April 18, 2012 | 
Author A new study published in the journal Translational Psychiatry demonstrates that a blood test can make the distinction between teens who are depressed versus those who are not. By diagnosing a person with depression using objective data, scientists hope to identify it as reliably as cancer or diabetes are diagnosed. ”Once you have a measurable index of an illness, it’s very difficult to say, ‘Just pull yourself together,’ or ‘Get over it,’ ” said lead researcher Eva Redei, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral studies at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. Researchers hope testing for depression will eliminate the stigma that often stops people from seeking medical help. Close to two-thirds of the country’s 2 million depressed teens are too ashamed or embarrassed to get help according to a federal report released last year. Additionally, being able to diagnose depression in adolescents can significantly improve the likelihood of long-term positive results. Dr. Andrew Leuchter, a UCLA psychiatrist sees the results as promising. ”Depression early in life can make repeat episodes more likely, and as a result, more urgent to treat.”
The researchers added that they plan on testing adults for depression in the future. Chicago Tribune 4/18/12 Melissa Healy
Researchers recently studied patients with medication overuse headache to see if they experienced decreased quality of life, as well as increased depression and anxiety. These patients, who underwent an inpatient withdrawal program were asked to complete questionnaires related to depression, anxiety and quality of life. The questionnaires were filled out prior to the start of the withdrawal program, as well as six months after the conclusion of the program.
At the beginning of the study depression was present in over 65% of the patients, and anxiety in 71% of the patients. Quality of life was decreased when compared to normative data. After looking at the post-program statistics, the researchers concluded that inpatient withdrawal therapy led to a significant improvement of quality of life, depression and anxiety in the patients. It was also noted that poor mental quality of life, depression and anxiety seen in patients at the start of the program was associated with poor outcome in terms of headache frequency. Clinical Journal of Pain 5/12
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Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has become quite popular in recent years. TCM includes herbal medications, acupuncture, massage and exercise. While it may be considered alternative medicine in the western world, TCM is a common part of medical care in east Asia. Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent on TCM products, with much of it being spent on the Internet. Researchers have noted in the past however that some mixtures can also contain contaminants like heavy metals, as well as naturally occurring toxins. New studies “show very clearly how dangerous the products of TCM can be,” according to Fritz Sorgel, of the Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Research in Nuremberg, Germany.
Researchers at Murdoch University in Australia analyzed samples of TCM seized by Australian border officials. The researchers found Ephedra and Asarum plants in some of the herbal preparations. Both can contain toxic chemicals such as aristolochic acid which can cause kidney disease and cancer of the upper urinary tract. The dangers of aristolochic acid is also reviewed in a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The researchers, led by pharmacologist Arthur Grollman of Stony Brook Unversity studied Taiwan, the country with the highest rate of upper urinary tract cancer in the world. Earlier research had shown that approximately one-third of the Taiwanese population consumed herbs likely to contain aristolochic acid. The Stony Brook study found compelling evidence that aristolochic acid is a primary cause of cancer of the upper urinary tract of people living in Taiwan.
Molecular geneticist Michael Bunce at Murdoch University and his colleagues also found DNA in some TCM that could pose risks when used in combination with other drugs. ”This just shows that the ingredients in these preparations aren’t accurately declared,” says Bunce. Adds Sorgel, “We just don’t know enough about it.” ScienceNow 4/16/12
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One View: A recent article in the New York Times suggests that drinking more water may actually help in managing your migraines, especially in the summer. For many migraineurs the increased heat and temperature spikes can precipitate headaches. An article in the journal Neurology suggests the risk of migraines jumps almost 8% for every 9 degree rise in temperature.
A simple step to stay hydrated is drink more water. Dehydration causes blood volume to drop, resulting in less blood and oxygen flow to the brain and dilated blood vessels. Some experts suspect a loss of electrolytes causes nerves in the brain to produce pain signals…. so taking in more water can help you stay more hydrated, which may possibly help in controlling your headaches.
On the other hand, it occurs to me that everybody always says drink more, keep well hydrated, etc…there are serious consequences to over hydrating, without getting in sodium(electrolytes)…in marathons, for instance, the people who have seizures or coma after are not ones who under hydrate, but rather those who drink too much, without drinking sports drinks or electrolytes.
I am just not sure as to whether hydrating a lot actually helps headaches; certainly in hot summer days, outside sweating a lot, of course we need to drink more…. but the jury is out as to whether or not daily drinking of a lot of H2O really does help..it is probably an individual case by case basis, where some do have decreased headaches, while with many folks it may not matter….
for many with back pain, it takes a complete program to really help..but it is worth it….for herniated discs, more invasive treatment may be necessary, but for those with the usual bilateral squeezing muscular/soft tissue pain, a few things you can do may help(first, see a doctor)….
