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Hoarding Reveals These Mental Illnesses, According to Psychology

March 19, 2020 by Power of Positivity

The term hoarding refers to a psychological disorder whereby an individual refuses to discard things that they own. The person holds a firm belief that they will eventually need these items for some reason.

According to a 2016-study published in the Washington Post, the most recent and relevant data available, compulsive hoarding significantly affects the lives of more than 19 million people in America. It is also worth noting that this particular mental health disorder is known to run in families. In short, those with parents or siblings who have a problem with this often misunderstood psychosis could develop it themselves.

What You Probably Do Not Know About Hoarding

As with any mental health disorder, hoarding can have a profound impact on one’s life. That’s not to mention the impact it has on the lives of others.

For example, some individuals stockpile so many items in their homes that they create a fire hazard. Thus, they make the home inaccessible and also inescapable.

What items do people hoard?

While the type of items collected can vary from one person to the next, a study published by the International OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) Foundation revealed that the average hoarder has their home filled to the brim with the following:

Piles of open or unopened mail
Magazines
Newspapers
Clothing
Plastic bags
Boxes

In severe cases, some individuals may even fill their homes with garbage, rotten food, and human or animal excrement, according to the International OCD Foundation article.

Along with blocking exits in case of a fire, these items can also make the home unsanitary. And this is especially true when it comes to excrement and rotten food. That’s because both can attract rodents and increase one’s risk of being exposed to infectious diseases. The same also applies to bacteria-carrying insects.

Physical illnesses from hoarding

To further illustrate this point, we need only take a look at a study published by the BBC, also known as the British Broadcasting Corporation. According to the study, the average housefly buzzing around one’s home carries 600 different strains of bacteria. Moreover, each bacteria can contribute to the following health problems:

Blood poisoning
Viral gastroenteritis (stomach bugs)
Pneumonia

As far as rodents are concerned, they can also cause health problems for hoarders and their families if they find their way into the home. According to an article published by the well-regarded Canadian Global Television Network, the urine, saliva, and feces produced by rodents can cause serious health problems, including

Salmonellosis
Listeria
Hantavirus

While other illnesses stem from living in an overcrowded, unsanitary home, those mentioned in this article are among the most common. Furthermore, they are usually the ones that will prompt friends and family members to encourage hoarders to seek help.

Know these ten early signs of pneumonia.

Hoarding Is a Mental Illness

Having established the fact that hoarding is, indeed, a mental health disorder, let’s delve a little deeper so that we can get a better understanding of the psychological and physiological toll that it can take on one’s life. According to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, also commonly referred to as DSM-5, hoarding meets the criteria necessary to be deemed an obsessive-compulsive and related disorder. And this is because it can be accompanied or made worse by anxiety and depression, both of which co-occur in roughly 75 percent of individuals with a hoarding disorder.

Let’s break this down. For example, the same compulsion that drives an individual to keep checking to make sure they locked their front door is the same urge that compels them to hold on to items. Beyond that, it will often drive them to hold on to things that can jeopardize their health and wellbeing.

Additional Signs That Reveal a Hoarder

Along with an overcrowded and unsanitary home, there are many other signs that are synonymous with hoarding. According to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, individuals with a hoarding disorder will:

Become distressed by even the thought of having to part ways with certain items
Be unable to maintain a safe living environment for themselves or others
Engage in hoarding-related behaviors in the absence of a major psychiatric disorder
Feel compelled to keep things that have little to no utility or value

Why Do Some People Become Hoarders?

Given the threat to one’s health and overall wellbeing, you might be wondering why hoarders would engage in the behavior. As with any other mental health disorder, there is no easy answer to this question. Aside from genetics, people who hoard do so for many reasons. For example, some studies show that hoarding-related behavior is a byproduct of other mental health problems, such as depression and ADHD, also known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

What triggers hoarders?

Further, several highly credible studies, including one from the National Institutes of Health, have shown that many individuals who identify as being hoarders are also struggling with some form of emotional trauma. That said, some of the traumatic events that can drive individuals to become hoarders include

Health problems
The death of a friend or family member
Divorce
Financial troubles

Along with these events, several studies have shown that hoarding-related behaviors are especially common among those who have previously lost all of their possessions. And this could be the result of either a fire or eviction. In either case, it is not too hard to see why they might want to hold on to their things even tighter on the second go-round. While it is easy to feel sympathy for those who have gone through traumatic events that have led to them becoming hoarders, most would agree that it is in their best interest to seek the help of a licensed mental health professional. The same applies to those who are struggling with the disorder due to genetics.

What Treatments Are Available to Hoarders Who Wish to Regain Control of Their Lives?

If you’re a hoarder who is ready to regain control over your life, undo the overcrowding in your home, and reduce your risk of falling victim to an infectious disease, you will be happy to know that there is no shortage of treatments available. For those who engage in hoarding-related behavior due to an underlying mental health disorder or a traumatic event in their lives can usually benefit from counseling. However, the same cannot be said for those who develop the disorder as a result of a genetic predisposition.

As of the writing of this article, there are no FDA-approved, Food and Drug Administration, medications available to treat this particular obsessive-compulsive and related disorder. That aside, counseling has been proven effective in helping many individuals put their hoarding-based lifestyle behind them for good. And this is especially true for those who underwent cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). To substantiate this claim, we need only take a look at a study published by the International Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Foundation.

