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Month: April 2023

Birth Control Can Be Effective With Lower Dosage Of Hormone

Birth Control Can Be Effective With Lower Dosage Of Hormone

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In an attempt to discover whether hormone levels may be decreased while still maintaining the effectiveness of contraceptives in delaying ovulation, researchers recently examined hormone levels in contraceptive devices.

Scientists from the University of the Philippines Diliman utilised computer modelling to calculate how much the hormone dosage may be decreased.

Their findings demonstrated that they could cut the hormone content of estrogen-only contraceptives by up to 92% while still preventing ovulation. Using hormonal contraceptives is a common way to avoid getting pregnant.

Though occasionally they can have negative consequences, this prompted a team of researchers in the Philippines to investigate whether it was possible to decrease the hormone dosage and timing of contraceptive pills while maintaining their effectiveness.

Their research, which was published in the journal PLOS Computational Biology, reveals that it is possible to significantly lower the hormone levels in both progesterone-only and estrogen-only contraceptives while still preventing ovulation.

Hormonal contraceptives working

Medical professionals frequently recommend hormonal contraceptives to female patients who want to avoid getting pregnant. In the United States, 10.3% of women use long-acting reversible contraceptives, while 12.6% of females between the ages of 15 and 49 use oral contraceptives, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In order to prevent conception, hormonal contraceptive methods use artificial hormones like progesterone and oestrogen.

They may halt ovulation or thin the uterine lining to prevent an implanted egg from attaching, among other possible mechanisms of action.

Several hormonal contraceptive methods include pills, which can be progestin-only or a combination of hormones, arm implants (Nexplanon), contraceptive patches (Xulane), and intrauterine devices (IUDs) (Mirena or Skyla).

In addition to prescription contraceptives to prevent pregnancy, doctors occasionally do so to aid patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in reducing the size of cysts and thereby lessening pain or in the treatment of endometriosis to aid in controlling pain and excessive bleeding.

The following negative effects of hormonal contraceptives can range from minor to severe:

The risk of deep vein thromboembolism, or leg blood clots, is also raised in people who smoke while using hormonal contraceptives.

Some milder side effects might fade disappear, but people should talk to their healthcare professionals about side effects to figure out the best course of action.

Reduction in hormone levels

The computer simulations demonstrated that ovulation can be prevented by adjusting the hormone amount.

Researchers discovered that it is possible to concentrate on changing the dose during specific times of the cycle and still have the contraceptives be effective, in addition to the fact that the models showed that hormones may be reduced.

The dosage for estrogen-only contraceptives was cut by 92% by the researchers while maintaining efficacy. They decreased the dose by 43% while maintaining the contraceptive effects of progesterone-only contraceptives.

When it comes to the time of hormone delivery, the authors state “that it is most effective to deliver the oestrogen contraceptive in the mid-follicular phase.”

Brenda Gavina, a PhD researcher at the University of the Philippines Diliman, discussed the study and went into more detail about its findings. She explained:

Theoretically, our mathematical model with the simplification assumptions revealed that as little as 10% of the total exogenous oestrogen dose in continual administration might provide contraception as long as this dosage is precisely scheduled, which was startling.

Benefits of lowering the dosage of hormones

Estradiol and progestin are often the main ingredients in oral contraceptives.

“Lowering the estradiol dose can increase breakthrough bleeding, efficacy in obese women, but decrease the risk of blood clotting,” stated Dr. Monte Swarup, FACOG, a board-certified OB/GYN and the creator of HPV HUB. “Estradiol increases proteins through its metabolism in the liver, including clotting proteins.”

Lowering the hormone dosage to the smallest effective level has various advantages.

According to Dr. Pamela Berens, professor of obstetrics, gynaecology, and reproductive sciences at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, “this reduces potential risks for both complications and side effects.

Blood clots (both deep venous clots in the legs, for example, and clots that affect the lung, such as pulmonary embolism), for example, are some major side effects of greater hormonal doses used in contraception.

Rare problems like heart attack, pulmonary embolism, and stroke are other dangers associated with blood clots. The risks of these uncommon but serious consequences are also decreased by reducing the hormone dosage.

Lower hormone levels also lessen the risk of more frequent side symptoms such nauseousness, breast tenderness, bloating, and irritability. According to Berens, the hormone doses in widely used birth control have decreased over time while maintaining their efficacy.

Timing the hormones matters

The study’s model also shown how crucial hormone timing is throughout the cycle.

It was particularly surprising, according to Gavina, that theoretically, our mathematical model (with the simplifying assumptions) demonstrated that as little as 10% of the total exogenous estrogen dose administered continuously could achieve contraception, provided that this dosage is administered at the exact right time (the timing was also demonstrated in our optimization result).

It’s crucial to keep in mind, though, that “the results of this study are not directly transferable to actual patients, but the principles proposed in our study could be easily translated,” as Gavina noted. We anticipate that these findings will help clinicians choose the best contraceptive dosage and regimen in order to use medications as effectively and efficiently as possible.

Additionally, timing the hormones aids in reducing bleeding. In perimenopause hormone replacement treatment, synchronising the hormones with the cycles reduces breakthrough or irregular bleeding, according to Swarup.

What do reproductive health experts think?

The study is not yet ready for clinical use, experts stressed, despite the fact that the findings suggest that altering the hormone dose in contraceptives is feasible while preserving efficacy.

The co-founder and CEO of Pandia Health in Sunnyvale, California, Dr Sophia Yen, a clinical associate professor at Stanford Medical School, who was not involved in the present study, said, “It’s important to realise that this [study finding] is theoretical and was not tested in humans.”

Dr. Yen added that “[the hormone level reduction] most likely won’t be so great for those with higher BMIs because of the greater volume of distribution for the drugs.”

The study’s results were also discussed by Dr. Sandra Hurtado, an assistant professor of obstetrics, gynaecology, and reproductive sciences at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston who was not involved in its creation.

Dr. Hurtado made clear that the mathematical model used in the study needs to “undergo testing in an animal model and in humans to be able to test its safety and efficacy.”

She did recognise the study’s promise, though. Dr. Hurtado said, “It would be perfect if there was a mechanism to test and record the hormone levels in each individual and be able to give that person the dose at the right moment.

She added that carrying out this research further and creating tools like an automated insulin delivery system would be beneficial. “At this time, those are expensive and not justified for contraceptive use, but hopefully, it can be developed in the near future with continued advancements in technology and falling prices of electronics.”

REFERENCES:

For Birth control medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?cPath=24

Dementia risk may increase with frequent colds and flu.

Dementia risk may increase with frequent colds and flu.

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According to studies done on humans, a greater lifetime exposure to microbial illnesses is linked to a slower decline in cognitive function as people age.

By intermittently giving mice the inflammation-causing bacterial toxin lipopolysaccharide, a recent animal study examined the effect of inflammation brought on by recurrent microbial infections on cognitive function.

The study discovered that early middle-aged mice with mild-to-moderate inflammation brought on by repeated lipopolysaccharide treatment had deficiencies in memory and learning.

These results in ageing mice imply that mild-to-moderate illness brought on by microbial infections may require more vigorous therapy than the existing standard of care, particularly in populations susceptible to cognitive impairment, such as the elderly.

The standard medical advise for those with mild to moderate infections is to obtain enough rest and drink more fluids. It’s interesting to note that a recent study in the journal Brain, Behaviour, and Immunity claims that repeated inflammation brought on by giving a bacterial toxin to middle-aged rats led to cognitive deficiencies. Along with these cognitive deficiencies, the hippocampus, a part of the brain important for learning and memory, experienced changes in the plasticity of its neurons.

