“One of the major reasons women are underdiagnosed and undertreated is the lack of sex-specific diagnostic criteria,” says St. Pierre. Many heart attacks in women present with symptoms like breathlessness, stomach or gut pain, or nausea, which aren’t common symptoms for men that most healthcare professionals are looking for. Therefore, women can easily be misdiagnosed or experience a delay in proper treatment because their symptoms are perceived as “atypical.”
If you or someone you know experiences symptoms of a heart attack, immediate action can save a life. Women should:
Call 911. If you believe you may be experiencing a heart attack, don’t hesitate to seek immediate help, even if your symptoms are mild or vague.
Chew aspirin. If you’re not allergic, aspirin can help thin the blood and reduce clot formation.
Stay calm and seated. Avoid unnecessary exertion while waiting for emergency care.
Advocate for yourself. Clearly communicate your symptoms and insist on further testing if you feel dismissed.
“In cardiology, time equals muscle,” says Grayver. “The longer you wait, the more damage is done to your heart. Women often wait too long, and then the emergency room delays recognition of the heart attack, putting them at a significantly higher risk of mortality.”
Grayver adds that many women dismiss their symptoms and delay getting treatment.
“A lot of women think they’re just panicking, and then they tell themselves they don’t have time to go to the doctor because they have to get the kids to school, etc.,” says Grayver. “Even if your symptoms are atypical, you should call 911. Don’t simply schedule a doctor’s appointment for later in the week.”
Grayver also encourages women to start seeing a cardiologist once a year, starting in your twenties, especially if:
You have a genetic predisposition (family history) of cardiovascular issues.
You were born with any type of congenital anomalies, such as a ventricular septal defect.
You’re considering pregnancy.
“More than 50 percent of women going into pregnancy aren’t at their optimal cardiovascular health,” says Gravyer. “And that’s very worrisome because it means they’re going into their thirties, forties, and fifties with suboptimal cardiovascular health.”
Actor Eric Dane, who played Dr. Mark “McSteamy” Sloan on Grey’s Anatomy and Carl Jacobs on Euphoria, has revealed he was diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), also called Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Speaking to People magazine, Dane, 52, said, “I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter.”
Dane is married to actress-model Rebecca Gayheart, with whom he has two daughters, ages 15 and 13.
“I feel fortunate that I am able to continue working and am looking forward to returning to the set of Euphoria next week,” he said. “I kindly ask that you give my family and I privacy during this time.”
What Is ALS?
ALS is a rare neurodegenerative disease caused by the death of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movements.
Over time, people with ALS lose their ability to walk, use their hands and arms, speak, chew, and swallow.
ALS is also called Lou Gehrig’s disease because the legendary New York Yankees baseball player was diagnosed with it in 1939 when he was 36; he died two years later.
The disease is progressive, meaning symptoms worsen over time. There is no cure for ALS.
Treatment focuses on maintaining physical function and independence for as long as possible. While medications and other therapies can’t reverse muscle and nerve damage, they can slow the progression of symptoms, prevent complications, and reduce pain.
Each type of stress test uses a different method to make your heart work harder. You may be required to exercise on a stationary bike or treadmill or take medication to simulate exercise and show how well your heart functions when it’s pumping hard.
Exercise Stress Test
Exercise stress tests, sometimes called cardiopulmonary exercise testing, are often used to determine your cardiovascular fitness and detect whether you have any heart-related issues that may affect your physical activity.
During this test, you will exercise on a treadmill or a stationary bike, and the level of difficulty will get progressively harder during the session. A healthcare provider will monitor your blood pressure and connect you to an electrocardiogram (ECG) machine, which tracks your heartbeat and the electrical pulses in the heart.
While this test is generally considered safe, it’s not recommended if you’ve recently had a heart attack, have persistent chest pain, or have inflammation of the heart muscle, such as myocarditis and pericarditis. There is generally minimal preparation for this type of test, though your doctor may recommend avoiding caffeine or other stimulants that can increase your heart rate.
Stress Echocardiogram
A stress echocardiogram is similar to an exercise stress test. However, a healthcare provider will use ultrasound to create a moving cross-sectional view of your beating heart before and after exertion, whether through exercise or medication. This will allow the provider to see the heart’s chambers and valves.
If you’re unable to exercise during this test, a provider may give you a medication called dobutamine to cause your heart to beat faster and harder.
Nuclear Stress Test
During a nuclear stress test, a healthcare provider will inject a tracer with a radioactive substance into a vein in your arm before you begin exercising. If you’re unable to exercise, they’ll use a vasodilator, which widens the arteries, or give you dobutamine to mimic physical exertion.
