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Prevention is better than cure. So we would always to prevent the disease rather than looking for its cure. But if we already have a disease, then we should look for the cure as soon as possible. the reason behind the panic attacks is found to be a genetic mutation and troubles 400 million people in the US alone. Although in a nebulous stage, still a breakthrough can be achieved for cure for panic disorders.

Earlier when there were completely no scope of curing a panic disorder, it was estimated that one in ten people is an anxiety disorder patient. This discovery was made by a team from the Center of Medical and Molecular Biology in Barcelona and was reported in the New Scientist Magazine.

The research saw the scientists studying the families with a history of panic disorders, agoraphobia and social phobia. The results indicated that 90% of the affected family members carried a genetic abnormality whereas the same mutation named the DUP25 was found to be present in most of the unrelated cases that have been tested. This gene mutation however was rare or was not found in those who had no anxiety problems whatsoever.

In Barcelona, the mutation occurs contains more than 60 genes, or which only 23 have so far been identified. Scientists however do know that some of these genes manufacture proteins that play a crucial role in controlling the way the cells of the nervous system communicate with each other. One theory highlighted by this group of scientists is that the gene mutation causes an imbalance in the production of these proteins resulting in the brain reacting over-sensitively to stressful situations.

An interesting fact that the scientists have come up with shows that not all people with DUP25 mutation suffer from anxiety disorders. The DUP25 mutation tends to change from generation to generation. According to Dr Monica Gratacos, a researcher said: “The environment is also very important. In the affected families, for instance, 20% of people with DUP25 had no anxiety illness at all.” the tram is presently working upon the genes on DUP25 that exactly causes anxiety disorders and what anxiety attack medication can cure them.

The basic cure for panic attacks can be traced to suppress either the genes or the protein products. Genetic mutation for DUP25 is different for every individual, as not all the cells mutate. Dr Raymond Crow, a psychiatrist at the University of Iowa is involved with the studies concerning genetic panic disorder told New Scientist magazine that the discovery in anxiety attacks was a “very important finding” adding that “It looks like they have found an entirely new mechanism of disease.”

Environmental and hereditary factors together contribute to the panic disorders. An expert in panic disorders and a clinical psychologist based at Dorset Healthcare NHS Trust, Professor Roger Baker told BBC News Online that it was likely that panic attacks were caused by a mixture of genetic and environmental factors. Those who experienced a relative with panic disorders were more prone to develop the similar disorder than the population at large he said. People with a family history, or with some of the relatives suffering from panic disorders, are likely to be affected from this disease. It is estimated that between half and three-fourth of the people who wanted to be treated for panic attacks, did not have any parental history of the same. Also, 8% of the panic attacks are caused by the misuse of drugs and stressful lifestyle.

According to Professor Baker, this is not a simple matter and that it is probably a balance of different factors that cause anxiety attacks. “It may well be that some people have a general susceptibility to panic attacks, but they would probably need some sort of stressful event to set it off.” A combination of anxiety disorder help and anti depressants, relaxation techniques and self help methods have proved to be beneficial in the treatment of panic attack disorders.

Beth Kaminski is the leading expert in the field of treatment for anxiety attacks and cure for anxiety disorders. For more information on tips to stop these attacks as well as how to prevent panic attacks, visit her site today.Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/panic-attack-gene-researchmarching-ahead-1321514.html

According to researched in the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), three brain areas of a patient with panic disorder lack a key component which is a chemical messenger system that regulates emotion. Following a series of brain scans done on panic disorder patients to find anxiety disorder treatments, it is revealed that a type of serotonin receptor is reduced by nearly a third in three structures straddling the center of the brain. The finding published in January 2004 in the Journal of Neuroscience, is the first in living humans to show that the receptor, which is pivotal to the action of widely prescribed anti-anxiety medications, may be abnormal in the disorder, and may help to explain how genes might influence vulnerability. This research was conducted by Drs. Alexander Neumeister and Wayne Drevets of the NIMH Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program.

