The Blind Therapist

03/08/2025

Many *diseases* are not diseases, but *normal aging*. The director of a Beijing hospital gave five pieces of advice to the elderly :

You are not sick, you are getting old .. Many *diseases* you think are not diseases, but signals that the *body is aging*.

1. *Poor memory* is not Alzheimer's disease, but a self-protection mechanism of the elderly brain. *Don't scare* yourself. This is the brain getting old, not a disease. If you just forget where you put your keys, but you can find them yourself, it is not dementia.

2. *Walking slowly* and having unsteady legs and feet' is not paralysis, but muscle degeneration. The solution is not to take medicine, but to *move.*

3. *Insomnia* is not a disease but the brain is adjusting its rhythm. It is a change in sleep structure. Don't take sleeping pills indiscriminately. Long-term dependence on sleeping pills and other drugs to fall asleep will increase the risk of falls, cognitive impairment, etc. *The best sleeping pill* for the elderly is *to get more sun* during the day and maintain a regular schedule.

4. *Body aches* are not rheumatism, but a normal reaction to nerve aging.

5. Many elderly people say: My arms and legs hurt everywhere. Is it rheumatism or bone hyperplasia? Bones do become loose and thin, but 99% of 'body pain' is not a disease, but a slow nerve conduction, which amplifies the pain. This is called *central sensitization, a common physiological change in the elderly. Analgesics are not the solution. *Exercise and physical therapy* are the adjustment methods. You can recommend 'foot bath + hot compress before bed + light massage', which is more effective than taking medicine.

6. Abnormal physical examination' is not a disease, but the index standards have not been updated.

7. The World Health Organization recommends that the physical examination indicators of the elderly should be *relaxed*. The same is true for cholesterol. The elderly have slightly higher cholesterol, but they live longer. Because cholesterol is the raw material for synthesizing hormones and cell membranes, too low a level can easily reduce immunity. The Guidelines for the *Prevention and Treatment of Hypertension* in China also clearly pointed out that the blood pressure reduction target for the elderly is

28/07/2025

If you don’t manage your health carefully you would pay for it carelessly.

10/05/2025

Sickle Cell

Sickle cell anemia is one of a group of inherited disorders known as sickle cell disease. It affects the shape of red blood cells, which carry oxygen to all parts of the body.
Red blood cells are usually round and flexible, so they move easily through blood vessels. In sickle cell anemia, some red blood cells are shaped like sickles or crescent moons. These sickle cells also become rigid and sticky, which can slow or block blood flow.
The current approach to treatment is to relieve pain and help prevent complications of the disease. However, newer treatments may cure people of the disease.
Sickle cell anemia
Red blood cells are usually round and flexible. In sickle cell anemia, some red blood cells look like sickles used to cut wheat. These unusually shaped cells give the disease its name.

Symptoms
Symptoms of sickle cell anemia usually appear around 6 months of age. They vary from person to person and may change over time. Symptoms can include:
* Anemia. Sickle cells break apart easily and die. Typical red blood cells usually live for about 120 days before they need to be replaced. But sickle cells usually die in 10 to 20 days, leaving a shortage of red blood cells. This is known as anemia. Without enough red blood cells, the body can't get enough oxygen. This causes fatigue.
* Episodes of pain. Periodic episodes of extreme pain, called pain crises, are a major symptom of sickle cell anemia. Pain develops when sickle-shaped red blood cells block blood flow through tiny blood vessels to the chest, abdomen and joints.�The pain varies in intensity and can last for a few hours to a few days. Some people have only a few pain crises a year. Others have a dozen or more a year. A severe pain crisis requires a hospital stay.�Some people with sickle cell anemia also have chronic pain from bone and joint damage, ulcers, and other causes.
* Swelling of hands and feet. Sickle-shaped red blood cells block blood circulation in the hands and feet, which can cause them to swell.
* Frequent infections. The spleen is important for protecting against infections. Sickle cells can damage the spleen, raising the risk of developing infections. Babies and children with sickle cell anemia commonly receive vaccinations and antibiotics to prevent potentially life-threatening infections, such as pneumonia.
* Delayed growth or puberty. Red blood cells provide the body with the oxygen and nutrients needed for growth. A shortage of healthy red blood cells can slow growth in babies and children and delay puberty in teenagers.
* Vision problems. Tiny blood vessels that supply blood to the eyes can become plugged with sickle cells. This can damage the portion of the eye that processes visual images, called the retina, and lead to vision problems.

