OHMYGOSSIP — Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD, similar to hyperkinetic disorder in the ICD-10) is a psychiatric disorder of the neurodevelopmental type in which there are significant problems of attention, hyperactivity, or acting impulsively that are not appropriate for a person’s age.
Helena-Reet Ennet
Think you’re allergic to running? You actually could be!
OHMYGOSSIP — Pounding the muddy fields during school cross country races, PE teachers are sure to have heard the excuse, “I’m allergic to running,” more than once. Now a new study has revealed that it could actually be a real thing, with a genetic mutation meaning that vibration can induce a rare form of hives.
15 IMPORTANT NOTES! Things you need to know about people who have concealed anxiety
1. They don’t hide their anxiety, they hide their symptoms. To have concealed anxiety isn’t to deny having it – only to do everything in your power to ensure other people don’t see you struggle.
2. They have the most anxiety about having anxiety. Because they are not comfortable letting people see them in the throes of an irrational panic, the most anxiety-inducing idea is… whether or not they’ll have anxiety at any given moment in time.
3. They come across as a paradoxical mix of outgoing but introverted, very social but rarely out. It is not that they are anti-social, just that they can only take being around others incrementally (which is mostly normal). Yet, on the surface, this may come across as confusing.
4. They make situations worse by trying to suppress their feelings about them. They are extremely uncomfortable with other people seeing them in pain, and they don’t want to feel pitied or as though they are compromising anyone’s time. Yet, they make things worse for themselves by suppressing, as it actually funnels a ton of energy into making the problem larger and more present than it already was.
5. They are often hyper-aware and highly intuitive. Anxiousness is an evolutionary function that essentially keeps us alive by making us aware of our surroundings and other people’s motives. It’s only uncomfortable when we don’t know how to manage it effectively – the positive side is that it makes you hyper-conscious of what’s going on around you.
6. Their deepest triggers are usually social situations. It’s not that they feel anxious in an airplane, it’s that they feel anxious in an airplane and are stuck around 50 other people. It’s not that they will fail a test, but that they will fail a test and everyone in school will find out and think they are incompetent and their parents will be disappointed. It’s not that they will lose love, but that they will lose love and nobody will ever love them again.
7. It is not always just a “panicked feeling” they have to hide. It can also be a tendency to worry, catastrophizing, etc. The battle is often (always?) between competing thoughts in their minds.
8. They are deep thinkers, and great problem-solvers. One of the benefits of anxiety is that it leads you to considering every worst case scenario, and then subsequently, how to handle or respond to each.
9. They are almost always “self-regulating” their thoughts. They’re talking themselves in, out, around, up or down from something or another very often, and increasingly so in public places.
10. They don’t trust easily, but they will convince you that they do. They want to make the people around them feel loved and accepted as it eases their anxiety in a way.
11. They tend to desire control in other areas of their lives. They’re over-workers or are manically particular about how they dress or can’t really seem to let go of relationships if it wasn’t their idea to end them.
12. They have all-or-nothing personalities, which is what creates the anxiety. Despite being so extreme, they are highly indecisive. They try to “figure out” whether or not something is right before they actually try to do it.
13. They assume they are disliked. While this is often stressful, it often keeps them humble and grounded at the same time.
14. They are very driven (they care about the outcome of things). They are in equal proportions as in control of their lives as they feel out of control of their lives – this is because they so frequently try to compensate for fear of the unknown.
15. They are very smart, but doubt it. A high intelligence is linked to increased anxiety (and being doubtful of one’s mental capacity are linked to both).
Featured image: PantherMedia / Sergejs Rahunoks/ Scanpix
Source: ThoughtCatalog/Brianna Wiest
Your mouth, your health! Can mouth bacteria affect the heart?
OHMYGOSSIP — Can mouth bacteria affect the heart? Some studies show that people with gum disease are more likely have heart disease than those with healthy gums. Researchers aren’t sure why that is; gum disease isn’t proven to cause other diseases. But it makes sense to take care of your mouth like you do the rest of your body.
Call for healthier diets to combat alarming surge in diabetes
OHMYGOSSIP – Diabetes is a global problem now affecting one in every 11 adults, the World Health Organization (WHO) claims. In a major report, released to coincide with World Health Day on Thursday (07Apr16), WHO warns cases of diabetes had nearly quadrupled to 422 million in 2014 from 108 million in 1980.
Diabetes is a chronic, progressive non-communicable disease (NCD) characterised by high blood sugar. It occurs when the pancreas fail to produce enough of the insulin hormone, which regulates blood sugar, or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces.
High blood sugar levels are a major killer – linked to 3.7 million deaths around the world each year, it says.
While the report lumps both type 1 and type 2 diabetes together, the rise in cases is mainly down to type 2, which has been linked to excess body weight and physical inactivity, once only seen in adults, type 2 diabetes now increasingly occurs in children and young people. In 2014 more than one in three adults aged over 18 years were overweight and more than one in 10 were obese, reports WHO.
