Clozapine Access Expanded for People With Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has just made it easier for patients to get clozapine, the only drug approved for treatment-resistant schizophrenia.The agency has removed a long-standing requirement for patients to submit lab test results showing healthy levels of white blood cells known as neutrophils in order to receive prescriptions for clozapine.The requirement was originally put in...
Autoimmune Disease Misdiagnoses Harm Patients’ Well-Being, Study Finds
Chronic autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels) can be difficult to diagnose and are often wrongly identified as psychiatric or psychosomatic (emotional symptoms that manifest physically, like a stress-induced stomachache).When doctors misdiagnose these conditions as “all in your head,” people may experience damaging effects on their well-being and self-esteem, and lose trust in...
Digestive Gas Pain and How to Relieve It
You can take steps to banish your gas pain at home. Whether you get your gas moving through abdominal massage and yoga or you drink warm tea and change your diet, there are plenty of gas-busting home remedies to try.Movement and Abdominal MassageTo get your gas moving, often your body just needs some movement or gentle massage. For example,...
11 Ways to Cope With the Emotional Aspects of Graft-Versus-Host Disease
Being told about the potential for GVHD can feel like a trade-off of one scary diagnosis (cancer) for another. GVHD can affect quality of life and require lifelong management in some cases. One recent review on the quality of life for people with GVHD found that it is a “life-altering full-time-job requiring unique knowledge, personal growth, and resilient coping...
MS, Motherhood, and Mental Health: New Study Reveals Risks
Motherhood and multiple sclerosis (MS) have had a complicated relationship for quite some time. Readers who were diagnosed decades ago may remember when women with MS were advised to reconsider having children because of the stresses that pregnancy, birthing, and childrearing might put on them.Over time, the prevailing advice changed to more of a “do it now, while you...
Understanding the Risks and Benefits
Not everyone who takes a statin will develop type 2 diabetes, Dr. Kim says.“For people who are at high risk of cardiovascular disease, the benefits of statins in reducing their risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular events usually outweigh the potential risk of developing diabetes,” she says.In addition to speaking with your doctor, you can check your...
How to Stay Happy in Winter
5. Stay ConnectedSocial connection is a basic human need. Seeking out positive interactions will help you feel better, and may motivate you to do the things you enjoy, says Schiff. Research also points to the important role social connectedness plays in supporting mental health.Meet friends at a coffee shop, visit a museum, or plan a virtual book club if...
What It is, Benefits, and 6 Ways to Do It
Hygge may be part of the reason why Denmark consistently ranks among the happiest countries on the planet, alongside Finland, Norway, and Switzerland (these rankings come from the annual World Happiness Report).Reduced Stress and Improved Emotional Well-BeingExperiencing hygge reportedly reduces stress and improves emotional well-being. However, there isn’t any scientific research examining the perks of the practice as a...
Why It Happens and Treatment Options
Navigating hair loss is hard, especially while your body is likely undergoing several other changes. There is good news: You have options. With adequate treatment and by focusing on the health of your hair, hair thinning doesn’t have to progress.Dermatologists widely recommend minoxidil (Rogaine), an over-the-counter medication that can be taken orally or used topically, as well as finasteride...
What Is Depression?
While everyone has experienced sadness, not everyone has experienced depression. In fact, if you’ve never been depressed, chances are that you don’t have a real grasp on what living with this complex mental illness is like. Depression is insidious. It affects not only your mood, but also your ability to feel, think, and function. It blunts sensations of pleasure,...