A special camera can track the radioactive substance, typically thallium or sestamibi, showing doctors how well blood flows in and out of the heart muscle both at rest and when stressed. If the substance doesn’t appear in certain parts of the heart in the image, those areas are likely not receiving enough blood.
While a nuclear stress test can determine your cardiovascular fitness, it’s also used to see if previous treatments, such as stents, have been effective and to diagnose heart disease in place of more invasive tests, like cardiac catheterization.
Cardiac MRI Stress Test
A cardiac MRI stress test doesn’t require running on a treadmill or using a stationary bike. Instead, it uses MRI scans in combination with drugs that simulate exercise to understand how the heart functions under stress. An MRI scan is a noninvasive test that uses radio waves and magnets to take clear, detailed images of the inside of your body; in this case, your heart and blood vessels.
If you have a pacemaker or other metal in your body, such as screws, it’s important to tell your provider before scheduling this test.
This test is relatively new and is used less frequently than other stress tests.
Even though research hasn’t conclusively linked probiotics with remission in Crohn’s disease, that doesn’t mean they can’t be helpful for people with Crohn’s.
“Probiotics have been shown to be helpful for gut health in general,” says Limketkai, and Crohn’s can cause downstream digestive issues.
“When someone has Crohn’s disease, while inflammation is one factor that drives their symptoms, inflammation itself is an injury process,” he says. “And so it also then gives rise to other kinds of digestive issues” like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which probiotics may be able to improve.
The big takeaway, says Limketkai, is that if someone with Crohn’s is dealing with symptoms typical of a gut microbiome imbalance, it probably can’t hurt to try taking probiotics. “The risk profile is low,” he says. “It’s generally helpful for the gut microbiome. That’s why it’s [sold] over the counter,” rather than by prescription. While there is a small risk of diarrhea, that’s true for anyone starting probiotics, not just people with Crohn’s, he says.
In an analysis of 43 clinical studies involving over 5,500 people with irritable bowel syndrome, researchers found that one particular species of bacteria, known as Bacillus coagulans, was most likely to improve overall symptoms as well as abdominal pain, bloating, and straining during bowel movements. Benefits were greatest when the probiotic was taken for eight weeks.
Another analysis, involving 82 clinical studies with over 10,000 participants with irritable bowel syndrome, found with moderate certainty that strains of Escherichia bacteria helped reduce symptoms, but only with low or very low certainty that certain other strains could be helpful. On the other hand, there was no overall increase in adverse events (such as worsening of symptoms) linked to taking probiotics.
Carbon monoxide is produced by any home appliance that uses natural gas and burns fuel in your home, such as a furnace, stove, clothing dryer, or gas-powered generator. All fuel-burning appliances need to be vented outside.
Gas-powered car engines release carbon monoxide as well, so never leave a car running in an enclosed garage connected to the home.
Other prevention tips include:
Use carbon monoxide detectors and check them regularly. Place them near each sleeping area on every level of the house and check the batteries at least twice a year.
If the alarm sounds, don’t immediately blame a faulty battery. Remember, the gas is invisible and odorless, and you should trust the detector. Leave the house and call 911 or emergency medical help. Carbon monoxide detectors also are made for motorhomes and boats.
Utilize gas appliances only as intended. Don’t use a gas stove or oven for heat and don’t use gas camp stoves indoors. Don’t run a generator in an enclosed space, such as a basement, garage, or tent, even if the garage door or windows are open.
When your garage door is open, you’re pulling air in, not exhausting it out, says Dr. Cooper.
“We’ve seen patients come to the ER badly poisoned saying, ‘I had the garage door open. Why did this happen?’ Opening a door or window isn’t enough — generators and gas-powered devices should really be outside,” he says.
Have appliances checked regularly. Have professionals set up all gas-, oil- or coal-burning appliances, and have a qualified service professional check them yearly.
Keep fireplaces in good condition. Clean the fireplace chimney and flue every year.
Do repairs before returning to a place where poisoning occurred. If carbon monoxide poisoning happens in your home, have a professional find and repair the source before staying there again.
How to Avoid Carbon Monoxide Poisoning While Traveling
Cooper offers a few tips to stay safe while traveling:
Check the listing on your rental or call ahead to your hotel or resort and ask if they have carbon monoxide detectors. “Most, but not all states require hotels to have CO detectors,” he says.
Buy a portable carbon monoxide detector and take it with you on trips. Small devices can be purchased online for between $20 and $35.
The detector should beep a few times when you plug it in to let you know it’s working. (Follow the instructions that came with the device.) If the alarm beeps during your stay, leave the house or building immediately.