Statistics show that about 2.4 million Americans have panic attack strikes suddenly, and experience feelings of intense fear and physical symptoms sometimes confused with a heart attack. If these symptoms go unchecked, the disorder often sets in motion an unbearable psychological syndrome of agoraphobia, which is avoiding public places. Researches have long suspected that panic disorders are genetic components since it runs in families but the new finding suggests that genes might increase the risk of disorder by coding for decreased expression of the receptors. These findings have evidence in recent animal testing. In 2002, Dr. Rene Hen and her colleagues from Columbia University reported that a strain of gene “knockout” mice, engineered to lack the receptor during a critical period in early development, exhibit anxiety traits in adulthood, such as a reluctance to begin eating in an unfamiliar environment.

Various researches with successful results have enabled the scientists in overcoming panic disorder. Most of the anxiety disorder treatments are concerned with controlling the symptoms panic attacks, reduce their number and severity, and reduce the anxiety and fear associated with having another attack. The effect is doubled if the medication if it is combined with some natural methods of treatments; for example counseling and home treatment, therapy and relaxation courses. Medication choices to treat panic disorder come in the form of SSRIs which are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil. Benzodiapines such as Xanax, Valium,
Ativan and Klonopin are also prescribed besides SSRIs. Along with the above mentioned, antidepressants with mixed neurotransmitter effects, such as venlafaxine but this type of medication is only given in later stages. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), such as Tofranil, Norpramin, or Anafranil and Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), such as Marplan, Nardil, or Parnate are also given at a certain level to treat panic attacks.

Most of the medical professionals would prefer a combination of medicine and other approaches. However the best medication for panic disorder is considered to be cognitive-behavioral therapy, which focuses on the way a person thinks and altering certain behavior patterns. It allows the person to build an optimistic approach and would tell the about some efficient ways to handle a panicky situation. Combining these two therapies results in less frequent panic attacks. A combination of anxiety attack medication would make the symptoms disappear in some time. The dosage of medicine and the therapy sessions are generally increased if the patient does not see the results within 6-8 weeks.

Overcoming panic disorder takes quite awhile as it depends on the severity of the case. Normally, medication is continues for a year or longer and then decreased gradually over several weeks. In some cases, panic attacks tend to occur after medication is stopped; hence doctors will continue the medication for a few more months for you just so that you can keep the symptoms under control. Most medical practitioners would advice and recommend patients to seek for therapy and self-relaxation techniques before administering medication to them. This is because once medication is given; the patient might be depended on the drug. Self relaxation methods come in the form of yoga and pilates. A walk on the beach and even jogging can help cope with panic attack and stress. Apart from that, patients are advised to join a group therapy in order to talk their feelings out and share with one another as well as help other people overcome their problems.

As a leading expert in the field of treating anxiety disorder, Beth Kaminski is always on the lookout for ways to treat panic attacks. Visit her site for more information on heranxiety treatment center and much more.Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/key-areas-that-cause-anxiety-disorder-1321526.html

Cardiovascular disease is considered one of the most feared diseases, almost in any part of the world record shows the numbers of people who die with this disease increases every year. The amount of cholesterol intake in our body is a big factor on how to maintain the level of LDL also known as the “bad cholesterol”, this is responsible in creating block that build in the arteries that will control the proper flow of the blood. This solid alcohol, also known as cholesterol found in the blood is sometimes the result of the liver producing a lot of this cholesterol which is not good for the body, another thing is improper diet specially eating foods like dairies and meats without controlling ourselves will put our health in trouble. What should we do to make sure that we are in good health? First thing to consider are the everyday routine we are doing. Are we doing something to keep our body healthy? Try to spend 30 minutes a day to give your body some physical activities that will really bring your energy out and this will be a good help on keeping your cardiovascular system healthy. Obesity is also one of the main reasons of being unhealthy; better find solution about this thing. Cholesterol level in your body will also be lower if you are really serious in losing your weight. One more problem on some people are having a hard time about it because they cannot control on smoking and drinking alcohol, so better start changing that habit now. Although, you can still enjoy drinking 1 or 2 bottles a day and will really benefit you to maintain your good health. Second thing to remember in the proper food we should eat. Water is very important in our body we should follow the amount of water we need each day. If you can control eating foods such as animal and dairy products will definitely lessen your calories intake of your body. Foods that contain high level of beneficial acids which are usually found in salmon and mackerel will help your body a lot in keeping your cardiovascular system healthy. Lastly, dietary fiber foods reduces cholesterol level consider eating a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet and avoid foods that contains a lot of fats that will really destroy your heart in becoming healthy. Cholesterol levels reduce a lot by taking foods that will maintain your good health. Grains are known fiber rich foods that will help the blood flow properly and will circulate in the nerves and bloodstream freely. Products made from whole grains are already available and try to practice eating brown rice instead of white rice that are really process with less nutrients. In addition, foods like soy, seaweeds, sprouts and nuts are also rich in nutrients that our body need. We need to have vitamins in our body such as Vitamin B6, E and C. There are a lot of options if you want to control your cholesterol level, grape seed extract, chromium, camitine, panthotine and even raw garlic will help you reduce fats. This supplements will help on increasing the good cholesterol or the HDL and there are already facts on how effective these natural foods. Omega- Fatty acids and sterols are plants that also proven to helpful on maintaining the body to have a healthy heart. Also known for lowering the level of cholesterol are the blueberries, they can really help a lot. Of course, if you wake up every morning by drinking a glass of water or fruit juice that are rich in vitamins that will assure you of keeping your body on tip top shape all the time. With all the information that teaches a lot of people on how to maintain a good health by having a healthy heart, the possibility of taking proper treatment for every symptoms of health problem must be taken for granted. Be strong enough to face the consequences and make sure to find solutions which can help you to become more aware so that you can live a normal life.

