Free radicals may actually be good for us

Antioxidants

Antioxidants

“Antioxidant . supplements may make our bodies age faster,” the Mail Online reports. New research suggests that oxygen containing free radicals – the molecules that antioxidants are designed to target – may actually help cells live longer.

Antioxidants are a type of molecule that can neutralise  free radicals, which are a type of unstable and highly reactive species of molecule. “Fans” of antioxidants have claimed that that reducing free radicals can slow the ageing process.

Due to these perceived properties, antioxidants are now big business. Global sales of antioxidants supplements now rank in the billions of pounds.

But a new study, into nematode worms, suggests that the formation of free radicals (in technical terms, ‘reactive oxygen species’) made the worms live longer.

This research contradicts the theory that free radicals are responsible for ageing.

The researchers suggest that reactive oxygen species might activate a signalling pathway within cells and trigger changes in gene expression altering the cells’ sensitivity to stress and promote survival.

Or as the German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche, famously said “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.”

However, the researchers point out several differences between vertebrates and worms. Nematode worms have a fixed number of cells, and the researchers suggest that because of this they try and repair rather than eliminate damaged cells.

It is unclear whether reactive oxygen species promote longevity in humans, or that antioxidants will make us age faster.

If you eat a healthy diet and take regular exercise then you will probably never need to take any supplements.

 

Where did the story come from?

The study was carried out by researchers from McGill University in Montreal and was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and McGill University.

The study was published in the peer-reviewed journal Cell.

The Mail Online’s reporting of the study was broadly accurate but it arguably overstated the potential implications. The study involved worms (C. elegans), not people.

The researchers say that mitochondrial reactive oxygen species – the species that antioxidants neutralise – are involved in apoptosis (programmed cells death) in vertebrates (which includes humans).

However, rather than being a bad thing, the researchers argue that this is part of a protective program which eliminates defective cells.

However, the nematode worm, C.elegans has a fixed number of cells, and the researchers suggest that because of this they try and repair rather than eliminate damaged cells.

Because of the differences between C. elegans and vertebrates it is unclear whether reactive oxygen species promote longevity in humans.

 

What kind of research was this?

This was animal research using the nematode C.elegans.

 

What did the research involve?

The researchers looked at mutants of the nematode worm C. elegans which had mutations in their mitochondria (the ‘power plant’ of the cell), normal (wild-type) C. elegans treated with a chemical called paraquat and wild-type C.elegans. Both the mutants and paraquat are thought to generate superoxide, a reactive oxygen species.

The mitochondrial mutants and C.elegans treated with paraquat have increased lifespan compared to the wild-type C.elegans.

The researchers performed a series of experiments to see how the increased production of reactive oxygen species increased lifespan.

 

What were the basic results?

The researchers found that changes in the apoptosis signalling pathway was required for the mitochondrial mutants and C. elegans treated with paraquat to have increased lifespan.

This pathway is involved in apoptosis, also known as programmed cell death, a process by which a cell dies in a controlled manner.

However, the researchers found that apoptosis was not required for longevity, suggesting that the pathway was doing something else.

The researchers also found that the genes that were made were altered in the mitochondrial mutants and C. elegans treated with paraquat compared to wild-type C. elegan. And some of these changes were required for increased lifespan.

The researchers suggest that reactive oxygen species produced by the mitochondria might activate the apoptosis signalling pathway and trigger changes in gene expression. This in turn may alter stress sensitivity and promote survival.

 

How did the researchers interpret the results?

The researchers conclude that “these findings clarify the relationships between mitochondria, [reactive oxygen species], apoptosis, and ageing.”

 

Conclusion

This study on nematode worms (C. elegans) has found that reactive oxygen species made the worms live longer. The researchers suggest that reactive oxygen species might activate a signalling pathway and trigger changes in gene expression that alter stress sensitivity and promote survival.

However, the researchers point out several differences between vertebrates and worms; especially a vertebrate as complex as a human being. C.elegans has a fixed number of cells, and the researchers suggest that because of this they try and repair rather than eliminate damaged cells.

Because of the differences between C. elegans and vertebrates it is unclear whether reactive oxygen species promote longevity in humans, or that antioxidants will make us age faster.

Panic Attacks during Menopause – How to Prevent Them?




While symptoms like night sweats and hot flashes are frequently discussed,other symptoms like insomnia, irritability, and panic attacks can occur during  menopause as well. As all women are different, they experience these symptoms differently. For example, menopause symptoms in some women are quite mild while in other women they become severe. In this article, we will discuss panic attacks during menopause and how to deal with them.

Panic attacks – why they happen?

Panic attacks and the menopause

Panic attacks and the menopause

Panic attacks, in general, are known to be one of the most frightening, disturbing and uncomfortable experiences of person’s life. The exact source of anxiety, panic attacks, and even heart palpitations during menopause isn’t quite clear yet.

Although the exact cause of panic attacks isn’t familiar yet, because women are more likely than men to experience panic disorders most frequently during PMS, pregnancy and menopause it is assumed that panic attack has something to do with hormonal imbalance.

