Sensory Integration. What is it?

Sensory integration refers to a person’s ability to process, interpret and organize sensations throughout daily life (American Occupational Therapy Association(AOTA), 2015).  When the sensory system is in disarray, a person’s response to everyday sensations can be skewed. Sensory integration plays an important role in a person’s emotional and physical wellbeing, contributing greatly to an individual’s ability to perform daily tasks. Sensory integration disorders can have effects throughout the lifespan and impact all aspects of a person’s life (AOTA, 2015). 

Sensory Integration Techniques

• Vestibular input (swings,  scooters, etc.)
• Deep pressure
• Proprioceptive input
• Brushing protocol
• Weighted vests
• Many new techniques are developed by skilled therapists

How successful are these interventions?

One study conducted on children with ADHD concluded that the children receiving a sensory diet had better functional behavior patterns, therefore supporting the use of sensory integration techniques as a therapeutic strategy for individuals with ADHD (Kumari Sahoo & Senapati, 2014).  Another study  showed significant improvements in social behaviors and goal attainment, following sensory integration techniques (Pfeiffer, et.al, 2011). Overall, there is little solid evidence to support the use of sensory integration, as effectiveness is typically based on personal experience. 

Sources:

American Occupational Therapy Association. (2015).Fact sheet – american occupational therapy association. (n.d.). Retrieved May 12, 2022, from https://www.aota.org/~/media/Corporate/Files/AboutOT/Professionals/WhatIsOT/CY/Fact-Sheets/FactSheet_SensoryIntegration.pdf

Kumari Sahoo, S., & Senapati, A. (2014). Effect of sensory diet through outdoor play on functional behaviour in children with ADHD. Indian Journal of Occupational Therapy (Indian Journal of Occupational Therapy), 46(2), 49–54.

Pfeiffer, B. A., Koenig, K., Kinnealey, M., Sheppard, M., & Henderson, L. (2011). Effectiveness of sensory integration interventions in children with autism spectrum disorders: a pilot study. The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association, 65(1), 76–85. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2011.09205

Have you ever felt that something was wrong with your body? Picture this: You are a single parent of three children who works full-time to put food on the table. You begin to feel something is off in your body and consider making an appointment with your doctor, however, there are no appointments available that work with your schedule and you cannot afford to take time out of work.  What do you do? Most people in this situation would go to the internet to self diagnose and find a safe and affordable treatment. This type of research may be fine if you are having symptoms of a cold or flu, but, what do you think would happen if your symptoms were more serious? What would you do if you were experiencing a cognitive decline and your life did not allow you to seek actual medical care?

WHAT IS ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE?

There are two types of Alzheimer’s — early onset and late onset.  Early onset is very rare and occurs in people ages 30-60. Late onset Alzheimer’s is the most common type of degenerative cognitive disease and it typically occurs in people ages 60 and older. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, degenerative, genetic disease that slowly eats away at a person’s cognitive, social and executive functioning. Symptoms may vary from one patient to the next, however, they typically include a decline in memory, decision making, linguistic abilities (the ability to comprehend, interpret and respond to spoken words), and a decrease in tactile functioning.  Individuals diagnosed with this disease tend  to need extensive physical support and often times, end up living in a residential facility.

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

The development of Alzheimer’s disease can be gradual. Some of the early symptoms may not even be noticeable until it is too late.  A person can start by forgetting small, everyday things such as, forgetting where they put their keys, not remembering where if they turned the stove off, and even forgetting simple dates and appointments.  These types of signs are also common in individuals who experience an increased amount of stress in their life, which is why Alzheimer’s can often be diagnosed late. Alzheimer’s disease can put significant strain on the person who is diagnosed with it, but it creates a large strain on their loved ones as well. Imagine spending sharing all of the best parts of your life with someone to wake up one day and have them not even recognize you.  As a familial caregiver, it is important to seek professional help in order to assist in processing your feelings about the changes that are occurring in your life.  Not only have you taken on a new role of caregiver, but you may also have lost your sense of self.  These changes can cause strain on any relationship, which is where a mental health professional can come in. Gossner et al., 2021 wrote in their article entitled Contextual Therapy for Couples who are Primary Caregivers for a Parent(s) with Alzheimer’s Disease, “In addition to the demands on individual partners, the objective and subjective demands of care giving present significant challenges regarding the couple relationship. Dyadic stress is a construct that describes a stressful event that affects both partners either directly or indirectly and triggers the coping efforts of both partners. High levels of dyadic stress can lead to more negative communication patterns, including contempt, withdrawal, or criticism, all of which are predictors of poor marital satisfaction and a higher risk of divorce”  Seeking professional help can assist in sorting through these feelings in order to preserve the relationships surrounding the disease.