When to see a doctor
See your healthcare professional right away if you or your child has symptoms of sickle cell anemia, including fever or stroke.
Infections often start with a fever and can be life-threatening. Because children with sickle cell anemia are prone to infections, seek prompt medical attention for a fever greater than 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit (38.5 degrees Celsius).
Seek emergency care for symptoms of stroke, which include:
* One-sided paralysis or weakness in the face, arms or legs.
* Confusion.
* Difficulty walking or talking.
* Sudden vision changes.
* Unexplained numbness.
* Severe headache.

01/05/2025

01/05/2025

Someone Needs this information. Please read.

I received an 85 year old patient with va**nal bleeding.... Just hearing the motive for consultation, the diagnostic hypothesis was serious; a gynecological cancer.

A va**nal evaluation at speculum showed at first a black mass on the va**nal mucous membrane. When evaluating the consistency of this mass, I could see that it was an animal firmly attached to the va**nal wall by two suction cups...

After extracting this water worm called leech, the patient suffered continuous bleeding from an anticoagulant substance called hirudine... whose animal injected into the lady's blood circulation.

NB.. You must be careful before diving into a stream because the leech can enter any hole of the body (nostrils, va**na) and above all protect your children.

Credit: Health matter

26/03/2025

Whatever religion you belong to, ABORTION has no benefit.
Think about this.

03/03/2025

Your Health Depends on Forgiveness.

Whether it’s a simple spat with your spouse or long-held resentment toward a family member or friend, unresolved conflict can go deeper than you may realize—it may be affecting your physical health. The good news: Studies have found that the act of forgiveness can reap huge rewards for your health, lowering the risk of heart attack; improving cholesterol levels and sleep; and reducing pain, blood pressure, and levels of anxiety, depression and stress. And research points to an increase in the forgiveness-health connection as you age.
“There is an enormous physical burden to being hurt and disappointed,” says Karen Swartz, M.D., director of the Mood Disorders Adult Consultation Clinic at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. Chronic anger puts you into a fight-or-flight mode, which results in numerous changes in heart rate, blood pressure and immune response. Those changes, then, increase the risk of depression, heart disease and diabetes, among other conditions. Forgiveness, however, calms stress levels, leading to improved health.
Can You Learn to Be More Forgiving?

Forgiveness is not just about saying the words. “It is an active process in which you make a conscious decision to let go of negative feelings whether the person deserves it or not,” Swartz says. As you release the anger, resentment and hostility, you begin to feel empathy, compassion and sometimes even affection for the person who wronged you.
Studies have found that some people are just naturally more forgiving. Consequently, they tend to be more satisfied with their lives and to have less depression, anxiety, stress, anger and hostility. People who hang on to grudges, however, are more likely to experience severe depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as other health conditions. But that doesn’t mean that they can’t train themselves to act in healthier ways. In fact, 62 percent of American adults say they need more forgiveness in their personal lives, according to a survey by the nonprofit Fetzer Institute.

Making Forgiveness Part of Your Life
Forgiveness is a choice, Swartz says. “You are choosing to offer compassion and empathy to the person who wronged you.” The following steps can help you develop a more forgiving attitude—and benefit from better emotional and physical health.

01/03/2025

Venous Thromboembolism?
A venous thromboembolism is a blood clot that blocks the flow of blood. "Thrombo" means blood clot, and "embolism," means a circulating particle that causes an obstruction. "Venous" means in the veins. When healthcare providers talk about venous thromboembolism (VTE), they often talk about it as a disorder that can lead to two different kinds of blood clotting conditions: deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

Veins carry blood from the extremities of your body back to your heart. When a vein is blocked, blood pools behind the blockage, causing inflammation, and cells ahead of the blockage can’t get the oxygen and nutrients they need. This can do serious damage to the veins, tissues and organs that they feed. In some cases — such as when a VTE blocks blood flow to the lungs — it can be life-threatening.
How does venous thromboembolism occur?
Blood clotting is a normal and healthy response to a superficial cut or wound. Your blood coagulates — partially solidifies — in order to keep it from leaking too fast from a hole. On the outside of your body, this produces a scab. On the inside of your body, it produces a clot. Blood clotting can also be triggered by an infection, which irritates the lining of the blood vessel like a wound. When the wound or infection begins to heal, the clot is supposed to dissolve. But sometimes it doesn’t. And sometimes blood clots form when there was no wound. Many factors can contribute to this. If the clot is big enough, it can block the vein.
How does venous thromboembolism affect my body?
A venous thromboembolism is not the type of blood clot that typically causes a heart attack or stroke. Those are usually caused by blood clots in your arteries, not in your veins. But a VTE can be just as dangerous. The most serious complications occur when a VTE breaks loose from where it formed, travels through your bloodstream, and gets stuck in the veins of your lungs. This is called a pulmonary embolism (PE). A PE restricts oxygen and blood flow to your lungs while increasing blood pressure in your arteries. This causes pulmonary hypertension, which in turn can cause heart failure and death.

