(HealthDay News) — Writing about stressful or traumatic experiences can be good for your health, says the American Psychological Association. Studies have shown that writing your deepest thoughts and feelings about difficult situations can improve mood, reduce your likelihood of illness and increase productivity. The APA recommends that people keep a diary or a journal to log their innermost thoughts and feelings.
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Opioid Exposure in Womb Alters the Infant Brain
Exposure to opioids in the womb may affect an area of the newborn brain that regulates emotions, a new study shows. Researchers used MRIs to assess brain activity in 16 full-term infants while they slept, specifically focusing on connectivity in a region called the amygdala, which is responsible for emotions such as anger, fear, sadness and aggression. Eight of the infants were exposed to opioids in the womb, according to the study being presented Monday at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), in Chicago. “Our early results show significant differences in the way the amygdala connects to different brain regions between the infants exposed to opioids and the opioid-naive infants,” said researcher Dr. Rupa Radhakrishnan. She’s an assistant professor of radiology and imaging sciences at Indiana University School of Medicine. “We still need to study what the clinical implication of this finding may be,” Radhakrishnan said in a meeting news release. Opioid use in pregnancy can pose serious risks to maternal, fetal and infant health, and it has become a major public health crisis. Babies who’ve been exposed to opioids in the womb suffer from drug withdrawal, or a group of conditions known as neonatal abstinence syndrome, after birth, and it’s thought that exposure to opioids in the womb may cause lasting harm to brain development and behavior. “Little is… read on >
Dramatic Rise in Eye Injuries From BB and Paintball Guns
Popularized in movies, the phrase, “You’ll shoot your eye out,” is often repeated jokingly whenever someone talks about BB or paintball guns. But it’s no laughing matter. These “non-powder” guns can cause serious, life-altering injuries, and these injuries are now happening far more often. In fact, a new study found that while the overall rate of injuries due to BB and paintball guns has dropped around half since 1990, the rate of eye injuries has risen by 30%. “These findings raise a red flag. Non-powder firearm injuries are among the most serious injuries we see to the eye, with fireworks a close second,” said study senior author Dr. Gary Smith, who directs the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. People sometimes dismiss these types of firearms as “toy” or “starter” guns, but Smith said they can cause very serious injuries, and even deaths. “I’ve seen a BB gun penetrate the chest. I’ve seen a pellet gun penetrate the skull. Eye injuries from non-powder firearms can result in partial or complete blindness,” Smith said. Non-powder firearms include BB, pellet, airsoft and paintball guns. These guns use air pressure, carbon dioxide pressure or a spring-loaded mechanism to shoot. They may propel metal or plastic projectiles of varying shapes and sizes. The speed at which these guns shoot varies, according to… read on >
Obesity May Change the Teen Brain, MRI Study Shows
Obese teenagers can have certain brain differences from their thinner peers — changes that might signal damage from inflammation, a new, preliminary study suggests. Using advanced MRI techniques, researchers found that obese teenagers tended to have signs of decreased “integrity” in the brain’s white matter. White matter contains the fibers that connect different areas of the brain. In this case, lower white-matter integrity was seen in a brain region related to emotional control and “reward” seeking. The findings, based on 120 teenagers, are considered preliminary. Experts said it’s not clear what they might mean. But the findings add to evidence linking obesity to certain brain structure differences. Recent studies of middle-aged adults, for example, have found evidence of brain tissue “shrinkage” among those with high levels of body fat — particularly around the belly. One possibility is that excess amounts of body fat directly harm the brain through inflammation, the researchers suggested. In the new study, there was a correlation between decreases in white matter integrity and higher levels of certain inflammatory substances in the blood. Teens with those brain changes also tended to have higher levels of the hormones leptin and insulin. Leptin is involved in appetite control, while insulin regulates blood sugar levels. Dr. Harold Bays is a fellow of the Obesity Medicine Association and medical director of the Louisville Metabolic and Atherosclerosis… read on >
Health Tip: Driving on Black Ice
(HealthDay News) — Black ice is an invisible winter danger for drivers, says the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). But you can help protect yourself by knowing how to deal with this seasonal hazard. The USDA give drivers advice about black ice: It tends to form at night or in the early morning. The ice also forms on roads less traveled on, or roads without much sunshine. Keep an eye out for a glossy sheen on the road. That’s probably black ice. Practice driving on slippery surfaces in an empty parking lot. If you have ABS brakes, know how they work and feel. If you hit black ice, let your car pass over it. Do not hit the brakes, and keep the wheel straight. In bad weather conditions, stay home.