1.Consider a new mattress…the ones that conform to your body (Temperpedic) are wonderful, but expensive…just a good, newer mattress can make a big difference..after all, we spend 1/3 of our lives on this mattress…
2.Pilates/Yoga(I like Pilates)..Pilates is core, balance, stretching…great for the back, and motivating to keep weight off..losing weight helps, of course…just a Pilates class once or twice a week(you do not need the reformer with a trainer), or a DVD or some cable outlets have Pilates…many park districts now offer it….Pilates is not all that easy, not all that fun, BUT..can be life-changing. Our core muscles are complex…many anterior(frontal,stomach) muscles, on the side, and the back..plus pelvic muscles, gluts, and hammies(hamstrings) and quads as well…..Pilates addresses all of these…..
Joseph Pilates developed his method of exercising during the First Word War. Initially it was a way for him to stay in shape while he was interned in a detention camp. Later, he introduced it as a form of rehabilitation for injured soldiers. In its early years, Pilates was popular with dancers and gymnasts. Today, it has become a popular form of exercise not only for professional athletes, but for the rest of us as well!
Like yoga, Pilates is an exercise philosophy for mind-body enhancement. The emphasis is on muscle strengthening, balance and stretching, particularly for the core (abdominal and spinal) muscles. The controlled breathing and mental concentration needed to do the exercises correctly are great stress relievers. The movements can improve joint range of motion, and muscle elasticity… leading to more flexibility and strength.
Many people get started in Pilates by taking a class at the local gym. Its a good idea to let the instructor know you are a new student. She will introduce the exercises at a “level” that is right for you. It’s not about competing with your neighbors… you work at your own pace. As with any new exercise routine, check with your doctor before trying it.
A great benefit of taking a Pilates class is decreased muscle tension, and anxiety. Another benefit is leaving the class with a lot more energy than you had at the start!
There is an interesting article at www.nytimes.com/interactive. It tells the stories of several men and women dealing with migraines… in their own words. One woman talks about the challenges of raising a child who has migraines. A man recalls how several family members before him also had headaches. Hearing their voices adds to the authenticity of their struggles….
A new study from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden reports that soccer players have superior executive functions, the brain processes responsible for planning and abstract thinking… the more elite the player, the better these functions.
This ability is called game intelligence, and it is “very, very fundamental to the way we make decisions,” said the study author, neuroscientist Predrag Petrovic. “Its a way of quickly working with information and making decisions about the environment.” The study measured skills in problem solving, creativity, and rule making. The highest scorers were from Sweden’s most elite soccer league, followed by players from a lower division. Nonplayers finished behind both groups of players. Elite players performed in the top 2 percent when compared with the general population.
So, do athletes acquire these functions over time, or are they inherited? Dr. Petrovic says that it’s both. ”You can’t become a good player if you don’t have strong executive functions, but at the same time you can always improve executive functions if you train.” NewYork Times 4/10/12
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Sleep apnea and lack of sleep are more likely seen in children with migraine. A study conducted at St. Christopher Hospital for Children, Drexel University, in Philadelphia found that children with migraine were twice as likely to have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea, also called sleep disordered breathing involves repeated awakening from sleep because the upper airway for breathing has been obstructed. Severe migraine was also linked to shorter sleep time, longer time to fall asleep, and shorter REM sleep as well. REM sleep is the sleeping stage when most dreams are remembered.
Sleep apnea was also frequent in children with nonspecific headache, as well as children who were overweight.
“Sleeping problems can exacerbate the problems migraine causes on a child’s health and may hinder a child’s performance at school” said study author Martina Vendrame, MD, PhD. ”Parents and doctors need to be aware of the strong likelihood of sleep disorders in children with migraine and seek appropriate preventions and treatments.” …….Science Daily 4/8/12
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According to research published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, most children who suffer from chronic daily headache may outgrow the condition.
The study found 60% of the children no longer had chronic daily headache after one year, and 75% showed no symptoms after two years. Only 12% of the children tested still had symptoms of chronic daily headache after eight years. However, 75% of the children had episodic migraine or probable migraine, while 11% of the children were headache free after eight years.
“Our results suggest there is hope for children who experience these headaches and for their parents, who also deal with the frustration and considerable disability that this condition can bring,” said study author Shuu-Jiun Wang, MD, of the National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine in Taipei, Taiwan. ”Parents and children should be prepared for the possibility that while chronic daily headache may get better over time, headaches in general may never fully go away, but for most children the headaches are much less frequent when they become young adults,” said Wang.
According to the study, a history of migraine was a major risk factor for children with chronic daily headache. The likelihood of having higher headache frequency and the condition eight years later was found in children who had chronic daily headache before the age of 13, those who overused pain medications, and those with the condition for more than two years….. Science Daily 4/8/12
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