Constipated? Swallow thisSSss.

How amazing is this?! Live a healthy day!

-- Dr. Dale

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Vibrating capsule may relieve chronic constipation

http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2014/05/06/vibrating-capsule-may-relieve-chronic-constipation/

A vibrating capsule may provide relief for those who suffer from chronic constipation, according to a small study presented at Digestive Disease Week, an annual meeting of gastroenterologists, hepatologists, endoscopy specialists and GI surgeons.

Twenty-six study participants, who all suffer from chronic idiopathic constipation or constipation predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), were asked to take a vibrating capsule twice a week and then complete a questionnaire, according to the study, presented Saturday.

More than half of the 26 patients experienced an increase in bowel movements, says Dr. Yishai Ron, lead study author and director of Neurogastroenterology and Motility at Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center. "The number of bowel movements rose from around two to nearly four bowel movements per week – this was an average figure.” Ron adds patients also saw a decrease in constipation symptoms.

In addition, patients reported minimal side effects. Before participating in the study, patients were asked to refrain from using laxatives for two weeks before ingesting the capsule.

"The vibrating of the capsule induces a motor activity of the large bowel which moves content forward and helps expel it out," says Ron.

The concept is based on the current technology where a patient swallows a video-chip capsule to allow doctors to capture pictures inside the bowels instead of undergoing a standard endoscopy, Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital gastroenterologist Dr. Tom McGahan said in an e-mail.

This new capsule doesn't take any pictures, but rather acts as a "small engine" which stimulates the bowel nerves, says McGahan, thus creating vibrations that help induces bowel peristalsis. "Peristalsis is the coordinated wave-like action of the intestine muscles that propels bowel contents along."

"This is a new concept - not yet proven true or effective, but novel at least," says McGahan. He adds this is just a pilot study to assess safety and it's not proof that this capsule is more effective than other treatments.

"No conclusion as to the benefit of the capsule can be made from this study because of the small number of people tested, that they all knew they took the Vibrant Capsule (it was not a blinded study), and they did not compare this group of 25 to a similar group who received no treatment (control group)," he says.

Ron admits more research needs to be done but says he is hopeful "this might be a revolutionary solution for constipation," especially since patients found relief after taking only two capsules per week. "It's a non-chemical medical device, no side effects, nothing is absorbed, there were minimal side effects with maximal effects."

Chronic constipation affects about 16% of people in the United States, according to a 2010 study in American Journal of Gastroenterology. Dr. Ron says, "this is a chronic syndrome and these people suffer daily from this inconvenience," and he adds, "most people are unsatisfied with their current laxative use."

McGahan agrees, saying many people do not find relief of their symptoms with their current treatment and admits there is no perfect regimen because of so many side effects.

The study was paid for by Vibrant Ltd. a medical device company which developed the capsule.

Hey, you. Laugh more!

Why Laughing Is Healthy

http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2014/04/28/why-laughing-is-healthy/

Can watching a funny cat video at work actually improve your productivity?

Maybe!

A study presented at this year's annual Experimental Biology conference finds that when people laugh, their brains are activated in the same way as when people are mindfully meditating.

The study, from researchers at Loma Linda University, measured the brain activity of 31 people when they watched a funny video and again when they watched a stressful video. Researchers measured activity in nine parts of the brain. What they noted was that during the funny videos, the viewers actually activated their entire brains, with high gamma wave activity, as measured by electroencephalography, or EEG.

EEG measures electrical activity along the scalp. “The electrical activity translates to neuroactivity,” said the lead researcher, Dr. Lee Berk. Gamma wave activity is associated with increased dopamine levels and putting the brain’s cognitive state at its most alert level.

Berk explained, “What we know is that gamma is found in every part of the brain and that it helps generate recall and reorganization.” That’s why, he said, after people meditate, they feel refreshed and are better positioned to solve problems.

Not only can laughing help increase your awareness, Berk thinks it is likely to have the health benefits of meditation, like reducing stress, blood pressure and pain.

Berk acknowledges that more research is needed about how laughing can actually benefit our health, but he is optimistic about an area of science that shows real correlation between the mind and body. “We are looking at the keyhole in the door – and the light is bright on the other side," he said.

The bottom line, he says: "Humor is evidenced to have a therapeutic value.”

So next time your boss catches you watching a funny cat video, just tell her that you’re trying to be more productive.

Is 7 Hours of Sleep Ideal?

Very interesting.  Give it a shot!  Let me know how it works. Thanks Dr. Michael J. Breus!

-- Dr. Dale

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Is 7 Hours of Sleep Ideal?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-michael-j-breus/sleep-tips_b_5723640.html?utm_hp_ref=@sleep123

Eight hours. That's the nightly sleep recommendation you hear most frequently, the gold standard for a healthy sleep routine. But what if it isn't? I read this article in the Wall Street Journal with great interest, for it points to recent research that suggests the eight-hour model may not be the ideal one for most healthy adults.

Although eight hours is the number most often associated with a full night's sleep, sleep experts know that there is some degree of variation when it comes to individual sleep needs. Most often, the recommendation for sleep times comes in a range of seven to nine hours, depending on the individual. The National Sleep Foundation currently recommends this seven- to nine-hour range as ideal for healthy adults.

But there is a growing body of research that suggests the ideal amount of sleep may in fact be at the very low end of that range. A number of studies indicate that seven hours -- not eight -- may be the most healthful amount of nightly sleep. There's no broad consensus about this among sleep experts -- but there's an increasingly compelling case that's being made by studies that for many people, eight hours may be more sleep than they need, or than that's healthy for them.

We hear a lot more about the dangers of too little sleep, but sleeping too much can be hazardous to your health as well. Both too little sleep and too much sleep are associated with greater mortality risks. So understanding as much as we can about the overall "best" amount of sleep has real importance.

The National Sleep Foundation is currently at work examining and analyzing sleep data in preparation to release new guidelines for sleep. And the Centers for Disease Control has funded a panel to explore all manner of issues related to sleep, including updated recommendations for healthy sleep amounts. Both are expected to release their recommendations in 2015.

Those guidelines are important, for medical professionals and the general public. But the right amount of sleep is always going to be a personal and individual determination. The most important information in determining your sleep needs is what your body and mind tell you. Pay attention to how much (and how well) you're sleeping at night, and also pay attention to how you feel during the day. A sufficient night of sleep should leave you feeling alert and energized throughout the bulk of the day, and ready for bed at roughly the same time every night.

In order to read your body's need for sleep, it's important to practice good sleep hygiene. That includes consistent bed times and wake times, a dark, cool, and comfortable bedtime, and quiet time away from bright light and electronics in the hour before bed. Give yourself ample time for sleep, and create a sleep-friendly environment and routine, and your body can tell you a great deal about how much sleep you need.

Sweet Dreams,

Michael J. Breus, PhD

The Sleep Doctor