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Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/lower-cholesterol-levels-1307427.html

One of the advantages of reaching midlife is that we are finally finished with all those issues that make childhood and adolescence such a pain in the neck, such as needing set bedtimes as well as  regular dental and eye checkups; having to worry about using protection during sex and about cigarette smoking; getting all those shots to prevent diseases and wearing helmets to prevent sports injuries; needing to eat all our vegetables and avoid sugar as well as not missing gym class. What a relief to let these issues fade right along with our memories of tetherball on the school playground!

Not so fast. Would it surprise you to know that you still have to be aware of each and every one of the above so-called “child/adolescent” health issues?  

For instance, what about set bedtimes? The obvious reason that we needed enforced, regular  bedtimes each night was so that we would get enough sleep. Being tired and sleepy the next day in school caused everything from lousy concentration to crabby moods. Now that we’re in midlife, many of us believe that sleep is no longer an issue. This is not the case at all. It’s still essential to our health and wellbeing. Recent studies have shown that not only do sleep disturbances often indicate a serious health problem, but that lack of sleep can actually cause health problems, such as weight gain. Polls have shown that nearly two thirds of adults over the age of sixty-five have sleep complaints, but that less than 15 per cent of them have been formally diagnosed with a sleep problem. Why? Because we don’t mention sleep problems to our health care providers. Our mothers were right — we still need to be concerned about our bedtimes.

Once we’ve gotten the glasses we need and all our baby teeth are gone, we no longer need to get regular eye and dental checkups as we did in our younger years, right? Again — no. Although our vision does remain stable from young adulthood until we need bifocals, there are common eye diseases that begin to occur in midlife, and that can lead to blindness if not diagnosed.  And even though we no longer have our baby teeth,  other dental issues take the forefront upon reaching midlife, such as gum inflammation which has been shown to be associated with diabetes and heart disease. So, continued regular dental and eye checks are as important as in our younger years. 

And what about sex at midlife and beyond?  We’ve moved from groping and being groped in the backseat of the car to more sophisticated maneuvers in a comfortable bed, and finally, finally no longer have to worry about pregnancy. So we don’t need protection; or so many of us think. Although it’s true that once menopause arrives one can’t get pregnant (warning: make sure you have completed menopause before assuming this as diagnosing menopause can be tricky),  protection is still needed during sex because of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Yes, we can still get those, and in some cases are even more prone to becoming infected after menopause, even after a hysterectomy. And even though we’re past the childbearing years and our reproductive organs seem to have no further use, we still need regular pelvic exams and Pap smears. It is also important at that exam to discuss with our healthcare providers the need for testing for STIs; if there is a new partner or the worry that the current partner is not monogamous, this testing is a must.

