On Tuesday, Jan. 29, the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention released information about ways to better your health and safety.
But why just five minutes? Are we really limited to five minutes (or less)?
While the CDC mentions good practices every person should do, I am left wondering, who doesn't wash their hands or buckle up?
Ever since I was a little girl, I remembered to buckle up. In fact, I was the one telling my parents to buckle up. But was this normal for a child?
The National Center of Health Marketing of the CDC would not have released this information if a demographic was aware of these practices. So who exactly is the CDC marketing to? Not me. Maybe not the twentysomethings.
There's no way of telling just by viewing the site. All I do know is that it's marketed to women and they clearly say to protect "you and your families."
This is yet another campaign that wants to address problems in "today's busy society." Are we really that busy? Society thinks so. And apparently the CDC is catering to that assertion.
Either way, I am not sure how successful this campaign will be. It is hard for me to comprehend that people do not already do the suggested "five minutes (or less)" of activities to promote health and safety.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
Parasite Raises Schizophrenia Risk
A common parasite found in cats and farm animals raises the risk of schizophrenia by 24 percent, according to a U.S. study.
The parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, is commonly found in cat feces and undercooked pork and beef. Most infections occur early in life, but can remain dormant.
This is the first study to suggest infection with the parasite can precede initial schizophrenia symptoms, according to the study published in the January issue of The American Journal of Psychiatry.
Though this is a small study, it represents the progression of understanding schizophrenia, a disease that affects two million people in the U. S.
While I cannot help to wonder why a parasite can cause a mental illness, I am sure the researchers of the study are just as curious. How can a parasite be the root of some cases of schizophrenia? And does this mean the same parasite may have the answers in developing a drug that slows down the progression of the disease?
"Only time will tell," as the old cliche goes, but it's future research that holds such answers.
The parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, is commonly found in cat feces and undercooked pork and beef. Most infections occur early in life, but can remain dormant.
This is the first study to suggest infection with the parasite can precede initial schizophrenia symptoms, according to the study published in the January issue of The American Journal of Psychiatry.
Though this is a small study, it represents the progression of understanding schizophrenia, a disease that affects two million people in the U. S.
While I cannot help to wonder why a parasite can cause a mental illness, I am sure the researchers of the study are just as curious. How can a parasite be the root of some cases of schizophrenia? And does this mean the same parasite may have the answers in developing a drug that slows down the progression of the disease?
"Only time will tell," as the old cliche goes, but it's future research that holds such answers.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Genes Linked to Antidepressant Efficiency
The clinical efficacy of two antidepressants may now be linked to the 11 variants of a gene, according to a team of German researchers.
The gene, a protective transporter protein known as P-gp, removes drugs and substances from the brain, which was found to reduce the effectiveness of Celexa (italopram) and Effexor (venlafaxine).
This is the first time variants of a gene are linked to the effectiveness of an antidepressant, according to one of the researchers. The researchers suggested genetic testing could give information how individuals react to specific drugs.
Perhaps this could offer some relief to people searching for the right drug. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for people aged between 15 to 24. And finding the right medical cocktail can be especially hard for people with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. If doctors can avoid drugs that will not comply with body chemistry, they can save the patient the time and drama of one that does not work. This could possibly lead to finding the right combination sooner and perhaps save a life.
The research appears in the Jan. 24 issue of the journal Neuron .
The gene, a protective transporter protein known as P-gp, removes drugs and substances from the brain, which was found to reduce the effectiveness of Celexa (italopram) and Effexor (venlafaxine).
This is the first time variants of a gene are linked to the effectiveness of an antidepressant, according to one of the researchers. The researchers suggested genetic testing could give information how individuals react to specific drugs.
Perhaps this could offer some relief to people searching for the right drug. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for people aged between 15 to 24. And finding the right medical cocktail can be especially hard for people with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. If doctors can avoid drugs that will not comply with body chemistry, they can save the patient the time and drama of one that does not work. This could possibly lead to finding the right combination sooner and perhaps save a life.
The research appears in the Jan. 24 issue of the journal Neuron .
Welcome!
Welcome to my health and medical journalism blog!
This was originally assigned as a class requirement, but I hope to put more into the blog than just to meet the expectations. We are to write about two topics — news briefs of studies and Q & A's of sources for stories (professors, researchers, doctors, etc). I will focus largely on mental health, but will also add topics from other areas.
So I hope you will join me on this journey as I develop my writing and spread health messages in the blogosphere.
Thanks!
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