Grief and Bereavement Topic Guide

Advance directives center around the principles of your right to die and death with dignity. A living will tells doctors what life-prolonging treatments to perform if someone has a terminal condition or is in a persistent vegetative state. Medical power of attorney is someone who makes medical decisions for you if you become unable to make those decisions for yourself.

Alzheimer's disease (AZ) is the most common cause of dementia in industrialized nations. The symptoms of Alzheimer's disease are sublte at the beginning, and over time symptoms such as: slow or worsening memory loss, trouble remembering events or activities, difficulty doing familiar tasks, and difficulties finding the right words for familiar things.

There are many types of depression such as clinical depression, major depression, seasonal affective depression, dysthymia, and bipolar disorder. There are a variety of depression medications, and their effectiveness may vary from patient to patient. Examples of the types of depression medications include atypical antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), tricyclic antidepressants, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Side effects, drug interactions, and warnings and precautions should be reviewed prior to taking any medication.

Anxiety as a medical condition is characterized by worry, fear, nervousness, shortness of breath, sleep problems and other symptoms. Diarrhea, tremors, and rapid heart rate are some physical symptoms of severe anxiety, which may arise from a mental or physical condition, drug use, or some combination of these causes. Treatment can include medication and psychotherapy.

Autopsy is a medical procedure that involves the examination of a deceased persons body. The word autopsy is derived from the Greek word autopsia, which means "to see with one's own eyes." There are a variety of reasons to perform an autopsy on a deceased individual. There are autopsy regulations in which an autospy reported is deemed. An autopsy varies according to the extent and purpose of examination. When the autopsy report lists medical diagnoses and a summary of the case.

End-of-life decision making typically involves creating two documents: an advance directive and a durable power of attorney for medical care.

HIV has killed about 25 million individuals, and approximately 40 million people are currently living with the disease. Symptoms and signs of HIV include fever, headache, tiredness, and enlarged lymph nodes. Infections that happen with AIDS are called opportunistic infections. There is no cure for HIV/AIDS. Treatment usually involves a combination of at least three drugs to suppress the virus from replicating and boost the immune system.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV destroys the body's immune system and leads to AIDS. The Western blot and ELISA are the two types of tests most commonly used to detect HIV infection. There are also at-home HIV tests.

Huntington disease (HD) is a virus that causes movement disorder and neurological problems. The neurological problems eventually cause cognitive and emotional disabilities that eventually descend into dementia.

Post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD, is among only a few mental disorders that are triggered by a disturbing outside event, quite unlike other psychiatric disorders such as depression.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are antidepressants that affect serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin is a chemical neurotransmitter. Side effects may include rash, low blood sugar, drowsiness, photosensitivity, and kidney or liver impairment. SSRI side effects include withdrawal-like symptoms in newborns, decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, and delayed ejaculation in men, photosensitivity (increased risk of sunburn), rash, low blood sodium levels, low blood sugar levels, drowsiness, and kidney or liver impairment.