Keep Stress Under Control as Holiday Season Starts
Stress abounds during the holiday season, but you can ease it, an expert says. The way to manage stress is to recognize it and take steps to minimize it so it doesn’t overwhelm you, according to Cinnamon Stetler, an associate professor of psychology at Furman University, in Greenville, S.C. One way to ease holiday stress is to avoid unrealistic expectations, such as believing the holidays will change people and family relationships. “If your stress stems from other people’s actions, that’s largely out of your control. What you can do is limit your exposure,” Stetler said in a university news release. Don’t obsess about family holiday traditions. “Reflect on why that tradition is so important to you and what about it carries the meaning. See if there’s a way to adapt the tradition while still maintaining the important pieces of it,” Stetler said. “While it is good to maintain traditions, they can cause extra stress if you feel you have to do it the same way no matter what.” Change your approach to gift-giving, which can cause financial worries. For example, instead of buying a person several gifts, choose just one or two that will be especially meaningful. And remember that material things provide only short-term happiness, while doing things for others and appreciating what you have can bring lasting happiness. Take care of yourself during… read on >
Three Tips for Getting Your Zzzzzz’s
Many Americans aren’t getting a solid seven hours of sleep a night, putting them at risk for diabetes, heart disease and obesity. But it’s the brain that needs a good night’s sleep the most, according to Dr. Randall Wright, a neurologist at Houston Methodist Hospital. “When you are asleep, your brain catches up on tasks it can’t do while you are navigating your day, such as cleaning out waste, saving new information, and filing away memories,” Wright said in a hospital news release. “When you don’t get enough sleep, the brain can’t complete all of these tasks, and that can lead to memory problems and serious brain disease in the long run.” It might also cause the chronic conditions associated with lack of sleep, he said. Wright offered three tips to help you get to sleep and stay asleep. Start a nightly wind-down routine, which might include brushing your teeth, taking a warm shower, listening to relaxing music and reading a book. “Your brain will begin to recognize this pattern as signals that it is time to relax and will release hormones to help you fall asleep when you get in bed,” Wright said. Keep your electronics out of the bedroom. “This may not be practical for adults, but is a must for kids,” he said. Don’t use your phone once you’ve started winding down,… read on >
Health Tip: Strengthen Self-Control
(HealthDay News) — Whether it involves resisting a piece of chocolate cake or an ice cold beer, fighting temptation may be easier said than done. But with clear goals, self-monitoring and practice, you can improve your self-control, says the American Psychological Association. The association suggests: Use the “out of sight, out of mind” approach. Prepare “if-then” scenarios for tempting situations. Stay motivated. This can overcome weakened willpower. Like a muscle, regularly exercise self-control to improve it. Eat regularly to maintain blood-sugar levels. Focus on one goal at a time.
Health Tip: Thanksgiving and Your Heart Health
(HealthDay News) — Though Thanksgiving dinner is treasured by many Americans, the meal typically isn’t heart-healthy. Including holiday staples such as mashed potatoes and stuffing, the traditional feast is full of fatty, high-cholesterol foods, says the University of Wisconsin-Madison. For a healthier holiday meal, the school suggests: Devote most of your plate to vegetables, such as green beans, carrots and squash. Don’t drench everything in gravy. Use as little as you can. Limit turkey skin and dark meat. Have a small slice of pie for dessert. Resist a second helping. The school says after all is said and done, one meal won’t ruin your heart and arteries. It urges you to eat healthy during the holiday season overall.
Recalls of Blood Pressure Med Took Toll on Patients’ Health
Emergency room visits for high blood pressure surged following last year’s recall of the popular heart drug valsartan, Canadian researchers report. Within the first month of the recall, there was a 55% increase of people coming to Ontario-area emergency departments complaining of high blood pressure, said lead researcher Cynthia Jackevicius. She is a senior scientist with the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, in Toronto. Some of these patients likely were valsartan users who stopped taking the blood pressure med after seeing scary recall news citing a potential carcinogen found in some lots of the drug, Jackevicius said. “Nine out of 10 did have an alternative replacement” for valsartan within three months. “However, that means that one out of 10 did not,” Jackevicius said. “That’s a little bit concerning, that some of these patients may have either been confused or concerned, and decided not to switch to another medication,” she added. The recall occurred in July 2018 in both Canada and the United States, after generics maker Mylan Pharmaceuticals detected trace amounts of a probable cancer-causing chemical called N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) in valsartan meds. It was an unusually large recall that involved intense media interest, and Jackevicius and her colleagues wondered how it might have affected the drug’s users. So they turned to Canadian prescription and medical records to track how valsartan users responded to the crisis.… read on >