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Blood Test Could Help Diagnose Bipolar Disorder
Researchers say they have developed a way to use biomarkers found in a blood test to diagnose bipolar disorder more accurately.
New Test for Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is often misdiagnosed with major depressive disorder because both have numerous overlapping symptoms but need different pharmacological treatments.
While current blood tests can correctly diagnose up to 30 percent of bipolar cases, a new test that makes use of biomarkers could allow physicians to differentiate between major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, researchers said.
Researchers said from 2018 to 2020 in Britain, some 3,000 participants completed an online mental health assessment of more than 600 questions. The assessment covered a range of topics that may be relevant to mental health disorders, including past or current depressive episodes, generalized anxiety, symptoms of mania, family history, or substance abuse. Then about 1,000 were selected to send in a dried blood sample from a finger prick, which the researchers analyzed for more than 600 different metabolites using mass spectrometry.
The research was published in “JAMA Psychiatry.”
What is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder affects about 80 million people globally, but for nearly 40 percent of patients, it is misdiagnosed as major depressive disorder.
Bipolar disorder, formally called manic depression, is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression).
When you become depressed you may feel sad or hopeless and lose interest or pleasure in activities. When your mood shifts to mania or hypomania (less extreme than mania) you may feel euphoric, full of energy or unusually irritable. These mood swings can affect sleep, energy, activity, judgment, behavior, and the ability to think clearly.
What IAA has to Say
Insurance Administrator of America is here to keep you informed on the world of health. Remember, with IAA one call does it all.
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Mediterranean Diet may Prevent PTSD Symptoms
A new study finds that the Mediterranean diet may prevent PTSD symptoms.
New Study on Mediterranean Diet and PTSD
The brain and the gastrointestinal system which includes the stomach, intestines and colon, send signals back and forth through a complex system of nerves, hormones and chemicals. As a result, poor gut health has been linked to several mental illnesses, such as PTSD.
Post traumatic stress disorder or PTSD is a trauma-based mental-health disorder. People living with PTSD have an increased risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, autoimmune disease, and premature death.
To study the relationship between PTSD and the human gut microbiome, researchers collected patient data from two studies—one in 2005 and another in 2013—which involved tens of thousands of female participants.
Researchers selected 191 women: 44 with PTSD symptoms, 119 who had experienced trauma, but no PTSD symptoms and 28 who experienced neither.
All the participants provided stool samples, once at the beginning of the study and again six months later. The reason for the samples was to have microbial DNA information and to confirm that the participants gut microbiome was stable over six months.
The researchers then looked at associations between overall microbiome makeup and other individual factors, such as a person’s symptoms, body mass index, age, and diet.
The team found certain factors (BMI, depression, antidepressant use) were associated with microbiome structure.
The Results
The scientists then assessed the relationship between diet and PTSD symptoms, finding that participants who followed a Mediterranean diet had fewer PTSD symptoms. Several components of the Mediterranean diet, such as fiber and omega-three fatty acids—are known to support gut health, which in turn can influence brain function.
Eating red and processed meats were associated with having PTSD symptoms. Eating plant-based foods was not associated with having PTSD symptoms.
The team then examined the link between symptoms and microbiome makeup. They found that a microbiome called Eubacterium eligens was protective at four different time points. E. eligens was positively associated with components of the Mediterranean diet, such as vegetables, fruits and fish. It was negatively associated with red or processed meat, which people following a Mediterranean diet typically limit or avoid.
The findings were published in the journal, “Nature Mental Health.”
Around four percent of the world’s population has had PTSD in their lifetimes.
What IAA has to Say
Insurance Administrator of America is here to bring you updates on the world of health. Stay tuned to IAA’s blog to learn more!
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Two Genes may Trigger Raynaud’s Disease
Scientists have discovered two genes that may trigger Raynaud’s disease, a condition that can cause fingers and toes to go cold and numb because of the constriction of tiny blood vessels under the skin.
New Study on Raynaud’s Disease
The study included UK Biobank data from more than 440,000 people. Researchers identified 5,147 cases of Raynaud’s. Sixty-eight percent were Primary Raynaud’s, the most common form of the disease. Another 439, 294 records served as controls.
