Health

You Give Me (Spring) Fever

Published

3 weeks ago

April 27, 2024

There’s something in the air, and it’s not just pollen. Spring break, spring vacation, spring weddings — spring fever. We want to get out, wear less, mingle lots. Kids feel it, too. Talk to any teacher, you’ll likely hear there’s craziness in the classrooms.

That energy surge, in whatever form it takes, is a function of longer days and lots more sunlight, says Michael Smolensky, PhD, professor at the University of Texas-Houston School of Public Health. He is co-author of the book The Body Clock Guide to Better Health.

In fact, many facets of everyday life are governed by seasonal patterns as well as circadian rhythms — our internal biological clock, Smolensky tells WebMD.

“These are the rhythms of life, and we take them for granted,” he says. “People accept the fact that our bodies are organized in space — that our toes are at the end of our feet, and the hairs on our head stand up. But we give little thought to the fact that our bodies are structured in time.”

When seasons change, the retina — the inner layer of the eye that connects to the brain through the optic nerve — naturally reacts to the first subtle signs in the amount of daylight, says Sanford Auerbach, MD, director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Boston University. This reaction triggers hormonal changes, including an adjustment in melatonin, a hormone that affects sleep cycles and mood changes.

During the long darkness of winter months, the body naturally produces more melatonin. For people prone to seasonal affective disorder, all that melatonin triggers a winter depression. In spring, when melatonin production eases up, so does depression.

“There’s more daylight, so people have more energy, sleep a little less,” Auerbach says. “People who have manic-depressive problems [bipolar disorder] may be more manic in springtime.”

Body image springs into our consciousness this time of year. We’re shaking that craving for carbohydrates that makes us put on weight, says Smolensky. “It’s likely a carryover from our ancestors who had a hibernation-type biology. In the fall, they began putting on weight to get through the lean times of winter.”

We may have more energy in springtime, but it won’t necessarily play itself out in the bedroom, Smolensky tells WebMD. “When we look at couples who have kept diaries of sexual encounters and single males who have kept their own data, sexual activity is really rather low in the spring. The peak is in the fall.”

The reason? Testosterone levels peak in summer and autumn — not in springtime, he says. The evidence: More women conceive in late summer and early autumn than in spring, he says. The pattern also shows up in the CDC’s data on two common sexually transmitted diseases, syphilis and gonorrhea. The peak is in late fall and early winter.

Our long-ago ancestors chose to procreate in the fall, he says. “Given the fact that mammals have a longer gestation period, it’s best to conceive in the fall and deliver in the spring, when the supply of nourishing food supplies would be supportive of offspring. It may be a naturally selective thing that became ingrained in the genetics of human beings.”

However, our more recent ancestors created Valentine’s Day “as a pagan ritual whose sole purpose is to celebrate sexual activity,” Smolensky tells WebMD. “Was this society’s primitive way a means to stimulate sexual interest in a time when interest really wasn’t there?”

Spring breaks and vacations may have evolved similarly, he says. “Given enough alcohol and nudity, sex is a normal response that can occur at any time of the year.”

Just take note: There are more unplanned babies conceived during spring months, Smolensky tells WebMD. He’s analyzed studies in which IUDs and birth control pills were used and found that unintended conceptions occurred twice during the year — in May and in September/October — “even though the women claimed they were consistently adherent to birth control. There likely are seasonal biological factors at work, but what they are, we don’t know.”

Another word of caution: “Sperm counts are higher in spring,” he says. “In sexually active males, sperm count is affected by two factors — environmental temperature and sexual activity. When they are sexually active, sperm count goes down somewhat. When they’re not sexually active, they’re not using it, so it goes up.”

Source link

Health

Behind the Spike in Colorectal Cancer Among Young Americans

Published

5 hours ago

May 15, 2024

Damian McNamara, MA

May 15, 2024 – Despite encouraging drops in overall colorectal cancer rates in the past 2 decades, one group stands out as an exception: Americans younger than 45.