VTEs usually form in the deeper veins of your body, embedded in the muscles of your legs or arms. When a blood clot is stuck in your deeper veins, it’s called a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). A DVT that blocks the vein causes inflammation at the site of the blockage and can cause long-term damage to the vein, resulting in chronic venous insufficiency (post-thrombotic syndrome). Not all DVTs cause an obstruction, but because they can, they are considered a venous thromboembolic disease. DVTs can also break loose and travel to your lungs, leading to pulmonary embolism (PE).
What is the difference between a thrombosis and a thromboembolism?
A thrombosis is a blood clot. A thromboembolism is a circulating blood clot that gets stuck and causes an obstruction. Both deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are included under the umbrella term of venous thromboembolic diseases because both have the potential to obstruct blood flow in your veins. Blood clots that occur in the smaller, superficial veins close to your skin (superficial venous thrombosis) don't tend to cause the same kinds of complications. About half of DVTs don’t cause complications either, but they can, and they remain a risk factor for PE.
How common is VTE?
In the U.S., VTE is the third most common vascular diagnosis after heart attack and stroke. It affects about 1 in 1,000 Americans each year. About half of people with VTE experience a pulmonary embolism. About 25% of those who have a pulmonary embolism die from it. After the age of 40, your risk of VTE almost doubles every decade.

Who does venous thromboembolism affect?
Anyone can get a VTE, but certain factors put you more at risk. About 25% to 50% of cases arise without obvious cause. Another 20% are associated with cancer, and 20% with surgery. Some people also have blood clotting disorders that make them more prone to clots.
Symptoms and Causes
What causes venous thromboembolism?
Blood clots can occur for many reasons, and no one factor makes them more likely to be big enough to obstruct a vein, or to break loose and travel to your lungs. Anyone who is at risk of blood clotting is at risk of venous thromboembolism. And anyone who is at risk of a VTE is at risk of a pulmonary embolism. People who develop VTEs often have more than one risk factor contributing to the condition.
Some people have an imbalance of blood-clotting proteins, which makes their blood more prone to clot and less prone to dissolve clots (thrombophilia). This can be inherited, or it can be a side effect of a specific condition. Sometimes a lack of movement causes your blood to slow down too much in your veins and it starts to coagulate. This can come from long-distance travel or a sedentary lifestyle.
The most natural cause of blood clotting is injury or infection. Sometimes the injury comes from a medical intervention, like surgery or chemotherapy or inserting an IV or catheter. People who are in the hospital for a long time are more at risk of clotting, because they may be healing from a wound or infection and also subject to invasive medical interventions, and also immobilized in a hospital bed.

What risk factors contribute to venous thromboembolism?
* Injury to a vein, due to bone fracture or surgery.
* Infection.
* Slow blood flow from immobilization.
* Genetics and family history of VTE.
* High estrogen due to pregnancy, birth control or hormone replacement therapy.
* Blood clotting conditions, including Factor V Leiden disease, polycythemia vera and sickle cell disease.
* Certain chronic illnesses, including cancer, heart disease and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
* Lifestyle factors, including smoking, obesity and lack of exercise.
* Age (VTE is most common in seniors, perhaps due to higher rates of illness and lifestyle factors.)
What are the symptoms of venous thromboembolism?
Signs of an obstructive DVT occur at the site of the clot. They can include:
* Swelling.
* Redness.
* Warmth.
* Pain.
Signs of a PE may occur without any previous signs of DVT. They can include:
* Chest pain.
* Shortness of breath.
* Rapid heart rate.
* Rapid breathing.
* Lightheadedness.
* Loss of consciousness.
* Sweating or clamminess.
* Coughing up blood.

23/11/2024

Science Shows Your Brain Today is Still Affected by How Much Sleep You Got Two Weeks Ago:

What you do (or don't do) impacts your brain for a long, long time.

A new study by colleagues from Aalto University and the University of Oulu reveals that your brain’s activity and connectivity are shaped by habits and behaviors from as far back as two weeks ago.

Researchers tracked brain activity and behavior over five months using brain scans, wearable devices, and smartphone surveys.

They found that daily routines — such as how well you slept or whether you exercised — can have lasting effects on attention, memory, and cognition. Some lifestyle choices produce short-term effects lasting only a few days, while others, like sleep or exercise, can influence brain function for up to 15 days. This suggests that your cognitive performance today is not just about what you did yesterday but reflects choices made weeks earlier.

