Some folks around the globe are starting the night off with a bang—literally. People with a rare sleep disorder known as “exploding head syndrome” go to sleep at night only to be awakened a few hours later by a loud crash.

Exploding head syndrome is more common in women than men, and people with the disorder are usually in their 50s or older. Once a person has had an incident, sometimes called an auditory sleep start, he or she may not experience one again for long periods of time, if at all.

What’s unusual about the disturbance is it’s only heard inside the mind. It has been compared to thunder or an explosion that lasts just moments before the person wakes up. Episode-induced anxiety sometimes causes heavy breathing, rapid heartbeat and cold sweats.

Exploding head syndrome doesn’t cause swelling or damage, but on occasion the episode may be described as a headache. In some instances, people with the disorder may also see flashes of light. This is called a visual sleep start.

According to the American Sleep Association (ASA), the disorder has been linked with stress and fatigue. Episodes often come in clusters and are relatively erratic.

The ASA does caution people who think they might have the disorder to speak with their doctors. Similar experiences may be the result of medication or other conditions. Distress over episodes also could lead to insomnia.

Although the exact cause isn’t known, the ASA says that a regular sleep routine and calming activities before bed may help prevent incidents.

Lauren Johnson has been sneezing a lot lately. Up to 12 times a minute, every day, almost all day, for a month. Lauren, 12, has been diagnosed with PANDAS, a disorder linked with strep.

PANDAS, Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcus, is a rare new syndrome causing controversy in the medical world.

“In this condition, what typically happens is, following a strep infection like strep pharyngitis, the child will develop a sudden onset of either tics or OCD-type behavior,” pediatric neurologist Dr. Rosario Trifiletti said in an interview with MSNBC. “In many patients, they have a tendency towards tics, and the strep infection can make it a lot worse.”

PANDAS usually develops sometime between age three and puberty. Symptoms include OCD or tic disorders, episodic severity, hyperactivity/adventitious movements, and association with streptococcal infections. Episodes are associated with separation anxiety, mood changes, bed-wetting and disturbed sleep.

If a child has a strep infection with episodes on three different occasions, this may be a sign he or she has the disorder. There are currently no lab tests that can confirm the disorder, and there is currently no know cure for PANDAS.

Still, Lauren’s mother, Lynn, has found some relief in knowing why her daughter can’t seem to stop sneezing:

“It’s bittersweet,” she says. “We have a direction to go towards, but there’s not a lot of answers. There needs to be more research done, more funding for research, more answers so we can treat her effectively.”

Lauren is being treated with antibiotics and steroids for the disorder. Luckily, Lauren says she’s getting used to the sneezing.

Good health, family, friends—there’s plenty to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. Super savings can now be added to the list. People who enjoy a nice Thanksgiving meal are less likely to impulse buy, according to a study found in the Journal of Marketing Research.

The secret ingredient behind this information is tryptophan. Tryptophan is an amino acid that helps the body create and use serotonin. Serotonin is the body’s natural “feel good” drug. Serotonin helps regulate sleep and boost moods, but it’s also been known to have an effect on impulsive behavior.

For the study, researchers surveyed participants after Thanksgiving dinner. They asked participants to rank how likely they were to make certain purchases. Those who ate a traditional Thanksgiving meal were much less likely to impulse buy than individuals who ate pasta or burritos.

In a similar study, researchers examined how impulsive spending differed between vice products (such as ice cream) and virtue products (frozen yogurt). They categorized 170 college students as either impulsive or cautious spenders.

Regardless of how likely students were to impulse buy, the amount spent on virtue products was unaffected. Students who were prone to impulse buying spent more on vice products, while their counterparts were more likely to save money.

According to another report, roughly 62 percent of supermarket and 80 percent of luxury-good purchases by Americans are made on impulse. With stores dishing out some of their biggest bargains, the temptation to spend is likely to be high, and cutting impulsive spending could save some serious cash. The effects of tryptophan only last for about four hours, so you may want to grab a turkey sub before hitting the stores this Friday.

Read the source article by the Scientific American.

Stressing about losing your job may cause more harm than actual job loss. More than 1,700 participants in the American’s Changing Lives (ACL) and the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) studies were asked: How likely is it that during the next couple of years you will involuntarily lose your job? Researchers from the University of Michigan and the University of California wanted to find the effects of job insecurity on employee health.

"It may seem surprising that chronically high job-insecurity is more strongly linked with health declines than actual job loss or unemployment," says Sarah Burgard, lead author of the study and research assistant professor in the University of Michigan’s Department of Sociology and School of Public Health, "but there are a number of reasons why this is the case.”

