What is Hypochondria?

The vital characteristic of hypochondria is the concern related to the fear of having or the belief of having severe illness. This is usually base on the misinterpretation of one or more physical signs or symptoms.

We can speak of disease anxiety (or fear of disease ). Of course, only if a complete medical evaluation has excluded any medical condition that can fully explain the physical signs or symptoms. However, excessive anxiety can exist even when a non-serious organic disease is present.

The main aspect of hypochondria is that unjustified fear or belief of having an illness persists despite medical reassurance.

Symptoms of Hypochondria

The symptoms of hypochondria can be trace back to concerns about:

• bodily functions (e.g., heartbeat, perspiration or peristalsis);
• minor physical changes (e.g., a small injury or an occasional cold);
• vague or ambiguous physical sensations (e.g., “tired heart,” “sore veins”).

The person attributes these symptoms or signs to the suspected disease. And is very worry about their meaning and cause. In disease anxiety (also called disease phobia ), concerns can relate to numerous systems, at different times or simultaneously.

Alternatively, there may be a concern for a specific organ or a single disease (e.g., fear of heart disease).
Repeated medical examinations, diagnostic tests, and reassurances from doctors serve little to alleviate the concern concerning illness or physical suffering. For example, a person worried about having heart disease will not feel reassured by the repeated negativity of the findings of the medical visits, the ECG, or even cardiac angiography.

Hypochondriac individuals may be alarm if they read or hear about a disease. M even if they learn that someone has fallen ill, or because of observations, feelings, or events that affect their body.

For those suffering from hypochondria, the fear of disease often becomes for the subject a central element of self-image, a habitual topic of conversation, and a way of responding to the stresses of life.

Further Clinical Manifestations

In hypochondria, medical history is often present in great detail and very extensively. “Going to doctors” and deterioration of the doctor-patient relationship is common, with mutual frustration and resentment.

People with a fear of disease often feel that they do not receive appropriate treatment. They can vigorously oppose invitations to go to psychological services.

Complications can result from repeated diagnostic procedures, which in themselves can pose risks and are expensive.

However, just as these individuals have a history of multiple complaints without a clear physical basis. There is a risk that they will receive superficial assessments as in the fable “wolf to wolf”. The presence of a general medical condition when present can, therefore, be neglected.

Social relationships are disturbed by the fact that the person who has the symptoms of hypochondria is worried about his condition and often expects special consideration and treatment.

Family life can become disturbed as it focuses on the physical well-being of the subject. There may be no effects on the working functioning of the individual if he manages to limit the expression of hypochondriac concerns outside the working environment. More often than not, concern interferes with performance and causes absences from work. In severe cases, the hypochondriac subject can become completely invalid due to his / her fears of diseases.

Causes, Onset, and Course of Hypochondria and Disease Anxiety

Serious illness, especially in childhood, and a family member’s experience of illness are easily associate with the onset of symptoms of hypochondria.

It is believe that certain psycho-social stressors, in particular the death of some close person, may, in some cases, precipitate the phobia of diseases.

The disturbance is equally distribute between males and females. The percentage of the spread of hypochondria symptoms in the general population is unknown, but in general medical practice, it ranges from 4 to 9%.

The fear of disease may begin at any age. But it is thought that the most common age of onset is early adulthood. The course is usually chronic, with the symptoms coming and going, but sometimes a complete remission of hypochondria occurs.

Because of its chronicity, some believe that hypochondriac disorder is mainly the expression of character traits (i.e., long-lasting concerns regarding physical problems and the focus on somatic symptoms).

It is important to distinguish disease anxiety from obsessive-compulsive disorder from contamination. This is characterized not so much by the fear of having an illness. But by the excessive and irrational fear of getting sick or making someone else ill through contagion. This generally results in washing rituals and avoidance aimed at warding off such fears.

Its Treatment

Psychotherapy is a very uneven discipline; there are dozens of forms of individual, family, couple, and group psychotherapy. In the treatment of hypochondria, the form of psychotherapy that scientific research has shown to be most effective, in the shortest possible time, is ” cognitive-behavioral. ”

It is short psychotherapy, usually weekly, in which the patient plays an active role in solving his problem. Together with the therapist, she focuses on learning more functional ways of thinking and behaving. In order to break the vicious circles of anxiety for health.

In any case, the treatment of hypochondria can be particularly difficult. As the subjects are never entirely convinced that the cause of their ills is only psychological.

Generally, psychotherapy is possible in those cases in which the person continually worries about having diseases. But realizes, at least in part, that his concerns are excessive and unfounded.

The drug treatment of hypochondria, provided that the person agrees to take the drugs without fear that may cause damage to your body. Is fundamentally based on antidepressants, or tricyclic that SSRIs.