Sleep is essential for energy, concentration, and your complexion. At night, skin goes into a renewal state.
Skimping on sleep can show on your face over time. One small study found that sleep restriction for two nights (defined as sleeping for three hours each night) resulted in skin that was drier, had less elasticity, was duller, and had more visible dark undereye circles.
Skin Solution To get enough sleep:
Go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day so your body gets on a schedule.
Make your bedroom dark, cool, and quiet.
Finish eating two to three hours before bed.
Limit the amount of caffeine you consume in the afternoon.
3. Sipping Out of a Straw
Do you drink sodas, tea, and coffee through a straw? It may help prevent staining your teeth, but it can cause fine lines around your mouth.
Reszko points out that when you’re sipping out of a straw you’re activating the muscles around the lips: “Using a straw causes repetitive pursing of the lips, which can contribute to the formation of fine lines.”
Skin Solution “Although it will not cause a drastic change, eliminating drinking from a straw can reduce these movements and have a small effect on slowing the formation of fine lines,” says Reszko.
4. Having a Lot of Stress
“Every part of our body is affected by our stress,” Dr. Frank says. That includes your skin.
Stress releases cortisol, causing collagen breakdown. If you’re chronically worried (or losing sleep), your body is pumping out stress hormones nonstop, which can cause premature aging.
“Cortisol, the major stress hormone, breaks down collagen, which leads to sagging skin and wrinkles and causes inflammation,” says Amy Wechsler, MD, a New York City–based board-certified dermatologist and psychiatrist. Chronic stress can speed up the aging process in part because of increased inflammation.
Skin Solution “Stress can be reduced through lifestyle changes, including good food, good sleep, and meditation, which all have an enormous effect on the biological and cosmetic aging process,” Frank says.
Figure out what helps you relax and do it regularly.
5. Relying on Makeup for Sunscreen
To protect the skin from premature aging, SPF is king. Ultraviolet (UV) light exposure is the primary cause of premature skin aging, degrading collagen and elastin, which leads to wrinkles, sagging, and hyperpigmentation.
But if you’re relying on makeup containing SPF to block harmful UV rays, you may not be sufficiently protecting your skin.
“Makeup with sunscreen is better than nothing, but it’s not enough on its own,” says Berry. One reason is that the amount of makeup product that we typically use on our face is too small to supply the skin with the SPF that’s listed on the bottle. (The SPF listed represents using a nickel-sized amount, says Berry.) Plus, it often doesn’t cover both UVA and UVB rays, which is what’s needed for adequate protection.
Skin Solution Apply sunscreen or moisturizer with broad-spectrum SPF before putting on your makeup. Broad-spectrum means the product will protect your skin against UVA rays, which contribute to skin aging, and UVB rays, which can cause sunburn.
“People need SPF as a separate application from their makeup,” Frank says. “SPF 30 is usually the acceptable number for protection.”
Berry also recommends reapplying sunscreen every two hours. “If you’re wearing makeup, I like powders or facial sprays that have SPF.”
6. Ignoring Your Neck and Hands
Avoiding ultraviolet light is the single most important way to avoid skin damage. But even the most diligent SPF users may neglect their neck and hands, which may be why they’re one of the first areas to give away your age, says Berry. As the delicate, thin skin on your hands ages, it loses volume and fat, and veins, joints, and tendons in the hands become more prominent.
Berry says the neck can become discolored and older-looking as well, usually as a result of long-term sun exposure. “People don’t usually put sunscreen on these areas, and that can result in wrinkles, crepey skin, and dark spots.”
Skin Solution Again, avoiding harmful UV rays can help — and if you go outside, seek shade and wear a hat with a brim, sunscreen, and sun-protective clothing. In addition, care for these areas with good skin habits. “Make sure that whatever skincare products you put on your face — like sunscreen, retinol, or vitamin C — you extend that down to your neck, chest, and backs of your hands,” says Berry.
7. Forgetting Sunglasses
Sunglasses protect the eyes from UV rays, which can harm the eyelid, cornea, lens, and retina (and, as previously noted, UV rays can damage the delicate skin around the eyes, too).
In addition to eye damage, forgoing sunglasses can also affect the surrounding skin. “Sunglasses help stop repetitive squinting, which can cause dynamic wrinkles that turn into permanent creases over time. They can also physically block some of the UV rays, which break down collagen and elastin that leads to the signs of premature aging,” says Berry.
Skin Solution Slip on sunglasses when it’s bright and sunny outside, says Berry. To ensure your sunglasses are providing enough protection, search for a pair that says “100 percent protection against both UVA and UVB” or “100 percent protection against UV 400” on the label.
