Number of Strokes Among Middle Age Women Triples due to Obesity

Dr. Amytis Towfighi, of the University of Southern California, used National Health And Nutrition Survey information (gathered on about five thousand individuals in two studies conducted between 1988 –1994 and 1999-2004, respectively) to reach some interesting conclusions. Only about half of one percent of the women, ages 35 -54, surveyed in the 1988-1994 study reported that they had had a stroke compared to 2 percent of the women, ages 35-54, in the 1999-2004 study.

Why did the number of strokes among middle-aged women triple in spite of fact that they were on medications that controlled cholesterol and hypertension? Health survey data seems to indicate that obesity, especially abdominal fat, is a stronger stroke risk factor for women than men.

In fact, the portion of women with abdominal obesity increased from forty seven percent to fifty nine percent during this time. Women’s average body mass increased from 27 in the first study to 29 during the second study, and waistlines had increased about two inches between the two studies. Traditional risk factors such as diabetes, heart disease, or smoking did not increase enough statistically to be the culprit.

This study simply confirms that obesity creates an environment that is conducive for other co-morbidities such as diabetes and heart disease to enter the picture. Once these co-morbidities are introduced, middle age women begin to experience stroke rates that are comparable to men of the same age. This is alarming because men have traditionally been at greater risk for stroke than women, and now middle-aged women may be at greater risk than middle age men for stroke.








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Chronic pain and the brain
Surgery and artificial cervical discs
Sleep disorders and other problems
The odds of winning your social security disability
Lessening MS frequency and exacerbations
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Chronic Pain Alters the way the brain Processes Information

Dante Chialvo, Northwestern University of Chicago, conducted a study that compared the brain activity of fifteen chronic pain sufferers to the brain activity of fifteen healthy individuals through functional magnetic resonance imaging. The study volunteers were given a simple task to perform, such as following a moving bar on a computer screen in an effort to observe the brain changing back and forth between resting and active mode.

Both test groups perform well, however functional magnetic resonance imaging showed that chronic pain sufferers had to use much more of their brain to process the simple task. Some chronic pain sufferers had to use as much as fifty percent of the brain to complete the task compared to healthy individuals.

Brain scans show that individuals with chronic pain have constant brain activity in areas that should be resting. These findings indicate that this over activity of certain areas of the brain in chronic pain suffers may explain why chronic pain sufferers often have attention problems, depression, sleep disturbances, and anxiety.

The study data also points out that this is not just a simple matter of a healthy brain processing constant pain, rather it is a brain altered by persistent pain processing information in a way that mimics other neurological disorders linked with cognitive problems.







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New Research indicates too many immune cells may trigger Lupus

About one and half million Americans suffer from lupus. Lupus is a disease that is caused by an overactive immune system, in which immune cells attack body organs such as the brain, kidneys, heart, lungs, joints, and blood.

Researchers at St. Louis University conducted a small genetic study that involved fourteen patients with lupus and an equal number of healthy individuals. They studied the genetic profile studies of three types of white blood cells. The results showed the individuals with the most severe cases of lupus had an increase of activity among the white blood cells that are responsible for preventing cell death.

Researchers believe the next step is to try to manipulate either the gene/genes responsible for anti-death cell production, or to control the protein these cells produce. The study seems to indicate that if they can turn off the anti-death cells or control their protein output, there might a way to restore a healthy balance in the body.

What is exciting about the results of this study is that is opens the door to new treatment possibilities for lupus. The standard treatment for lupus involves NSAIDS, immunosuppressive drugs such as cyclosporine and azathioprine, anti-malarias, and steroids that can cause severe side affects.








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Can sleep disorders signify other problems

Pakistani researchers conducted a study that involved twenty-two adults, who were being evaluated for obstructive sleep apnea. The study evaluated both the degree of sleep apnea and attention deficit impairment. What they found is that over half the adults in the study suffered from significant attention impairment. Eighteen percent of the adults continued to have significant attention impairment after treatment for sleep apnea; consequently these individuals were diagnosed with adult attention deficit disorder.

Further testing indicated that individuals who suffer from neuromuscular and psychiatric conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue also suffered from significant sleep disorders.

The fact of the matter is that many patients will not receive further evaluation for sleep disorders due to forced limitations of time put upon medical professionals in today’s managed - care environment. What do I mean by managed-care environment? Insurance companies often limit the amount of visits (especially when it involves mental health issues) an individual may receive per year. Additionally, mental health treatment is often more expensive to the patient because many insurance companies do not cover as much of the treatment cost as they cover for treatment of physical ailments.

Consequently, it is a double edge sword for both medical professionals and their patients, as patients are forced to bear more of the financial burden and the caregivers are forced to limit their time with the patients. So what happens? Patients with sleep disorders are treated symptomatically, and no further evaluation of underlying problems is given.

The conclusion of this small study suggests that psychologists and psychiatrists treating individuals with attention deficit disorder may have to consider the possibility of sleep apnea as well as other sleep problems. Conversely, medical professionals should be aware that symptoms of sleep apnea might indicate other psychiatric conditions or other sleep disorders.







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