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nishmahealthassist · 24 days ago

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What Is a Silent Heart Attack? Signs That Go Unnoticed

A silent heart attack, medically known as a silent myocardial infarction, is a heart attack that occurs with minimal, atypical, or no symptoms at all. Unlike the dramatic chest pain often depicted in movies, silent heart attacks can slip under the radar, leaving many unaware they’ve experienced a serious cardiovascular event. This makes them particularly dangerous, as delayed recognition can lead to untreated damage and increased risk of future heart complications. In this blog, we’ll explore what a silent heart attack is, its subtle signs, risk factors, and how to protect yourself.

What Is a Silent Heart Attack?

A silent heart attack happens when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked, causing damage to the heart muscle, but the person experiences little to no noticeable symptoms. These attacks are often detected later, sometimes during routine medical tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or imaging scans, which reveal scarring or damage to the heart tissue.

Silent heart attacks are more common than you might think. Studies suggest they account for up to 20-30% of all heart attacks, particularly in older adults, women, and people with diabetes. Because the symptoms are mild or absent, many dismiss them as fatigue, indigestion, or simply “feeling off,” delaying critical medical intervention.

Signs That Go Unnoticed

The hallmark of a silent heart attack is its subtlety. Symptoms, if present, are often vague and easily mistaken for other conditions. Here are some signs to watch for:

Mild Chest Discomfort: Instead of intense chest pain, you might feel slight pressure, tightness, or a vague discomfort in the chest. It may come and go or feel like heartburn.

Fatigue: Unexplained, extreme tiredness, especially after physical activity, can be a clue. This is particularly common in women.

Shortness of Breath: Difficulty breathing, even without exertion, may occur. It might feel like you can’t catch your breath or need to rest after minimal activity.

Nausea or Indigestion: A silent heart attack can mimic digestive issues, such as nausea, bloating, or an upset stomach.

Pain in Other Areas: Discomfort may radiate to the jaw, neck, shoulders, back, or arms (often the left arm). This pain is typically mild and easy to ignore.

Sweating: Sudden, cold sweats without an obvious cause, like exercise or heat, can be a warning sign.

Dizziness or Lightheadedness: Feeling faint or unsteady may indicate reduced blood flow to the heart or brain.

These symptoms may be fleeting or attributed to stress, aging, or minor ailments, which is why they often go unnoticed. Women, older adults, and those with chronic conditions like diabetes are especially prone to atypical symptoms, making vigilance crucial.

Who Is at Risk?

Silent heart attacks share the same risk factors as typical heart attacks. These include:

Age: Risk increases with age, particularly after 45 for men and 55 for women.

High Blood Pressure: Uncontrolled hypertension damages blood vessels and strains the heart.

High Cholesterol: Excess cholesterol can clog arteries, reducing blood flow.

Diabetes: People with diabetes are more likely to have silent heart attacks due to nerve damage that dulls pain signals.

Smoking: Tobacco use accelerates plaque buildup in arteries.

Obesity: Excess weight puts strain on the heart and increases cardiovascular risk.

Family History: A genetic predisposition to heart disease raises your risk.

Sedentary Lifestyle: Lack of physical activity contributes to heart disease risk factors.

Women are particularly susceptible to silent heart attacks, as they’re more likely to experience atypical symptoms. Similarly, people with diabetes may not feel the usual chest pain due to neuropathy, which impairs pain perception.

Why Silent Heart Attacks Are Dangerous

The lack of obvious symptoms means silent heart attacks often go undiagnosed and untreated. This can lead to:

Heart Muscle Damage: Scar tissue from the attack weakens the heart, reducing its ability to pump effectively.

Increased Risk of Future Attacks: A silent heart attack raises the likelihood of a more severe heart attack later.

Heart Failure: Over time, cumulative damage can lead to heart failure, where the heart struggles to meet the body’s demands.

Arrhythmias: Scar tissue can disrupt the heart’s electrical signals, causing irregular heartbeats.

Early detection and treatment are critical to minimizing damage and improving long-term outcomes.

How to Protect Yourself

Preventing and detecting silent heart attacks requires proactive steps. Here’s how to safeguard your heart health:

Know Your Risk: Regular checkups with your doctor can assess your heart disease risk through blood tests (cholesterol, glucose), blood pressure monitoring, and family history evaluation.

Get Routine Screenings: Tests like ECGs, stress tests, or cardiac imaging can detect silent heart attacks or early signs of heart disease, especially if you’re at higher risk.

Manage Chronic Conditions: Keep diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol under control with medication, diet, and lifestyle changes.

Adopt a Heart-Healthy Lifestyle:

Diet: Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats (like those in fish and nuts). Limit saturated fats, sodium, and added sugars.

Exercise: Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity (like brisk walking) per week, plus strength training.

Quit Smoking: Seek support to stop smoking, as it’s a major heart disease risk factor.

Manage Stress: Practice relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga to reduce stress, which can strain the heart.

Listen to Your Body: Don’t dismiss vague symptoms, especially if they persist or worsen. Seek medical attention if you experience unusual fatigue, shortness of breath, or discomfort.

Learn CPR and AED Use: In case of a cardiac emergency, knowing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED) can save lives.

When to Seek Help

If you suspect you’ve had symptoms of a silent heart attack or are at high risk, contact your healthcare provider promptly. Call emergency services (e.g., 911 in the U.S.) if you experience:

Persistent chest discomfort, even if mild.

Sudden shortness of breath or dizziness.

Unexplained sweating or nausea combined with other symptoms.

Time is critical in treating heart attacks, silent or not. The sooner you get help, the better your chances of minimizing heart damage.

Conclusion

Silent heart attacks are stealthy but serious threats to heart health. Their subtle or absent symptoms make them easy to miss, but the consequences can be life-altering. By understanding the signs, knowing your risk factors, and prioritizing heart-healthy habits, you can reduce your risk and catch potential issues early. Stay proactive, listen to your body, and work with your healthcare provider to keep your heart strong. Your health is worth it.

Note: Always consult a healthcare professional for personalized advice and diagnosis. This blog is for informational purposes only.

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rahulsecmedblog · 1 month ago

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Understanding Cardiac Arrest: Causes, Symptoms, and Life-Saving Actions

Cardiac arrest is a serious and sudden medical emergency. It happens when the heart unexpectedly stops beating. This condition cuts off blood flow to the brain and other vital organs, and without quick treatment, it can lead to death within minutes.

Even though the term might sound scary, the good news is that understanding cardiac arrest can help you act quickly and potentially save a life. In this blog, we’ll explore what cardiac arrest is, why it happens, the warning signs, and how to respond if it ever occurs.

What Is Cardiac Arrest?

Cardiac arrest is when the heart stops pumping blood throughout the body. This is usually due to a problem with the heart's electrical system. Without a regular heartbeat, the brain, lungs, and other organs don’t get the oxygen they need, which can cause a person to collapse and become unresponsive.

It's important to know that cardiac arrest is not the same as a heart attack. A heart attack happens when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked. Cardiac arrest, on the other hand, is when the heart suddenly stops beating altogether. A heart attack can sometimes lead to cardiac arrest, but the two are different conditions.

What Causes Cardiac Arrest?

Cardiac arrest can be caused by several different factors, including heart-related and non-heart-related issues. The most common causes include:

1. Abnormal Heart Rhythms (Arrhythmias)

The most common cause of cardiac arrest is an arrhythmia called ventricular fibrillation. This happens when the heart beats in a fast and irregular way, preventing it from pumping blood properly.

2. Heart Attack

A heart attack can damage the heart's electrical system and trigger cardiac arrest. If the heart muscle is injured, it may not beat correctly.

3. Heart Disease

People with coronary artery disease, heart failure, or cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle) are more likely to experience cardiac arrest.

4. Congenital Heart Conditions

Some people are born with heart abnormalities that increase the risk of cardiac arrest, especially in young athletes.

5. Drug Overdose or Substance Abuse

Illegal drugs like cocaine or meth, or even certain prescription medications, can interfere with the heart’s rhythm and lead to cardiac arrest.

6. Severe Blood Loss or Oxygen Shortage

Situations such as drowning, choking, or serious injury can reduce oxygen levels in the body, causing the heart to stop.

Who Is at Risk?

Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, but some people have a higher risk than others. Risk factors include:

History of heart disease or previous heart attack

High blood pressure or high cholesterol

Diabetes

Smoking

Obesity

Sedentary lifestyle

Family history of sudden cardiac arrest

Use of recreational drugs

Even athletes and young people can suffer from cardiac arrest, especially if they have an undiagnosed heart condition. That’s why regular health checkups are essential.

Signs and Symptoms of Cardiac Arrest

Cardiac arrest usually happens suddenly and without warning. A person may:

Collapse without any reason

Lose consciousness immediately

Stop breathing or gasp for air

Have no pulse

Sometimes, a person may have warning signs just minutes before cardiac arrest, such as:

Chest discomfort

Rapid or irregular heartbeat

Dizziness or fainting

Shortness of breath

If you notice any of these symptoms, especially in someone with heart disease, take it seriously and seek medical help.

What to Do in Case of Cardiac Arrest?

When cardiac arrest happens, every second counts. Here’s what you need to do immediately:

1. Call Emergency Services

Call your local emergency number right away (e.g., 911). Tell them it's a suspected cardiac arrest so they send help quickly.

2. Start CPR

Begin chest compressions immediately. Push hard and fast in the center of the chest (about 2 inches deep) at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute. If you're trained, you can also give rescue breaths.

3. Use an AED

An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a device that can help restart the heart. If one is available nearby, use it as soon as possible. AEDs are designed to be simple to use, even for people without medical training.

The combination of CPR and an AED can greatly increase the chance of survival until professional help arrives.

How Is Cardiac Arrest Treated?

Emergency responders may use advanced tools and medications to stabilize the heart. After arriving at the hospital, doctors may:

Run tests to find the cause of the arrest

Use defibrillation again if needed

Provide medications to support heart function

Implant a device called an ICD (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator) in people at high risk to prevent future arrests

Ongoing care may also involve lifestyle changes, medications, and treating underlying conditions like high blood pressure or arrhythmias.

Can Cardiac Arrest Be Prevented?

Yes, in many cases, cardiac arrest can be prevented by leading a heart-healthy lifestyle and managing medical conditions early. Here’s how:

Exercise regularly

Eat a heart-healthy diet rich in vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, and whole grains

Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol

Keep your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar under control

Manage stress through mindfulness, meditation, or hobbies

Get regular check-ups, especially if you have a family history of heart issues

If you’ve already had a heart attack or have known heart problems, your doctor might recommend medications or devices like an ICD to reduce your risk of cardiac arrest.

Why CPR and AED Training Matter

Every minute without CPR reduces a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival. If more people knew how to perform CPR and use an AED, many lives could be saved every year.

Consider taking a CPR training course in your community. It’s a small investment of time that can make a huge difference in someone’s life—even a stranger's.

Conclusion

Cardiac arrest is a sudden and life-threatening condition that can affect anyone, regardless of age or health. Recognizing the warning signs, understanding the risk factors, and knowing how to respond with CPR or an AED can mean the difference between life and death. While it’s a frightening topic, being informed and prepared can help you protect yourself and your loved ones.

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medwayhospitals · 1 month ago

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Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is a critical and life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. At Medway Hospitals, we are committed to increasing public awareness about this serious health issue and providing cutting-edge treatment options for individuals at risk. While SCA often affects adults, it can also occur in children, making it vital for parents and caregivers to understand the signs and take preventive measures.

This comprehensive guide explores the causes, symptoms, risk factors, treatment options, and preventive steps associated with Sudden Cardiac Arrest. We also address related concerns such as chest pain in children, heart attacks in kids, and congenital heart defects in children.

What is Cardiac Arrest?

Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating, preventing blood flow to the brain and other vital organs. It is often triggered by a malfunction in the heart's electrical system, resulting in an irregular heartbeat known as an arrhythmia. Unlike a heart attack—which occurs due to blocked blood flow to the heart—SCA happens abruptly and without warning.

Key Points:

It’s sudden: Often occurs without warning signs.

It’s deadly: Without immediate treatment, death can occur within minutes.

It’s reversible: Timely CPR and defibrillation can save lives.

How Common is Sudden Cardiac Arrest?

Sudden Cardiac Arrest is more common than many realize. Globally, millions are affected each year, and survival rates are directly linked to how quickly emergency care is provided. While it is most prevalent in adults over the age of 40, children and teens can also suffer from SCA, especially if they have undiagnosed heart conditions or congenital abnormalities.

