Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common childhood brain disorders and can continue through adolescence and adulthood. Symptoms include difficulty staying focused and paying attention, difficulty controlling behavior, and hyperactivity (over-activity). These symptoms can make it difficult for a child with ADHD to succeed in school, get along with other children or adults, or finish tasks at home. Brain imaging studies have revealed that, in youth with ADHD, the brain matures in a normal pattern but is delayed, on average, by about 3 years. The delay is most pronounced in brain regions involved in thinking, paying attention, and planning. More recent studies have found that the outermost layer of the brain, the cortex, shows delayed maturation overall, and a brain structure important for proper communications between the two halves of the brain shows an abnormal growth pattern. These delays and abnormalities may underlie the hallmark symptoms of ADHD and help to explain how the disorder may develop. Treatments can relieve many symptoms of ADHD, but there is currently no cure for the disorder. With treatment, most people with ADHD can be successful in school and lead productive lives. Researchers are developing more effective treatments and interventions, and using new tools such as brain imaging, to better understand ADHD and to find more effective ways to treat and prevent it.

Everyone occasionally feels blue or sad, but these feelings are usually fleeting and pass within a couple of days. When a woman has a depressive disorder, it interferes with daily life and normal functioning, and causes pain for both the woman with the disorder and those who care about her. Depression is a common but serious illness, and most who have it need treatment to get better. Depression affects both men and women, but more women than men are likely to be diagnosed with depression in any given year. Efforts to explain this difference are ongoing, as researchers explore certain factors (biological, social, etc.) that are unique to women. Many women with a depressive illness never seek treatment. But the vast majority, even those with the most severe depression, can get better with treatment. There are several forms of depressive disorders that occur in both women and men. The most common are major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder. Minor depression is also common. Major depressive disorder, also called major depression, is characterized by a combination of symptoms that interfere with a person's ability to work, sleep, study, eat, and enjoy once-pleasurable activities. Major depression is disabling and prevents a person from functioning normally. An episode of major depression may occur only once in a person's lifetime, but more often, it recurs throughout a person's life. Dysthymic disorder, also called dysthymia, is characterized by depressive symptoms that are long-term (e.g., 2 years or longer) but less severe than those of major depression. Dysthymia may not disable a person, but it prevents one from functioning normally or feeling well. People with dysthymia may also experience one or more episodes of major depression during their lifetimes. Minor depression may also occur. Symptoms of minor depression are similar to major depression and dysthymia, but they are less severe and/or are usually shorter term. Some forms of depressive disorder have slightly different characteristics than those described above, or they may develop under unique circumstances. However, not all scientists agree on how to characterize and define these forms of depression. They include the following: Psychotic depression occurs when a severe depressive illness is accompanied by some form of psychosis, such as a break with reality; seeing, hearing, smelling or feeling things that others can't detect (hallucinations); and having strong beliefs that are false, such as believing you are the president (delusions). Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is characterized by a depressive illness during the winter months, when there is less natural sunlight. The depression generally lifts during spring and summer. SAD may be effectively treated with light therapy, but nearly half of those with SAD do not respond to light therapy alone. Antidepressant medication and psychotherapy also can reduce SAD symptoms, either alone or in combination with light therapy.

Violence or natural disasters can cause trauma in young people. Trauma is hurt or harm. It can be hurt to a person's body. It can be harm to a person's mind. Parents and family members play important roles. They help children who experience violence or disaster. They help children cope with trauma. They help protect children from further trauma. They help children get medical care and counseling. They also help young people avoid or overcome emotional problems. These problems can result from trauma. There are two types of trauma - physical and mental. Physical trauma includes the body's response to serious injury and threat. Mental trauma includes frightening thoughts and painful feelings. They are the mind's response to serious injury. Mental trauma can produce strong feelings. It can also produce extreme behavior; such as intense fear or helplessness, withdrawal or detachment, lack of concentration, irritability, sleep disturbance, aggression, hyper vigilance (intensely watching for more distressing events), or flashbacks (sense that event is reoccurring).