According to Gail Steketee, a professor and dean at Boston University and, most notably, one of the many researchers involved in the study, 70 to 80 percent of hoarders who underwent CBT saw significant behavioral improvements after completing just 26 sessions with a licensed therapist. Along with CBT, individuals who struggle with a hoarding-based disorder have also been shown to benefit from the following types of behavioral therapy:

Psychoeducation

This approach to behavioral therapy is every bit like it sounds in that therapists will work with individuals to help them better understand their disorder.

Improving organizational skills

An integral part of counseling for those who are hoarders is learning how to get organized. Many therapists will not only help their patients in this regard but also instruct them on how to solve problems.

Evacuation exposure

This approach to behavioral therapy revolves around teaching individuals how to declutter both their mind and physical space. During this counseling, individuals learn how to distinguish between the possessions they need versus those that represent an emotional attachment.

Read what it’s like to live with mental illness.

Final Thoughts on Hoarding Behaviors

In summary, a hoarding-based lifestyle can compromise numerous aspects of an individual’s life. Fortunately, with the help of a licensed therapist and a willingness to correct this maladaptive behavior, individuals can regain control. And that fact improves not only their home but also their life.

Urologist Shares Tips for Women Suffering From Urinary Incontinence

March 18, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Urinary incontinence affects millions of women across the globe, but it is most prevalent in women older than 50. Urinary incontinence is the leaking of urine during normal daily living activities or in having to urinate without warning urgently. This problem can be acute or chronic. A urologist has offered suggestions for women who are experiencing this common, yet debilitating problem.

What Causes Urinary Incontinence?

There are many causes of urinary incontinence, but the main one is age. Older women who are experiencing menopause are more likely to experience this issue. Previous childbirths or general wear on the body makes the body weaker and not as efficient at holding in urine. In some cases, recent pregnancy and childbirth can temporarily weaken the organ and lead to urine leakage.

Some women find that the urge to urinate strikes so suddenly that they don’t have a chance to get to the bathroom in time. This situation can cause distressing and embarrassing leaks if the condition isn’t treated effectively.

The condition can also be caused by underlying medical conditions that are highly treatable. These include, but are not limited to:

Urinary tract infections

These infections can irritate the body and lead to leakages. When you talk to your doctor about your symptoms, this is one of the first things that he or she will check.

This delicious homemade cranberry juice provides UTI relief for many women.

Constipation

If you are frequently pushing and straining to have a bowel movement, it can weaken the pelvic muscles, leading to leakages. Treating constipation often solves the problem without further intervention.

Hysterectomy

Any surgical procedure that affects a woman’s reproductive system can cause urinary incontinence. This can be a temporary condition immediately following the surgery or an ongoing condition.

Obstruction or tumors

Tumors in the body can block the pathways in the urinary tract. These blockages can cause overflow and leakage problems in both men and women.

Neurological disorders

sometimes the problem is caused by the signals not making their way from the brain to the organs correctly. Conditions like Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, strokes, spinal cord injuries or brain tumors can lead to the involuntary release of urine.

Family history

If your mother suffered from this common condition, the odds are higher that you will also suffer from the same leakages. Your doctor will likely take a family history to find out if the condition is hereditary.

The Four Basic Types of Urinary Incontinence in Women

Stress– this type occurs when you sneeze, laugh, lift heavy objects or exercise
Urge–this type occurs when you leak urine after feeling the intense, sudden urge to urinate. Also called overactive bladder, this can happen even at the sound of running water
Mixed–this is when you have stress and urge incontinence at the same time. This happens more frequently with women than with men
Functional–this is when another condition makes it impossible for you to get to the bathroom in time. Many people with mobility problems suffer from this common form

Science explains ten causes of an overactive bladder.

When to Seek Medical Advice

Women should seek medical advice any time they start to see symptoms of the condition. In some cases, incontinence can be caused by an infection. Untreated infections can cause a variety of problems that can have long-term consequences.

Your general practitioner can diagnose the condition either through a short interview or a pelvic exam. The doctor may also ask you to keep a diary of your symptoms, keeping track of each time you experience leakage or urgency. You may also be asked to keep track of your food and liquid intake.

Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes like schedule training, pelvic floor exercises, and changes in weight and diet. They may also indicate the use of pads and other aides to deal with leaks.

Techniques for Women to Deal With Urinary Incontinence

1 – Schedule Training

One of the ways to prevent urinary leaks is to use the bathroom at the same time each day. Instead of waiting for the feeling of the urge to go, you proactively use the restroom, gradually training your body to go longer between trips to the bathroom.

2 – Kegel Exercises

Often used by women to prepare for the birth of a child, Kegel exercises can help stop the flow of urine and strengthen the bladder. Urologists encourage women to perform these exercises several times daily.

1. Get a feel for the pelvic floor muscles by stopping your urine mid-stream. Squeeze the muscles tightly and release them.

2. When you are not using the bathroom, squeeze your pelvic floor muscles for five seconds and release. Doing one cycle of this counts as one rep. Do three sets of 10 of these daily.

3 – Cut Back on Caffeine

Drinking large amounts of caffeine can worsen urinary leakage. Caffeine can irritate the bladder, making it more likely that you will have problems holding urine. Coffee, sodas, green tea, energy drinks, and hot cocoa can aggravate the condition. Cutting back on these high caffeine drinks can help to ease the symptoms and stop the leakages.

4 – Stop Smoking

Smoking can weaken the muscles of the pelvis, leading to incontinence. Excess coughing that often accompanies smoking can reduce the muscles and make it more likely that you will experience leakages.

5 – Lose Weight

Excess weight can put pressure on the pelvic floor, making it weaker and more susceptible to leakage. By losing weight, you will release this pressure and start to see a reduction in the incidences of leakages. Even a small amount of weight loss can go a long way in stopping this bothersome problem.