In most cases, women start experiencing panic attacks during per menopause, the transition period before the actual menopause. During this time, female hormones estrogen and progesterone fluctuate dramatically and start to decline.


When women enter menopause, severity and intensity of symptom experienced during that time could lead to anxiety. If left untreated, anxiety leads to panic attacks that can affect person’s wellbeing and even social life.

Estrogen and progesterone act as natural anxiolytics, which means they work together with the anxiety control receptors in your brain to prevent mood swings and cope with stress, anxiety, and panic attacks. Naturally, as the natural production of these hormones declines in menopause, women become more prone to experiencing these symptoms.

However, hormonal imbalance isn’t the only cause of panic attacks. It is believed that occurrence of different factors contributes to panic attacks. For example:

  •     Becoming infertile
  •     Lifestyle changes
  •     Various biological changes
  •     Unhealthy nutrition
  •     Consumption of alcohol
  •     Family history of panic disorder
  •     Stressful situations
  •     Children are leaving home.

 

Do panic attacks end with menopause?

In most cases, women experience panic attacks during perimenopause and menopause, and the severity of panic disorders decreases in post menopause. However, it is still important to mention that experiencing these attacks varies from woman to woman and while some women don’t experience panic disorders in years after menopause, others do.

For example, Smoller JW, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston conducted a study to investigate the prevalence of panic attacks in postmenopausal women. The study included 3369 postmenopausal women who completed questionnaires about the occurrence of panic attacks in the previous six months.

Findings of the study were published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine, and they showed that full-blown panic attacks in postmenopausal women were associated with a history of a migraine, cardiovascular disease, chest pain, etc. Other causes of panic attacks in postmenopausal women were stressful life events and functional impairment.

 Symptoms of panic attacks

 

  •     Shortness of breath
  •     Chest pain or tightness
  •     Sweating/shaking
  •     Heart palpitations
  •     Hot or cold flashes
  •     Hyperventilation
  •     Nausea/stomach pain
  •     Lightheadedness etc.

 

Panic attacks prevention

 

  •     Eat healthy and balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals that will supply your body with essential components it needs to function properly
  •     Consider taking menopause supplement to avoid missing on essential nutrients. Best menopause supplements are made of natural and herbal ingredients which also decreases chances of experiencing some side effects as well.
  • For example, PM Phytogen Complex is the all-natural supplement that provides your body with substances that mimic the action of estrogen hormone making it easier for you to deal with symptoms of menopause like night sweats, hot flashes, insomnia, irritability, anxiety, etc. The product is affordable and can be purchased via the official website and in retail stores as well.
  •     Avoid consumption of alcohol
  •     Exercise regularly
  •     Try out some alternative manners of relaxation e.g. acupuncture, massage, yoga, meditation and many others.
  •     Make sure your body gets the recommended dosage of vitamins that will not only protect your overall health but also support you mentally as you go through the menopause.
  •     Avoid or manage stressful situations, find a unique way of relieving stress e.g. listening to music, deep breathing, writing, or even taking a walk.

Conclusion

Panic attacks occur in perimenopause and are experienced in menopause as well. Although some women don’t experience them in postmenopausal period, others do. The exact reason for panic disorders is still unknown, but it’s assumed they occur due to hormonal balance coupled with other factors. Healthy lifestyle and stress management can help you prevent panic attacks.

References

https://www.consumerhealthdigest.com/menopause-center/menopause-and-panic-attack.html

Author Bio

 

Meighan Sembrano is an author at Consumer Health Digest. She has a keen interest in writing. She has contributed many beauty related articles in many popular websites. She has done her Mass Communication degree. She now lives in Washington DC. She is a social worker who spends her free time searching about life, healthy, beauty and lifestyles fitness related articles. She is fond of travelling and trekking. To know more about her, follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

 

Osteoporosis. An interview with an older patient about her new treatment options, exercise and use of dietary supplements!


Welcome to the latest in our ongoing series of PatientTalk.Org interviews.  Today we are

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis

interviewing Elizabeth a 75 year old woman living in London, England who has been lucky enough to get a wide range of treatments which allow her to live a full life with Osteoporosis.  It is also worth mentioning that she suffers from Osteoarthritis.

We hope this interview will give you an idea about some of the options which are becoming more and more available to osteoporosis sufferers.

PatientTalk.Org:- How long have you had osteoporosis and what are your main symptoms?

Elizabeth:  In fact I can’t give a clear answer.  Twenty years ago when I was going through the menopause I was told that I was on the cusp of being diagnosed with osteoporosis.  Ten years later I tripped and broke my wrist.  A second scan revealed that my bone density appeared to be still in the range of normal for my peer group.  However at this stage I was given calcium and vitamin D tablets on a daily basis (which I still take).  Another ten years passed and I tripped once again running up some stairs and fractured the other wrist.  At this time  I was told that there was no point in another scan as two low-impact fractures at my age equalled osteoporosis.  I had been told that walking would help to maintain and strengthen my lower body bone density.  So I try and walk for at least one hour every day.