The scientists found that one gene variant affects how blood vessels narrow. Those with the variant had a higher number of a particular receptor for hormones that are released under stress or cold. Another gene variant affects how blood vessels relax.
The results of the study could lead to more effective treatments. Drugs could be developed that target this hormone receptor.
The study was published in the journal “Nature Communications.”
Symptoms of Raynaud’s
Symptoms of Raynaud’s disease include:
Areas of the skin that turn white then blue
Cold fingers or toes
Numb, prickling feeling or stinging pain upon warming or stress relief
There are two main types of the condition:
Primary Raynaud’s: This most common form isn’t the result of another medical condition. It can be so mild that treatment is not sought out. It can also go away on its own.
Secondary Raynaud’s: This form develops due to another health condition. Although this form is less common, it tends to be more serious.
About two to five percent of the population is affected, more often women.
What IAA has to Say
Insurance Administrator of America is here to keep you updated on the world of health. Remember, with IAA on call does it all.
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Multi-Symptom Heart Disease Risk Gets a Name
Health experts are redefining cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, prevention and management, according to a new American Heart Association Advisory published in “Circulation.”
Experts Define CKM
Various aspects of cardiovascular disease overlap with kidney disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity.
For the first time, the American Heart Association defines the overlap in these conditions as cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome. People who are at risk for cardiovascular disease may have CKM syndrome.
The new approach includes:
CKM syndrome stages ranging from 0 (no risk factors) to stage 4, the highest risk range with established cardiovascular disease. Stage 4 may also include kidney failure. Each stage correlates to specific screenings and therapies.
Collaborative approaches among multiple specialties to treat the whole patient
Screenings for and addressing social factors that impact health
Suggested updates to the algorithm that helps healthcare professionals predict a person's likelihood of having a heart attack or stroke
According to the American Heart Association, one in three U.S. adults have three or more risk factors that contribute to cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease and/or kidney disease.
Stages of CKM
CKM affects nearly every major organ in the body, including the heart, brain, kidney, and liver. However, the biggest impact is on the cardiovascular system, affecting blood vessels and heart muscle function, the rate of fatty buildup in arteries, and electrical impulses.
CKM related screening is intended to detect cardiovascular, metabolic and kidney health changes early:
Stage 0: No CKM risk factors
Stage 1: Excess body fat and/or an unhealthy distribution of body fat, such as abdominal obesity, and/or impaired glucose tolerance, or prediabetes
Stage 2: Metabolic risk factors and kidney disease
Stage 3: Early cardiovascular disease without symptoms in people with metabolic risk factors or kidney disease or those at high predicted risk for cardiovascular disease
Stage 4: Symptomatic cardiovascular disease in people with excess body fat, metabolic risk factors or kidney disease
The purpose of these stages is for people to work toward “regressing” to a lower stage.
What IAA has to Say
Insurance Administrator of America is here to bring you updates on the world of health. Remember, with IAA one call does it all.
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Switching Up Carbs May Help Prevent Weight Gain
Switching the types of carbs you eat may help prevent weight gain, a study finds.
Quality vs Quantity
Researchers in the United States analyzed more than two decades of data from almost 137,000 people and found less weight gain among those who ate more whole grains, fruit and non-starchy vegetables and fewer refined grains, starchy vegetables and sugary drinks.
The study shows it is the quality of carbohydrates in a person’s diet that is important, rather than the amount.
The study found less weight gain among people who avoided:
Foods made from refined grains, especially white flour products
Starchy vegetables
Sugar sweetened beverages
White rice
To take a closer look at carbohydrate quality on weight gain, the study examined participants enrolled in long-term studies.
The participants were, on average, in their 40s, 50s, or 60s. When they joined the research, they were free of chronic health conditions. Researchers followed them for at least two decades.
At the beginning and every two to four years, participants filled out questionnaires that asked about medical history, lifestyle, and other health-related factors. They were also asked every four years to fill out a form that assessed diet.