8. Using Drying Soap
Bars of soap often contain harsh detergents that strip skin of natural oils. Dryness is one symptom of aging skin. Plus, dryness itself can exacerbate the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, says Berry.
Skin Solution Use a hydrating cleanser. Berry recommends using a gentle, nonstripping cleanser. Unless you have oily skin, avoid foaming cleansers or those that have sulfates as an ingredient. Instead, look for humectant ingredients, which draw moisture into the skin, she says, including hyaluronic acid or glycerin. Seal in the hydration with a moisturizer that contains emollients like ceramides, squalene, or shea butter.
9. Eating a Diet High in Sugar and Refined Carbohydrates
“Everything we eat shows up on our skin, which can be good or bad for our overall skin health,” says New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Anetta Reszko, MD, PhD. A diet rich in ultra-processed foods, which includes those with excessive added sugar and refined carbohydrates, can trigger body-wide chronic inflammation. This causes problems on multiple fronts, but for your skin, says Dr. Reszko, this diet pattern can contribute to acne, rosacea, and premature skin aging.
Skin Solution Focus on consuming a whole-food, plant-based diet, focusing on foods like nuts, seeds, vegetables (especially green leafy ones), and olive oil. This type of eating pattern provides ample antioxidant vitamins like A, C, and E, and healthy fats, which protect cells from damage and inflammation — and it’s been found to be a diet that research recommends for maintaining younger-looking skin.
10. Drinking Too Much Alcohol
Some studies show that alcohol use has been linked with an older appearance. “Alcohol consumption, especially in excess, can play a role in skin health because it can cause many inflammatory skin conditions like psoriasis and rosacea,” says Reszko. “Because alcohol is also a diuretic, it can cause flushing, dryness, and, in some cases, premature fine lines and wrinkles,” she adds.
Specifically, drinking more than eight drinks per week — an amount considered heavy alcohol use — is associated with more facial lines, undereye puffiness, facial volume loss, and visible blood vessels.
Skin Solution Limit alcohol or avoid it altogether, says Reszko. With the World Health Organization declaring that no amount of alcohol is safe for health, your skin may be one more reason to cut back.
11. Smoking and Using Tobacco Products
Smoking is one of the worst things you can do for your health, says Reszko. “And this is no exception when it comes to your skin.” She explains that nicotine and toxins from smoke damage collagen and elastin, which is why smoking is associated with skin wrinkling. Nicotine also affects melanin production (the pigment in the skin), resulting in dark spots, Reszko adds.
Skin Solution “The sooner you quit smoking, the better,” says Reszko. This can be a difficult journey, and sometimes it takes multiple attempts to find success.
Everyone needs vitamins and minerals for good health. Most come from food, but plenty of people add more to their diet with supplements. If you have schizophrenia , you may have heard that taking vitamins and supplements alongside standard treatments could not only boost your energy and offer better health overall, but may help improve schizophrenia symptoms, too. It’s important to note that vitamins and supplements are not a replacement for antipsychotic medications in a schizophrenia treatment plan.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762905df81c1-b432-4237-8bbd-bc1a65f7024e “While supplements can help with schizophrenia, they are not treatment, and some supplements — when taken without caution — can even exacerbate or worsen symptoms,” says Sanam Hafeez, PsyD , a neuropsychologist based in New York City. If you consistently follow your treatment plan and lead a healthy lifestyle, including exercising regularly and eating a nutritious diet, your healthcare provider may be open to incorporating certain vitamins and supplements into your routine, says Christina Ni, MD , a psychiatrist based in Calabasas, California. The safest way to take vitamins and supplements if you have schizophrenia is to discuss it with your provider first, says Dr. Ni. They can help you decide the right dose and identify any side effects from the supplements, Ni adds.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976291ec30533-13d8-4d0e-8c8d-8185d2bdeb0f When looking for supplements, it’s important to choose options made by reputable brands who use third-party safety testing. That’s because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t regulate supplements in the same way it regulates medications.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976295a978d56-a667-4fe7-b249-bed924609c46 While more studies are needed to confirm their benefits, research suggests these six options may be beneficial for people with schizophrenia.