This last class has, compared to the previous ones, greater handling, and fewer side effects.

Given that hypochondria is often assimilated to obsessive-compulsive disorder. Considering the patient’s concerns as disease obsessions, drug therapy reflects the guidelines for this disorder. Fifteen high doses of serotonergic antidepressants taken for prolong periods are use.

In mild forms, the prescription of benzodiazepines alone may be sufficient. But generally, it does not constitute a form of therapy for hypochondria and only achieves short-term anxiety relief.

Androgenetic Alopecia is the most common cause of baldness in the general population. Still, there are other types of hair loss with different underlying reasons. Discover them here.

There are various types of Alopecia, which is abnormal hair loss.

According to scientific studies, this pathology divided into classes according to its presentation speed, history, accompanying diseases, and clinical criteria.

Such as the characteristics of the hair, and the level of involvement of the underlying skin.

In articles, literature review states that the (most common variant) androgenetic Alopecia affects 6 to 12% of women between 20 and 30 years and 55% of men over 70 years.

Due to its high prevalence, the aesthetic value that many attributes to it, and the possible manifestation of other underlying diseases. It is necessary to know its types to understand how to interpret it.

Different Types Of It

The variety of types of Alopecia is so great that it is impossible to talk about general patterns and symptoms. Its extension is worldwide, with racial and geographical distribution particularities.

Alopecia is defined as hair loss of any type and anywhere on the skin surface. To facilitate their diagnostic algorithm, clinical hospitals divide this pathology into two broad groups, which are the following:

• 1.Those with the standard or healthy scalp (non-scarring).
• 2.Those with the pathological scalp (scarring).

Non-Scarring Alopecia

The characteristic feature of all the variants that we show you below is that hair loss is not caused by the appearance of fibrous tissue that cancels the follicle.

In these cases, the hair follicle not destroyed, but it does have various changes.

Androgenetic

Androgenetic Alopecia is the most common variant of baldness, as various studies report that it is responsible for this pathology in 95% of cases.

As we have previously said, up to 55% of men suffer from it, while the percentage in women is around 10%.

Dermatological magazines report that there are two leading causes of this disease:

• • Androgens and skin: Increased action of male hormones (testosterone) on specific areas of the scalp promotes the decreased activity of the hair follicle until it is atrophied.
  • Cellular mechanism: Is a response to the hereditary component of each person. The activity of RNA polymerase, an essential enzyme for protein synthesis, is conditioned by certain genetic factors. This can modify hair growth patterns.

There are multiple treatments to alleviate androgenetic Alopecia, such as the use of minoxidil, melatonin, finasteride, or laser therapy.

Some of these drugs have an efficiency of up to 90% because the hair stops falling. Regrowth of the hair follicle, by contrast, is a more complicated task.

Alopecia Areata

Research shows that this type of baldness, characterized by the appearance of round patches in focused areas, is a known microscopic pathology. It believed that various factors condition its appearance:

• • Genetic: The presence of alopecia areata in family history promotes its debut in the offspring in up to 40% of cases.
  • Immunological: It reported that there is a relationship between pathology and immune disorders, such as thyroid diseases or vitiligo (destruction of skin melanocytes). It has linked to conditions such as anemia, diabetes, or rheumatoid arthritis.
  • This disease also seems to be related to emotional factors such as stress, infectious agents, and neurological variations.

Other Types Of Non-Scarring Alopecia

We have described the two most important types of non-scarring Alopecia. There are many more, but we are going to limit ourselves to commenting briefly. Here are some examples:

• • Traumatic Alopecia: This occurs when continuous damage done to the scalp, based on tensile stress and pressure, such as braiding or bows.
  • Diffuse: It is generalized reversible hair loss. It can present in acute or chronic form.
  • For lack or excess of vitamins, drugs, or drugs: Studies show that vitamin D deficiency or excess vitamin A can cause hair loss.

Scarring Alopecia

According to scientific articles, scarring Alopecia characterized by permanent hair loss, which replaced by fibrosis or hyalinized collagen.

This type of pathologies accounts for 3% of the Alopecia observed in dermatological centers, so its clinical importance is relatively low.

Here are some of the factors that can promote this type of baldness:

• • Physical causes: Burns, frostbite, and trauma, among others. When the hair follicle destroyed, it replaced by scar tissue, preventing hair from increasing again.
  • Tumors: Any tumor that affects the skin, both benign and malignant, can present the appearance of this pathology as a side effect.
  • Infections: Leprosy or cutaneous tuberculosis, diseases that permanently damage the skin, can also cause it.
  • Chronic inflammatory processes: For example, lupus erythematosus and other non-infectious diseases that cause skin lesions can damage the hair follicle.

