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    6 Endometriosis Questions Every Woman Needs to Know the Answers To

6 Endometriosis Questions Every Woman Needs to Know the Answers To

What is endometriosis?
Let’s start off with the basics.  What is this disorder that not nearly enough women around the world are educated on? Well, it is one of the most common gynecological conditions that affects women in all of North America. Endometriosis is tissue that should be growing inside the lines of the uterus but is growing on the outside of the uterus instead.

 
What are the symptoms?
In some cases, women experience no symptoms, but women who do have symptoms can experience the following:

Pelvic pain that worsens during menstruation
Painful intercourse
Painful bowel movements or urination
Infertility

According to UCLA Health, endometriosis has many painful symptoms associated with the disorder because the endometrial implants can become inflamed and irritated during menstruation.  Endometriosis can also create scar tissue which may increase the pain a woman is already experiencing.

 
Do period cramps mean endometriosis?
Period cramps are a natural part of menstruation, but if your cramps/pain are debilitating and severe, that is not considered normal.  This is one of the reasons why endometriosis so often goes undiagnosed. Because women are made to feel and think that pain and periods go hand in hand.  That is not the case and is why some women don’t think to seek treatment or think anything is wrong. If your periods are very painful or your symptoms are severe, talk with your doctor.

 
So why it is that women don’t know more about endometriosis?
Dr. Rebecca Brightman, a gynecologist who has dedicated her career to finding out how endometriosis affects women says that “frequently, women are misdiagnosed because doctors may be listening to the wrong set of symptoms. Someone may be thinking that they were treated [...]

Perfectionism vs. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Similar to many other mental disorders, there is a stigma attached to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).  Many people misinterpret the disorder for simply being tidy, perfect and clean.  While these are definitely symptoms of the disorder, there is so much more to OCD that people overlook because the term is so loosely thrown around.

According to Psychology Today, OCD is an anxiety disorder in which people have unwanted and repeated thoughts, feelings, images, and sensations (obsessions) and engage in behaviors or mental acts in response to these thoughts or obsessions. The disorder affects a reported 2.2 million American adults, and thousands more who are undiagnosed.

In order to help put an end to the popular stigma that OCD is simply perfectionism, we wanted to shed light on the cruel reality of life with OCD and the variety of symptoms different people with the disorder live with.
Different Types of OCD
Constant checking and inspection. Constant checking and inspection can surface both mentally and physically. Mentally, individuals with OCD find themselves checking their memory to make sure that an intrusive thought they had was just a memory and didn’t actually happen.  Physical symptoms include constantly checking to make sure windows, car doors, knobs and doors are locked or to ensure they blew out a candle, turned their gas or water off in terrible fear that something awful will happen.  Sometimes these “checks” are followed through anywhere between 10-50 times as a result of the anxiety disorder.

Contamination.  Contamination is another very popular form of OCD.  Individuals suffering from the disorder are in constant fear that everything around them in dirtying them and as a result go to the extreme to shower, wash their hands and brushing their teeth. Some [...]

Improving Your Bipolar Disorder

With constant mood swings, shifting energy levels, sleep difficulties and intrusive anxiety, bipolar disorder can be extremely overwhelming. Managing your bipolar disorder can feel the same way. However, you can feel better and get better by taking small, feasible steps every day. Here are some effective ways to manage your bipolar disorder:

Seek Professional Help: If you are not receiving any treatment for your bipolar disorder, contact a practitioner right away. Medication is crucial for managing bipolar disorder.
Take Medication as Prescribed: Make sure to follow your doctor’s precise instructions when taking your medication. Don’t ever discontinue your medication on your own. Instead, speak with your doctor if you are struggling with side effects or other concerns.
Chart Your Symptoms: Try to keep a daily chart of your mood, sleep, irritability, anxiety, and any other important symptoms or habits. This can be a helpful way for you to prevent a mood episode or minimize its severity. It can also help you to spot patterns. For example, if your notice that your mood tends to be lower and you are sleeping more, you know you need to check in with your doctor.
Create a Bedtime Routine: Sleep is critical for individuals suffering from bipolar disorder. Sleep deprivation is one of the biggest triggers for a manic episode. A routine is also an effective strategy for facilitating sleep. It signals to your brain and body that it is time to rest. Try taking a hot bath, meditate or do some light reading to calm you down.
Avoid Alcohol and Drugs: Both of these can make your symptoms worse and disrupt sleep. They can also elevate mood instability and impulsivity, and might even [...]

