Part 2 of Mold: Enemy of a Healthy Home. Environmental and Housing Factors Affecting Mold Growth In indoor environments, mold originates from two sources: mold infiltrating from outdoors (e.g., through open windows), and mold colonization on the interior of the home. Molds can obtain nutrients and moisture sufficient for growth from water-affected building materials such […]
The Food and Drug Administration has approved two types of medications—stimulants and non-stimulants—to help reduce the symptoms of ADHD and improve functioning in children as young as 6 years. Stimulants have been the tried and true medication for ADHD since the 1950s. They have a long track record of being safe and effective. Despite their […]
Is your child in constant motion? Does he or she talk incessantly? Or have trouble focusing and prefer to daydream? Then your child may have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. This childhood disorder often begins between the ages of 3 and 6 years, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). And it […]
Hot summer months pose special hazards for outdoor people who must protect themselves against heat, sun exposure, and other hazards. Everyone should know the potential hazards in their workplaces and how to manage them. Sun Sunlight contains ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which causes premature aging of the skin, wrinkles, cataracts, and skin cancer. There are no […]
West Nile Virus (WNV) infection is an illness transmitted to humans primarily by mosquitoes. The pathogen that causes WNV infection is a virus that is known to infect birds and other animals as well as humans. People working outside are at risk, particularly in warmer weather (when mosquitoes are more likely to be present). The […]
Sometimes, people can be required to work in hot environments for long periods. When the body is unable to maintain a normal temperature, heat-related issues and disease can cause death. The article below provides information about the steps one should take to prevent illness and death caused by heat stress. Factors That May Cause Heat-Related […]
Part 3 of Lyme Disease. Early Lyme Disease: The early stage of Lyme disease is usually marked by one or more of the following signs and symptoms: a characteristic skin rash, called erythema migrans fatigue chills and fever headache muscle and joint pain swollen lymph nodes Erythema migrans is a red circular patch that appears […]
Part 1 of Dangers of Raw Milk. Unpasteurized Milk Can Pose a Serious Health Risk Milk and milk products provide a wealth of nutrition benefits. But raw milk can harbor dangerous microorganisms that can pose serious health risks to you and your family. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 800 […]
Part 8 of Schizophrenia. Family and friends can also help patients set realistic goals and regain their ability to function in the world. Support for those with mental disorders can come from families, professional residential or day program caregivers, shelter operators, friends or roommates, professional case managers, or others in their communities or places of […]
Part 6 of Schizophrenia. It is likely that an imbalance in the complex, interrelated chemical reactions of the brain involving the neurotransmitters dopamine and glutamate (and possibly others) plays a role in schizophrenia. Neurotransmitters are substances that allow brain cells to communicate with one another. Basic knowledge about brain chemistry and its link to schizophrenia […]
Part 5 of Schizophrenia. Some people who abuse drugs show symptoms similar to those of schizophrenia, and people with schizophrenia may be mistaken for people who are high on drugs. While most researchers do not believe that substance abuse causes schizophrenia, people who have schizophrenia abuse alcohol and/or drugs more often than the general population. […]
Part 4 of Schizophrenia. Psychotic symptoms (such as hallucinations and delusions) usually emerge in men in their late teens and early 20s and in women in their mid-20s to early 30s. They seldom occur after age 45 and only rarely before puberty, although cases of schizophrenia in children as young as 5 have been reported. […]
Part 2 of Schizophrenia. The symptoms of schizophrenia fall into three broad categories: Positive symptoms are unusual thoughts or perceptions, including hallucinations, delusions, thought disorder, and disorders of movement. Negative symptoms represent a loss or a decrease in the ability to initiate plans, speak, express emotion, or find pleasure in everyday life. These symptoms are […]
More than 20 million people in the United States are estimated to have asthma. Among children, it is the most common chronic illness. A substantial body of research, including population-based studies of school-aged children and young adults, indicates that the prevalence and severity of asthma have increased dramatically over the last several decades in the […]
Asthma is a disease of the lung airways. The airways get swollen and inflamed. They react easily to certain things, like viruses, smoke, or pollen. When the inflamed airways react, they get narrow. This makes it hard to breathe. About 20 million Americans have asthma. Nearly five million are children. Many children outgrow asthma in […]
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus, called SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). SARS was first reported in Asia in February 2003. Over the next few months, the illness spread to more than two dozen countries in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia before the SARS global outbreak of […]
Part 6 of Bipolar Disorder. Most people with bipolar disorder-even those with the most severe forms-can achieve substantial stabilization of their mood swings and related symptoms with proper treatment. Because bipolar disorder is a recurrent illness, long-term preventive treatment is strongly recommended and almost always indicated. A strategy that combines medication and psychosocial treatment is […]