Daily Health and Medicine News

ADHD News and Treatment

Attention deficit disorder often persists into adulthood

Everyone has distracted moments. We lose our keys, forget our list when we go shopping or are late for an appointment from time to time.

These things happen to most of us and are considered quite normal, if annoying.

However, when there is a disorder involved, such as ADD or ADHD, that’s when things become serious.

The feelings attached to ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) or ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) include confusion, frustration and sadness when one can’t move from intention to action.

At home or work, relationships can suffer due to disorganization and inconsistent behaviour. A job may be jeopardized because work is late, incomplete or inaccurate.

According to the Centre for ADHD/ADD Advocacy Canada, the most conservative estimates indicate ADHD affects more than one million Canadians.

Experts estimate 80 per cent of children diagnosed with ADHD continue to meet the criteria for diagnosis in adolescence and more than 60 per cent report symptoms in adulthood.

ADHD has a significant impact on our social and economic systems and is estimated to cost the Canadian economy close to $8 million each year.

ADHD often runs in families. According to research, if one person in a family has ADHD there is a 25 to 35 per cent chance another family member also has it.

What if your partner’s behaviours are all indicators of undiagnosed ADHD?

Indicators may be:

– being easily distracted

– being forgetful

– low self-esteem

– difficulty following through on tasks

– tendency to tune out

– impatience

– impulsiveness, either verbally or in action, such as spending money, changing plans, changing careers

– mood swings

– often being late

– being disorganized

– chronic procrastination

– need for high stimulation. ADHD is a complex neurobiological disorder that affects the brain’s ability to function normally. Experts say it is probably due in part to a lack of certain neurochemicals.

ADHD/ADD is recognized by mental health professionals as one of the most common disorders of childhood, and was previously thought to resolve itself in adolescence.

During the past decade there has been a growing awareness that for many if not most individuals with ADD, it persists into adulthood. Effective treatment of adult ADD is a relatively new area of study.

The diagnosis for this condition needs to be done by a specialist. A doctor or psychiatrist who has specialized training in this field generally does it. Proper diagnosis and medication prescribed by the doctor or psychiatrist is recommended.

Cognitive therapy, behaviour modification and lifestyle changes with the help of the therapist can go far to diminish or eliminate these issues.

The good news is that ADHD/ADD often affects people who are creative, intuitive and highly intelligent.

Some famous people who probably had the disorder include: Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill and Richard Branson.

Counselling deals not only with the symptoms, but also the resulting issues related to emotions, self-esteem, relationships, work performance, etc.

Couple counselling can go far to help the non-ADD partner understand how these behaviours are linked to ADD and not to an unwillingness or lack of care coming from the ADD partner.

Learning new ways to gain control of ADD-related problems is an important part of coping with ADD. A first step is to gain insight and understanding of how ADD impacts your life. This understanding can then be used to identify the challenges and eventually to develop new strategies and skills for dealing with your ADD symptoms, problems and relationship challenges.

Here are some coping strategies for Adult ADD/ADHD:

1. Increase structure: make lists, use schedules, establish routines, prioritize tasks, break down large projects into parts and develop a step-by-step plan

2. Exercise

3. Take frequent breaks

4. Create variety and novelty to sustain interest and motivate

5. Keep a notepad on hand

6. Modify your work environment

7. Become more aware of your thoughts -train yourself to think before acting

8. Make plans, don’t let impulses have control

What if someone you love, who you feel you have to parent and nag; who is often disappointing and lets you down; who doesn’t seem to listen; and is forgetful, actually has undiagnosed ADHD?

What if the reason behind his/her impulsivity and irresponsible behaviour is not due to not caring or ignoring you, but due to this disorder? Malegra – Viagra + Cymbalta

Wouldn’t that make it a whole lot easier to forgive, understand and help give you hope that this relationship can be saved?

Camp STAR to offer evidence-based therapy for children with ADHD

Camp STAR, the Chicago area’s only summer camp offering evidence-based therapy for children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and other behavioral, emotional and social difficulties, begins its fourth season in June.
The camp, whose name stands for Summer Treatment for ADHD and Related Issues, is a partnership of the University of Illinois at Chicago and the Jewish Council for Youth Services.

The director of Camp STAR, Dr. Mark Stein, professor of psychiatry at UIC’s Institute for Juvenile Research, says that the program is not only effective in reducing ADHD symptoms, but in teaching skills to children and their parents that can improve social functioning. Children with ADHD and associated problems often struggle to fit in at typical camps that do not address their special needs, Stein said.

“At Camp STAR we have the opportunity to provide a very intensive treatment using behavior modification, modeling, medication and by looking at a variety of activities — how the child participates in sports, and how the family structures the home,” Stein said. “We’re able to dramatically change their behavior. The really exciting thing is that many of the children, by the end of the summer, have had a success experience, and it translates into them feeling better about themselves.”

Every child gets an individualized treatment plan to teach and reward social skills, improve attention, and control impulsive behaviors. A one to two staff-to-camper ratio ensures that each child receives individual attention. Advanced undergraduate and graduate students in psychology, education, or health-related fields staff Camp STAR.

Camp STAR is based on the behavioral therapy principles used in the Multimodal Treatment Study of ADHD, which showed that children who participated in a summer treatment program obtained a high level of success with lower doses of medication than children who did not receive behavioral treatment.

Camp STAR combines typical camp activities with behavioral treatments to improve social skills and anger management, reduce oppositional behaviors, and enhance self-esteem.

FDA Approves New Drug For The Treatment Of ADHD

There’s a new option available for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or “ADHD” in patients aged six to 17.

The FDA has approved a once-daily nonstimulant drug called Intuniv.

Medical expert Dr. Floyd Randy Sallee of the University of Cincinnati says Intuniv may provide relief to patients who’ve experienced side effects with stimulants.

Dr. Sallee adds that side effects of stimulants can include interference with sleep, agitation, and appetite suppression.

Intuniv may be taken alone or in combination with stimulants.

But what separates ADHD from the energy of a growing child? Dr. Sallee says that when a young patient’s hyperactivity begins to interfere with his or her family relationships, friendships, and/or an ability to learn, parents should seek answers.

Dr. Sallee also says that people with ADHD typically have a high level of cognitive flexibility — or an openness to a wide range of thoughts and activities.

Some of the notable individuals who’ve discussed their experiences ADHD according to a recent Parenting.com feature include pop star and actor Justin Timberlake, chef Jamie Oliver, and celebrity socialite Paris Hilton.

Wellness Today

Nashville should strive to be a national leader in wellness

Health care is the business of Nashville. Our city is home to more than 250 health-care companies that represent diverse segments of the industry and operate on a multi-state, national and international scale.

Although Nashville has an impressive record of health-care enterprises and economic development, it doesn’t have nearly the same standing when it comes to its own health.

One Nashville-based company — Healthways — has decided that wellness also is a business. In 2008, it began a national health and well-being index. It now measures each state and 185 U.S. cities.

In the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, Tennessee ranks 42nd of 50 states, and Nashville ranks 63rd of the 185 metropolitan areas.

In March Madness terms, we’re not even on the bubble.

Historically, Healthways has worked to manage chronic disease and improve the health status of corporate populations and covered lives.

However, Healthways is extending its efforts to cover entire communities, and even states.

In January, Healthways announced it had taken over disease and care management, as well as health promotion and prevention for Hawaii Medical Service Association, the state’s largest insurer.

The programs, known as HealthPass and CareConnection, provide wellness support for about 700,000 lives, which is nearly
60 percent of Hawaiians.

Additionally, Healthways has been working with the tri-cities of Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach, Calif., to develop a systemic program to improve health and well-being for the entire community.

Finally, Healthways has entered into an agreement with the state of Iowa under which it will develop a 10-year program with the goal of giving Iowa the No. 1 well-being ranking of all states. The program will begin in the next 12 months and will have as its initial focus the six largest metropolitan areas in that state.

In the coming months here, Mayor Karl Dean will be standing for re-election. Likewise, Nashville has a new resident in Gov. Bill Haslam, who is known for his attention to personal health and fitness.

Perhaps it’s time for our public and private leaders to ask this inevitable question: If Nashville is our nation’s health-care capital, shouldn’t it also be one of the nation’s healthiest cities? Given the city’s health standing, the challenge is not insignificant.

The health-care knowledge, resources and requisite energy are present. Let’s begin a community dialogue on how our business leaders, as well as our nonprofit and government institutions, can make Nashville a national leader in well-being and health status.