6 – Drink More Water

Many people who suffer from this condition avoid drinking water out of fear that it will make the situation worse. In reality, the opposite is exact. Not drinking enough water will make the organ smaller, which means that you will be more, not less likely to hold urine. Drinking eight glasses of water per day will help to ease the symptoms and alleviate the problem.

7 – Avoid Acidic Foods

Acidic foods can irritate the lining of the organ, making it more likely that you will suffer from leakage. Foods like tomatoes, oranges, lemons, curries, and grapefruit can all worsen the condition.

8 – Get Exercise

Engaging in regular exercise that strengthens the core and the pelvic muscles is an excellent way to ward off the symptoms of this inconvenient condition. Activities like yoga, Pilates, and core training will help you to alleviate the pressure that can lead to leakage. It will also strengthen the muscles to help you to stop the flow of urine before leaks happen.

9 – Stop Drinking Late at Night

Cutting out all liquid after 6 p.m. will help to prevent the urge to urinate throughout the night. Many women will find themselves getting up frequently during the night to use the bathroom, which can interfere with sleep. By cutting out all liquids late in the evening, you can avoid this sleep interruption.

10 – Purchase the Right Products to Help With Leakages

If you are dealing with this condition, you may often find yourself with wet clothing. Many women use absorbency products like waterproof pants or pads to catch leaks. Some women are outfitted with catheters that catch urine before leaks happen.

Some women use tampons to stop the flow of urine, although urologists do not widely recommend this. Doctors also do not support the use of sanitary napkins as these products are not formulated for urine leaks. They may trap urine closer to the skin and cause skin irritation.

Here are twelve menopause signs women should never ignore.

Final Thoughts: Talk to Your Doctor About Urinary Incontinence

Many women are reluctant to talk to their medical professionals about this common problem. If you are pregnant or have recently given birth, understand that this happens to most new moms. Your doctor or nursing professionals deal with these issues daily and are glad to talk to you about how to solve the problem.

Women who are going through menopause often visit their doctors for other gynecological issues, and this is an excellent time to bring up the problem. Again, your medical professional is used to talking about this issue with other women, and they will treat you with dignity and respect.

The worst thing you can do when faced with this condition is to ignore it. In older adults, racing to the bathroom can lead to falls that can, in turn, cause serious injuries. Dealing with this problem can also limit social interactions as many women are afraid of unplanned leaks while out in public or with friends. Finally, this condition can also be a symptom of a more severe issue, and ignoring it can lead to worse health outcomes.

When it comes to dealing with urinary incontinence many causes can lead to the condition. Most of these causes can be easily treated with lifestyle changes and don’t require major surgery or ongoing medication. Many women suffer from leakages, but they do not have to be an inevitable part of the aging process. By identifying the source of the problem, taking steps to alleviate the condition, and talking to your doctor and other medical professionals, you can enjoy a life free of embarrassing and inconvenient leaks.

Researchers Reveal How Biohacking Can Improve Your Health

March 18, 2020 by Power of Positivity

If you’ve never heard of biohacking before, it encompasses ways to hack your biology to improve various health markers. For example, making small lifestyle changes such as diets and exercise programs are forms of biohacking. It’s merely a fancy way of saying “Improving health.”

People engage in biohacking for several reasons, some of which include losing weight, boosting brain function, reducing anxiety or depression, or just feeling better overall.

Different types of biohacking

Below, we’ll go over the most common forms of biohacking:

Nutrigenomics

Nutrigenomics involves how your diet affects your genes. The entire premise for this type of biohacking is that your body’s genetic makeup can be tracked and optimized by testing the various ways that nutrients influence your health. It also looks at how the nutrients you consume could affect your mental and emotional health. As most of us know, the foods we eat have a direct impact on our moods and psychological functioning.

DIY biology

This form of biohacking comes from experts and scientists who have studied the various ways that lifestyle choices and biology affect health. Scientists help average people like you and me by sharing tips so that those at home can perform structured, safe experiments on themselves.

Grinder

A grinder is a type of biohacking that views the entire body as changeable. They see human bodies as a type of robot that can be transformed in various ways. Grinders, in general, wish to become superhuman by using chemical injections, implants, and other gadgets so that their body works in the best way possible. This is an extreme version of biohacking.

Research confirms that words can physically alter our DNA.

Here are some results of each type of biohacking:

Nutrigenomics may hack your biology by:

decreasing your likelihood of getting a disease that you already have genetic markers for
helping you with physical, mental, or emotional health, such as losing weight or reducing depression
helping to alter body functions such as your blood pressure or gut bacteria

Foods can alter your genes, but other factors play a role in your overall health as well. For example, a 2015 review of nutrigenomics research shows that factors such as stress levels, weight, and exercise habits also determine how your body responds to food.

How DIY biology and grinder techniques work:

These more dangerous forms of biohacking should be done with caution and perhaps avoided altogether due to their inherent risk. For example, one man injected a chemical compound called Chlorin e6 into his eyes so that he could have night visions. The man could see people moving around at night in the woods because the chemical causes temporary changes in the photosensitizers in your eyes. This change allows the cells in your eyes to make out light more efficiently. However, this could’ve had horrible consequences, such as blindness or other health problems.

DIY bio can also lead to legal problems if you make a mistake. A 2017 piece in the UC Davis Law Review warned that using biological agents could break international bioterrorism laws or cause severe health problems.

