Being overweight and obese is viewed by many as a serious and fast growing public health problem. More and more people are now adding extra weight because of several factors which includes family genetics, eating habits, lifestyle, and so on. This health condition not only gives the person a feel of embarrassment in social circles, but also faces a dangerous health condition.

Obesity is defined as the excess or having too much body fat. Being overweight on the other hand, refers to those who weigh too much. Both of these conditions refer to weight as those that come from the bone, fat, muscle, and body water of a person. Either way, both terms apply to people who have excess weight, more than what their height applies for.

Several health problems may arise if a person is considered as overweight and obese. From arthritis, asthma, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, gallstone, fatty liver, insulin resistance and diabetes, to depression, these conditions may seriously risk one’s health, putting an overweight or obese person at risk.

In line with this, anti-obesity drugs have been available for people who are experiencing obesity or being overweight. This particular kind of medication includes all pharmacological treatments designed to decrease or control a person’s body weight. Since these drugs are expected to alter one of the fundamental processes of the human body, anti obesity drugs are medically prescribed only for people with morbid obesity, or where weight loss can be life saving.

A new and recent study on the effect of an anti-obesity drug called rimonabant found out that it reduced points of liver damage, decreases levels of pro inflammatory proteins, and improved on lipid profiles. Since obesity is associated with changes in tissue and blood levels of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory proteins and hormones, it is the main cause of several metabolic syndrome features and their complications, including hepatic steatosis an accumulation of fat in the liver. According to researchers, as they studied the effect of rimonabant on the liver, they found out that the treatment with this medication reduced liver enlargement, completely eliminated hepatic steatosis, and decreased blood levels that indicate liver disease and liver damage. The results from this study also showed an improvement in abnormal lipid levels, which can lead to cardiovascular diseases. It also lessened the levels of cholesterol and free fatty acids, and with the treatment of rimonabant, normalized levels of adiponectin are reached a hormone that plays an important role in metabolic disorders.

This study further suggests a potential clinical application in the treatment of liver diseases connected with obesity and the metabolic syndrome. Researchers from this study noted that while weight loss is achieved by burning more calories than consumed, the reality may not be that simple. But then again, this medication also offers a weakened rate due to its side effects such as nausea, dizziness, depression and diarrhea. In any case, this medication should be further studied to prevent any unaccesaaptable side effects that can harm people who are dealing with being overweight and obese.

There have been a lot of researches that show that older drivers have the second highest risk for motor vehicle collisions of any age group, after adolescents. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, older adults are nine times more likely to be involved in fatal car accidents than drivers aged 25 to 69. In 2000, older adults made up 9 of the resident population, but accounted for 13 of all traffic fatalities and 17 of all pedestrian fatalities. Accidents involving older drivers can cause injury to both the older driver and other drivers and pedestrians.

Generally. most senior drivers are good, safe drivers. They know their limitations and do their best to follow the rules of the road. But even the best and the safest drivers can have accidents when there are factors that impair their judgment or senses. Impaired vision, poor hearing and flexibility, limited range of motion, reduced reaction time, and medications are some of the factors which can lead to fatal car accidents.

Many elderly drivers take several medications to treat certain medical conditions, including those that are specifically for psychiatric care. Those medications may interact with each other causing drowsiness or confusion. There are a lot of older people, especially those who live alone, who use psychoactive medications with or without the doctor’s prescription. Psychoactive medications may place older drivers at increased risk for potentially fatal vehicular accidents.

Psychoactive medications are drugs that, when prescribed and used prudently, can reduce or eliminate the suffering caused by psychological conditions such as anxiety, insomnia, depression, psychosis, and bipolar affective disorder.

A research was conducted on a population-based matched case-control study of older drivers who were involved in injurious crashes from 1987 to 1988. The 234 cases and 447 controls were members of a large Seattle-based health maintenance organization. Use of antidepressants medications and opioid analgesics by older drivers was associated with increased risk for injurious motor vehicle collisions. Compared with non-users, current users of cyclic antidepressants had a 2.3 higher chances of encountering an accident, or what is termed as adjusted relative risk RR. Opioid analgesic use was also associated with an elevated crash risk. No evidence was found of a dose-related effect with either class of the drug. Current use of benzodiazepines or sedating antihistamines had little association with increased risk for injurious collisions.

Moreover, benzodiazepines are among the psychoactive medications that are widely prescribed for people over the age of 65 years. Their use has been associated with a number of adverse outcomes including cognitive impairment, an increased risk of falls and hip fractures, especially in people with coexisting medical illness, and car accidents.

The risks are greater with long-acting agents and during the first few weeks after drug initiation. In spite of the risks, there is evidence that benzodiazepines may be overprescribed to elderly people. Among the problems identified are the overprescription of long-acting benzodiazepines, high rates of benzodiazepine use in combination with other psychoactive drugs and the prescribing of benzodiazepines for long-term use.

While the automobile is a powerful tool for independence and mobility, it is also potentially dangerous. As we grow old, our ability to drive safely may be limited by many factors. Its important to recognize these risk factors and minimize them if possible before car accident occurs. More importantly, all drivers should be aware of safe driving habits, regardless of age.