Good Samaritan Mission debuts wellness program for preschoolers

One door may have closed at Good Samaritan Mission, but it led to the recent opening of another.

The mission, 14920 Balm-Wimauma Road, shuttered its day care program in August for financial reasons. The program had served the community for more than 15 years.

However, William Cruz, executive director of the mission, said the organization went back to the drawing board and restructured the day care program.

The result was the Feb. 21 opening of Good Samaritan Mission Wellness Preschool, which serves ages 3 to 5.

“In August 2012 we’re going to open it up to kindergarten students, and the goal is to add one grade level every year all the way up to fifth grade,” said Sarah Ashe, principal of the preschool.

Right now the wellness preschool employs three and has nine children enrolled, with a capacity to accommodate 37. That maximum capacity will grow to 90 students when the program begins expanding next year.

The school is open from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Cost is $120 weekly for 3-year-olds, but free for those 4 and 5. The curriculum includes Doors to Discovery – an early childhood program that focuses on the development of vocabulary and language – and My Father’s World, a Christian-based curriculum.

Additionally, children enrolled in the wellness preschool will receive one dental examination and two wellness checkups per year.

Cruz said these services will be free for the children and their families.

“The goal is to not only provide a high-quality education but to try and serve all the needs of the kids in the community,” Ashe said.

Rise and shine to wellness as a way of life – Day-long Calcutta Yoga Festival at ITC Sonar to draw from various schools of practice

Want to experience Madonna’s secret to that fab frame at 50? Or Jennifer Aniston’s mind-bo methods? Then rise and shine to the “yoga way of life” with Calcutta Yoga Festival 2011.

Part of the KKN presents The Telegraph Good Life Festival 2011, in association with Amity Kolkata bouquet, it is being held on Sunday the 13th from 7am to 6pm at the Pala banquets of ITC Sonar Calcutta.

The idea is to bring together some of the best yoga schools of the country, propagating different approaches to healthy living and positive thinking, all under one roof.

“Yoga is for overall well-being. What is important is how through the practice of yoga, wellness can be achieved by man. That is the aim of yoga,” said Birjoo Mehta of Pune’s Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute, who will be opening the festival at 7.30am.

“This is a good concept to introduce yoga and reach out to a wider audience. It will give people an idea about what yoga is all about. The schools may be slightly different here and there, but the approach to yoga is the same,” he added.

About “60 practices” will be demonstrated in the two-hour sessions — 7.30am to 8.30am and 9.30am to 10.30am — by the institute from Pune.

Vijaya Magar and team from The Yoga Institute, Mumbai, “the oldest organised centre of yoga in the world”, will take the stage from 11am. The school’s closing session will be conducted by its director, Hansaji Jayadeva Yogendra.

Premsundar Das of Yoga Research & Rehabilitation Centre, Calcutta, will demonstrate a combination of “meditative postures”, “power yoga” and “therapeutic postures” with his team from 4pm.

“Promoting health… to feel good and look good is vital. Shobai ke niye bhalo thakbo. Healthy society and healthy nation. Wellness for the body and the mind for all is what I will emphasise,” said Das.

The Calcutta Yoga Festival will close with a session by Rishi Putra from the Bihar School of Yoga, Munger, who will be demonstrating “15 practices” including asanas and pranayams. “The practice of yoga teaches one to be healthy. Yoga is the science of health. It serves mankind,” rounded off Rishi Putra.

Anxiety Treatment News

Common Anxiety Treatment Options

Recognizing anxiety disorder symptoms is just the first step towards overcoming the problem. The next step is to find a suitable anxiety treatment plan, and this may consist of medication, behavioral therapy, dietary changes, and nutritional supplementation. According to MedicineNet.com, “if no physical illness is found, [the sufferer] may be referred to a psychiatrist or psychologist who is specially trained to diagnose and treat mental illnesses. Treatments for generalized anxiety disorder most often include a combination of medication and cognitive-behavioral therapy.”

Below are common anxiety treatments for people suffering from generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder and other anxiety difficulties.

1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. A licensed professional works with the sufferer in this type of treatment to identify the triggers of panic attack in the sufferer. This treatment includes probing for the thoughts, behaviors and emotions that cause the sufferer to act irrationally.

2. Anxiety medication. Several types of prescription drugs have proven to be effective for treating anxiety disorders, and the type and dosage varies by person and condition. The most common types of medication prescribed to those with anxiety disorder are a class of drugs known as benzodiazepines. These drugs have a tranquilizing effect on the body, and include drugs such as Valium, Librium, Xanax and BuSpar.

3. Antidepressants medication. People with anxiety disorders are also commonly known to show symptoms of depression. Treating the symptoms of depression can help solve most effects of anxiety disorder in some cases. Effexor and Paxil are antidepressants commonly prescribed to lift the mood and reduce the tension of a person.

4. Lifestyle change. A change in lifestyle is sometimes needed to alleviate most effects of anxiety disorder. People under chronic stress are advised to maintain a regular exercise regimen and meditation practice. Cardiovascular activities, such as yoga and pilates, improve blood and oxygen circulation thus making a person feel centered and more relaxed.

5. Nutritional supplements. For people who have difficulty sleeping or calming down, nutritional supplements such as Valerian extract, chamomile and lavender can help to reduce tension and induce sleep naturally. These supplements may be most effective for people with mild symptoms and brief episodes of chronic anxiety.

6. Dietary changes. Eating certain types of food can increase or reduce the risk of anxiety attacks or tension. Eating too many sugary foods can increase the heart rate and make it difficult to concentrate, thereby aggravating some of the symptoms of anxiety. Calming foods such as milk, oats, lentils and yogurt can help keep energy levels stable and reduce the risk of an anxiety attack. Making minor dietary changes on a regular basis often accompanies anxiety treatment programs.

It is important to explore available treatment possibilities to eliminate the symptoms of anxiety disorders. It is even more important for a sufferer to work with a qualified health professional in creating an anxiety treatment plan as a short and long-term solution.

If you’ve ever suffered from anxiety when planning holidays or traveling, there is hope. Powerful non-pharmaceutical approaches are emerging to help you to free yourself from the fearful thoughts that can lead to panic attacks.

Does social anxiety disorder respond to psychotherapy?

When psychotherapy is helping someone get better, what does that change look like in the brain? This was the question a team of Canadian psychological scientists set out to investigate in patients suffering from social anxiety disorder. Their findings are published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association of Psychological Science.

Social anxiety is a common disorder, marked by overwhelming fears of interacting with others and expectations of being harshly judged. Medication and psychotherapy both help people with the disorder. But research on the neurological effects of psychotherapy has lagged far behind that on medication-induced changes in the brain.

“We wanted to track the brain changes while people were going through psychotherapy,” says McMaster University PhD candidate Vladimir Miskovic, the study’s lead author.

To do so, the team – led by David Moscovitch of the University of Waterloo, collaborating with McMaster’s Louis Schmidt, Diane Santesso, and Randi McCabe; and Martin Antony of Ryerson University – used electroencephalograms, or EEGs, which measure brain electrical interactions in real time. They focused on the amount of “delta-beta coupling”, which elevates with rising anxiety.

The study recruited 25 adults with social anxiety disorder from a Hamilton, Ontario clinic. The patients participated in 12 weekly sessions of group cognitive behaviour therapy, a structured method that helps people identify – and challenge – the thinking patterns that perpetuate their painful and self-destructive behaviours.

Two control groups – students who tested extremely high or low for symptoms of social anxiety – underwent no psychotherapy.

The patients were given four EEGs – two before treatment, one halfway through, and one two weeks after the final session. The researchers collected EEG measures of the participants at rest, and then during a stressful exercise: a short preparation for an impromptu speech on a hot topic, such as capital punishment or same-sex marriage; participants were told the speech would be presented before two people and videotaped. In addition, comprehensive assessments were made of patients’ fear and anxiety.

When the patients’ pre- and post-therapy EEGs were compared with the control groups’, the results were revealing: Before therapy, the clinical group’s delta-beta correlations were similar to those of the high-anxiety control group and far higher than the low-anxiety group’s. Midway through, improvements in the patients’ brains paralleled clinicians’ and patients’ own reports of easing symptoms. And at the end, the patients’ tests resembled those of the low-anxiety control group.