As for the grinder subculture of biohacking, serious problems can occur as well. A 2018 New York Times piece followed grinders who inserted RFID chips in their bodies to get into secure hospital wings or have enhanced hearing by using built-in headphones. While these objects might sound cool, they can have health ramifications such as causing inflammation, chronic infections, and even cancer.

How blood testing can be used to biohack

The safest and most effective way to biohack is to get bloodwork done. This is an excellent way to measure your body’s nutrient levels and other markers, such as plasma. You can use bloodwork before and after trying a new diet to see how it affects your vitamin and mineral levels. For example, if you’re on a keto diet, you’re probably getting more B vitamins from all the meat. You can check your levels of these before and after getting on the program.

Of course, blood tests aren’t necessary to see changes. You can have noticeable changes in your health just by paying attention to how you feel. Eating more whole foods, and a plant-based diet will probably give you more energy and improve your cognitive function. However, bloodwork will show you specifically where your body needs work and how lifestyle changes affect your overall health.

The case for nootropics

Nootropics are discussed regularly in biohacking communities. They are found in supplements or food sources and are used to increase brain function. They can boost your mood, productivity, and attention span. Many people already use a type of nootropic every morning – caffeine.

Nootropics are usually safe unless they’re consumed in large quantities. For instance, drinking too much coffee can cause a caffeine overdose, although this is very uncommon. Medications containing nootropics can also be dangerous unless regulated by a medical professional. Nootropics are popular among biohackers because of how readily available they are and how quickly the body metabolizes them.

Research reveals the benefits of drinking coffee.

Four ways you can engage in biohacking from the comfort of home

1 – Drink caffeine

Caffeine is consumed by millions of people around the globe every day because of how it boosts energy and mood. You can get caffeine in the form of coffee (the most popular method), green tea, or in foods such as dark chocolate. Have the caffeine at the same time every day, preferably the morning, and take note of how you feel. Some people are more sensitive to caffeine and become jittery or anxious. However, you can always lower the dose and see if it still affects you in the same way.

You can even make what’s called bulletproof coffee. This is widely touted in the ketogenic world for its energy-boosting and weight loss effects. It contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) oil, which helps boost metabolism.

2 – Change your diet

You can try an elimination diet, which consists of making tweaks to your diet to see how you feel. Then, you reintroduce the food and notice if it negatively affects your health. Many people who believe they have allergies to foods try the elimination diet to see if getting rid of the food improves their well-being. Dairy, sugar, wheat, and red meats are common foods to eliminate to see how they affect health.

There are two steps to an elimination diet:

Remove one or more foods from your diet completely.
Wait about two weeks, then reintroduce the foods back into your diet and notice how you feel

If you notice the following symptoms, you might be allergic to that food:

rashes
breakouts
pain
fatigue
stomach pain
diarrhea
constipation

3 – Increase your sunlight exposure

Many people don’t get enough sunlight in today’s world. However, studies have shown that sunlight has the ability to boost your mood or enhance your cognitive performance. Try to spend at least 30 minutes outside per day and notice how it affects your mood. However, don’t get carried away by spending too much time outdoors, because sunlight has strong UV rays that can lead to skin cancer if you’re not careful. Don’t stare at the sun directly, and always wear layers to protect your skin.

4 – Try intermittent fasting

Intermittent fasting involves only eating at certain times and then fasting the rest of the time until the next eating period. Many people choose to eat during an eight hour period and then fast for the rest of the time. Noon to 8 PM is popular in the intermittent fasting community. Some people even choose to eat just one meal per day and have a two-hour eating window.

Fasting offers several health benefits, including:

lowering insulin which helps your body burn fat easier
helping your cells repair damaged tissues
protecting you from devastating diseases such as cancer

Talk to your doctor before you start an elimination diet if you:

have diabetes or issues with blood sugar
have low blood pressure
are taking medications
have an eating disorder or have had one in the past
are pregnant or breastfeeding

Use biohacking to eliminate issues like lactose intolerance.

Final thoughts about how biohacking can improve health

Biohacking clearly has health benefits; however, it’s important to monitor your health closely in case of any issues that arise. With DIY biohacking and grinder, you’ll probably want to avoid them unless you have experience in the scientific field. Messing around with biochemical agents and gadgets like RFID chips can cause serious health problems if you don’t have experience with them.

The best ways to biohack are the ones listed above: caffeine, making diet changes, trying intermittent fasting, and getting more sunlight. Biohacking can be simple, and usually, you’ll see positive results by implementing lifestyle changes. We all want to feel our best and have optimal health, and most of that boils down to the choices we make on a daily basis. Getting back to the basics by implementing a regular sleep schedule, exercise routine, healthy eating regimen, and adequate sunlight exposure can improve health drastically for many people.

Scientists Reveal How Light and Sound Therapy Can Heal Alzheimer’s

March 18, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Scientists looking for a way to heal Alzheimer’s found a promising breakthrough–light and sound therapy.

“Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia,a general term for memory loss and other cognitive abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases.” – alz.org

Here are some basic statistics and facts about Alzheimer’s from alz.org:

Alzheimer’s disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the U.S.
5.8 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s. By 2050, that number is projected to be 14 million
Every 66 seconds, someone in the U.S. develops Alzheimer’s
Since 2000, deaths from the disease have increased by 89%
In 2017, an estimated 5.5 million Americans were living with Alzheimer’s (two-thirds were women)
Last year, Alzheimer’s cost the nation $290 billion
By 2050, this number could rise to $1.1 trillion

What is Alzheimer’s?

A type of dementia making up 60-80% of diagnosed cases, Alzheimer’s is a type of disease involving memory loss and other impaired cognitive functions. Most people with Alzheimer’s are over 65; however, around 200,000 young people have the disease.