Elderly people are more prone to microbial infections, which could exacerbate the decline in cognitive function in elderly people and result in dementia or moderate cognitive impairment.

The results of this study point to the possibility that older persons may require more intensive therapies in order to avoid these illnesses’ long-term consequences on cognitive function. It is crucial to remember that since this study used a mouse model, it is unknown whether the conclusions apply to people as well.

Brain aging contributed by inflammation

As a result of the biological changes brought on by brain ageing, a loss in several cognitive capacities is shown during the course of normal ageing. Similar to this, cognitive impairment seen in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease is connected to pathological brain ageing.

According to studies, several variables, including inflammation brought on by microbial infections, may accelerate the aging of the brain. For instance, higher lifetime exposure to infectious agents is linked to worse cognitive function and a faster decline in cognitive function in older people.

Additionally, research using animal models has demonstrated that inflammation brought on by microbial exposure might affect cognitive function. Animals are injected with the toxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which is found in the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria, to study the effects of inflammation brought on by microbial infections.

These investigations on animals have demonstrated that LPS injection can elevate cytokine levels in the brain, a family of inflammatory proteins, and result in abnormalities in cognitive function. Additionally, as people age, these negative effects of LPS become more obvious.

The majority of these studies have looked at how LPS affects brain and cognitive function when it is given continuously or in single doses. According to these research, even a single dose of LPS-induced inflammation can alter the brain permanently.

However, little study has been done on the effects of lifetime exposure to microbial illnesses on alterations in the brain and cognitive function. In genetically modified mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease, there is some indication that repeated injection of LPS can raise the risk of cognitive impairment.

EFfects of LPS-induced inflammation

In the current investigation, mice were given escalating dosages of LPS every 15 days for 2.5 months. Repeated injection of the same amount of LPS causes tolerance to develop, which includes the absence of an inflammatory reaction, according to prior studies.

The researchers worked around this problem by gradually increasing the LPS dose over the course of the five injections. The mice experienced mild illness after each LPS treatment, but they recovered within 15 days.

Two weeks after giving the last dosage of lipopolysaccharide, the researchers then tested the animals’ behaviour to see how well they could think. At 5–6 weeks after the last injection, the researchers also put the animals to death to look at how inflammation brought on by lipopolysaccharide affected the brain.

Saline-treated mice made comprised the control group. The mice were 10 months old when the study began, which corresponds to the transition from late adulthood to middle age.

The scientists discovered that mice given LPS injections displayed cognitive abnormalities in learning and memory retention of information acquired the day before.

Researchers observed alterations in the hippocampus in mice who received LPS injections on a sporadic basis. In Alzheimer’s disease, the hippocampus, which is important for memory and learning, exhibits the illness’s initial signs of degradation.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene expression was upregulated in the hippocampus of LPS-treated mice as one of these modifications. This is in line with other research that found higher IL-6 levels following LPS treatment in cognition-related brain areas.

Additionally, the researchers discovered that giving LPS affected neuronal plasticity but not baseline signal transmission. Particularly, the LPS-treated animals displayed reduced long-term potentiation (LTP) between neurons in the hippocampus.

Linking flu frequency to dementia risk

Dr. Elizabeth Engler-Chiurazzi, a behavioral neuroscientist at Tulane University and co-author of the study, said the conclusions have significant ramifications for human brain health and disease.

“At the moment, staying in bed, getting lots of rest, drinking soup, and allowing your body to do its work of eradicating the infection is the standard of care for the common cold or the flu virus. According to my knowledge, this advice is offered to the entire population and is given regardless of the likelihood that dementia will develop in the future.

Dr. Elizabeth Engler-Chiurazzi stated, “Our results may be the first in a series of studies that could indicate that treatment for the common cold or other sources of intermittent infection among patients at high risk for cognitive decline/dementia may need to be more aggressive than the standard recommendations of rest and fluids.”

According to these findings, a history of more “flu-like” episodes may be a risk factor for cognitive problems in later life. According to Dr. Engler-Chiurazzi, some research conducted in people have started to investigate this connection. The results are consistent with our mouse observations.

It’s too soon to say for sure.

Dr. Engler-Chiurazzi issued a warning, noting that it’s possible that these findings won’t apply to people.

Although there are significant species differences in how these systems react, the immune system composition of mice and people is similar, according to the researcher. However, more research is required to determine how well these findings are replicated in human populations.

The mechanisms behind the cognitive losses following repeated LPS treatment will also be looked at by the authors.

Dr. Engler-Chiurazzi stated, “An immediate next step for our group is to repeat these studies and determine the extent to which common brain consequences seen in dementia, such as a leaky blood-brain barrier or activation of brain immune cells (microglia), are observed after repeated intermittent exposure to sickness-like inflammation in the body.”

Dr. Engler-Chiurazzi also mentioned that they have not looked at how viral infections affect cognitive function but are now doing so using an animal model.

REFERENES:

For Dementia medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?cPath=77_478

Men & women have different drivers leading to weight gain.

Men & women have different drivers leading to weight gain.

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According to recent studies, men’s and women’s brains are affected by obesity in distinct ways, possibly necessitating sex-specific treatment methods.

This study investigated differences between males and females with high BMI compared to individuals with a normal BMI by analyzing various types of brain scans in combination with other clinical information. While some brain imaging studies have shown how obesity impacts eating behaviors.

Men and women with high BMI showed differences in particular brain regions, the researchers discovered, suggesting that treating each patient according to sex may be essential in the fight against obesity.

The researchers assert that when investigating obesity, it’s crucial to take gender variations between men and women into account.

To discover sex-specific processes in the brain that cause obesity, the study, which was published in the journal Brain Communications, analyzed data from MRI scans, clinical characteristics, and medical histories. It concluded that men and women experience obesity for various reasons.

Previous studies using brain imaging have demonstrated how obesity impacts eating behaviors; however, few studies have examined various forms of brain imaging to determine how obesity differs in males and girls.

Brain changes related to BMI

The study comprised 105 men and women with a lower BMI and 78 men and women with a high body mass index (BMI) that classified them as overweight or obese.

A measurement of body fat based on height and weight is called BMI. Having a higher BMI does not necessarily mean having more body fat.

Participants answered questions about their personality features, gastrointestinal symptoms, food addiction, childhood trauma, sensitivity to common symptoms including headaches and dizziness, anxiety and depression symptoms, and other topics.

Additionally, they received three MRIs to evaluate the connections between various brain regions as well as the anatomy and function of the brain. The findings demonstrated that high BMI in both men and women was related to distinct alterations in brain connectivity.

According to researchers, this included “changes in many regions of the brain that respond to food or food-associated cues,” which were linked to traumatic early life experiences. 

In addition, they discovered that in contrast to men with high BMI, women with high BMI exhibited connection abnormalities linked to higher anxiety and weaker resilience.

Other abnormalities in connectivity found in women with high BMI raise the possibility that women may struggle to link emotions to goal-directed action planning. According to them, women may experience more “emotional overeating” as a result than men.

Additionally, certain brain alterations raise the possibility that high BMI women are more sensitive to the look, smell, and flavor of too processed foods.

Kinds of brain scans

To learn more about how obesity presents differently in the brains of men and women, the researchers used multimodal brain imaging (structure, connectivity, and function) using a data-driven methodology.

Data from 183 subjects, including 78 with high BMI and 105 with normal BMI, were examined for the study.