Officials said the numbers would continue to grow unless drastic action is taken. WHO advising governments throughout the world to make more effort to address physical inactivity and unhealthy diets, and strengthen programmes nationally to help people with diabetes receive the treatment and care they need to manage their conditions.
“If we are to make any headway in halting the rise in diabetes, we need to rethink our daily lives: to eat healthily, be physically active, and avoid excessive weight gain,” said WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan.
“Even in the poorest settings, governments must ensure that people are able to make these healthy choices and that health systems are able to diagnose and treat people with diabetes.”
Complications of diabetes can lead to heart attacks, strokes, blindness, kidney failure and lower limb amputation. “Many cases of diabetes can be prevented, and measures exist to detect and manage the condition, improving the odds that people with diabetes live long and healthy lives,” said WHO’s Dr Oleg Chestnov.
“But change greatly depends on governments doing more, including by implementing global commitments to address diabetes and other NCDs.”
Featured image: Medical illustration of the symptoms of type 1 diabetes (PantherMedia/ Roberto Biasini/ Scanpix)
Loneliness increases risk of heart attack and stroke
OHMYGOSSIP – Lonely people are a third more likely to suffer an increased risk of a heart attack or stroke, according to new research. British scientists from the universities of York, Liverpool and Newcastle examined data from over 181,000 people across 23 studies. Of all those individuals, 4,628 suffered from heart disease and 3,000 had a stroke, with experts finding a link between poor social relationships and incident cardiovascular disease.
They also noted the effect of loneliness is similar to that of work-stress or anxiety. People were 32 per cent more likely to have a stroke, and 29 per cent more prone to heart problems.
Scientists have long noted a correlation between being lonely and mental health and wellbeing, but this particular study is the largest to have shown the dramatic impact being alone has.
“Tackling loneliness and isolation may be a valuable addition to coronary heart disease and stroke prevention strategies,” authors noted of their findings, published in the journal Heart.
“Health practitioners have an important role to play in acknowledging the importance of social relations to their patients.”
Researcher Nicole Valtorta, of York University, stressed social isolation and loneliness shouldn’t be taken for granted like obesity and physical inactivity is, and hopes these findings will trigger more work to help the issue.
Dr Kellie Payne, from the Campaign to End Loneliness, further discussed the bigger picture of the problem.
“The effect of loneliness and isolation on mortality exceeds the impact of well-known risk factors such as obesity and cigarette smoking and this research helps to highlight yet further the need for loneliness to be treated as a serious public health issue,” she said.
“Loneliness is becoming a silent epidemic in our society. It’s the responsibility of our community as a whole to tackle it.”
Featured image: PantherMedia/ Ronalds Stikans/ Scanpix
Tel Aviv University: Whey protein for breakfast aids weight loss
OHMYGOSSIP – Breakfast has always been seen as the most important meal of the day, and while this could be true, it can depend on what you choose to consume first thing in the morning. A new survey has found that having a protein-rich breakfast can be an aid to weight loss, as well as manage Type 2 diabetes.
But protein can take many forms and researchers at Tel Aviv University believe whey protein, found in foods such as yoghurt, cheese and milk is best at keeping people fuller for longer.
This is opposed to other kinds of protein found in eggs and tuna.
“A high-calorie protein breakfast, medium-sized lunch and small dinner is a proven successful strategy for weight loss in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes,” said the study’s lead author, Dr Daniela Jakubowicz, professor of medicine at Tel Aviv University.
A whey protein breakfast also prevented dangerous spikes in blood sugar, which is key for people with Type 2 diabetes, and was found to keep those levels lower for a longer period of time.
To reach the results, Dr Jakubowicz randomly assigned 48 overweight and obese people with Type 2 diabetes to one of three diets containing the same number of calories.
All the participants had an average age of 59, and for 23 months, they ate a large breakfast, medium-sized lunch and small dinner.
However, one group ate breakfast containing mostly whey protein such as whey protein shakes, while the second ate other proteins including eggs, soy and tuna.
The third group’s breakfast was high in carbohydrates or starch, and after 12 weeks, the group on whey protein had lost the most weight at 16.7 pounds (7.5 kilograms), compared to group two’s 13.4 pounds (6 kilograms) and group three’s 6.8 pounds (3 kilograms).
The first group also felt the most full throughout the day compared to those eating the other kinds of protein and carbohydrates, and according to Dr Jakubowicz, it’s because whey protein “significantly” suppresses the hunger hormone ghrelin.
Featured image: ©OHMYGOSSIP/ Helena-Reet Ennet
Can you really die from a broken heart?
OHMYGOSSIP – New research suggests dealing with the loss of a loved one really could break your heart. We are bombarded by old wives’ tales about people who never recover after the death of their true love, but now it seems that bereaved individuals are at a greater risk of developing an irregular heartbeat for a year after the loss. This condition is known as atrial fibrillation and can heighten the chances of having a stroke or heart failure, with certain individuals more than 40 per cent more likely to develop this than someone who hasn’t experienced such grief.
