Heart Disease And Mental Health Disorders
Mental health is an important part of overall health and refers to a persons emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Mental health involves how we think, feel, act, and make choices.
Mental health disorders can be short- or long-term and can interfere with a persons mood, behavior, thinking, and ability to relate to others. Various studies have shown the impact of trauma, depression, anxiety, and stress on the body, including stress on the heart.1-3
Cholesterol And Your Mood
by Health Professional
By the early 1990s, the link between high cholesterol and heart disease was well established and the era of with the intent of reducing heart disease risk had begun. In this decade, hundreds of studies and tens of thousands of patients were enrolled in various trials which showed that lowering cholesterol both through lifestyle changes and pharmacologic means was beneficial. However, some scientists wondered if there was a hidden price to be had for better heart health. In 1990, a study reviewing several of these cholesterol lowering trials concluded that lowering cholesterol did lower heart disease risk, but surprisingly increased the risk of death from accidents, suicide, and violence. Was lowering cholesterol adversely affecting behavior?
Scientists Have Known For A While That The Medications Used To Treat Asthma Are Sometimes Associated With Behavioural Changes Such As An Increase In Hyperactivity
Technically, paracetamol isnt changing our personalities, because the effects only last a few hours and few of us take it continuously. But Mischkowski stresses that we do need to be informed about the ways it affects us, so that we can use our common sense. Just like we should be aware that you shouldn’t get in front of the wheel if you’re under the influence of alcohol, you don’t want to take paracetamol and then put yourself into a situation that requires you to be emotionally responsive like having a serious conversation with a partner or co-worker.
One reason medications can have such psychological clout is that the body isnt just a bag of separate organs, awash with chemicals with well-defined roles instead, its a network, in which many different processes are linked.
For example, scientists have known for a while that the medications used to treat asthma are sometimes associated with behavioural changes, such as an increase in hyperactivity and the development of ADHD symptoms. Then, more recently, research uncovered a mysterious connection between the two disorders themselves having one increases the risk of having the other by 45-53%. No one knows why, but one idea is that asthma medications bring on ADHD symptoms by altering levels or serotonin or inflammatory chemicals, which are thought to be involved in the development of both conditions.
There have been many reports of severe psychological change from the use of statins
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Dosage For Bulimia Nervosa
- Strengths: 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg
Brand: Prozac
- Strengths: 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg
Adult dosage
Typical dosage: 60 mg per day taken in the morning.
Child dosage
This drug hasnt been studied in children for this condition. It shouldnt be used in people younger than 18 years.
Senior dosage
Seniors may have a higher risk of side effects from this drug. Because of this risk, your doctor may lower your dosage or reduce how often you take the drug.
Hypertension And Your Mental Health
You may not think of mental health disorders when you think about high blood pressure, but a connection exists. If you have hypertension, youre more likely to experience mood issues, such as anxiety and depression than those with normal blood pressure.
Hypertension is a manageable condition. There are ways to control your blood pressure with lifestyle changes and/or medication. Adhering to an effective hypertension treatment plan can get your blood pressure under control and improve your mental health. Heres what our physicians at Westmed Family Healthcare want you to know about hypertension and your mental health.
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Side Effects Requiring Immediate Medical Attention
Along with its needed effects, methimazole may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking methimazole:
Incidence not known
- burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, “pins and needles”, or tingling feelings
- chest pain
- feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
- fever
- loss of appetite and weight
- loss of consciousness
- pinpoint red spots on the skin
- redness, soreness, or itching skin
- sensation of spinning
- sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
- sores, welts, or blisters
- swelling of the face, feet, or lower legs
- swollen or painful glands
- swollen, painful, or tender lymph glands in the neck, armpit, or groin
- tightness in the chest
- yellow eyes or skin
How Does Hypertension Affect Your Mental Health
Just getting a diagnosis of hypertension can make you feel anxious. But its important to know that with adequate treatment, you can get your blood pressure under control and protect your heart and mental health. Having high blood pressure doesnt mean that youre destined to die of a heart attack or stroke.
Researchers have explored the connection between high blood pressure and mental health and found that it can affect your mental health in the following ways:
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Change To Your Appetite
If you lose your appetite, it may help to take your tablet with food. You may find eating small frequent meals or snacks helps keep up your food intake.