Below is a short film that will help to explain the emotional distress associated with this degenerative disease.

HOW TO HELP:

1. SIMPLISTIC LINGUISTICS

There are numerous studies circulating the world to determine different ways to help a person diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease delay its onset. These studies are designed to help preserve what makes an individual themselves. The most important technique is the idea of understanding. The patient’s support system must have a thorough understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and the effects it has on the patients physical and mental capabilities.  Chinaei et al., 2017 conducted a study that looks at strategies to identify and avoid utilizing confusing dialogue when conversing with someone with Alzheimer’s disease. In their minds, individuals with Alzheimer’s disease hear a wide variety of background noise.  This noise often blocks out the words being spoken to them by their loved ones.  Jonathon Migneault from Northern Life created a simulation for people to experience what Alzheimer’s feels, sounds and looks like to those who are diagnosed with it.  In this news clip you will see three individuals wearing blurry goggles, headphones and gloves with rice in them. The goggles simulate cataracts and macular degeneration that can occur due to the combination of Alzheimer’s and simply being an older adult. The headphones simulate the background noise associated with noise sensitivity.  Individuals can develop sensitivity to background noise, making it difficult to focus on conversation and following simple directions.  Finally, the gloves simulate the loss in dexterity and fine motor skills that can deteriorate as Alzheimer’s progresses.

2. MUSIC THERAPY

Another strategy that can be used to assist patients with Alzheimer’s disease is music therapy. It has been proven that even with the most significant cognitive decline, individuals with Alzheimer’s disease show signs of joy and recollection when they listen to music they enjoyed prior to the onset of the deterioration. Gulliver et al., 2021 wrote, “Research examining the use of music and music therapy to treat individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia indicates that active music-making and personalized therapeutic interactions can have a positive effect on reducing symptoms, maintaining function, and improving overall well-being.”  Taste, smell, sight, touch and sound are all connected to memory. When one sense begins to fade away the other senses will work in overdrive to help fill the void.

When one person in your life is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, early onset or late, the whole family is diagnosed with the disease.  No, I don’t mean physically. This disease can and will affect everyone who is involved on numerous levels. The caregiver will become burnout at some point. They may feel guilt of not noticing sooner, guilt of “it should have been me instead”, fear that they too may carry the gene, fear that if they do carry the gene, they could pass it on to their own children. The emotions are endless.  All of these articles and clips show promising signs of improvement and hope, however, they also have one more thing in common: none of this progress is guaranteed.  Every brain is different, every relationship is different, every support system is different.  There are techniques and tasks that can be done to help slow the progression of this disease, but the end result is unfortunately, inevitable.

References:

12 Minutes in Alzheimer’s Dementia simulation- youtube. YouTube. (n.d.). Retrieved May 12, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7vkKHYosuQ

Chinaei, H., Currie, L. C., Danks, A., Lin, H., Mehta, T., & Rudzicz, F. (2017). Identifying and avoiding confusion in dialogue with people with alzheimer’s disease. Computational Linguistics, 43(2), 377–406. https://doi.org/10.1162/coli_a_00290

Gossner, J., Anihia, H., & McPhee, D. P. (2021). Contextual therapy for couples who are primary caregivers for a parent(s) with alzheimer’s disease. Contemporary Family Therapy, 43(3), 248–258. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-021-09576-8

Gulliver, A., Pike, G., Banfield, M., Morse, A. R., Katruss, N., Valerius, H., Pescud, M., McMaster, M., & West, S. (2021). The Music Engagement Program for people with alzheimer’s disease and dementia: Pilot feasibility trial outcomes. Evaluation and Program Planning, 87, 101930. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2021.101930

Imedia L Short Film ‘ The wait ‘ – youtube. YouTube. (n.d.). Retrieved May 12, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuRHHmXbzYs

Using music to help unlock alzheimer’s patients’ memories – youtube. YouTube. (n.d.). Retrieved May 12, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7vkKHYosuQ

Can Anxiety be Treated without Medication?

