What Do You Want to Know About Depression?

Do You Want to Know About Depression

Depression is classified as a mood disorder, and may be described as feelings of sadness, loss, or anger that interfere with a person’s everyday activities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

People experience depression in different ways. It can often interfere with your daily work and relationships. Depression can result in lost time at work and lower productivity. It also can influence some chronic health conditions. Arthritis, asthma, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and obesity can all worsen with depression.
It is important to realize that feeling down at times is a normal part of life. Sad and distressful events occur in everyone’s life. However, feeling miserable and hopeless on a consistent basis is not normal. Depression should be treated as a serious medical condition.

Left untreated, the condition may last for months or years. It can worsen over time. Yet, those who seek treatment often see improvements in symptoms in just a few weeks.

 

Types of Depression

Depression has two main categories: clinical depression (also known as major depressive disorder) and dysthymia. Depression ranges in seriousness from mild to temporary episodes of sadness to severe, ongoing depression. Knowing which type of depression you have can help your doctor determine the best course of treatment.

1. Clinical Depression

Clinical depression is regarded as the most severe form of depression. It is characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness that do not go away on their own. For a diagnosis of clinical depression, you must meet five or more of the following symptoms over a two-week period.

feeling depressed most of the day
loss of interest in most regular activities
significant weight loss or gain
sleeping too much or not being able to sleep
slowed thinking or movement
fatigue or low energy most days
feelings of worthlessness or guilt
loss of concentration or indecisiveness
recurring thoughts of death or suicide

2. Dysthymia

Dysthymia is a mild, but chronic, form of depression. Symptoms often last for at least two years. Dysthymia can affect your life more than clinical depression because it lasts for a longer period. You may lose interest in normal daily activities, feel hopeless, lack productivity, and have low self-esteem. People with dysthymia are often regarded as being always critical, constantly complaining, and unable to have fun.

Other forms of depression and mood disorders may have unique characteristics or develop under specific circumstances, making them difficult to classify. A few examples are described below.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
This describes the onset of depression at a certain time of year. SAD typically occurs during the winter months, when there is less natural sunlight. SAD typically subsides in spring and summer. In some cases, however, SAD can become chronic.

Postpartum Depression

This is a type of moderate to severe depression experienced by women shortly after they give birth. Feelings of anxiety and restlessness often referred to as the “baby blues,” are common in the 2-4 weeks following pregnancy. Postpartum depression occurs when such feelings do not subside within one or more months after childbirth. The NIMH estimates that 10-15 percent of women experience postpartum depression after giving birth.

Psychotic Depression

This describes symptoms of depression accompanied by some form of psychosis, such as delusions or hallucinations.

Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar is characterized by severe mood changes, ranging from extreme highs (“mania”) and equally extreme lows. This disorder is also known as manic-depressive illness.

First Aid for Bleeding/Hemorrhage

Bleeding from major blood vessel can be fatal within minutes, emergency measures must be taken without delay to reduce blood loss until the victim is hospitalized. The recommended procedures here can be applied by anyone who remains calm and competent




Controlling external bleeding: 


                                                                                                                                     

1. Have patient lie down flat.

2. Place sterile gauze pad, sanitary napkin, clean handkerchief (or in the absence of these, any immediately available materials such as heavy paper or leaves) directly over the open wound.

3. If the bleeding is in the arm, leg, or head, elevate it above the level of the heart by the use of pillows, rolled-up blankets, newspapers, or other improvised props.

4. By the force of gravity, blood loss is reduced if at the same time that affected part is elevated, direct pressure is continued.

5. Apply direct, firm pressure (with your fingers or hand) over the wound; continue pressure 5 to 15 minutes.

6. If bleeding does not stop with prolonged direct pressure, and the wound is in the arm or the leg, apply a tourniquet for 10-15 minutes. Release to see if bleeding has stopped.If not, reapply tourniquet and transport patient to the nearest doctor.

7. Do NOT apply a tourniquet until you have first tried pressure upon arteries supplying the arm and leg. This will often stop the bleeding and make the use of a tourniquet unnecessary. (These pressure points are located on the inner side of the upper arm and just below the groin.)

8. Most bleeding, unless from a major vessel, will stop within few minutes. Clean wound thoroughly with plain soap and water. If bleeding is too active, apply a tourniquet for 10 minutes in order to thoroughly cleanse the wound.

9. Bandage to stop bleeding should NOT be applied too tightly that it will interfere with the circulation. If the patient feels it is too tight, or if the tissue below the bandage turns blue in color, cut the bandage down the middle and apply new bandage material more loosely over the original bandage.

10. Take patient to a doctor for possible further cleansing and stitching of the wound.

First aid tips for internal bleeding:                                   


Internal bleeding will usually evidence itself by the coughing up or vomiting of blood or "coffee ground" appearing material. Bleeding from the urinary tract will show itself upon passage of bloody urine. Bleeding from the intestinal tract will show itself by the blood in the stool or by the passage of black, tarry tools. Have such a patient:

Lie flat.
Breathe deeply.
Transport him as soon as possible to a hospital.
Do NOT attempt to give medicines to such patients

Conclusion

Bleeding from areas where tourniquets cannot be applied, such as the neck, should be treated by applying direct finger pressure over the wound. Keep pressure in place until the doctor arrives.