If your appetite increases it may affect your weight.
If you struggle to maintain a healthy weight, ask your GP or specialist about being referred to a dietitian.
Side Effects Of Anabolic Steroids
The effects of anabolic steroid use can differ from person to person. Some people may experience:
- damage to nerves from injecting steroids
- irritability, mood swings, aggression or depression
- injuries to tendons that can’t keep up with the increased muscle strength
- delusional feelings of being superhuman or invincible.Trembling and muscle tremors.
- nerve damage from needle use this may lead to conditions such as sciatica
- unsafe needle use can increased the risk of contracting infactions such as hepatitis B and C, HIV and tetanus.
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Lack Of Relationship Between Lipid Levels And Depression
It is still controversial whether low cholesterol levels contribute to the occurrence of depression. Authors of studies conducted on small and big groups of patients did not confirm any significant relationship between the degree of depression and TC levels . Maes et al. divided patients with unipolar depression into three subgroups: with minor , simple major and melancholic depressive disorders . The control group consisted of 26 healthy subjects. The authors did not note any significant relationship between selected lipid parameters and types of depressive disorders. It is worth mentioning that in 12 relatives of the patients with melancholic depressive disorders from subgroup 3 the authors observed lower estrified cholesterol ratio than in healthy subjects.
In 2006 Chen et al. published findings of a two-year study conducted on a group of 69 menopausal females with diagnosed depression . He did not note any relationship between TG, TC, HDL-C, VLDL, LDL-C levels, TC/HDL and LDL/HDL ratios and the occurrence of depressive disorders.
Tips To Manage Your Stress
Fight the urge to overeat, binge on junk food or alcohol, or smoke when youâre stressed. All of these may seem to help you relax, but theyâre short-term fixes that have long-term effects on your health.
These unhealthy habits can also raise cholesterol. Lifestyle changes like exercise, healthy eating, and not smoking can help you manage your cholesterol and stress at the same time.
For high-quality stress relief:
- Connect with friends, family members, or co-workers who lift your spirits. Set up an in-person visit, phone call, or online chat.
- Volunteer in your community. Doing something to help others may boost your mood and help destress.
- Start a journal or blog to express your thoughts. Work through emotions on the page instead of keeping stress bottled up.
- Listen to music. If youâre stressed out, slow-tempo music can soothe and relax you, while faster beats are good when you need to boost your spirits.
- Get regular exercise to release endorphins, natural chemicals that ease stress. When youâre in shape, you can deal with stress more effectively. Your blood pressure and heart rate may not spike as much even when youâre stressed out.
- Try mind-body practices that relax you, including mindfulness, meditation, or yoga routines.
Could your stress be due to something more serious, like anxiety disorder? While symptoms may be similar, anxiety disorder usually causes feelings of intense fear or panic that come on quickly and happen more often than typical stress.
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The Idea That Antidepressants Are Affecting Neuroticism Directly Is Intriguing
The big surprise was that, though the antidepressants did make the participants feel less depressed, the reduction in neuroticism was much more powerful and their influence on neuroticism was independent of their impact on depression. The patients on antidepressants also started to score more highly for extroversion.
Its important to note that it was a relatively small study, and no one has tried to repeat the results yet, so they may not be totally reliable. But the idea that antidepressants are affecting neuroticism directly is intriguing. One idea is that the trait is linked to level of serotonin in the brain, which is altered by the SSRIs.
While becoming less neurotic might sound like an appealing side-effect, its not necessarily all good news. Thats because this aspect of our personalities is something of a double-edged sword yes, its been associated with all kinds of unpleasant outcomes, such as an earlier death, but its also thought that anxious over-thinking might be helpful. For example, neurotic individuals tend to be more risk-averse, and in certain situations worrying can improve a persons performance.
Cholesterol-lowering drugs save tens of thousands of lives every year, so people should seek medical advice before stopping taking them
Interactions That Increase Your Risk Of Side Effects
Increased side effects: Taking fluoxetine with certain medications raises your risk of side effects. This is because fluoxetine and these other medications can cause the same side effects. These drugs include serotonergic drugs, such as:
- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as fluoxetine and sertraline
- serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors such as duloxetine and venlafaxine
- tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline and clomipramine
- the opioids fentanyl and tramadol
- the anxiolytic buspirone
- St. Johns wort
- amphetamines
Taking these drugs with fluoxetine may increase your risk of serotonin syndrome, which can be fatal. If you take any of these drugs, your doctor will start you on a lowered dosage of fluoxetine and monitor you for signs of serotonin syndrome. Symptoms can include agitation, sweating, muscle twitches, and confusion.
