Pain and neuromodulation: What ’s all the “buzz” about?
Chronic pain is an enigma for both pain doctors and their patients: difficult to understand (as everyone’s pain is different), challenging to treat effectively, and frustrating to live with. Desperate patients sometimes turn to drastic and irreversible surgical procedures, like amputating nerves to relieve pain, and unfortunately even those procedures may fail to provide the hoped-for results. Fortunately there have been great strides in research related to pain perception and our nervous system’s reaction to various pain treatments, and we’ve been able to develop novel devices that provide many people with much-need...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - March 3, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Shafik Boyaji, MD Tags: Back Pain Pain Management Source Type: blogs
As if the damn headache wasn ’ t bad enough …
This study was particularly compelling because of the methods used to document the physical consequences of a migraine episode. The University of Rochester scientist Maiken Nedergard and her colleagues used a 2-photon microscope to actually visualize the synapses on cortical pyramidal cells, through the time course of the “headache”. She must have been stunned by first witnessing the large-scale chaos generated by the migraine sequelae, because the spines (synapses) of cortical neurons swelled and then disintegrated right before her eyes IN VERY LARGE NUMBERS. Some cortical neurons lost the MAJORITY of their sy...
Source: On the Brain by Dr. Michael Merzenich, Ph.D. - March 1, 2020 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Dr. Merzenich Tags: Aging and the Brain Alzheimer’s Brain Fitness Brain Fitness Program BrainHQ InSight Language Development Posit Science Source Type: blogs
Technical Inevitability, Strategic Headache? Missile Defense in the 2021 Budget Request
Eric GomezTheWhite House ’s fiscal year 2021 budget request released earlier this month asks Congress for $20.3 billion for missile defense and defeat programs. Nearly half of the request($9.2 billion) is for the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). The rest of the money will go toward a mix of missile defense programs outside of MDA ($7.9 billion) and “left of launch” activities that attempt to disrupt or destroy enemy missiles before they can be fired ($3.2 billion). These request figures are more or less in line with requests from the past two years and should not be regarded as a major increase.What makes the ...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - February 27, 2020 Category: American Health Authors: Eric Gomez Source Type: blogs
Large study finds positive yet mixed results from Akili ’s digital therapeutic for kids with ADHD
This study aimed to assess whether AKL-T01 improved attentional performance in paediatric patients with ADHD.
Findings: Between July 15, 2016, and Nov 30, 2017, 857 patients were evaluated and 348 were randomly assigned to receive AKL-T01 or control. Among patients who received AKL-T01 (n=180 [52%]; mean [SD] age, 9·7 [1·3] years) or control (n=168 [48%]; mean [SD] age, 9·6 [1·3] years), the non-parametric estimate of the population median change from baseline TOVA API was 0·88 (95% CI 0·24–1·49; p=0·0060). The mean (SD) change from baseline on the TOVA API was 0·93 (3·15) in the AKL-T01 group and 0·03 (3·16)...
Source: SharpBrains - February 25, 2020 Category: Neuroscience Authors: SharpBrains Tags: Attention and ADD/ADHD Cognitive Neuroscience Health & Wellness Technology ADHD-medication Akili Akili Interactive Akili Interactive Labs AKL-T01 behavioral digital health digital therapeutics pediatric ADHD Project EVO TOVA AP Source Type: blogs
Back To the Battlefront on Religious Exemptions and Discrimination Law
Walter OlsonThe Supreme Court today agreed to review a challenge to Philadelphia ’s policy of excluding Catholic Social Services from its foster care system because of its refusal to place children with same‐sex couples.Fulton v.City of Philadelphia could potentially clarify the heated ongoing conflict over the rights of religious objectors in discrimination law.Potentially is the word because it ’s far from clear on what issues the Court will choose to resolve the case. It might focus onwhether the city of Philadelphia overstepped the Court ’sMasterpiece Cakeshopguidance by showing improper animus aga...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - February 24, 2020 Category: American Health Authors: Walter Olson Source Type: blogs
What are these wide complexes? If unclear by explanation, the laddergram helps to understand.
