New Research: Fruit and Medication

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Do you like strawberries? raspberries? blue berries? how about chocolate, personally I like all four with a preference for chocolate and strawberries and double cream, …Yummy Yummy… These particular fruits are a great way to ease depression, Y eh.. you read it right the first time.

Blueberries

Image by Ambro: Free image courtesy of Free Digital Photos FreeDigitalPhotos.net

It would appear on the face of it scientists from the University of Mexico say these fruits could be a front line defence for those who suffer depression.

These particular fruits have an natural ingredient that closely resembles valporic acid which along with sodium valporic, is used as a mood stabiliser in people who suffer a manic-depressive disorder.

However this new research should be flagged as cautious. Researcher Karina Martinez-Mayorga said:

“It is important to remember that just eating foods that may improve mood is not a substitute for prescribed anti depressive drugs.”

It is well researched that a healthy life style can enhance moods. However, if you do take medication for the treatment of depression do not attempt to replace your medication with this new research.

Major Depressive Disorder: New Research

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New research into Major Depressive Disorder indicates that memory loss and concentration problems caused by the condition may stop the growth of nerve connections forming. US researchers analyzed brain tissue from patients who had died and had been diagnosed with the disorder found inactivity in genes known as synapses. These particular genes are known to be necessary for the structure of brain nerve connections. There inactivity is thought to cause a shrinking of the front of the brain.

Man depressed

Image: Depression courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos by Salvatore Vuono FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Professor Ronald Duman of Yale University said:

“We hope by enhancing synaptic connections with medication or behavioural therapy we can develop more effective antidepressant therapies.”

The term “depression” is ambiguous, and may also refer to other mood disorders or mood swings lacking medical intervention. We all at one time or another suffer some form of depression in our daily lives, things improve and its back to work we go (to use a well-known saying).

Major Depressive Disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by the loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities. This condition is a disabling disorder that adversely affects a person’s family, work or school life, sleeping and eating habits, and to their health in general.

The disorder is treated with antidepressant medication and, in many cases receive psychotherapy or counselling. However, the effectiveness of medication for mild or moderate cases is thought to be questionable. Hospitalisation may be necessary in cases where patients show a marked increase of self-neglect or a significant risk of harm to self or others.

The duration of this particular disorder can show as one episode lasting weeks to a lifetime with recurrent major depressive episodes.

Some NHS Trusts In Breach Of The Law

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Sir Michael Rawlins speaks out about the NHS (national health service) postcode lottery. Sir Micheal spoke out after the Royal National Institute of the Blind caught 37 hospital trusts restricting or refusing treatment that can save the sight of people.

Sir Michael Rawlins The chief of NICE (The National Institute For Health and Excellence) said:

“Trusts are breaking the law. They don’t want to pay.” He continued ” They want to use their money for other purposes. I understand that but it is a fact of law and you don’t start messing around with the law. The law clearly states that when Nice gives a positive view of a drug patient’s are entitled to if their doctors think it is appropriate.”

He said there were many other examples of delaying tactics. Patients denied costly medicine should threaten legal action because health chiefs do not have a leg to stand on and would surely give in without going to court. Doctors were being urged to take a stand over the issue. He went on to say:

“They should whistle-blow and they should make it abundantly clear to the public that their trust was in breach of the law.”

His remarks come at a time when the N.H.S is being forced to make savings of at least £20 billion as well as imposing Our Governments costly reforms that will open a door in our health service to private firms.

Sadly if Government doesn’t change hands then I can see our health service being scuttled with no survivors. If you think about it, it is rather a clever business tactic. Our government squeezes the N.H.S until it has nowhere else to turn to, beat rising costs within the health service, but the private sector. Of course, this is just what I think as Joe-soap, and as I am not unique about this point there are other Joe-soap’s out there that think the same as me.