STIs are not the only threat held over from our adolescent years; so is cigarette smoking. Many women in midlife think that there is no reason to stop smoking cigarettes at this age, since they wrongly assume that the damage is already done from all the prior years of smoking. This is not the case. No matter how many years one has smoked, stopping can prevent further damage to the heart, blood vessels, and lungs, and in some cases can reverse some of that damage.  

Also relevant to the lungs is the fact that asthma can begin in midlife, where once it was thought to only begin in childhood.  The two major causes seem to be occupational exposure to substances that damage the lungs, and the recreational exposure to air pollution by adults who run predominantly outside. So, a new onset of shortness of breath at this age — even if it occurs only with exercise — does not necessarily mean heart disease; remember that we can develop asthma now.

Did you think you were finished with all those horrible shots you had to have in childhood and adolescence? Sorry, you’re not. There is a recommended immunization schedule for adults in midlife and beyond, just as there are for children. At certain ages over 50 and at certain intervals, you’ll need shots against the flu, certain types of pneumonia, tetanus, and in some instances, shingles and hepatitis.  Ask your primary care provider about these.

And did you pack away your helmet when you gave away your bike with training wheels? Probably ok to have done this since now you will need a bigger size helmet. But you do need a helmet. A recent report by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission stated that sports-related injuries in the Baby Boomer population was on the rise, with over 1 million injuries in this age group in 1998 alone, most of the injuries being due to bicycling and basketball.  The same report said that the many head injuries associated with bicycling were probably due to the fact that Baby Boomers use helmets less than younger people do.

The fact that exercise and proper nutrition are as important in midlife and beyond as in childhood may not come as a surprise. Regular exercise at this age has been shown to increase longevity and wellbeing, postpone and possibly prevent dementia, strokes, heart disease, and diabetes, and aid in the treatment of depression. Important to know as well is that several different types of regular exercise are recommended at this age, including aerobic (cardio) exercise, weight-bearing exercise or strength training, and exercises to improve balance and flexibility.

What we eat as we get older is every bit as important as it was in our younger years. One particular healthy way of eating, the Mediterranean diet, has been shown to stave off dementia, prevent heart disease and diabetes, maintain a healthy cholesterol level, and improve longevity. One study showed that this diet even improved sexual function in certain women! This diet is exactly as expected given its name: lots of natural whole foods, like vegetables, fruits, and nuts, lots of fish and olive oil, moderate amounts of wine, and limited amounts of foods containing refined sugar. Controlling the portions of the foods we eat is even more important at this age. Our metabolic rate decreases with age, making it easier to gain weight while eating the same amounts of food as in our younger years.  

So, as you are rummaging through your mother’s attic looking at your old dolls, baseball bat and Ouija Board, and breathing a sigh of relief that you no longer have to worry about being picked for a baseball team or that your best friend copied your paper doll’s dress, don’t get lulled into complacency about your health. Although you once may have thought that taking care of yourself  health-wise would get easier as you get older, you know now that that’s not true. Make your appointments for regular checkups, get more than 5 hours of sleep a night, use protection when having sex, particularly with a new partner, stop smoking no matter how old you are, get the recommended immunizations, be careful and wear your helmet and seatbelts, and exercise regularly and eat well. Your mother’s recommendations from your childhood continue to apply!

©2008 Janet Horn, M.D.

Author Bio
Dr. Janet Horn is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, with training in Obstetrics and Gynecology. She spent many years on the fulltime faculty of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where she published articles in medical journals on her research interests, including sexually transmitted diseases, AIDS, and women’s health. She was also the primary author of several chapters in medical textbooks.  She started her solo private practice in 1990 while continuing to teach as an Associate Professor of Medicine on the part time faculty at Hopkins. She has been selected by Baltimore Magazine as one of the “Top Doctors in Baltimore” and by the Maryland Daily Record as one of the “Top 100 Women in Maryland.”   She is included in the books Consumer’s Guide to Top Doctors (in the US) and Best Doctors in America, Southeast Region.  She is the co-author of The Smart Woman’s Guide to Midlife and Beyond, which will be available this September from New Harbinger Publications.

We all know that we should be eating nutritious foods and taking regular exercise in order to keep fit and healthy, but for whatever reason, many of us don’t. Not only does poor diet and lack of exercise affect your overall health and well being, it can also have a negative impact on your sex life and lead to a general sense of unhappiness.