Symptoms of Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Recognizing the symptoms of SCA can be life-saving. These include:

Sudden collapse without any warning.

No pulse and absence of breathing.

Loss of consciousness.

Chest discomfort, which can occur prior to the collapse, and is sometimes mistaken for a heart attack.

In children, chest pain should never be ignored. While often due to benign causes, it can also be an indicator of a more serious cardiac issue.

Causes of Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Several factors can lead to SCA, including:

1. Arrhythmias

Irregular heart rhythms, particularly ventricular fibrillation, are the leading cause of SCA.

2. Heart Attack

A heart attack can damage heart tissue and disrupt electrical signals, triggering cardiac arrest.

3. Congenital Heart Defects in Children

Structural heart problems present at birth may remain undiagnosed and cause SCA later in life.

4. External Factors

Electrocution, severe trauma, or intense physical exertion—especially in athletes—can also lead to SCA.

Risk Factors for Cardiac Arrest

Understanding the risk factors allows for early intervention and prevention. These include:

Family history of cardiac arrest or inherited heart conditions.

Previous heart attacks or underlying heart disease.

Lifestyle factors such as smoking, obesity, poor diet, and lack of exercise.

Chronic conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol.

Age and gender: Older adults and men are more commonly affected, though young children and teens are not immune.

Complications of Sudden Cardiac Arrest

If not treated immediately, SCA can result in:

Brain damage: Caused by prolonged lack of oxygen.

Permanent heart damage.

Physical limitations and emotional consequences such as anxiety and depression after recovery.

Diagnosing Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Diagnosis typically occurs in emergency settings and may include:

Electrocardiogram (ECG): Detects abnormal heart rhythms.

Blood tests: Look for markers of heart damage.

Imaging: CT scans, MRIs, and echocardiograms help identify underlying structural problems.

Treatment for Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Immediate Response

Call Emergency Services Immediately.

Begin CPR

CPR helps maintain blood flow to the brain and vital organs until professional help arrives.

Use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

AEDs can deliver a shock to restore normal heart rhythm. They are increasingly available in public spaces.

In-Hospital Care

At Medway Hospitals, emergency and cardiac specialists use:

Advanced defibrillation

Intravenous medications

Therapeutic hypothermia (cooling therapy) to protect brain function

Continuous monitoring in the ICU

Long-Term Treatment

Patients recovering from SCA may need:

Heart medications to manage arrhythmias and reduce risk of recurrence.

Lifestyle changes, including diet and exercise.

Implantable devices such as a defibrillator (ICD) to monitor and correct heart rhythms automatically.

Surgical interventions, if structural defects are detected.

Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Arrest

While SCA may strike without warning, proactive steps can significantly reduce risk:

Adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle: Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Exercise regularly.

Avoid smoking and limit alcohol consumption.

Manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and cholesterol.

Attend regular health check-ups, especially if there's a family history of heart disease.

Screening for children involved in sports or who show symptoms like fainting or chest pain can help detect early issues.

What Causes Chest Pain in Children?

Chest pain in children can be concerning but is often not linked to heart disease. Common causes include:

Muscle strain from physical activity.

Respiratory infections like pneumonia or asthma.

Psychological stress or anxiety.

Congenital heart defects, which may sometimes present as unexplained chest discomfort.

Can Children Have Heart Attacks?

Though rare, heart attacks in children are possible, particularly if they have:

Congenital heart defects

Kawasaki disease, which inflames blood vessels

Inherited conditions like familial hypercholesterolemia

Warning Signs Include:

Shortness of breath

Fainting

Chest pain accompanied by paleness or a rapid heartbeat

Congenital Heart Defects in Children

Congenital heart defects are among the most common birth anomalies and a leading cause of SCA in young people. Types include:

Atrial septal defects (ASD) – Hole in the upper heart chambers

Ventricular septal defects (VSD) – Hole in the lower chambers

Tetralogy of Fallot – A complex combination of four structural heart abnormalities

Symptoms to Watch For:

Rapid or labored breathing

Poor feeding in infants

A bluish tint to the lips, skin, or nails (cyanosis)

Fatigue or fainting during physical activity

Early detection and specialized care at Medway Hospitals can help children lead normal, active lives.

What Should You Do If Your Child Complains of Chest Pain?

Stay calm and assess their symptoms.

Look for additional signs like fainting, difficulty breathing, or rapid heartbeat.

Seek immediate medical attention, especially if the pain is persistent or recurring.

Conclusion

Sudden Cardiac Arrest is a critical medical emergency that demands immediate response and long-term management. Whether you're an adult at risk or a parent concerned about your child’s heart health, awareness and timely action can make all the difference.

At Medway Hospitals, we specialize in diagnosing and treating a wide range of heart conditions, including congenital heart defects in children and emergency cardiac events. If you have concerns about chest pain, abnormal heart rhythms, or a family history of heart disease, don’t wait. Let our expert team help you safeguard your heart health—today and for the future. Read Also : https://medwayhospitals.com/causes-of-liver-cancer-in-females/

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nursingwriter · 2 months ago

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Medical Specialties Field in medicine is vast and its professionals have a choice of specializing in myriad options available. Some of the important specialties in the field of medicine are as: Cardiology cardiologist is concerned with the heart and its action and diseases and specializes in related matters. Dermatology dermatologist studies in detail matters related to skin, its structure, function and diseases. Neurology Treatment of diseases and disorders of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral and sympathetic nervous system are the concerns of a neurologist who specializes in neurology. Gynecology Gynecology is the vast field related to birth and diseases & hygiene of women and so gynecologists keep their focus women specific problems. Ophthalmology An ophthalmologist specializes in ophthalmology in which the structure, functions and diseases of the eye are studied in detail. Pediatric Pediatric is the special branch of medicine that deals with the development, care and diseases of children. 7. Rheumatology Inflammation and pain in muscles and joints are the characteristics of rheumatic diseases and so field of rheumatology has been created for this purpose only. 8. Orthopedics Acute, chronic, traumatic and recurrent injuries and other disorders of the locomotor system, its muscular and bone parts are dealt by a special branch of surgery known as orthopedics. Orthopedics Introduction Disorders of the musculoskeletal system that includes bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves are covered in this special branch of surgery called orthopedics. An orthopedic specialist may diagnose and cure the problem, with or without surgery. However, surgery is where the orthopedics excels while the surgical procedure could be minor or major. Orthopedic surgery has gained popularity over the years because of the use of metallurgy and plastics. Earlier orthopedics used braces to straighten the bones but now with advancements in the technology have helped develop artificial limbs and joints and other materials for bones and connective tissues. Procedures like arthroscopy have also helped the field tremendously. Due to different development orthopedic surgeon now are able to treat problems related to joints and even disorders of the spine. "The use of arthroscopic tools has been particularly important for injured patients. Arthroscopy was pioneered by Dr. Watanabe of Japan to perform minimally invasive cartilage surgery and re-constructions of torn ligaments. Arthroscopy helped patients recover from the surgery in a matter of days, rather than the weeks to months required by conventional, 'open' surgery. Knee arthroscopy is one of the most common operations performed by orthopedic surgeons today and is often combined with meniscectomy or chondroplasty -- both of which are removal of a torn cartilage" (Wikipedia Encyclopedia). Conditions Arthritic & Rheumatic Disease: Orthopedic surgeons also deal with the complexities arising out of arthritic and rheumatic diseases. "Although the term literally means joint inflammation, arthritis really refers to a group of more than 100 rheumatic diseases and conditions that can cause pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints. Certain conditions may affect other parts of the body -- such as the muscles, bones, and some internal organs -- and can result in debilitating, and sometimes life-threatening, complications. If left undiagnosed and untreated, arthritis can cause irreversible damage to the joints. The two most common forms of the disease, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, have the greatest public health implications, according to the Arthritis Foundation" (Lewis 27). Arthritic and rheumatic diseases are initially treated with medicines to relieve pain but sometimes pain exceed too much and cause damage to the joints then orthopedic surgeons operate the joints involved. For many patients surgical procedures like knee replacement treatments have proven to be ideal options. The success rates of these orthopedic operations have proven successful. Children's Problem: Orthopedics is also involved in pediatrics. The problems occur because children are generally active in sports and different playful activities and due to their immature skeletal structures may succumb to fractures and injuries. The cases oif children are different from adults because they are still gowing through a growth phase so any surgical treatment may require extra care. Specialists make sure that the future growth of bones and joints does not get hindered reulting in problems and complications at a later stage in life. Trauma and Congenital Deformities: Emergency rooms and trauma centers are the places where injured come and these are the places where orthopedics serve. Prompt treatments by these surgeons have helped many around the world from disabilities by losing their body parts. Due to developments in the field people are now not only consult orthopedic surgeons for complexities created because of diseases or trauma but also for congenital deformities. Training Generally four years of medical school and one year of internship, residency or fellowship gives a person the title of MD but specialization requires extra training. After attaining the license as a medical doctor, residency is usually done in a specialty orthopedics which is generally of five years. During this five years first year is spent on general surgery while rest of the four years focus on orthopedics. In the United States, the American Board of Medical Specialties gives the certificate of the doctor in orthopedics after the residency. Further specializations are available in different areas as hand surgery, back surgery, sports medicine etc. For further specialization in subspecialties surgeons spend one more year in fellowship training. Allied Professionals Physical therapists or occupational therapists support orthopedic specialist in the care and treatment of people with orthopedic problems. In order to improve the range of motion and restore function to all affected body parts physical therapists help patients with the help of different exercises and physical activities. Joint replacement implants, metal rods, screws and plates, and other types of orthopedic implants are used in the surgical procedures for which orthopedics requires help from supply companies that manufacture orthopedic implants and prosthesis. Anesthesiologist and surgical nurses are of key importance to an orthopedic surgeon. Developments in the anesthesiology and the professionals have helped orthopedics achieve miracles today. Orthopedics Transcription Orthopedics transcription carries out the task of converting of dictated orthopedic reports into written formats. These orthopedic reports may cover complete history of the patient. It generally starts with history, physical examinations, and initial consultations and includes details of treatment procedures like operative reports, hospital progress notes, and discharge summaries of patients if a surgery is involved. Trained medical language specialists are generally required so that they can understand the specific language used in different surgical treatments available. Certain orthopedic transcription reports are usual for certain treatments and procedures but some reports may require special attention due to complexities. A typical orthopedic transcription report may include topics like preoperative diagnosis, postoperative diagnosis, operation, procedure anesthesia, therapeutic arthroscopy, blood urinary conditions etc. Conclusions Orthopedic is one specialty of medicine that has evolved over the years and now people put complete faith and trust in their orthopedic surgeons for different treatments. Orthopedics also spend a consider part of their lives in training, practice and later on research in order to gain mastery and improve skills. Procedure like arthroscopic surgery, bone grafting, hip and knee replacements etc. have proven successful and help improve the quality of life. Due to the advancements in the filed and the skillful use of these advancements many people are now living a normal life. References Lewis, Carol. "Arthritis." FDA Consumer. 34.3. (May 2000): 27. Orthopedic surgery." Wikipedia Encylopedia. 2007. 17 Jan 2007 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthopedics. Sherry, Eugene. "Electronic Textbook." World Ortho. 1997. 17 Jan 2007 http://www.worldortho.com/database/etext/index.html. Huckstep, RL. "A Simple Guide to Orthopedics." World Ortho. 17 Jan 2007 http://www.worldortho.com/database/sgo/index.html. Orthopedic Surgery." Encylopedia of Surgery. 17 Jan 2007 http://www.surgeryencyclopedia.com/La-Pa/Orthopedic-Surgery.html. Read the full article

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samfordhospital · 2 months ago

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The Alarming Trend: Why Are More Youngsters Dying of Heart Attacks?

Heart attacks used to be something we worried about in our 50s or later. Not anymore. A disturbing shift is catching the attention of doctors, researchers, and families alike — more people in their 20s and 30s are falling victim to sudden, and sometimes fatal, heart attacks. It’s not just a medical mystery; it’s a wake-up call. At Samford hospital, being one of the best hospitals in Ranchi our experts are scrambling to uncover the cause of this unsettling trend. So, what’s driving this crisis among the young — and how can we stop it?

The Role of Lifestyle Choices

One of the primary factors behind this surge is modern lifestyle choices. Sedentary behavior has become the norm, with many young adults spending hours sitting — whether for work, commuting, or leisure. This lack of physical activity contributes to obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes, all of which are risk factors for heart disease.

