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Air pollution related to mental health issues?

3/1/2018

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Can Pollution Affect Mental Health?
        The state of California has set up strict car emission standards to lower smog levels and promote healthy lung development in children, but a recent study has revealed that there is another unappreciated source of
 air pollution in the Golden State: fertilized soil on farmland, which emits nitrogen oxides. Researchers recommend that farmers use targeted fertilization methods, to reduce the emission of gases.
        Of course, lung development is only one issue affected by pollution. We know that nitrogen oxides and other gases worsen asthma symptoms and are associated with more frequent hospital visits and impaired heart and lung function but did you know pollution can also
 affect your mental health?

Air Pollution and the Mental Health of Children
         A study published in the journal BMJ Open in 2016, found that even small increases in air pollution are associated with a significant rise in mental problems. The study looked into the effect of pollution exposure on over half a million children, comparing this with records of medications prescribed for mental disease, ranging from sedatives to antipsychotics. The researchers concluded that a lower concentration of pollution (first and foremost traffic pollution) could reduce mental problems in children and teens. They noted that children are particularly vulnerable to air pollution, because
 they are more active and their organs are still in development.

It’s Just as Bad Indoors
        Of course, smog is not the only type of pollution that plagues Americans. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the air inside homes is generally between two and five times more polluted than the air outside.
 Poor indoor air quality is caused by everything from harsh cleaning products such as bleach, right through to personal care products in spray form, formaldehyde in old sofas, toxins emitted by furniture, etc. Health experts warn us to select furniture carefully, cut down on the use of chemical cleaners at home, and refrain from burning paraffin candles, which release toxins that affect respiratory health.
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Supporting Research
         The above-mentioned research does not stand alone. One major study in Hong Kong, for instance, shows that the risk of death rises sharply on days when pollution is worse. Additional research, carried out by
 researchers at George Washington University, found that fine particles in air (which come from many sources, including cars and factories) are linked to higher anxiety levels. Moreover, the higher the smog levels, the higher the level of anxiety experienced.
       Air pollution is far from than merely a problem for our respiratory and heart health. Studies show that children and adults alike may be more vulnerable to the effects of pollution, indicating the importance of taking steps to reduce indoor pollution at home, and pressuring the government to take a tougher stance on smog and other sources of pollution (including farming).

Written by guest writer - Chrissy Robinson
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Can Exercise Help with Schizophrenia Symptoms?

1/26/2018

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Can Exercise Help with Schizophrenia Symptoms?
             Schizophrenia, a chronic, severe brain disorder affecting approximately 1% of the population in America, is considered one of the most challenging mental diseases, since its symptoms are severe and include hallucinations, sensory alterations, an altered sense of self, and changes in emotion and behavior.
            Those with schizophrenia can find it difficult to hold down a job or other major responsibilities because of these symptoms but also because their circadian rhythms can be altered; in other words, many find that they are drowsy during the day, and alert at night.
            Health professionals are consistently on the lookout for complementary ways to soothe symptoms of the disorder, so that patients can lead as full a life as possible. In this post, we highlight the role that exercise can play in the treatment of schizophrenia.


What are Traditional Treatments for Schizophrenia?
           Preferred treatments for schizophrenia include medication and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). While there is no cure, schizophrenia is considered a highly treatable disorder, and consistency is vital when it comes to medication. Only 30% of those who take their medication religiously experience a relapse within one year of starting treatment, compared to 80% of those who neglect medication.
           The consequences of failing to receive treatment are severe, with suicide being the number one cause of death in people with this disorder.  Psychosis and severe depression can also arise if medication is not taken.

Coordinated Specialty Care
           Coordinated Specialty Care is a treatment model which integrates
 a number of approaches, including CBT, family involvement, and support for education and employment. Its aim is to increase a patient’s likelihood of leading a normal life, which is useful considering that only 13% of people with schizophrenia are working.