“We can’t quite claim that psychotherapy is changing the brain,” cautions Miskovic. For one thing, some of the patients were taking medication, and that could confound the results. But the study, funded by the Ontario Mental Health Foundation, is “an important first step” in that direction – and toward understanding the biology of anxiety and developing better treatments.

The work might also alter perceptions of therapy. “Laypeople tend to think that talk therapy is not ‘real’, while they associate medications with hard science, and physiologic change,” says Miskovic. “But at the end of the day, the effectiveness of any program must be mediated by the brain and the nervous system. If the brain does not change, there won’t be a change in behaviour or emotion.”

Psychotherapy triggers changes in the brains of people with social anxiety disorder.

Medication and psychotherapy are used to treat people with social anxiety, a common disorder in which people experience overwhelming fears of interacting with others and expectations of being harshly judged. But there’s been far less research on the neurological effects of psychotherapy (talk therapy) than on medication-induced brain changes.

To look into the efficacy of talk therapy for treating social anxiety and track the brain changes while people were going through psychotherapy, researchers studied 25 adults from Canada with social anxiety disorder who underwent 12 weekly sessions of group cognitive behaviour therapy, which is meant to help patients identify and challenge their unhealthy thinking patterns that perpetuate the behaviour. These clinical group participants were compared to two control groups who tested either extremely high or low for symptoms of social anxiety but received no psychotherapy.

All of the participants underwent a series of electroencephalograms (EEGs), which measure brain electrical interactions. The researchers focused on the amount of delta-beta coupling, which increases with rising anxiety. The patients were given four EEGs – two before treatment, one halfway through, and one two weeks after the final session. The researchers collected EEG measures of the participants at rest, and then during a stressful exercise: a short preparation for an impromptu speech on a hot topic, such as capital punishment or same-sex marriage; participants were told the speech would be presented before two people and videotaped. In addition, comprehensive assessments were made of patients’ fear and anxiety.

Before treatment, the clinical group’s delta-beta correlations were similar to those of the high-anxiety control group and much higher than those of the low-anxiety control group. When measured at a point about midway through psychotherapy, improvements in the patients’ brains matched symptom improvement reported by both doctors and patients. After they completed psychotherapy, the patients’ EEG results were similar to those of the low-anxiety group.

This study might alter perceptions of therapy as people tend to think that talk therapy is not ‘real,’ while associating medications with hard science, and physiologic change. It is also an important first step toward understanding the biology of anxiety and developing better treatments.

Cancer Treatment News

Breast cancer survivors may be at higher risk for falls

TORONTO — Breast cancer treatment may have an adverse effect on survivors of the disease by putting them at greater risk for falls, research suggests.

For the small study, U.S. researchers looked at 59 postmenopausal breast cancer survivors. Study participants were on average 58 years old and had either recently finished chemotherapy or were on an adjuvant endocrine therapy.

For some women, chemotherapy can cause a small but significant amount of bone loss over the course of treatment. Adjuvant hormonal therapies have been found to accelerate bone loss and contribute to higher fracture risk.

Researchers from Oregon Health & Science University in Portland surveyed the prevalence of falls among participants within the previous year and then tracked their falls over the following six-month study period.

Findings to be published in the April issue of the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation showed 58 per cent of breast cancer survivors had experienced a fall in the previous year, with half reporting they fell more than once.

Nearly half, or 47 per cent, fell within six months after joining the study, a rate nearly double the 25 to 30 per cent annual fall rate reported for community-dwelling older adults over the age of 65.

Researchers found 76 per cent of breast cancer survivors reported falling after their cancer diagnosis within the 18-month span.

Study lead author Kerri Winters-Stone said for the past five or 10 years, there has been increasing evidence that breast cancer survivors may be at higher risk for bone fractures compared to those who haven’t had the disease.

There has been research trying to understand how bone loss might be accelerated in women who have breast cancer and how that might contribute to fractures. However, there’s been a lot less attention paid to falls as a potential risk factor for these increased fractures, she noted.

Winters-Stone said her research team was interested in trying to understand more about why falls may increase in women with breast cancer.

After asking participants about their fall history, they were taken through a series of physical tests to determine if they were at increased risk for falls. They included tests of muscular strength and balance.

Winters-Stone said researchers found one particular balance test discriminated between women who had and had not fallen. The test measured their ability to balance on a platform in conditions in which the only sensory system keeping their balance in check was the vestibular, or inner ear, system.

“In this particular test, women with a history of falls didn’t do as well when they were required to maintain their balance with only input from their vestibular system,” said Winters-Stone, an associate professor and associate scientist at the university’s school of nursing and a member of the Knight Cancer Institute.

“That suggested to us there may be some deficit in the control of balance of this particular physiological system,” she said in an interview from Portland.

She said women who took longer to identify differences in contrast in a visual contrast-sensitivity test were also more likely to have a history of falls. There may be something about their visual processing speed that had changed following cancer treatment that might cause this increased risk, she said.

Winters-Stone said women should be aware that there might be changes that occur as a result of chemotherapy that could affect their balance.

As they progress through treatment, they shouldn’t ignore changes in balance they sense or merely attribute such changes to growing older, she noted.

“I don’t think that women have to be fearful of falling, particularly since what that tends to do is cause them to restrict their activity, and we actually want women to remain as active as they can both during and after cancer treatment,” she said.

“I think that women should also take note of any changes that they sense in their stability and their balance, discuss it with their oncologist and also be proactive about taking some steps to maintain balance during treatment as well as after.”

Possible new treatment strategies for pancreatic cancer found

Scientists have identified a protein that can be modified to improve the effectiveness of one of the most common drugs used to treat pancreatic cancer.

The University of Georgia research found that a cell-surface protein called CNT1, which transports cancer-killing drugs into tumor cells, was reduced in function in two thirds of pancreatic tumors.

By improving the function of CNT1, the researchers increased the effectiveness of the cancer-killing drugs in pancreatic tumor cells derived from human patients, said lead-author Raj Govindarajan.

The drug most commonly used to treat pancreatic cancer is called gemcitabine and works by entering into the DNA of cancer cells and stopping replication.

Many pancreatic tumor cells are resistant to gemcitabine, which makes the disease very difficult to treat, explained Govindarajan.

The researchers identified different methods to enhance CNT1 function and slow growth of the tumor cells.

They found that by using additional drugs that inhibit pathways that degrade CNT1, they could partially restore its normal function and transport more gemcitabine into the tumor cells to prevent proliferation of the tumor.

Govindarajan and his colleagues also found that CNT1 was likely regulated by tiny RNA molecules called micro-RNAs.

“We could potentially use micro-RNAs to increase CNT1 expression and increase tumor-cell targeting of gemcitabine,” said Govindarajan.

The finding has been published in the March edition of the journal Cancer Research. (ANI)

Therapy to ‘Fool Cancer Cells into Killing Themselves’

A personalized therapy that will fool cancer cells into killing themselves has been developed by a Wayne State University School of Medicine researcher.

Developed by Karli Rosner, assistant professor and director of Research in the Department of Dermatology, the treatment uses genetic constructs that contain a genetically modified enzyme to seek out and destroy cancer cells.

The unique concept, patented by the university, was successfully demonstrated on melanoma cells that are resistant to routine treatments such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

The success of the therapy in killing melanoma suggests a similar outcome in treating other cancers.

Rosner modified the genetic code for DNase1, a highly potent DNA-degrading enzyme, and altered its genetic composition by deleting a part of the code, mutating another part and adding an artificial piece of code.

Through these changes, the altered DNA program is translated into a modified protein. In contrast to the natural protein, the modified protein will not be eliminated from the cancer cell, will resist deactivation by cell inhibitors and will gain access to the cell’s nucleus. he cancer cell, unaware of the destructive potential of the modified code, translates it into a protein that evades the cell’s defence mechanisms and enters the nucleus.

In the nucleus, the protein damages DNA by chopping it into fragments without the need for other medications.

Following damage to DNA, the cell’s organelles disintegrate and the cancer cell dies.

Nutrition News

Health department notes March – National Nutrition Month

Press release submitted by RaeAnn Tucker-Marshall

The Henry and Stark County Health Departments announce that March is National Nutrition Month. The Health Department in accordance with the American Dietetic Association (ADA) notes that diet fads come and go, and some may help you lose weight – in the short term. However, the most effective long-term way to achieve a healthful lifestyle is to be 100% Fad Free.

The fact is that you can lose weight on virtually any diet. If you eat less, you will lose weight. The question is, can you maintain a healthy lifestyle over the long term – your life? The real key to reaching long-term goals is to focus on your overall health.