More teens are calling for help with ADHD prescription drug abuse, according to information obtained from the American Association of Poison Control Center. Calls to the center from 13-19 year-old victims regarding prescription ADHD medication abuse rose 76% between 1998 and 2005.

These types of calls rose more quickly than those for general substance abuse by teens (up 55%). ADHD medication prescriptions were up 80% over the same time period, a figure researchers suspect is no coincidence. Girls called more frequently than boys, representing 40% of all victims, but boys suffered more severe effects than girls, who accounted for just over 19% of major effects or death.

Researchers can only speculate why the imbalance is so drastic: “We don’t know for sure whether the increased calls for help are the result of simply more abuse or the escalating severity of consequences,” explains G. Randall Bond, MD, director of the Poison and Information Center at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

“The findings suggest that more teens are abusing and misusing stimulant ADHD medications because they have access to those medications, not because a higher percentage of those treated have turned to abusing their medication,” explains lead author Jennifer Setlik, MD, also of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

Attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) is a common childhood disorder that can continue through adulthood. Individuals with ADHD may be extremely talkative or fidgety, and often have difficulties with impulsiveness, patience, following instructions, hyperactivity, attentiveness, and behavioral control.

Most of the medications used to treat ADHD are amphetamines, stimulants intended to boost concentration; drugs such as Adderall, Dexedrine, or Ritalin are typically prescribed. Teens abuse these stimulants to increase focus, to reduce pain and anxiety, or to get high without knowing the side effects.

Side effects may include insomnia or tiredness, cottonmouth, dizziness, and headaches. In more extreme cases, however, they may cause vomiting, seizure, or psychiatric problems, including hallucinations. Strattera, a non-stimulant antomoxetine, can cause users to have an increased likelihood of suicidal thoughts.

"Clearly," says Setlik, "we are seeing a rising problem with the abuse of these medications." As the drug abuse problem progresses, education continues to be stressed as a means of prevention.

Click here for more information on how to talk to your child about drug abuse.

A commonly prescribed medication for lowering blood pressure may also help people forget bad memories. A report appearing online February 15 in Nature Neuroscience shows that taking the beta-blocker drug propanolol before recalling a fearful memory may help rid people of the fear associated with that memory. If true, the drug might be able to help people with anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other emotional disorders.

The researchers showed 60 participants a picture of a spider, while at the same time exposing half of them to a mild electric shock. Then they measured the fear the participants had learned to associate with the spider picture by measuring their startle response to a puff of air; participants not given any shock showed no fear, while those who had been shocked showed significant fear associated with the spider picture.

Next, the researchers gave some of the participants propanolol before showing them the picture again. This time, those who had formerly been fearful of the spider picture showed a much smaller fear response, or even none at all. When tested again the following day, after the propanolol was no longer present in the participants’ bodies, the participants continued to show no fear of the spider picture, despite being able to remember having seen the picture before.

While it may seem like your memories are static video camera versions of the past, in actuality memories are changing all the time. Anytime you remember something, the process of recalling that memory from storage and then "re-filing" it back into storage alters the memory slightly. This process of re-filing memories is called reconsolidation, and researchers have previously showed that during reconsolidation, memories are very sensitive to the effects of certain drugs.

In the present study, giving the participants propanolol while they recall a fearful memory may interrupt this process of reconsolidation. The beta-blocker may interfere with the brain neurotransmitters that are involved in reconsolidation of the emotional component of the memory, but leave the rest of the memory intact, the scientists suggest. The memory of the picture is still there, but it is no longer associated with fear. If the effect works for people with anxiety disorders, they would still remember a traumatic event but the negative emotional associations may be dulled or gone altogether.

The researchers caution that much more study is required before it can be used in patients who have suffered emotional trauma. The next steps are to look at how long the drug's effects on memory last, and examining if the treatment works in people who are suffering from some kind of disorder or phobia. The study authors also note that beta-blockers likely have an effect on the reconsolidation of all memories, not just fearful or traumatic ones.

Want to learn more about anxiety disorders? Read the Healia Health Guide on Anxiety or the Healia Health Guide to PTSD. To connect with other people interested in these disorders, join the Healia Heath Community for Anxiety or the Healia Health Community for PTSD.

_{Photo: Yankee November, Flickr, Creative Commons}

The economy is in decline; your house is worth less than you paid for it, you may be losing your job, that pile of bills just seems to be getting higher – and your anxiety and stress levels seem to be rising as fast as the stock markets fall. While your economic situation may not be as dire as this scenario, odds are that your financial situation is worse now than it was a year ago. With failing banks and massive layoffs leading the news daily, it can be difficult to escape the sense of impending doom.