Overall, the average weight gain was 3.3 pounds every four years. Which over an average of 24 years amounted to 19.4 pounds.
The results showed that:
A 3.5 ounce a day increase in starch—was also associated with a 3.3 pound weight gain every four years
The same increase in sugar was also associated with a 1.9 pound weight gain over the same time period
In contrast:
One third of an ounce per day of added fiber was linked to 1.7 pounds less weight gain over four years
Replacing two servings of starchy vegetables with equal servings of whole grains daily meant 4.1 pounds less weight gain over four years
Consuming whole fruits was associated with 4.4 pounds less weight gain over four years
Switching to non-starchy vegetables was associated with four pounds less weight gain over four years
The study was published inn “BMJ.”
What are Carbohydrates?
Carbohydrates—fiber, starches and sugars—are essential food nutrients that your body turns into glucose to give you the energy to function.
Your digestive system breaks down carbs into glucose or blood sugar. Your bloodstream absorbs glucose and uses it as energy to fuel your body.
The amount of carbs you consume affects your blood sugar. Taking in a lot of carbs can raise blood sugar levels.
There is not a set amount of recommended daily carbs. Your age, gender, medical conditions, activity level, and weight loss goals, all affect the amount that is right for you.
What IAA has to Say
Insurance Administrator of America is here to keep you up to date on the world of health. Stay tuned for more information from IAA’s blog posts.
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Bruce Springsteen Cancels Performances Due to Peptic Ulcer Disease
Bruce Springsteen will not be able to perform the rest of the year.
Springsteen Cancels Due to Health
In September, Springsteen called off several shows in the hopes of recovering from a condition called peptic ulcer disease.
While the performer has been recovering from the disease, he will continue treatment for the rest of the year on his doctor’s advice, according to a statement from Springsteen and The E Street Band.
About 8 million people worldwide suffer from the condition.
What is Peptic Ulcer Disease?
Peptic ulcer disease is a condition marked by open sores that develop on the inside lining of the stomach and the small intestine, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Common symptoms include:
Belching
Bloating
Feeling full too soon while eating a meal
Feeling uncomfortably full after eating a meal
Pain or discomfort in the upper part of the abdomen, anywhere between your belly button and breastbone. The pain may be dull or burning and may come and go over time.
Those suffering from peptic ulcer disease are usually told to cut back on their use of pain medication and limit alcohol consumption.
Many people who have peptic ulcers don’t have any symptoms. They may not develop symptoms until an ulcer leads to complications.
What IAA has to Say
Insurance Administrator of America is here to keep you up to date on the world of health. Remember, with IAA one call does it all.
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Big Breakfast Could Help With Jet Lag
A new study published suggests that eating a large meal in the early morning could help combat jet lag.
New Method to Manage Jet Lag
A lot of research on circadian rhythms has focused on the “central” body clock. The central clock responds to sunlight. But the past 20 years of research has shown that the circadian rhythm involves not just one body clock, but many. Present in every cell and tissue, these clocks calibrate to different cues. Many organs reset with meals.
The researchers developed a theoretical mathematical model that allowed them to take a new approach—studying how the clocks interact, not just with external cues, but with each other.
The study looked at two populations of clocks, one that responds to light, and another that responds to food.
In the study, the researchers ran simulations of a traveler going from New York to Paris (a six-hour time difference). They found that:
Failure to adjust mealtimes to the new time zone resulted in a nine-day jet lag recovery.
Spacing three meals throughout the light hours reduced recovery time to six days.
Doubling the size of breakfast and skipping dinner for the first three days sped recovery even more, to five days.
The researchers concluded that a large meal in the early morning helps the body’s clocks align, combating the effects of jet lag.
The model did not consider the number of calories in a meal or the type of food.
The study was published in “Chaos.”
Symptoms of Jet Lag
Jet lag is a temporary sleep problem that can affect anyone who travels quickly and across several time zones. Jet lag occurs because your body’s internal clock is synchronized to your original time zone. It hasn’t changed to the time zone of where you have traveled.
