Bipolar Disease has no Respect for Age

Bipolar disease or bipolar disorder can affect anyone of any age and a person could suffer from the illness for many years and not be diagnosed until late in life. No one really knows what causes this disease. We can only presume that a variety of biochemical, genetic and environmental factors are all involved in triggering this disease.

The Different Phases

This manic-depressive disorder causes extreme mood swings, from happy and energetic (mania phase), to sad and without energy (depression phase). The shifting from mania to depression and back again can occur quickly with deep mood swings lasting for weeks or months in some people. Usually, there are periods of normal or no moods in between. With bipolar disease there is no time frame for each episode, different people have different time frame for each bipolar phase.

Genetic Connection

If you have a member in your family who has bipolar disease there is a greater chance of you having it. Those who study the brain have indicated that people with bipolar disorder have chemical imbalances within their brains with researchers trying to find the genes that may be involved in the illness. Genes may be just one factor in the jigsaw puzzle.

Medication

To stop mood swings in bipolar disease it is treated with medicines, this helps to stabilize and to even out high phases and the low phases of the disorder. Doctors use antidepressant medicine to help reduce the depression symptoms. When patients get older, usually symptoms of the disease change in character and toughness. It is usually because of this that treatments may need to be accommodated. Treating bipolar disease is not an easy matter because there is no one drug that can do the job and practitioners have to go by a combination of drugs to be able to treat this disease.

Weight Gain

The most significant problem with people who are taking bipolar medicine is gaining weight. Many have suggested that this is due largely to the impact of certain types of medications commonly being prescribed for bipolar disorder. The whole picture is more complicated than laying a finger on the prescribed medications alone. There may be other factors involved.

Hope

Those with bipolar disease have led healthy, productive and fulfilling lives after their illness has been treated successfully. Many bipolar patients with beautiful children have successful marriages, going to work on a daily basis and compliant with their medication are relieved they have control over their illness. Not treating bipolar in time can worsen the disease and add a lot of pressure to the family.

Ask For Help

There are many physicians, qualified health providers who can answer your questions that you may have. Seeking the advice from others regarding a medical condition is a sign of strength not of weakness. If you are with a bipolar child or adult and cannot cope, look for a counselor. Better still look for a support group or support network for you and your ill patient. Do not leave it too late it might get worse for everybody.

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