The findings highlight the importance of consistent healthy habits for long-term brain health.

Regular exercise, quality sleep, and cognitive stimulation — like reading or learning new skills — enhance neuroplasticity and improve cognitive resilience over time. Social interaction, mindfulness practices such as meditation, and a diet rich in omega-3s and antioxidants also promote emotional regulation and protect neurons, helping to prevent cognitive decline.

The study’s insights into how brain connectivity evolves could pave the way for personalized mental health treatments, enabling interventions tailored to individuals' unique brain activity patterns.

These advances may transform how we manage cognitive health and mental well-being, shifting the focus toward proactive, habit-based strategies for maintaining brain health.

13/11/2024

18/10/2024

Health tips: 4 habits to improve gut health
Family eating meal together


Dear Reader,

Despite all the things that can go wrong with our gut and all the ways we can damage our GI tract, there are a lot of ways we can help things go right as well as actions we can take to heal or improve the GI system. Every time we enjoy a meal—be it french fries and a hamburger, or kale and black-eyed peas—we potentially change our microbiome. How we make that change is up to us, but for healthy change to occur, we must want to do it.

Change, as most of us know, can be hard to sustain. But when a new habit has a purpose that we value—such as eating food that supports the health of our body and brain—it’s much easier. The best way to make something a habit is to have a goal that is important to you.

Although there are endless food options available to us, many of them are not at all compatible with a healthy gut. It is a daily challenge to make the correct choices to help your gut have a fighting chance. These choices are sometimes not easy to make and may require discipline and purpose. When the pursuit of excellent health is our primary goal, we can take steps to reach it. Deciding that this pursuit is our mission is a process, and taking the first step can begin to shift our behaviors. And solidifying this behavior—making it habitual—is the key.
Make it a habit! Four tips to improve gut health
Do not eat out more than once a week.
Try to avoid processed foods and limit them to no more than 25 percent of your meals.
Consume organic, non-GMO foods as often as possible.
Eat with someone—dinners with family and friends encourage community.

27/09/2024

Health tips: Stress and anxiety

Dear Reader,

Stress is something that just about everyone knows well and experiences often. It’s that feeling of pressure, typically a result of too much to do and too little time to do it in. In a busy life, stress is almost unavoidable. Stress may be caused by events that are positive — a new job, vacation or marriage — and by events that are negative, such as job loss, divorce or death in the family. Stress isn’t the event itself, but rather your psychological or physical reaction to the event.

Anxiety is a tense feeling that often accompanies stress. It’s typically directed toward the future — toward something that may happen soon. Some anxiety can motivate you or help you respond to danger. However, if you have ongoing anxiety that interferes with daily activities and makes it hard to enjoy life, then anxiety can be a problem.
Home remedies
To help control stress and anxiety, experiment with these self-help strategies:
Learn to relax. Try relaxation therapies like massage, yoga, aromatherapy or art and music therapy. These may help you cope with the physical signs and symptoms. Your goal is to lower your heart rate and blood pressure while also reducing muscle tension.
Discuss your concerns. Talking with a trusted friend helps relieve stress and may provide a more positive perspective on your situation. This may lead to a healthy plan of action.
Get plenty of sleep. A healthy body promotes mental health. Sleep provides more vigor and a refreshed state of mind for tackling life’s challenges.
Stay physically active. Exercise keeps your body healthy and helps burn off excess energy that stress can produce. Aim for at least 30 minutes of daily exercise.
Eat healthy. Try to eat regularly scheduled, balanced meals and healthy snacks.
Limit caffeine. Too much coffee, tea or soda can increase your level of stress.
Plan ahead. Approach daily responsibilities in a practical and organized fashion. Divide big jobs into smaller tasks and take them on, one task at a time, until you reach your goal.
Deal with anger. Anger can and should be expressed, when it’s done carefully. First, count to 10 and compose yourself. Then, respond to strong emotions.
Be realistic. Set goals that you can reasonably achieve. Concentrate on what’s important. Setting unrealistic goals only invites failure.
Get away. A change of pace or change of scene may help you develop a whole new outlook. Going for walks or to the movies, golfing with friends or getting together for a game of cards helps relieve inner pressures.
Avoid self-medication. At times people rely on medication or alcohol for stress relief. This may lead to dependency.
Nurture your inner spirituality. Nature, art, music, meditation and prayer, as well as religious services, can help build inner strength and perspective.
Develop a support network. Family members, friends and co-workers whom you can turn to for support may be helpful when coping with stress.
Contact your healthcare provider or a mental health professional if stress feels overwhelming or you’re unable to function well, physically or emotionally.