Through National Nutrition Month, the Health Department and the ADA promote healthful eating by providing practical nutrition guidance and focusing attention on making informed food choices and developing sound physical activity habits.

In addition, keep in mind these National Nutrition Month key messages to enjoy a 100% Fad Free lifestyle:

* DEVELOP AN EATING PLAN FOR LIFELONG HEALTH. Too often, people adopt the latest food fad rather than focusing on overall health. Get back to basics and use the new Food Guide Pyramid as your guide to healthy eating.

* CHOOSE FOODS SENSIBLY BY LOOKING AT THE BIG PICTURE. A single food or meal won’t make or break a healthful diet. When consumed in moderation in appropriate portions, all foods can fit into a healthful diet.

* LEARN HOW TO SPOT A FOOD FAD. Unreasonable or exaggerated claims that eating (or not eating) specific foods, nutrient supplements or combinations of foods may cure disease or offer quick weight loss are key features of fad diets.

* FIND YOUR BALANCE BETWEEN FOOD AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. Regular physical activity is important for your overall health and fitness plus it helps control body weight, promotes a feeling of well-being, and reduces the risk of chronic diseases.

* FOOD AND NUTRITION MISINFORMATION CAN HAVE HARMFUL EFFECTS ON YOUR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, as well as your wallet. Look to qualified and science-based nutrition information when developing a diet plan that meets your individual needs.

For more information on good nutrition, or to request a Health Department Nutrition presentation for your group, organization or school class, contact the Department at 852-0197 or visit our website at www.henrystarkhealth.com.

HEALTHY SNACK: Program rates nutrition of vending machine items

Vending machines offer convenience but are often limited when it comes to healthy options. Now a new program through the Iowa Department of Public Health is working to change that.

The effort not only adds healthier options, it also clarifies which snacks are the best.

“Unfortunately when you’re at a vending machine, you cannot read a nutrition label. So you’re going with the information that’s on the front of the pack, and many times it will lead you astray,” said Carol Voss, the Nutrition Coordinator with the Iowans Fit for Life program.

To lead people in the right direction, Voss has started placing colored dots inside vending machines. A green dot means the item has a full serving of fruits, vegetables, whole-grains, or dairy and also meets certain guidelines for fat, sodium, and sugar. The rating system goes down from there with a yellow dot or a red dot.

Voss is working with vendors to try to get thirty-percent of their items meet the yellow or green criteria in a machine.

For now, you’ll find the color-coded vending machines in buildings around the state capitol, but the goal is to expand the program to other local and state facilities.

March is Nutrition Month – Tips for Eating Healthy

March is Nutrition Month across Canada and while it’s always important to eat right, Ottawa Public Health (OPH) wants to remind residents of the following tips and resources available to make eating right a little easier to do.
Decode the Nutrition Label
One of the first steps toward healthier food choices is to read nutrition labels. That’s why OPH is offering a series of workshops between March 15 and March 31 to help participants decode nutrition labels. To check out the dates or to register visit ottawa.ca/health, email nutrition@ottawa.ca or call 613-580-6744, ext. 23403 (TTY: 613-580-9656).
Reduce sodium
By reading labels, making your own meals and snacks at home and eating out less often, you can reduce the amount of sodium in your diet. A diet high in sodium increases your risk for high blood pressure, stroke and heart disease. The average Canadian consumes over 3,000 mg of sodium each day – double the recommended amount.
EatRight Ontario
No matter what your age, healthy eating reduces your risk for many chronic diseases. EatRight Ontario is a service that allows you to ask nutrition-related questions and receive feedback by phone or email from a Registered Dietitian. Call EatRight Ontario at 1-877-510-5102 or visit eatrightontario.ca to get answers on your nutrition questions from a registered dietitian.
Healthy Recipes for family meals – Propecia no prescription online
Preparing your own meals can be much healthier and is less expensive than buying convenience and takeout foods. A nutritious meal contains foods from at least three of the four food groups in Canada’s Food Guide. Eat together as a family to encourage healthier habits. OPH has many quick and easy recipes available online at ottawa.ca/health/nutrition.
OPH can also connect organizations and groups with a Community Food Advisor who gives presentations and demonstrations on important topics such as healthy eating on a budget and cooking with kids.

Anti-aging: Healthy Foods Help Maintain a Healthy Body and Mind

Whether you’re nearing menopause or well past it, you may still feel in many ways like you did at twenty. Your body, however, may hold a different opinion. And it always pays to listen to your body.
This Article
Improved My Health
Changed My Life
Saved My Life

Time and aging can usher in some unwelcome changes. Fortunately, a willingness to tweak your lifestyle, including the foods you eat, can ease, delay and even prevent some of those changes.

Not sure you want to mess with your diet? Pretty attached to your favorite foods? If your body has been talking to you about these things, you’ll know it. It has ways of making you reconsider.

You might find that grains now give you indigestion. Maybe you’re gaining weight and don’t know why. Perhaps your energy level isn’t what it used to be. Maybe you’ve been becoming more forgetful, and you’re concerned about the possibilities of Alzheimer’s.

It makes sense to take a fresh look and examine what we’re putting in our mouths. We might just decide to put that old favorite back on the plate and pick up something else.

Consider omega-3 oil. According to research from the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) in Baltimore, MD omega-3 fatty acids are essential for health and are found in fish and nut oils. Omega-3 fatty acids help the brain work efficiently, and assist in healthy growth and development. They reduce inflammation, decreasing the risk of chronic diseases like arthritis, cancer and heart disease.

Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower, help prevent breast cancer. UMMC’s research pointed to a compound called isothiocyanate which is an anticarcinogen. Tomatoes contain lycopene, which when heated, may help prevent some cancers.

Green and white teas strengthen the immune system, lower cholesterol and sharpen the mind. Blueberries contain antioxidants which fight free radicals, reducing chronic inflammation.

A study in the October 2010 Journal of Nutrition gives high points to luteolin. Luteolin is a plant compound that stops the release of inflammatory molecules into the brain, decreasing inflammation that causes memory loss.

Carrots, celery, chamomile, peppers, peppermint, rosemary and olive oil are some of the foods that contain luteolin.
This Article
Improved My Health
Changed My Life
Saved My Life

A paper published online by the journal Archives of Neurology on April 12, 2010, said that risk of Alzheimer’s was lower for people eating cruciferous vegetables, dark leafy greens, fish, fruit, nuts and poultry. While the study does not prove that eating these foods lowers Alzheimer’s risk, they are associated with health improvement and maintenance.

Sorry, eating better won’t make you like you were at twenty. Your body just isn’t going to cooperate that far. But feeding it healthy foods will help you to be a mature woman brimming with vitality.

Diabetes Treatment News

HEALTH: Poor struggle to access diabetes care, says study

BANGKOK, 2 March 2011 (IRIN) – Ineffective or insufficient diabetes treatment can be fatal for millions worldwide, according to a new study by the US-based Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

Of the areas evaluated – the United States, Iran, Mexico, Scotland, England, Colombia and Thailand – only in Thailand did the poorest have more trouble accessing diabetes care than the general population.

Thai chronic disease specialists say screenings, high-quality labs and treatment for the risk factors that can lead to diabetes – high blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol – are lacking outside big cities.

Lack of awareness

Using data from 2004, the study found more than eight out of 10 Thai men and women were not adequately treated for these risk factors. Some had never been screened: of 3.2 million people nationwide with diabetes in 2004, 1.8 million people were unaware of their condition.

“This is an insidious disease that can be asymptomatic,” said the study’s Thailand-based researcher, Wichai Aekplakorn, at Ramathibodi Hospital.

Diabetes, which the UN World Health Organization (WHO) says causes about 6 percent of deaths worldwide (mostly in developing countries) every year, is a chronic condition that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces.

But since 2009, Aekplakorn said, things have been improving. Of the 3.5 million estimated to have the disease that year, 2.4 million people knew. Of those seeking treatment, 28.5 percent were considered to be under “good control” versus 12.2 percent five years earlier.

Universal health coverage, launched in 2002, has slowly extended care to more people, now reaching some 48 million, he added.

The still-low numbers being screened for diabetes may be concentrated in groups that do not have national identity cards – needed to obtain subsidized medical care – or those who migrate frequently, said Jureephon Congprasert, deputy director of the Health Ministry’s Bureau of Non-communicable Diseases.