Symptoms of jet lag may include:
A general feeling of not being well
Daytime fatigue
Mood changes
Not being able to focus or function at your usual level
Sleep problems such as not being able to sleep or waking up early
Stomach issues
Jet lag symptoms usually occur within a day or two of traveling across at least two time zones.
What IAA has to Say
Insurance Administrator of America knows that jet lag is not fun to deal with. Hopefully this new study will help ward it off! IAA wishes everyone safe travels to whatever time zone you are traveling to.
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New Blood Test Could Help Diagnose Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
A new blood test is highly accurate at diagnosing chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), offering for the first time, an objective way to identify the disabling condition.
Blood Test for CFS
CFS is estimated to affect up to 2.5 million people in the United States.
A research team compared test results among 61 people with CFS, 21 people with multiple sclerosis and 16 people who have no known health problems.
The new test uses artificial intelligence to analyze vibrations in a single blood cell caused by a laser. The technology is called Raman Spectroscopy, which can “interrogate individual cells.”
The test can differentiate between mild, moderate and severe cases of the illness 84 percent of the time.
The researchers wrote that the new test could help differentiate between other conditions that have similar symptoms, such as fibromyalgia, Lyme disease and long COVID.
The new test is 91 percent accurate according to the findings.
The findings were published in the journal “Advanced Science.”
What is CFS
CFS causes extreme fatigue that lasts for at least six months. Symptoms worsen with physical or mental activity, but don’t fully improve with rest.
Symptoms can vary from person to person and the severity of symptoms can fluctuate from day-to-day.
In addition to fatigue, symptoms may include:
Extreme exhaustion after physical or mental exercise
Dizziness that worsens with moving from lying down or sitting, to standing
Muscle or joint pain
Problems with memory or thinking skills
Unrefreshing sleep
The cause of CFS is unknown, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
At this time, CFS is so difficult to diagnosis that an estimated nine in 10 people who have the condition don’t even know they have it.
What IAA has to Say
Any new research on CFS is something that Insurance Administrator of America wants to hear about. Researchers are finding new information all the time and IAA wants to make sure you are in the know.
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Eye Tracking Technology Could Help Diagnose Autism
Just one in four children with autism is diagnosed before age three, but a new eye tracking technology may allow for earlier diagnosis and intervention, according to three clinical studies of more than 1,500 kids.
New Method for Autism Diagnosis
In the United States autism affects about one child in 36, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The new eye tracking technology provides automated measures of children’s looking behavior and can help spot signs of autism as early as 16 months of age, researchers said. It may also help predict kids’ strengths and vulnerabilities.
The eye tracking tool measures a child’s eye movements while they watch a 10-minute video. Hundreds of important social cues are presented during the video, and the technology captures around 120 measurements per second.
Researchers compared measurements from children with suspected autism to those of typically developing peers.
The tool was further tested in 475 children aged 16 to 30 months who were evaluated at six U.S. autism specialty clinics.
Both studies found that the device’s diagnostic abilities were comparable to those of the specialists.
The idea behind the technology is to identify children with autism by picking up on their seeming lack of interest in people. Children typically learn social skills by observing how people around them interact. The new technology identifies children who are not paying attention to the kid-to-kid interaction in the video.
The studies were published in “JAMA” and “JAMA Network Open.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends screening for autism at 18 months and 24 months.
Signs of Autism
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain, according to the CDC. People with ASD have problems with social interaction and different ways of learning, moving, or paying attention.
Some children show signs of autism in early infancy, such as reduced eye contact, lack of response to their name or indifference to caregivers. Other children may develop normally for the first few months or years of life, but they suddenly become withdrawn or aggressive or lose language skills they’ve already acquired. Signs are usually seen by age two.
Each child with ASD is likely to have a unique pattern of behavior and level of severity from low functioning to high functioning.
What IAA has to Say
Insurance Administrator of America wants people to better understand this disorder. Just think of IAA as your third-party health information connection, here to keep you in the know about world of healthcare.
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Paper Straws not as Eco-Friendly as Imagined
Paper straws, which were meant to be an eco-friendly alternative, may not be better for the environment, a new study suggests.The study warns that paper straws can contain “forever chemicals” that can harm human health.
