Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a condition characterized by abnormally high blood pressure within the arteries of the lungs. Your pulmonary arteries are responsible for transporting blood from your heart to your lungs. Among individuals with pulmonary arterial hypertension, the arteries within the lungs become constricted, which results in your heart working in overdrive. Because your heart …
New research suggests that increasing your consumption of fatty fish may boost the efficacy of your antidepressant. Most people are aware that there are benefits to be had from increasing consumption of fatty fish. This has lead millions of people to take “fish oil” pills in order to reap various health benefits without eating fish. …
For years, researchers have been investigating illicit drugs to determine whether they could be used under supervision to treat mental illnesses like depression and bipolar disorder. Although many of these substances have shown promise, in many cases the side effects and addiction potential outweigh any therapeutic benefits. Other times, many drugs may be temporarily helpful …
A specific type of bird known as a starling tends to gravitate towards sewage treatment facilities to feed on earthworms. Many of these earthworms have already absorbed human waste, some of which contains psychotropic drugs like Prozac. A new study supports the idea that increases in the number of antidepressant prescriptions may be helping people …
Luvox (Fluvoxamine) is a medication that is used predominantly to treat OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) as well as major depression. It is also prescribed to help treat various types of anxiety disorders such as social phobia and PTSD. It is classified as an SSRI antidepressant, meaning that it functions primarily by inhibiting the reuptake of the …
Many people who take antidepressants notice ringing in their ears or “tinnitus.” This tinnitus is usually temporary, and can be a result of changes in levels of neurotransmitters such as serotonin. In other cases, the tinnitus may emerge as a result of an ototoxic reaction that a person has to a specific antidepressant. Ototoxicity is …
Addiction is defined as repeatedly engaging in a particular behavior or using a substance to experience pleasure, regardless of the consequences. Some believe that addiction can be a result of environmental experiences and/or various psychological conditions. When most people think of addiction, they think of gambling, illicit drugs (e.g. cocaine), alcohol, and sex. One reason …