Colorectal cancer cases increased a whopping 333% among 15- to 19-year-olds and 185% among 20- to 24-year-olds from 1999 to 2020, according to new research being presented at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2024, a major medical conference in Washington, DC.

As high as those percentages appear, the number of people affected at these ages remains small compared to rates in Americans 45 and older, said Loren Laine, MD, professor of medicine (digestive diseases) at Yale School of Medicine, who co-moderated a news briefing previewing the research.

“The trends are alarming [but] the actual numbers of colorectal cancer cases among children and teens are not high enough to suggest widespread screening,” agreed lead investigator Islam Mohamed, MD, an internal medicine resident at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

For example, 1 out of every 333,000 15-to-19-year-olds developed colorectal cancer in 1999. Colorectal cancer became more common by 2020, when 1 out of every 77,000 teens developed it.

At the same time, the number of cases in young adults 20 to 24 increased from less than 1 to 2 per 100,000 in 2020.

Even if the risk is relatively low in terms of absolute numbers, experts are keeping an eye on why the rates are increasing. It’s also about raising awareness. If someone younger than 45 experiences colorectal cancer symptoms like blood in their stool, stomach pain, changes in bowel habits, or others, they should seek medical attention, Laine said.

“If you have symptoms like rectal bleeding, you shouldn’t take it lightly. It’s still pretty unlikely that they’re going to have colon cancer … but obviously you should still not totally dismiss it,” Laine said.

“Colorectal cancer is no longer considered just a disease of the elderly population,” Mohamed said during the briefing. “It’s important that the public is aware of signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer.”

Mohamed and colleagues studied colorectal cancer cases using numbers from the CDC Wonder Database, a central database of public health information. They calculated increases by comparing rates in 1999 to 2020.

Colorectal cancer is a major cause of cancer-related death in the United States. It currently ranks third in terms of new cases and cancer-related deaths once some skin cancers are excluded, American Cancer Society data indicates.

Some Risk Factors Can Be Changed

The colorectal cancer rates in younger people “have been consistently rising. It might be related to the environmental factors, lifestyle factors, and genetic factors as well,” Mohamed said. “It also might mean that we are doing better. Maybe we’re screening patients more, and maybe we’re doing a greater job of picking patients who are at high risk of colorectal cancer in the younger population.”

There are ways to help lower your risk of colon cancer, including weight loss.

“I think adopting a healthy lifestyle would be a great approach to curb the rising incidence of colorectal cancer as we saw metabolic syndrome is a big [factor].” Maintain a balanced diet, engage in regular physical activity, and maybe limit alcohol consumption, Mohamed said.

“There is also a debate about antibiotic usage and dietary additives, which are potentially, but not firmly, contributors to colorectal cancer risk,” he said.

On the other hand, up to one-third of early-onset colorectal cancer cases are linked to factors that cannot be changed. A family history of colorectal cancer, presence of inflammatory bowel disease, and certain types of cancers linked to genetic mutations are examples. “When you think about it, most of those young people [with colorectal cancer] probably have genetic syndromes,” Laine said. “The big issue is, frankly, finding better ways to identify families that have genetic syndromes. That’s probably the biggest message.”

Risk Varied by Age

In addition to the increases in the 15- to 19-year-old and 20- to 24-year-old groups, the rates in 2020 compared to 1999 showed a:

68% increase for ages 25 to 29
71% increase for ages 30 to 34
58% increase for ages 35 to 39
45% increase for ages 40 to 44

“These findings all emphasize the urgent needs for public awareness and personalized screening approaches,” Mohamed said, “particularly among younger populations who had the most substantial increase in colorectal cancer incidence we observed.”

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force lowered the recommended age for colorectal cancer screening from 50 to 45 in 2021. Mohammed suggested more targeted screening for people under 45 at higher risk.

“I think also staying informed about the rising incidence and the latest research and recommendations in terms of colorectal cancer prevention and screening will be really, really helpful.”

Source link

Health

How to Build a Support Network for Schizophrenia Care

Published

9 hours ago

May 15, 2024

worlddailyinfo

If you’ve become a caregiver for a family member or friend with schizophrenia, it’s tough to go it alone. The demands on your psychological and physical well-being, and on your personal life and finances, can be heavy.