What is Anxiety?

What is the cause of anxiety?

The cause of anxiety is currently unknown. It is thought that a combination of environmental, genetic, and developmental factors can attribute to the cause.  (Psychiatry.org)

What are common symptoms?

Some common anxiety symptoms include feeling nervous or irritable, stomachaches, headaches, difficulty completing everyday tasks, trouble sleeping, increased heart rate, and difficulty concentrating. You may experience multiple symptoms or just simply one of them. 

How can I treat or cope with my symptoms?

Yoga- Practicing yoga helps target stress that goes unmanaged in the body. Yoga reduces the stress response and lowers cortisol which is the stress hormone in the body. In addition to the physical aspects of practicing yoga, the mindfulness of the practice is greatly beneficial to alleviating anxiety symptoms.  Yoga is very accessible through yoga studios, printed flow charts, and online videos. (Novotney, A.)

Meditation– Mindfulness is a nonjudgmental awareness of your body and the present moment. It encourages openness and acceptance. Slow and deep breathing while meditating works to balance the body’s sympathetic and parasympathetic responses that trigger anxiety symptoms. 

Aerobic exercise– Participating in daily exercise works for many people to alleviate symptoms just as well as medication. Physical activity produces endorphins, a chemical in the brain that acts as a natural painkiller and improves sleep which both result in a reduction of stress. Some suggestions are a daily walk, run, bike ride, jump roping, or workout class. Anything that gets your body moving and your heart rate up!

Therapy– Finding a professional to talk to has been proven to help alleviate anxiety. There are many options for finding a therapist to speak to. Virtual therapy appointments are becoming increasingly popular. This has made therapy more accessible to every especially those this a busy lifestyle. 

•These are just a few suggestions to help cope with your anxiety symptoms without medication. If you feel your symptoms are extreme and unbearable you should contact your doctor. •

Myth vs Reality

Myth- Keep a rubber band on your wrist to snap when a bad thought arises

Reality- Studies show suppressing thoughts only makes them stronger and more frequent

Myth- Some people are just worriers or neurotic and there’s nothing that can make a difference

Reality- Therapy can help reduce worry and suffering. Therapy can teach you a new and healthy relationship with your thoughts

Myth- If you suffer from anxiety you should avoid all stressful situations

Reality- Avoiding anxiety only reinforces the problem. You can be anxious and still do what needs to be done.

Myth- Medication is the only treatment for anxiety

Reality- Medication can be effective however scientific research has shown CBT cognitive-behavioral therapy to be just as or more effective than medication.

References

Novotney, A. (2009, November). Yoga as a practice tool. Https://Www.apa.org.                                                        https://www.apa.org/monitor/2009/11/yoga

‌Psychiatry.org – What are Anxiety Disorders? (n.d.). Psychiatry.org. https://psychiatry.org/patients-                       families/anxiety-disorders/what-are-anxiety                                                                                               disorders#:~:text=Anxiety%20disorders%20are%20the%20most

Hofmann, S. G., Sawyer, A. T., Witt, A. A., & Oh, D. (2010). The effect of mindfulness-based                               therapy on anxiety and depression: A meta-analytic review. Journal of consulting and                       clinical psychology, 78(2), 169–183. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018555

‌Anxiety disorders and depression research & treatment. Anxiety and Depression Association of                        America, ADAA. (n.d.). Retrieved April 12, 2022, from https://adaa.org/

Cai, S. (2000). Physical Exercise and Mental Health:  A Content Integrated Approach in Coping                      with College Students’ Anxiety and Depression. Physical Educator, 57(2), 69.

