Individuals who suffer from recurring panic attacks suffer from a condition called panic disorder. This condition can very often lead to agoraphobia (fear of open or public places). Having a panic attack means suffering an attack of fear or anxiety which comes on very suddenly for no apparent reason. As well as anxiety, panic attacks can be accompanied by the following symptoms: thumping heart or palpitations; sweating; chills or hot flashes; shortness of breath; feeling sick; chest pains; dizziness or feeling faint; fear of dying; fear of going mad; pins and needles or numbness; and, feelings of detachment.

Any physical symptoms associated with an attack do not indicate a physical problem with the chest, heart, abdomen, etc – they usually occur due to a rush of nervous impulses originating in the brain which go to various parts of the body during the attack.

It is known that at the very least, one in ten people have had an occasional panic attack, but to have a panic disorder means to have recurring panic attacks, the frequency of which varies in different people.

No treatments are usually necessary for the occasional panic attack, but for those who have a panic disorder the aim is to try and reduce the severity as well as number of panic attacks that occur and the main types of medication for these are antidepressants.

Panic Disorder

Swine flu is a disease that affects pigs and is a highly contagious type of respiratory disease caused by a version of the influenza A virus. Typically, swine flu is of the subtype designated as H1N1, and this is also the subtype that is currently affecting humans.

H1N1 Swine Flu Virus

Although swine flu normally affects pigs, it can sometimes jump to a different species, which is what has happened with humans. Symptoms of swine flu are, on the whole, very similar to normal seasonal influenza outbreaks in humans and can range between no symptoms at all or very mild symptoms, to severe and even fatal pneumonia. Because these symptoms are similar to the normal flu symptoms, swine flu is almost impossible to distinguish from normal flu, unless specifically looked for by a doctor.

Humans can catch swine flu either by contact with pigs that are infected, which is the most common way, and contact with humans that are infected, which is less common. For human to human infection to occur, very close contact needs to occur between the two parties.

Swine Flu Symptoms

The symptoms of swine flu in humans is very similar to normal influenza symptoms, as mentioned above, and these can be aches, chills, coughing, diarrhea, headache, sore throat, fever, fatigue and vomiting. Most previous cases of swine flu in humans has cleared up without any medical assistance, but there are a couple of drugs that are successful in treating the condition – adamantanes and inhibitors of influenza neuraminidase.

A sore or hole in the lining of an organ is known as an ulcer.  A stomach ulcer is known as a gastric ulcer while a duodenal ulcer is an ulcer in the duodenum which is part of the small intestine. Duodenal ulcers occur more frequently in men and usually between the ages of 20-45, while stomach ulcers occur more often than not in people over the age of 50.

The stomach is protected from acid by a lining of mucus but if the lining is damaged then the acid can come into contact with the stomach or intestine wall, causing an ulcer.

Symptoms of an ulcer include abdominal pain, feeling sick after eating, loss of appetite, weight loss, or difficulty swallowing.  More serious symptoms include black or tar like stools, severe stomach pain, or vomiting blood.

Stomach Ulcers

Ulcers can be caused by bacteria known as Helicobacter Pylori and also use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin.  Other causes of ulcers are smoking and drinking alcohol and it is also thought to run in some families.  Stress can aggravate an ulcer as it causes the stomach to produce more acid.

Diagnosis of an ulcer is confirmed through a procedure known as an endoscopy.  This is done in a hospital and it involves a thin tube being passed down to the stomach through the mouth and gullet.  This can show the doctor whether an ulcer is present.

Treatment of an ulcer depends on whether the cause was a bacterium or by using NSAIDs. Proton pump inhibitors are prescribed for ulcers which have not been caused by the H pylori bacteria and they work by reducing the amount of acid in the stomach.  For ulcers caused by H pylori bacteria, treatment is usually a combination of proton pump inhibitors and two antibiotics.

Skin Ulcers