for others are a part of daily life for them. However, in many situations, it may be a developing disorder that can be classified as a disability.

Repetitive behavior like the ones mentioned above are called compulsions. Compulsions are any activities or actions that an individual cannot control themselves, or they find that they may need medical intervention like drugs or therapy in order to cope. They may even attempt to self-medicate through meditation or herbs, but the most common form of dealing with any compulsion disorder is with medication. It’s is more effective and the results are longer lasting.

Any individual dealing with a disability or disorder like obsessive-compulsiveness may experience difficulty in fitting into social situations or that even small, routine things done daily are a challenge for the. For the person who cannot control their actions as they do these things, may need medical or psychological intervention to assist them. There are many effective treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorders which include therapy, behavior modification and of course, medication.

Obsessive disorder activity is also characterized by repetitive behavior (like compulsions) and recurrent, unwanted thoughts that become points of obsession by the individual. They find that it is difficult to control their thoughts or emotions, and as a result the outward manifestation is exhibited in their compulsive actions towards doing or saying certain things repetitively.

An obsessive-compulsive disorder is considered a disability because it can inhibit a person from performing standard daily routines or from even enjoying gainful employment. Physical and emotional disabilities are found in all races, cultures and age groups which is why the range of disorders where disabilities are classified is a large, all-encompassing group.

Filed Under: Disability Tagged With: Anxiety, Disorders, Health, Mental health, Obsessive-Compulsive, Obsessive–compulsive disorder, Tourette syndrome, Trichotillomania

How the Environment Affects Disability

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Having a disability of any kind can be a very dramatic, life-changing effect on any individual, regardless of their race, culture or financial status. Essentially, a disability can affect a person in any circumstance no matter what, including their geographical location and the environment in which they live.

Disabilities can manifest in more than physical terms. A disability can be emotional or psychological and the environment that a person lives in has a profound effect on an individual. Adverse environmental conditions can have a major effect on opportunities for individuals, on their health and even their personal security.

One example is the effect of environmental stresses that are typically found in large cities. There are many instances of smog, smoke, manufacturing plants and chemical plants where the residual from these places can place hazardous conditions on the citizens in and around any given area. This is found when there is chemical run-off from plant industries found in the city’s drinking water, or when a large amount of smoke or dirt in the air mirrors more cases of lung diseases that show up in the population. These situations can cause disabilities in the individuals, and over long periods of time, can create even more problems for a community of any size.

Although disabilities can manifest anytime from any kind of environmental conditions, they can also present when there are new births or in the developing stages of children. This is why the rate of disabilities or instances of birth problems is greater in cities where the environmental factors are higher or stronger than in areas where it is not as big of a problem.

The link between environmental stresses and disabilities can be alleviated by individuals being proactive in their communities and helping to reduce any instances of these hazards around their cities.

Filed Under: Disability Tagged With: Disabilities, Disability, Disabled, Health, Organizations, Rehabilitation Act of 1973, State school, Support Groups

The Need for Community-Based Rehab

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Disabilities can affect all classes, types and economical conditions of individuals in any capacity. Although disabilities are often classified within its own group, there are resources and organizations that are dedicated to helping individuals who suffer with challenges to reach better potentials and to raise their circumstances. Various communities have implemented systems and resources to help the disabled community moreso from a standpoint of enabling them rather than pitying them. This not only greatly strengthens the community, but it also provides a foundation for the community to come together and help people on both an individual level and a group level.

Community Based Rehab (CBR) is a very popular strategy that is used within communities to help implement rehabilitation systems for the disabled. It includes a social inclusion and an equalization of resources and opportunities for children and adults who suffer with disabilities of any kind, whether those challenges are physical, psychological or emotional.

A Community Based Rehab program is generally implemented through the efforts of the people in the community who suffer with the disability themselves. They, along with their families and other community supporters are able to provide resources in several general areas including health, educational, social and vocational services.

Because the resources are all pooled together, the strength of the community is heightened and the disabled population no longer operates at a disadvantage, but are more equally involved. It also helps to boost morale and strengthen the compassion and appreciation from the community as a whole.

This type of rehab in the community is so productive because the community works together and combines their strengths and resources to provide a total solution for those in the community who are disabled and need the help. Because the community works together as one functioning unit, families are strengthened and there is a greater appreciation and respect for those in the community who may have certain challenges.

Filed Under: Disability Tagged With: Disabilities, Disability, Disability Resources, Disabled, Education, Health, Organization, United States

What is an Asthma Attack?