The Role of Exercise
             In a recent review published in Schizophrenia Bulletin, scientists at the University of Manchester compiled data from 10 independent clinic trials, finding that
 12 weeks of aerobics training can significantly improve brain functioning in persons with schizophrenia. The research focused on those who had taken part in aerobic workouts on treadmills and exercise bikes, in addition to taking medication. Some of the areas which most benefited included patients’ working memory and ability to comprehend social situations. Evidence also showed that the more exercise was performed/the greater the fitness level achieved, the more marked were the benefits on cognitive functioning.
           The researchers noted that therapies which improved cognitive functioning were vital, because this issue was one of the biggest hindrances to patients being able to function in a work or social situation. Moreover, medications do not work on cognitive deficits. They stated that their search to treat this aspect of the illness has led them to conclude that physical exercise could be at least one solution. Lead researcher, Joe Firth noted, “Using exercise from the earliest stages of the illness could reduce the likelihood of long-term disability, and facilitate full, functional recovery for patients.”
Thus far, exercise is one complementary therapy that may be promising in helping reduce symptoms of schizophrenia. In general, important lifestyle choices currently recommended by health professionals include sticking to a routine, reducing stress through mindfulness based activities, and avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and drugs.

Written by guest writer - Chrissy Robinson
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Mental Health Stigma

5/1/2017

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                According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, 1 in 5 adults experience a mental illness in a given year. That translates to roughly 43.8 million adults every year, with nearly 10 million living with a serious mental illness. Astoundingly, 60% of those adults didn’t receive mental health services last year, which leaves many wondering why that number is so high.
             Mental health stigma is a large contributor to blame for the lack of treatment being sought out by these adults. Mental health stigma is defined as the negative perception of a person based on prejudice and misinformation about a mental health diagnosis. These actions often lead to discrimination, social isolation, and negative attitudes towards individuals with a mental illness. As a result, patients refuse to be “labeled” and deny themselves treatment, causing a decrease in self-esteem, and possibly leading to more diagnosis as a direct result of not getting help in the beginning.
                  In a world where labels are an unconscious act, how do we decrease the stigma among us? It starts with healthcare professionals. It’s essential that healthcare providers break down the walls that seem to separate mental illness from other illnesses. Dr. Arthur Evans is the commissioner of Philadelphia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services and is trying to do just that.  He is making a nationwide stance for providers to open their doors to treatment programs and private offices, so that people in the community become aware of the services provided.  Offering free screenings, special events, and educational training to the members of a community provide the opportunity for them to be accepted as “part of the community, instead of just in the community.”
              So what can you do? Educate yourself, and then educate others. Some of the most frequently diagnosed mental illnesses in the United States are major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder. Having less interest in favorite activities, being less energetic, feeling helpless, worthless, or hopeless are all signs and symptoms of depression. You often notice changes in people, sometimes they diminish, sometimes you distance yourself from these people because it seems like they are pushing you away. In fact, it’s the opposite, these are signs people are signaling for support in the most desperate of ways.
                  An innovative approach that is being tested by Dr. Evans is “Mental Health First Aid.”  Dr. Evans describes his one day course as a, “course that really helps the general public understand mental illness, understand or recognize when someone might be having a mental health problem and know how to support the person and/or refer the person for other help or to seek self-help.” Much like a CPR course, this one day course is aimed at giving people the knowledge and confidence to take appropriate action in the case that they see someone who is suffering from psychiatric symptoms.
             If your local community doesn’t offer a class for educating about mental health, take the initiative to educate yourself through other resources such as the local health department, accredited websites/blogs, or even visit your local psychiatrist’s office and pick up some pamphlets.  Overall, remember that having a diagnosis of a mental illness, versus a diagnosis of a physical illness are one in the same—a diagnosis neither patient asked for, but struggle with, yet with proper treatment both can be manageable.
 
Resources:
  • The National Alliance on Mental Illness
http://www.nami.org/
  • Screening for Mental Health, Inc.
https://mentalhealthscreening.org/
  • The National Institute of Mental Health
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/index.shtml
  • Deconstructing Stigma
http://deconstructingstigma.org/get-support
  • Healthy Minds Philly
http://healthymindsphilly.org/en/
  • Reach Out
http://us.reachout.com/ 
  • Mental Health.Gov
 https://www.mentalhealth.gov/
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    Dr. Chung is a Fullerton psychiatrist, and will post blog articles about all things related to mental health.

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