Violence or natural disasters can cause trauma in young people. Trauma is hurt or harm. It can be hurt to a person's body. It can be harm to a person's mind. Community members play important roles. They help children who experience violence or disaster. They help children cope with trauma. They help protect children from further trauma. They also help young people avoid or overcome emotional problems. These problems can result from trauma. There are two types of trauma - physical and mental. Physical trauma includes the body's response to serious injury and threat. Mental trauma includes frightening thoughts and painful feelings. They are the mind's response to serious injury. Mental trauma can produce strong feelings. It can also produce extreme behavior; such as intense fear or helplessness, withdrawal or detachment, lack of concentration, irritability, sleep disturbance, aggression, hyper vigilance (intensely watching for more distressing events), or flashbacks (sense that event is reoccurring).

Anxiety Disorders affect about 40 million American adults age 18 years and older (about 18%) in a given year, causing them to be filled with fearfulness and uncertainty. Unlike the relatively mild, brief anxiety caused by a stressful event (such as speaking in public or a first date), anxiety disorders last at least 6 months and can get worse if they are not treated. Anxiety disorders commonly occur along with other mental or physical illnesses, including alcohol or substance abuse, which may mask anxiety symptoms or make them worse. In some cases, these other illnesses need to be treated before a person will respond to treatment for the anxiety disorder. Effective therapies for anxiety disorders are available, and research is uncovering new treatments that can help most people with anxiety disorders lead productive, fulfilling lives. This booklet will: describe the symptoms of anxiety disorders, explain the role of research in understanding the causes of these conditions, describe effective treatments, help you learn how to obtain treatment and work with a doctor or therapist, and suggest ways to make treatment more effective. The following anxiety disorders are discussed: panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social phobia (or social anxiety disorder), specific phobias, and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

The National Institutes of Health Publication 12-4280, "Prevent Diabetes Problems: Keep Your Mouth Healthy," addresses diabetes and how you can prevent or slow down related health problems. Too much glucose in the blood for a long time can cause diabetes problems. This high blood glucose, also called blood sugar, can damage many parts of the body, such as the heart, blood vessels, eyes, and kidneys. Heart and blood vessel disease can lead to heart attacks and strokes. You can do a lot to prevent or slow down diabetes problems. This booklet is about mouth problems that can be caused by diabetes. Too much glucose in your blood from diabetes can cause pain, infection, and other problems in your mouth. Your mouth includes: your teeth, your gums, your jaw, and tissues such as your tongue, the roof and bottom of your mouth, and the inside of your cheeks. Glucose is present in your saliva-the liquid in your mouth that makes it wet. When diabetes is not controlled, high glucose levels in your saliva help harmful germs, called plaque, grow. Plaque also comes from eating foods that contain sugars or starches. Some types of plaque cause tooth decay or cavities. Other types of plaque cause gum disease. Gum disease can happen more often, be more severe, and take longer to heal if you have diabetes. In turn, having gum disease can make your blood glucose hard to control. Some studies show that treating your gum disease makes it easier to control your blood glucose. You will learn the things you can do each day and during each year to stay healthy and prevent diabetes problems. This Publication is one of seven in a series that can help you learn more about how to prevent diabetes problems. These include: "Keep Your Diabetes Under Control," "Keep Your Heart and Blood Vessels Healthy," "Keep Your Kidneys Healthy," "Keep Your Eyes Healthy," "Keep Your Feet and Skin Healthy," "Keep Your Nervous System Healthy," and "Keep Your Mouth Healthy."

The National Institutes of Health Publication 08-4282, "Prevent Diabetes Problems: Keep Your Feet and Skin Healthy," addresses diabetes and how you can prevent or slow down related health problems. Too much glucose in the blood for a long time can cause diabetes problems. This high blood glucose, also called blood sugar, can damage many parts of the body, such as the heart, blood vessels, eyes, and kidneys. Heart and blood vessel disease can lead to heart attacks and strokes. You can do a lot to prevent or slow down diabetes problems. This booklet is about feet and skin problems caused by diabetes. You will learn the things you can do each day and during each year to stay healthy and prevent diabetes problems. This Publication is one of seven in a series that can help you learn more about how to prevent diabetes problems. These include: "Keep Your Diabetes Under Control," "Keep Your Heart and Blood Vessels Healthy," "Keep Your Kidneys Healthy," "Keep Your Eyes Healthy," "Keep Your Feet and Skin Healthy," "Keep Your Nervous System Healthy," and "Keep Your Mouth Healthy."

