Breakthrough in treating PTSD
Monica Seles, Mick Jagger and Ariana Grande all have been diagnosed with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). The triggers? Tennis great Seles was stabbed during a match by a crazed fan in 1993; Jagger’s long-term partner L’Wren Scott committed suicide; and a suicide bomber at Grande’s 2017 concert in Manchester, England, killed 22 people. In short, PTSD can kick in after any kind of trauma, causing disturbing thoughts and feelings, flashbacks or nightmares, and profound sadness, fear or anger. Clearly, it is no laughing matter.
But tell that to researchers from the University of Chicago Medicine and Stanford University Medical School. In a small pilot study of three veterans with PTSD, ages 31 to 46, they found that a one-hour dose of 50 percent nitrous oxide — aka laughing gas — and 50 percent oxygen can ease symptoms. For one of the volunteers, improvement lasted for a full week; for a second, symptoms returned gradually over the week; and for the third, improvements lasted from two hours after treatment until the next day. Nitrous oxide seems to work by blocking the same receptor (NMDA) that the recently approved antidepressant medicine ketamine blocks.
Treatment, including trauma-focused psychotherapies, cognitive behavioral therapy, antidepressants and other medications, medical marijuana and physical exercise, is often hit or miss for PTSD. It’s estimated that around 30 percent of those diagnosed never recover. So the addition of this new treatment option — with no significant side effects — should put a smile on the face of those who treat and those who contend with PTSD.
Defeating adult acne
Adult acne isn’t anything to be ashamed of, just ask model Chrissy Teigen, actress and writer Mindy Kaling and actress Bella Thorne, all of whom have shared make-up-free pictures of their skin in distress. They are not alone. The International Dermatology Institute says studies indicate that 40 percent to 55 percent of folks age 20 to 40 have low grade, persistent acne and oily skin. And according to the Journal of American Academy of Dermatology, 54 percent of women 25 and older have some facial acne. For many folks, it’s a continuation of skin issues they had as a teenager, but others may get adult-onset acne — especially women post-menopause.
Why does it happen and how can you get control of it? The most common causes are excess oil production, pores clogged with “sticky” skin cells, bacteria and inflammation. And a new study out of France that surveyed more than 24,000 people found that food may be a trigger too. The data published in JAMA Dermatology shows that milk, fatty foods and sugary foods and beverages are serious breakout stars.
Your first smart step is an elimination diet, removing those food culprits from your menu. If after a few weeks your skin clears, drop those foods permanently from your diet. (You should KO them anyway, since they increase your risk of heart disease, obesity, some cancers and diabetes.) Try taking a probiotic; it may reduce breakouts too. Also, see a dermatologist to talk about light therapy and various medicines that are effective, and how to use them safely.
Sugary beverages increase your risk for metabolic syndrome
Five years ago, Kate Hudson kicked her sugar addiction. “I realized I was craving it like an addict around 4 p.m. every day … and it hit me how much sugar we really eat.” It’s a lot! According to Health and Human Services, 200 years ago, the average American ate 2 pounds of sugar a year. Today, it’s almost 152 pounds annually.
However, all sugar is not created equal. It’s important to know which type of sugar in what food is doing you serious harm (stoking inflammation, building belly fat and promoting obesity and fatty liver disease) and which kind you can — and even should — enjoy. A new review published in JAMA Open Network discovered that it’s added fructose, especially in beverages, that promotes development of metabolic syndrome, a group of conditions that includes high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar and low levels of good-for-you HDL. In fact, daily consumption of beverages containing a big hit of fructose (sodas, sports and energy drinks) increases your risk for metabolic syndrome by at least 14 percent.
However, other sources of fructose found in foods such as yogurt and fresh fruit are actually associated with a reduced risk of metabolic syndrome. That’s because the naturally present fructose is balanced by healthful nutrients and fiber, and those foods satisfy your hunger, while the calories in a beverage with added sugar don’t. So you don’t have to give up all sweets to stay healthy, just go for two to three servings of fruit, especially berries, daily with a dollop of lowfat yogurt.
Are you at risk for a broken heart?
The day after actress and writer Carrie Fisher died suddenly of a heart attack, her mother, Debbie Reynolds, passed away. Her son said the death of Fisher was just too much for his mother to bear, and she died of a broken heart.
Broken heart syndrome, or stress cardiomyopathy, is a real medical condition. Extreme emotional stress and sadness can cause sudden and severe heart muscle weakness. It seems that adrenaline and other hormones temporarily stun heart cells. Now, a new study by researchers at the Cleveland Clinic suggests that broken heart syndrome has become more prevalent in recent months due to the pandemic.
Their study, published in JAMA Network Open, involved 258 patients who came into the clinic system between March 1 and April 30 presenting with acute coronary symptoms. This group of folks was compared with several prepandemic control groups. The percentage of people diagnosed with stress cardiomyopathy in the pandemic-effected group was 7.8 percent compared with around 1.7 percent of the prepandemic people.
There’s a lot of heartbreak right now, including illness and death of loved ones, employment and financial losses, and the complications of daily life. So, if you have symptoms of broken heart syndrome, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, sweating, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, heart palpitation and low blood pressure, seek medical help right away. Don’t let fear of the virus keep you from getting life-saving care. With prompt intervention and medication, the vast majority of folks can recover from stress cardiomyopathy within a few weeks.
Eating omega-3-rich fish protects your brain from shrinking
As Lewis Carroll, author of “Alice in Wonderland,” once said, “No good fish goes anywhere without a porpoise.” And, it turns out, no wise person would porpoisely avoid a fish. According to a new study published in the journal Neurology, which tracked more than 1,300 women with an average age of 70, eating baked or broiled, omega-3-rich fish once or twice a week helps protect your brain from shrinkage caused by exposure to air pollution. (Yup, air pollution does that too!)
Research had already established that omega-3 fatty acids, found in salmon and sea trout for example, fight inflammation, protect the aging brain and reduce damage from neurotoxins like lead and mercury. But this study expands what we know about the remarkable powers of omega-3 fatty acids.
The study showed that women exposed to significant air pollution who had the highest amount of omega-3 fatty acids in their blood had a greater volume of the brain’s white matter (it contains nerve fibers and myelin sheaths) and a larger hippocampus (the center of emotion, memory and the autonomic nervous system) than women with lower blood levels. The researchers also found that as exposure to air pollution increased incrementally, people with lower blood levels of omega-3s had white matter volume that was 11.52 centimeters cubed smaller, but folks with high levels of the lipid only lost 0.12 cm.
So, here’s one more reason to enjoy fish regularly — just make sure it’s not fried. Frying adds unnecessary calories and loads on unhealthy fat from the fry oil.
Mehmet Oz, M.D. is host of “The Dr. Oz Show,” and Mike Roizen, M.D. is Chief Wellness Officer and Chair of Wellness Institute at Cleveland Clinic. To live your healthiest, tune into “The Dr. Oz Show” or visit www.sharecare.com.
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