In our never-ending quest for happiness, it sometimes doesn’t occur to us that what we’re searching for may be as close as our own bodies. And now, a new study shows that it’s possible the answer to our search may begin with the bacteria in our bellies. According to Science News:
“Mice fed broth fortified with a type of friendly intestinal bacteria called Lactobacillus rhamnosus behaved less anxiously than mice fed broth without bacteria. Those behavior changes were accompanied by differences in levels of a brain-chemical sensor and stress hormones.
The bacteria telegraph these brain-chemical and behavior-changing messages via the vagus nerve, which connects the brain stem to various internal organs, researchers report online August 29 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.”
An FDA safety alert has called attention to another drug linked to serious adverse health problems. This one, an antidepressant that is also commonly used to treat hypertension, can cause abnormal changes in the electrical activity of the heart, which can lead to abnormal heart rhythm, and possibly be fatal, the FDA said. People with underlying heart conditions and low potassium and magnesium levels in their blood are particularly at risk for this, and the drug, Celexa, should no longer be used at doses greater than 40 mg per day, the FDA said.
While Celexa’s label indicates that “certain patients may require a dose of 60 mg per day,” studies have shown that there’s no benefit in the treatment of depression with doses higher than 40 mg, the FDA added.
A startling finding in a new study may be the clue in preventing military suicides. Recently published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, researchers said they found low levels of docosahexaenoic acid – the Omega-3 fats found in fish oil – in troops who had committed suicide. Those with higher levels of DHA were less likely to take their own lives, Time online reported. The implications of this study could be far-reaching, if all it takes to reduce suicidal thoughts is a good balance of Omega-3′s in the diet.
If reading the news and watching TV advertisements for psychotropic drugs makes you wonder if Americans are in the midst of a raging epidemic of mental illness, you’re not alone. In a New York Times book review, Marcia Angell, a former editor-in-chief of the New England Journal of Medicine, talks about how a shocking 46 percent of Americans now fit a diagnosis for some form of mental illness.
“What is going on here? Is the prevalence of mental illness really that high and still climbing?” she asks. The authors of three books she’s reviewed have posed some interesting – and alarming – answers.
Scientists at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) analyzed a sample of suicide deaths among U.S. military personnel on active duty between 2002 and 2008, and found that suicide risk was greatest among individuals with the lowest levels of omega-3 fatty acids concentrated in their brains. In previous studies, they found that just 2 grams of omega-3 fatty acids per day reduced suicidal thinking by 45 percent, as well as depression and anxiety scores among individuals with recurrent self-harm. The new study adds more information on the potential usefulness of omega-3 fats in reducing suicide risk and optimizing mental health, the scientists said.
A new study shows that over 76 percent of health care workers use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) when it comes to their own health care. CAM includes a wide range of therapies outside traditional medicine. For example, as reported by Newswise, health care workers use chiropractic treatment, massage and acupuncture for conditions that conventional medicine doesn’t address well. Other CAM usages include such things as Pilates, meditation, being in a vegetarian diet and taking certain herbs.
If reading the news and watching TV advertisements for psychotropic drugs makes you wonder if Americans are in the midst of a raging epidemic of mental illness, you’re not alone. In a New York Times book review, Marcia Angell, a former editor-in-chief of the New England Journal of Medicine, talks about how a shocking 46 percent of Americans now fit a diagnosis for some form of mental illness.
“What is going on here? Is the prevalence of mental illness really that high and still climbing?” she asks. The authors of three books she’s reviewed have posed some interesting – and alarming – answers.
Who doesn’t love the aroma of freshly-baked bread or the sweet taste of cinnamon buns with sticky caramel syrup dripping down their sides? If the mere thought of the smells and tastes of carbohydrates like this make you want to run to the nearest store to stock up on them, then you may be interested in knowing before you eat them that a diet flush with carbohydrates can reprogram your body into wanting more, just as if they were drugs.
Although the USDA food chart doesn’t tell you this, the truth is foods like this give you a rush quite similar to cocaine, leading to cravings in your brain and intrusive thoughts when you go too long without a “fix.”
“Think of this stuff as more than a drug—it’s like a metabolic parasite, taking over your body and feeding itself.” according to Details.com.
Criticisms of the latest Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) are coming from a most unexpected group of people – psychiatrists who rely on the DSM to diagnose and treat their patients. In a no-holds-barred barrage of complaints, these professionals are calling the DSM’s new “disorders” for children “yet another fad sparked by child psychiatry.”
“Its quick acceptance of Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD), also known as Temper Dysregulation) shows that just about anything can make it through this sham review process,” one critic writes.
The entire British Psychological Society even joined the fray, offering a harshly critical review of the new DSM-5.
For years, statistics have been piling up showing the connection between emotions and severe physical illness such as heart problems. Now, a new book, “Embitterment: Societal, Psychological and Clinical Perspectives,” talks about how bitterness and blaming others can contribute to health problems. Six steps can help you overcome bitterness for the sake of your health:
If reading the news and watching TV advertisements for psychotropic drugs makes you wonder if Americans are in the midst of a raging epidemic of mental illness, you’re not alone. In a New York Times book review, Marcia Angell, a former editor-in-chief of the New England Journal of Medicine, talks about how a shocking 46 percent of Americans now fit a diagnosis for some form of mental illness.
“What is going on here? Is the prevalence of mental illness really that high and still climbing?” she asks. The authors of three books she’s reviewed have posed some interesting – and alarming – answers.