It is perfectly normal to feel anxious or stressed out during times like these. In fact, it would be unusual to be unconcerned when events beyond your control are impacting your family’s financial future. According to the American Psychological Association, two-thirds of adults admit that the economy contributes significantly to their stress. But if you find that you are consumed by worry about your finances to the exclusion of anything else, or you are having difficulty sleeping due to your worry, you may be experiencing anxiety, also known as Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

People with GAD tend to have fears about terrible things happening to themselves or their loved ones even though they realize their fears are irrational. The American Psychiatric Association defines GAD in part as the presence of persistent, excessive, and unrealistic worries about issues such as money, health, family, or work that last six months or longer. GAD can be accompanied by physical symptoms including fatigue, restlessness, difficulty sleeping, irritability, and others.

Whether your worries about the economy have risen to the level where they are interfering with your everyday life, or you just need some relief from the stress caused by uncertain economic times, the following tips provided by the Anxiety Disorders Association of America can help:

• Take a break from bad news. It is hard to turn on the TV without hearing some negative news about the economy. Take a break from all the bad news by turning off the TV, avoiding the radio, and staying away from internet news sites for awhile. Some people can feel their anxiety and stress level rising when they are exposed to bad news; if this sounds familiar, try taking a walk or listening to some music to get your mind off of the situation.
  
  
• Make a plan. Come up with a plan of action for how to adapt to the changing financial conditions. This could include measures such as postponing a planned vacation or home renovation, increasing revenue by taking extra hours at work or renting out a room in your house, or even delaying action for now but setting up contingency plans for what to do in case things get worse. Even if you have to make changes to the plan later, simply having a plan can make you feel more secure.
  
  
• Concentrate on things you can control. There are a lot of things happening in the economy that are completely beyond your control, and focusing on these things can make you feel powerless. Instead, try to focus on the things that you can do something about. If you’re worried about your expenditures, try prioritizing your expenses and cut costs by eliminating expenses that are not absolutely necessary. Make sure to continue paying off and debts you may have because ignoring debt only worsens your financial situation.
  
  
• Think conservatively. Don’t rush to make major changes to your investment strategy just because you feel like you should be doing "something." Make appropriate adjustments, such as: if you are nearing retirement or are worried about your job or financial security, talk to your financial advisor about diversifying your portfolio to include more low-risk investments that will minimize the impact of a struggling market economy. Continue to think in the long term. If you take your money out of the market, you’ll miss the gains when it goes back up, which analysts agree it will eventually do.
  
  
• Keep things in perspective. It’s only money. That may seem like cold comfort to someone who is losing their house, but try to remember that things like your health and your friends and family are truly the most important things in life.
  
  
• Stay healthy. Eating healthy, getting enough sleep and adequate exercise are critical to dealing with stress and anxiety. In addition allowing yourself enough personal time can help clear your mind of negative thoughts and do wonders for stress management.
  
  
• Talk to someone. Talking to someone can help you understand your fears and may even help you get over some of them. This could mean talking to a professional financial advisor about your situation or simply talking to a friend or family member. If you feel like your fears are interfering with your life, you may want to talk to a therapist.

For more information on how to successfully manage stress, see the Healia Health Guide on Stress Management or join the Healia Health Community for Stress Management. For more information on Generalized Anxiety Disorder, read the Healia Health Guide on Anxiety or ask a question to the people in the Healia Health Community for Anxiety.

Related blog post: Risk of Mental Health Problems Jumps as the Economic Crisis Grows and the Stock Markets Dive.  

_{Source: Anxiety Disorders Network of America, Spotlight: How to Survive Tough Economic Times and Manage Your Anxiety. http://www.adaa.org/gettinghelp/MFarchives/EconomicTimes.asp}

_{Photo: qnr, Flickr, Creative Commons}

The holiday season can be a time filled with joy and fun, but it can also be very stressful and depression is common. This year, the risk of holiday stress and depression may be compounded by the current poor economy and financial instability. The demands of traveling, entertaining, holiday shopping, parties, family reunions, and house guests can be overwhelming. In addition, unrealistic expectations, financial constraints, and the inability to be with one’s family and friends can cause stress and lead to the “holiday blues.” You may feel fatigued or anxious, have difficulty sleeping, or feel like all the fun has been taken out of your holiday experience. These feelings can cause people to adopt unhealthy coping mechanisms such as excessive drinking, overeating, and social withdrawal.