What To Remember About The Types Of Alopecia?

As narrated in the previous lines, Alopecia divided into non-scarring and scarring.

The former have different types, depending on the focus of hair loss and the underlying reasons. But genetic and hormonal factors usually condition them.

The scars are entirely different, as they are typically due to trauma and wounds that cause scarring at the site of the hair follicle.

If one idea has to be precise. It is that androgenetic baldness is the most common variant of this disease, which affects mainly middle-aged men.

Fortunately, there are more and more treatments to alleviate it and stop the fall of the scalp.

Overweight problems in pediatric age or Childhood Obesity are one of the most common nutritional disorders worldwide. The causes are varied and, almost always, several combined at the same time.

For years, experts have been trying to establish the most common causes of childhood obesity.

Since the disease itself and the consequences. It entails have emerged as a significant public health problem in the 21st century.

There are not so many geographical areas of the world that are exempt from the epidemic.

Some causes have to do with personal and family behavior towards physical activity and diet.

But in recent years, there is also talk of possible environmental and genetic factors that may have their influence.

In the following article, we explain everything that we know about it.

Incidence And Evolution Of Childhood Obesity

Weight problems in childhood have reached pandemic levels worldwide, which is why experts have rated it as one of the most significant public health challenges of the 21st century.

It is necessary to address the issue, as it is a situation that has consequences for the physical, social, and emotional health of children.

According to data published by the World Health Organization, in 2019, there were 38 million children under 5 years of age who were overweight or obese in the entire population.

And the same problem affected more than 340 million children between the ages of 5 and 19 in 2016.

An added drawback is that this increased incidence accompanied by a higher prevalence of other diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or blood lipid disturbances.

Problems are more typical of adulthood that are beginning to observe in minors.

The Most Common Causes Of Childhood Obesity

In generic terms, it accepted that the problem appears as an energy imbalance between the calories consumed and the calories expended.

In recent decades, been a series of changes in lifestyle types of diet that have led to a positive balance in favor of ingested.

When addressing the issue, we have to think of it as a multi-factor problem with different sources.

Current knowledge establishes that the most common causes of childhood obesity have their origin in genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors.

The Influence Of Genetics

Factors related to genes are among the most studied about pediatric obesity. Not surprisingly, some research shows that the BMI or body mass index (an indicator that serves to differentiate the healthy weight from overweight and obesity) is by inheritance between 25 and 40%.

However, this genetic influence must be accompanied by environmental and behavioral factors for a child to develop the disease. The inherited childhood obesity rate is estimated to be 5%.

Also, experts pointed out that all the variables that affect the amount of body fat, as well as energy intake and expenditure, are also marked by genetic factors.

And not only this, but the ability to respond to treatment included. Therefore, it can say that genetics is essential. But it does not by itself explain the significant increase in cases in recent decades.

The Role Of Lifestyle

There are some factors related to the behavior of minors that have an essential role in the development of childhood obesity.

Most of them end up leading to a situation where the energy consumed is more significant than that which expended.

Within these aspects that have to do with lifestyle, we will comment on some of them.

1. Intake Of Energy Drinks

Energy drinks and soft drinks are products that provide a large number of calories without any nutrients.

In an analysis of existing studies on the subject, sufficient evidence found to affirm that its consumption is related to the prevalence of obesity.

According to statistics, obesity linked to soft drinks may continue to increase. Consumption expected to increase over the next 5 years by around 9.5%.

2. Consumption Of Ultra-Processed Foods

This type of food, already prepared and industrialized. So it is characterized by containing significant amounts of saturated and hydrogenated fats. And a high caloric density, and a high glycemic index.

Besides, they are products that presented in increasingly more substantial portions.

All these features of the ultra-processed are adverse dietary factors and have a negative influence on childhood obesity.

There is an association intake of products and an increase in total energy and weight gain, both in children and adults.

3. Physical Exercise And Sedentary Lifestyle

Children between the ages of 8 and 18 spend, on average, about 7.5 hours using diverse technology (consoles, mobile phones, computers). And do not participate in physical activities or live games.

This lack of physical exercise and a sedentary life also contribute to obesity.

Environmental Factors

A heterogeneous group of circumstances known today as an obesogenic environment.

It can define as the sum of influences that the environment, opportunities, or living conditions have on the promotion of obesity in individuals or populations.

In a systematic review on the subject, three major environmental determinants have defined:

• Facilities for practicing physical exercise: For example, the existence of children’s green areas or sports clubs that promote active play and sports.
• Use of public space and transport: The existence of extensive and safe pedestrian routes, bicycle lanes, accessibility to public transportation.
• Availability of healthy foods: Here, the price of sale, the accessibility to fast-food restaurants, or the advertising of unhealthy foods come into play.