An 18 y.o. female who presented for chest pain. Patient reports productive cough and headache x 4 days. She notes persistent sternal chest pain worse at night and waking her from sleep. She also notes intermittent abdominal pain, describing as a " tightness " ." Sinus arrhythmia with variable right bundle origin PVCs "Is this accurate?No.This is sinus bradycardia with a slightly accelerated right ventricular escape, such that sometimes:1. the sinus beat is conducted before any ventricular escape (beats 7)2. the ventricular beat starts at almost the exact same time as the P-wave, and the P-wave therefore does no...
Source: Dr. Smith's ECG Blog - February 19, 2020 Category: Cardiology Authors: Steve Smith Source Type: blogs
What ’s normal? When it comes to the brain, it’s hard to say, and that’s why we need to study global neurodiversity
In a small village in India—a place so remote it has no electricity, no telecommunication system, and no cars or buses—a research worker prepares to place an EEG headset on a female villager’s head. The woman, who earns $3.75 a day laboring in a nearby rice paddy and who has never ventured outside her village, eyes the futuristic device with trepidation.
“Is it going to hurt my head?” she asks.
Sathish, the research worker, has heard this question before. In fact, he’s heard several similar queries from anxious villagers who have gotten scared when they saw the brainwear.
“Will it give me a headache?”
...
Source: SharpBrains - February 12, 2020 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Tan Le Tags: Author Speaks Series Cognitive Neuroscience Education & Lifelong Learning Health & Wellness Technology alpha oscillation axons Berger’s Wave bias big data brain-enhancement brain-related diseases Brainnovations brains brainwa Source Type: blogs
A health care headache from a patient ’s perspective
As a relatively healthy Medicare patient, I do not visit doctors often. I have had digestive issues most of my life — probably from too many antibiotics when I was a child with recurring strep throat, or so I’m told. My husband and I had just returned from living out of state for two months […]Find jobs at Careers by KevinMD.com. Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now. Learn more. (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - February 4, 2020 Category: General Medicine Authors: < span itemprop="author" > < a href="https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/sandi-russ" rel="tag" > Sandi Russ < /a > < /span > Tags: Patient Emergency Medicine Neurology Patients Source Type: blogs
Digital Health Helps Tackle Indoor Air Pollution
“We are placing a spotlight on the fact that air pollution isn’t just a problem on our streets, but in our homes too. You can’t just close your door and shut out air pollution.” says Chris Large from Global Action Plan after their study found that indoor air is 3.5 times more polluted than the air outside. This 2019 study measured polluting nanoparticles in four British towns and cities in- and outdoors as well. At one point they even found a family living in pollution levels 560 times higher than the pollution level on the street.
According to another research, people spend approximately 90 percent of their ti...
Source: The Medical Futurist - February 4, 2020 Category: Information Technology Authors: szandra Tags: Future of Medicine Healthcare Design digital health digital technology indoor air quality Source Type: blogs
Loneliness Erodes Your Mental Health: How You Can Get Past This Toxic Emotion
“Loneliness is proof that your innate search for connection is intact.” – Martha Beck
Loneliness is one of the most miserable feelings to experience. Being alone, however, doesn’t necessarily mean a person is lonely. They may be, although they may be quite deliberate in wanting to be alone for a time, and have no negative affects from such solitude. It’s the protractedness and sense of isolation and desperation that can set in that seems to push loneliness to extremes, even potentially resulting in worsening mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety. Yet, for those who are suffering with loneliness a...
Source: World of Psychology - February 2, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Suzanne Kane Tags: Relationships Self-Help Loneliness Source Type: blogs
Feeling Sad After Sex? Postcoital Dysphoria & Symptoms
For most people, sex is fun. Whether you engage in it with a partner or by yourself, sexual activity usually results in feelings of satisfaction and positive feelings (Sadock & Sadock, 2008).