The researchers gathered information on mood, early life events, and eating patterns using a variety of brain scans and surveys.

They tested their ability to distinguish between participants with high BMI and those with normal BMI, as well as between males and females with high BMI, by utilizing a technique called DIABLO to analyze this data.

Differences between men and women for weight gain

Gupta and her colleagues discovered in a previous study that emotional and compulsive eating appears to have a higher impact on the onset of obesity in women.

Contrarily, men’s eating habits are typically more influenced by their knowledge of gut feelings and visceral reactions, such as those brought on by abdominal discomfort.

According to Gupta in the release, these findings “may be important to focus on emotional regulation techniques and vulnerability factors in designing treatment plans for females with high BMI.”

She and her coworkers warn that this study merely identifies correlations between BMI, clinical markers like anxiety and depression, and alterations in the brain.

To find out whether brain alterations cause an increase in BMI or whether being overweight or obese has unique effects on the brain, more studies, including longitudinal studies, will be required.

This study, according to Dr. Mir Ali, a bariatric surgeon at Orange Coast Medical Centre in Fountain Valley, California, and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Centre, demonstrates that weight loss is more involved than just what you eat and how much exercise you get.

“Hormones, emotions, metabolism, genetics, and many other factors play a role,” said Ali, who was not involved in the new study. Furthermore, “this study shows that there is a significant difference between men and women, in terms of emotions and eating.”

Continual hunger and overeating

Dr. Gupta observed that changes in emotion-related brain areas in obese women were associated with higher levels of compulsive eating. In contrast, gut and visceral sensations linked to abdominal discomfort and hunger were correlated with brain areas involved in eating behavior and obesity in men.

The article is intriguing for two reasons, according to Dr. Florencia Halperin, chief medical officer at Form, a business that offers medical treatment for metabolic disorders linked to obesity.

First, although the causes are unknown, there are gender disparities in obesity.

Second, obesity has biological roots, and knowing how obese individuals’ brains differ from those of non-obese people may aid in both diagnosis and therapy.

This study implies that we may be able to distinguish between individuals with obesity and those with a healthy BMI using MRI-based imaging tests. The present study, however, has certain drawbacks. Dr. Florencia Halperin explained that because the study was cross-sectional (comparing one group to another group), causality could not be established in any way.

According to Dr. Sarah-Nicole Bostan, director of Behaviour Change Strategy at Signos, the study is “compelling as it bows to the age-old therapeutic question of “what works, for whom, and under what conditions.”

The findings of this article hint towards a more holistic, personalized approach to weight loss that takes into account lifestyle factors, emotional management strategies, and potentially vulnerable characteristics like early puberty, said Kelsey Costa, a registered dietitian nutritionist at MIDSS.

Second, details on the majority of the significant male obesity factors were lacking. Even though this knowledge is crucial, there are still unanswered issues regarding the factors that affect male obesity the most, she continued.

Ways to prevent obesity

According to Ali, whether people are candidates for obesity treatments like a gastric sleeve or gastric bypass surgery relies on criteria outside their sex, like their BMI and other medical issues.

But in his experience, males are more likely than women to succeed with surgical obesity therapies.

According to studies by Gupta and her colleagues, men’s eating behavior may be influenced by gut feelings. According to Ali, “surgery primarily affects the visceral sensation,” such as the feeling of fullness after eating.

Surgery alone may not be as helpful for patients who are emotional eaters because, he explained, “their body may be telling them that they are full, but their emotions are telling them to continue eating.”

However, Ali said that patients’ experiences can vary significantly, with some women recovering well from surgery for years while others might have a weight increase soon after.

Weight loss treatment

Other forms of obesity therapies may be more significantly impacted by the latest study’s findings. Research has already examined how emotional control affects weight loss in both older women and teenagers.

Customizing obesity therapies, however, is not a novel concept. With their patients, doctors already perform such actions, however they consider a variety of other aspects as well as biological sex.

Dr. Ilan Shapiro, chief health correspondent and medical affairs officer at AltaMed Health Services in Los Angeles, who was not involved in the new study, stated, for instance, “It is important to acknowledge each patient’s metabolic system and the social determinants of health.”

“When we address age, gender, mental health, and chronic diseases, it helps us to achieve the best interventional outcome,” he said.

He added that in addition to these aspects, doctors also consider the patient’s nutrition, exercise routines, sleeping patterns, stress levels, and coping mechanisms, and mental health.

There isn’t currently a proven technique for sex-based obesity therapies, according to Shapiro, but “hopefully, in the future, we’ll have more research to create an intervention template for patients.”

A person’s culture or community is another important element that, in his opinion, should be taken into account while developing obesity interventions.

Shapiro cited the example of community health professionals, known as promotors or promotes in Spanish, who can assist Hispanic populations in adopting appropriate weight management practices.

He stated, “As doctors, our goal is to assist patients in establishing healthier and happier lifestyles. Therefore, having medical professionals who are aware of cultural differences will benefit patients’ efforts to lose weight.

REFERENCES:

For Weight loss medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?therapy=20

Is Strength training effective for managing blood pressure.

Is Strength training effective for managing blood pressure.

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Hypertension, often known as high blood pressure, is a common ailment that, if left untreated, can cause major issues. Medication and lifestyle changes can both be used to address high blood pressure.

A systematic evaluation and meta-analysis of the available data revealed that strength training may be a useful non-drug alternative for the management of high blood pressure. Its effectiveness, however, is influenced by variables including intensity and duration.

People who have hypertension or high blood pressure are susceptible to some long-term problems. Blood pressure can be lowered and a person’s risk of problems can be decreased with early management.

The greatest strategies for modifying one’s lifestyle to lower blood pressure are constantly being researched. How strength training affects blood pressure is one topic of interest. Recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses have demonstrated the blood pressure-lowering benefits of strength training.

Researchers found that strength training appears to be most useful when it entails working out at least twice per week for at least two months at a moderate to strenuous level.

High blood pressure and treatments

The force the heart uses to pump blood throughout the body is measured by blood pressure. The force blood applies to blood vessel walls as the heart contracts is known as systolic blood pressure. When the heart relaxes, the blood pressure in the diastole is the force.

It’s critical that blood pressure maintain a healthy range. Stroke, heart attack, or kidney failure are just a few of the severe problems that high blood pressure can cause. Dr. John Higgins, a sports cardiologist from UTHealth Houston and a non-study author, observed:

“Hypertension is a significant risk factor for developing heart disease that, if not managed properly, can result in early coronary artery disease (CAD), stroke, peripheral arterial disease, atrial fibrillation, and heart failure. Increased morbidity and death are linked to all these disorders.

Aside from taking medicine, managing high blood pressure entails making changes to one’s lifestyle. Losing weight, giving up smoking, and exercising are a few examples of lifestyle changes. Individualized treatment programs for people with high blood pressure can be created in collaboration with their doctors.

Dr. Rohini Manaktala, a cardiologist with Memorial Hermann Medical Group and an independent study author, stated that “following a healthy way of living with daily physical activity, maintaining a normal weight, consuming alcohol in moderation, and refraining from tobacco use are all ways to control an individual’s blood pressure.”

Using strength training to manage hypertension

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, researchers investigated the effects of strength training on high blood pressure levels by reviewing several papers. Through several databases, including PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and the World Health Organisation, they discovered studies. Fourteen randomized controlled studies that satisfied inclusion requirements were included in their study.

253 hypertensive people in all were included in the study and analysis. Participants were just about sixty years old on average.

