Archive for December, 2008
Examining The Problem of Hair Loss
Have you any idea just how big a problem hair loss is? Does it affect you in any way? Do you suffer from hair loss, have a loved one who has dealt with hair loss or are you worried you may have a hair loss problem in the future because a close family relation has hair loss? Hair loss can happen to children, men and women so the problem is pretty wide spread.
There are many reasons why hair loss can occur and sometimes there is more than one cause for hair loss. Women usually suffer from hair thinning more than balding but they can experience balding as well. Men usually experience hair loss earlier in life than women on average. Children typically experience hair loss as a result of a fungal infection such as Ringworm or from medications that they take or as a result of chemotherapy for cancer.
Many causes for hair loss are a result of how we care for our hair. We can contribute to hair loss by pulling on our hair too tight when we use hair accessories such as ponytail bands, cornrow hair pieces, brushing too hard or for too long or by using harsh chemicals and solutions on our scalps such as when we color our hair, have a permanent, or use hot oil treatments.
If we have poor nutrition habits or are malnourished we can experience hair loss.
Hair loss can occur from heat such as using high heat control on electrical dryers, or from constant exposure to the sun. Hair loss can also occur from other harsh environmental elements.
When we tug on our hair too hard such as constantly twirling or pulling it out of nervous habit or when we have a mental illness in which we intentionally pull out our hair.
Sometimes hair loss is the result of stress. Stress can come in the form of emotional, mental or physical stress and all three can cause hair loss. Major surgery, a loss of a loved one, or long-term financial hardships can all contribute to hair loss.
Even the normal hair cycle of growth, and rest results in the hair falling out but that occurs in a normal pattern of hair loss. Hair loss becomes a problem when the hair falling out is of an excessive amount so that the hair becomes thinned out in a noticeable fashion or patches of balding or a large bald area appears on the scalp.
Consulting with your doctor or a dermatologist can help you to arrive at a diagnosis and the cause or causes for your hair loss. Once you know what is causing you to lose your hair a treatment plan can be formulated. It is easier to cope with hair loss if you know what causes the problem. Your doctor or dermatologist can guide you to other resources of information including local support groups where you will be able to learn more about coping with hair loss.
Tags: problem of hair loss, hair loss, balding
Making The Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s
Unfortunately there is no single definitive test for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease. The doctors making the diagnosis’s are compelled to use the history of symptoms presented by the patient, or the patient’s family along with results of neurological examinations and any results obtained from diagnostic testing to rule out other conditions. When the diagnosis is finally made, the determination will be most likely that Alzheimer’s disease is the "probably" cause of the symptoms because other dementia conditions can and do cause similar signs and symptoms as one would present with regarding a diagnosis for Alzheimer’s. There are some obvious and sometimes subtle differences though in Alzheimer’s and other dementia conditions. Other dementia often times will not progress and may even improve with treatment. Alzheimer’s does not improve and it always progresses in a decline in both cognitive and behavioral condition.
The tests to rule out other conditions and point to Alzheimer’s include taking a mental status test, and also neuropsychological assessments. These tests can help to determine how the cognitive and memory functions are being affected and to what intensity the patient’s cognitive abilities have been affected. Attention span, learning ability, recall, language and visuospatial abilities will be tested. Test results will be compared to patients of similar age and educational background.
A series of interviews of the patient and those who are familiar with the patient will also be conducted with the purpose of determining how well the patient is able to function with daily tasks and to ascertain the emotional state of the individual. Personality and behavioral changes will also be noted.
A medical history will be taken to determine if there has been any history of alcohol or drug abuse, early childhood head trauma or other events that may contribute to memory loss.
Next, psychiatric assessments will be conducted to determine if depression or other mental illnesses are present.
Blood and urine tests may be ordered to rule out infections or other physical conditions that may contribute to the symptoms such as anemia, thyroid involvement, kidney or liver disease, vitamin deficiency or other factors that may have an impact on memory problems.
Scans such as a computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positive emission tomography (PET) may be ordered to help detect the presence of strokes, tumors or other brain conditions which may mimic the same symptoms as Alzheimer’s. These brain scans can also show changes in the brain structures that are associated with memory loss.
In the course of ruling out other conditions tests such as an electroencephalogram (EEG), electromyogram (EMG) or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) done by a spinal tap might also be done.
Ruling out other mental conditions or physical illnesses are an important part of coming up with the diagnosis of probable Alzheimer’s disease especially in the early stage of the disease. When the patient presents for a diagnosis and is already in the moderate stage of the disease the diagnosis is easier to make because of the progressive nature of the disease.
Tags: diagnosis of alzheimers, electromyogram, health, alzheimers, cerebrospinal fluid