The prostate is part of a man's sex organs. It's about the size of a walnut and surrounds the tube called the urethra, located just below the bladder. The urethra has two jobs: to carry urine from the bladder when you urinate and to carry semen during a sexual climax, or ejaculation. Semen is a combination of sperm plus fluid that the prostate adds. For men under 50, the most common prostate problem is prostatitis. For men over 50, the most common prostate problem is prostate enlargement. This condition is also called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Older men are at risk for prostate cancer as well, but this disease is much less common than BPH. This publication by the National Institutes of Health (Publication No. 08-4806) provides information about prostate problems such as prostatitis and enlargement (or BPH), diagnosis and treatments.

Diarrhea is common and can affect anyone; but it also can be prevented and treated. Diarrhea is described as frequent, loose, and watery bowel movements. Bowel movements, also called stools, are body wastes passed through the rectum and anus. Stools contain what is left after your digestive system absorbs nutrients and fluids from what you eat and drink. If your body does not absorb the fluids, or if your digestive system produces extra fluids, stools will be loose and watery. Loose stools contain more water, salts, and minerals and weigh more than solid stools. Diarrhea that lasts a short time is called acute diarrhea. Acute diarrhea is a common problem and usually lasts only 1 or 2 days, but it may last longer. Diarrhea that lasts for at least 4 weeks is called chronic diarrhea. Chronic diarrhea symptoms may be continual or they may come and go. This publication by the National Institutes of Health (Publication No. 11-5176) provides information about the causes, symptoms, and treatments for Diarrhea.

If you have advanced and permanent kidney failure, kidney transplantation may be the treatment option that allows you to live much like you lived before your kidneys failed. Since the 1950s, when the first kidney transplants were performed, much has been learned about how to prevent rejection and minimize the side effects of medicines. But transplantation is not a cure; it's an ongoing treatment that requires you to take medicines for the rest of your life. And the wait for a donated kidney can be years long. A successful transplant takes a coordinated effort from your whole health care team, including your nephrologist, transplant surgeon, transplant coordinator, pharmacist, dietitian, and social worker. But the most important members of your health care team are you and your family. By learning about your treatment, you can work with your health care team to give yourself the best possible results, and you can lead a full, active life. This publication by the National Institutes of Health (Publication No. 06-4687) discusses Transplantation - "How it Works" and "The Process" from the Waiting List to Posttransplant Care.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorder, meaning that the symptoms are caused by changes in how the GI tract works. Food is digested, or broken down, in the GI tract. IBS is not a disease. Symptoms can come and go repeatedly without signs of damage to the GI tract. The most common symptoms of IBS are abdominal pain or discomfort, often reported as cramping, along with diarrhea, constipation, or both. This publication by the National Institutes of Health (Publication No. 12-4686) discusses IBS, symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatments.

The National Institutes of Health Publication 12-4222, "What I Need to Know About Diabetes Medicines," provides information about diabetes and the medicines that may be need to help you prevent some of the health problems that diabetes may cause. Over time, high levels of blood glucose, also called blood sugar, can cause health problems. These problems include heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, nerve damage, digestive problems, eye disease, and tooth and gum problems. You can help prevent health problems by keeping your blood glucose levels on target. Everyone with diabetes needs to choose foods wisely and be physically active. If you can't reach your target blood glucose levels with wise food choices and physical activity, you may need diabetes medicines. The kind of medicine you take depends on your type of diabetes, your schedule, and your other health conditions. Diabetes medicines help keep your blood glucose in your target range. The target range is suggested by diabetes experts and your doctor or diabetes educator.

The National Institutes of Health Publication 09-4016, "Your Guide to Diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2," addresses diabetes and how you can learn how to take care of your diabetes and how to prevent some of the serious problems that diabetes can cause. You may want to share this booklet with your family and friends so they too will understand more about diabetes and how they can help you live a healthy life. And remember, you can always ask your health care team any questions you might have. Diabetes means your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. Your blood always has some glucose in it because your body needs glucose for energy to keep you going. But too much glucose in the blood isn't good for your health. Glucose comes from the food you eat and is also made in your liver and muscles. Your blood carries the glucose to all the cells in your body. Insulin is a chemical, also called a hormone, made by the pancreas. The pancreas releases insulin into the blood. Insulin helps the glucose from food get into your cells. If your body doesn't make enough insulin, or if the insulin doesn't work the way it should, glucose can't get into your cells. It stays in your blood instead. Your blood glucose level then gets too high, causing prediabetes or diabetes. This book will help you to learn the things you can do each day and during each year to stay healthy and prevent diabetes problems.