Giovana Rampazzo Teixeira, Ph.D., the senior author of the study and a professor at UNESP – So Paulo State University’s School of Technology and Sciences, said: “We used randomised clinical studies that used strength training as a treatment for arterial hypertension in hypertensive individuals.”

The following criteria were determined to be the most conducive to strength training’s ability to lower blood pressure in participants:

At least twice a week, individuals engaged in strength exercises that ranged from moderate to strenuous intensity. The intervention lasted at least eight weeks. As outlined by Dr. Teixeir:

“We found that people under 59 years old experienced a more notable drop in blood pressure during the physical training phase. People between the ages of 60 and 79 reported a less noticeable but still discernible difference. Thus, we emphasize that strength training provides advantages for both young and old.

Dr Teixeria continued, “Professionals who are faced with a hypertensive subject in clinical practise or even in the day-to-day at the gym will be able to use strength training as a treatment for arterial hypertension, knowing what the necessary variables for this are to be achieved, and always taking into consideration the goals of that subject.”

How to lower blood pressure

Studies like this one, according to Dr. Fahmi Farah (MD), of Bentley Health, can give cardiologists like her another tool when communicating with the patients they care for.

We have always known that exercise lowers the chance of developing cardiovascular disease, but this study gives us additional proof and confidence to tell our patients about the benefits of exercise and encourage them to try it for themselves.

Farah and her peers in the sector are aware that strength training can provide health hazards or be prohibitively expensive or difficult to get owing to geography. is not accessible to all.

“I would say that on a population, a country, and a government level, I think the help needs to come from higher up so that we can make it more practical for everyone to be able to afford working out.”

Even for individuals who can exercise, Makowski advises against becoming overly ambitious or pushing oneself beyond their limits.

Strength training may be done at many degrees, and it’s not always what we imagine when we think of someone bench pressing a lot of weight elastic bands, light dumbbell weights, and bodyweight movements known as isometrics are some examples.

But before beginning weight training as an intervention for high blood pressure, every expert for this article advised the same thing: make sure you’ve spoken with your doctor.

Data limitations and clinical implications

This analysis and assessment does have some restrictions. First, research involving the use of blood pressure-lowering drugs were not disregarded. This fact might have affected how their analysis turned out.

Second, while multiple control groups were employed in the studies that were included, the researchers only paid attention to the blood pressure readings of participants who had high blood pressure. The ability of researchers to compare how strength training would benefit men and women differently was also constrained. Researchers also point out that there may be publication bias in the available studies.

Dr. Manaktala made the following assumptions regarding how strength training might be used to reduce high blood pressure based on the study’s findings:

Strength training is simple to incorporate into a person’s regular routine. The most crucial factor is constancy. A decent first exercise method to lower blood pressure would be a moderate to strenuous workout, 2 to 3 times per week.

It’s also crucial to remember that each person’s use of strength training may seem different. To perform a strength training programme safely, people might ask doctors and other experts for assistance.

Dr. Higgins stated that it is wise to consult with medical professionals before beginning a strength training programme to ensure that it is safe to do so and to get their advice on the appropriate level of intensity.

REFERENCES:

For Blood pressure medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?therapy=53

Can Obstructive sleep apnea cause cognitive decline?

Can Obstructive sleep apnea cause cognitive decline?

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According to a study, people who have obstructive sleep apnea may experience cognitive decline.

The study is distinctive because all of its subjects were in good health and were free of the comorbid conditions that are frequently cited as the processes behind the association between sleep apnea and cognition.

According to the study, males as young as middle age can experience cognitive decline brought on by obstructive sleep apnea.

When a person has obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), their airway occasionally becomes obstructed for at least 10 seconds while they are asleep. It has been hypothesised that the cardiovascular or metabolic comorbidities that cause these breathing disruptions are the cause of the eventual decline in cognitive function.

According to a recent research of individuals without these comorbidities, sleep apnea itself can cause cognitive deterioration as early as age 40.

Men from a distinctive group took part in the study. People with systemic hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other metabolic illnesses are more likely to be diagnosed with OSA.

This study is the first to examine the cognitive impact of OSA in otherwise healthy and non-obese persons because none of the study participants had any such comorbidities.

In their otherwise healthy subjects, the researchers discovered that OSA was associated with worsened executive function, visuospatial memory, vigilance (sustained attention), psychomotor function, and impulsive control.

Obstructive sleep apnea

According to a recent examination of data from 16 countries, 425 million adult men and women between the ages of 30 and 69 have moderate-to-severe OSA, and 936 million have mild-to-severe OSA. One estimate places the number of Americans with the illness at 25 million.

Sleep apnea might be one of two forms. The brain is unable to regularly signal the breathing muscles in people with less common central sleep apnea. OSA is more prevalent.

The dilator muscles that normally maintain the soft palate at the back of the throat open during breathing malfunction in people with obstructive sleep apnea or enable the tongue to impede the airway. Respiration is halted until the affected individual gasps or snorts to reopen the airway and restore breathing, which frequently happens before they completely awaken.

The link between obstructive sleep apnea and cognitive decline

According to the study’s findings, males who had severe obstructive sleep apnea had deficiencies in:

  • Vigilance
  • executive ability
  • Visual recognition memory in the short term
  • esteem on a social and emotional level

These issues were present in the males with mild obstructive sleep apnea as well, though not to the same extent as the individuals with severe versions of the illness. In reality, they hardly ever outperformed the control group in a meaningful way.

Even though the majority of men with sleep apnea had medical comorbidities, the study’s participants had none, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic inflammation, or depression. The authors pointed out that earlier studies blamed concomitant illnesses rather than sleep apnea for cognitive deficiencies.

Ivana Rosenzweig, MD, Ph.D., FRCPsych, a sleep specialist and consultant neuropsychiatrist, and the study’s lead author, said in an email to Healthline that “in our small proof-of-concept cross-sectional study, we demonstrated cognitive deficits in male patients with obstructive sleep apnea, even without any comorbidities.” This is extremely relevant because the current prevailing theory holds that cognitive deficiencies in this age range may be caused by comorbidities connected to obstructive sleep apnea.“

Rosenzweig stated, “Our research demonstrates that sleep apnea is sufficient to initiate cognitive alterations. Since the majority of these patients were (otherwise) healthy males with this condition, the vast majority of them were consciously ignorant that they already had cognitive abnormalities detected by the extremely sensitive testing battery.

The following are some potential causes of the cognitive issues, according to the researchers:

  • sporadic low oxygen
  • high blood carbon dioxide levels
  • changes in the brain’s blood flow
  • fragmented sleep
  • Neuroinflammation

They stated that sleep apnea is a disorder that could be harmful.

Sleep apnea and dementia

The chance of developing dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, may be considerably raised by sleep apnea. An assessment of research from 2022 found that it does not appear to raise the likelihood of acquiring vascular dementia.

Unfortunately, dementia can also cause sleep disruptions, according to Merrill. “Sleep disturbances increase dementia risk,” she said. As a result, your memory may eventually deteriorate to the point of dementia, which will make it harder for you to sleep. In this way, disturbed sleep can contribute to a downward spiral, making it even more crucial to recognize and address sleep problems during early and midlife adult development. Dementia affects sleep in several different ways, Merrill continued. “Dementia is a neurodegenerative illness, which means that brain cells begin to malfunction and die as time passes.

The brain’s sleep centres begin to malfunction when a person loses brain cells, making it harder for us to communicate with our bodies to stay asleep. Sleep is frequently broken up or even inverted, keeping patients awake all night before they fall asleep for the most of the day.

