Esteemed ABC science show 'Catalyst' last night aired a great myth-busting story on marijuana smoking and its link to psychosis.
In the past no-one had actually researched if cannabis causes consumption was linked to schizophrenia: it was mostly imposed morality. However, in 2004, a London study found the truth – schizophrenia rates have been rising in parallel with cannabis use.
This along with a more recent meta-analysis (review of studies) has found that "Smoking pot at any stage increases your risk of developing a psychotic illness by 40%" and the earlier you start smoking, the higher the risk.
However, research on the COMT gene has pinned it even further. Each of us gets two COMT genes, a combination of good and bad (for want of a better analogy). Get two 'bad' genes and you're in the high-risk category.... in fact you have an 11-fold increase in the possibility of psychosis.
The full story can be found at:
http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/2402434.htm
Friday, October 31, 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008
FAST
It's Australia's second biggest killer, the leading cause of disability AND somewhere in Australia someone suffers EVERY TEN MINUTES.
Do you know the signs of stroke? FAST stands for:
Facial weakness
Arm weakness
Speech difficulties
Time to act - fast, call 000 immediately. The quicker stroke victims receive treatment the better the outcome.
A bit about stroke:
A stroke, also called “brain attack” or “cerebral vascular accident” occurs when brain cells die from oxygen deprivation.
Oxygen deprivation occurs if blood flow to the brain is blocked by a clot or if vessels are damaged. Without oxygen, brain cells cannot function.
There are two types of stroke: hemorrhagic and ischemic.
A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, due to high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, or a congenital malformation.
A burst vessel causes bleeding into the brain and decreased blood flow in the damaged vessel. Blood build-up increases pressure in the brain, damaging nerve cells and collapsing smaller vessels.
The second type of stroke is ischemic stroke, which occurs when blood flow through a vessel is blocked. There are three categories of ischemic stroke:
1. thrombotic,
2. thromboembolic, and
3. embolic.
A thrombotic stroke occurs when flow in a blood vessel in the brain is obstructed by arteriosclerosis.
A thromboembolic stroke occurs when a clot breaks off from an arteriosclerotic plaque, and lodges in a downstream vessel, blocking blood flow.
An embolitic stroke occurs when a clot travels to the brain from elsewhere in the body. Patients with atrial fibrillation or who have suffered a heart attack are at high risk of embolic stroke. This is because slow, irregular, or interrupted blood flow has a tendency to clot.
Sometimes an individual will experience a transient ischemic attack (TIA), which is temporary and improves before cells die. A TIA is a precursor to a thrombotic stroke or short-term embolus.
For more information, please visit: www.strokefoundation.com.au
Resource "Pathophysiology" by Porth et al
Do you know the signs of stroke? FAST stands for:
Facial weakness
Arm weakness
Speech difficulties
Time to act - fast, call 000 immediately. The quicker stroke victims receive treatment the better the outcome.
A bit about stroke:
A stroke, also called “brain attack” or “cerebral vascular accident” occurs when brain cells die from oxygen deprivation.
Oxygen deprivation occurs if blood flow to the brain is blocked by a clot or if vessels are damaged. Without oxygen, brain cells cannot function.
There are two types of stroke: hemorrhagic and ischemic.
A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, due to high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, or a congenital malformation.
A burst vessel causes bleeding into the brain and decreased blood flow in the damaged vessel. Blood build-up increases pressure in the brain, damaging nerve cells and collapsing smaller vessels.
The second type of stroke is ischemic stroke, which occurs when blood flow through a vessel is blocked. There are three categories of ischemic stroke:
1. thrombotic,
2. thromboembolic, and
3. embolic.
A thrombotic stroke occurs when flow in a blood vessel in the brain is obstructed by arteriosclerosis.
A thromboembolic stroke occurs when a clot breaks off from an arteriosclerotic plaque, and lodges in a downstream vessel, blocking blood flow.
An embolitic stroke occurs when a clot travels to the brain from elsewhere in the body. Patients with atrial fibrillation or who have suffered a heart attack are at high risk of embolic stroke. This is because slow, irregular, or interrupted blood flow has a tendency to clot.
Sometimes an individual will experience a transient ischemic attack (TIA), which is temporary and improves before cells die. A TIA is a precursor to a thrombotic stroke or short-term embolus.
For more information, please visit: www.strokefoundation.com.au
Resource "Pathophysiology" by Porth et al
storm
Given the current worldwide headache, I'd like to remind you:
Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass,
it's about learning to dance in the rain
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Ten diet mistakes
If it was as simple as the energy-in less energy-out equation, most of us would be a healthy weight. So, to be successful in losing and managing weight you need to identify unhelpful behaviours that sabotage your personal situation and work out how to counteract them.
Following are some recurring habits that will reduce your sucess:
* Lack of activity - at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise each day is required
* Falling for fads - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
* Emotional eating - consuming to reduce stress doesn't help.
* Alcohol - drinking your kilojoules will also reduce your will-power - cut down/out the alcohol.
* Eating for two - Mums to be should eat well, not in excess.
* Skipping breakfast - this will give you an energy slump mid-morning where you'll want to "snack", you'll also be tired and will eat the first thing in sight (eg fast food).
* Accepting "free" food - whether it's a mouthful at the supermarket demo, nibbles at the pub, or the Xmas party, think about everything you put in your mouth.
* Value for money - the "eat as much as you can for $x" offer, isn't a good deal. Also not leaving anything on your plate ... if you're full, stop!
* Multi-tasking, or eating on the run - Your digestive system will thank you for sitting somewhere quiet and enjoying your meal. Slow food rules!
* Motivated by looks alone - can lead to a spectrum of eating disorders.
In summary, if you want to lose weight, exercise daily and eat healthy meals. You can also try this "tricks"
+ Use a smaller plate (so it looks full)
+ Stop eating when you're full, regardless of what's left
+ Have 6 little meals: breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and supper. Snacks should include fruit and nuts, seeds etc.
+ Emotional eaters try a handful of plain nuts (NOT chocolate coated)
+ When going to a party, eat before-hand
+ Carry a protein bar in your bag for when you get "caught short".
Following are some recurring habits that will reduce your sucess:
* Lack of activity - at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise each day is required
* Falling for fads - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
* Emotional eating - consuming to reduce stress doesn't help.
* Alcohol - drinking your kilojoules will also reduce your will-power - cut down/out the alcohol.
* Eating for two - Mums to be should eat well, not in excess.
* Skipping breakfast - this will give you an energy slump mid-morning where you'll want to "snack", you'll also be tired and will eat the first thing in sight (eg fast food).
* Accepting "free" food - whether it's a mouthful at the supermarket demo, nibbles at the pub, or the Xmas party, think about everything you put in your mouth.
* Value for money - the "eat as much as you can for $x" offer, isn't a good deal. Also not leaving anything on your plate ... if you're full, stop!
* Multi-tasking, or eating on the run - Your digestive system will thank you for sitting somewhere quiet and enjoying your meal. Slow food rules!
* Motivated by looks alone - can lead to a spectrum of eating disorders.
In summary, if you want to lose weight, exercise daily and eat healthy meals. You can also try this "tricks"
+ Use a smaller plate (so it looks full)
+ Stop eating when you're full, regardless of what's left
+ Have 6 little meals: breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and supper. Snacks should include fruit and nuts, seeds etc.
+ Emotional eaters try a handful of plain nuts (NOT chocolate coated)
+ When going to a party, eat before-hand
+ Carry a protein bar in your bag for when you get "caught short".
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