But some people feel sad after sexual activity. Researchers call these kinds of negative feelings “postcoital dysphoria” or just postcoital symptoms. A new study sheds further light on these symptoms.
Postcoital dysphoria is characterized by “inexplicable feelings of tearfulness, sadness, and/or irritability” according to the new research (Burri & Hilpert, in press). According to prior research, men ap...
Source: World of Psychology - January 28, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: John M. Grohol, Psy.D. Tags: Brain and Behavior General Psychology Research Sexuality after-sex after-sex depression postcoital dysphoria postcoital symptoms Source Type: blogs
Medically Assisted Treatment for Alcohol
Going through alcohol withdrawal can be an uncomfortable experience. Fortunately there are medical interventions that can ease the symptoms of detox as well as help individuals along their journey through recovery. Medically assisted treatment (MAT) is the use of medications in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, which is effective in the treatment of substance abuse and can help some people to sustain recovery. Medically assisted treatment for alcohol can help people recovering from alcohol use disorder by blocking cravings, avoiding relapse, and helping to rewire the brain’s chemistry.
Medications Us...
Source: Cliffside Malibu - January 24, 2020 Category: Addiction Authors: Jaclyn Uloth Tags: Alcohol Alcohol Rehab Information Alcoholism Detox Resources for Alcohol and Drugs/Opiates alcohol detox drug detox medical detox medicated-assisted detox Source Type: blogs
How to Become Truly Smart
We all know people who are well-educated but don’t know nuttin’. And we all know people with little formal education who are bright, brainy, maybe even brilliant. Obviously it’s not just what we learn in school that makes us smart. It’s how we live life.
If you wish to become smarter, you don’t need to go back to school (though that’s certainly an option). But you do need to develop the ability to reflect, reframe and rejoice. What’s so special about these 3 R’s? What happened to reading, writing and arithmetic? Of course, it’s important to know those basic skills, but you can still know them and not ...
Source: World of Psychology - January 18, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Linda Sapadin, Ph.D Tags: Motivation and Inspiration Self-Help Emotional Intelligence Source Type: blogs
Can I Take Medication to Stop Drinking?
With all the advances in modern medicine, it can be easy to wonder if there is a medication to stop drinking. Unfortunately, getting sober from alcohol isn’t as easy as simply taking medication. In addition to medication, therapy is required for the best long-term results, as well as support from loved ones and ongoing aftercare. However, there are some medications to help along in the process to stop withdrawal symptoms, block cravings, and create an aversion to alcohol.
It is important to not rely only on medication to stop drinking. A commitment to behavioral therapy, holistic therapy, family involvement, self-care, ...
Source: Cliffside Malibu - January 17, 2020 Category: Addiction Authors: Jaclyn Uloth Tags: Alcohol Alcohol Rehab Information Alcoholism Detox Resources for Alcohol and Drugs/Opiates alcohol abuse alcohol dependence alcohol detox alcohol treatment alcohol treatment center alcohol treatment facility Source Type: blogs
Podcast: Sex Addiction, Hypersexuality, and Mental Illness
Sex addict. Nympho. You’ve likely heard these words used for a person with hypersexuality, but what exactly is this condition? Is hypersexuality really a symptom of a mental disorder or is it just a super high libido? Where does one draw the line between liking (or loving) sex and being hypersexual? Is it similar to a drug addiction? Or a binge eating disorder?
Join Gabe and Jackie as they tackle this often misunderstood topic and hear Gabe’s own personal experiences with hypersexuality as a debilitating symptom of his bipolar disorder.
(Transcript Available Below)
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About The Not Craz...
Source: World of Psychology - January 13, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Not Crazy Podcast Tags: Bipolar Disorders General Not Crazy Podcast Relationships Sexuality Source Type: blogs