Some people can get so depressed or problematic that they even reach a point where they question their own sanity. Many people actually wonder if they have really gone over the edge.

How about you? Try to answer these questions

Do you have feelings of sadness or irritability? Has there been a loss of interest in pleasurable activities that you once enjoyed? Have you noticed any weight loss or change in your appetite? Have you noticed changes in your sleeping pattern? Are you feeling guilty? Are you experiencing difficulty in concentrating, remembering things or making decisions? Have you had thoughts of suicide or death? If you answered yes to most of these questions, consider consulting your family physician as your mental health maybe at risk.

Mental health, as defined by the Surgeon General’s Report on Mental Health, refers to the successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with other people, and the ability to adapt to change and cope with adversity. On the other end of the flow is mental illness, a term that refers to all mental disorders.

Mental disorders are health conditions that are characterized by alterations in thinking, mood, or behavior associated with distress or impaired functioning. This notion of a continuum sees mental health on one end as successful mental functioning compared to mental illness on the other end as impaired functioning.

Mental health is how we think, feel, and act as we cope with life. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Like physical health, mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.

Everyone feels worried, anxious, sad or stressed sometimes. But with a mental illness, these feelings do not go away and are severe enough to interfere with daily life. It can make it hard to meet and keep friends, hold a job, or enjoy life.

Mental illnesses are quite common and affect about one in five families in the U.S. These disorders such as depression, phobias, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and many others are real diseases that one cannot get away from. Fortunately, they are often treatable. Medicines and therapy can improve the life of most people with mental illnesses. But, it is more cost-effective to have a physician prescribe mood stabilizers instead of seeing a psychiatrist. However, follow doctor’s instructions on counseling and referrals to mental health professionals.

People who are emotionally and mentally healthy are in control of their thoughts, feelings and behaviors. They feel good about themselves and have good relationships. They can keep problems in perspective. It’s important to remember that people who have good emotional health sometimes have emotional problems or mental illness. Mental illness often has a physical cause, such as a chemical imbalance in the brain. Stress and problems with family, work, or school can sometimes trigger mental illness or make it worse. If you feel that you or someone you care about is at risk, ask for help, it may not be easy at first, but there are ways and steps that may save your own or someone elses life.

The clinical word psychotic is often used to refer to person who has gone mad or insane. The psychotic state is characterized by a disturbance of perception or sensing things that are not really there hallucinations; and disturbance of thinking or having beliefs that are not based on reality delusions. Psychotic individuals also have problems in thinking clearly disordered thinking, and have reduced ability to recognize if something is wrong with their thoughts and actions lack of insight.
Psychosis is a condition in which a person has lost touch with reality which leads to an impairment of judgment. In the language of psychology, psychosis is considered more as a syndrome rather than an illness since the diagnosis is based on the observation of a set of symptoms and not on the identification of the cause of the psychological problem.
According to the Institute of Mental Health, a person may exhibit some unusual behavior during pre-psychotic phase which may include
Perceptual disturbances such as feelings that things around have changed;

Mood disturbances such as anxiety, depression, mood swings, irritability and anger;

Cognitive disturbances such as poor attention and concentration, difficulties in thinking, suspiciousness, and unusual beliefs; and

Behavioral disturbances such as change in sleep and appetite patterns, social withdrawal, loss of interest in things, deterioration in occupation and academic functioning.

Some people may probably interpret these disturbing behaviors as symptoms of stress especially if the changes are associated with some stressful life events. Others may consider them as the other side of a persons personality. In some cultures, mental or psychological illness is associated with supernatural causes rather than on the presence of physiological or psychological problems.
There needs to be a personal understanding of these disturbances to determine the help seeking behavior. Sometimes, even for those who suspect that it may be a mental health condition, the stigma of seeking psychiatric help may deter them from consulting a psychiatrist. No wonder, it takes so long before a person decides to seek professional help.
In psychiatry, there are a number of disorders that come under the general title of the psychosis. They all manifest different symptoms but all have a common denominator the psychotic person is no longer in touch with reality. Some of the symptoms or manifestations of a psychosis include

Schizophrenia
Schizo-Affective Disorder
Manic-Depression Bipolar Disorder
Mania
Delusional Paranoid Disorders
Psychotic Depression

Usually, the family or the person involved initially seek the assistance of general practitioners and counselors regarding the patient’s change in behavior and inability to normally function as an individual. It is of utmost importance that there is a high index of suspicion in order to pick up cases of possible psychosis. It is also a must to refer them early to doctors for further evaluation and treatment. This is especially true if the person who is exhibiting pre-psychotic symptoms has the following risk factors

A positive family history of schizophrenia or psychotic disorder, especially among first degree relatives

Vulnerable personalities such as those with schizotypal personalities

History of occasional brief symptoms of hallucinations or delusions

Early psychosis treatment involves psychiatric assessments for individuals who have symptoms of psychosis or possible psychosis. An initial assessment is done by a psychiatrist together with a case manager, who may also be a psychologist. Social workers and nurses can also assist in the evaluation. If the individual is accepted into the program, the case manager and psychiatrist will continue to provide medications for use by the patient. Aside from drug treatments, counseling, psycho-education, psychotherapy, involvement in support groups, and family support are all essential to the success of the treatment of psychosis.