Alzheimer’s progresses through varying, gradually worsening stages. Symptoms are subtle in the beginning, such as having trouble keeping up with bills or misplacing keys. At the later stages, the patient becomes confused and has a difficult time carrying on conversations. The average Alzheimer’s patient lives for 6-8 years following diagnosis.

While there no current cure for Alzheimer’s, researchers continue to study it.

Here are useful tips to boost your memory.

Ten Primary Symptoms of Alzheimer’s

1 – Memory loss

Memory loss is the most well-known and easily spotted symptom of Alzheimer’s. However, there are other lesser-known symptoms you should look out for, including:

2 – Difficulty solving problems

This challenge might include having trouble following recipes or keeping up with bills.

3 – Lowered ability to complete everyday chores

This difficulty might consist of issues at one’s job, at home, or during tasks such as grocery shopping.

4 – Losing track of time or place

Many people with Alzheimer’s forget where they’re at or how they arrived there. They may also have a hard time distinguishing between past, present, and future.

5 –Vision problems

New or worsening vision problems could be a sign of Alzheimer’s. If the patient displays this symptom, they probably shouldn’t be allowed to drive anymore, as this endangers them as well as others.

6 – Difficulty carrying conversations or writing

Those with Alzheimer’s have a hard time carrying conversations because it takes them longer to find the correct words to say. They may stop mid-sentence to gather their thoughts. Also, writing activities such as making grocery lists will become more difficult.

7 – Losing items

Alzheimer’s patients may misplace or purposely hide items as they are suspicious of others stealing from them. Losing track of keys, glasses, and other essential things become more common as the disease progresses.

8 – Lowered ability to care for themselves

In the beginning, they might simply forget how to put on their shirt or pants. However, this can escalate in later stages to not being able to control bodily functions as well as forgetting to take baths or showers. Patients in the later stages typically require at-home care, so they have their basic needs met

9 – Isolation

A person with Alzheimer’s will often withdraw themselves from social situations due to so many changes happening internally. They usually don’t recognize themselves and have a harder time engaging with others.

10 – Mood and personality changes

Personality changes and mood swings can happen in almost anyone. However, those with Alzheimer’s may become confused, suspicious, angry, afraid, or depressed quite quickly and for seemingly no reason. Changes in routine or unexpected events may cause these moods to worsen.

Alzheimer’s is complex and devastating to a patient and his or her family, so early diagnosis and experimentation with treatments are key to help the person live a more normal life.

Now that you know about typical symptoms of Alzheimer’s let’s go over an incredible possible cure scientists found.

Here are useful tips for boosting your memory.

How light and sound therapy could heal Alzheimer’s:

In an experiment with mice, harmful proteins that interfere with brain function have been partially removed using just light and sound therapy. MIT researchers have found that using strobe lights and a low pitched buzz. They can recreate pre-diagnosis brain waves that remove plaque and improve cognitive function in mice with Alzheimer’ s-like behavior.

This outcome means that the light and sound helps to trigger their brain waves to fight the disease. This technique has not been tested on humans yet, so it can’t be said definitely if it will help cure Alzheimer’s. However, if it can be replicated in humans, this will be a breakthrough in the fight to cure Alzheimer’s. Also, it provides a safe, drug-free option without the side effects.

How does it work?

Going off a previous study where researchers flashed a light 40 times a second into the eyes of engineered mice, researchers added sound to the new experiment using a similar frequency and found that the results improved dramatically.

“When we combine visual and auditory stimulation for a week, we see the engagement of the prefrontal cortex and a very dramatic reduction of amyloid,” says Li-Huei Tsai, one of the researchers from MIT’s Picower Institute for Learning and Memory.

There have been other studies to investigate how to clear the brain of the clumps of tau and amyloid proteins found to play a significant role in the disease. Previous studies found that bursts of ultrasound cause blood vessels to have a gap in the blood-brain barrier, which allowed antibodies to slip into the brain, while also encouraging specialized cells called microglia to gobble up amyloid proteins.

Several years ago, Tsai discovered that using light flashes around 40 times per second had similar benefits in mice engineered to build up amyloid in their brain’s nerve cells, which can cause Alzheimer’ s-like effects.

The results astounded the research team

“The result was so mind-boggling and so robust, it took a while for the idea to sink in, but we knew we needed to work out a way of trying out the same thing in humans,” Tsai told Helen Thomson at Nature at the time.

However, this effect only impacted the visual parts of the brain, missing key areas that govern memory formation and retrieval.

While scientists were skeptical about the method at first, the results showed how oscillations could help break up harmful proteins associated with Alzheimer’s. One of these oscillations is called a gamma frequency, which moves across the brain at 30 to 90 waves per second. These waves are most active when we’re closely paying attention and trying to formulate ideas about our environment. Tsai’s previous study found that these gamma waves are inhibited in those with Alzheimer’s, and this may play a significant role in the disease.

So, both light and sound played a crucial role in helping the brain to create more gamma waves. The potential to heal Alzheimer’s stems from this principle.

In the study, Tsai used a frequency of just 40 Hertz, which is barely high enough for humans to hear. This is in stark contrast to the high pitched frequency of the ultrasound.

The findings–and how they might help to heal Alzheimer’s

Exposing the mice to just one hour of this frequency every day for a week led to a significant decrease in the amyloid build up in the auditory regions, while also stimulating microglial cells and blood vessels.

“What we have demonstrated here is that we can use different sensory modality to induce gamma oscillations in the brain. And secondly, this auditory-stimulation-induced gamma can reduce amyloid and Tau pathology in not just the sensory cortex but also in the hippocampus,” says Tsai.