The National Institutes of Health Publication 08-4284, "Prevent Diabetes Problems: Keep Your Nervous System Healthy," addresses diabetes and how you can prevent or slow down related health problems. Too much glucose in the blood for a long time can cause diabetes problems. This high blood glucose, also called blood sugar, can damage many parts of the body, such as the heart, blood vessels, eyes, and kidneys. Heart and blood vessel disease can lead to heart attacks and strokes. You can do a lot to prevent or slow down diabetes problems. This booklet is about nerve problems that can be caused by diabetes. You will learn the things you can do each day and during each year to stay healthy and prevent diabetes problems. This Publication is one of seven in a series that can help you learn more about how to prevent diabetes problems. These include: "Keep Your Diabetes Under Control," "Keep Your Heart and Blood Vessels Healthy," "Keep Your Kidneys Healthy," "Keep Your Eyes Healthy," "Keep Your Feet and Skin Healthy," "Keep Your Nervous System Healthy," and "Keep Your Mouth Healthy."

The National Institutes of Health Publication 11-5337, "I Can Lower My Risk for Type 2 Diabetes: A Guide for American Indians," provides information on diabetes - how to prevent it, how to learn how to take care of yourself if you have diabetes, and how to prevent some of the serious problems that can diabetes can cause. Type 2 diabetes is the most common type in American Indians. This type of diabetes can occur at any age, even during childhood. People develop type 2 diabetes because the cells in the muscles, liver, and fat do not use insulin properly. Eventually, the body cannot make enough insulin. As a result, the amount of glucose in the blood increases while the cells are starved of energy. Over time, high blood glucose damages nerves and blood vessels, leading to problems such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, and amputation. Although people with diabetes can prevent or delay complications by keeping blood glucose (also called blood sugar) levels close to normal, preventing or delaying the development of type 2 diabetes in the first place is even better. The results of a major federally funded study, the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), prove that we can prevent or delay the disease. This study of 3,234 people at high risk for diabetes showed that moderate diet and exercise, resulting in a 5- to 7-percent weight loss, can delay and possibly prevent type 2 diabetes. More than 170 American Indians participated in the DPP. The DPP tested three approaches to preventing diabetes: making lifestyle changes, taking a diabetes pill, or following the standard diabetes education approach. People in the lifestyle change group exercised about 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, usually by walking, and they lowered their intake of fat and calories. Those who took the diabetes pill metformin received standard information on exercise and diet, as is done in an Indian Health Service clinic or tribal physician's office. These approaches were compared with the third group who only received the standard information on exercise and diet and took a placebo-a pill without medicine in it. The DPP results showed that people in the lifestyle change group reduced their risk of getting type 2 diabetes by 58 percent. Average weight loss in the first year of the study was 15 pounds. Lifestyle change was even more effective in those 60 years and older. They reduced their risk by 71 percent. People who took metformin and received standard information on exercise and diet reduced their risk by 31 percent. The Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study (DPPOS) has continued to follow most DPP participants since the DPP ended in 2001. The DPPOS has shown that the benefits of weight loss and metformin last for at least 10 years. Ten years after they enrolled in the DPP, people in the lifestyle change group had reduced their risk for developing diabetes by 34 percent. Those in the lifestyle change group age 60 or older had reduced their risk of developing diabetes by 49 percent. Participants in the lifestyle change group also had fewer heart and blood vessel disease risk factors, including lower blood pressure and triglyceride levels, even though they took fewer drugs to control their heart disease risk. The metformin group had reduced their risk of developing diabetes by 18 percent. Even though controlling your weight with lifestyle changes is challenging, it produces long-term health rewards by lowering your risk for type 2 diabetes, lowering your blood glucose levels, and reducing other risk factors for heart disease.

