Q What Psychological Factors Contribute to Mental Illness?

The reasons which cause mental illness- Significant interpersonal loss and family instability, such as death of loved one, misfortune, poor relationship with family, domestic partner violence, separation, and divorce, emotional detachment have all been identified as risk factors. Financial stress, unemployment, and a drop in socioeconomic status can also be triggers for mental illness. This is also the case for a range of acute and chronic health problems, such as pain syndromes, or diagnoses of conditions like HIV or cancer. Some mental illnesses have been linked to an abnormal balance of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters help nerve cells in the brain communicate with each other. If these chemicals are out of balance or are not working properly, messages may not make it through the brain correctly, leading to symptoms of mental illness. In addition, defects in or injury to certain areas of the brain also have been linked to some mental conditions.

Q What are the symptoms of kidney failure?

Symptoms may vary form person to person. Usually kidney failure is asymptomatic in early stage but as disease progresses symptoms become prominent. Sign and symptoms include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, fatigue, weakness, changes in urine output, fluid retention, swelling over ankles and feet, shortness of breath, persistent itching, hiccups, high blood pressure, difficult concentration, abnormal heart rhythms, sleep problems. If left untreated life threatening circumstances may develop.

Q Where can I get help to stop smoking?

It is appreciated that you want to quit smoking. The best person to help you to quit any bad habit is YOURSELF. The inner voice is very important to do something which you think impossible. Nothing is impossible when YOU have decided to do it, rather someone else keeps you poking. If you think you need help, you can consult with your physician, friend, family member or any one to whom you believe the most. Dont quit suddenly because it may lead to some adverse effects; keep gradual decrease in the frequency and the number of smoke.

Q Whats the benefit of using condoms when we know that they are not 100 % safe ?

Unless a condom breaks or slips it is 100% effective to prevent pregnancy as well as STD. Failure of condom is generally due to its improper use, or vigorous sexual intercourse or poorly manufactured condoms. If a good brand is used with proper caution, there is very minimal chance of its failure. Also as it is said " It is better to be safe than sorry".

Q What triggers hormonal migraines in women?

The hormonal migraines are also known as menstrual migraines in females. The cause of headache is due to sudden drop of estrogen levels. This may happen during menstrual period, in menopause, due to sudden stopping of oral contraceptive pills and in pregnancy during first few weeks.

Q hi, My husband underwent piles surgery on last tuesday and was there in hospital for 2 more days. He got discharged yesterday(thursday). but he is having great problem in passing the stools. He almost faints and become soo weak after going to bathroom. He is havings sitz bath, applying cream and taking tablets also. But still the problem exists. Please help and tell us how can he reduce pain while passing the stool.

He will have the pain and difficulty for more 3-4 days. You have to give him more liquid diet and water which will ease the stool formation and relieve the pain. Give him more fibre containing food to prevent the constipation. Take the medicines regularly as prescribed. Give him a glass of buttermilk or a small bowl of yogurt everyday proper digestion of the food. Let him do some exercise for about 30 min a day regularly like walking, cycling or swimming etc after the recovery. Avoid the alcohol and smoking. If the problem persists longer, then consult the surgeon.

Q What is "Selective Mutism"?

Selective mutism is a condition in which a person who is normally capable of speech is unable to speak in given situations or to specific people. Selective mutism usually begins in childhood. It usually co-exists with shyness or social anxiety. Its important to understand that when the mutism happens, the child is not voluntarily refusing to speak but is literally unable to speak, feeling frozen. In time, they learn to anticipate the situations that provoke mutism and do all they can to avoid them. Example: selective mutism while interacting with the opposite sex. Other attributes of children or adults with selective mutism are nervousness, socially awkward, clingy, excessively shy or withdrawn, stubborn or aggressive. Behavioral therapy forms the mainstay of treatment with medications used in a few older patients. Most children will work their way through SM with sympathetic support, although they may remain reserved and anxious in social situations.

Q Using woolen blanket during summer can cause hair fall?

There is no scientific evidence to prove that using woolen blanket in summer can lead to hair fall.

Q Can stress cause weigh gain? How is stress related to weight gain? How to prevent it?

Yes stress is the major cause for weight gain! People turn to food for comfort whenever they feel stressed and tend to overeat. To make it worse, often we choose junk food. So, one, we eat unnecessarily without being hungry and two, junk food means much more added calories than needed.n Over a period, the caloric imbalance leads to weight gain and eventually elevates risk of diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease.n Now that you know, choose healthy alternatives like an apple or roasted almonds next time you feel stressed and are tempted to eat!n Moreover, try alternate ways like going for a walk or dancing to the tunes of some soothing music. This will not only relieve stress but will give bonus benefit by burning excess calories.

Q Why is one pupil bigger than the other in a 2 month old baby boy?

1 in 5 babies can born with different sized pupils without any underlying disorder. If other family members also have similar pupils, then the pupil size difference is possibly genetic and nothing to worry about. However, certain underlying conditions such as Homers disease, aneurysm, tumor, increased intracranial pressure, meningitis can cause a difference in pupillary size. If your baby does not have any other sign and symptom and he is healthy otherwise, then there is nothing to worry about. But our advise will be to get him examined once to rule out any underlying disease.