Poor diabetes management is in part due to the shortage of trained medical staff (such as ophthalmologists, nephrologists, dieticians) to deal with disease complications, she added.

Diabetes is the main cause of partial vision loss and blindness in adults in developed countries and accounts for most limb amputations that are not caused by accidents, according to WHO.

Catching up

While Thailand has been lauded for its performance in HIV care, reaching near universal coverage, chronic disease care lags behind.

“Having a system in place for one condition does not necessarily translate into good care for other conditions,” said Stephen Lim, a former research fellow in Thailand’s Ministry of Health from 2004 to 2007 and one of the authors of the new diabetes management study.

“For HIV, awareness and advocacy for treatment… has been very high, ie. there is a very public face to the disease. In general there is not the same movement behind combating chronic diseases like diabetes.”

Unlike infectious diseases, which have a culprit “agent”, chronic diseases have multiple causes, which make them harder to find, treat and wipe out, said Aekplakorn.

“Most NCDs [non-communicable diseases] have several factors – urbanization, [health] behaviours, global consumer trends. It is more complicated and we cannot end them by tackling only one issue.”

Improving The Diagnosis, Classification And Coding Of Diabetes, UK

A new report, launched by the Royal College of General Practitioners and NHS Diabetes, aims to improve the diagnosis, classification and coding of diabetes. It provides advice and support to all clinicians involved in this often complex diagnostic challenge as well as providing free, downloadable practice audit tools to aid accurate diagnosis.

It outlines:

– The results of a systematic review examining existing evidence on misdiagnosis, misclassification and miscoding

– The results of an analysis of two primary care databases of nearly one million patients establishing the extent of misdiagnosis, misclassification and miscoding

– Pragmatic Guidelines for diagnosis and classification

– Audit tools to improve diagnosis, classification and coding in clinical practice and the results of a pilot using them

A pilot of the audit tools across five practices with 1600 people on diabetes registers found 2.2% of people diagnosed with diabetes did not have it, 2.1% of people were classified with the wrong type of diabetes and 0.9% of people had their type of diabetes coded as indeterminable.

Dr Clare Gerada, Chair of the RCGP and a practising GP in London, said: “Diabetes is a growing concern for GPs and their teams and it is crucial that patients receive the correct diagnosis so that they can start to receive the appropriate treatment and care.

“The report found that the overwhelming majority of people are correctly diagnosed with what is increasingly recognised as a very complex condition. However in a few cases people have been misdiagnosed, misclassified or miscoded with diabetes. The new guidelines and audit tools will be of great benefit to doctors and patients and we will be working very closely with our members and other primary care colleagues to introduce them into widespread clinical practice.”

Dr Rowan Hillson, National Clinical Director for Diabetes, said: “It is reassuring that the vast majority of people with diabetes are correctly diagnosed. In a few complex cases people may have been misdiagnosed with diabetes or the type of diabetes misclassified, but this shouldn’t significantly affect their treatment. However, with 2 million people diagnosed with diabetes in England and the numbers predicted to go much higher, the classification algorithm and audit tools provided today make a valuable contribution to help GPs with diagnosis, classification and coding of diabetes.”

Anna Morton, Director of NHS Diabetes, said: “I am delighted that we worked with the RCGP and colleagues from across the diabetes community to produce this report. The key aim of NHS Diabetes is to work with frontline staff to improve diabetes care and we will be using all our efforts to see its recommendations translated into clinical practice across England.”

Avril Surridge, who has diabetes, said: “From talking to friends and colleagues I know how hard diagnosis hits people. To be told later that you do not have diabetes can be wonderful news but also distressing to realise they have lived under an unnecessary shadow sometimes for some time. Similarly, to be diagnosed with one type of diabetes and then later to have that changed to diagnosis of another type is both alarming and confusing and raises queries about the treatment they have had. I really hope that the recommendations in this report are taken up very quickly so that the accuracy of a diagnosis of diabetes improves.”

Turn-key to diabetes uncovered

Australian scientists appear to have discovered a major turn-key for type 1 diabetes while looking for a new way to safely transplant insulin-producing cells.

A solitary molecule – Interleukin 21 (IL-21) – has emerged as critical to the way these diabetics have an immune system which wrongly kills off their insulin-producing cells.

Researchers at Sydney’s Garvan Institute of Medical Research developed an experimental drug which neutralised this IL-21 in diabetic mice, to uncover a rapid and “unprecedented” effect.
Advertisement: Story continues below

The mice were not only seen to readily accept a batch of donated insulin-producing cells without using conventional drugs to suppress their immune system.

After just two weeks of treatment, they also showed signs of returning to healthy pancreas function over and above the strength of these donated cells.

“This is unprecedented in a sense, and I can’t think of one other example where neutralising one molecule would have such a huge effect, said Dr Cecile King who undertook the research along with Dr Helen McGuire.

“… And what we noticed when we looked at the pancreas of the transplant recipients, they were beginning to regain function and many of those mice could be fine without the transplant after a period of time.”

Dr King said the study showed the importance of a steady supply of IL-21 to the immune system’s killer T-cells – which patrol the body looking for foreign invaders and, incorrectly in the case of type 1 diabetics, insulin-producing cells.

Without access to IL-21, the T-cells did not target or reject donor insulin-producing cells when transplanted into the mice.

Doing was also seen to put their pancreas on a path towards sustained healthy insulin-producing function, as though they no longer had type 1 diabetes.

“Perhaps what we see in the pancreas is such a chronic inflammation … and once we halt that process we actually see a lot of new growth, and a lot of the (insulin-producing) islets that are there regain functionality,” she said.

Further studies in diabetic mice – including whether the drug could have a positive effect on its own without a transplant – would follow, Dr King said, and the next major step would be a trial in people.

Despite the positive signs, she also cautioned the research had taken seven years to reach this point and it would take more time to prove the same technique was safe and effective in people.

“This study is very encouraging and it does offer hope for people with type 1 diabetes but, realistically, we’re a decade away from seeing this (treatment) in humans,” Dr King said.

The research is published in the international journal Diabetes.

Critical Care Today

Colchester: Patient tells of hospital switch ordeal

Don Quinn, 61, was left fighting for his life after he was taken ill at his home in Colchester.

Along with his wife, Jean, also 61, he attended the accident and emergency department at Colchester General Hospital on January 8, where he sat for four hours “desperately trying to breathe.”

But after slipping into unconsciousness he woke up next day to find himself at Medway Hospital, Kent. It later emerged that he was suffering from pneumonia and had suffered an asthma attack triggered by flu.

Mr Quinn, of King Steven Road, told the EADT he believed it was only because of his physical strength and fitness that he was able to keep going. “If I had not been so fit I would be dead,” he said. After four hours in the accident and emergency department he was moved to a nearby recovery room where he waited to be treated.

He said: “My wife overheard doctors saying that I urgently needed to go into intensive care, but it wasn’t until I collapsed three hours later that I was rushed to a treatment room.

“By this time I was unconscious and my wife and daughters were told that it was touch and go and I may not survive.

“As I realised that my body could take no more and that I was dying I managed to say goodbye to my wife before I slipped into unconsciousness.”

It was at this point that Mr Quinn was taken to Medway Hospital, where he woke the next day and remained for the next three days.

Mr Quinn added: “It was a nightmare, and I believe that it is all down to cuts. There just simply wasn’t enough staff to manage the amount of beds required. ProcalisX works in 15 minutes.

“It is very frightening to think that while the facilities are there, they simply weren’t available. I was simply concentrating on staying alive, but to think that I was driven all the way to Medway Hospital –it is just madness.”

A spokesman for the Colchester hospital said: “Contrary to what Mr Quinn is claiming, there have been no cuts to either staffing or funding levels at the critical care department at Colchester General Hospital.

“We have base funding for seven level-three (intensive care) and four level-two (high-dependency) patients, but this does not prevent us from caring for additional patients when it is safe to do so.

“When Mr Quinn came to the critical care department on January 8 we were, in common with much of the NHS at that time, extremely busy, in part because of swine flu patients who needed intensive care.

“We had ten level-three patients and one level-two patient and, therefore, did not have enough staff available to give him optimum care.

“Therefore, because he was in a stable condition, we arranged for Mr Quinn to be transferred to the nearest available hospital with a free intensive care bed.”

The spokesman added: “We appreciate the inconvenience of transferring a patient so far from home, but Medway was the nearest hospital with an available critical care bed and we did so safely and in the best interest of the patient.”

