The Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is described as a cyclical disorder related to the hormonal changes during a menstrual cycle, which affects the emotional and physical health of many women during their reproductive period of life. The PMS can obviously change the quality of life. The syndrome is characterized by a complex group of symptoms, such as depression, irritability, mood swings, anxiety, abdominal discomfort. These signs occur during the luteal phase of a menstrual cycle and disappear after the onset of menses. Some studies suggest that a variety of nutrients may play an important role in the mood swings which occur cyclically during the course of the premenstrual syndrome and that some can have a beneficial impact, especially on the estrous phase of a menstrual cycle. The aim of the paper is to review the results of some studies concerning the role of bioelements in patients with the PMS. Concentrations of magnesium, zinc, selenium and manganese are the highest during menses and the lowest in the ovulatory phase. Fluctuations of the magnesium concentration during a menstrual cycle and the involvement of this element in many cellular pathways and neuromuscular activities obviously affect the incidence or intensity of the PMS symptoms. However, we lack firm evidence that magnesium supplementation can have a positive effect on alleviating the the PMSrelated ailments. Some relationship between the PMS and bone demineralization or depressed calcium concentration in blood has been identified. However, further studies are necessary to examine how the calcium concentration in a human body can decrease the intensity of the PMS symptoms.
Lithium is a medicine of the first choice in the preventive treatment of bipolar affective disorder. It is also used to enhance the treatment of drug resistant depression. How excatly this element acts is not yet fully understood. Lithium influences the transportation of sodium via cellular membranes (sodium-potassium ATPase dependant), has an inhibitory influence on the second transmitter system (connected with phosphatidylinositol), thus probably acting as a stabiliser of inter cellular processes. Lithium does not associate with plasmatic proteins and is almost entirely excreted by kidneys. The side effects of the medicine are linked to its influence on the central nervous system and on the renal transportation of electrolytes as well as the narrow therapeutic index of the medicine, which can cause intoxication if the recommended doses are not when medical recommendations are not observed. The undesirable effects are more intensive when the level of lithium in the blood plasma increases. Among the most common side effects are stomachaches, nausea, diarrhoea, lack of appetite, polydipsia, polyuria, shaking hands, headaches, sleepiness or deterioration of memory. Complications during lithium therapy listed in literature are ataxia, dysarthria, nystagmus and extrapyramidal symptoms, but the most severe complication is lithium poisoning. Lithium can be applied for a long-term maintenance treatment, which limits recurrence of the disease and improves the patient’s family, social and occupational life. The inferior quality of life among patients with affective disease can result from the disorder itself or can develop on the somatic grounds, appear due to abuse of tobacco or alcohol, or else be a side effect of other medicines taken by the patient. Good co-operation with the patient during the therapy can lessen the pronouncement of undesirable symptoms and complications of a lithium treatment, and this in turn can improve of the quality of the patient’s life.
Anorexia nervosa and bulimia are emotional disorders which are a serious hazard to the physical health or life. They most often affect girls and young women and disorganize their mental and social life. In this paper, complications caused by eating disorders as a result of deficiency or excessive loss of bioelements by an organism are reviewed along their influence on the quality of life. The symptoms of anorexia nervosa are the following: weight loss over 15% of the standard body mass for the age and height, severe fear of body weight gain despite clear evidence of weight deficiency. The main symptoms of bulimia involve uncontrolled overeating and counteracting weight gain which could occur after overeating episodes by self-induced vomitting or overuse of laxatives and diuretics. Medical complications of bulimia are related to the method and frequency of purgation, while in anorexia they are caused by starvation and weight loss. The following deviations are observed in both restrictive and bulimic forms on anorexia: hypokalemia, hypocalcemia, hypophosphatemia and sometimes also hyponatremia, hypomegnesemia and hypochloremic alkalosis. Many electrolytic and acid abnormalities are found in bulimia depending on the method for laxation (self-induced vomitting, misuse of laxatives or diuretics). Most patients adapt well for a relatively long time to low levels of potassium in plasma but sometimes the situation may cause life threatening consequences, like dysrhythmia, paralytic ileus, neuropathy, muscle weakness and paresis. Physicians and patients should understand that anorexia nervosa is a systemic disease and can affect all body organs. Full knowledge about possible complications of anorexia nervosa allows physicians to achieve precise assessment and conduct appropriate treatment of patients when the diagnosis has already been made.
Introduction and objective. Until recently, depression and anxiety during pregnancy were a neglected medical problem. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of symptoms of anxiety and depression during pregnancy and identification of the socio-demographic and psychosocial factors. Material and methods. The study was prospective and longitudinal, and the research group consisted of 314 adult pregnant women. To assess the prevalence of anxiety symptoms and depression, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was applied. To assess the psychosocial variables the Rosenberg Self-Assessment Scale, Marital Communication Questionnaire and the Berlin Social Support Scale and authors’ Socio-demographical questionnaire were used. To assess the normal distribution the Shapiro-Wilk test was used. For non-parametric tests the Mann Whitney U test and Kruskal Wallis ANOVA were used due to the distribution of the variables tested against the intergroup comparisons that deviate from the normal distribution. Results and conclusions. Co-existence of anxiety and depression in different trimesters amounted relatively to 12.7% in the first trimester, 10.8% in the second trimester and 12.4% in the third trimester of pregnancy. Symptoms of anxiety were often experienced by unmarried women, non-working women, and those respondents who estimated their housing and financial situation as being worse. Those most susceptible to depressive symptoms were tested women with primary education and those who assessed as worse their financial and housing situation. Higher self-esteem, good communication in a relationship, satisfying social support was associated with a lower incidence of anxiety symptoms during pregnancy. Higher self-esteem, good communication in a relationship, and satisfying social support was associated with a lower incidence of anxiety symptoms during pregnancy.
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