Feelings of sadness may also arise after the New Year, when a “post holiday let down” can set in. You may feel disappointed about your holiday experience or sadness that the events are over and won’t return for a whole year. This can be compounded by excess stress and fatigue from the all the effort you put into the holiday period and the financial repercussions of your holiday spending.

The following is a list of tips that can help you cope with and manage stress and feelings of sadness during the holiday season and beyond:

• Keep your expectations manageable. Try to set realistic goals for yourself this holiday season. This can help you avoid time conflicts and keep your stress level down.


• Identify your stressors. Pay attention to the things that stress you out or make you sad. If there are certain holiday events or situations that trigger bad feelings, recognizing ahead of time this can help you prepare to deal with the stress or sadness they may cause.


• Be aware of unhealthy coping behaviors. Coping mechanisms such as excessive drinking and social withdrawal do not help in the long run and tend only to increase your feelings of stress or sadness.


• Take care of your health. Remember to exercise regularly, eat healthy, and make sure you get enough rest time and enough sleep. Engage in holiday activities that you enjoy and find relaxing. Doing these things will help you better cope with stress.


• Ask for help when you need it. Don’t try to be a martyr and do everything by yourself. Let others share in the responsibility of planning activities. If you need support, rely on friends and family to help get you through. Spend time with supportive and caring people. Reach out and make new friends, or contact someone you haven’t heard from in a while. If you feel truly overwhelmed by stress, consider seeking professional help from a counselor or therapist.


• Organize your time. Make a list and prioritize the important activities while being realistic about what you can and cannot do. Pace yourself. Don’t put the entire focus on just one day or one event. If you can’t get something done today, leave it for tomorrow.


• Don’t focus on the past. Each year’s holiday season is different. Avoid the temptation to compare this year to the last or to “the gold old days.” Making such comparisons sets you up for disappointment.


• Do something for others. Spend some time volunteering to help others or give to charitable organizations. Such gestures can make you feel good about yourself and can help combat the overly commercial focus of modern holiday seasons.


• Enjoy activities that are free. Examples of free activities include taking a drive to Enjoy activities that are free. look at holiday lights and decorations, going window shopping, taking kids sledding, or making a snowman with the family. These activities can be a welcome respite and have the added bonus of not depleting your back account.


• Try something new. You can celebrate the holidays in a new way while still respecting your family’s holiday traditions.


• Take time for yourself. Don’t forget that in addition to all the family activities and obligations, you need some “me time” too. It can help you relax and decompress and may also help you gain perspective about the things that stress you out.

For more information on stress management or to share a story about your stressful holiday experience, join the Healia Health Community on Stress Management.


_{Sources: National Mental Health Association, Factsheet: Holiday Depression and Stress, Updated 3/07; American Psychological Association, Holiday Stress Tips, 2006.}

_{Photo: Effervescing Elephant, Flickr, Creative Commons}

 

This week, the Dow Jones and Standard&Poor's 500 Indexes had their worst week of declines in history. The global credit crisis has dramatically increased people’s anxiety about the economy, jobs, and personal wealth around the world.

From a health perspective, more and more people are losing sleep and suffering emotional distress. On Friday, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that the global economic downturn could lead to a rise in mental health problems. This week, the WHO launched the annual World Mental Health Day, which is intended to increase funding and services for the mentally ill.

In these challenging economic times, it is natural that people will become anxious and emotionally distressed. However, it is important that people do not feel that they need to handle this stress by themselves. Rather, they should seek help from trusted friends and family or a mental health professional before the stress becomes too overwhelming.

Do you have suggestions for how to deal with the stress associated with the current economic crisis? If so, please share them with the members of Healia Communities.

 

_{Photo: Preciouskhyatt, Flickr, Creative Commons}

Between gathering your tax documents, figuring out which IRS form to use, deciphering the complex tax rules, and tallying the amount you owe or get back—tax  season can be a very stressful time for many people. Taxpayers across the United States will have to file their taxes by next Tuesday, April 15^th.

It is very important to keep stress under control during difficult or stressful times. Even small changes can be stressful. You may need to look at what is truly causing your stress and choose an appropriate form of stress management. The Mayo Clinic recommends the following tips to reduce the health effects of stress:

• Re-prioritizing work goals and tasks
• Making sure to carve out time for physical activity every day
• Not skipping meals or resorting to fast food
• Delegating household chores to other family members
• Taking short breaks to practice relaxed breathing or muscle relaxation
• Putting a positive spin on negative thoughts

These simple but important stress management techniques can help you restore a sense of calm and peace of mind. If you would like to see how others deal with stress or ask a health expert about this, join the new Stress Management Community on Healia Communities. Stay happy and healthy!

taxes stress management 2007 tax season