So antigens are the enemy, they challenge our immunity, and the immune system fights back. How? One method of attack is for certain immune cells to “eat” the antigen. Another is to cut a hole in the surface of the bacteria’s cell. This destroys the bacteria by allowing water, sodium and other substances to leak [...]

‘Uncued’—spontaneous panic attacks The experience of an uncued attack is the central feature of panic disorder. An uncued panic attack is an attack that occurs spontaneously, irrespective of what the person may be doing at the time. It is not triggered by situations and places. People who experience this type of attack may also experience [...]

Panic disorder; generalised anxiety disorder; post traumatic stress disorder; obsessive compulsive disorder; and social phobia are classified as anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders affect 12.6% per cent of the population over a twelve-month period (Andrews 1994). Research suggests anxiety disorders represent the largest mental health problem in the general population (APA 1980). Using the current Australian [...]

The two major groups of tranquillisers which may help chronic pain are classed as ‘minor’ and ‘major’ tranquillisers. The best known ‘minor’ tranquillisers are Valium and Sere-pax. These much maligned drugs are extremely useful and are particularly safe when used according to the instructions of the doctor and the manufacturer. As long as their well-recognised [...]

A large proportion of those with food intolerance are diagnosed as having psychosomatic illness by their family doctors, or by consultants to whom they are referred. Although this is distressing and frustrating for the patient, the confusion is understandable because the two disorders do present a very similar picture in terms of symptoms. Psychosomatic illness, [...]

If you’re having problems with your erection, the first step is to relax. If you’re concerned that your inability to maintain your erection is because you physically can’t, here’s a strange but simple test. Since men almost always get an erection during REM sleep, take a strip of postage stamps and attach it around your [...]

I don’t know of anyone who hasn’t been constipated at some point in his or her life. The problem, however, is that we all have a different definition of what constipation is. Some people say they have a bowel movement once or twice a day and think that’s typical, while others think a bowel movement [...]

The body is a funny thing. It can accept a sedentary lifestyle for many years, usually with no ill effects. Then suddenly, as if to make up for decades of being taken for granted, it will rebel, almost as if to make you atone for the lack of attention you’ve paid it. One of the [...]

Description and Possible Medical Problems I’ll bet that when you were a child and not feeling well, your mother placed her hand on your forehead, announced that you were looking pale, and then sent you to bed. It’s true that when we are young and become sick, it is not uncommon to become pale. In [...]

Description and Possible Medical Problems As we age, we become more aware of the minute changes in our bodies, from that slight ache in the knee that now comes after a brisk walk, to the gray hairs that seem to multiply with great regularity. You’ll probably notice veins on the surface of your tongue that [...]