In addition, the experiment helped clear the nearby hippocampus, which is hugely responsible for memory and cognitive abilities. In the study, the mice showed improvements in both brain chemistry and performance in a range of cognitive tasks. Adding light therapy from the previous research also helped clear plaques in several areas across the brain, including the prefrontal cortex.

“These microglia just pile on top of one another around the plaques,” says Tsai.

Science explains six healthy brain habits you should not ignore.

Final thoughts about how light and sound can heal Alzheimer’s

Though this isn’t set in stone as a way to heal people of Alzheimer’s, it can certainly be a step in the right direction. Learning how light and specific frequencies can improve disease and clear plaques in the brain could mark a massive breakthrough in treatment for a variety of neurological disorders. Of course, scientists will have to continue to work on how to alter the experiment to make it safe for humans. However, preliminary testing for safety seems to point to it being safe for humans with Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer’s is a life-altering disease that research predicts will become more prevalent in the coming years. Ways to help prevent Alzheimer’s include getting adequate nutrition and exercise, doing activities and brain-stimulating exercises, avoid smoking or drinking copious amounts of alcohol, and keep in close contact with friends and family. This condition is devastating, but making sure to keep your brain and body healthy may reduce symptoms or even prevent the disease. Until then, we continue to hope that science finds the way to heal Alzheimer’s–once and for all time!

5 Limiting Beliefs That Prevent You From Being More Positive

March 18, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Are your limiting beliefs shackling you so that you cannot achieve your full potential?

If you look at the world around you, everything exists because someone thought about it and willed it into existence. In other words, their thoughts prompted actions that brought about physical change. All humans are simply energy vibrating at various frequencies, so we bring about that which we think about most. If we think negative thoughts, we will, therefore, experience a negative reality.

Of course, the opposite holds as well. The more you invite positive, calming thoughts into your mind, the more you’ll experience that reality. Even negative experiences can transform into positive as long as you have a glass-half-full approach to life. This is the duality of nature; we have limitless realities available to us in both positive and negative forms. We choose the ones we vibrate the most closely with.

“All matter originates and exists only by virtue of a force which brings the particle of an atom to vibration and holds this most minute solar system of the atom together. We must assume behind this force the existence of a conscious and intelligent mind. This mind is the matrix of all matter.” ? Max Planck

With that said, specific thoughts that tend to run on repeat in our minds can produce less than desirable results. Below, we’ll go over some common negative beliefs that can stop you from living your best life.

Here are five limiting beliefs that prevent you from being more positive:

1 – I’ll never amount to anything/I’m not good enough.

This thought has probably crossed the minds of everyone in existence. We tend to see things from a negative viewpoint because our biology demands it for survival. This is called a “negativity bias,” meaning that characteristics of a negative nature have a more significant effect on our psychological state than positive or neutral things.

If something went wrong when we lived in nature, such as food supplies running low or crossing paths with a dangerous predator, these experiences would significantly shape how we did things in the future. In our modern world, however, this negativity bias can run wild, leaving us always on guard. This triggers our fight-or-flight response, and if we operate with fear 24/7, we will quickly become depleted and depressed.

Limiting beliefs such as not thinking we’re good enough stems from our need to survive. In our modern world, where we don’t have a tribe, the focus becomes more on individual pursuits. This makes us more vulnerable to comparison traps and low self-esteem. However, you have to remember that everyone here has an equal shot. You’re no better or worse than anyone else, except if you believe it.

Whatever you believe will manifest in your reality. So, start thinking you’re good enough to have an abundant life and take action toward your goals. You’ll begin to see positive changes in your life in no time.

2 – Life has no meaning.

This nihilistic way of thinking can make us melancholy and lead to inaction. If we don’t believe our existence matters, then why bother shaping it in any way? Unfortunately, depression is on the rise in our world today for a variety of reasons. Social pressures and environmental concerns are likely contributing to the mental health crisis. However, all of us came here to accomplish something, whether great or small.

We all have unique gifts to offer, so the next time you catch yourself thinking that life doesn’t have meaning, counter your thoughts with these questions:

What interests or talents do I have that could benefit people?
Would I feel okay with my life if I died tomorrow?
What impact do I want to make on people?
What problems are there that I know how to solve?

In other words, flip the script so that you’re thinking more along the lines of what you can offer people rather than why the world doesn’t need you. You can always choose a more positive way to look at something instead of giving into negative beliefs.

3 – I’ll never achieve my dreams.

As we’ve stated before, whatever you believe, you’ll achieve. No matter if you do or don’t think you can do something, you’re right. You’re the holder of your dreams, the master of your reality. So, if you want a better truth, you have to start thinking in terms of opportunities rather than obstacles. What can you do with what you’ve been given?

In our modern world, with access to the Internet and social media, people are creating businesses left and right. It’s easier than ever to achieve your dreams, whether you want to be a famous author or travel the world. The key is in your hand – all you have to do is figure out what door you want to unlock. Life becomes a lot more fun when we realize we’re in control!

4 – Life is hard.

Life is only hard if we make it that way. If you believe life is easy and things flow to you effortlessly, then that’s the reality you’ll match up with. Matters will just click into place, and it won’t seem like you’re struggling to fit the pieces together. If you think life is hard, then you’ll just attract experiences that make it that much harder.