1. Omega-3 Fatty Acids Omega-3 Fatty Acids Omega-3 fatty acid supplements typically come in the form of fish oil, but this nutrient can also be found naturally in foods like fish and flaxseed. These fats are important components of your body’s cells and are especially vital for the eyes, brain, and some reproductive cells.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976298ac71768-a5ad-467f-b4d2-4224f30bf0e7 Because of their effect on brain cells, it’s possible that omega-3 supplements could improve schizophrenia symptoms, but research findings have been mixed. “This supplement is fairly safe,” says Dr. Hafeez, adding that early studies have shown positive effects on schizophrenia symptoms. “One review of eight studies found that taking omega-3 fatty acids led to a drop of about 25 percent in positive symptoms (such as hallucinations and delusions) as well as negative symptoms like withdrawal from others and a flat affect (showing no emotions),” says Hafeez.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762948526059-33b6-4d29-8f72-982404863411 Another review of 26 clinical studies concluded that omega-3s significantly improved symptoms, especially in the early stages of schizophrenia.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629fc2cd549-be80-4bd6-9637-c723e7c9abdd Some research, however, has found the opposite. For example, one study of 135 participants with schizophrenia who were at high risk for psychosis found omega-3s did no better than placebo supplements in preventing psychosis symptoms.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629c5c054f8-42e9-4d78-9dd5-0f024ebe1e3e More research is needed to confirm the potential benefits of omega-3 supplements for schizophrenia.
2. Zinc Zinc Among other benefits, zinc boosts your immune system and helps your body heal wounds.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629aa54f387-ba96-4e6f-aad5-ccde549bf917 “Low levels of zinc have shown a connection to more severe symptoms of schizophrenia,” says Ni.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762905462981-3870-4cba-9e44-80b3f48015e4 Some experts believe supplementation can prevent these symptoms. One small study of 44 people found zinc supplements led to fewer symptoms after particpants took them for two weeks, and symptoms kept improving the longer they took them.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976296ffb5861-bf30-464e-83b9-6de4120484f4 But more research is needed to fully determine zinc’s effects on schizophrenia symptoms.
3. B Vitamins B Vitamins There are eight different B vitamins . They’re found naturally in foods like meat, dairy, leafy green vegetables, and beans. This group of vitamins does a lot for the body, including building neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in the brain).e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629fa570828-6ce6-4319-ba03-cebb3c768a1a Vitamins B6, B9, and B12 in particular support the proper function of neurotransmitters , adds Ni. “These supplements seem most helpful [for schizophrenia] when people start them early in their illness,” says Hafeez.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762986fa8da0-1105-4adc-a553-dd772384a441 One study of 200 people with schizophrenia found that people who took vitamin B6 had fewer symptoms.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976292eca5b2d-bf85-4246-8d53-fcc1f73fcce8 Another study of 50 men with schizophrenia found that low vitamin B12 levels may be associated with more severe psychosis symptoms, and the study authors suggested supplementation could help improve symptoms.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629a7ce35a4-ff02-4ceb-9b1f-cdab73b200dd Other studies, however, have had conflicting results. For example, one systematic review of the effects of vitamin B9 (also known as folate) on various mental health conditions found that folate had no effect on schizophrenia symptoms.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762931e05580-8879-41cc-a719-1fa0b629e454 More research is still needed to determine whether B vitamin supplements could help improve schizophrenia symptoms.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629b075d9d8-cefd-488d-982f-40ffcd6f236a
4. Vitamin E Vitamin E Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant , which helps protect your body’s cells from damage. It also helps protect you from infection and illness by strengthening your immune system.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976299eafb9c6-7a98-4d0f-b957-6915172a6d35 When it comes to schizophrenia, vitamin E could have some benefits for certain antipsychotic side effects. “Taking vitamin E can also help prevent tardive dyskinesia , which is a common side effect of older antipsychotic medications,” says Hafeez. As an antioxidant, vitamin E can block damage to brain cells, which may prevent tardive dyskinesia, although more studies are needed to prove this.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762970f64efa-c3ae-489c-89c6-ad62e74040f3 While some individual case reports support the use of vitamin E for preventing tardive dyskinesia, other research hasn’t yet been able to confirm this association.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629e565da0e-c97c-46d9-b666-57943ad0981ee60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976298cba8a82-7141-451b-ac58-a6cbb9d11933 “Vitamin E is also associated with a high risk of bleeding in high doses — a perfect example of why it is important to be careful and discuss with your doctor before you start any supplements,” says Hafeez.
5. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a supplement made from one of your body’s natural amino acids , which help build proteins throughout the body. When you take NAC, your body turns it into an antioxidant that protects your cells.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629fa625070-4947-47b4-8036-c5b20924d3bd “NAC has antioxidant properties that may help reduce the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, such as apathy and emotional blunting,” says Ni.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629def38b7b-ed4b-4ec5-90ab-69e420d1b91b As with other supplements, research is conflicting on how well NAC improves symptoms. One review found NAC reduced symptoms after two weeks of use, but became less effective over time.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976290db2e3d0-cbdc-437b-b9be-e8ba8d49dce8 A study of 84 people taking clozapine found NAC taken over a year didn’t improve symptoms.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976291ba68f6c-5064-4588-9815-ef0496619c56 More research is needed to confirm the effects of NAC on schizophrenia symptoms.