Researchers in Denmark examined data from 89,000 people diagnosed with atrial fibrillation between 1995 and 2014. This was then compared to health records collected from 886,000 healthy people. They discovered that 17,478 people who had been diagnosed with the condition had also lost a partner.
The risk was greater when the death of a partner had been unexpected, while people aged under 60 and dealing with bereavement were more than twice as likely to develop atrial fibrillation.
The study, which was published in U.K. medical journal Open Heart, determined that greatest risk was evident eight to 14 days after the death of a loved one.
“The loss of a partner is considered one of the most severely stressful life events and is likely to affect most people, independently of coping mechanisms,” the scientists, from Aarhus University, wrote in the report.
“In this large population-based study, the severely stressful life event of losing a partner was associated with a transiently increased risk of atrial fibrillation, which lasted for about one year.
Researchers added that the risk was especially high for those who were young and those who lost a relatively healthy partner.
Experts are calling for those dealing with bereavement to be monitored by their GP to see if symptoms develop.
Featured image: PantherMedia/ Andriy Popov/ Scanpix
4 TIPS how to lose weight without cutting out food!
OHMYGOSSIP – Losing weight doesn’t have to be time-consuming and difficult, as Dr Brian Wansink has revealed to British newspaper The Daily Mail. Here are some of his top tips on how to shed the pounds without the effort, which he’s devised after analysing tens of thousands of eaters’ behaviour, content of their fridges and cupboards amongst other factors. Pair with regular exercise and you will soon notice the changes!
Shop slim
It all begins during your food shop as Dr Wansink notes that whatever you purchase here is what’s taken home and eaten. His first pearl of wisdom – don’t shop on am empty stomach as you’re bound to reach for whatever your appetite desires. Cravings can strike when full too, so he recommends chewing on gum about the supermarket.
“Our studies show the minty freshness can effectively short-circuit cravings, making it harder to imagine the sensory details of crunchy chips or creamy ice cream,” he revealed. “Astonishingly, one piece of gum is enough to cut your junk food purchases by seven per cent.” Impressive!
He also suggests mapping a route, beginning with fruit and vegetables in your trolley/basket alone as they will appear more tempting without anything next to them, and dividing your carrier into sections for what you need.
Contrasting colours
Dr Wansink invited 60 volunteers for a free pasta lunch, during which they had a red or white plate with either tomato or cream sauce. After serving themselves, participants’ plates were weighed. It was found that people piled up 18 per cent more food when the carbohydrates matched the colour of the plate they were eaten off of than it the carbs clashed.
Another way to cut down is using smaller plates and bowls to restrict your overall food intake.
Hide leftovers
If you’ve cooked up enough for five helpings, but there’s only two of you, make sure you store away the leftovers as Dr Wansink notes you could end up eating 19 per cent less food if it isn’t in reach. When extra food is left in easy access, people are more likely to continue helping themselves, even if they’re not hungry.
The doctor suggests serving salads and vegetables in big portions first, keeping them in sight, but hide the rest of the food after serving.
Don’t avoid buffets
This may go against the last point, but you don’t have to turn down the offer of a buffet dinner if you’re trying to lose weight. After researchers studied eating habits at a Chinese restaurant, they found overweight people were twice as lively to pick up large plates and fill them with everything, before sitting back at their table close to the food.
However, more slender people tend to “scout” the buffet and pick their favourite foods to put on a smaller plate, further away from the counters. They also appeared to chew three times more than bigger people, with each mouthful taking 15 before swallowing. Of course, this is just an example of one restaurant, but it may be worth keeping in mind next time you go to an ‘all you can eat’!
Featured image: ©OHMYGOSSIP/Helena-Reet Ennet
Is your toddler drinking too much milk?
OHMYGOSSIP – Parents are feeding their toddlers too much milk and putting them at risk of obesity, experts warn. New research has found that a significant portion of children are consuming excess protein each day, putting them at risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and Type 2 diabetes later in life.
Researchers from University College London, Oxford and Bristol universities claim that protein consumption was so high because parents are giving their toddlers too much milk, yoghurt and other dairy products.
The study focused on data for 2,336 children and found that average daily calorie intake “significantly exceeded” the recommended 968 limit, with 63 per cent of children consuming an average of 1,035 calories. Protein intake, at around 40 grams a day, was also nearly three times higher than the recommended 15 grams, while fibre intake at 8 grams was half the recommended amount.
Researchers also found that at 21 months, the average British toddler was getting a quarter of their calories from cow’s milk. However, the National Health Service (NHS) advises they should not have more than 600ml of milk per day.
Lead study author Hayley Syrad said it is important for parents to understand what their little ones are consuming as dietary preferences and habits are established during the first two years of life.
Experts advise that toddlers need good eating and drinking habits, and should have at least five portion so fruit and vegetables, oily fish and starchy food, while consuming limited amounts of sugary and fatty foods.
The study is published in the British Journal of Nutrition.
Featured image: PantherMedia/ Jaren Wicklund/ Scanpix