Some people are just too pessimistic about their situation and about life itself. These people have the idea that no matter what they do, no matter what they say, everything would seem to have a negative impact on themselves or to their surroundings. We really do not know what is going on in their minds, but some of them can be a danger to themselves, if not to others.

People who are deeply troubled are prone to develop suicidal thoughts. There are a lot of factors that contribute to feeling hopeless and desperate enough to end one’s life. Depression, separation anxiety, loneliness or fear — these are only some of the reasons why people kill themselves. As they say, suicide is not chosen; it happens when pain exceeds resources for coping with pain. A person who cannot handle too much pain may consider suicide in some way. They think that this pain would never end, and that it would be heavier as they continue to live their life. If a person feels the pain and cannot cope with it by means of other resources, they eventually feel suicidal. In their minds, suicide is neither wrong nor right. It is not an imperfection of one’s character since they believe that suicide is morally neutral. According to their view, suicide is fundamentally an imbalance between pain and one’s inability to cope with that pain.

Feeling pain and loneliness and having no one to talk to makes a person feel even more miserable and lonely. Their loneliness easily worsens into depression, and eventually to thoughts of suicide. These people turn to thoughts of suicide because they seek the relief from the pain that they are currently feeling. However, relief is a feeling and one must be alive to feel the relief of pain.

Some individuals may react negatively to what a suicidal person might be currently dealing with. These reactions might even increase the person’s desire to kill himself because of the negativity that surrounds him. This specific case may be seen in a different perspective since these people with negative reactions may just be feeling scared for that person who intends to kill himself. Understanding these suicidal people leads to one thing concern for the person and his own life. Suicide is really a matter related to the issue of mental health since it is linked to depression and even to separation anxiety. Having someone to talk to is a step forwardhopefully, another step away from the suicide. One must be open to counseling, guidance, help, and support in times of need. It is important that the person is willing to share his feeling of depression with another person. That way, ones heavy feelings can lighten up a bit. Knowing that heshe is not alone in the struggle is another advantage since this could help in escaping suicidal thoughts.

There are a lot of counseling websites and toll free numbers available for those people who just need someone to talk to, someone who can listen and understand them in a very sincere way. Getting help by going to a psychotherapist can really lessen the thoughts of suicide, and by having consistent sessions, a person may just feel the need and the joy to live again.

Dave, 25, seemed to be on the top of the world. After four years and four jobs, he feels unappreciated. He thinks his boss is not exactly an admirable leader. He’s having a hard time working side-by-side with his associates, which he finds exemplifying poor attitude and work ethics. He knows he can do better than most, he can think out of the box, but the management treats him just like any faceless statistic in their payroll.

For months, he felt like a robot showing up for work. He had bouts of depression every now and then. He was desperate and can’t seem to get out in the account of a pregnant wife. Still he dreams that there is a perfect job for him out there.

There are lot of people like Dave unhappily stuck with their jobs. Being unsatisfied with work is one of the primary causes of stress and anxiety. After all, for others, work is the place where they can be fulfilled financially and professionally. However, if that job does not provide these basic needs, they bury themselves in other things like being with their families and close friends or taking up a hobby. For some, drastic measures come in the form of alcohol drinking, cigarette smoking, and even taking illicit drugs.

It’s not easy as it may seem

You do have the power be successful and prosper in your career. All you have to do is just bring back the passion that you have lost along the way. Passion is always there but because of your expectations, it is buried somewhere layers upon layers of doubts and fears that is preventing in unleashing your potential. Fears like being criticized, being unloved, poor health, old age, getting poor etc…

Take it slowly and start to unearth your passion. Sometimes, we need to realize that we can overcome this and lead to more satisfying job or career. It would help before you make any move like Dave that you write it down what you really wanted and from there you can have the courage to go find a new job. But don’t just simply hop on the next available job offer or vacancy. It might turn out to be a mismatch and you just wasted your time.

You can make the change

So you’re current job is not all bed and roses. But you do have a choice. You know deep down you can choose your boss, position and salary. You have the power to create the life you wanted if you take control. With knowing how to get what you want, and getting what you really long for, then you can deal better with stress…and stress management will be a lot easier. One thing you must also remember that if you’re thinking of transferring jobs or changing a career, there is no such thing as a perfect setting. But when you find a work that you really love to do, everything can fall into places.

Read good books

Reading leadership, self-help and inspirational books will help you overcome feelings of negativity and cope up with your present situation. As getting enough knowledge will be beneficial for you to grow personally and be a success in your business and in work. Stay focus and keep in touch with your networks as they can also aid you on getting a better job. Know your passion—-your real passion that will truly make you happy and from there…it follows.