Additionally, our specialists at Samford hospital, which is considered as the best cardiology hospital in Ranchi, say that unhealthy eating habits have worsened the situation. Fast food, processed snacks, and sugar-laden beverages dominate many diets, leading to poor cardiovascular health. High cholesterol levels, insulin resistance, and inflammation are direct consequences of poor nutrition and are known triggers for heart disease.

Stress and Mental Health: A Silent Killer

Stress is another significant contributor to the rising heart attack rates among young people. The pressure to succeed professionally, maintain social connections, and manage financial burdens takes a toll on mental health. Chronic stress leads to elevated cortisol levels, which can increase blood pressure, inflammation, and the likelihood of plaque buildup in arteries.

Adding to this, poor mental health is contributing to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, and substance abuse, all of which exacerbate heart disease risk.

The Impact of Smoking and Vaping

While cigarette smoking has long been linked to heart disease, the rise of vaping has introduced a new concern. Many young individuals believe vaping is a safer alternative, but research suggests it can still lead to cardiovascular complications. E-cigarettes contain nicotine and other harmful chemicals that cause blood vessel constriction, increased heart rate, and heightened risk of arterial blockages.

The Hidden Dangers of Undiagnosed Conditions

Underlying health conditions also play a role. Many young adults may have undiagnosed high blood pressure, diabetes, or genetic predispositions to heart disease. Often, these conditions go unnoticed until a major cardiac event occurs. Regular medical check-ups at the best super-speciality hospitals in Rachi, like Samford Hospital, must be made mandatory. Awareness of family health history is also crucial in identifying and managing these risks early.

The Gym-Goer Paradox: Why Are Fit Individuals Also at Risk?

A perplexing phenomenon in this trend is the sudden deaths of seemingly healthy, regular gym-goers. Many individuals who maintain an active lifestyle, follow proper diets, and have no apparent health issues have collapsed from fatal cardiac events. This raises questions about overlooked factors that might be at play.

Undiagnosed Heart Conditions: Many young athletes and fitness enthusiasts may have underlying genetic or congenital heart conditions, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or arrhythmias, which can go unnoticed until a sudden cardiac event occurs.

Overtraining and Excessive Strain: Intense workouts, especially high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or extreme weightlifting, can sometimes place excessive strain on the heart. Overexertion without proper recovery can lead to issues like myocardial scarring or an increased risk of arrhythmias.

Use of Performance Enhancers: Some gym-goers resort to supplements, energy drinks, or even steroids to enhance their performance. These substances can elevate heart rate, blood pressure, and arterial stress, increasing the likelihood of a heart attack.

Electrolyte Imbalances and Dehydration: Excessive sweating and inadequate hydration can lead to electrolyte imbalances, which can trigger irregular heart rhythms and increase the risk of sudden cardiac arrest.

Silent Inflammation and Stress Responses: While exercise is beneficial for cardiovascular health, extreme training regimens can sometimes lead to chronic inflammation and elevated stress hormone levels, which can have adverse effects on heart function over time.

Understanding these risks highlights the importance of balanced training, regular medical check-ups, and proper recovery strategies to prevent unexpected heart complications even among the physically fit.

What Can Be Done?

Addressing this crisis requires a multi-faceted approach involving individuals, healthcare providers, best super-speciality hospitals in Ranchi, and policymakers. Here are some key steps:

Promoting Heart-Healthy Lifestyles: Young adults need to prioritize regular exercise, balanced diets, and adequate sleep. Simple changes like reducing processed foods, incorporating physical activity, and managing stress can significantly reduce heart attack risks.

Raising Awareness: Public health campaigns should focus on educating young people about early warning signs of heart disease, the importance of regular health check-ups, and the dangers of smoking and vaping.

Mental Health Support: Workplaces and educational institutions should encourage mental health programs and provide resources to help individuals cope with stress in healthier ways.

Routine Health Screenings: Regular medical check-ups, including blood pressure monitoring, cholesterol tests, and diabetes screenings, should become routine for young adults to catch potential risks early.

Post-COVID Heart Health Monitoring: Those who have had COVID-19 should remain vigilant about their heart health and undergo necessary screenings if they experience any unusual symptoms.

Conclusion

The rising incidence of heart attacks among young people is a wake-up call. It underscores the urgent need for lifestyle changes, better health awareness, and early medical interventions. While genetics play a role, the majority of risk factors — poor diet, lack of exercise, stress, and smoking — are preventable. As suggested by our cardiac specialist at Samford hospital, which is one of the best hospitals in Ranchi, taking proactive measures, individuals and society as a whole can curb this troubling trend and protect the heart health of future generations.

#best hospitals in Ranchi #Samford hospital

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samanvayhospital · 4 months ago

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Understanding Silent Heart Attacks: Symptoms and Risks

Silent heart attacks can be dangerous since they usually have no apparent signs. Many individuals do not know that they experienced one until a routine check-up reveals it. Unless treated, silent heart attacks may lead to further health complications in the future. This blog post will explain what silent heart attacks are, their symptoms, the risks, and how to reduce your chances of getting one.

What is a Silent Heart Attack?

With a silent heart attack, blood flow to the heart is blocked. The case is a little different as you do not feel pain and other symptoms typical of heart attacks. You have not seemed to have the normal symptoms while damage to the heart muscle has occurred. Silent heart attacks also are not easy to find for days, weeks, or months. Individuals who have silent attacks only know of them when tested or after some unrelated serious event has occurred.

Symptoms of Silent Heart Attacks

Silent heart attacks do not show any clear symptoms. However, some signs may still appear. The symptoms are minor and not seriously noted most of the time. Some common symptoms include:

Difficulty in breathing, even when engaging in minimal physical activities.

Fatigue that is not relieved by rest.

Dizziness or lightheadedness without any explanation.

Chest or upper body aching or pain, yet minor.

Sweating or cold sweats without exertion.

Most people identify these symptoms as related to something else. Then, if a person experiences a symptom, they should seek health care. Sometimes, even after feeling fine and being okay, regular checkups may diagnose something.

Why are Silent Heart Attacks Risky?

Silent heart attacks are dangerous since they usually go undiagnosed. The symptoms are not so clear, and hence, people tend to delay going for treatment. This leads to more damage to the heart. Eventually, the heart becomes weak and cannot function well.

Moreover, silent heart attacks also have a greater possibility of major heart attacks in the future. Silent heart attacks might lead to various serious complications if they remain untreated, such as heart failure, arrhythmias, and more. Therefore, prevention of further damage requires early detection and management.

Risk Factors for Silent Heart Attacks

Some of the silent heart attack risk factors include:

High blood pressure: It is a strain on the heart.

High cholesterol: It causes plaque build-up in the arteries.

Diabetes: A person exposed to diabetes is prone to heart disorders and weak blood flow.

Smoking: It damages the blood vessels and increases the chances of heart disorder.

Family history: A family history of heart disorders increases your chances.

The next aspect to be included is the age factor, bad diet, and a sedentary lifestyle as contributing factors. Therefore, learning about these risk factors will better enable you to make healthier lifestyle choices for a healthy heart.

How to Prevent Silent Heart Attacks?

Preventive measures against silent heart attacks start with heart health care. Some of the steps include the following to limit the risk:

Healthy diet: A balanced diet abundant with fruits, vegetables, and whole grains does the trick. Processed foods, salt, and sugary drinks should be considerably reduced.

Physical activity: Aerobic exercise of at least 30 minutes daily is recommended. Walking, cycling, or swimming will improve circulation and heart health.

Stop smoking: Smoking damages blood vessels. Quitting smoking benefits your heart and decreases risks.

Monitor your blood pressure and cholesterol: Consult your doctor sometimes to check the levels. Medication from your doctor, if necessary, may control it in a way.

Reduce stress: Chronic stress injures your heart. Learn stress-reducing techniques, including meditation, deep breathing, or yoga.

The most important thing is to have follow-up check-ups. Early detection of high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol can prevent heart disease.

When to Seek Medical Help?

If any of the risk factors mentioned above apply to you, you should discuss them with a doctor. A heart specialist can then assess your heart health and recommend an ECG or a stress test. These tests can detect any damage from silent heart attacks.If you are in Vadodara and have heart concerns, look for a heart specialist. A visit to a trusted heart hospital in Vadodara can ensure proper diagnosis and treatment.

Furthermore, the best cardiology doctor in Vadodara will be able to ensure you get the best care for your heart.

Conclusion

Silent heart attacks are so silent that people do not even notice them. Knowledge about symptoms and risks brings in early detection and prevention. Regular checkups and a healthy lifestyle, along with the proper handling of risk factors, can assure the maintenance of heart health. Therefore, if you experience such symptoms, do not forget to seek advice from a heart specialist hospital in vadodara or approach a heart hospital to ensure maximum health for your heart.

Keep being proactive about your heart health and save yourself from complications in the future. Take care of your heart and do not ignore any signs that may appear.

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adoptdontshop-dogsbuddies · 5 months ago

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11 Everyday Habits That Could Hurt Your Dog

As dog owners, we all strive to provide the best care for our furry friends. However, some everyday habits, no matter how well-intentioned, could potentially harm our dogs. Understanding these habits can help ensure our pets lead happy and healthy lives. Let's explore eleven common practices that might be hurting your dog without you even realizing it.

1. Feeding Table Scraps

While sharing your meal with your dog might seem harmless, many human foods are not safe for dogs. Foods like chocolate, onions, garlic, and certain spices can be toxic. Even fatty foods can lead to pancreatitis. It's best to stick to dog-specific treats and food.

2. Skipping Regular Vet Visits

Regular veterinary check-ups are crucial for detecting and preventing health issues. Skipping these visits can lead to undiagnosed illnesses or conditions, which could worsen over time. Ensure your dog gets an annual check-up and stays up-to-date on vaccinations.

3. Not Providing Enough Exercise

Lack of exercise can lead to obesity, behavioral issues, and health problems like joint pain and heart disease. Different breeds have different exercise needs, so make sure your dog gets enough physical activity to stay healthy and happy.

4. Neglecting Dental Care

Oral hygiene is just as important for dogs as it is for humans. Neglecting your dog's teeth can lead to gum disease, tooth loss, and other serious health problems. Regular brushing and providing dental chews can help maintain their dental health.

5. Using Harsh Training Methods

Using negative reinforcement or punishment during training can cause anxiety and fear in dogs. Positive reinforcement, such as treats and praise, is a more effective and humane approach. Building trust through positive interactions strengthens your bond with your dog.

6. Leaving Your Dog Alone for Long Periods

Dogs are social animals and need companionship. Leaving them alone for extended periods can lead to separation anxiety, destructive behavior, and depression. If you have a busy schedule, consider doggy daycare or hiring a dog walker.

7. Ignoring Early Signs of Illness

Dogs can't tell us when they're feeling unwell, so it's important to pay attention to changes in their behavior, appetite, and energy levels. Ignoring early signs of illness can lead to more serious health issues. Always consult your vet if something seems off.

8. Overfeeding Treats

While treats are great for training and rewarding good behavior, overfeeding can lead to obesity and related health problems. Make sure treats make up no more than 10% of your dog's daily caloric intake.

9. Not Socializing Your Dog

Socialization is key to a well-behaved and happy dog. Introducing your dog to new people, animals, and environments helps prevent fear and aggression. Make socialization a regular part of your dog's routine.

10. Using Unsafe Toys and Chews

Not all toys and chews are safe for dogs. Some can break into small pieces, posing a choking hazard, or cause digestive blockages. Always choose durable, non-toxic toys appropriate for your dog's size and chewing habits.

11. Forgetting Parasite Prevention

Parasites like fleas, ticks, and worms can cause serious health issues in dogs. Regular parasite prevention, including flea and tick treatments and deworming, is essential to keep your dog healthy and comfortable.

By being aware of these everyday habits, you can make small changes that have a big impact on your dog's well-being. Providing a safe, loving, and healthy environment for your furry friend ensures they lead a long, happy life by your side.

Always consult your veterinarian for advice specific to your dog's needs and health. Being a responsible pet owner means continually learning and adapting to provide the best care possible.