The Most Common Causes Of Childhood Obesity Are Varied

If what you want is to remedy this dangerous situation that affects millions of children in the world, changes, and modifications in lifestyle are the first steps to follow.

But if the environment does not stop favoring unhealthy eating and sedentary living. It will not be possible to move towards a definitive solution.

Not only is there the responsibility of governments to favor public policies in this regard. But adults have a direct influence on the minors around them.

It is a task for parents and caregivers that must develop in the long term.

Endometriosis and pregnancy is a possible combination, although it carries some risks. Medical consultation is vital for planning and subsequent strict controls.

Endometriosis is a fairly common pathology, and therefore can be present during pregnancy.

This association, in general, comes from before the woman becomes pregnant and can even be a reason for infertility.

Endometriosis disease affects almost 15% of women. It consists of the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus.

This tissue is what usually covers the uterine cavity and allows the embryo to implant.

Most often, in endometriosis, it is found in the pelvis, around or near the Fallopian tubes.

It is still functional, making it sensitive to all hormonal changes that women undergo, including those of pregnancy.

What Does Endometriosis Consist Of?

The uterus is a hollow cavity lined with tissue called an endometrial. This tissue is sensitive to hormonal changes that take place during the menstrual cycle in preparation for a possible feat.

From there comes the intimate relationship between endometriosis and pregnancy.

We are talking about the cells that form the protective layer for the embryo during the first days of life, allowing it to grip the uterine organ and avoiding detachment.

In each cycle, normal endometrium present in the uterus prepares for a possible pregnancy, the tissue that is found abnormally outside the cavity also does so.

This means that bleeding occurs in these areas during menstruation.

Some women have endometriosis and are unaware of it.

However, most do have symptoms. The most frequent is pelvic pain, which follows the menstrual cycle.

Also, it is essential to highlight that, depending on where the abnormal tissue is, it will have some repercussions or others.

Endometriosis often affects the ovaries. In this case, tissue-containing cysts can form and are called endometriomas.

Pelvic pain is one of the primary signs of endometriosis, whether in pregnancy or not.

What Is The Relationship Between Endometriosis, Pregnancy, And Infertility?

According to different studies, almost 10% of infertility cases are due to endometriosis.

This seems to be related to the fact that endometrial tissue in the ovary or fallopian tubes irritates the organs.

Inclusively, the theory of damage to these parts of the reproductive system is postulated by the constant cyclical inflammations that occur every month with the menstrual period.

Remember that it is a fabric located in an area that does not correspond.

Scarring and adhesions often form around anatomical regions where endometriosis is present. In this way, the fibrous tissue alters the process of fertilization.

The egg cannot generally circulate into the uterus to receive the sperm first, and then nest.

Complications During Pregnancy

A woman with endometriosis can become pregnant, although alarms increase.

This pathology is also associated with a series of complications during pregnancy, such as an increased risk of miscarriage, placenta previa, or premature delivery.

In fact, according to studies, the risk of abortion appears to be very high, especially when combined with other factors.

Pregnant women with endometriosis who are obese, over the age of 35, or smoker are highly likely to lose with bleeding within the first 12 weeks.

A baby measured prematurely when it is born before 37 weeks of gestation.

This supposes a critical and stressful situation for the child since not fully developed and has deficiencies in its organs.

The mechanism which endometriosis associated with prematurity and placenta previa not well understood.

This last pathology consists of the implantation of the placenta in an atypical area, closer to the cervix.

Therefore, before or during labor, it can rupture, bleeding puts both the baby and the mother at risk.

Consultation is vital when a woman with endometriosis plans a pregnancy.

Is There Any Treatment For Endometriosis During Pregnancy?

Endometriosis, as such, has different treatment options. However, it not recommended to use any of them during pregnancy.

When the woman is already gestating, it is best to keep stricter control. Pain relief measures, such as taking hot baths, also indicated.

If endometriosis detected in a woman who wishes to become pregnant, prior conservative surgery performed. The aim is to remove ectopic endometrial tissue and preserve the uterus and ovaries—this surgery did by laparoscopy.

The other option is to evaluate the possibility of in vitro fertilization if you want to avoid surgery.

Some women have contraindicated surgery, either due to associated pathological conditions or due to the inaccessible location of endometrial tissue.

It can also be a personal decision not to submit to the risk.

What we must remember is that if a woman wants to become pregnant, it is best always to consult a doctor.

In the case of endometriosis, pre-evaluation is even more essential to reduce future risks.