None of us wants a hard life, but our thoughts run on autopilot and ultimately create a harder reality if we leave them unchecked. It’s quite easy for negative thoughts to run rampant; for example, if you’ve been having car problems, you might think, “What have I done to deserve this?” Then, the next day, you might accidentally spill coffee on your favorite shirt, which makes you late to work. We’ve all heard the saying “when it rains it pours,” but few actually think about how it applies to their life.

Next time a lot of bad things happen in succession, examine your predominant thoughts. Are they mostly negative or positive? Whatever you think about, you’ll bring about, so remember that as you go about your daily life.

Think about peace, love, and happiness, and that’s precisely what you’ll attract more of. Life is simply a mirror, showing you what’s going on in your subconscious mind.

5 – I feel lost.

This is also a pretty standard feeling in our world, but most people think that something outside themselves will alleviate this feeling. However, we can only feel whole by tapping into our true selves. By quieting the mind and feeding the soul, we can start to understand our intuition and what our higher selves want for us.

Limiting beliefs such as feeling lost, will only attract more confusion into your life. For example, if you’re feeling lost, you might take a job that doesn’t line up with your core beliefs and true passions so that you can pay the bills. In the short-term, this might help you financially, but in the long-term, it will only leave your soul feeling depleted.

The best remedy for feeling lost is to become your own best friend. Take time to dive deep into your mind and figure out where any blockages are. Meditation, yoga, spending time in nature, and eliminating distractions such as technology can really help with this.

Here are some positive affirmations to recite daily to help you reprogram your mind and shed those limiting beliefs:

I CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY TODAY
I’M WHO I WAS MEANT TO BE
PEOPLE DON’T DEFINE WHO I AM
I LOVE TO LEARN NEW THINGS.
I’M FREE
THE UNIVERSE IS BIGGER THAN MY PROBLEMS.
MY CONTRIBUTIONS ARE IMPORTANT TO ME AND TO OTHERS
I CHOOSE NOT TO WORRY
EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY AS I TRUST THE CREATOR
I CAN LAUGH TODAY
I CHOOSE PEACE, NOT HATE
NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE CREATOR
I’M NOT PERFECT, AND THAT’S OKAY
I AM STRONG AND ABLE TO GET THE JOB DONE
I’M ACCEPTING OF OTHERS WHO FAIL ME
I AM A LOVING PERSON, EVEN WHEN THOSE AROUND ME ARE NOT
I’M A WORK IN PROGRESS, AND THAT’S OKAY
I’LL NEVER GIVE UP, EVEN WHEN THINGS ARE HARD
NO ONE CAN STEAL MY JOY

Write these on sticky notes and tape them all over your house if you have to, or write them in your journal every single day. The mind will allow whatever you feed it, so make sure you nourish it with positive thoughts instead of limiting beliefs!

Final thoughts about how limiting beliefs prevent you from being positive

Where your attention goes, your energy will flow. Notice how you feel when you focus more on positive things instead of negative – do you feel less stressed? Freer? Less angry? When we choose to flip the script and turn a limiting belief into a positive affirmation, we start to see opportunities. Life becomes more enjoyable and less of a struggle when we surrender to the boundless love and beauty that surrounds us. We all have the duality of love and fear in our hearts, but we have to feed the right wolf to experience the best aspects of life on Earth.

Doctors Explain Why Daily Aspirin Doses Do More Harm Than Good

March 18, 2020 by Power of Positivity

For years, the benefits associated with taking aspirin every day were widely praised by physicians.

And this sentiment was even backed by several well-regarded studies, including one that was published in Lancet, one of the world’s oldest weekly peer-reviewed general medical journals. The study revealed that a daily dose of 75 mg to 100 mg of aspirin helped individuals weighing between 110 and 153 pounds lower their chances of suffering a heart attack or stroke.

Does this sound like a reason to rejoice? Not so quick. The same study also noted a downside. This same aspirin regimen had little to no effect on individuals who weighed over 154 pounds.

So a daily aspirin regimen can protect some individuals against a heart attack or stroke. However, it might do more harm than good for others. This is one of the reasons why, in 2014, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) outright refused a request from Bayer AG, one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, to market aspirin as a means of preventing strokes and heart attacks. In the minds of the FDA, the risk of internal bleeding when taken excessively outweighed the usefulness.

The Potential Downside of Following a Daily Aspirin Regimen

Although the FDA chose not to officially endorse aspirin as a way to reduce the risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke, it doesn’t mean that the medication is the void of therapeutic value in this regard. Instead, individuals should speak with their physicians before taking it upon themselves to start a low or even high-dose daily aspirin regimen.

After all, in addition to being an over-the-counter pain reliever, aspirin is also a blood thinner. And this means that the more you take it, the higher your chances are of experiencing internal bleeding. Of course, it should be noted that the dangers of a daily aspirin regimen do not end there.

Similar to ibuprofen, naproxen, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, taking too much aspirin can lead to the development of peptic ulcers. What are peptic ulcers? They are sores that can form in the mucosal lining of the esophagus, stomach, and the small intestines.

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How Does Taking Too Much Aspirin Lead to Internal Bleeding?

All of the things that make aspirin a go-to for preventing strokes and heart attacks are the same ones that can potentially trigger internal bleeding. Over time, the medicine starts to interfere with the blood’s ability to form clots. When this happens, the risk of excessive bleeding in the stomach, brain, and even within the blood vessels can increase significantly, especially among those who take the medication daily. To further put this into perspective, we need only take a look at a study published by Reuters, an international news organization headquartered in the United Kingdom.

According to researchers and scientists involved in the study, which was comprised of more than 164,000 adults, those who took aspirin to reduce the risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke were 0.47 percent more like to experience severe internal bleeding. Of course, there is also some good news worth mentioning. The study participants who were already diagnosed with cardiovascular disease and took it daily reduced their chances of suffering a stroke or heart attack by 0.38 percent.