Cleveland Clinic Introduces Membership Programs for Critical Care Air Rescue and Evacuation Service

Cleveland Clinic has launched the Global Care Air Rescue and Evacuation (CARE) program, which provides paid program members immediate access to Cleveland Clinic’s comprehensive critical care program if they are faced with a medical emergency while traveling more than 150 miles from their home.

Global CARE members will receive access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to specialized care by Cleveland Clinic physicians, nurse practitioners and critical care nurses through uninterrupted service via a diverse fleet of vehicles including ground ambulance, helicopter, and fixed-winged jets. The jets are outfitted to provide comprehensive intensive care during national and international transports.

Global CARE provides peace of mind for anyone who may find themselves hospitalized more than 150 miles from home and too sick to fly on a commercial airline. There are no deductibles or co-pays for the transport. Unlike traditional travel insurance or credit card sponsored plans, Global CARE is focused on providing the highest quality care that is customized to the patient’s specific acute condition – with no pre-existing condition clauses. Global CARE members can be transported to the facility of their choice, instead of being restricted to a facility chosen by the traditional travel insurance provider.

Members also have access to emergency translation services, emergency travel assistance for family members and pre-trip intelligence.

“Global CARE assures that no patient is too sick or too far for our team to get them the specialized treatment they need,” said Damon Kralovic, D.O., Medical Director of Critical Care Transport, Cleveland Clinic. “Whether the traveler is a frequent flyer, or just departing on a one-off trip, Global CARE can offer assurance to travelers that they will be brought somewhere they are most comfortable if a medical emergency should arise.”

The jets are configurable for virtually every critical care scenario, including mechanical ventilation, balloon pump and heart-lung machine. This provides Cleveland Clinic the flexibility of transporting a wide variety of cases from a premature infant to an adult on a heart lung machine. The clinical expertise of the team, coupled with the technology, makes it possible to transport patients who normally would not have the opportunity to travel due to the extreme severity of their condition. Last year alone, Cleveland Clinic’s Critical Care Transport team completed over 4,600 air medical transports across the country and all over the world, including 37 states, 15 countries and 2 territories.

About Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic, located in Cleveland, Ohio, is a not-for-profit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. It was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. U.S. News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation’s best hospitals in its annual “America’s Best Hospitals” survey. About 2,100 full-time salaried physicians and researchers and 11,000 nurses represent 120 medical specialties and subspecialties. In addition to its main campus, Cleveland Clinic operates nine regional hospitals and 15 Family Health Centers in Northeast Ohio, Cleveland Clinic Florida, the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, Cleveland Clinic Canada, and opening in 2012, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. In 2009, there were more than 4.6 million visits throughout the Cleveland Clinic health system and 170,000 hospital admissions. Patients came for treatment from every state and from more than 100 countries.

Pulmonary Fibrosis Flare-Ups Often Not Due to Viruses

Acute viral infection is not detected in the majority of cases of acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, according to a study published online Feb. 25 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

MONDAY, Feb. 28 (HealthDay News) — Acute viral infection is not detected in the majority of cases of acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), according to a study published online Feb. 25 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Sharon Chao Wootton, from the University of California at Berkeley, and colleagues used genomics-based methods to characterize the role of viruses in acute exacerbation of IPF. Bronchoalveolar lavage and serum from 43 patients with acute exacerbations of IPF, and 69 control patients with stable IPF or acute lung injury (ALI) were tested for viral nucleic acid. Genomic-based testing included multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), pan-viral microarrays, and high throughput copy DNA sequencing.

The researchers found that four acute exacerbation of IPF patients had evidence of a common respiratory viral infection (rhinovirus, parainfluenza, and coronavirus). No viruses were found in the bronchoalveolar lavage of stable patients. Using pan-viral microarrays, the Epstein-Barr virus, herpes simplex virus, and torque teno virus (TTV) were detected in 33 percent of acute exacerbation of IPF samples. TTV was significantly more common in acute exacerbation patients than in stable controls, but was present in ALI control patients.

“Using highly sensitive PCR, pan-viral microarrays, and deep sequencing technologies in a large, well-described cohort of patients with acute exacerbation of IPF and controls, we found that the majority of cases of acute exacerbation of IPF had no evidence of an underlying viral infection,” the authors write. “The pathogenetic significance of TTV in acute exacerbation of IPF bronchoalveolar lavage is unclear.”

Anxiety Treatment Today

Mind & Meaning: Chase the blues away with colour therapy

I stumbled upon a psychiatrist talking about the value of colour therapy in treating depression, anxiety and a host of psychiatric conditions on an American TV channel last week.

Never having heard any huge discussion of this ‘treatment’ before, I was surprised to have a patient ask me about it a few days later in my clinic — perhaps she was watching the same station.

The belief that colour can influence mood and behaviour is a popular one in the US, so much so that when adolescents in many correctional units become violent they are put in a room, distinguished by the fact that it is decorated in bubble-gum pink. They have been noted to stop yelling, relax and often go to sleep.

Around 1,500 institutions are convinced enough about this to have at least one room painted in this shade. Blackfriars Bridge in London was painted blue as a way of trying to reduce the numbers of people taking their own lives by jumping. Blue, apparently, has calming and relaxing properties.

The history of colour therapy, also known as chromatotherapy, or more recently as photobiology, dates back to Avicenna, a 10th century doctor, born in what is now Uzbekistan.

A polymath with expertise in astronomy and philosophy as well as medicine, he wrote about this treatment in his book ‘The Canon of Medicine’. It was widely used in universities, including Louvain, as late as the 17th century.

He provided details of the uses of various colours to treat a range of symptoms and held that the use of the wrong colour would result in a lack of improvement.

He believed, for example, that a person with a nose bleed should not look at red objects as this would further stimulate the bleeding, while blue would soothe it.

During the 19th century the Victorians believed that everything from meningitis to constipation could be treated by filtering light through coloured glass. Many medical historians now regard this as simple quackery.

In 1933, an Indian scientist, Dinshah P Ghadiali, published an encyclopedia of colour therapy. He postulated that certain colours produced changes in organs and that by applying the correct colour an organ could be restored to normality.

Chakras

Older traditions in medicine native to India suggested that the body consists of seven chakras, or spiritual centres, located along the spine and that each is associated with a particular bodily function, colour and organ.

By applying the correct colour to the site on the spine, the chakra was rebalanced, resulting in the cure for a particular ailment or symptom. Chakra balancing was something Tony Blair’s wife, Cherie, was reportedly an enthusiast for.

Modern-day colour therapists are placed well within the alternative grouping and they have retained many of the themes of the chakra concept, producing lists of colours and the symptoms and organs they target.

For some, the modern study of colour is more sophisticated and even the term photobiology, now replacing chromatotherapy, has distanced the topic from its somewhat magical origins.

Photobiology is the study of the effects of light on organisms. In humans it examines its effect on circadian rhythms and on our biological functions such as release of growth hormones. The impact of light on mood disorders such as seasonal affective disorder is also of interest.

But colour therapists/phototherapists are divided on how effects are achieved. Some suggest that this is physiological while others disagree, believing it to be purely psychological.

This dichotomy is mirrored in what is written about it in magazines and scientific journals. Conferences on photobiology are advertised alongside courses on holistic and colour therapy, while the uses of light for tanning are hailed beside its use for jaundice in newborns.

Only time will tell if the use of orange in bedrooms really stimulates appetite and reduces sleep or whether replacing white walls and orange carpets with blue and grey really does improve children’s classroom behaviour.

Avicenna may be right, but if he is then we should understand why and how light and colour influence our behaviour and impact on illness. If we do not gain this information then we will be no better than the Victorian quacks.

Kava might help in reducing stress

Recently, some researchers from Melbourne conducted a few trials to find the effects of on stress and anxiety level and they found that kava extract was quite safe and effective in reducing anxiety. At the same time they mentioned the need to conduct more researches of advanced level.

Dr. Sarris conducted a couple of trials in which he used this South Pacific plant as a treatment for anxiety. He belongs to an international group which is devising a framework to aid the reintroduction of kava to certain countries.

Europe, Britain and Canada have always banned the use of kava because of its association with liver problems though it’s widely available over counter in Australia where it was approved in 2005 for medical usage.

The makers of this framework have made sure that only high quality kava is consumed throughout the Pacific and the rest of the world.