This book (NIH Publication 05-5213) by the National Institutes of Health and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute provides practical, easy-to-use information for losing and maintaining weight. Reaching and maintaining a healthy weight is good for your overall health and will help you prevent and control many diseases and conditions. We know that an increase in weight also increases a person's risk for heart disease, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, gallbladder disease, gynecologic disorders, arthritis, some types of cancer, and even some lung problems. Maintaining a healthy weight has many benefits, including feeling good about yourself and having more energy to enjoy life. A person's weight is the result of many things-height, genes, metabolism, behavior, and environment. Maintaining a healthy weight requires keeping a balance - a balance of energy. You must balance the calories you get from food and beverages with the calories you use to keep your body going and being physically active. The same amount of energy IN and energy OUT over time = weight stays the same More IN than OUT over time = weight gain; More OUT than IN over time = weight loss. Your energy IN and OUT don't have to balance exactly every day. It's the balance over time that will help you to maintain a healthy weight in the long run. For many people, this balance means eating fewer calories and increasing their physical activity. Cutting back on calories is a matter of choice. Making healthy food choices that are lower in fats, especially saturated and trans fat, cholesterol, added sugars, and salt can help you cut back on calories, as can paying attention to portion sizes. This booklet will provide you with information to figure out your body mass index and weight related risk for disease. It will also give you information on when and how to lose weight, including tips on healthy eating and physical activity, setting weight loss goals, and rewarding your success.

A UTI is an infection in the urinary tract. Infections are caused by microbes-organisms too small to be seen without a microscope. Bacteria are the most common cause of UTIs. Normally, bacteria that enter the urinary tract are quickly removed by the body before they cause symptoms. But sometimes bacteria overcome the body's natural defenses and cause infection. The urinary tract is the body's drainage system for removing wastes and extra water. The urinary tract includes two kidneys, two ureters, a bladder, and a urethra. The kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist. They are located below the ribs, one on each side of the spine, toward the middle of the back. Every minute, your kidneys filter about 3 ounces of blood, removing wastes and extra water. The wastes and extra water make up the 1 to 2 quarts of urine you produce each day. The urine travels from the kidneys down two narrow tubes called the ureters. The urine is then stored in a balloonlike organ called the bladder and emptied through the urethra, a tube at the bottom of the bladder. This publication by the National Institutes of Health (Publication No. 12-4807) provides information on the causes, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of Urinary Tract Infections.

In most cases, the exact cause of bedwetting is not known. But many possible causes exist. Your child's bladder might be too small. Or the amount of urine produced overnight is too much for your child's bladder to hold. As a result, your child's bladder fills up before the night is over. Some children sleep so deeply that they don't wake up when they need to urinate. Others simply take longer to learn bladder control. Many children wet the bed until they are 5 years old or even older. Bedwetting often runs in families. If both parents wet the bed as children, their child is likely to have the same problem. If only one parent has a history of bedwetting, the child has about a 30 percent chance of having the problem. Some children wet the bed even if neither parent ever did. A child who has been dry for several months or even years may start wetting the bed. The cause might be emotional stress, such as the loss of a loved one, problems at school, a new sibling, or even toilet training too early. Bedwetting is not your child's fault. Children rarely wet the bed on purpose. You can help your child by learning about the different causes and treatments for bedwetting. This publication by the National Institutes of Health (Publication No. 12-5631) provides information on bedwetting, helping your child stay dry, when to see a doctor, and treatments for bedwetting.

The National Institutes of Health Publication 09-4279, "Prevent Diabetes Problems: Keep Your Eyes Healthy," addresses diabetes and how you can prevent or slow down related health problems. Too much glucose in the blood for a long time can cause diabetes problems. This high blood glucose, also called blood sugar, can damage many parts of the body, such as the heart, blood vessels, eyes, and kidneys. Heart and blood vessel disease can lead to heart attacks and strokes. You can do a lot to prevent or slow down diabetes problems. This booklet is about eye problems caused by diabetes. You will learn the things you can do each day and during each year to stay healthy and prevent diabetes problems. This Publication is one of seven in a series that can help you learn more about how to prevent diabetes problems. These include: "Keep Your Diabetes Under Control," "Keep Your Heart and Blood Vessels Healthy," "Keep Your Kidneys Healthy," "Keep Your Eyes Healthy," "Keep Your Feet and Skin Healthy," "Keep Your Nervous System Healthy," and "Keep Your Mouth Healthy."