“A lot of caregivers experience uncertainty about what the future will look like, not just for their loved one but for themselves,” says Christine Crawford, MD, MPH, associate medical director at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

“All their expectations about holding a job and relationship kind of get shifted after the schizophrenia diagnosis. It’s a period of adjustment.”

But you can tap rich resources of information and support during this period of adjustment. You just need to be willing to ask and know where to look.

Education About Schizophrenia Caregiving

“It’s often difficult for caregivers to have a good appreciation of what the schizophrenia diagnosis is all about, to get past their own preconceived notions,” says Crawford, a Boston-based psychiatrist. “So it’s important to start off by educating yourself about the condition and what (caregiving) support is all about.”

You might start with a trip to a public or medical school library. Or visit the websites of mental health and caregiving advocacy groups. Some you might try:

The Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance offers materials in print, video, and presentation formats about schizophrenia and psychosis. They even have a schizophrenia caregiver toolkit.
NAMI has lots of videos and other materials on schizophrenia, an eight-session YouTube “NAMI Family-to-Family Program” that helps caregivers, a helpline, and online discussion groups.
The Family Caregiver Alliance has a page with resources on caregiving in general.

But don’t let your learning begin and end with what you read, Crawford urges. If your loved one agrees, go with them on some doctor visits. You can learn more about their treatment plan and develop a bond with their mental health provider.

And before you make assumptions, ask the person you’re helping about their symptoms, experiences, emotions, and ambitions, she says.

“Don’t challenge the loved one about the realities of their symptoms. Ask how they are experiencing schizophrenia and get to the emotional component,” Crawford says. “It can be more helpful for the caregiver to learn from the loved one than from a book.”

Getting Help From Family and Friends

Many primary schizophrenia caregivers feel guilty that they can’t handle the job alone. But if you can get past any mental blocks about seeking help, you may find valuable allies and a support system.

A few of the ways other friends and family members can help:

“Respite care” — giving you time to recharge your batteries by going to the gym or a movie, a walk in the woods, or whatever helps
Running errands like grocery shopping
Driving your loved one to doctor’s appointments or picking up your kids from school
Paying the household bills
Doing online research into organizations that offer financial help to families with schizophrenia

“I recommend that caregivers write down a list of all the things that are hard for them to get done in a week and then ask if family and friends are willing to take them on,” Crawford says.

That said, be aware that it’s sometimes hard for friends and family members to be consistent through the worst of schizophrenia.

Deborah Fabos of Tehachapi, CA, has been her son’s caregiver since his diagnosis in 2000, when he was 17. She says other relatives were helpful to a point. But she found the back-up she needed to manage both her son’s life and her own was elusive.

“Family and friends are priceless if they can sit with your loved one and hold their hand,” Fabos says. “But unless they have been there in those situations with anosognosia (when someone denies they are ill), it’s really hard to have true empathy. They don’t understand the spectrum.”

Even if family and friends struggle with “their own negative associations about schizophrenia,” caregivers should seek their help, Crawford says. “They may be able to get to where you need them to be a year from now.”

Find a Caregiver Support Group

Over time, Fabos became a volunteer and speaker for schizophrenia-related causes. She recently helped start a chapter for the Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance (S&PAA) in her home county. She also launched a caregiver support group called Families For Care that now boasts more than 800 members worldwide.

“Joining a support group is the biggest lesson I’ve learned,” she says. “You can get the resources you need in the right support group. There will be someone in the group where, if they haven’t been through the exact same situation you have, it’s close enough.”

In Fabos’s group, she says, caregivers not only get a sounding board, but often get help from nearby members with daily tasks.

Along with searching the internet and social media outlets, you can find a nearby support group by:

Registering for one through S&PAA
Using the NAMI Connection support group search engine
Messaging through Mental Health America’s Inspire schizophrenia board

Crawford says it’s a good idea to join a schizophrenia or mental illness caregiver support group even if you enjoy a great support network of family and friends.