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lucygraysboy · 10 months ago

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“thank you, doll. both you and my ma are to blame for that.” for who he is today. “yeah, ‘cause we take playwriting classes together and there’s only eighteen people in our group so it’s impossible to avoid blair the grinch. but i guess that’s life, right? you sometimes have to spend time with people you don’t particularly like.” comes an honest answer, followed by a sweet smile and a shrug. it’s no big deal. “alright, glad we’ve got that settled early on and that we agree on three,” he laughs, melting into a puddle the longer he dwells on the possibility of a future like that — just them and their babies. “do we want them to be close in age?” they’ve had this conversation before, countless times while playing house, but he can’t help himself. it’s his favorite thing in the world. daydreaming with her. “hey, no… froot loops are my friends. they don’t rot my insides. if they’re so bad, why don’t they hurt my belly, huh?” huffing as he turns into a froot loops’ defense attorney, billy picks up the familiar red box again and turns it over to scan the list of ingredients. “mmm, maltodextrin! don’t know what it is, but it sounds absolutely delicious,” he muses, sarcasm heavy in his voice, pale blue eyes widening the longer they linger on the small text on the side. “red 40, yellow 5 and 6, blue 1. it’s a wonder i don’t glow in the dark.” which could be a possible side effect of having this radioactive mix for breakfast almost every single day. “but look, here it says, vitamins and minerals.” he points his finger to the bolded letters, brows furrowing in confusion. how can it have both?

“and didn’t god also create froot loops?” he inquires seriously, struggling to keep his composure when lucy gray goes on a rant about god’s creations and fake food, it takes him back in time to when he was just a little boy and she’d lecture him like this at least once a day. his heart soaring sky-high, ocean hues brimming with nothing but sheer admiration, he even finds himself nodding absently in agreement. she’s so cute when she’s all worked up like this. “well, yeah, but also back in the day, a lot of diseases went undiagnosed due to the lack of resources. not enough doctors with proper training. if you were infertile, it was god’s will. if you had cancer, it probably went undiagnosed until it was too late. and i don’t think they even knew what adhd or autism were. they labeled those people as crazy, put them in institutions and went on with their lives.” he wouldn’t be himself if he simply agreed with her. he has to try and rile her up, coax another rant out of her.

“i don’t think i’ve ever had organic froot loops.” thinking out loud, he finds himself nodding along to her little lecture. after all, there are things that even he can’t argue with. he inspects the box that she’s holding, doesn’t spot any strange ingredients and figures he’ll have to remember to only buy this kind in the future. “cocaine and bad food equal each other? does that mean we’re skippin’ mcdonald’s tomorrow and findin’ ourselves a local dealer instead?” he teases with a laugh, loving how passionate she is about eating healthy, impressed by how much she knows on the subject. “the blue one,” he repeats, but this time doesn’t argue, couldn’t when she’s smiling at him so sweetly. he simply puts the jar of jif’s peanut butter back on the shelf and reaches for the one called richard’s. 100% peanuts. sounds promising, he thinks, handing it to lucy gray before pushing the cart farther down the aisle. candy. he’ll make sure to find organic gummy bears so she doesn’t take them away. “i mean, since you want to have my babies, guess i need to make sure they don’t grow up fatherless and crippled,” he deadpans, struggling to remain serious for a second longer. “you’re the cutest, pajarita. you know that, right? an actual angel.” even when she tells him to save the pie for tomorrow. “hey, what’s that? did i spot a paparazzo?” laughing when she pulls out her phone and takes a picture of him, he makes sure to beam at the camera. it’s followed by a series of goofy faces, his tongue out, eyes crossed, beanie pulled halfway down his face, to give her some extra footage. “aww, look at yourself! my new lock screen.” and he does just that, sets the photo of lucy gray with the biggest smile on her lips, hands forming a heart, as his brand new lock screen, then shows it to her, seeking approval.

“well, i am proud you are that guy.” she replies honestly, not afraid to admit that part. “you have to spend more time with them?” lucy gray wonders, after catching how he said that part. “that works too.” the brunette amusingly smiles, she wouldn’t mind that either. “i don’t care if they’re delicious, they’re rotting your insides. especially if your eatin’ them everyday.” she shook her head, she was very big on eating from the earth and growing her own things. when she couldn’t eat her own garden in the winter or at inconvenient times like now, she always tried to eat whatever is the healthiest at the store.

“god didn’t give us wholesome foods to fill our bodies with fake food. yes it does affect our bodies. what we eat is important. does a flower blossom and grow if you feed it bad stuff? it don’t, right? it doesn’t flourish at all. our bodies work the same way. food dyes and the same ingredients they put in bleach does affect our health and future children— why do you think things like cancer, infertility, adhd and autism were lower back in the old days? oh, cause there wasn’t all this processed food dye crap.” her brow perks, giving him a knowingly look.

“besides that…organic food is tastier anyway.” so she doesn’t see what the big deal is. she takes this box of cereal he chooses and stands up in the cart to throw it back on the shelf, getting down the organic version of froot loops. switching the back over. “colored pretty with natural things AND made with real sugar. and with a total of eight ingredients opposed to that box…” the kelloggs she points at, “that has like FIFTY ingredients just for cereal. mmhm.” smiling triumphantly, sitting back down and placing the organic cereal in their cart. “oh, cocaine and bad food probably equal each other.” cocaine probably is safer at this point. grinning at the kiss beneath her eye, her heart picking up every time he comes close to her like that, hands that placed on his cheeks slip away when he pulls back to grab peanut butter.

“no…not that one darlin’. go with the natural one, that’s called richards. in the blue jar.” she sweetly smiles, at least he’s trying. she appreciates that. “oh, but when you listen to me about eatin’ healthy— you’ll have the strength of hulk to build one hundred bird feeders. you can get pie, but save it for tomorrow.” so his system doesn’t overload on so much sugar in one sitting. when he takes a picture of her, lucy gray smiles for it and holds a heart shaped sign up. once it snaps, she gets the idea to get the other point of view for her instagram and camera roll so she takes out her phone and turns it on her camera app to get a picture of him rolling the cart like a mom.

#billysgirllol #IKR?? theyre the cutest :')) im never getting over how precious they are #they argue like an old married couple over a box of cereal lol

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bmcmedical · 2 years ago

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Is Sleep Apnea Reversible With Weight Loss (How To Do That)

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing and shallow breaths during sleep. This results in poor sleep quality and daytime fatigue. Fortunately, there are effective treatments available, and for some people, significant weight loss can reverse their sleep apnea entirely. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll look at the connection between weight loss and sleep apnea reversal.

To start, let’s review what exactly sleep apnea is, why it matters, and how weight factors into the condition.

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What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea occurs when a person's airway becomes blocked during sleep, causing breathing to repeatedly stop and start. There are two main types of sleep apnea:

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) - The more common form, caused by airway blockage when the soft tissue at the back of the throat collapses during sleep.

Central sleep apnea - Occurs when the brain fails to properly signal the muscles that control breathing.

People with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly throughout the night, often for a minute or longer and sometimes hundreds of times per night. This disrupts the sleep cycle, depriving the body of oxygen and resulting in:

Excessive daytime sleepiness

Morning headaches

Difficulty concentrating

Irritability

Depression

Increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, obesity, and diabetes

Estimates suggest over 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea. Unfortunately, as many as 80% of cases go undiagnosed.

The importance of addressing sleep apnea comes down to improving symptoms of daytime fatigue and irritability while reducing long-term health consequences and risks.

There are several effective medical treatment options for sleep apnea which will be covered later in this article. However, an intriguing area of research suggests that weight loss alone could reverse sleep apnea in some obese patients.

How Might Weight Loss Reverse Sleep Apnea?

Multiple studies have shown a correlation between obesity and sleep apnea. It's estimated that over half of those with moderate to severe sleep apnea are obese.

Carrying excess weight, especially around the neck and throat region, can narrow the airway and contribute to airway collapse during sleep. Even a 10% weight loss has been shown to widen the airway and reduce obstructions that block breathing at night.

Losing weight when you have sleep apnea is beneficial for several reasons:

Reduces fat deposits around the neck that constrict the airway.

Decreases inflammation caused by obesity that narrows airways.

Improves sleep quality, giving you more energy to exercise and shed pounds.

Boosts oxygen levels, making weight loss and daily activities easier.

Resolves other obesity-related conditions like high blood pressure.

Let's look closely at the types of sleep apnea and their main causes to understand the role obesity plays.

Understanding Sleep Apnea: Types and Causes

The two main types of sleep apnea work slightly differently but both share a strong link to being overweight.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Causes

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles supporting the soft tissues in the throat relax during sleep, causing the airway to narrow or collapse. Common causes include:

Excess weight - Fat deposits around the neck that obstruct breathing. A large belly can also impede lung expansion.

Large tonsils/adenoids - Enlarged tissues block airflow.

Structural abnormalities - Facial bone structure, enlarged tongue, or uvula that crowds the airway.

Smoking and alcohol - Relaxes throat muscles, exacerbating obstructions.

Central Sleep Apnea Causes

Central sleep apnea is less common and involves the brain's impaired ability to regulate breathing. Contributing factors include:

Heart disorders - Heart failure can cause fluid buildup in the lungs making breathing difficult.

Stroke - Stroke damages areas of the brain affecting breathing signals.

High altitude - Low oxygen levels impair breathing signals from the brain.

Obesity - While less direct, excess weight stresses the cardiovascular system.

As you can see, poor breathing mechanisms are primarily to blame for both types of sleep apnea. However, excess weight clearly exacerbates airway obstructions and can indirectly tax the cardiovascular system.

This explains why weight loss is commonly recommended as an early intervention for sleep apnea, often before trying more invasive treatments. Even losing just 10-15 pounds can open up the airway and provide a major benefit.

Sleep Apnea Symptoms

Being aware of the signs and symptoms is key to getting diagnosed and treated for sleep apnea sooner. Symptoms may include:

Loud, irregular snoring - A major warning sign caused by air turbulence in the restricted airway.

Gasping or choking during sleep - The body reacts to apneic events and hypoxia.

Restless sleep and frequent waking - The body rouses itself during breathing disturbances.

Morning headaches - Caused by oxygen deprivation and sleep fragmentation.

Daytime grogginess - Lack of restorative deeper sleep stages leads to fatigue.

Irritability and mood swings - Due to poor sleep quality and drowsiness.

Difficulty concentrating - Sleep deprivation impairs focus, memory, and thinking.

Frequent urination at night - The kidneys release hormones to regulate oxygen and CO2 levels.

If you experience clusters of these symptoms, especially loud snoring, it's advisable to discuss sleep apnea screening with your doctor.

Now that we've reviewed the basics of sleep apnea and its link to being overweight, let's analyze the research on weight loss providing a reversal of this condition for some patients.

The Relationship Between Weight Loss and Sleep Apnea Reversal

Numerous studies have explored and demonstrated the effectiveness of weight loss for reducing the severity of sleep apnea, and in some cases reversing it entirely through significant weight loss.

Here is an overview of key research on this strategy:

A 2017 analysis of 12 studies found that weight loss led to a decrease in AHI (apnea-hypopnea index) score and oxygen desaturation. These are two important metrics used to assess sleep apnea severity.

A 2011 clinical trial took severely obese patients (BMI >40) with severe OSA who lost 20% of their body weight through diet and exercise. Their AHI scores dropped from a median of 16.2 events/hour at baseline to a median of just 2.2 events/hour after sustained weight loss.

A 2009 study followed bariatric surgery patients who lost an average of 70 pounds. They reduced their AHI by 31 events per hour on average and 62% no longer met the criteria for OSA diagnosis after weight loss.

A 2013 study found that obese patients with OSA who lost just 5-10% of body weight reduced their AHI score by 20 events per hour and significantly improved oxygen blood saturation during sleep.

These and other studies confirm that losing excess body weight, especially around the neck, throat, and abdomen areas, can reduce the frequency of apneic events during sleep and improve respiratory function.

For those overweight individuals where obesity is a main driver of their sleep apnea, substantial weight loss may provide a long-term cure and eliminate the need for ongoing CPAP or other treatments.

How Does Excess Weight Contribute to Sleep Apnea?

To understand how losing pounds can reverse sleep apnea symptoms, let's look at how carrying excess weight negatively impacts breathing during sleep.

Here are three of the main ways obesity contributes to airway collapse and apnea events:

Fat deposits around the neck constrict the airway - Fat accumulation around the neck forms bulky tissues that protrude into the throat and physically narrow breathing passages, especially when throat muscles relax during sleep. Even slim people can have excess throat fat that encroaches on the airway.

Obesity promotes inflammation - Adipose fat cells secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines that damage tissues, including those around the breathing passages. This swelling narrows the airways.

Weight stresses respiratory function - A large belly makes it harder for the diaphragm and lungs to fully expand and contract during breathing. Carrying extra pounds also increases oxygen needs.