Merrill stated, “Ideally, sleep will be optimised years before the potential onset of dementia.” “With better sleep, we may be able to postpone the age at which dementia first manifests itself. To increase a person’s healthy life span as much as feasible, sleep quality should be improved.

The CDC recommends that those aged 61 to 64 receive seven to nine hours of sleep per night, while those aged 65 and over should aim for seven to eight hours.

Causes of OSA and cognitive damage

“Craniofacial and physiological particularities can be a risk factor for OSA — having a short chin, large tonsils, a large tongue, etc.,” said neuroscientist Dr. Nadia Gosselin from the University of Montreal in Canada, who was not involved in the study.

According to her, “these peculiarities increase a person’s risk of upper-airway obstruction during sleep.”

Although it is unclear how OSA causes cognitive loss, several of its fundamental characteristics, such as sleep disruption, intermittent hypoxemia, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress, may be to blame.

According to Dr. Gosselin, OSA stops sleep from playing its part in memory consolidation, brain plasticity, and the elimination of cerebral metabolic waste by continuously fragmenting sleep.

She stated that systemic inflammation and blood-brain barrier disruption resulting in neuronal death are two more potential causes.

According to one study, the hippocampus and the entorhinal cortex, two areas of the brain that degrade quickly in Alzheimer’s disease, have higher levels of oxidative stress and inflammation.

How to treat sleep apnea

The good news is that OSA can frequently be treated by making small lifestyle adjustments, such eating better, working out more, and decreasing weight, she continued.

Through a range of therapy techniques, doctors can also assist patients in controlling OSA.

The CPAP machine, which uses continuous positive airway pressure to keep the airway open while you sleep, is the OSA technology that is used the most frequently. People with central sleep apnea may also be given medication, CPAP machines, or other breathing aids.

Other OSA therapies include oral mandibular advancement devices or dental appliances that prevent the tongue from obstructing the throat. Additionally, there are neurostimulation implants for OSA, and surgery can occasionally be beneficial.

REFERENCES:

For Cognitive decline medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?cPath=77_478

Blueberries can improve cognitive and cardiovascular health

Blueberries can improve cognitive and cardiovascular health

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A recent study suggests that eating a few handfuls of wild blueberries per day could improve cardiovascular and cognitive health.

According to the study, the anthocyanins in blueberries are in charge of enhancing vascular and cerebral blood flow, which are some of the most likely mechanisms underlying normal cognitive performance.

Polyphenols, a group of plant-based chemicals with a growing body of evidence linking them to health advantages, include anthocyanins.

According to a recent study from King’s College London Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine in the UK, a cup of wild blueberries is more than just a sweet treat. Additionally, it can improve cardiovascular health, lower blood pressure, and give you a mental boost.

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study discovered that those who consumed blueberries had better executive function, a stronger short-term memory, and quicker reaction times.

For a period of 12 weeks, study participants who consumed a drink made from 26 grammes (g) of freeze-dried wild blueberry powder daily exhibited enhanced blood vessel function and a 3.59 mmHG decrease in systolic blood pressure compared to those who took a placebo powder.

When given blueberries, participants performed better at switching accuracy and were better at recalling word lists right away. However, the delayed recollection showed no improvement, according to the researchers.

Every day, 178 grammes of blueberries

61 healthy Londoners between the ages of 65 and 80 made up the study’s male and female subjects. Over the course of 12 weeks, half of them drank a beverage every day that contained 26 g of freeze-dried wild blueberry powder. The other half ingested a placebo that was identical in terms of flavor, appearance, macronutrients, fiber, and vitamin C.

For precise measures, powdered ingredients are frequently used in food studies.

Participants consumed 178 grammes of whole blueberries in the form of 26 grammes of blueberry powder per day. Given that blueberries come in a variety of sizes, this amounts to roughly 75 to 80 blueberries.

It is not necessary for the blueberries to be wild, according to senior researcher Dr. Ana Rodriguez-Mateos. Since “other studies that have been conducted with other types of blueberries showing benefits in cognitive and vascular health.”

Anthocyanins: Beneficial organic pigments

The anthocyanins, blue pigments found in blueberries, are thought to be responsible for the health benefits. The study’s daily intake of powdered wild blueberries comprised 302 mg of anthocyanins. There was none in the placebo drinks.

According to Michelle Routhenstein, a dietician specialising in heart health who was not involved in this study, “anthocyanins are a class of polyphenols.”

She continued, “There are around 8,000 different kinds of polyphenols that have health advantages. Green tea, broccoli, pears, and spices like turmeric and cinnamon are a few additional dietary categories that contain advantageous polyphenols.

Strawberries, raspberries, red grapes, and purple vegetables all contain anthocyanins.

Other anthocyanin-rich foods have been shown to have health benefits. There is no reason to believe that they won’t have the same effect as blueberries. As long as the anthocyanins present in those meals are sufficient, bioavailable, and accessible, said Ana Rodriguez-Mateos, M.D.

How the study was created?

Dr. Rodriguez-Mateos and co-author Dr. Claire Williams had independently examined the cardiovascular and cognitive advantages of blueberries and observed comparable outcomes.

Dr. Rodriguez-Mateos explained that as a result, they “decided to investigate the effects on vascular and cognitive function simultaneously in one clinical study.”

They set out to evaluate cerebral blood flow since prior studies have suggested that it might be a mechanism underlying the positive effects of polyphenols in addition to increased vascular blood flow.

Recent discoveries about the gut bacteria and the gut-brain axis also motivated them to investigate this connection.

Polyphenols

There is still much to learn about the mechanism underlying polyphenols’ positive effects.

A possible explanation is that polyphenol “metabolites may act as signaling molecules, acting through several cell-signaling pathways, modulating nitric oxide bioavailability and different enzymes,” according to Dr. Rodriguez-Mateos.

After the 12-week study period, the researchers discovered increases in anthocyanin metabolites in the individuals’ urine.

According to Dr. Rodriguez-Mateos, “the mechanism of action in the blood vessels is endothelium-dependent and therefore mediated through the nitric oxide pathway.”

Although the study showed indications that blueberries increased cerebral and vascular blood flow, they observed no difference between those who consumed the fruit and the placebo group in arterial stiffness or blood cholesterol levels.

Nevertheless, according to Routhenstein, “when blood flow is improved, both heart and brain health benefit.”

According to Dr. Rodriguez-Mateos, “a hypothesis we proposed in our study is that polyphenols may act via enhancing the abundance of butyrate-producing beneficial bacteria, and therefore the production of butyrate.” This is in reference to the involvement of the gut microbiota. She stated that more research is necessary to prove this.

Foods good for heart, brain health

The American Heart Association claims that a diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, minimally processed meals, and moderate amounts of oil and salt promotes improved cardiovascular and cognitive health.

A Mediterranean diet may be the best one for heart health, according to a recent study. The advantages of “green vegetables, in particular spinach, Swiss chard and kale rich in nitrates, which can help dilate the arteries,” were mentioned by Routhenstein.

“This helps to improve blood flow and vascular, heart, and cognitive function,” she said.

According to Routhenstein, there are many additional foods connected to cognitive wellness. “Omega-3 fats like wild salmon and sardines are linked to better cognition because of their rich DHA content and potent anti-inflammatory properties,” she noted.

Furthermore, “some studies suggest unsaturated fats, like omega-3 fats, may also help lower levels of beta-amyloid, a component in the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease.”

REFERENCES:

For Cardiovacular disease medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?therapy=11

Eating Over 6 Teaspoons of Sugar increases health risk.