Paper Straws and PFAS
The research team tested 39 straw brands in a variety of materials, for poly and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
The straws were made of paper, bamboo, glass, stainless steel, and plastic. Each straw went through two rounds of testing for PFAS.
PFAS were found in 69 percent of straws. Testing detected 18 different PFAS. These chemicals were found in 90 percent of paper straws; 80 percent of bamboo straws; 75 percent of plastic straws, and 40 percent of glass straw brands. PFAS were not detected in any of the five types of steel straws tested.
These all pose a limited risk to human health because people tend to use straws only occasionally and chemical concentrations were low, researchers said. But the chemicals can build up in the body for years.
Researchers said the prevalence of PFAS in the straws suggests they were added as a waterproof coating
The study was published in “Food Additives and Contaminants.”
PFAS and Your Health
PFAS are a family of synthetic chemicals used in the manufacture of consumer products because they can resist stains, grease and water.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, research suggests that high levels of certain PFAS may lead to the following:
Changes in liver enzymes
Decreased vaccine response in children
Increased cholesterol levels
Increased risk of high blood pressure or preeclampsia in pregnant women
Increased risk of kidney or testicular cancer
Small decreases in infant birth weights
Scientists are still learning about the health effects of exposure to mixtures of different PFAS.
What IAA has to Say
Insurance Administrator of America wants to keep you up to date in the world of health. Remember, with IAA one call does it all.
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Doctors Restoring Vision to Those With Catastrophic Eye Injuries
A new type of stem cell treatment appears to be a safe option for people with limbal stem cell deficiency, a condition that can lead to painful ulcers, clouding of the cornea and blindness.
New Treatment for Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency
Chemical burns and accidents can lead to a condition called limbal stem cell deficiency. Overwearing contacts, multiple eye operations and inflammatory conditions can cause this as well.
The stem cells are from the limbus, a zone of tissue around the cornea that generates transparent cells that protect and heal the eye’s surface.
The new procedure known as cultivated autologous limbal epithelial cell, or CALEC, transplantation is considered safe. In a Phase 1 trial, four patients who had chemical burns in one eye underwent CALEC transplants.
That only one eye is injured is important for the procedure. It involves removing stem cells from the patient’s healthy eye, cultivating them in the laboratory for two or three weeks and then transplanting them into the damaged eye. Once they have been transplanted, it takes time for the cells to grow, so researchers followed the patients for a year.
The results were published in “Science Advances.”
What is Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency?
Limbal stem cell deficiency is a condition that results from failure in limbal cells to properly repair and regenerate the surface of the cornea. This can lead to thinning, painful ulceration, opacity in the cornea, and eventually, possibly blindness.
Causes of the condition range from the following:
Chemical and thermal burns
Chemotherapy
Ocular surgery
Radiation
Toxins
Trauma
Limbal stem cell deficiency is one of the main causes of corneal blindness, which affects six million people worldwide.
What IAA has to Say
Insurance Administrator of America is here to keep you up to date on the world of health. Stay tuned to IAA’s blog to learn more.
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Vitamin K Could Help With Lung Health
A new study suggests that people who have low levels of vitamin K also have less healthy lungs. They are more likely to report having asthma, COPD and wheezing. Vitamin K (found in leafy green vegetables) may boost lung health.
New Study on Vitamin K
Researchers recruited more than 4,000 participants, ages 24 to 77.
Study participants underwent lung function testing, which measures the amount of air a person can breathe out in one second (forced expiratory volume or FEV1) and the total volume of air they can breathe in one forced breath (forced vital capacity or FVC).
Participants also gave blood samples and answered questionnaires on their health and lifestyle. The blood tests included a marker of low levels of vitamin K in the blood.
People with markers of low vitamin K levels had lower FEV1 and lower FVC on average.
The study was published in “ERJ Open Research.”
Vitamin K and Your Body
You typically get enough vitamin K through food, occurring mainly in plant-based foods.
Vitamin K plays a role in:
Blood clotting: Vitamin K assists with the blood clotting process. It makes four of the 13 proteins needed for blood clotting. Blood clots stop your injuries or wounds from bleeding so they can heal.