As you can see, addressing excess weight directly reduces anatomical and inflammatory factors that promote airway collapse during sleep. This is why substantial weight loss can reverse sleep apnea in people with obesity-related OSA.

How Much Weight Loss is Needed to Treat Sleep Apnea?

Studies show a direct correlation between the amount of weight loss and a reduction in sleep apnea severity. In general, more weight loss equals greater improvements but even losing 10-15 pounds can have a noticeable impact.

Here are some general weight loss guidelines based on research:

Losing 10% body weight - Improves AHI score by 50% on average based on multiple studies.

15% weight loss - Reduces the number of apneic events by about 40%.

20% weight loss - Shown to nearly resolve OSA entirely in obese patients as in the 2011 study above.

Based on these benchmarks, an effective Weight Loss Strategies for Sleep Apnea Patients

Losing weight is challenging for anyone, and people with sleep apnea face the added hurdle of extreme fatigue and low energy. However, several strategies can help you successfully shed excess pounds to treat sleep apnea:

Focus on dietary changes - Reduce calories by filling up on fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats. Avoid added sugars and trans fats.

Increase daily activity - Start slow and work up to 30-60 minutes of moderate exercise like walking 4-5 days a week.

Incorporate strength training - Building muscle boosts metabolism to burn more calories. Shoot for 2-3 strength sessions per week.

Consider weight loss medication - Medications like Phentermine or Qsymia combined with lifestyle changes can aid weight loss. Consult your doctor.

Try intermittent fasting - Restricting eating to set hours like 8 am-6 pm helps reduce calorie intake.

Get support - Having an accountability partner, sleep specialist or registered dietitian helps you stay motivated.

Focus on sleep hygiene - Sticking to a schedule, limiting screens before bed, and creating a restful sleep environment will give you the energy to keep losing weight.

Join a program - Structured programs like Weight Watchers provide guidance, resources, and community support.

Limit alcohol - Alcohol is high in empty calories and disrupts sleep, sabotaging weight loss efforts.

Stay patient and consistent - Losing 1-2 pounds per week in a healthy, sustainable way leads to better long-term results.

Making dietary changes should be the foundation of any weight loss approach for sleep apnea. Combining this with some added activity, following an intermittent fasting protocol, or joining a structured program can help the pounds come off safely and effectively.

Other Treatment Options for Sleep Apnea

If you have mild to moderate OSA, focusing on weight loss first makes sense. However, for more severe cases, other treatment options should be considered concurrently and not delayed. Common medical treatments include:

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)

CPAP is the most effective and common treatment for moderate and severe sleep apnea. It uses a bedside machine and face mask to deliver constant airflow that keeps airways open during sleep. It can immediately resolve apnea events and daytime fatigue. Weight loss can sometimes allow patients to lower CPAP settings or stop use altogether if they lose enough weight.

Oral Appliances

Custom-made oral devices are an option for mild OSA cases or when CPAP machine is not tolerated. These appliances hold the lower jaw and tongue slightly forward to open up the airway. They are less consistently effective than CPAP but work for some patients. Weight loss and oral appliances can be used together.

Surgery

For those with an anatomical obstruction like enlarged tonsils, deviated septum, or small lower jaw, surgery may be recommended to remove or correct these issues enlarging the air passage. Weight loss after surgery helps prevent the recurrence of obstructions.

Other conservative treatments like positional therapy to avoid sleeping on your back or certain medications have also been used as adjunct treatments to help manage mild OSA.

The bottom line is that CPAP and oral appliances provide the fastest relief of apnea symptoms. However, for obese patients, combining these with ongoing weight management provides long-term resolution of the root issue.

Putting It All Together: Takeaways for Reversing Sleep Apnea Through Weight Loss

Let's review the key points:

Sleep apnea is correlated strongly with obesity - Excess weight promotes airway collapse and breathing disturbances during sleep. Even modest weight loss can open up airways.

Research confirms weight loss reduces sleep apnea severity - Notably, those who lost 20% or more of body weight saw the greatest improvements in sleep study results.

Dietary changes combined with added activity/exercise - This is the healthiest approach for sustainable weight loss over months and years.

Conventional medical treatments - CPAP, oral appliances, and surgery help manage sleep apnea faster as you work on losing weight.

Gradual, moderate weight loss is best - Aim to lose 10% of body weight as an initial goal which can significantly decrease the severity of sleep apnea. Even small amounts of weight loss improve symptoms.

Consistency and patience are key - Steady, modest weight loss each week leads to optimal long-term results.

Seek support and sleep hygiene - Getting help from professionals and prioritizing healthy sleep makes weight loss more feasible.

While not a cure-all, intentional weight management paired with standard medical therapies provides the best odds of reversing sleep apnea or putting it into remission for obese patients. As always, it’s critical to work with your physicians throughout the process.

Conclusion

Sleep apnea is a highly treatable condition with various effective options available based on severity. For overweight and obese individuals, targeted weight loss should be part of the treatment plan whenever possible.

Research clearly demonstrates that even losing a modest amount of excess weight can reduce apneic events, improve oxygenation at night, enhance sleep quality, and ultimately reverse sleep apnea in many cases.

While it requires commitment and perseverance, incorporating healthy dietary strategies, activity, sleep hygiene, and ongoing medical care can set you on the path to potentially resolving your sleep apnea through weight loss and a healthier lifestyle.

#b2bmarketing #sleep apnea #cpap machine #b2b ecommerce platform #lose weight #weight loss #snoring treatment #Youtube

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lupinepublishers · 4 years ago

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Lupine publishers|COVID-19-Stress Increases Risk of Addiction Development and Relapse

COVID-19-Stress Increases Risk of Addiction Development and Relapse

Abstract COVID-19 nowadays has a devastating effect on almost every aspect of human life. Alongside the COVID-19 pandemia, other maladaptive behaviors develop and affect human life, such as substance abuse. Stress will cause adverse effects both behaviorally and immunologically. These adverse effects will make individuals susceptible to addiction development. Social isolation makes the present situation worse. Keywords: COVID-19; Addiction; Relapse; Stress and Immune system

Introduction Abusing drugs is sometimes is considered as the palliative strategy for the reduction of stress. Stress is a well-known risk factor for the development of addiction. Several animal and human studies have been well documented that stress increases maladaptive behavior [1]. Several studies strongly suggest cognitive function will be greatly impressed by stress [2]. Cognitive dysfunction may predispose individuals for example to develop conspiracy beliefs that will greatly increase the pre-existing stress [3]. In this sense, different factors affect individual beliefs and this makes the scenario more complicated. Social isolation would be a common policy to withdraw the individual from a complicated society [4]. This behavior will be more developed when considering that although COVID-19 infection in some patients is mild however in other people may express as a dangerous disease with symptoms resembling Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome [SARS] and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [MERS]. In severe cases, this disease is more than a common cold and manifest as heart, and respiratory failure, acute respiratory syndrome, or even death [5]. Besides cognitive reduction in a stress state, the immune system is also greatly influenced by stress. Recent studies suggest immune system dysfunction will impose on people the development of addiction and also exacerbation of pre-existing addiction [6]. Certain immune cells in the brain such as astrocytes and microglia cells will be activated in the brain and result in the alternation of the brain environment. The alternation of the brain chemical environment especially in the sensitive brain region such as the prefrontal cortex will disturb decision-making that is very necessary for controlling drug addiction [7]. It is well known that orbit frontal cortex controls and potentiates some behaviors that individuals to better combat against unwanted situations. Also, another important fact is the dysregulation of the immune system by other infection will affect the normal brain function that would, in turn, causes emergence of maladaptive behavior such as depression by individuals that will make people susceptible to addiction [8].On the other hand, the treatment of COVID-19 mandates some necessary rules. Based on the treatment guidelines, COVID-19 patients need to be treated in isolated hospitals. Perhaps due to uneducated knowledge about this disease, some people will not accept social isolation and will tend to remain undiagnosed. Undiagnosed patients will be greatly suffering from stressful conditions and will be uncontrollably wanted to suppress the stress may be by abusing drugs to get more resilience [9]. Coping strategies will play an important role in more tolerating the stressful condition and will not exacerbate preexisting addiction [10]. Maybe some addicts can not reveal the addiction and in these individuals, the addiction treatment along with COVID-19 infection will be more complicated. So it would be reasonable to think to have more insight about the disease and avoiding social isolation, which will be of great importance for addiction control in this COVID-19 pandemic.

Conclusion Based on above, it is reasonable to avoid social isolation. Also, suppression of inflammation and strengthening the immune system in different ways such as vitamins, anti-inflammation agents, and other immune potentiating agents will help people to control the side-effects of stress. Conflict of Interest The authors declare no potential issue the may be considered a conflict of interest.

For more information about Scholarly Journal of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences archive page click on below link

https://lupinepublishers.com/psychology-behavioral-science-journal/archive.php

For more information about lupine publishers click on below link

https://lupinepublishers.com/index.php

#lupine publishers group #Scholarly Journal of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences #treatment guidelines

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psychedelictrashpanda · 4 years ago

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It’s been awhile, weird old blog with unspecified direction. How about more of me me me?

I finally did DMT again, and WOW. It’s been at least a full decade since the last time. I still didn’t quite “break through” enough to “meet the entities” again but mein GOTT was it healing. Speaking of God, we’ll get to that soon... But before smoking the dimitri, I was beginning to sustain a mania in slow motion with dissociatives again. Not to any extreme like I did with PCP long ago (btw, glancing at my Eyehategod poster, I realize that horror/metal fest when I was blasted on PCP the entire time was all the way back in 2013! It seems to much more recent, but the way these drugs interact with memory is very peculiar. or maybe it was the traumatizing effect of it and other things at the time that makes me block out and thus distort the time signature of the memory... I digress). And I don’t have the destructive tendencies I did in the past anyway, so I’ve never been apt to push it as far as I was when I was shooting up 3-meo-pcp and blacking out for days at a time. I mean, I did push it I suppose. For the main George Floyd protests I was loading up on a combination of things. Can’t even remember if that was my sober window between methadone detox and the suboxone I’m on now. But, I was combining bits of weird PCP offshoots with opiate offshoots (4-map iirc) and/or kratom with maybe a drop of benzo... straddling the line between going overboard and a “party dose” for lack of a better descriptor; between recreation and desperation. In retrospect, I was summoning the courage to act like my old self used to in these sorts of situations. That is, giving it my all, being novel about it, idk, summoning the spirit of Dr Gonzo I suppose (who, after reading his two books, was more slimey of a jerk than he’s presented in Hunter’s stories. well, I need to finish the Cockroach People book, he started getting into his attraction to underage girls as a young 20-something man himself and ugh, gross). My true wild & adventurous spirit has been hampered, weighed down with anxiety and depression and all manner of undiagnosed mental illness. Who knows if it’s more the drugs or the environmental factors that trigger drug use, but the spirit is tortured like Griffith in the torture dungeon, the heart is wrapped in a black grime guarded by the Beast of Darkness, the will is subordinated to authoritarian capitalist hegemony...

Where was I? Oh so I started suboxone for the second time in my life innnn... February I want to say. Last time I did it I was able to detox myself simply buying subs off the street, but I did it too quick. That’s been one problem, every time I detox rapidly it’s too harsh a push back into reality and I succumb to relapse less then a year into sobriety. The reason reality is harsh is the same reason my stance on anti depressants has been further cemented. I’ve articulated it better lately... Basically I believe it’s a weird solution to depression to force your chemical makeup into the right position to function properly in the same environment that caused it in the first place. “It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.” One of my conversations with a young college friend really illuminated why many don’t even consider this position. She was insistent there’s no cause of depression, you’re just born with a fucked up mind. Now sure, hereditary disposition is a thing, as a drug addicted child of an addict I should know. But for example she pointed to another friend with hard depression and was like “his life seems fine what explanation could there be?” But I put forth maybe his childhood of having to closet his homosexuality in a hard conservative family that had the possibility of disowning him if they knew about it contributed to that “natural chemical imbalance,” as it’s implied. YES, some people NEED it. But for the most part, it really seems to me to be what I’m gonna call the thyroid phenomenon. That is to say, a medical explanation for a small fraction of severely affected patients is used as a broad brush by the public to diagnose themselves. Forewarning: I am not fat shaming here, forgive the example. Dietary practices are a personal thing so my feelings are stronger as well. Anyway, it seems to me as soon as this thyroid malfunction became a hard biological explanation for obesity beyond the psychological, suddenly everyone was a candidate. It’s fine to think “maybe I have it” but when a growing and significant portion of the obese crowd started screaming they all had thyroid problems and can’t help themselves, when a teensy percentage actually do... well it sort of touches on the “addiction as a disease” narrative that’s never sat well with me. Addicts use the disease reasoning to skirt personal responsibility. I'm not denying it is a disease, but I believe calling it as such in the public discourse isn’t terribly constructive. (Okay, you’re seeing an opinion change in real time here... I changed my mind.) I was vehemently against the narrative, but I need to readjust to simply make people WARY of the narrative. As an addict, I could easily see myself using the excuse of it being a disease as a fatalist function; that is to say giving in, relinquishing personal control over my fate. Hereditary disposition, Rat Park, addiction as a disease... there’s also a severe lack of control it all conjures. Paradoxically, drugs can used to meticulously control your state of mind. I can’t control my desire to control myself?