Increased side effects from other drugs: Taking fluoxetine with certain medications raises your risk of side effects from these drugs. Examples of these drugs include:
Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs interact differently in each person, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible interactions. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your healthcare provider about possible interactions with all prescription drugs, vitamins, herbs and supplements, and over-the-counter drugs that you are taking.
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How Do Statins Work
Statins slow down the production of cholesterol in your liver.
- Cholesterol is measured in mmol/L.
- Having a total cholesterol above 4 mmol/L increases your chance of having atherosclerosis.
- If you have high cholesterol, even lowering it by 1 mmol/L will lower your risk of a fatal heart attack or stroke by 20%.
- The longer you take a statin, the more you reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke.
Read more about high cholesterol.
Can Depression Be Detected With A Blood Test
When you’re ill, your doctor may run a battery of tests to help figure out what’s causing you to feel unwell. In the case of common infections, a simple blood test can make the diagnosis and guide your doctor in prescribing the right treatment.
When you have symptoms of mental illness, however, diagnosis and treatment can be a far more complex process. Promising research is being done, but we don’t yet have a simple blood test that can diagnose depression.
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Common Causes Of Mood Swings And How To Improve Them
Humans are moody beings. We can be happy, sad, joyful, irritable, calm, agitated, energized, tiredâthe list goes on. Being moody and having mood swings is part of being human and is primarily driven by how we feel physically and what we are absorbing from our environment. But what about when mood swings become more frequent, or when we are always irritable?
Our mood is a significant determinant of our quality of life and overall health and wellbeing. When moodiness begins to impact our daily life, it can signal that something is amiss in our bodies and minds. It is essential to learn about what triggers your moodiness and how you can make changes to avoid those triggers. Ahead, six of the most common causes of mood swings and strategies on how to improve them to better your quality of life.
High Blood Pressure And High Cholesterol
Letrozole can cause high blood pressure in some people. Your GP will be able to monitor and treat this if necessary.
It may also cause the level of cholesterol in the blood to rise, although this doesnt usually need treatment. If you have a history of high cholesterol you may want to discuss this with your specialist or GP.
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Dependence On Anabolic Steroids
Anabolic steroids do not cause physical dependence. However, if a person relies on them for their self-esteem and confidence, then giving up can be extremely difficult. The pressure to keep using steroids may result in feelings of anger or depression if their access to steroids is denied, even temporarily.
What Is A Diabetes Pump
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Use this calculator to calculate the risk of an infant with congenital diaphragmatic hernia either requiring ECMO or of dying without ECMO use.
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How Often Do I Need To See My Doctor After Menopause
You should still see your healthcare provider for routine gynecological care even though you aren’t menstruating. This includes Pap tests, pelvic exams, breast exams and mammograms. You should continue to schedule annual wellness appointments. Since you are at an increased risk for osteoporosis, providers usually recommend bone density screenings as well. Talk to your healthcare provider to determine how often you should make check-up appointments based on your health history.
Are There Any Risks With Taking Statins
Most people have few, if any, side effects from statins. The most common side effects are tummy upset such as indigestion, bloating, flatulence , headache, and stuffy nose.
Some people may have:
- muscle pain or weakness
- an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes
- an increased risk of stroke caused by a bleed in the brain however, there is also a lower risk of stroke caused by a blocked blood vessel. These risks are thought to balance each other out.
There are also reports that statins may affect cognitive function, mainly memory loss and confusion, and affect sleep and mood but these have not been fully proven.
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Withdrawal From Anabolic Steroids
It can take up to 4 months to restore natural testosterone levels after being on anabolic steroids for a long time. Withdrawal symptoms from steroids can include:
Treatment options for drug dependence or addiction may include:
- detoxification
- individual counselling
- group therapy.
Peer support or talking to someone who has been in the same situation can also be helpful.
See your doctor for information and referral, or contact an alcohol and other drug service in your area.