The National Institutes of Health Publication 08-5180, "What I Need to Know About Physical Activity and Diabetes," provides information about diabetes and how you can take care of yourself and your diabetes with proper diet, exercise and physical activity. Diabetes means your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. Your body uses glucose for energy. But having too much glucose in your blood can hurt you. When you take care of your diabetes, you'll feel better. You'll reduce your risk for problems with your kidneys, eyes, nerves, feet and legs, and teeth. You'll also lower your risk for a heart attack or a stroke. You can take care of your diabetes by: being physically active, following a healthy meal plan, taking medicines, if prescribed by your doctor. Research has shown that physical activity can: lower your blood glucose and your blood pressure, lower your bad cholesterol and raise your good cholesterol, improve your body's ability to use insulin, lower your risk for heart disease and stroke, keep your heart and bones strong, keep your joints flexible, lower your risk of falling, help you lose weight, reduce your body fat, give you more energy, and reduce your stress levels. Physical activity also plays an important part in preventing type 2 diabetes. A major Government study, the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), showed that modest weight loss of 5 to 7 percent-for example, 10 to 15 pounds for a 200-pound person-can delay and possibly prevent type 2 diabetes. People in the study used diet and exercise to lose weight.

The National Institutes of Health Publication 11-6513, "What I Need to Know About Bowel Control," provides background on what Bowel Control means, what it means to have issues, and receiving the proper treatment for any issues you may have. Bowel control means you are able to hold a bowel movement until you reach a bathroom. You may have a bowel control problem if you: have trouble holding a bowel movement, have solid or liquid stool leak when you don't expect it, find streaks of stool on your underwear Bowel control problems-also called fecal incontinence-can be upsetting and embarrassing. Most people with bowel control problems feel ashamed and try to hide the problem. They may not want to leave the house for fear of losing bowel control in public. They may withdraw from friends and family. Bowel control problems are often caused by a medical issue. If you have a bowel control problem, don't be afraid to talk with your health care provider about it. Your health care provider may be able to help. People of any age can have a bowel control problem. Bowel control problems aren't always a part of aging, but they are more common among older adults. Bowel control problems affect about 18 million U.S. adults-one out of every 12 people. Bowel control problems don't have to be a part of aging, but they are more common among older adults. Bowel control problems are often caused by a medical issue that can be treated. Don't be afraid to talk with your health care provider about your bowel control problem. Diet changes, medicines, bowel training, or surgery may help. You can take steps to cope with your bowel control problem.

PTSD is an anxiety disorder that some people get after seeing or living through a dangerous event. When in danger, it's natural to feel afraid. This fear triggers many split-second changes in the body to prepare to defend against the danger or to avoid it. This "fight-or-flight" response is a healthy reaction meant to protect a person from harm. But in PTSD, this reaction is changed or damaged. People who have PTSD may feel stressed or frightened even when they're no longer in danger. Anyone can get PTSD at any age. This includes war veterans and survivors of physical and sexual assault, abuse, accidents, disasters, and many other serious events. Not everyone with PTSD has been through a dangerous event. Some people get PTSD after a friend or family member experiences danger or is harmed. The sudden, unexpected death of a loved one can also cause PTSD. PTSD can cause many symptoms. These symptoms can be grouped into three categories: 1. Re-experiencing symptoms: Flashbacks-reliving the trauma over and over, including physical symptoms like a racing heart or sweating; Bad dreams; Frightening thoughts. Re-experiencing symptoms may cause problems in a person's everyday routine. They can start from the person's own thoughts and feelings. Words, objects, or situations that are reminders of the event can also trigger re-experiencing. 2. Avoidance symptoms: Staying away from places, events, or objects that are reminders of the experience; Feeling emotionally numb; Feeling strong guilt, depression, or worry; Losing interest in activities that were enjoyable in the past; Having trouble remembering the dangerous event. Things that remind a person of the traumatic event can trigger avoidance symptoms. These symptoms may cause a person to change his or her personal routine. For example, after a bad car accident, a person who usually drives may avoid driving or riding in a car. 3. Hyperarousal symptoms: Being easily startled; Feeling tense or "on edge"; Having difficulty sleeping, and/or having angry outbursts. Hyperarousal symptoms are usually constant, instead of being triggered by things that remind one of the traumatic event. They can make the person feel stressed and angry. These symptoms may make it hard to do daily tasks, such as sleeping, eating, or concentrating. It's natural to have some of these symptoms after a dangerous event. Sometimes people have very serious symptoms that go away after a few weeks. This is called acute stress disorder, or ASD. When the symptoms last more than a few weeks and become an ongoing problem, they might be PTSD. Some people with PTSD don't show any symptoms for weeks or months.