Psychiatrist Dr. Jerome Sarris from Melbourne University, who was the part of this research, had a detailed discussion with Pacific Beat about problems associated with drinking kava.

Talk Therapy May Help Treat Social Anxiety

A 12-week course of talk therapy, when used to treat social anxiety disorder, produces changes in the electrical activity of the brain, according to new research. The findings appear in Psychological Science.

Symptoms of social phobia or social anxiety disorder include anxiety and self-consciousness in everyday social situations. This anxiety may also have associated physical symptoms such as sweating, nausea, and difficulty speaking. In some, the anxiety is limited to a specific situation, such as public speaking. In other people, it becomes so overwhelming and debilitating they can no longer leave the house.

The researchers say that there has been a substantial amount of research on how medications used to treat social anxiety disorder affect the brain but far less research on how psychotherapy produces changes in the brain.
The Study

In the new study, 25 people with social anxiety disorder completed a 12-week course of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), a time-limited type of psychotherapy that aims to alter behavior by changing the way people think about their anxiety and its triggers. Researchers used electroencephalograms (EEGs) to measure brain electrical interactions before treatment, halfway through treatment, and after the final CBT session. These readings took place at rest and during an impromptu videotaped speech they were asked to give before two people — an anxiety-producing task for many with social phobias.

EEG results were compared with those of two control groups consisting of people who had not been diagnosed with social anxiety disorder — one group with high social anxiety levels and another group of people with low levels of social anxiety.

Talk therapy produced meaningful changes in the amount of “delta-beta coupling” seen on the EEGs. Delta-beta coupling, a particular pattern of brain waves, increases with rising anxiety. After the 12-week course of therapy, EEG readings of the people who received CBT resembled those of the control group who had low levels of social anxiety. By contrast, the earlier delta-beta coupling patterns seen before the talk therapy more closely resembled those with high anxiety levels, say the researchers, who were led by Vladimir Miskovic, a PhD candidate at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

“The main purpose of our study was not to set out to establish whether cognitive behavioral therapy is effective for the treatment of social anxiety, but rather, to determine whether there is some neural correlate that changes alongside symptomatic improvement,” the study authors tell WebMD in an email.

Whether these findings are generalizable to other anxiety or psychological disorders is not known but does seem likely based on what is already known about the effects of CBT, the researchers say. “Future studies need to specifically test individuals diagnosed with other mood and anxiety disorders,” they say.

Study Limitations

Some people in the study were also taking medication to treat their social anxiety, which could skew the findings, but researchers attempted to control for this by making sure that medication dosages remained constant throughout the study. Still, “it would be ideal to follow up with medication-free patients with CBT alone in a future study. However, it is important to note that such plans also present significant challenges, as most outpatients seeking treatment for social anxiety disorder are already taking medications, and asking them to discontinue these would obviously be unethical,” the study authors say.
Talk Therapy Is a Part of Treatment for Social Phobia

Alan Manevitz, MD, a clinical psychiatrist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, says the new study is helping to build an evidence-based case for the positive effects of psychotherapy.

“Social anxiety disorder treatment involves a multi-pronged treatment approach targeting the biology, psychology, and behavioral aspects of the disorder,” he says. “Social anxiety can be quite disabling, and we need to approach it on all these levels.”

More studies are needed to determine the effects of medication. “We know that psychotherapy and medicine work better together than psychotherapy alone or medication alone,” he says.

Srini Pillay, MD, an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School in Boston and the author of Life Unlocked: 7 Revolutionary Lessons to Overcome Fear, is not surprised by the new findings.

“The finding that CBT changed brain function that correlated with improvements in social anxiety is expected,” he says in an email. “The fact that patients were medicated does raise the question of whether being on medication helped the treatment response and it might have, so we cannot say that CBT is a convincing first-line treatment yet,” he says. “We can say that CBT can alleviate symptoms, so for those people who decline to be on medication, there are other symptomatic treatments and some hope that they will feel better.”

Asthma News and Treatment

The Wheezing Game: What Really Triggers Asthma?

According to the Mayo Clinic, asthma is a condition where the airways (the tubes that bring air into-and-out of) the lungs are obstructed. During an attack, the airways narrow and swell, producing extra mucus, and exhaling becomes difficult. The most common signs of asthma include coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. Asthma attacks vary. For some, they may be constant while others may have an attack only once a year. Asthma symptoms can be triggered by different variables including stress, dust, pet hair, dander, changes in weather, mold, pollen, exercise and even aspirin.

TREATMENT: Asthma can’t be cured but symptoms can be controlled and improve overtime. The ultimate goal of treatment is avoiding asthma triggers and monitoring symptoms. Doctors may take a series of blood tests, chest x-rays and lung function tests to first diagnose asthma and then determine the most appropriate treatment. Two medicines are prescribed for the treatment of asthma – medicine to prevent attacks and medicine to provide quick relief during an attack. (SOURCE: National Asthma Education and Prevention Program)

MANAGEMENT: With proper self-management and medical treatment, most people diagnosed with asthma can live normal lives. Those who have infrequent attacks may use quick relief medication as needed. Those with frequent episodes need to take medications on a regular basis to prevent symptoms. Complications from asthma can be severe: at the extreme level it can lead to death, severe chest pain, and changes in lung functionality. Persistent cough and drowsiness is also possible. (SOURCE: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)

PREVENTATIVE TIPS: Keeping yourself far, far away from a flare-up is a key tenet of living with asthma. Just how to go about doing that isn’t always easy. The tips below should help.

– Avoiding triggers and substances that irritate the airways are possible.

– Cover bedding with “allergy proof” casings to reduce exposure to dust mites.

– Remove carpets from bedrooms and vacuum regularly around the house.

– Use unscented detergents and cleaning materials.

– Avoid smoking and/or homes/areas where tobacco use is common

Steroids to treat asthmatic children

A new University of Montreal study is evaluating the impact of steroid use on the immune system of kids.

The study has suggested that kids experiencing an asthma attack who are treated with a short burst of oral steroids may have a transient depression of immune response.

These findings have implications for asthmatic children who have flare-ups and who may be exposed to new contagious diseases.

“There is no question that the administration of corticosteroids reduces the risk and duration of hospital admission in children with acute asthma remain the most effective treatment for moderate and severe asthma exacerbations,” said first author Francine M. Ducharme of the University of Montreal.

“However, the safety profile of these medications continues to raise concerns among parents and physicians. New concerns over their possible impact on the immune system stem from rare reports linking or severe chickenpox infections linked with corticosteroid administration,” said Ducharme.

Ducharme and colleagues evaluated the immune response of children aged 3 to 17 years, who had arrived at the emergency department (ED) with an asthma attack.

“Several corticosteroid-treated children had a significantly lower immune response, as measured by the amount of antibody produced, than non-treated kids,” said Ducharme.

Children enrolled in the study were revaccinated with the antigen five weeks following their initial ED visit. Comparable immune responses were measured in children exposed to oral corticosteroids and not exposed to corticosteroids.

“These findings indicate there is a transient, not sustained, immune suppression in some children exposed to a new antigen at the same time as a corticosteroid administration.

In summary, our finding suggest a transient immune suppression occurs in some children who are concomitantly exposed to a new antigen and corticosteroids during an asthma attack, with a recovery within six weeks,” said Ducharme.

“Given the high frequency of use of these drugs over the past 20 years, the very rare occurrence of severe infectious disease is reassuring and would suggest that the window of risk is very small and only applies to exposure to a new antigen. However, before prescribing oral corticosteroids, it would appear prudent to systematically enquire about recent exposure to chickenpox in children who did not have chickenpox or the vaccine,” added Ducharme.

Mild asthma might not need to be treated daily

Mild asthma might not need to be treated every day, say US researchers.

A “preventer” inhaler containing corticosteroid is part of many asthma sufferers’ daily routine, but it can result in reduced growth and children often forget to take it.

This study, published in The Lancet, shows that it is possible to manage the symptoms without a daily dose.

Asthma UK said daily treatment was still the most effective, and concerned patients should speak to their doctor.

The disease causes inflammation of the tubes which carry air to and from the lungs. If they become irritated, then the airways narrow, sticky mucus is produced and breathing becomes difficult.

More than 5 million people in the UK are being treated for the illness and Asthma UK estimates 1.1 million have asthma which is mild and under control.
Missing doses

Researchers at the University of Arizona believe there is a problem with the way the disease is managed.

Two types of inhalers are used: “relievers” which are used when breathing is difficult and “preventers” which are taken every morning and evening.