God where was I going with this... Oh! God! May as well mention I’ve been warming up more and more to the spirit of monotheism beyond it’s structural and institutional dimensions. I could get deep into my recent past of not believing in the idea of a spirit, soul, etc. How the pendulum of my ideology swings between cold rationalism and loose spirituality, especially as I go through phases of rebellion against perceived oppressors. Growing up in a red state with a lot of Christian ideals, society around me was always telling me everything I seemed to like was the work of Satan. Naturally, I started reading into Satanism. I never self identified with occult-esque belief structures, except maybe chaos magick because it’s whole idea is to merge whatever practices work into something of your own, but I did staunchly identify as anti christian. Not a hard thing to do when you’re already a metal head, which definitely fueled the trajectory. Not to mention metal helped goad me into DXM use (thanks Velvet Cacoon ya bunch of goons), the first real psychedelic journeys I had. Because I never gave real consideration to myself having depression, I moulded my personal ideology around the symptoms it causes. Which is why for awhile after coming to terms with depression as a problem I probably have, I was only able to identify it in retrospect. I never felt it in real time because it was so old-coat to me, I adapted to it like an addict adapts to their drug of choice and ti becomes their world. So I would decide to skip social events, let my room get messy, watch only old comfort shows, etc... but only AFTER emerging from that state was I able to immediately look back and think “wait... I was doing all those things because I was depressed.” In the moment, it’s rationalized as “I don’t want to see these people for these reasons” or “I want to watch spongebob because it’s fun and an old favorite.” Rationalization, the concept of the west, serves as a detriment to the individual in a number of manners. This is one. I was a MASTER at rationalizing away my drug use. Statistically, more people die from this this and that, why be worried that I’m on this drug instead? Statistics quelled the perceived danger. It was also a formative tool in my skills of justification. I always felt I had to justify every action I took, but that’s getting back into family matters...

But why not bring that up? it’s a sore spot. I feel like the tables have flipped from my dad always saying “you all just think I’m an asshole!” to me thinking I’m the asshole. It’s too much to get into but I’ll touch on a couple important things... I’ve learned a major source of my anxiety is not being able to draw the boundaries between business and family and myself, because they’re not properly defined. When I’m told by my bossfather after explaining the distress I feel simply thinking about the family company, and he goes typically all-or-nothing when I touch on crucial issue and says “if you want out just tell me you want out”, I can’t separate between whether he’s saying it as a father or as a boss in the moment. He would say, “of course I just mean the company”, but where does company end and family begin? It’s also an intense pressure, maybe shame, simply typing this and thinking in the back of my head about someone who might read and think “what a spoiled brat, has a family company and blah blah.” But who put all that in my head? He says he’s changed from the days of putting immense pressure on me with the sort of sentiments that cause that shit in my head like always telling me how great I have it and all the opportunities, shit, I’m feeling it right now, the frustration and I can’t even identify these emotions. At least I am aware of them, that’s a huge milestone for me. But the only thing that’s changed is he sees me as a the broken mother fucker I am and treats me as such. Sometimes it’s nice, and sincere sympathy, other times his frustration with having to check his language all the time is palpable so it does no good to do so. The immense pressure, the intense urgency, the confusing complexity, all those market pressures haven’t changed. This is evident when we were driving somewhere and I suggested not worrying about the fastest route on the map because one minute isn’t a big deal and he insisted that one minute IS a big deal. Sweating one fucking minute indicates a mountain of reputational pressure. In a way, that one minute is putting business ahead of family, but I feel harsh saying it because as he’s pounded into my head the business is what allows the family to survive. Not to mention why put the crack head of the family above that one minute (not literal crack, but it was obvious as soon as he saw I was “fucking around” on ketamine he decided to not take me as seriously) Still, I’ve made my decision that survival reasoning is fucking bullshit already. He’s the one that wants a mansion and wants enough mailbox money for us not to have to worry ever again, so he’s the one deliberately creating the pressure. Maybe he hasn’t considered how hardened he’s become to those feelings after a lifetime in the street and in prison. I really feel for mom. She’s okay now, but her spirit... It’s part of the reason I can’t relax myself at home. He has always painted her as dead weight in the past, never getting a job, sitting watching TV, but he’s unable to connect the dots psychologically because we’re all layman that part of the reason she’s like that is because her actions have been demonized already so who the fuck she got to prove herself to? Same reason I fell into relapse sometimes. Damned if I do, damned if I don’t sort of deal. The damned if I don’t being the reputation of yourself you have to live with after getting sober. He says “don’t worry about it” but I couldn’t accept that because the reason he doesn’t trust me (never mind respect, that’s even further away) is informed by my past. I can’t complain that he never allowed me to contribute to a crucial decision like choosing the building for the dispensary, talking about whether we want a certain investor or not, etc, is because that’s not something to entrust to a druggie. I’ve always felt he let me play make-believe CEO and gave me an allowance for it, while telling me otherwise. He’d say “this is all for you” but he’s making the decisions that truly move mountains and then putting it on us. Which is why I have a hard time saying “I want out”, he can be a baby about things just as much as I am, and I fear he’d let his entrepreneurial drive be affected by my departure. Sigh, this is already getting to be a headache to think about... He’s tired. I’m tired.

There was also something I wanted to say regarding the role social constructs play in all this, but it’s getting long enough already. Suffice to say I’ve been getting into psychoanalysis lately and it’s scratching the right itch for knowledge and wisdom. I can see why Zizek is enamored with Lacan, and why it’s so important to mix it with Marxism. And not to toot my own horn, but what the hell... There are a lot of lofty ideas I’ve been coming across that are already parallel to ideas I’ve developed through my own life experience, and it makes me think I’m meant for this sort of stuff. If I’m lucky in my pursuits (not to put too much weight on the luck aspect), I’ll be a journalist of some sort. Articles, video essays, whatever. Need to rein in my indecisiveness and dispel FOMO tho.

Back to DMT. But not really. Earlier in the summer I got some straight Ketamine and it was also immensely healing. But it has a great abuse potential, especially for me, so it’s harder to “hang up the phone” after I get the message as TmK would say. It made me feel again, and start to understand what love is. Partly because it conjured all these lost feels I had for Kat. She’s great people though, I think I’d just stress her out too much. Idk. Whatever. My love life is a total mess. Anyway after I ran out I wanted more of course and stumbled on some DCK, a somewhat rare ketamine offshoot. Coupled with my increasing propensity to trip acid more than once a week, they started building on each other. I was happier and happier at home, but at work/fam was getting more and more distressed about my place in that whole show. In his show. Simply thinking about the company, especially after having read that article about procrastination and how much it resonated with me, caused me unnecessary levels of distress. Normally as quickly as I can feel that, my mind will tuck it away and bottle it up somewhere so I can go about my day. The problem with drugs is they cause you to act instead. So he was doing the usual “it’s so easy! you’ll have it made!” and I interrupted with this torrent of shit I’ve been holding back forever, and he would not yield on his “you didn’t let me finish...” Incidentally, has he really never picked up on every time I interrupt I already know what he’s talking about? I said as much, something like “it’s not the labor” and he keeps saying “no you’re not listening” as though a frivolous detail changed the main thrust of the fact he’s always trying to make it easier for me. I wish he could simply let me go off and have the strength to take it a little less seriously, but considering how often I take things personally I shouldn’t be surprised he does to. On top of this, his brother/my uncle was in the hospital for some serious shit. But another reason I picked this time is because I only feel safe even confronting him when non-involved parties are around. He doesn’t care that I don’t feel safe confronting him though, he says “don’t worry about me” so maybe I shouldn’t. I feel like such an asshole about it, but that feeling is conjured by the ideological structure he helped to create. Where does my shame end with him being the causation and start with my personal ideology? How much can a person create their own ideology, truly? It’s about as small a window as free will, I imagine.

SO after feeling awful for going off after having all this stuff build up in my mind, I felt awful and went home to drug up some more. Again, not recklessly to the extent I used to be. But I did a fat line of DCK while on a couple hits of LSD and a smidgen of Zolpidem (a wholly underrated substance). Everything was getting to me all at once. A perfect storm of my problems. All the while another doubt caused by ideology from without (society and family both) was making me think it’s all the drugs. But the developments I’ve made are huge strides, I’ve matured so much from it all. And I realized every time I do this, those developments are wiped clean because the validity of them is rendered null due to both the general social stigma of drugs and my history with them. And maybe that’s a major trigger fo rmy relapse in the past. I’m not suppose to be on drugs, but I dabble, have incredible experiences and make strides of maturity, but because it’s drugs the exact opposite effect is percieved from the outside; the experiences are simple chemical euphoria, the strides of maturity are false delusions. It triggers a sharp roll back down hill. I wish someone respected me for who I am, I feel so alone sometimes.

Drugs as an umbrella term, drugs as a vice for the worst dregs of society. There are so many problems in our world regarding drugs. I could write a book. But how much I’ve written here touches on another pressure I feel. IS it simply him again? When he asks “you’re gonna be gone in a few days right?” is that what’s making me feel like this is a waste of time? I’ve got to get out of here. It’s so hard though. I simply have to be strong. The strength is in me to take the massive cut to pay and benefits when I move. Maybe I’ll get a portion of my strugglers card back and shit heads like Blasey Shomas can’t simply say “why don’t you take care of yourself instead of daddy taking are of you?” anymore. Part of me wants to say he says that because he’s driven by his own emotions and not smart enough to directly debate my claims, his insults should hold no weight. Another part of me is truly trying to be... I don’t know a proper term for it without sounding egotistical, but “enlightened”? This is why monotheism is sounding more interesting to me. Jesus’ position about those dregs of society. I’ve always tried to be a trusting person, understanding of people’s struggles, the ideologies they function under that make them lash out or otherwise act the way they do, etc. I even changed my wording there from “I’ve always been” to “I’ve always tried to be.” Not so much for my usual reasons of dodging a committing claim (which I’m working on -- instead of “I think ___” just say what I believe to give the claim more sense of authority so as to be taken more seriously), but trying to be more humble. And not to think lowly and use myself as a punching bag like I used to... ugh, whatever. This post is messy enough.

So that night after having done DCK every day for a couple weeks and tripping every other night on acid, I was at my wits end on what to do, where to go next, everything. The outside world is crumbling, the inside world is lost. I finally whipped out that DMT I’ve had for a long while, something inside told me it was time. Oh duh it was the wits end part, I had no other chemical recourse. I sat in my bed with a foil sculpture loosely resembling a pipe, repeated to myself “it’s okay, just let it happen to you, it will be okay.” A part of me even had a small fear based on those rare reports of those interdimensional beings mentally raping some people, but I don’t know what to make of those experiences, seem like flukes. I took my three deep hits and set the pipe aside as soon as the rusb began and laid back. It wasn’t enough to break through, so I need to get a proper pipe, but it was enough for a “being” (which I am convinced is a part of your mind, not from another dimension or otherwise external source) to appear before me. At least I think. Whatever it was slowly came closer, reassuring me that I’d be okay. The most profound part was an overwhelming sense of all these puzzle pieces suddenly falling perfectly into place where they should be. As though the answers to all my struggles obvious and within me the whole time. For example as soon as I came back I adjusted my posture, as that’s something that I’ve been wanting to work on, and because I was reminded of that just now I adjusted my posture in my seat while writing this. I felt an overwhelming sense of forgiveness toward myself, I think. Amazingly, the inebriation I felt before the trip was largely dissolved, as though the stuff I was on somehow all lost it’s potency. The distresses melted away. At least, the power behind them was nulled. I’m still facing the same problems, but there’s a zen(?) quality to my thinking when they come up in my mind. No longer will a pin drop trigger everything I’m feeling all at once. When I came-to completely, I started BAWLING. In being overwhelmingly consoled by the trip, I became inconsolable. Tears of joy. Tears of healing. And that was the main takeaway. The loudest words of the experience were “Now the healing can truly begin.” At the same time, now the real work also begins.