Bone health: Vitamin K strengthens bones. It does this by helping make osteocalcin, which helps prevent low bone density.
What IAA has to Say
Insurance Administrator of America is here to keep you informed in the world of health. IAA wants you to think about adding some green to that dinner plate!
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New Brain Stimulation Could Help With ADHD
A new type of brain stimulation technology may help ease the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, according to a new study.
Brain Stimulation and ADHD
The new technology called transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) involves placing two electrodes on the brain where they emit a mild, painless electrical current.
The study included 23 kids ages six to 12 with ADHD who were not taking medication to control their symptoms. Half of the children underwent brain stimulation for 10 days while playing cognitive video games. The other half received “sham” stimulation while playing video games.
Fifty-five percent of children who received active brain stimulation showed improvements in ADHD symptoms based on a standard scale and as reported by their parents. By contrast, only 17 percent of kids in the sham group showed such improvement, the study found.
These improvements were maintained three weeks after treatment ended. Furthermore, changes in the children’s brain electrical activity patterns continued even after three weeks, the researchers reported.
The study was published in the journal “Translational Psychiatry.”
Signs of ADHD
ADHD affects about 3.3 million children, according to the Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).
Kids with ADHD can show signs in any or all these areas:
Hyperactive: Kids who are hyperactive are fidgety, restless and easily bored.
Impulsive: Kids who are impulsive act too quickly before thinking.
Inattentive: Kids who are inattentive have trouble focusing their attention, concentrating and staying on task.
It is normal for young children to be restless, distracted, impatient, or impulsive. These things don’t always mean a child has ADHD. When these things continue and begin to cause problems at school, home and with friends, it may be ADHD.
What IAA has to Say
Insurance Administrator of America is here to keep you up to date on the world of health. Stay tuned to IAA’s blog for more health topics!
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New Post Partum Pill Could be a Lifesaver for Women
The medication given as a daily pill over the course of two weeks is in clinical development.
New Study
The study of 196 women with severe post-partum depression found that those who took a daily 50-milligram dose of the medication in pill form for 14 days showed significant improvement in depression symptoms. The improvements were still reported 28 and 45 days later, according to the study.
Among the women who actually received the pill (not the placebo), researchers noticed rapid responses to the treatment as early as day three.
The day after the women completed the 14 day treatment course, the researchers found that 57 percent reported a 50 percent or higher improvement in their symptoms, compared to 38% of those on a placebo.
As researchers continued to follow the women through 45 days, 61.9 percent of participants who received the medication (compared with 54.1 percent of those taking a placebo) reported a 50 percent or higher improvement in their symptoms.
The women were between the ages of 18 and 45.
The results were published in the “American Journal of Psychiatry.”
Symptoms of Post Partum Depression
Post-partum depression is a type of depression that happens after having a baby. It affects up to 15 percent of people.
Symptoms of post-partum depression can include:
Change in appetite or not eating
Crying for no reason or excessively
Difficulty thinking or focusing
Feeling sad, worthless, hopeless, or guilty
Loss of energy or motivation
Loss of interest or hobbies
Trouble sleeping or wanting to sleep all the time
Worrying excessively or feeling on edge
One in eight women experience symptoms of post-partum depression.
What IAA has to Say
Insurance Administrator of America is here to keep you up to date on the world of health. Remember, with IAA one call does it all.
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New Technique Could Help Those With Compulsive Picking
A new, simple technique could help those who pick their skin, according to a new study.
New Technique for Unhealthy Repetitive Behaviors
Body-focused repetitive behaviors-compulsively pulling or picking at your hair or skin, unable to stop yourself even if the behavior leads to scabs, scars or bald spots—affects about five percent of people worldwide, according to the TLC Foundation for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors.
Research found that an approach called “habit replacement” may help reduce these behaviors. The new technique involves gently rubbing the fingertips, palm or back of the arm, at least twice a day.
Fifty-three percent of the people in the study said they had some improvement compared with around 20 percent of people in a control group.