6. Magnesium Magnesium Magnesium does a lot for different parts of the body, including nerves, muscles, blood sugar, and blood pressure.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976295f0ce20b-79e6-4f7a-86e0-4e0c2df2744f It can also ease anxiety and stress, which are common in people with schizophrenia, says Ni. Researchers suggest increasing magnesium levels may improve symptoms of schizophrenia. But many studies thus far have been small, and more research is still needed to assess the effects of magnesium supplementation on schizophrenia symptoms.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762980610c4d-3c3e-441c-8fcb-f06e2acff2ec
The Takeaway Vitamins and supplements alongside prescribed medications may support well-being in schizophrenia, but it’s important to speak with a healthcare provider before trying them. Supplements that may improve symptoms of schizophrenia and its treatment include omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, vitamin E, zinc, magnesium, and N-acetylcysteine. If you’d like to add any vitamins or supplements to your treatment plan, let your provider know. They can guide you to the ones to try and the optimal dosage.
Resources We Trust Mayo Clinic: Vitamins and Supplements for Mental Health Cleveland Clinic: These Natural Treatments May Help With Your Schizophrenia Symptoms National Alliance on Mental Illness: Complementary Health Approaches Rethink Mental Illness: Complementary and Alternative Treatments for Mental Health Sage Neuroscience Center: Mood-Boosting Qualities of Vitamins and How They Can Help Mental Health
Scientists have reached a consensus that no amount of alcohol use is safe for our health. Now a new study published in the journal Neurology has found that having eight or more alcoholic drinks per week raises the risk of developing brain lesions — areas of abnormal or damaged tissue associated with dementia.
While that risk drops by more than half for those who have seven or fewer drinks per week, it still remains high compared with that for nondrinkers.
“Our study highlights specific brain changes associated with alcohol use, and underscores the importance of being mindful of alcohol use and its potential consequences on health,” says lead study author Alberto Fernando Oliveira Justo, PhD, a researcher with the University of Sao Paulo Medical School in Brazil.
Any Amount of Alcohol Raises the Risk of Brain Damage
To evaluate alcohol’s impact on the brain, Dr. Justo and his team examined brain tissue obtained through autopsies performed on more than 1,700 people who had died at 75 on average.
The scientists looked for signs of brain injury, including tau tangles (abnormal accumulations of protein linked to Alzheimer’s disease) and hyaline arteriolosclerosis (a condition that causes small blood vessels to narrow and become thick and stiff). Hyaline arteriolosclerosis makes it harder for blood to flow, which can cause brain lesions.
Relying on details from family members, researchers divided subjects into four groups:
People who never drank
Moderate drinkers, meaning seven or fewer drinks per week
Heavy drinkers, meaning eight or more drinks per week
Former heavy drinkers who stopped up to three months before dying
One drink was defined as 12-ounce of beer, a standard 5-ounce glass of wine, or a 1.5 ounce pour of distilled spirits.
After accounting for other factors that could negatively impact brain health (such as age at death, smoking, and lack of physical activity), heavy drinkers were 133 percent more likely to have brain lesions compared with those who never drank. Those odds were 89 percent higher for former heavy drinkers and 60 percent higher for moderate drinkers.
“Our findings indicate that even moderate alcohol consumption can lead to neuropathological changes, challenging the notion that only heavy drinking poses a risk to brain health,” says Justo. “The impact of alcohol on the brain may occur at lower levels of consumption.”
The results also showed that heavy and former heavy drinkers had higher odds of developing tau tangles (41 percent and 31 percent higher odds, respectively).
Cognitive abilities of the deceased were determined by input from the next of kin, who had at least weekly contact with the study subjects during the six months preceding death. While researchers didn’t find a direct effect between alcohol consumption and cognition, they concluded that hyaline arteriolosclerosis may impair cognitive symptoms in people who drink alcohol.
Heavy drinkers were less likely to have hypertension and stroke — a result that may seem counterintuitive. But Justo and his team suggest this may be because heavy drinkers died 13 years earlier on average than those who never drank.
“Essentially, many heavy drinkers may not live long enough to develop these conditions, which typically occur later in life,” says Justo.
‘Heavy Drinking’ May Be Relative
For some Americans, heavy drinking may go far beyond the 8-drinks-or more-a-week definition in this study.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism labels heavy drinking as more than 8 drinks per week for women and more than 15 drinks per week for men. But survey data shows that the top 10 percent of American drinkers — around 24 million people — have an average of 74 drinks per week, or a little more than 10 per day.
