Click to play videoNew Delhi: Can you actually fall sick because you think you are sick? Yes, says a recent research! It's called the Nocebo effect.
The Nocebo effect also determines how you react to certain drugs. A report published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology suggests that more than a quarter of us may experience the Nocebo effect when we take a drug and patients who are anxious or depressed are more prone to suffer.
Says Psychiatrist, Dr Sameer Malhotra, "It is also known as the body-mind connection. The patient actually starts having adverse side effects."
While the main reason could be that the patient has been advised against a particular drug by family or friends, there may even be a biological trigger.
A paper presented in the journal Neuro-science says that the chemical compound cholecystokinin — that signals pain in our body — reacts to negative verbal suggestions and triggers anxiety. That in turn could increase pain signals
"The Nocebo effect shows up especially while treating diseases like Parkinson's, prostate cancer, psoriasis, eczema, stomach ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome and depression. It shows up more in any treatment realted to mental health," says Dr Malhotra.
So the way out is to figure out what you"re reacting to — is it the medicine or is it your mind?
Your relationship with your doctor can also determine whether you are likely to undergo a placebo or a Nocebo effect! So, in case you have any doubts, a frank conversation with your doctor will help.
A Videogame That Teaches How To Eat Healthy
If you thought that video games were bad, then here's one that would actually teach your child a thing or two.
With child obesity rates rising in the US, Kaiser Permanente has launched an online video game to teach children what to eat.
The Incredible Adventures of the Amazing Food Detective teaches about healthy eating and exercise.
The game includes scavenger hunts that teach to make sense of food labels and experiments to measure sugar in drinks, healthy recipes and muscle-building exercises. It is available free of charge in English and Spanish versions online.
MASK YOUR SNORES
Doctors in Britain have come up with a hi-tech mask for snorers. Snoring or obstructive sleep apnea is mostly due to narrowing of the nasal airway.
Four per cent of all middle-aged men, according to sleep experts, suffer from it.
The mask forces pressurised air through the mouth and nose greatly reducing apnea. Costing a whopping $800, this mask may soon be made available worldwide.
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