ARE YOU MY DOCTOR?: December 2010

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Trypanophobia, or fear of needles, affects an estimated 10% of Americans. Yet it was only recognized as a specific phobia by the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual) in the 1994 4th Edition. The disorder is generally referred to simply as “needle phobia” by the general population, but is specific to medical needles.

Symptoms of Trypanophobia

If you have trypanophobia, you may dread receiving medical care, particularly injections. When you are required to undergo a medical procedure, you are likely to experience high blood pressure and an elevated heart rate in the hours and days leading up to your procedure. However, at the time of the event, your blood pressure may rapidly drop. You may even faint.

Dangers of Trypanophobia

Unlike most phobias, which generally cause a fast pulse and feeling of panic, trypanophobia frequently causes blood pressure and heart rate to drop.
Another danger of needle phobia is that it can cause sufferers to avoid visiting the DOCTOR or dentist. Although the actual phobia is of needles, it can lead to a more generalized fear of medical and dental healthcare providers. In extreme cases, the sufferer may refuse to receive even routine checkups.

Causes of Trypanophobia
Scientists are still unsure precisely what causes needle phobia. It seems to be inherited, as an estimated 80% of those who have the condition have a close relative that suffers from the same phobia. However, it is possible that the fear is learned rather than biologically inherited.
Some evolutionary psychologists believe that the fear may be rooted in an ancient survival technique. Puncture wounds could be deadly, particularly in the days before modern antibiotics. It is possible that a fear of puncturing the skin was an evolutionary adaptation.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy has been highly effective in treating trypanophobia. Through techniques such as systematic desensitization, the client can gradually learn to tolerate needles. Some experts have also found success using hypnotherapy.
In addition, new routes of medication distribution are being developed. For example, a nasal spray form of the flu vaccine called FluMist has been approved for use in most healthy people. Researchers are working on possible needle-free ways of testing diabetics’ blood sugar and performing other needed medical tests.
Trypanophobia is a serious condition that must be treated, as it could eventually lead you to miss out on needed medical care. If you think that you may suffer from this condition, you are urged to consult a mental health professional right away.

FEAR

_Source:
Hamilton, James G. “Needle phobia: a neglected diagnosis.” Journal of Family Practice. August, 1995. June 28, 2008. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0689/is_n2_v41/ai_17276569

Thursday, December 16, 2010

:: BLEEDING BLACK BLOOD ::

Q: For the past two months, a week before I started my period, I started bleeding a light brown color.When

my period did start, I was bleeding black blood . I've also been having real bad abdomal pain upper and

lower even when I'm not having my period. I've been taking Ortho Novum for a year and my period has

never been like this. Could you please tell me the reason or what I have done that would cause this to

happen?

A: Black blood sounds a little unusual. Please get to DOCTOR asap. I have not heard of this and have no

clue as to what may be happening, but am wishing you the best.

BLEEDING BLACK

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

:: HEMOLYTIC REACTION ::

A hemolytic transfusion reaction is a serious problem that occurs after a patient receives a transfusion of blood. The red blood cells that were given

to the patient are destroyed by the patient's own immune system.

The immune system normally can tell its own blood cells from blood cells from another person. If other blood cells enter your body, your immune

system may make antibodies again them. These antibodies will work to destroy the blood cells that the body does not recognize.

Symptoms:

Fever, chills and fever, the feeling of heat along the vein in which the blood is being transfused, pain in the lumbar region, constricting pain in the

chest, tachycardia, hypo-tension, and hemoglobinemia with subsequent hemoglo-binuria and hyperbilirubin-emia.

A "feeling of impending doom" is frequently reported by the patient as an early sign of this reaction.

In an unconscious or anesthe-tized patient: Uncontrollable bleeding due to disseminated intravascular coagulation may be the only sign of a

hemolytic transfusion reaction

CAUSE:

Human error such as mislabeled pretransfusion specimen; the transfusion of properly labeled blood to the wrong person, or clerical errors

occurring within the Blood Bank

transfused red cells react with circulating antibody in the recipient with resultant intravascular hemolysis

Most likely to occur when a group O patient is mistakenly transfused with group A, B, or AB blood. Patients receiving a major ABO- incompatible

marrow or stem cell transplant with sufficient red cell content will likely develop an acute hemolytic reaction

PHOTOS BY : CHRISTIAN AMADO RODRIGUEZ

Sunday, December 12, 2010

:: ANTIPSYCHOTIC DRUGS AND BLOOD CLOTS ::

Antipsychotic medicines are mainly used to treat psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The study behind this report compared their use in over 25,000 people with blood clots in their legs or lungs and in almost 90,000 people who did not have clots. It found that there was a 32% increase in risk of a blood clot in people currently using antipsychotics. However, the overall risk of having a blood clot was still very small, even among people taking antipsychotics. Overall, people in the study had about a 0.1% chance of having a blood clot each year.

The use of antipsychotic drugs is well established in treating conditions such as schizophrenia. If the small increase in risk of blood clots is confirmed by future research, this would have to be considered when weighing up the potential benefits and harms for each patient. People taking antipsychotics should not be concerned by this news and should not stop using their medication. Any concerns raised by this news can be discussed with a DOCTOR.

Friday, December 10, 2010

:: AUTOLOGOUS BLOOD ::

Although in most situations the likelihood of a blood transfusion associated with surgery is uncommon, at times patients may require blood products. You are encouraged to discuss your particular risk of transfusion with your DOCTOR.
If during the transfusion you have symptoms of shortness of breath, itching, fever or chills or just not feeling well, alert the person transfusing the blood immediately.