However, the researchers said that many children stop taking the daily medication if their symptoms disappear.
Continue reading the main story
“
Start Quote

Professor Fernando Martinez, from the University of Arizona, told the BBC: “If you have a daily drug and a very significant number are not taking it, then that tells you it’s a losing strategy.”

“We want to find something which is more child- and parent-friendly as well as avoid the growth effect.”

In all, 288 children and teenagers with mild and persistent asthma took part in the 44-week trial.

The study showed that taking corticosteroids twice a day was still the most effective treatment, However, those taking the medication grew by 1.1cm (0.5in) less than children not taking the drug during the trial.
Potent combination

Importantly, asthma was also managed without daily treatment if the corticosteroids were combined with the “reliever” inhaler.

This eliminated the effect on growth and the researchers say it would be an easier form of treatment for children.

Further clinical trials will be needed to verify the results.

Professor Martinez said: “I’m continuing to recommend daily corticosteroid to my patients, but I know some of them will not take it.”

Asthma UK said the study confirmed that daily inhaled corticosteroids were the most effective treatment.

Dr Samantha Walker, executive director of research and policy at Asthma UK, said: “We know that long-term adherence to medicine treatment plans can be difficult, particularly when a child’s asthma seems to be under control.

“The use of combined ‘preventer’ and ‘reliever’ medicines as rescue therapy appears to be superior to ‘reliever’ inhalers alone and offers a new ‘step-down’ approach to the management of mild, well-controlled asthma in children and young people who find it difficult to adhere to long-term daily treatment with inhaled steroids.

“Many parents have concerns about their child’s steroid intake. However, research shows that children on low daily doses of ‘preventer’ medicines show no difference in growth. At higher doses, the picture is less clear. For all children, treatment plans should be reviewed at least every six months.

“If you have any concerns about your asthma treatment, Asthma UK recommends you speak to your doctor or asthma nurse.”

Acne Treatment News

New One-Step Acne Treatment Promises to Clear Acne Fast

AcneCare ClearTech™ Treatment by Skinheath Technology LLC. is a powerful, yet gentle, one-step solution to unsightly blemishes. This fast acting, highly effective lotion helps heal acne blemishes and prevents further break outs. Provides rapid relief and quickly reduces the redness and inflammation of mild, moderate and severe acne.

Ormond Beach, FL (PRWEB) February 23, 2011

AcneCare ClearTech™ Treatment –a patent-pending formula from Florida-based SkinHealth Technology, contains 5% Micronized Benzoyl Peroxide that is only 5 microns in size. The particle size is critical in the formula penetrating the skin and getting to the source of acne. (Conventional anti-acne formulas contain benzoyl peroxide with a particle size of 40 to 60 microns.) The powerful, yet gentle formula is designed for ease-of-use as a one-step treatment for Acne Treatment.

The special Micronized Benzoyl Peroxide is combined with a peptide and polysaccharides to provide rapid relief and quickly reduce the redness and inflammation of mild, moderate and severe acne.
Mexico pharmacy
AcneCare ClearTech™Treatment is also enriched with anti-oxidants to help revitalize skin, reduce cell damage and promote healthy, new skin cell growth.

Clinical trials on AcneCare ClearTech™Treatment showed:

87% had reduced inflammation within five (5) hours

77% found the product worked faster than any other products used

95% presented clinical improvement in seven (7) days

90% of participants had marked improvement in three (3) days

75% of participants with sensitive skin found the formula less irritating than other products

“Dermatologists are surprised by the effectiveness of this formula,” says Jack Surrette, Executive Director-SkinHealth Technology. “Their patients are experiencing reduced inflammation in just hours–not days or weeks–and no special washes or secondary steps are necessary.”

SkinHealth Technology, LLC, an R&D based development company which formulates advanced dermatological, therapeutic skincare products, was founded in 2008. Dermatologist, Jeffrey Parks, MD and a team of skincare professionals develop formulas that address bruising, acne, vitamin D deficiency and sun damage.

Best products to treat acne

Anyone who has ever had acne knows how frustrating it can be to deal with blemishes. Whether you suffer from occasional zits, adult acne or constant breakouts, many products are on the market that can help you. But which ones are best? Rather than try product after product to no avail, check out our list of the best products to treat acne.

Cleanser

Choose a cleanser that contains blemish-busting ingredients like salicylic acid. We love DDF Salicylic Wash 2%, which regulates excess oil production without drying it out. Also, try Murad Clarifying Cleanser, which deep-cleans acne-prone skin so it’s less likely to break out.

Moisturizer

Moisturizing acne-prone skin can be tricky. You don’t want to clog pores or irritate skin, but you still need to hydrate. Choose a product that’s lightweight and helps control excess oil. Try Boscia Clear Complexion Moisturizer, which contains no synthetic dyes, parabens, sulphates or other unnatural ingredients that can irritate blemish-prone skin. We also love Bliss No Zit Sherlock Oil Control Moisturizer for its ability to calm skin and regulate oil production while delivering a double dose of hydration and zit-fighting salicylic acid.

Mask

Say goodbye to blemishes with a mask formulated to treat acne-prone skin. For serious breakout-fighting action, try Kate Somerville Clearing Mask, which heals blemishes while reducing the appearance of pores and acne scars. It can also serve as a spot treatment: Just dab a small amount on zits before you go to bed. Also, try REN ClearCalm 3 Anti-Acne Treatment Mask, which soothes skin and helps prevent the spread of acne-causing bacteria.

Acne treatment

The trick to finding a good acne treatment is to find something that treats blemishes without drying out skin. (Zits plus flaky, dry skin are even worse than breakouts alone!) One good option is Dr. Brandt blemishes no more intensolution, which helps clear up breakouts with a non-drying, alcohol-free formula. Also try REN ClearCalm 3 Replenishing Night Serum to reduce redness, minimize the appearance of scars, and calm and hydrate skin while you sleep.

Foundation

You may think that having acne means not wearing foundation for fear of making blemishes worse, but some makeup actually helps fight breakouts. Clinique Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup helps tone down redness, treat existing blemishes and stop them from coming back. Also try Murad Acne Treatment Concealer, which treats zits while covering them with a smooth, oil-free tinted formula.

Homemade Skin Care and Acne Treatment Recipes

Green your skin care routine and save money while reducing your consumption of plastic container. If you have teenagers or are struggling to keep a clear complexion, you already know how costly acne products add to your monthly budget. Skip the pre-packaged commercial products and make your own skin care remedies at home. Many of the acne treatment products on store shelves use many of the same natural ingredients which you can purchase from the local grocery store for a fraction of the cost.

Even if you attempt to buy products made from recycled materials or recycle the plastic containers once they are empty; you could eliminate the need for the manufacture of so many colorful little plastic vials by making your own skin care treatments. Skin types vary and so do both commercial and homemade treatment recipes. You may have to try several of the Earth-friendly remedies before discovering the one which works best for your skin type. Homemade skin care recipes can help with the removal of acne, diminish acne scars, soften skin, tighten skin and reduce red spots.

Baking Soda Acne Mask

Mix baking soda and enough lukewarm water to moisten in a bowl. Coat your skin with the mixture and allow it to harden for approximately 30 minutes. Gently wash the mixture off and repeat several times a week for smoother and clearer skin.

Egg White Mask

Separate the yolk from three eggs and whip the whites into a froth. Apply the mixture to your face for 20 minutes before gently removing with a warm wash cloth. The mixture typically tightens skins and reduces red inflammation.

Egg Yolk Mask

Vitamin A, which is present in egg yolks, aids in diminishing scars. Simply use a whisk to whip the egg yolk and apply the mixture to your skin for 20 minutes. Wash the yolk off with a warm wash cloth.

Honey Mask

This may be the simplest recipe to tighten skin and reduce the appearance of large pores ever imagined. Simply smear honey onto the face for 20 to 30 minutes. You will feel the honey tighten around your skin. Wash the honey away gently with a warm cloth.

Acne Tonic

Supplies

3 tablespoons of dried basil leaves
1 cup of boiling water
Blackhead remover mask
A half a cup of Fuller’s Earth
1 teaspoon of tincture of Benzoin
Distilled Witch Hazel

Pour all of the ingredients into a glass bowl and mix thoroughly. Naltrexone online pharmacy Smooth the mask onto your skin and allow it to harden. After approximately 40 minutes gently remove the mask with a warm wash cloth.