Eating Over 6 Teaspoons of Sugar increases health risk.

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Although sugar is a natural component of food, it can also be added during production or cooking.

Understanding the risks of consuming too much sugar is still a work in progress for researchers.

According to a recent comprehensive analysis, sugar consumption is linked to a number of detrimental health effects, such as heart disease and other cancers. People can take action to reduce their use of added sugars and beverages with added sugar.

It’s important to provide the body with the nutrients it requires. To avoid obtaining too much or too little of any one vitamin, careful balancing is required. Although sugar is a nutritional staple, excessive sugar consumption can hurt one’s health.

Intake of dietary sugar was linked to several unfavorable health outcomes. This including as weight gain, gout, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and specific forms of cancer. According to a recent review published in The BMJ, the quality of the evidence, nevertheless, varied.

Based on these results, the review authors advise consumers to limit their intake of added sugars to six tablespoons or less per day and to have no more than one sugar-sweetened beverage per week.

Added sugars and natural sugars

A few different forms of carbohydrates fall under the umbrella phrase “dietary sugar.” As an illustration, sugars include glucose, fructose, and lactose. People will obtain some of the sugar they need by consuming foods like fruit or milk, which naturally contain some sugar.

Any sugar that producers or consumers add to foods is referred to as added sugar. Some organisations make suggestions for restricting the use of added sugars based on this distinction.

People cannot completely cut out sugar from their diets because the body needs a certain amount, but the source is crucial. Journalist and licenced dietician Molly Kimball clarified that she was not part in the study.

“Our bodies’ main energy source, including the brain, the central nervous system, and the muscles, is glucose. Your body’s cells require glucose to survive. But since many foods, including proteins and carbohydrate-containing foods like vegetables and whole grains, can be naturally transformed by our bodies into glucose, we don’t need to include extra sugars such as sucrose or glucose into our meals.

In order to provide the best advice on sugar consumption, researchers are still examining the available data.

How dietary sugar affects health?

Over 8,500 articles total, spread across 73 meta-analyses, were considered in this comprehensive evaluation. The review’s authors sought to investigate the effects of dietary sugar consumption on health outcomes. The intake of beverages with added sugar was one particular topic of attention because it might be a substantial source of extra sugar.

The authors of the review discovered a number of negative links between eating sugar and poor health outcomes. They found the following highlights in their research:

Greater body weight was linked to greater consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. A higher risk of gout, a higher risk of coronary heart disease, and an increased risk of all-cause mortality were all linked to increasing use of sugar-sweetened beverages.

Consuming dietary sugar was linked to an increased chance of developing specific cancers, including as pancreatic, breast, prostate, and total cancer mortality.

Consuming dietary sugar has been linked to a number of detrimental cardiovascular outcomes, such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, heart attacks, and stroke.

They also discovered a few other detrimental links between consuming sugar and 45 different health issues, such as melancholy, oral health issues, and childhood asthma.

The evidence linking sugar consumption to cancer is currently weak, according to researchers, and this subject needs more research. The strength of the evidence supporting the correlations was also inconsistent.

Additionally not engaged in the study, Dr. Felix Spiegel, a bariatric surgeon at Memorial Hermann in Houston, Texas, made the following observations:

The review’s conclusions are strong and compelling. Consuming too much sugar significantly raises the risk of metabolic diseases like diabetes, cancer, heart disease, psychiatric disorders, and dental issues.

Study restrictions

This review did have several shortcomings. First, scientists admit that there was a chance for some publication bias. Second, the researchers were constrained by the limitations of the studies they reviewed and by the variations among the investigations. Studies, for instance, have examined sugar intake using a variety of techniques, many of which have a high potential for data collection errors. Studies also used various methods to calculate sugar intake.

Reviewers were unable to determine the amount of sugar in certain items. The authors also emphasise how crucial it is to look for multiple confounding variables before interpreting results and drawing conclusions.

Because of funding conflicts, some of the analyses that were included had outcomes that should be read with caution. Last but not least, the present reviewers neglected to consider the conflicting objectives of the many studies from the meta-analyses they examined.

Decrease your sugar consumption

People can take action to reduce their intake of added sugars by consulting with medical specialists and other experts as necessary. Although every person has different needs, the findings of this study indicate that restricting added sugars may help prevent some undesirable health effects.

Dr. Spiegel provided the following recommendations for cutting back on sugar intake:

“Reading labels and checking for hidden sugar are two steps to decrease consumption. Avoiding packaged foods is also a great idea. Fruits are a great alternative that is also highly beneficial. Simple grilling or air frying should be used for meat, fish, and poultry without the addition of seasoning or glaze. Instead, use a lot of natural spices. Constantly consuming water is also beneficial. Avoiding sugary alcoholic beverages can help limit overconsumption of sugar.

The natural glucose required to maintain a healthy body will be provided by fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats. If you do consume packaged goods, check the nutritional labels and be aware of how specific foods affect your daily sugar intake, advised registered dietitian Molly Kimball, who was not involved in the study.

Takeaway

An connection between sugar consumption and 45 health outcomes, such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, asthma, depression, several malignancies, and death, has recently been discovered by a new meta-review.

Health professionals advise limiting added sugar consumption to 6 teaspoons per day. Fresh or frozen fruit, low- or no-sugar yogurts, sugar-free sweeteners like stevia, and other foods are examples of low-sugar substitutes. Additionally, it’s crucial to pay attention to portion management.

REFERENCES:

For Diabetes medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?therapy=13

Colder temperatures may help clear linked Alzheimer’s.

Colder temperatures may help clear linked Alzheimer’s.

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For many years, it has been known that lower temperatures encourage longevity in various animals.

The exact mechanism underlying this has remained a mystery, but recent study indicates low temperatures can trigger a biological process that enhances the removal of protein aggregations that are misfolded.

Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders are among the aging-related diseases that have been linked to misfolded proteins.

The identification of this mechanism may improve our knowledge of how to treat human disorders brought on by protein misfolding.

Since more than 50 years ago, it has been recognised that lower temperatures make people live longer, but the exact mechanisms by which this is true have remained a mystery.

In recent years, researchers have uncovered the mechanism underlying the extended worm lifespan and demonstrated how it affects human cells.

Researchers from Cologne, Germany, published their findings in the journal Nature Aging and found that a molecule that breaks down protein clumps is more active at lower temperatures.

This activity may contribute to a decrease in the prevalence of dangerous misfolded proteins, which are thought to contribute to the development of a number of aging-related diseases like Alzheimer’s disease.

Transforming attitudes towards ageing

A few decades ago, it was thought that the buildup of poisons from oxidation was the cause of ageing. This changed in the 1990s once it was discovered that the genetic model organism C. elegans, a species of worm, could live longer at lower temperatures, according to Professor David Vilchez, the study’s primary author and director of the CECAD Research Center at the University of Cologne.

“We chose to concentrate on cold temperatures because it was recognized [more than 50 years ago] that cold temperatures can increase longevity Hence, it was discovered in flies, Drosophila proved in C. elegans, also proved in fish, and most recently proved in mice. Thus, it is actually one of the best methods for extending longevity for many people.

The potential for this discovery to offer insight on the mechanisms underlying ageing didn’t become obvious until the process’ genetic regulation was revealed in 2012 in a publication published in Cell, according to Prof. Vilchez.

There is a notion that claims that since 1860, human body temperatures have been declining by 0.03°C every decade, despite the fact that all of these research have been conducted on animal models. Others have linked this result to the fact that life expectancy has been rising since then, however this is just a correlation and the explanation has not been established.