“If you encounter a bump in the road with your loved one, the support group can say, ‘I know it’s difficult now, but hang in there. It worked for me, and I strongly believe it can work for you,’” she says.

“And if you go to a support group and it’s not a good fit, it’s OK to need to look for another. It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach.”

Source link

Health

Is Your Doctor ‘Blue Zones’ Certified?

Published

1 day ago

May 14, 2024

Neha Pathak, MD

Blue Zones, an organization that studies regions around the world where people live longer, happier lives, has partnered with The American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) to help train and certify health care professionals.

The “Blue Zones certification” for doctors and health care workers will add another layer to ACLM certification, which already confers lifestyle medicine training around six pillars: whole-food, plant-rich diet; exercise, sleep; stress management; social connection; and avoiding substance misuse. The new designation will require prior certification from the ACLM, the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine (ABLM), or the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine (IBLM), according to the May 14 announcement.

“ACLM and Blue Zones have a shared vision of building healthier, stronger, more resilient communities,” said ACLM Executive Director Susan Benigas of the partnership.

That’s only possible, said Benigas, “if the physicians and medical professionals in those communities have been trained in both evidence-based lifestyle medicine clinical intervention and really understanding the principles of blue zones.”

CEO of Blue Zones Ben Leedle said Blue Zones has been at the forefront of creating meaningful, population-level well-being improvement resulting in healthier, happier communities as well as millions in health care savings, improved productivity, and regional economic impact.

“Meanwhile, ACLM has been driving the field of lifestyle medicine forward for the past 2 decades, working to transform health care from within hospital and clinic walls,” Leedle said in a statement. “This partnership represents a paradigm shift by combining the power of lifestyle medicine with community driven well-being improvement.”

Kerry Graff, MD, a lifestyle medicine doctor and medical director of the Rochester Lifestyle Medicine Institute in New York, says she was “thrilled” to learn about the ACLM and Blue Zones partnership and that she plans to be among the first group of doctors applying for the new certification.

“This is a really great powerhouse combo,” Graff said. “I see this as really the next piece of what needs to happen to move [lifestyle medicine] forward.”

Doctors are often handicapped by the fact that they know what makes patients healthier, but they’re up against a community where factors align to promote poor habits rather than healthy ones, Graff said.

“It certainly makes a lot more sense to look at this on a broader level, community level, and not just an individual patient level,” she said.

Studies have long shown the positive impacts that lifestyle choices can have on long-term health and disease prevention. A recent analysis, for example, found that while genetic risk is tied to an increased death risk of 21%, an “unfavorable lifestyle” poses a 78% higher risk of death, independent of genetic factors.

A “favorable lifestyle” based on things like sleep, diet, and physical activity can offset genetic predispositions by as much as 62%, the study found.

The curriculum for the new certification is still under development but is slated to be available in 2025, according to Michelle Tollefson, MD, a lifestyle medicine doctor in Colorado and lead faculty for the Blue Zones training.

“The curriculum will build upon what our ACLM, ABLM, IBLM physicians, and health professionals already know and bring to their patients,” Tollefson said. “They already have that foundation, but then we added an additional layer of the Blue Zones research and that deep community focus, which will empower our lifestyle medicine physicians and health professionals to have more of a widespread impact in their communities beyond the clinical setting.”

In addition to the new certification opportunity, Blue Zones will now be an exclusive founding partner of ACLM’s Center for Lifestyle Medicine Innovation, a new hub ACLM is establishing for research, innovation, thought leadership, and knowledge sharing.

ACLM will offer practice advancement consulting to health systems integrating lifestyle medicine in Blue Zones communities, leveraging the college’s clinical practice tools and health systems resources. Since 2021, 108 health systems have joined the ACLM’s Health System Council, a group of innovative health organizations from 37 states dedicated to providing high-value care through lifestyle medicine, according to the ACLM.

Doctors and health professionals interested in lifestyle medicine certification can learn more on the ACLM website. Since 2017, the college has certified about 6,700 clinicians, including 5,000 doctors and 1,700 health professionals.

Source link