Overview

Hypochondriasis (or hypochondria, sometimes referred to as health phobia) refers to an excessive preoccupation or worry about having a serious illness. Often, hypochondria persists even after a physician has evaluated a person and reassured him/her that his/her concerns about symptoms do not have an underlying medical basis or, if there is a medical illness, the concerns are far in excess of what is appropriate for the level of disease. Many people suffering from this disorder focus on a particular symptom as the catalyst of their worrying, such as gastro-intestinal problems, palpitations, or muscle fatigue.

Hypochondria is often characterized by fears that minor bodily symptoms may indicate a serious illness, constant self-examination and self-diagnosis, and a preoccupation with one's body. Many individuals with hypochondriasis express doubt and disbelief in the doctors' diagnosis, and report that doctors’ reassurance about an absence of a serious medical condition is unconvincing, or un-lasting. Many hypochondriacs require constant reassurance, either from doctors, family, or friends, and the disorder can become a disabling torment for the individual with hypochondriasis, as well as his or her family and friends. Some hypochondriacal individuals are completely avoidant of any reminder of illness, whereas others are frequent visitors of doctors’ offices. Other hypochondriacs will never speak about their terror, convinced that their fear of having a serious illness will not be taken seriously by those in whom they confide.

Why Hasn't My Doctor Said That I May Be Suffering From Hypoglycemia?

Are you like many people that have stumbled (through a friend/family member or the internet) upon the fact that you may have hypoglycemia? You've never been given a formal medical diagnosis but based on your findings you feel like it is very likely that you have hypoglycemia? If so, you may be asking why your doctor hasn"t been able to come to this conclusion yet or if it is possible to simply go to your doctor now and get something from him/her to fix the problem.

First off, it can be difficult to test for Hypoglycemia.
Some people that have Hypoglycemia don't have any
symptoms and others that have many of the classic
symptoms, have a normal blood sugar level. So it makes
it hard for doctors to test for the disease.

Secondly, Hypoglycemia mimics various other illnesses,
such as nervous illnesses like panic disorder or
hypochondria so that is how the doctor may diagnose the
patient. This is not to say that another diagnosis
isn't accurate, but it may be missing the diagnosis for
Hypoglycemia on top of it.

Thirdly, medical doctors are not generally trained in
nutrition. That is critical in this disease because hypoglycemia is, in large part, a nutritional deficiency. Last I heard, doctors only go through one semester of school dealing with nutrition while getting their training. Veterinarians on the other hand, as well as alternative doctors, do spend a great deal of time on nutrition in their training and they are more likely to complete research on natural products to determine whether or not that method could help the patient.

Hypoglycemia often goes undiagnosed because many
physicians don't understand it completely. Since the
symptoms are similar to various other diseases they will
perform tests for those diseases. When the tests they
have available don't show up as various other diseases
the doctors don't have anything for you. Therefore, if
you feel in your heart that you are hypoglycemic you
must educate yourself and push your doctor.

Education and taking your health and well being into
your own hands really are the best ways for you to
control and overcome your symptoms.

"An informed patient is the best patient," --Murrmann-Price



Autor: Shannon Lueck

Shannon suffered from hypoglycemia for 12+ years before she stumbled across a system that helped her overcome her symptoms. Learn more about how she conquered hypoglycemia at: Reactive Hypoglycemia Symptom and Diet Treatment Website


Added: April 6, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

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