Removing aggregations of improperly folded proteins

Researchers grew worms at 25oC and then relocated them to surroundings set at 15 degreeC, 20 degreeC, and 25 degreeC to study how cold temperatures affected the worms. They discovered that the activity of the molecule in charge of removing misfolded proteins from cells significantly increased at lower temperatures.

Subsequent investigation revealed that this was caused by the activation of a cell channel that functions at lower temperatures to promote the production of certain proteins implicated in the cellular process.

The quantity of misfolded proteins in worm cells was later shown to decrease at lower temperatures.

Researchers employed worms with changed genomes to mimic crucial aspects of two aging-related human disorders, Huntington’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, in order to further examine this (ALS). These models were simple to create because, in contrast to multifactorial diseases like Alzheimer’s, each of these disorders are brought on by mutations in a single gene.

In worm models of Huntington’s disease and ALS, they discovered that the same mechanism was triggered at low temperatures and prevented the aggregation of improperly folded proteins.

Aid in the treatment of Huntington’s disease

An area of the Huntingtin gene, which codes for a particular amino acid, the building block of proteins, is repeated excessively in people with Huntington’s disease.

Dr. Natalia Pessoa Rocha, a researcher on Huntington’s disease at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston who was not involved in the study, described the polyglutamine tail that results from the extra amino acids on the protein. This might lead to proteins folding incorrectly.

Although the protein can fold, if it misfolds, it can collect into hazardous aggregates for cells. This is a very well-known mechanism in the aggregation of misfolded proteins that occurs in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other neurodegenerative illnesses. Hence, this characterizes Huntington’s,” she stated.

Researchers discovered that lowering the temperature of human cells to 36 oC resulted in the same cell process being triggered, in addition to discovering that cold temperatures increase the clearance of misfolded proteins in worms.

At 35oC, however, the opposite was discovered, indicating that moderately low temperatures are the best for inducing this process in human cells. It was also discovered that overexpression of the genes in charge of this mechanism induced this pathway, which led to an increase in the molecules that help cells get rid of misfolded proteins.

In order to lessen the protein aggregation linked to sickness, etc., we were able to express the protein in human cells in vitro and truly simulate what happens at cold temperatures.

Future research on aging

Although it is a long way off, Prof. Vilchez stated that the results of this study may assist to direct future research towards treating neurodegenerative illnesses brought on by protein misfolding by identifying a molecule in the process that might be utilised as a medication target.

It is an extremely significant paper. They could pinpoint a crucial target for every disease caused by a protein problem. Not just Huntington’s, but particularly Alzheimer’s Parkinson’s, and other disorders, as I told you,” he said.

Nonetheless, there is still much to be done to convert this into human terms. People are almost always highly thrilled when a new target is there, so we need to be careful about how we convey this message, according to Dr. Pessoa Rocha. When human cells’ temperature was lowered to 36 °C, the same cell process was induced.

REFERENCES:

For Alzheimer’s disease medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?therapy=31

Is moderate exercise safe for the muscles of statin users?

Is moderate exercise safe for the muscles of statin users?

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According to a recent study, statin users are concerned about exercising. Because they think it can cause muscle damage and shouldn’t be. Both the statin-taking participants and the control participants in the research reported similar muscle soreness after moderate activity.

Nonetheless, statin users are not advised to engage in vigorous activity. Those on statins who are reluctant to exercise out of concern that it could harm their muscles should take heart from a recent study.

Some persons using the cholesterol-lowering medication claim to have muscle pain, and they may stop engaging in cardiovascular-healthy physical exercise.

The study reveals that statin users, regardless of whether they have muscle issues or not, have the same muscle-related consequences from moderate-intensity exercise.

Everybody who engages in such exercise is likely to experience brief muscle soreness and weariness. For those using statins, this is also accurate. Statin users, however, recovered slightly more slowly than trial participants who did not take any medication.

The effects of exercising at a moderate intensity were examined in this study. According to other studies, patients using statins are more likely to have skeletal muscle injuries when engaging in eccentric, or high-intensity, activity.

The most recent research results have been published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The study’s results are crucial for the cardiovascular health of statin users, as is highlighted in an editorial that is included with the paper.

An analysis of the effects of walking

100 people took part in the study as a participant. This comprised 31 individuals not taking statins as a control group. 34 individuals on statins who did not display any muscle difficulties. And 35 individuals taking statins who had statin-associated muscular symptoms.

Before the research, those taking statins had been doing so for at least three months. The following health conditions were omitted from the study: diabetes, hypo or hyperthyroidism, and genetic skeletal muscle disease. Supplement users of CoQ10 were also not included.

Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, levels of physical activity, and vitamin D3 levels were identical at the beginning of the trial. Those who had symptoms at the start of the trial scored higher on muscle soreness and fatigue.

The researchers looked at those who participated in the 4Days Marches, a four-day event in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Participants walk anything between 18 and 30 miles each day.

“During four days, participants walk 30, 40, or 50 kilometers (18, 24, or 31 miles) each day. Accordingly, participants walk anywhere from 120 (74 miles) to 200 (124 miles) km over four days, according to the study’s lead author, Dr. Neeltje A.E. Allard of the Radboud Institute for Health Sciences and the Department of physiology at Radboud University Medical Center in the Netherlands.

The participants prepare beforehand because there is a lot of walking. In actuality, it was first held as a military exercise in 1909 and has since developed into the biggest walking competition in the world, in which both active duty personnel and casual walkers compete.

The effects of walking on muscular damage in people who experienced symptoms and those who did not were compared by the researchers.

What are statins?

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, also known as “bad cholesterol,” can be reduced by using the statin drug class. The best treatment for hyperlipidemia is statins.

According to cardiologist Dr. David Lee from Oregon Health & Study University (OHSU), who was not engaged in the study, “high cholesterol” and a significant treatment after a heart attack.

He emphasised that they are crucial preventative measures against repeat heart attacks and strokes.

Further stating that statins “have been a primary reason that heart disease and strokes have declined dramatically since their debut in the early 1990s,” Emilee Taylor, a doctor of pharmacy who works at OHSU but is not involved in the present study, was quoted.

They have significant enough effects to lower all-cause mortality in persons with even modest cardiac disease, according to the researcher.

Workout volume matters.

The study included 31 non-statin users, 34 asymptomatic statin users, and 35 symptomatic statin users—those who experienced muscle issues as a result of taking statins.

Eighty percent of the participants with symptoms were men, and their average age was 64. The participants in the control group were all of the same age, and 62% of them were men. The asymptomatic participants were 82% male and slightly older, at 68 years old.

Each person took part in a moderate exercise regimen that involved walking 30, 40, or 50 kilometers (km) per day for 4 straight days at a pace of their choosing.

One or two days before the start of the walking experiment, researchers took the participants’ baseline measurements of height, weight, and waist circumference. Every 5 kilometers on the first walking day, their heart rates were recorded.

Participants’ weights were measured after the first, second, and third days to gauge their level of hydration. The researchers were able to gauge their walking pace and workout duration based on their start and finish times. An estimate of exercise intensity was provided using a heart rate-based calculation.

Finally, participants discussed how their muscles felt both before and after exercise. The effects of exercise were similar in both groups, the researchers discovered, except the fact that statin users required more time to recover from post-exercise muscle weakness than the control group.

Participants’ levels of CoQ10 were also monitored in the trial. CoQ10 has been suggested as a potential contributor to statin-related muscular issues.

The levels of CoQ10 were not different between the three groups, and they were also unrelated to muscular function, reported muscle problems, or injury signs.