OCD | The Do’s & Don’ts

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is the name given to a condition in which people experience repetitive and upsetting thoughts and/or behaviors.  OCD has two main features: obsessions and compulsions and living with it can be overwhelming and difficult to understand/cope with.  People with OCD are not able to control or ignore unpleasant thoughts, which in turn causes frequent distress, anxiety and suffering.  If you have OCD, you are not alone! OCD is more common than people think, affecting 1 in 44 U.S. adults.
Do’s:
Get Help: If you are experiencing symptoms of OCD, reach out to someone and seek professional help! OCD is more common than you think and is not something to be ashamed of.

Be Proud:  You have an illness that people some people can’t begin to understand living with, yet you do- everyday. Be proud of your ability to live with an overwhelming illness and recognize your efforts. Be proud of your strength. Be proud of your progress, whether big or small.  You do what you need to do despite your OCD, and THAT is something to be proud of.

Forgive Yourself: Rid yourself of the past and focus on improving your future. People living with OCD tend to be very hard on themselves. Remember: You have an illness and that’s okay. Continue to move forward and try to put any regretful thoughts or behaviors behind you. It’s a new day.

Accept Risk and Challenge: When you least expect it, life will throw risk and challenge your way and it’s important to confront it, not run from it.  Risk is unavoidable, so when presented with it, try to accept it and look at it as a positive opportunity to potentially make some progress.

 
Don’ts

The Difference Between Depression and Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder affects more than 5.7 adults in the United States alone.  It’s a complicated disorder that can be confusing to many, including the people who suffer from it and those who think they may suffer from it.  Bipolar disorder is easily confused with depression as they share common symptoms and both include depressive episodes. The biggest difference between bipolar disorder and depression is that bipolar disorder includes mania and depression does not.

In order to best understand the difference between the two disorders, it’s helpful to recognize the symptoms of each first.

Depression: According to the American Psychiatric Association, depression causes feelings of sadness, loss of interest in activities once enjoyed and negatively affects the way you think, feel and act.

Bipolar Disorder: According to the National Institution of Mental Health, bipolar disorder is defined by manic episodes that last at least seven days or by manic symptoms that are severe enough that the individual needs immediate hospital care.

If you have depression or bipolar disorder and are interested in participating, please call us at (410) 602-1440 for more information.

Suicide prevention hotline: 1-800-273-8255
Resources:
https://psychcentral.com/lib/whats-the-difference-between-bipolar-disorder-and-depression/
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bipolar-disorder/index.shtml​
 

Coping with Alzheimer’s Disease

Studies suggest that 15-20% of individuals 65 years or older may have mild cognitive impairment, with half of those individuals progressing further into a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia within 5 years. This condition is commonly characterized by having memory problems, inability to multitask, and/or stay focused on what’s important. Although we all may be forgetful on occasion, these lapses in memory gradually progress over time and the changes are noticeable by family and friends, which can eventually start to interfere with everyday life.

In the early stages of Alzheimer’s most individuals still function independently; taking part in social activities, working, driving, etc., but in time, that independence could decrease. Alzheimer’s disease can take a devastating toll, not only on those with the disease, but also on entire families. Here are some things to keep in mind for those recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s as well as those experiencing the diagnosis of a loved one.

Here are some tips for those recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease:

Similarly, family members can also take actions when they are caring for their loved one with Alzheimer’s so here are some things to remember if your loved one was recently diagnosed.

Educate yourself about the disease. Learning as much as you can about the progression can help you understand what to expect.
Be realistic in your expectations for yourself and your loved ones. Set realistic goals and learn to expect the unexpected. Don’t set yourself up for failure by promising too much and don’t expect too much from your loved one.
Develop predictable routines and schedules. As the disease progresses it is more important to have set routines and schedules which will eliminate confusion and frustration for your [...]