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Asthma is a very common condition. Affecting 300 million people worldwide, this inflammatory disease can be deadly; it claims 250,000 lives annually. Asthma is characterized by inflammation of the airways, resulting in difficulty breathing and, if left untreated, sometimes complete obstruction of the bronchial tubes and lungs. Most asthmatics describe their regular breathing as similar to a healthy person trying to breathe through a straw with their nose pinched. Other symptoms include wheezing, coughing, tightness in the chest and difficulty taking deep breaths. Environmental, emotional, hormonal and physical changes in an individual with asthma can aggravate the condition, resulting in a severe jump in symptoms commonly known as an asthma attack.

An asthma attack is recognizable by a variety of symptoms–the wheezing, coughing and tightness in the chest typical of regular asthma increase, making it difficult for the individual to speak or breathe well. Breathing in rapid shallow breaths is common. Chest pain and pressure, sweaty skin, paleness in the face, and blue lips or fingernails are symptoms of a bad asthma attack. The individual may feel anxiety and panic due to the difficulty to breathe; emotional stress can worsen the symptoms, so try to stay calm. Symptoms will often worsen even after you use your asthma medication; if medication won’t help, you may slip into what is called an asthma emergency. If this happens, you must see a doctor immediately to alleviate the problem.

In cases that were diagnosed during the childhood, often the asthma disappears within ten years of the diagnosis. However, some people continue to have asthma symptoms into their adulthood, and may have to live with them for their lifetime. Asthma is typically treated by taking a variety of medications that prevent the conditions leading up to difficulty with breathing: inflammation of the bronchial tubes and lungs, excess thick mucus in the back of the throat, and difficult breathing. In addition to the long-term medications that asthmatics take, if their breathing starts to become difficult they can inhale several puffs of fast-acting medications from their inhaler. Often this stops acute asthma attacks from developing into asthma emergencies.

Filed Under: Health Care, Medication, Rehabilitation Tagged With: Asthma, Health, Inflammation

Deep Diaphragm Breathing Technique

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Breathing from your abdomen and diaphragm can be very beneficial to your health. Unfortunately, diaphragm breathing is a method of taking slow, deep breathes, so the average person doesn’t perform it in everyday life. The diaphragm is a large muscle between your chest and abdomen; when you breathe deeply, the flexing of the diaphragm stimulates the flow of blood–and therefore oxygen–through your body, improving on circulation. The extra oxygen to the brain helps you stay focused better, and deep breathing can give you better stamina in sports as well.

The body has a separate set of vein-like tubes calls the lymphatic system which carry cells vital to your immune system throughout the body to ward off disease; deep diaphragm breathing can stimulate the flow of lymph as well as blood, thus helping you stay healthier. These breathing exercises are also good for your heart and cardiovascular system. Perhaps most importantly, doing deep diaphragm breathing once or twice per day is an extremely effective stress reliever, and takes only a few moments to perform.

Diaphragm breathing is easy to do. First, draw a deep breath. The way to tell that you are using your diaphragm is that your stomach will move outward as well as your chest when you inhale; a good test is to place your hands on your chest and abdomen while inhaling and to watch them. If your abdomen hand raises more than your chest hand when you inhale, you’re doing good! Try to let your stomach move freely instead of raising your shoulders when inhaling. Next, exhale through your mouth. When you draw your next breath, inhale only through your nose and hold the breath while you count to seven. Exhale slowly while counting to eight. Gently tighten your abdominal muscles to ensure that the last of the air leaves your lungs. Repeat for five breaths.

You should do diaphragm breathing at least twice a day; you can do it more often if you’re having a particularly stressful day. It’s a good way to cope with physical pain, as well, probably because it causes physical relaxation.

Filed Under: Health Care, Medication Tagged With: Breathing, Health, Lung

Sleep Apnea Types and Causes

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Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which the body stops breathing for intervals of ten seconds or more during sleep. There are three kinds of sleep apnea; obstructive sleep apnea is caused by insufficient space for breathing in the throat during sleep, as in the case of a very narrow throat or excessive fatty tissue blocking the throat due to obesity. Central sleep apnea is caused by imbalanced control centers in the brain in charge of breathing. Essentially, the brain signals breathing in an imbalanced way, ceasing to send signals telling the body to breathe for intervals of ten seconds or more during sleep. The third variety of sleep apnea is a mixture of the first two; it is known as mixed sleep apnea.