Statin-associated muscle symptoms

SAMS, which stands for “statin-associated muscular symptoms,” is the aggregate term used to describe muscle issues that have been documented while taking statins. Myalgia, cramps, and a feeling of weak muscles are a few of these.

Due to worries about SAMS, some individuals who could benefit from statins choose not to take them or do not take the recommended amounts.

Regarding how common SAMS are, there is some disagreement. According to the American Academy of Cardiology, clinical observation studies show a substantially higher frequency of SAMS than randomized controlled trials do.

According to one survey of former statin users, 62% of them stopped using the medication due to negative effects.

The National Lipid Association (NLA) reports that research indicates the true incidence of SAMS is approximately 10%, with several studies indicating its prevalence among statin users to range from 5% to 25%. While the symptoms that patients experience are real, 80% of them, according to the NLA, are not brought on by statins.

For patients to be more aware of what to watch out for, Dr. Lee believes it is crucial that doctors adequately inform them of how SAMS often manifest.

Exercising on statins

The current advice for those taking statins was summarised by board-certified interventional cardiologist Dr. Michael S. Broukhim of Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California. He was not involved in the study.

“Patients should establish a regular exercise regimen, with a preference for a moderate-intensity exercise programme,” he advised. “Patients should continue to take their statins at their maximally tolerated dose following discussion with their healthcare professionals.”

Dr. Broukhim noted that he advises 150 minutes of moderate activity each week, the same amount of exercise as is advised for those who do not take statins.

He advised against high-intensity exercise since it can increase the levels of muscle enzymes that can cause muscle damage in statin-using individuals.

Exercises with a moderate level of intensity include:

  • rapid walking
  • Cycling
  • Aquatic exercise
  • general exercises
  • Tennis pairs
  • tango dancing

According to Masi, doctors advise a mix of resistance training and cardiovascular exercise for people who wish to start working out. Everyone should begin at their own pace and abilities and progressively increase both duration and resistance, according to Masi.

REFERENCES:

For Muscle disease medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?cPath=28

Perks of Psychotherapy for Individuals with Disabilities.

Perks of Psychotherapy for Individuals with Disabilities.

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While some people with disabilities face major obstacles to accessing mental health care. Also, research demonstrates that this care can enhance their general quality of life.

More than 46% of American adults received counselling, medication, or self-directed treatment for mental health issues in just 2020. Millions of people receive therapy each year, making it one of the most successful types of mental health care.

But, therapy can do more than only treat mental health issues. It can also help people cope with life’s challenges, provide them a platform for self-expression. Also, generally improve their quality of life, especially if they have a disability.

In the sections that follow, we’ll look at how regular treatment can help persons with impairments as well as some of the obstacles and things to keep in mind for handicapped people seeking mental health care.

Barriers to treatment for disabled people

When seeking mental health treatments, disabled people frequently encounter more difficulties being treated. Some of these obstacles are caused by physical or financial constraints, while others are brought on by ableism and stigma.

The following are some of the obstacles that may keep people with disabilities from receiving the assistance they require:

Social stigma

People with disabilities can be negatively impacted by stigma in a variety of ways, especially because stigmas associated with mental health are equally prevalent.

People with disabilities who experience social stigma may experience poorer mental health and find it more challenging to obtain the assistance they require to seek mental health therapy.

Stigma against medical professionals

People with disabilities may find it challenging to receive the degree of treatment they require to get better due to social stigmas as well as stigma from healthcare professionals. The standard of care for people with disabilities suffers when medical practitioners let their own personal views about disabilities affect how they treat patients with impairments.

Financial limitations

It can be expensive to receive mental health care, especially if you have to pay out of pocket or don’t have insurance. Due to the fact that many disabled persons are unable to work and that those who do tend to earn less money, it may be difficult or even impossible for them to be able to afford therapeutic services.

Communication difficulties

There are more obstacles to getting access to mental health care for people with physical disabilities, and even for certain people with intellectual and mental impairments.

It might be difficult for some disabled persons to leave the house, especially if they don’t have access to transportation or accommodations. For disabled individuals who lack the equipment or expertise needed, even virtual care might be difficult.

People with disabilities may find it challenging to obtain the degree of care they require or to access mental health therapy due to all of these obstacles.

How can disabled people benefit from therapy?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that persons with impairments experience mental anguish five times more frequently than adults without disabilities. Yet studies have repeatedly demonstrated that having a disability can significantly impact one’s mental health, particularly in terms of depression and anxiety.

In particular those that come along with the experience of living with a disability, therapy can help you better understand your own thoughts, emotions, and behaviours.

To improve your emotional well-being, therapy can show you how to identify and alter the connection between those thoughts and feelings. And treatment can provide you with the abilities you need to deal with and adapt to life with a disability, whether you have a physical impairment, a mental disability, or both.

Considerations for disabled people in therapy

When you have a disability, it’s crucial that your therapist is aware of the impact it might have on your life not just physically and mentally, but also socially, professionally, and in other ways.

Researchers in the profession identified a number of areas in 2014 that are crucial for therapists to take into account while working with clients who have disabilities. Many instances include:

  • respecting their knowledge of the impairment, how it affects them, and how they have experienced it
  • taking careful to speak about a person’s disability while using inclusive language
  • assisting in the identification and understanding of potential challenges faced by disabled people
  • incorporating the individual’s strengths into the therapy’s structure
  • adjusting goals and recommendations to accommodate their disabilities

The most crucial thing for you to do if you’re a therapist who deals with clients who have impairments is to keep learning about what it’s like to have that handicap and how it affects daily life.

Disability and intersectionality

In terms of oppression and discrimination, intersectionality refers to the way that a person’s different identities, such as gender, race, sexual orientation, and others, interact with one another to produce various, personal experiences.

Intersectionality is a major cause of many of the treatment-related obstacles that persons with disabilities face.

For instance, there will be more difficulties in obtaining mental health services for a disabled person who lacks health insurance due to a lack of resources. In addition, additional characteristics like gender and colour may exacerbate the prejudice and obstacles that disabled individuals must overcome in order to access services or get care.

Best psychological techniques

Many treatment modalities can be useful for people with all kinds of disabilities, including those that are physical, mental, intellectual, and others.

For instance, one of the most prevalent causes of disability in the United States is chronic pain, and numerous studies have looked into the advantages of psychotherapy for chronic pain.

According to a review, psychotherapy modalities like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and cognitive functional therapy (CFT) can help persons with chronic pain live better overall.

These methods not only aid in a greater understanding of the disease that affects a person, but they also aid in coping mechanisms and lessen the emotional anguish that comes with having these conditions.

Moreover, therapy may even lower levels of handicap for those with mental health issues that are disabilities by easing generalised symptoms of the condition. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), for instance, is a serious mental health problem that can seriously impair a person’s capacity to function in day-to-day life.

Exposure and response prevention (ERP) and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) have both been demonstrated to be effective psychotherapy techniques for treating OCD. Both techniques also show promise in lowering impairment and improving quality of life for OCD sufferers.

Key message

In the United States, more than 60 million individuals struggle to fully participate in daily activities because they have a disability.

Also, a variety of variables may have an impact on a person with a disability’s mental health. These issues include lack of support and knowledge about living with a disability, social and professional stigma, increased care access hurdles, and increased barriers to care.

Therapy can help if you have a handicap since it can enhance your mental health, teach you crucial coping mechanisms, and provide you the care you require to feel supported.

REFERENCES:

For Alzheimer’s disease medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?cPath=77_478