The quality of your diet has a lot to do with the quality of your sex life and studies have shown that men who eat foods that are high in fat and cholesterol are more likely to suffer from impotence. Men who have a more balanced diet consisting of grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and lean sources of dairy and protein are less likely to suffer from impotence.

Other substances such as alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine can also have a negative impact on your sex life by affecting your libido and lowering your sexual desire. These harmful substances should be limited or avoided altogether if you want to improve your sexual health and keep your body in good condition.

Exercise is also very important as part of a balanced lifestyle, because without it, you will not have the fitness or endurance to perform adequately when it comes to sex. Regular exercise will help you build muscle and strengthen your heart so that you can handle a vigorous session in the bedroom.

One of the most common problems that affects your sexual health is being overweight or obese as this can harm your sex life in a variety of ways. The risk of suffering from impotence is significantly increased for men who are overweight and who have an inactive, sedentary lifestyle. It can also lower your libido and sexual desire as well.

Although obesity can negatively affect your sexual health, its possible to regain your sex drive and overcome impotence by changing your diet, controlling your weight, and taking regular exercise. Even losing as little as ten pounds can stimulate your hormones again and get you back in the mood for sex.

Sexuality is an important part of being human and a healthy sex life will contribute to your overall happiness and sense of well being. Anything that you can do to improve your sexual health should be put into practice and its never too late to make a change in your life for the better.

While some sufferers of social phobia manage to get by life without too much difficulty, some may struggle in controlling panic attacks and desperately need help. Apart from medication and therapy, there a various self help techniques that you can employ to reduce anxiety and stop a panic attack in its tracks. Meeting with the boss for a performance assessment, asking someone out on a date or introducing yourself to new people; we’ve all felt nervous social experience at some point in our lives. These experiences for social phobia sufferers are much more feared however.

Anxiety symptoms are likely to occur in such experiences and even trigger an episode. A person might show signs of anxiety including; jitteriness, perspiration, trembling and poor communication. Behaviors and habits that progress into social anxiety disorder are often developed from childhood experiences. Seemingly harmless to people who don’t suffer this disorder, for sufferers it can have huge negative effct on their lives.

Many feel limited with both happiness and opportunities. Lack of self-esteem and assertiveness, being overly selfconsciousness and constant worry of what others think; these behaviors stop a person from achieving success in life. It’s quite common for children to fall short at school and to maintain low expectations as they grow up. Growing up into adults they might let opportunities slip by.

Diagnosed cases of social anxiety disorder are either treated with medication or therapy, or a combination of both. Aside from these two options however there self help methods in reducing anxiety and coping with panic attacks. Frequent feelings of uneasiness and dread trigger anxiety symptoms. When a person with social anxiety steps into a room full of strangers they begin having worrying thoughts about being nervous and looking nervous. They are likely to feel cornered and a need to escape.

Social anxiety often spirals out of control from a single thought of worry which then trigger sensations and more worry. Learning to stop these thoughts can take time but essentially to get over social anxiety a person needs to recondition them. One way to do this is through self guided imagery and positive affirmations. Also by pushing your boundaries day by day you can gradually become more comfortable to situations that you fear.

Develop your confidence by reading lots of self help and motivational books. Confidence is a habit that can be learnt. Direct your attention to others needs instead of your own. Observe others and realize that you’re not being watched and learn to be comfortable in your own skin. Try and meet with friends more often and communicate with people more at work. Think of something that’s interested you and go out and do it.  

Stop yourself from thoughts of worry and self-criticism. Breathing and meditation exercises help in calming the body and mind and reducing stress. When you feel anxious in any particular situation, begin to breathe deeply and count to ten. Reducing anxiety and controlling panic attacks through breathing can be surprisingly effective.

EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) is a meridian therapy which many people have claimed effectiveness in controlling panic attacks as well as other health problems. This simple technique works by unblocking energy flow in the body and implementing positive thoughts into the mind. This is done by tapping on acupuncture points on the body. Social anxiety is a challenging disorder to overcome but by gradually chipping at the wall, you can break down any barrier in your life.

Discover how to start Controlling Panic Attacks in just a few minutes. This treatment has helped thousands of anxiety sufferers in Coping With Panic Attacks.

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