How Does Taking Too Much Aspirin Lead to Peptic Ulcers?

Now we are a little more familiar with how taking excessive amounts of this OTC tablet links to internal bleeding. So let’s take a look at how too much of the medication can also give way to peptic ulcers. According to a study published by the National Institutes of Health, taking too much nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine is the second most common cause of peptic ulcers behind Helicobacter pylori, a type of bacteria known to trigger fatigue, bloating, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

When taken excessively, especially at high doses, these tablets can make it difficult for the stomach to protect itself against gastric acids. Although a certain amount of these acids are needed to support good digestive health, too much can lead to ruptured capillary blood vessels and bleeding in the stomach. If left untreated, this bleeding can eventually give way to open, ulcerative sores in the mucosal lining of the stomach, a condition commonly referred to as peptic ulcers. So while a daily dosing regiment might keep heart attacks and strokes at bay, it could also invite serious stomach problems.

Who Is Most Likely to Develop Peptic Ulcers?

The risk of developing peptic ulcers is high for anyone consuming excessive amounts of acetaminophen, according to most physicians. However, some individuals are more susceptible to this medical condition than others. According to a study published by the National Institutes of Health, individuals who consume aspirin excessively and meet any of the following criteria have an above-average chance of developing peptic ulcers:

Age 65 and over
Taking it with corticosteroids
Those with a history ulcers
Taking it with blood thinners
An existing stomach infection

While other factors can increase an individual’s chances of developing peptic ulcers, those listed in this article are among the most common.

Who Is Most Likely to Experience Internal Bleeding?

Similar to peptic ulcers, the risk of internal bleeding caused by excessive OTC pain reliever consumption is higher for some individuals than others. That being said, common factors that can increase one’s chances of experiencing internal bleeding include

Taking it with certain antidepressants
Taking it with certain antibiotics
Those with type 1 or type 2 diabetes
Those with high blood pressure
Diagnosis of blood clotting disorders
An existing internal injury

As with peptic ulcers, other factors can increase an individual’s chances of experiencing internal bleeding as a result of taking excessive amounts of aspirin. However, those detailed in this article are among the most common.

Liver Damage and Other Over the Counter Pain Relievers

Taking an excessive amount of any over the counter pain relief (aspirin, acetaminophen, etc.) links to toxic hepatitis, a clinical term used to describe inflammation of the liver. Toxic hepatitis not only causes permanent scarring of liver tissue but also increases the risk of liver failure. Some of the most common symptoms associated with toxic hepatitis include the following:

Jaundice
Nausea
Vomiting
Dark-colored urine
Fatigue
A loss of appetite
Rash
Stomach pain

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How to Ease Pain and Reduce the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Naturally

If your goal is to lower your chances of developing cardiovascular disease, making a few lifestyle changes can help. Some of these changes include

Quitting smoking
Exercising regularly
Consuming a healthy diet
Minimizing stress
Limiting alcohol consumption

So how do you manage pain and decrease odds of cardiovascular disease naturally? You’ll find some very effective natural remedies listed below.

1 – Essential oils

Along with helping to ease feelings of anxiety, essential oils, such as rosemary, peppermint, eucalyptus, and lavender, for example, contain anti-inflammatory properties that can resolve mild to moderate pain.

Diffuse your favorite oils in a warmer. Or, mix them with a carrier oil and massage them into your skin for a bit of relief you can take with you.

2 – Capsaicin

For years, capsaicin has been a go-to for individuals seeking a natural way to ease painful arthritic symptoms. When applied topically, capsaicin works by tamping down pain in the nociceptor fibers of the skin and other tissues.

3 – Acupuncture

For those who are not averse to needles, acupuncture is yet another way to get rid of pain naturally. According to a study published by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, this all-natural alternative to acetaminophen can help resolve the following:

Neck pain
Knee pain
Arthritis pain
Back pain

Acupuncture can also help relieve headaches and musculoskeletal pain, according to a separate study published in the Journal of Pain, a monthly peer-reviewed medical journal.

4 – Lose weight

Losing weight can be a two-in-one winner for both pain relief and an increase in your cardiac wellness.

If you suffer from inflammation of the joints, the excess weight adds pressure to the load they bear. A UK study of the connection between obesity and knee pain, for example, made a firm conclusion.

“Obesity accounts for a substantial proportion of severe disabling knee pain.” (NIH study)

Furthermore, a separate NIH article supports losing weight as a means of avoiding heart disease and stroke. Plus, the report states, nutrition can eliminate the onset of osteoarthritis, another reason that people take OTC pain relief.

5 – Meditation

Do you take a daily aspirin to help remain free of heart disease? Then consider trying meditation, instead.

This practice helps to center your mind on positive thinking. In turn, you alleviate stress, one of the primary causes of heart disease. Indeed, even the experts at the American Heart Association agree! In 2017, they published findings that support the notion that meditation, when combined with other good practices (weight loss, nutrition, etc.), can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Want to try meditation? Here’s a guide to help you get started.

Final Thoughts: Natural wellness trumps aspirin in terms of long-term results

In summary, most doctors agree that OTC pain relief, including aspirin, is useful for resolving minor pain. However, long-term use for heart health can have devastating consequences. Furthermore, while it might lessen pain in the short-term, it does not address the root cause of the symptoms. So if you’re thinking about a daily regiment to ease pain or to fend off cardiovascular disease, speak with your doctor first.

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