What would happen if an individual with Schizophrenia went untreated?

Schizophrenia is a chronic (long-lasting) brain disorder that is easily misunderstood. Although symptoms may vary widely, people with schizophrenia frequently have a hard time recognizing reality, thinking logically and behaving naturally in social situations. Untreated, the person will continue to have some or all of these symptoms:

• Delusions (distorted thoughts, false beliefs)

• Hallucinations (disordered perceptions) that may involve any of the five senses, including sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste

• Disorganized speech

• Unusual motor activity or disorganized behavior

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Are there exercises to cure sciatica?

Unfortunately, there are no specific exercises known to reliably cure sciatica. However, there are exercises that can help, including:

 

• walking, swimming, cycling

• yoga, tai chi, Pilates

• stretching exercises, including bridge and knee-to-chest exercises (see below)

 

To perform a bridge stretching exercise, lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Place your palms flat on the floor next to your hips. Keep your back straight as you lift your buttocks as high as you can off the mat, using your hands for balance. Hold for 5 seconds, then lower your buttocks not quite to the floor, then lift again. Repeat three times.

To perform a knee-to-chest stretch, lie on your back with your knees gently bent and feet on the floor. Place both hands behind the lower right thigh near the back of the knee and gently pull the knee up toward the chest. Hold for 15 seconds. Then repeat for the left knee and continue alternating for 3 cycles.

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Can leukemia go away on its own?

There is no way to prevent most forms of leukemia. Leukemia never goes away on its own and usually requires treatment. One type of leukemia that occurs mostly in older adults does not always require immediate treatment. It’s called chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

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How do you raise low blood pressure?

Dehydration and medication side effects are the most common causes of low blood pressure. Some people have low blood pressure when standing, known as postural hypotension. To raise blood pressure from any cause starts with making sure you are getting enough fluids every day. Your doctor may also recommend eating more salt. Postural hypotension may require treatment with medications to help prevent falling blood pressure with standing.

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What is the best treatment for orthopnea?

Orthopnea is the medical term for shortness of breath that comes on or gets worse while lying down. This is a classic symptom of heart failure. It can also occur in people with lung conditions including pneumonia, asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema and sleep apnea. To relieve orthopnea, the underlying cause needs to be treated. 

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What is anisocoria and why does it matter?

Anisocoria is characterized by pupils that are not the same size.  This is normal in about 20-percent of the population.  Many do not even realize it, and it is usually harmless.  But sometimes anisocoria is a symptom of a serious condition such as eye trauma, a concussion, bleeding around the brain, a brain tumor, or meningitis.  If you develop blurred or double vision, a severe headache, nausea, or fever, you should seek medical attention right away.

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How long to take a kidney stone to pass?

Kidney stones are abnormal, hard, chemical deposits that form inside the kidneys. They are often as small as grains of sand, and pass out of the body in urine without causing discomfort. However, the deposits can be too big to be flushed from the kidney. Kidney stones that travel into the ureter can get trapped, causing significant pain. A stone in the ureter may not pass on its own and need to be removed. How long it may take to pass out of the ureter is highly variable. Or, it may not pass on its own and need specific treatment.

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What is the best way to cure heartburn?

Heartburn is caused by stomach acid moving up out of the stomach into the lower part of the esophagus. Living a healthy lifestyle may be one of the best things you can do to tame the heartburn of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This includes maintaining a healthy body weight; not smoking; getting 30 minutes daily of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity; limiting coffee, tea, or soda to no more than 2 cups per day; and eating a healthy diet. Each one of these factors may prevent the inappropriate relaxation of the sphincter muscle between the stomach and the esophagus, helping to keep acid from refluxing up and causing heartburn. 

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When should you get treatment for tremors?

Sometimes tremor is a normal reaction to a situation such as fear, fatigue or anger. It also can be a side effect of too much caffeine, a medication, or withdrawal from a drug or medicine. When tremor occurs during activities and there is no emotional or chemical cause, it is usually a condition known as essential tremor. 
Essential tremor is different than Parkinson's disease. Essential tremor is most noticeable when your body is in action, such as when you are writing, typing or pouring a beverage. In contrast, the tremors of Parkinson's are more noticeable at rest. 
If the shaky movements of your hands, limbs, head or voice can’t be easily controlled, it’s time to consider treatment.

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What can you take to stop flatulence?

Here are ways to help prevent and reduce flatulence:
•    Eat and drink slowly, in a calm environment. Chew your food thoroughly before you swallow.
•    For a few days, avoid the foods that most commonly cause flatulence, such as beans, high-fiber foods, cruciferous vegetables, carbonated beverages and sugar-free products containing sorbitol. Then gradually add them to your diet again, one by one, while keeping track of your symptoms. This should let you determine which foods trigger flatulence for you. Then you can avoid them.
•    If you need to add more fiber to your diet, increase your fiber slowly over a period of days or weeks. A sudden increase in dietary fiber often triggers flatulence, but a gradual increase may not.
•    If you eat beans, try a nonprescription product, such as Beano, containing enzymes that break up the poorly digested sugars found in beans.
•    Consider a trial of lactose-free products.

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