The National Institutes of Health Publication 06-5129, "What I Need to Know About Gestational Diabetes," is for women with gestational diabetes. Gestational (jes-TAY-shun-ul) diabetes is diabetes that is found for the first time when a woman is pregnant. Out of every 100 pregnant women in the United States, three to eight get gestational diabetes. Diabetes means that your blood glucose (also called blood sugar) is too high. Your body uses glucose for energy. But too much glucose in your blood can be harmful. When you are pregnant, too much glucose is not good for your baby. This high blood glucose can damage many parts of your body, such as the heart, blood vessels, eyes, and kidneys. Heart and blood vessel disease can lead to heart attacks and strokes. You can do a lot to prevent or slow down diabetes problems.

This book by the National Institutes of Health (Publication 11-5271) and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute provides the latest science-based information about Sleep. This book gives the latest information on sleep disorders such as insomnia (trouble falling or staying asleep), sleep apnea (pauses in breathing during sleep), restless legs syndrome, narcolepsy (extreme daytime sleepiness), and para somnias (abnormal sleep behaviors). Think of your daily activities. Which activity is so important you should devote one-third of your time to doing it? Probably the first things that come to mind are working, spending time with your family, or doing leisure activities. But there's something else you should be doing about one-third of your time-sleeping. Many people view sleep as merely a "down time" when their brains shut off and their bodies rest. People may cut back on sleep, thinking it won't be a problem, because other responsibilities seem much more important. But research shows that a number of vital tasks carried out during sleep help people stay healthy and function at their best. While you sleep, your brain is hard at work forming the pathways necessary for learning and creating memories and new insights. Without enough sleep, you can't focus and pay attention or respond quickly. A lack of sleep may even cause mood problems. Also, growing evidence shows that a chronic lack of sleep increases your risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and infections. Despite growing support for the idea that adequate sleep, like adequate nutrition and physical activity, is vital to our well-being, people are sleeping less. The nonstop "24/7" nature of the world today encourages longer or nighttime work hours and offers continual access to entertainment and other activities. To keep up, people cut back on sleep. A common myth is that people can learn to get by on little sleep (such as less than 6 hours a night) with no adverse effects. Research suggests, however, that adults need at least 7-8 hours of sleep each night to be well rested. Indeed, in 1910, most people slept 9 hours a night. But recent surveys show the average adult now sleeps fewer than 7 hours a night. More than one-third of adults report daytime sleepiness so severe that it interferes with work, driving, and social functioning at least a few days each month. Evidence also shows that children's and adolescents' sleep is shorter than recommended. These trends have been linked to increased exposure to electronic media. Lack of sleep may have a direct effect on children's health, behavior, and development. Chronic sleep loss or sleep disorders may affect as many as 70 million Americans. This may result in an annual cost of $16 billion in health care expenses and $50 billion in lost productivity. What happens when you don't get enough sleep? Can you make up for lost sleep during the week by sleeping more on the weekends? How does sleep change as you become older? Is snoring a problem? How can you tell if you have a sleep disorder? Read on to find the answers to these questions and to better understand what sleep is and why it is so necessary. Learn about common sleep myths and practical tips for getting enough sleep, coping with jet lag and nighttime shift work, and avoiding dangerous drowsy driving. Many common sleep disorders go unrecognized and thus are not treated.

Medications are used to treat the symptoms of mental disorders such as schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder (sometimes called manic-depressive illness), anxiety disorders, and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Sometimes medications are used with other treatments such as psychotherapy. This guide describes: Types of medications used to treat mental disorders; Side effects of medications; Directions for taking medications; Warnings about medications from the U S Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Choosing the right medication, medication dose, and treatment plan should be based on a person's individual needs and medical situation, and under a doctor's care.