Director, Emergency Services, Bikur Cholim Hospital
The USA leads the world in mental illness. Is this a
surprise? Take a high-powered society where possessions are
everything, and you have all the makings for mental illness.
True Israel is also a stressful place to live, but people
support each other emotionally here in better ways, and the
spiritual side of things makes for a healthier lifestyle. By
the way, Americans, watch it on another thing you are getting
from your neighbors. Be smart — stay away from fast
food.
The correspondent who sent me this also sent me a letter that
care-giving can cause depression. This seems obvious. It
isn't easy caring for a person who is disabled, and this
explains why there are so many people who are depressed. I
believe in support groups, and once again want to highlight
the Down's support group lead by Ruth Polashnik in Bnei Brak
— a great organization that does wonderful work.
She also sent me an article on how to communicate with an
Alzheimer's patient. These people suffer from early dementia,
and early on can be very depressed knowing that soon they
will be unable to care for themselves. Alzheimer's patients
can often do embarrassing things like screaming or being
belligerent for no reason. One should always keep calm, and
explain that we mustn't do this behavior. Try to return to a
frame of reference or recall a happy memory. Often long-term
memory is preserved until late in the illness. Other tips
mentioned in the article — listen, reduce frustrations,
try to agree while changing the subject. "yes it is true that
that man insulted you, but why don't we go outside for some
fresh air." Help should always be positive and supportive
without being demeaning.
A word on Clostridium Difficile, a cause of diarrhea by a
hard-to-kill bacteria. This bacteria is a normal inhabitant
of our colon, but when antibiotics reduce their neighboring
bacteria, they proliferate and can cause a life-threatening
diarrhea. Of course wayward antibiotic use should be avoided
to avoid this problem. Will bio yogurt help? Studies show
yes, but only a little bit. Write me in care of the
Yated.
A message from GlaxoSmithKline, sponsor of this
column. Dermovate will take care of that itchy rash, that
eczema and seborrhea. This cream works hard and works fast.
Comes in three strengths.