The Study
In a six-week study, the research team looked at 268 people who had trichotillomania (plucking hair out in response to stress or to self-soothe) or those who repeatedly bite their nails or inside of their cheek.
Volunteers were split into two groups. One group was given a manual and a video that showed them how to form the new, less harmful, habit, by gently rubbing their fingertips, palm or arm any time they felt the urge to bite their nails or engage in harmful behavior. They were also instructed to practice the new habit when they were not feeling the urge to pick as well.
People in the control group were told they were put on a waitlist, and only received habit replacement therapy after the study was concluded.
The research was published in “JAMA Dermatology.”
What IAA has to Say
Insurance Administrator of America wants you to know what is happening in the world of health. IAA is here to keep you up to date!
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Dangerously High Temperatures can be Harmful to the Body
Experts warn that people need to be careful in this summer’s high temperatures as they could impact people’s health.
Heat and Your Health
What makes the intense heat so deadly is that a person often has disruptions to the cooling mechanisms of the body—such as the brain’s hypothalamus (which regulates body temperature) that prevents them from sweating to cool off.
A person’s normal body temperature typically ranges from 97F to 99F. Heatstroke occurs when the body temperature is 104F or higher.
Heatstroke can cause severe symptoms, including changes in mental status, coma and seizures.
A milder form of heat-related illness, known as heat exhaustion, can cause headache, nausea or dizziness.
It is not just your physical health that heat can affect, it is your mental health as well. It affects:
Ability to sleep: Poor sleep is associated with all types of accidents.
Cognition: The ability to think clearly, make decisions, communicate well, take protective actions.
Delayed memory and recall
Increased irritability and frustration
Increased rate of and risk for violence
Shorter attention span
Taking longer than usual to complete tasks
Warning Signs
At triple-digit temperatures, the first symptoms of heat exposure can happen in 15 minutes. Early symptoms can include:
Dizziness
Nausea
Shortness of breath
What IAA has to Say
Insurance Administrator of America wants to make sure you are keeping cool in this hot weather. IAA hopes you have a fun and safe summer.
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Kidney Stones on the Rise in Children and Teens
Incidences of kidney stones are rising among children and teens, especially young girls.
New Cases of Kidney Stones
Kidney stones, hard deposits of minerals and salts that can get caught in the urinary tract, are now occurring in younger people, particularly among teenage girls, new data shows.
Kidney stones (also known as nephrolithiasis) are a metabolic disorder, occurring when minerals, such as calcium, oxalate and phosphorus accumulate in urine and form hard yellowish crystals. Some stones make their way out of the urinary tract with no issue, but others can get stuck, blocking the flow of urine and causing severe pain and bleeding.
While unclear as to why this is happening, experts speculate that a combination of factors are to blame, including diets high in ultra processed foods, increased use of antibiotics early in life, and climate change causing more cases of dehydration.
Research published in the “Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology,” found that the incidence of kidney stone disease rose 16 percent from 1997 to 2012 with 15 to 19-year-olds experiencing the greatest increase within this age group. Kidney stone incidence was 52 percent higher among girls and women.
Experts believe that children’s worsening diets may play a role. High amounts of sodium from potato chips, sports drinks and packaged meals can force extra minerals into the urine that can clump into kidney stones. It is especially likely if the child does not drink enough water or drinks too many sweetened beverages high in corn syrup.
Hotter summers may also cause more kidney stones. The hotter and more humid it is, the more you sweat and less you urinate, allowing minerals to bond in the kidneys and urinary tract. Children are especially vulnerable to heat.
Children who develop a stone have about a 50 percent chance of developing another one within five to seven years, according to the National Kidney Foundation.
Kidney Stone Symptoms
About 10 percent of people in the United States will have a kidney stone at some point in their lives, according to the National Kidney Foundation.
Symptoms of kidney stones can include:
A consistent need to urinate
Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
Irritability, especially in younger children
Pink, brown or red blood in the urine
Symptoms can sometimes be “more nonspecific” in children, especially younger ones.
What IAA has to Say
Insurance Administrator of America thinks it is important to stay on top of the world of health. Remember, with IAA one call does it all.
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