Mixed sleep apnea can manifest in two ways. The first is the classic mixed form: that is, the individual has some obstructive sleep apnea, but also has central sleep apnea with the brain’s signals involved. The other mixed form is called complex. In complex sleep apnea, the individual has obstructive sleep apnea, but if steps are taken to cure the obstructive sleep apnea, the person then has central sleep apnea instead! All forms of sleep apnea only affect the individual while they sleep; therefore, many people can live with the condition for years and not know that they have it.

The waking effects of sleep apnea include sleepiness throughout the day–sometimes bad enough to be considered a mild form of narcolepsy–as well as fatigue in general. Individuals with obstructive sleep apnea tend to be loud snorers, but a loud snore doesn’t not guarantee that someone has sleep apnea. In fact, some individuals with obstructive sleep apnea make little sound at all, as their throats are too obstructed for much air to get through. Obstructive sleep apnea can also cause high blood pressure, which stays at the high readings during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea has been linked with strokes, and also puts individuals at a thirty percent higher risk for having a heart attack than those who do not have the condition.

Filed Under: Health Care, Medication Tagged With: Health, Sleep apnea

Metal Fume Fever

Metal fume fever is a disease caused by inhaling fumes during activities such as metalworking and welding. The oxidized forms of metals such as zinc and magnesium oxide can be hazardous to your health, especially when working with galvanized steel. This latter is such a danger that metal fume fever is also known to many as “Galvie Flu”.

Generally the only people exposed to metal fumes in large quantities are industrial workers who deal with making metal objects such as airplane parts, but research from 2000 onward suggests that burning candles can release dangerous amounts of zinc fumes and particles into the air, endangering the user and anybody else in the home. Metal fume fever can also crop up after inhaling metal particles, so fumes don’t even have to be present.

The symptoms of metal fume fever are numerous and vary per person; because it can easily be mistaken for many other diseases based upon the symptoms alone, a diagnosis of the condition requires an investigation into the patient’s background to see if they’ve been exposed to metal fumes in the past. Individuals with the disease report having aches and pains all over their bodies, getting the chills, feeling fatigued and nauseous, having their joints ache, getting headaches, and becoming feverish. It is common to have a lingering metallic flavor in the mouth, making food, drinks and cigarettes taste slightly sweet and metallic as well. Dry throat is another of the most-reported symptoms, likely caused by tiny metal particles irritating the inside of the throat.

More extreme cases of metal fume fever may require emergency medical care. Additional symptoms of acute metal fume fever include shock, a feeling of burning through the whole body, convulsions, yellow eyes and skin, rashes, throwing up, bloody diarrhea, ceasing to urinate, getting low blood pressure, collapsing and going into shock. Most cases don’t get this serious; when they do, you should immediately see a doctor.

For the more common mild case, treatments are minimal: bed rest with pain relievers for the aches and pains. Recovery from metal fume fever typically takes two to four days.

Filed Under: Disability, Health Care, Medication Tagged With: Disease, Health

Dealing With a Sudden Disability

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An accident or injury can suddenly leave a previously healthy person disabled. If that’s happened to you or a loved one, there are all kinds of emotions and issues that you’ll be facing. People who have been disabled for some time have generally come to accept their limitations, but those who are new to it can be depressed, bitter, angry, disbelieving, and all kinds of other things. They may want to give up, might not be interested in seeing friends and family, and may say that they want to die. For most people, these kinds of feelings are part of the grieving process and they will fade with time. Some never seem to go through them at all. Instead, they are just interested in getting back into life and they will work around the disability that they now face.

No matter how you react to it emotionally, there are also physical concerns that have to be addressed. How much you will be able to do on your own matters. It’s a serious consideration. If you’ll need care all the time, you’ll have to arrange for that. You may also need medications, rehabilitation and physical therapy, retraining in simple tasks, or other things. Facing them with a good attitude can be challenging, especially when you experience a setback, but you can also learn to move forward with your life if you’re willing to hold onto the good things that you still have.

If you’re able to do some of the things you used to, if you have a family, if you can work – all of those things can give you purpose. If those things aren’t in your future, that doesn’t mean it’s time to give up. It simply means that you need to find a new purpose. There is something out there for you to do, or you wouldn’t be alive. Be encouraged, even if you’re struggling. Many people who suddenly find themselves disabled discover all kinds of ways in which to lead rich, full lives. You can do the same thing.

Filed Under: Disability, Life, Medication Tagged With: Disability, Health, Physical therapy