The COVID-19 pandemic has put our personal health in the spotlight, focusing in on our overall wellbeing. While certain things can remain standard, from making sure to get our annual physicals to seeking care for specific ailments, there has been tremendous growth and expansion when it comes to how to treat some patients and certain conditions.
These methods put groundbreaking developments at the forefront while paving the way for greater peace of mind for patients and medical professionals alike.
Mental Health Care
For years, people who are struggling with mental health conditions, or have loved ones locked in their own battles, have sought to break down the stigma associated with therapy and psychiatric care. Mental health has become more of a focus in the United States and abroad because of the isolation and anxiety that came with the coronavirus pandemic.
Social distancing measures have led to greater feelings of fear, despair, and even depression for people. Human beings are social creatures, and staying apart has made the ‘new normal’ abnormal for most. Some parents were thrust into the role of babysitter and teacher, all while working from home. Essential workers were put at the front line of the crisis. Whatever your story, it is important to remember that it’s okay to not feel okay.
There are resources available to address your feelings with a mental health professional that can ease some of the worries that have been dwelling on your mind, even if it is unrelated to the pandemic. Withtherapy.com helps match prospective patients with the proper therapists who can have the best understanding of what is triggering certain behavior and discussing the qualms that are weighing in on patients. Having a doctor who not only has a firm grasp on particular mental health trouble is helpful, but may allow feeling more at ease while talking to them, knowing you’re being understood. The type of therapy can vary from a one-on-one session, teleconferencing, or even group therapy.
Treatment and addressing these issues influence how people cope with stress, connect with others, and make decisions, no matter how tough they are. It is important to address mental health issues at every stage in life—whether it is a recurring trouble that lingers or newly developed difficulties that may arise later in life.
Beyond talk therapy, some people with mental health disorders may be prescribed medication as part of a treatment plan formulated by their mental health care provider and primary care physician. It is also recommended to keep your medical team in the loop as symptoms of mental health conditions can actually be linked to some medical conditions and chronic ailments.
Cancer Treatment
Strides are being made almost daily in not only catching cancer early but also when it comes to the advanced cancer treatment options that are available to get patients back on the road to good health. Advanced cancer treatment in Little Silver, NJ has been developed in addressing various forms of the illness including breast cancer, lung cancer, and skin cancer, all based on a patient’s individual medical history.
These new forms of cancer care include treatments like immunotherapy, where the immune system is rebuilt to fight back against cancer cells and get patients on the road to recovery. This allows antibodies to tell the bad cells from the good and target cancer through the use of antibodies.
Chemotherapy has several different uses through cancer treatment. Despite negative side effects like hair loss and gastrointestinal issues, it is one of the prime treatments to stop cancer from spreading and killing cancer cells that have already spread. Chemotherapy also shrinks tumors in order to prepare patients for other treatment options like surgery. Chemo patients can also have their cancer treatment combined with immunotherapy, radiation therapy, and other medical options.
For diseases like leukemia and lymphoma that are associated with the bloodstream, there are resources that combine hematology with oncology for treatment. These treatments are a bit trickier, as radiation and chemotherapy can actually damage the body’s blood-forming cells. However, experts have discovered that stem-cell transplants can not only repair that damage, but effectively jumpstart the body into creating new cells.
Stem-cell transplantation usually does not work against cancer directly. However, in some patients with leukemia or multiple myeloma, it can fight back.
CBD Solutions
You have probably heard those three little initials by now: CBD. Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a chemical compound found in cannabis and hemp plants that are believed to provide the calming and relaxing qualities associated with the marijuana plant without the psychoactive agent of THC that creates a ‘high’.
Organic CBD has gained traction as an option for dealing with chronic pain and certain mental health conditions, with claimed benefits of reducing inflammation and combating chronic struggles for the muscular system like arthritis and multiple sclerosis. CBD oil, in some cases, has been shown to have antidepressant-like effects for patients dealing with depression and anxiety.
These days, CBD use has also been recommended as a safe proper dosage for your furry friends. Pet relief CBD oil is being utilized for both a cat’s and a dog’s health by some pet owners in consultation with their veterinarian to treat similar ailments to what humans utilize it for. The products are hemp-derived, THC-free, and come in a variety of forms, just like CBD for human consumptions, ranging from creams and sprays to various flavors of treats in the pet world.
CBD is believed to interact with the endocannabinoid system in humans and pets. Also known as ECS, this is a complex cell-signaling system that plays a role in regulations for a range of functions and processes including sleep, mood, and appetite. It is believed that cannabidiol works by preventing endocannabinoids from being broken down, allowing them to have more of an impact on the body to combat things like nausea, headaches, and other ailments. There are theories that CBD binds to receptors in the ECS.
While nothing has been formally cemented when it comes to the use of CBD for pain relief and other chronic conditions, the good news is that there are developments being made to determine the longevity and safety of its use.