“The threshold for ‘heavy drinking’ was relatively conservative in this study,” says Mollie Monnig, PhD, an assistant professor of behavioral and social sciences with the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. “Individuals with the highest level of heavy drinking in the U.S. would seem to be at greater risk for negative health outcomes measured in this study and in general.”
Dr. Monnig, who was not involved in this research, views the findings as an important step forward, as there have been few post-mortem brain studies with such large populations that have characterized the biological as well as cognitive outcomes.
She notes that data collected here on drinking habits and cognition cannot be regarded as entirely reliable because the information was determined by interviews with next of kin. Furthermore, the study observes associations between alcohol consumption and brain changes, but cannot definitively prove that one causes the other.
How to Have a Healthier Relationship With Alcohol
Christopher Kahler, PhD, a professor of behavioral and social sciences and director of Brown University’s Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, stresses that reducing drinking lowers health risk, and can have other mental and physical benefits.
He recommends following these tips to develop healthy habits around alcohol:
Track how much you drink each day. This will help you know how heavily you may be drinking.
Take a break to see how alcohol affects you. Alcohol can impact sleep, mood, and energy. For many people, taking a break from alcohol for a couple of weeks or a month gives them a chance to evaluate how they feel without drinking. Dr. Kahler, who was not involved in the study, adds that a break may also benefit memory and reduce blood pressure. “Events like Sober October and Dry January can be a great opportunity to try out abstinence as part of a national community,” he says.
Alternate alcohol and nonalcoholic drinks. This habit can reduce how much alcohol you drink.
Pause between drinks. Wait 15 minutes after you finish a drink before you start another. “This lets you experience how much you have drunk and whether you really want that next one,” Kahler says.
Know the signs of a drinking problem. “If it is hard for you to avoid drinking when you want to, or you often end up drinking much more than you intended, you may have an alcohol use disorder,” says Kahler. “If drinking is affecting your work or interest in other activities, your relationships, or your mental health, it has become a problem.” If this is the case for you, Kahler urges you to talk to a trusted medical professional or seek out reliable information online such as the Rethinking Drinking website.
Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps. It’s measured using two numbers:
Systolic pressure is the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats. It’s represented by the top number in a blood pressure reading.
Diastolic pressure is the pressure in your arteries when your heart is resting between beats. It’s represented by the bottom number in a blood pressure reading.
Blood pressure is typically measured using a cuff and monitor, either manually with a stethoscope or digitally with an automatic monitor.
Healthy blood pressure is critical because both high and low readings can lead to serious complications, including heart attack, stroke, kidney damage, and fainting episodes. High blood pressure (hypertension) can also damage your arteries over time, making it harder for your heart to work efficiently.
Your susceptibility to migraine may be largely genetic: You’re more likely to have migraine if your family members live with it. Age and sex can also increase your risk, while factors in the environment like stress and certain foods, drinks, and food additives may act as triggers for migraine attacks.
Researchers are now looking at body weight as another possible risk factor for chronic migraine. This article explains the connection between body weight and migraine and offers strategies to help modify this potential risk factor.
1. Obesity May Increase Your Risk of Chronic Migraine
There is no evidence that obesity directly causes migraine. Still, some research shows a correlational link, according to Dale Bond, PhD, the director of research integration at Hartford Hospital and HealthCare and the codirector of the Hartford Healthcare Digestive Health Institute Center of Obesity Research, Innovation, and Education in Connecticut.
According to the American Migraine Foundation, people with migraine who are at a healthy weight have about a 3 percent chance of developing chronic headaches in a year. The combination of migraine disease and overweight may triple the risk of chronic headaches, and obesity may make chronic migraine five times more likely in people with migraine.
“What the research seems to show is that obesity both increases the risk for having migraine and also might be an exacerbating factor,” says Dr. Bond. “People with existing migraine who also have obesity might be at greater risk for attacks that are more frequent and severe. There’s been some epidemiologic research that suggests that obesity might increase progression from episodic to chronic migraine.”
A recent study found an increased risk of chronic migraine in people with a body mass index (BMI) of over 25. This risk was even greater in those with a BMI of 30 or higher.
One of the common theories linking obesity and migraine is that obesity is a low-grade systemic inflammatory state that might worsen the neurovascular response of migraine, says Bond. The AMF suggests that fat tissue sends molecules around the body that trigger the production of proteins that increase inflammation.
The body makes hormones that trigger pain as part of this inflammatory response, and migraine attacks lead to a similar release of pain-triggering hormones.
2. People Who Are Underweight Also Appear to Be at Higher Risk for Migraine
Those who are underweight may also have an increased risk of migraine.
