Worry... I wonder all the time, why worry?

HealthDay News released a story about worry. Yes, worry. But this isn't any particular kind of worry — it's the excessive, can't-sleep-at-night kind.

I would know. I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

The article is somewhat cute, but at times makes me feel abnormal for worrying so much. Yes, I am constantly worrying over something here or there, but most graduate students are. At least the ones that I know. And the ones that aren't, probably play Dungeons and Dragons in their spare time, rarely go to class, drink too much coffee, and still manage to pull out a 4.0 at the end of the semester. They don't worry. I wouldn't either if I knew I had that ability.

The article misses something crucial — a perspective. Where is the interview with someone who has this disorder? Where is the interview of a person who is friends with someone suffering from GAD? Why is this article so jaded?

And, here's the kicker, they want to offer people, like myself, advice.

The resolution? Therapy. Check. Maybe antidepressants. For what? Does it work? Kinda. Wait until the big stress hits you and you're left in a sheer panic at what to do next.

Then the resolution isn't so clear.

Thoughts on the First Great Interview

Who knew a 30-minute interview could be so uplifting? motivating? inspiring? Well, I doubted it at first, but finally experienced a successful part that's crucial to journalism.

My interview was with Dr. Bob Galen who is the associate dean and a professor of epidemiology. Though it was short, it was jam-packed full of information that only inspired me to go forth on this search.

The College of Public Health is fighting health disparities on all fronts. Students and their internships. Professors and their research. Professors and their outreach work.

I will soon transcribe the interview and place some of the great quotes on here to show you the true excellence. But until then, I will keep going with my head held up and confident that I can make this work.

Biannual Antibiotics Linked to Decreasing Blindness in Africa

Raising the dosage of antibiotics to twice a year can combat against serious eye infections that lead to blindness, according to a new study published in the Feb. 20 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The ocular strain of chlamydia can cause trachoma, a contagious eye disease and the leading cause of blindness — worldwide. It is most common in sub-Saharan Africa.

The World Health Organization implemented programs to reduce trachoma and mathematical models suggest elimination of the ocular disease is possible, but may require more than biannual treatments of antibiotics.

The authors suggested it would take two years to eliminate trachoma in 95% of villages in sub-Saharan Africa.

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This leads me to ask the question: Is this possible?

Giving antibiotics twice a year for two years? In sub-Saharan Africa?

This seems good in theory, but a bit ambitious lofty for reality. I am not aware of the situation in Africa, so this could be possible. But I find it hard to believe.

Off-the-Record Interview 101

In the effort to talk to as many sources as possible for my health disparities story, I contacted Dr. Dionne Godette, assistant professor of health promotion and behavior in the College of Public Health.

But it was "off the record."

And why exactly?

I thought she would be a prime resource considering her research area focuses on disparities on alcohol, tobacco and other drugs and disparities of health at the community level. Yet, she did not want to be included in the story.

Aside from her obvious fear of the press, her thoughts and suggestions were quite interesting.

She suggested that I always question two things:
1. How is the person being interviewed defining disparities?
2. Where is the professor in their research? Is it finding causes or developing interventions?

Thankfully she suggested more contacts, who will, hopefully, be more willing to disclose their viewpoints to me. Overall, I was pleased to learn more about health disparities... but would have preferred the real in-depth interview so vital for my story.

Saccharin Linked to Weight Gain in Rats

Calories in, calories out plus diet and exercise are the keys to losing weight.

But what about the diet drinks and artificial sweeteners?

Sure, they help, too. Or do they?

The sugar substitute, saccharin, was found to slow down the metabolism in rats and even make them gain weight according to a study done at the Ingestive Behavior Research Institute at Purdue University.

The researchers found saccharin raised the rats' appetites and consumption overall.

The findings were published in the February issue of Behavioral Neuroscience.

The major take-home message is that the saccharin sweeteners interfere with the body's normal physiological response to food.

Saccharin products include various soft drinks, tabletop sweeteners, baked goods, jams, chewing gum, canned fruit, candy, dessert toppings and salad dressings.

Interview with Public Health Professor

I have approval and it's something I actually cannot wait to write about — health disparities. As part of the College of Public Health Magazine, I get to write about how the college is fighting the good fight.

In the effort to understand the scope of the problem, I had a preliminary interview with Dr. Jessica Muilenburg Friday afternoon. Below are snippets in Q & A form.

Can you tell me a little about disparities first?

The problems are much bigger than us. We have to have societal awareness about these things. It's bigger than one individual.

With the academic world held inside a safe bubble, in what ways do you think the college is reaching out and making the connection with people of health disparities?

We have an advantage that we're really at a point in the field when we recognize the need to work together. (Working with community leaders, school administrators, etc). Change at the individual level cannot happen if we don't have change at a community, institutional or national setting. But we are in the frontline and that's why we matter.

What are some solutions you see to help minimize health disparities?

There are hundreds of years of culture that we have to start recognizing and being aware of culture. But there has to be social recognition of the problem. And we have to educate health professionals on what disparities are. Educate even if people are not in disparities. But it's so hard to walk in other people's shoes.

FDA Issues Warning on Anti-Seizure Medication

The FDA put yet another warning on mental health drugs Thursday. Anti-seizure medications, commonly used for treatment of manic depression, migraines and other disorders, are said to raise the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior.

The agency will ask drug makers to put these warning labels on an entire class of drugs, according to the report.

The drugs raise the risk of suicide twice that of taking a placebo in a meta-analysis of 199 studies.

But this isn't new, it's just getting released to the drug makers and the public.

What are the implications? I fear that people who will do well on these medications will steer far away — possibly from a drug that will offer the most relief.

As health educators, we must urge people to talk to their doctors if they are concerned with the drugs.

The drugs are as follows:
Carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Equetro, Tegretol, Tegretol XR)
Felbamate (Felbatol)
Gabapentin (Neurontin)
Lamotrigine (Lamictal)
Levetiracetam (Keppra)
Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal)
Pregabalin (Lyrica)
Tiagabine (Gabitril)
Topiramate (Topamax)
Valproate (Depakote, Depakote ER, Depakene, Depacon)
Zonisamide (Zonegran)