Let’s Talk About Clinical Trials

Clinical research offers important insights for combating diseases and health related issues. That’s why people like you matter so much to clinical research and clinical trials!  When you volunteer to participate in a clinical trial, you are helping researchers improve health care and find better treatment options. Clinical research improves the health and quality of life for people, people just like you!

Here at Pharmasite we want to make sure you have an understanding about clinical trials because we firmly believe they are the key to health breakthroughs of the future!

What are Clinical Trials?

Clinical trials are conducted in volunteers with the purpose of evaluating a medical, surgical, or behavioral treatment. Through this, researchers are able to discover the safety and effectiveness of new treatments as they are designed to determine if a treatment works, if it works better than other treatments and if there are any side effects.

How do Clinical Trials work?

Clinical trials advance through four phases to ensure treatments are adequately tested and confirmed safe.

Phase 1: Assesses and evaluates the safety of a new drug or device
Phase 2: Measures the effectiveness, safety, and optimal dosing of a drug or device
Phase 3: Assesses safety and effectiveness, in larger populations, and may compare the drug or device to standard treatment
Phase 4: Post Marketing Trial – Continues to study the safety and effectiveness of a treatment even after it has been approved by the FDA.

Why do people volunteer?

Participating in a clinical trial allows individuals to contribute to medical knowledge. Clinical research advances the development of groundbreaking new treatments.  Participating in clinical trials allows patients to help others, have the opportunity to receive investigational treatments not currently available in the market, [...]

What is Endometriosis?

According to Endometriosis Research Center, Endometriosis is an often-painful disease that affects an estimated 176 million women around the world. Endometriosis is a disease that only affects women in which endometrial-like tissue is found outside of the uterus in other parts of the body. The disease is mistakenly stigmatized as “painful periods,” and is far more than just “killer cramps.”

Symptoms include:

Pain (usually in the pelvic area) that typically occurs just before menstruation and lessens after menstruation
Painful sexual intercourse
Cramping during intercourse
Cramping or pain during bowel movements or urination
Infertility
Pain with pelvic examinations

Pain and intensity of pain can vary month to month for different individuals. Some individuals report progressive worsening of pain, while others report resolution without any treatment.

Here are a few facts and statistics about endometriosis…

Migraines | Management & Prevention

Migraines are tough. Whether it’s throbbing pain or feeling dizzy, they definitely aren’t welcome.  According to the Migraine Research Foundation, contrary to popular belief, a migraine is not just a bad headache. It’s a debilitating assembly of neurological symptoms that typically includes severe throbbing and recurring pain on one side of the head. So whether you get them frequently or every so often, here are a few tips to manage and prevent your migraines.

 

Keep a diary: Keeping a diary log of all your migraines will help you understand what is triggering your migraines.  Fill it in for 1 to 3 months and track your actions, what you ate and how severe the migraine is. Eventually, you will start to notice some patterns and can change your habits.

Treat your Migraines Consistently: When you get a migraine, treat yourself consistently each time. Take the same relief medications or perform the same relief rituals (breathing, scalp massage, etc.) that work for you after each migraine. The consistency should help train your body and reduce the length of time you suffer from your migraine.

Get More Sleep: Lack of sleep is a major contributor for people who suffer from migraines.  According to the National Sleep Foundation, the average adult should be getting 6-10 hours of sleep every night! So snooze a little longer!

Try to Relax More: Even if it’s finding a few minutes a day to step away from your desk – it helps.  Rhythmic and deep breathing are recommended.  Inhale slowly and exhale slowly.  Pay attention to how your mind and body naturally relax and release any stress you may be feeling.

Massage: Massages have been shown to increase blood flow and circulation, which in turn improves oxygen levels [...]

OCD Infographic

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD is an anxiety disorder in which people have recurring unwanted thoughts called obsessions that drive them to do a repetitive behavior called a compulsion. The behaviors can significantly interfere with a person’s daily life. Learn more about OCD in the infographic below.

If OCD is interfering with your or a love one’s life, consider clinical research as an option. Our facility in Pikesville, MD is now enrolling volunteers for an OCD clinical trial. Fill out your information in the form below to receive more information about participating.

Contact Us

Pharmasite Research, Inc.
1314 Bedford Ave
Ste 205
Pikesville, Maryland 21208
410-602-1440

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