Balance is key

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THE MANY HEALTH BENEFITS OF METH

In low, pharmaceutical-grade doses, methamphetamine may actually repair and protect the brain in certain circumstances. But stigma against the drug could be harming patients and holding back research.

TROY FARAHMAY 15, 2019

D-methamphetamine is what generally appears on the street—although it's often cut with other chemicals—whereas l-meth provides a less addictive, shorter-lived high that is less desirable among drug users.

(Photo: Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)

Ask your doctor about methamphetamine. It's not a phrase you'll ever hear on TV or the radio, but here's a secret: Meth is an incredible medicine. Even the Drug Enforcement Administration admits it, and doctors are known to prescribe it for narcolepsy, obesity, and ADHD. Historically, meth has been used to reverse barbiturate overdoses and even raise blood pressure during surgery. Some preliminary research suggests that meth can be neuroprotective against stroke and traumatic brain injury, even stimulating the growth of brain cells.

Yet we're constantly warned never to try meth—"not even once," goes the refrain—or it will instantly cause addiction and ruin your life. Before fentanyl was the demon drug du jour, meth was seen as the worst, most destructive, most evil chemical you could find on the streets. Even of late, if you ask the New York Times or NBC, you'll learn that meth, "the forgotten killer," is back with a "vengeance." Other outlets, from Rolling Stone to CNN to The Daily Beast, have raised the alarm about meth use in the context of the opioid overdose crisis.

Stimulant-related deaths are indeed on the rise in North America—in some regions, meth is even more prevalent than heroin. Surveying drug overdoses in America from 1979 through 2016, researchers wrote in Science in September of 2018 that "Methamphetamine deaths have increased most dramatically in the western and southwestern United States."

Meth poisonings accounted for an estimated 14,845 hospitalizations in 2015, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and another 15,808 emergency room visits. In 2016, around 7,500 people died from overdosing on stimulants, including meth. If you ask most people, including policymakers, you'll hear that meth is a scourge that can do no good.

But if you've ever used something like Vicks VapoInhaler, you've experienced the healing benefits of meth firsthand. That's because the over-the-counter nasal decongestant contains levomethamphetamine, the levorotary form—or "mirror image"—of the same stuff from Breaking Bad. Procter & Gamble tries to obscure this fact by spelling the active ingredient "levmetamfetamine." Selegiline, a drug for treating Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, also metabolizes into levomethamphetamine.

There is a significant difference between these two opposing molecules. D-methamphetamine is what generally appears on the street—although it's often cut with other chemicals—whereas l-meth provides a less addictive, shorter-lived high that is less desirable among drug users. But people can and do use it recreationally. Abuse is rare, however, in part because the high is shitty, but also because d-meth is so widely available. It's easier to buy a more powerful form of the drug on the street than it is to try to extract it from over-the-counter medications.

Other Americans are prescribed actual, pure meth by their doctors. It happens less frequently these days, but in ADHD, obesity, or narcolepsy cases where nothing else has worked, a drug called Desoxyn (methamphetamine hydrochloride) can sometimes help. It can even be prescribed to children as young as seven.

It's important to make these distinctions. Meth didn't make a "comeback"; it never left. It can't return with a "vengeance" and it can't be "evil" because we're talking about a chemical compound here. It has no personality, no feelings, no intentions.

Thus it does a disservice to science and to medicine, as well as to the people who use these drugs responsibly, to treat a molecule with dualistic properties purely as a poison. And as recent research has shown, we're still uncovering some of the potential therapeutic benefits of methamphetamine. Confronting the stigma associated with meth and highlighting its benefits can better inform drug policy and addiction treatment.

(Photo: HO/Royal Thai Navy/AFP/Getty Images)

'IT'S JUST A STIMULANT, LIKE ANY OTHER STIMULANT'

For Jordan*, the meth he's prescribed works better against his ADHD with fewer side effects than the Adderall he'd been on for 20 years. About five years ago, Jordan asked his doctor if he could try methamphetamine. The doc said sure.

"The first time I brought it to the pharmacy, the pharmacist actually said to me, 'Oh, your doctor wrote this prescription wrong, this is the stuff that they make in meth labs,'" Jordan tells me by phone. "I told him to type 'Desoxyn' into the computer, and he did. He kind of backtracked, [but] he obviously had no idea."

Jordan, a middle-aged man from North Carolina who works in clinical research, now switches every three months between Adderall and Desoxyn to prevent building a tolerance to either stimulant.

Methamphetamine and amphetamine (one of the active ingredients in Adderall) are almost identical chemicals. The main difference between the two is the addition of a second methyl group to methamphetamine's chemical structure. This addition makes meth more lipid-soluble, allowing for easier access across the blood-brain barrier. Meth is therefore not only more potent, but also longer-lasting.

"The medications have definitely been important for me, to be productive, to be successful, not just at work but also in my personal life," Jordan says. "I've been on the medications for years, but I can take Adderall or methamphetamine and take a nap afterwards. I don't have any noticeable side effects."

Jordan also doesn't feel "high" from the doses he takes—approximately 10 to 15 milligrams of meth per day. Doses at this level are well tolerated by most people. It's very difficult to estimate the typical dosages of illicit meth taken on the street, but they are generally many times higher and taken every couple of hours. Further, the route of administration—typically, users smoke or inject illicit meth—allows for more of the drug to enter the bloodstream than taking a prescription pill.

At high doses, meth gives a rush of euphoria, boosting attention span, zapping fatigue, and decreasing appetite. Intense sexual arousal, talkativeness, and rapid thought patterns are also common. Body temperature and heart rate shoot up, which can cause irregular heartbeat, increasing the risk of seizures. If taken repeatedly over long periods, street meth can be highly neurotoxic, inducing paranoia and psychosis.

But illicit meth is also often used to self-medicate, according to Mark Willenbring, an addiction psychiatrist from St. Paul, Minnesota, with over 30 years of practice treating substance-use disorders. In Willenbring's experience, most of his patients who use illegal meth are treating undiagnosed ADHD.

"There's a high degree of comorbidity between substance-use disorders and ADD," Willenbring says. "They used meth for years in a controlled way, they never over-used it, they just used enough to get an effect, and then they stopped. One misconception is that it's always very addictive."

With most people who are addicted to meth, Willenbring says, you can't tell it just by looking at them. Carl Hart, a neuroscientist in Columbia University's Department of Psychology, agrees that the image of a snarling meth addict with bad teeth is a false stereotype. The dental damage so prevalent in anti-drug propaganda, he says, is more likely due to poor nutrition and lack of sleep—not to the drug. "There is no empirical evidence to support the claim that methamphetamine causes physical deformities," Hart wrote in a 2014 co-authored report.

"It's just a stimulant, like any other stimulant," Willenbring says. "It's a marketing issue."

Part of the reason Jordan asked to try Desoxyn in the first place was to see if he'd develop any of the "stereotypical meth addict problems," as he puts it. He hasn't.

"Those of us that know the reality have a responsibility to say, 'Hey, not that shooting up meth isn't bad, but the chemical itself isn't bad,'" Jordan says. "It's just misuse of the chemical that's bad."

For Joan*, a 66-year-old grandmother living off the grid in northern Georgia, Desoxyn makes her feel normal. "Not high, not hyped up, just normal," she tells me. She's been taking prescription meth since 2006, but first tried many other ADHD meds, such as Ritalin and Concerta, with poor results. But Desoxyn has not only helped her socialize, manage bills, and finish her master's degree in social work; it's also helped with Joan's depression and self-esteem.

"The only downside is the cost," she says. "It's one of the oldest drugs on the market, but even generic, it is outrageously expensive."

Still, meth isn't for everyone, of course. Kevin*, a 31-year-old artist from the Midwest, was first prescribed Desoxyn at age 15 to treat extreme fatigue and trouble focusing. But misdiagnosed mental-health issues—his doctors thought he had bipolar disorder, when in fact he had post-traumatic stress from childhood abuse—led to worsening symptoms.

"Being able to just take a bunch of pills that made the exhaustion go away for a while felt like a blessing, but it was just a Band-Aid on the problem," Kevin says. "I became completely dependent upon Desoxyn to function, and any lapse in taking my dose would result in a terrible energy crash."

"In retrospect, my neurologist at the time would have done well to consider the effects of intense stimulants on someone already prone to mania, insomnia, and hallucinations," he says. "I think Desoxyn has its merits as part of a treatment plan for attentive disorders, but that's the thing—it needs to be part of a larger understanding of how and why it might have a negative impact upon the patient's overall health, and should remain closely monitored throughout."

"Stigma is the lens [through] which we see all drug issues. It keeps us from making the best decisions. It is fear-based, not rational, not creative. Because of stigma, we have not fully addressed the opioid crisis."

(Photo: Guillermo Arias/AFP/Getty Images)

HOW METH CAN TREAT BRAIN INJURY—AND MUCH MORE

Street doses of meth can be extremely damaging to your health. The purity of such drugs is often unknown, and repeated, high doses of meth have been proven to be neurotoxic. But in low, pharmaceutical-grade doses, meth may actually repair and protect the brain in certain circumstances.

This was first discovered in 2008, when researchers at Queen's Medical Center Neuroscience Institute in Honolulu, Hawaii, analyzed five years of data on traumatic head injuries. They unexpectedly found that patients who tested positive for methamphetamine were significantly less likely to die from the injuries. The authors suggested that meth could have neuroprotective benefits.

To learn more, in 2011, a different team from the University of Montana applied meth to slices of rat brain that had been damaged to resemble the brains of stroke victims. Then they induced strokes in living rats, using a method called embolic MCAO, and injected them with methamphetamine. At low doses, the meth gave better behavioral outcomes and even reduced brain-cell death. At high doses, the meth made outcomes worse.

Because meth stimulates the flow of important neurotransmitters—dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine—the Montana researchers theorized that methamphetamine may provide neuroprotection through multiple pathways. David Poulsen, one of the researchers involved, says this was a "serendipitous discovery."

"So we decided, well, if it worked in stroke, it's probably going to work really well in traumatic brain injury," says Poulsen, now a neurosurgeon at the University of Buffalo who specializes in treatments for protecting the brain after severe damage.

Traumatic brain injury, or TBI, occurs after a violent smash to the skull. Its consequences include concussions on the mild end and coma or death on the severe end. TBI kills around 50,000 Americans annually, according to the CDC, while about 2.8 million of us visit the emergency room for TBI-related injuries every year. There is currently no Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment for TBI.

So, Paulson and his team reasoned, if meth can already be prescribed for children, why not to adults with TBI?

To test the proposition, Poulsen and colleagues gave TBI to rats. Giving an animal brain trauma isn't easy, but for more than two decades, there's been a trick called the rat lateral fluid percussion injury model: Simply cut a hole in the skull of a rat and apply water pressure to the brain.

About half the rodents—19 male Wistar rats—were given this treatment, and eight of these were then given meth. The rats given meth performed better at a task called the Morris water maze, a widely used experiment that involves plopping a rat into a pool of water with a hidden platform. By tracking how long it takes the rodent to find the platform, scientists can measure many different aspects of cognitive function.

"By the third day of training, there were no statistically significant differences between the uninjured control rats and the injured rats that had been treated with methamphetamine," Poulsen and his colleagues wrote.

But the team also found that low doses of meth were protecting immature neurons, while also promoting the birth of new brain cells that are important for learning and memory. The same was also true for rats that were given meth, but not injured.

"We see not just little, but very significant improvements in cognition and behavior," Poulsen says. "Their memories improved, functional behavior is improved.... It's not a trivial difference."

"In light of the fact that low-dose methamphetamine is FDA-approved for use in juveniles and adults, we see no valid reason why it cannot be utilized in human clinical trials for stroke and TBI," Poulsen and colleagues concluded in 2016.

But those clinical trials, considered the gold standard for testing medication, have yet to materialize, even while a 2018 retrospective study found similar results to the Hawaiian neuroscience report: Out of 304 patients with TBI, those who also tested positive for meth had better recovery results than those who did not. "The potential neuroprotective role of meth and other similar substances cannot be ignored," the authors wrote in Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery last July.

There are limited conclusions that we can draw about these rodent and retrospective studies, and it's probably unlikely that nurses will soon start giving meth to people who have cracked their skulls. Still, a wide variety of stimulant therapies for TBI is being explored, with positive results. These include trials with modafinil, a narcolepsy drug; amantadine, a Parkinson's drug; and dextroamphetamine, one of the components of Adderall. But there's still no indication of a single clinical trial for methamphetamine for TBI registered with the National Institutes of Health.