A meta-analysis published in 2023 found evidence from past studies that people with underweight had a 13 percent higher risk of migraine than people in a healthy BMI range.
Despite the increased migraine risk among those who are underweight, Bond says the risk in terms of weight status seems to be greater for those with obesity.
3. If You Have Obesity, Weight Loss Can Reduce Migraine Days
According to a meta-analysis of 10 studies involving 473 people with obesity and migraine, those who lost weight experienced fewer migraine days per month, lower migraine pain severity, and shorter attacks. The effects of weight loss on migraine intensity and frequency were similar whether a person lost the weight through behavioral interventions or bariatric surgery, and the impact of weight loss on migraine applied to both adults and children.
The “why” behind the link between obesity, weight loss, and migraine is still unclear. The study authors suggest it may be a combination of factors, including:
Chronic inflammation
Other chronic diseases that tend to occur along with obesity
Behavioral and psychological risk factors
4. Migraine Risk Associated With Obesity May Change With Age and Sex
The migraine risk associated with obesity appears to decrease with age. Age might also affect obesity’s impact on migraine episodes differently depending on a person’s sex.
A review published in 2021 found that the link between migraine and obesity may be strongest in females under 50. Obesity and migraine had very little connection after age 55 in males, and in females of the same age, an increased presence of belly fat actually decreased migraine episodes.
5. Some Weight Loss Methods May Make Your Migraine Worse
If you have migraine attacks, you may want to avoid certain eating plans and methods, including fad diets, says Bond. “We want to make dietary changes gradually rather than all at once, because some individuals may have dietary triggers that they might not be aware of,” he says.
Weight loss methods such as intermittent fasting, an eating pattern in which a person restricts their eating to certain hours of the day, may not be suitable for people with migraine. Fasting can lower a person’s blood glucose level, which may trigger a migraine attack, says Bond.
The most effective way to lose weight is to make good eating habits a permanent lifestyle change rather than a temporary phase, says Bond.
Start with small changes, such as swapping out a high-fat salad dressing for a low-fat option, he suggests.
“Over time, these small changes are going to accumulate and are going to have an impact on weight,” says Bond. “Once you start gaining confidence with making some of those smaller changes, you’ll feel more confident making larger, more systemic changes to your diet,” says Bond.
Check with your doctor before you embark on a weight loss plan. A safe rate of weight loss, says Bond, is typically 1 to 2 pounds per week.
6. Regular Exercise Has Benefits for People With Migraine
In addition to its benefits in controlling weight, regular exercise can help with stress reduction and improve sleep; poor sleep habits and stress are both known migraine triggers.
Exercise also reduces inflammation and improves cardiovascular health, Bond says.
An analysis published in 2021 looked at data from 4,879 people with migraine, nearly 3 in 4 of whom had chronic migraine. The researchers found that those who got more than the World Health Organization’s recommended 150 minutes of moderate weekly exercise experienced lower rates of depression, anxiety, and sleep issues.
Among the group that did no monthly exercise, 5 percent of participants had low headache frequency (four or fewer headaches per month), with 48 percent reporting high frequency. In the high-exercise group, 10 percent had low headache frequency while 28 percent had high migraine episode frequency.
Some people with migraine, however, report that too much or too vigorous exercise can actually trigger a migraine attack. Bright lights, loud workout music, or the strong odor of sweat in a health club may also be migraine triggers for some people.
Moderate-intensity exercise like walking, cycling, or jogging can improve migraine symptoms and reduce how often they happen. It’s also important to stay hydrated before, during, and after your workout to avoid dehydration, a potential migraine trigger.
If you find exercise difficult because of the way it interacts with migraine, you might benefit from finding a physical therapist who has experience working with those who have the condition.
A physical therapist can tailor the program to your lifestyle and symptoms, as well as track progress and improvements in function. To find a licensed physical therapist near you, ask your migraine specialist or physician if they can recommend one, or search the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Directory. Be sure to ask whether they have experience with people living with migraine.
The Takeaway
Overweight and obesity have strong links to migraine attack severity and frequency. Underweight might also increase a person’s risk of migraine.
Weight loss can help people reduce migraine attacks, but a gradual approach is crucial, and rapid, intense diet changes like fasting may trigger migraine attacks.
Slowly building up exercise can reduce migraine attack severity and frequency, but some factors around exercise like the environment, dehydration, or a rapid and intense increase in activity may act as triggers.
A tailored exercise program from a physical therapist may help you stay active while reducing your exposure to triggers and working around migraine symptoms like dizziness, vertigo, and neck pain that may be barriers to exercise.