PatientTalk.Org:  So apart from the calcium and vitamin supplements what other treatments have you been offered?

Elizabeth:  Because I was aware that I’d lost a lot of upper body strength,  for example undoing jars became a real chore,  due to the broken wrists and open heart surgery which took place 25 years ago, I wanted some form of exercise which would improve my situation.  I was told by a friend that she was following a course of Nordic walking and this seemed to be the answer.

I contacted the local health service who were very helpful and invited me to a set of tests and check-ups to ascertain my suitability for a Nordic walking course.

They were happy for me to start the course but beforehand they wanted me to do a course of bone density exercises.  These took place at a course of  eight weekly sessions.  They consisted of a warm up, a series of about 10 different exercises each of 2 minutes, followed by a cooling down session.  They were supervised by exercise specialists who were extremely supportive.

During this course I learned of another 8 week course in Gold Zumba.  That is a type of Zumba more suitable for older people.  I’ve now been on the course for around 4 weeks.  And enjoy it.

PatientTalk.Org:  So what actually is Zumba?

Elizabeth:  I think it can be described as some form of dance which can be used as a fitness programme as well.  We are taught by a qualified instructor who specialises in Zumba as a therapy.  For me the combination of exercise with music means that I’m pushed just a little bit harder than other types of exercise.  This is good for co-ordination of the body and, in fact, my brain.  Zumba is great for balance as well.

PatientTalk.Org:  So have you noticed any improvements?


Elizabeth: This is difficult to say.  In fact it is not my main objective.  I am really looking to maintain my current body strength and flexibility.  I notice that as each session goes on that I’m more flexible and my balance is much better.

And I’m now in a position to start Nordic walking.

PatientTalk.Org: Are you using any other treatments?

Elizabeth:  I have now started a 3 year course of biannual subcutaneous injections for my osteoporosis.  There are other treatments but it was felt that my digestive system was not suitable for them.

PatientTalk.Org: What sort of medical education / advice were you give?

I was invited to a series of talks at either the hospital or local health centres by osteoporosis experts in

a)  General information about osteoporosis

b) Exercise and osteoporosis

c)   Diet and osteoporosis

PatientTalk.Org:What did you learn about diet and osteoporosis?

Elizabeth:  Apart from information about foods and drink which are particularly good for sufferers of osteoporosis which include dairy, lentils, fish and some vegetables,  we were advised that there were certain circumstances in which it was more efficacious to take the supplements.   These were not explained to me by my normal Doctor.    Indeed the supplements documentation contains only limited advice.  The lectures I attended however provided me with far clearer advice.  What concerns me is that many other people with osteoporosis are not getting the full benefits of the supplements they are taking.

PatientTalk.Org:Thanks very much for this.  Very useful for us and our readers.

So over to you.  What do you think of Elizabeth’s story?   It would be great if you could share your thoughts in the comments box below.  You might want to think in terms of the following questions:-

1) How long have you been diagnosed with  Osteoporosis?

2) What sort of treatments have you had and how effective have they been?

3) What sort of support did you receive in terms of education about the condition?

4) Do you feel you have been well advised regarding the use of supplements?

5) What sorts of exercise do you take for your osteoporosis?

Many thanks in advance!

Pain! Some natural treatments for pain.

pain-management1There are many who are dissatisfied with conventional treatments for pain and are looking for more natural ways to find relief.  Many use dietary supplements as part of the pain management strategies.

As part of our on-going series of blogs on pain management we would like to introduce to you a few natural remedies for pain.  In a previous blog we explored food which helped pain (see https://patienttalk.org/?p=507). In this blog we are looking at naturally occurring substances which can be used to provide relief from pain.   In this case they may be available either as food or as a dietary supplement.  For most the key issue is that the treatments and products they use are not synthesised chemicals:-

a)      Capsaicin.  Comes from chilli peppers and can be used on the skin to treat pain. Including rheumatoid arthritis and diabetic neuropathy.

b)      Vitamin D.   We covered Vitamin D in an earlier blog this year (https://patienttalk.org/?p=300).  It is available free from the sun as well in “paid for” supplements.

c)       Omega-3s or fish oil. This old favourite seems always to come up when health is discussed.  While an effective anti-inflammatory it now seems to help people with neuropathic and fibromyalgia pains.  It can be taken in concentrated form as a supplement but I still prefer a smoked salmon bagel.

d)      Glucosamine sulphate. This dietary supplement is often recommended for people with osteoarthritis.

e)      Methylsulfonyl-methane.  Also for osteoarthritis it helps reduce joint pain.

Please note that these products are dietary supplements rather than medications. Before using them at all we would recommend you speak with a qualified healthcare professional.

Of course these are only five among many.  This is where you come in. It would be great if you could share your experiences of using dietary supplements to help manage pain. You might like to consider some of the following questions:-

1)      What is the main medical condition which causes you pain?

2)      How do you manage your pain?  What role do dietary supplements play in your pain management?

3)      How successful have they been?

4)      Are there any dietary supplements you would recommend?

Feel free to use the comments box below to share your story and to add any links you think may be of interest.

Many thanks in advance.