Methylphenidate, also known as Ritalin, seems to be the stimulant most popular in these trials. For example, in 2004, researchers at Drucker Brain Injury Center at MossRehab Hospital in Pennsylvania gave methylphenidate, better known as Ritalin, to 34 patients with moderate to severe TBI. They reported significant improvements in information processing and attention.

Twelve years later, in Gothenburg, Sweden, another 30 patients suffering from prolonged fatigue following TBI were given methylphenidate and observed for six months. They also showed improved cognitive function and reduced fatigue. But a 2016 meta-analysis of 10 controlled trials found the main benefit of giving methylphenidate for TBI was increased attention, "whereas no notable benefit was observed in the facilitation of memory or processing speed," the authors wrote. They encouraged more research into appropriate dosages and length of prescription.

Birgitta Johansson, a neuroscientist at the University of Gothenburg and lead author of the Swedish study, suggests caution whenever treating someone with a brain injury. "With methylphenidate, it is important to be aware about possible side effects, [such] as increased blood pressure and heart rate and also risk of anxiety," she says. "It is always very important to prescribe medication with care and follow the patient carefully."

But the reason meth isn't studied more rigorously—for TBI, for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, for stroke—could also come down to money. Methamphetamine is off-patent, meaning there may be less financial incentive for pharmaceutical companies to explore the drug's potential uses. Consider Vyvanse, a drug first marketed in 2007, with a new formulation introduced in 2017, that racked up $2.1 billion in sales in 2017. Desoxyn, which is sold by three companies, only earned about $9.3 million in 2009.

While Methamphetamine may not be widely recognized as medicine, it clearly has potential to heal as well as harm. Recognizing the duality of meth is arguably all the more essential in the face of a rising stimulant overdose crisis.

"Stigma regarding any substance use or substance use disorder is counterproductive," says Dan Ciccarone, professor of family medicine at the University of California–San Francisco. He says the overdose crisis is shifting from opioids to stimulants and that we are not prepared for the next wave. "Stigma is the lens [through] which we see all drug issues. It keeps us from making the best decisions. It is fear-based, not rational, not creative. Because of stigma, we have not fully addressed the opioid crisis."

That stigma remains a major hurdle, and until doctors and public-health officials counteract this kind of messaging, it seems unlikely that a multinational pharmaceutical company would risk marketing a substance only believed to be toxic and deadly.

"Everything will kill you, if you take enough of it," Poulsen says. "Some things don't require a lot to do that. Meth is one of those things. But just like any drug, the difference between a poison and a cure is the dose."

*These names have been changed.

TAGSALZHEIMER'SADDERALLTRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIESFEATURES & INVESTIGATIONSMETHAMPHETAMINEMETHTOPIC: HEALTH CARE

BY TROY FARAH

Troy Farah is an independent journalist and photographer in California. His reporting on science, health, and narcotics has appeared in Wired, Ars Technica, Smithsonian, Discover, Vice, and elsewhere. He co-hosts the drug policy podcast Narcotica.

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wutbju · 4 years ago

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So there’s no copy of Berger’s dissertation easily available.

But . . . he does love to talk about it is faux-expertise, so guess what? We can pretty much see what he said.

Local “biblical” “counselor,” Rick Thomas featured Berger’s new expertise on his site. Here are 20 “facts” to know about ADHD from BJU-trained Doctorate in Pastoral Theology (not chemistry, not pharmacology, not psychology) (bolded words are mine and are either ironic or abusive):

The first official label in 1902 was “a morbid defect in moral control” (MDMC), since childlike behavior was socially viewed as a moral issue and not as a medical problem. Words like “bad” are not used to describe a child’s behavior now. Instead, terms like “maladaptive” are the more popular description of a child’s poor and impairing behavior.

ADHD is best described as a subjective social construct that describes 18 undesirable-impairing-normal-childish behaviors and attempts to frame them as a disorder subjectively.

Every behavior listed in the DSM-5 begins with the word “often” to ensure that even the “symptoms” (the 18 behaviors) of ADHD are subjective and based on a person’s opinion. The acceptance of ADHD by many as objective, though it is entirely subjective, works by psychiatrists propagation of a logical fallacy. The American Psychiatric Association has convinced millions that they are experts on alleged abnormalities (such as ADHD) without ever establishing a standard of normalcy.

Not only is the DSM-5 construct subjective, but there is also no valid or reliable means to measure or diagnose a subjective social construct such as ADHD is. Only a person’s personal judgment based upon their observation or another’s testimony is required. When someone says that they “have ADHD,” they are merely stating that they behave in such a way that causes them or their authorities distress. ADHD equals behavior.

Since ADHD is subjective and entirely fluid, it is regularly impossible to win or lose an argument about ADHD. Making matters worse, people label many children under the subcategory of ADHD entitled as “Not Otherwise Specified (NOS),” which determines that children do not even need to meet the subjective listed criteria in the DSM-5 for a diagnosis of ADHD. Children need to be misbehaving in a way that a clinician feels it impairs or distresses the child or his family. This subjectivity regularly leads to clinicians overlooking authentic objective problems that the child may have.

Not all of the 18 behaviors listed as supposed symptoms of ADHD are moral in nature. Some actions, such as “often forgets things of importance,” are normal childlike (and adult-like) amoral behaviors. Others, such as “often gets out of his seat when expected to remain seated” is direct disobedience and not hyperactivity as it is listed in the DSM-5. Because ADHD is subjective, some kids who are diagnosed as having the construct are not sleeping well at night, whereas others are rebellious at heart. It is not fair, therefore, to make blanket statements about the spiritual condition of all children who have been stigmatized with the ADHD label or suggest that ADHD is just a parenting problem. In some cases, that is true, but in other cases—because ADHD is so subjective—a child could have a physical sickness that has been undiagnosed (e.g., ASD).

ADHD does not describe an inability to pay attention; the construct describes a problem of misplaced or immature interest/values. The child labeled can play video games for hours at a time without losing focus. The problem is not an inability to pay attention, but rather, it is a problem of misplaced attention. Attention is naturally a reflection of a person’s values/desires.

The construct of ADHD assumes that healthy children have self-control rather than needing to be taught self-control and trained by the Holy Spirit. The default position of all children is to be like a city without walls that is open to destruction. Only by learning self-control can a child be successful.

Hyperactivity is another name for high energy, which exposes another subjective aspect of the syndrome: “normal” energy levels do not exist from which to suggest a standard let alone to discern alleged deviances. When a person becomes a parent, individuals view his high energy as an asset not as a determinant like when he was a child. Who doesn’t want higher levels of energy? The most successful people in professional sports, in academia, and commerce are often the most energetic. High energy is only viewed as a disorder or impairment when it disrupts an academic setting, causes distress, or hinders success. But such is the result of a lack of self-control and not a problem of high energy.

Unlike the construct of ADHD, when a child has a genuine physical impairment that hinders giving attention (e.g., ASD), he does not selectively offer attention (e.g., the child labeled as ADHD can memorize lines from his favorite movies but not math formulas). In ASD, attentional problems can be observed in all aspects of life and not just those that are not of interest to the child.

ADHD depends on the perspective that “normal children” inherently offer their attention to their authority in a productive way and that children naturally know how and to what to give their attention. These vital lessons are not inherent to the child, and a cursory overview of the book of Proverbs reveals that teaching a child how to pay attention correctly and to what to give his attention are priority number one for the parent/sage.

Research/statistics regularly reveal that many children who are labeled and stigmatized as having ADHD struggle with dyslexia, reading comprehension, are enduring familial problems at home (e.g., divorce, neglect, and abuse), and are sometimes autistic (they have a misdiagnosis of ADHD). They act out further because they are misunderstood, hurting, stigmatized with a psychiatric label that categorizes them as abnormal, and have lost motivation thinking that no hope exists for them.

If ADHD were a valid physical disease with biological markers and an objective etiology, the child could grow out of it according to the DSM-5. The construct of ADHD is listed as a “neurodevelopmental disorder” in the DSM-5, which means that children are merely developing slower than their peers. This type of child was once called a “late-bloomer,” but now late-bloomers are looked at as disordered or degenerated children. If children are late bloomers, they can and will mature with loving direction and the learning of self-control. Through repetition and maturity in desires and pursuits, a child’s brain will conform to the patterns of thinking and behaving he or an authority establishes in his life. When you view a child as normal, this process is called education. When a child is considered disordered, abnormal, or neurologically damaged, this same process is called neuroplasticity. The answer is the same.

Performance enhancing drugs (psychostimulants; e.g., Ritalin and Adderall) that are framed as medicines do not fix an alleged malfunction or balance out neurochemicals. Instead, these powerfully addictive drugs attack the nervous system to produce their effects. Behavioral changes due to the impact of powerful psychostimulants do not prove that ADHD is a valid construct; The results reveal that the drug action of psychostimulants is to stimulate and thus to enhance performance. This reality is why psychostimulants are forbidden in most competitive sports.

Whether labeled or not, taking psychostimulants will enhance a person’s academic and athletic performance, which is why they are one of the most widely abused prescription drugs in America and regularly referred to as “Kiddie Cocaine.”

Psychostimulants regularly cause insomnia, which is known to atrophy the prefrontal lobes and cause attentional problems. Sadly, the child’s alleged problem that these drugs are marketed to correct is to heal the prefrontal lobes where ADHD is supposed to one day be found. The evidence shows, however, that a large portion of children started on psychostimulants end up addicted to the prescribed drugs’ illicit counterparts (e.g., cocaine and meth) later in life. There is also mounting evidence that keeping children on an artificial high produced by psychostimulants causes them to be diagnosed as depressed, psychotic, and manic later in life. These drugs are not healing agents but neurodegenerative drugs. One must ask why a neurodegenerative drug that blocks the healthy function of the nervous system is being given to children who allegedly have a neurodevelopmental problem.

No medical degree, knowledge of biology, or classes in neuroscience are required to diagnose ADHD, as it is a matter of recognizing behavior according to the APA’s standard rather than discovering a disease. This fact exists because there is no physical cause to the construct of ADHD; “No biological marker is diagnostic for ADHD” (DSM-5, 61). Parents, school counselors, behavioral therapists, and teachers—those without medical degrees—typically diagnose ADHD within social contexts, exposing ADHD to be a social construct and not a valid biological disorder. Teachers usually diagnose ADHD according to the child’s behavior (often on a behavioral scale and according to their perspective) and regularly initiate encouraging parents to have their children checked out.

More than not, children labeled as ADHD will become defiant toward their authority and labeled as having ODD. This kind of person is precisely the pattern of the biblical fool that Proverbs warns. When the simpleton becomes a natural fool, he is headed toward becoming a scorner. Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) does not describe a disease, but the natural digression of a child being told he only has to listen to himself and is not responsible for his actions.

Many of the behaviors listed as alleged symptoms in the secular construct of ADHD are in Proverbs as being ordinary foolishness. Scripture understands that poor behavior is the expected activity of the natural fool: “Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly” (Proverbs 26:11). According to Scripture, fools should be expected to repeat their bad behavior.

To deny the secular construct of ADHD as legitimate is not to deny that a child has behavioral problems. Instead, it is to reject the secular attempt to reframe human nature apart from God’s wisdom, and in the process, it is to establish God’s Word as the proper authority and provide hope for these precious children and their families. Proverbs 20:11 exposes that all approaches to a child’s behavior require a presuppositional moral system: “Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.” People have the freedom to choose which authority to place their faith in discerning children’s behavior. Nonetheless, everyone is judging or diagnosing children by a moral system that evaluates their behavior. ADHD represents the most popular secular moral system currently available.

The summary of Berger’s dissertation, then, is this: I, an untrained person, don’t understand the chemistry or neurology or psychology behind the ADHD diagnosis; therefore, it doesn’t exist. But Proverbs does.

And like a good BJU-trained “pastor,” Berger ends with a sales pitch:

For more information on the construct of ADHD and to see supporting evidence, please purchase my book, The Truth about ADHD, and you may chat with me here.

That’s BJU in a nutshell: Cast stones at something you don’t understand, tout your faux-expertise, and sell your wares.

Is there any difference among BJU, Scientology, or the latest MLM?

#Bob Jones University #Daniel R. Berger II #Biblical Counseling #History of ADHD #TellTheTruth #Moral Problem #BJUisNOTSafe

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