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Kaydee
Chemical Imbalance Of The Brain
~5.8 mins read
What is a chemical imbalance in the brain?
A chemical imbalance in the brain is said to occur when theres either too much or too little of certain chemicals, called neurotransmitters, in the brain.
Neurotransmitters are natural chemicals that help facilitate communication between your nerve cells. Examples include norepinephrine and serotonin.
Its often said that mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, are caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. The hypothesis is sometimes called the chemical imbalance hypothesis or chemical imbalance theory.
If youre wondering if the symptoms youre having are caused by a chemical imbalance, its important to know that theres quite a bit of controversy surrounding this theory.
In fact, the medical community has largely refuted this theory. Researchers argue that the chemical imbalance hypothesis is more of a figure of speech. It doesnt really capture the true complexity of these conditions.
In other words, mental health conditions arent simply caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. Theres a lot more to them.
Scientists in the late 1950s first proposed the idea that mental health conditions are caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Research at the time had focused on the role that chemicals in the brain play in depression and anxiety.
These researchers hypothesized that lower than normal levels of neurotransmitters can lead to symptoms such as:
The exact cause of mental disorders is still unclear. According to the Mayo Clinic, researchers believe that genetics as well as environmental and social factors, such as stress or trauma, play a role.
The chemical imbalance theory is unproven and often cited as an explanation for mental health conditions. It states that these conditions are caused by an imbalance of neurotransmitters between nerve cells in the brain.
For example, depression is said to be a result of having too little serotonin in the brain. But the theory doesnt explain how these chemicals become unbalanced in the first place.
As Harvard Medical School reports, there are likely millions of different chemical reactions occurring in the brain at any given time. These reactions are responsible for a persons mood and overall feelings.
There would be no way to tell if someone truly had a chemical imbalance in their brain at a given time.
The most common evidence used to support the chemical imbalance theory is the effectiveness of antidepressant medications. These medications work by increasing the amounts of serotonin and other neurotransmitters in the brain.
However, just because a persons mood can be elevated with drugs that increase brain chemicals doesnt mean that their symptoms were caused by a deficiency in that chemical in the first place. Its also possible that low serotonin levels are just another symptom of depression, not the cause.
Many people with depression dont get better after being treated with these types of medications. One study estimates that current antidepressants on the market only work in about 50 percentTrusted Source of those with depression.
There are no reliable tests available to find out if you have a chemical imbalance in your brain. Tests that use urine, saliva, or blood to measure neurotransmitters in the brain likely wont be very accurateTrusted Source.
Not all neurotransmitters are produced in the brain. Currently marketed tests wont be able to distinguish between neurotransmitter levels in your brain and neurotransmitter levels in the body.
In addition, neurotransmitter levels in your body and brain are constantly and rapidly changing. This makes such tests unreliable.
Diagnosing mental disorders
Mental health conditions arent diagnosed with chemical tests. Your treatment plan wont be guided by such tests either.
Your healthcare provider may order blood tests to rule out other conditions, such as a thyroid disorder or vitamin deficiency, which can trigger symptoms of a mental health condition.
If no underlying illness is found, youll likely be referred to a mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist or psychologist. Theyll perform a psychological evaluation.
This includes a series of questions about your:
There are several medications available that are thought to work by changing the levels of certain brain chemicals. These drugs alter levels of either dopamine, noradrenaline, serotonin, or norepinephrine. Some work on a combination of two more of these chemicals.
Examples of these medications include:
When it comes to mental health conditions, there are likely many factors at play. Its difficult to tell whether a particular drug will ensure a cure.
For some people, depression and other mental health conditions are episodic, which means that the symptoms come and go. Medications might be able to help manage your symptoms, but the disorder may take a long time to go into remission. Symptoms can also come back later on.
While taking medications for a mental health condition, talk therapy techniques are also an important addition to your treatment plan. Psychotherapy helps to convert your thinking and behavioral patterns into healthier ones.
One example is called cognitive behavioral therapy. This type of therapy can help prevent your depression from returning once youre feeling better.
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Kaydee
10 Uses Of Coconut Oil To Benefit Your Hair,skin And Health.
~4.5 mins read
Its no secret that coconut oil can do some pretty amazing things: from replacing a pricier moisturizer to speeding up the healing process on a surface wound.
But some of the tips weve heard sound too good to be true like coconut oil as sunscreen ... really?
Here's the scoop on 10 common claims:
1. Coconut oil can tame frizzy hair.
True! This trick definitely works, says hair stylist and New York City salon owner Nunzio Saviano. Rub coconut oil (which goes for around $10 on Amazon) in your palms to warm it up, and then simply massage it into strands. Wash it out a few hours later.
The molecules in coconut oil are small enough so it penetrates the hair shaft, he explained. It locks the moisture in. Thats what keeps the hair nice and healthy looking. When your hair is dehydrated, thats when you get flyaways and it gets really frizzy.
2. You can use coconut oil as sunscreen.
False. Please dont do this, warns celebrity dermatologist Doris Day. Instead get one of the top recommended sunscreens from Consumer Reports to protect your skin.
It may give some sun protection benefits, but it does not replace your need for sunscreen, Day said. I wouldnt risk it.
3. Coconut oil can replace your moisturizer.
Coconut oil is very moisturizing and safe to use, even on the face, for all skin types, Day said.
Even if you have oily skin, if you put on a thin layer it could help control the oil, she added.
4. Youll lose weight if you cook with coconut oil.
You might, but nutritionist Dana James reminds us its not that easy. Coconut oil has about the same amount of calories and fat albeit different types of fats compared to other oils like olive, she said.
Weight loss can be complex, and simply adding coconut oil into the diet without changing anything else isnt going to be enough, James said.
But, she added that the high level of saturated fats in coconut oil can help suppress the appetite.
James also cleared up the difference between solid and liquid coconut oils, explaining that theyre both the same thing, but that pure coconut oil turns to liquid at a certain temperature, around 75 degrees.
5. Coconut oil can help heal wounds.
Believe it or not, this is true. Day explained that its the coconut oils antibacterial properties that help cuts and scrapes heal faster.
6. You can use coconut oil as makeup remover.
Yes, coconut oil can even help remove stubborn eye makeup but most oils can do this, Day points out. Just be careful not to get it in your eyes.
7. You can use coconut oil as natural deodorant.
Sure, if you dont mind smelling like coconut! It kills off bacteria and yeast, and thats what causes odor, Day said.
But Day points out that while coconut oil might be OK as a deodorant, it definitely doesnt work as an antiperspirant.
8. Coconut oil will get rid of stretch marks.
Nope, sorry.
I wish, but no, Day said. Stretch marks come from a loss of ground substance in the skin, and you cant replace that.
9. Swirling coconut oil in your mouth will whiten your teeth.
Dentist Zack Zaibak of Chicago confirms this is true, adding that swirling coconut oil in your mouth for about fifteen minutes also known as oil-pulling can also remove bacteria and help improve conditions like gingivitis.
Its a good addition to dentistry, he said. Theres not much testing on this, but I havent seen any negativity, from a dentists perspective.
10. Cooking with coconut oil will make everything taste like coconut.
False. Coconut oil is actually a mild, light option and you probably wont detect the fruit in most recipes. Celebrity chef Candice Kumai says it works best cooking with high heat, and tastes especially great when cooking Thai and Indian food.
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