Debbarma, R., & Umadevi, G. (2019). Social anxiety and coping strategies among college                               students. Indian Journal of Health & Wellbeing, 10(7–9), 221–223.

Potter, D., Jayne, D., & Britt, S. (2020). Financial Anxiety among College Students: The Role of                       Generational Status. Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning, 31(2), 284–295.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD)-what does that look like in children? 

In the following video, Charles a licensed professional counselor of mental health breaks down what PTSD means, including symptoms that may show up in children and different ways we can help children manage their symptoms of PTSD and work towards recovery.

PTSD can have a larger impact than just the symptoms of not sleeping, anger, behavioral, etc in children. If not treated properly PTSD can have lasting affects on children throughout their lives, even into adulthood. In the following video Dr. Nadine Burke Harris presents a Ted Talk on how PTSD in childhood can affect our health even into adulthood. She discusses multiple systems of the body including “brain development, the immune system, hormonal systems” (Burke Harris, 2015).

As a parent or healthcare worker we may ask how can we know if a child is more likely to be experiencing PTSD and later suffer from adverse health issues? As Dr. Burke Harris discussed in her video, we have a screening tool called ACES.

This link will take you to an ACES screening; https://stopabusecampaign.org/take-your-ace-test/what-does-your-ace-score-mean/

So, how do we help? 

Treatment includes cognitive behavioral therapies such as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) that uses eye movements and bilateral tapping or tones played in the ears while the child focuses on the traumatic event/memory, often in retelling the event. The eye movements will help to process the traumatic event while simultaneously providing desensitization.

The bottom line for a parent is, navigating the world of trauma and PTSD and how we help our kids can be overwhelming and scary, but you don’t have to do it alone. There are people and tools out there to help!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOeQUwdAjE0

References

Center For Healthcare Strategies. (2019). Consideration For Screening for Aces and Trauma. www.TraumaInformedCare.chcs.org. Retrieved May 8, 2022, from https://www.chcs.org/resource/screening-for-adverse-childhood-experiences-and-trauma/.

Fact or Fiction: You should place something in a person’s mouth during a seizure?

This is FICTION. You should never place anything in a person’s mouth while they are having a seizure, it puts both you and the person having the seizure at risk of injury.

What is the myth? How did it start?

The myth says that you should place something in someone’s mouth during a seizure to prevent them from swallowing or biting their tongue (Rossi et al., 2020).  The exact origin is unknown but is still present in today’s media.

Television

Family Guy is an animated sitcom that has been airing on Fox since 1999. In this series, the Griffin family comes together to overcome the crazy everyday situations they face in their Rhode Island town. This TV show is rated TV-MA. In the clip below, Louise Belcher says while sitting at the kitchen table “I am having a seizure. Put a wallet in my mouth.” In the scene, she is not actually having a seizure. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kzq2NrcY2CI

The clip examined is short but shows that television producers are still creating content that supports this myth.

According to medical research, a person may bite their tongue during a seizure, but you should never place anything in their mouth to avoid this (Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care, 2019). The best thing you can do to prevent injury during a seizure is place the person on the ground and remove all items around them that can cause harm (Limmer et al., 2016).

Movie

Death at a Funeral directed by Neil LaBute is a comedy movie from 2010. It depicts a family funeral that leads to a lot of chaos and secrets being revealed. In the clip below, Frank is seen on the floor with three guys surrounding him. Norman and Aaron explain the situation as Frank is having a seizure, and they have the rag in his mouth to prevent him from swallowing his tongue, which is part of the medical protocol.

<iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/za7MnVpwoE8?start=62″ title=”YouTube video player” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture” allowfullscreen></iframe>

According to medical research, it is impossible for someone to swallow their tongue because of its anatomy and function.

The tongue is made up of many skeletal muscles and mucous membranes working together to allow for movement in many different directions. The lingual frenulum is a membrane underneath your tongue that keeps it from going too far back in the mouth.

These muscles also work together to ensure a person can eat safely. When a person swallows, some of the muscles allow the tongue to move backward in order to move the food to the back of the throat. At the same time, others are working to move the tongue forward, making it impossible to swallow your tongue. (Rossi et al., 2020).

Book

The book One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey, was published in 1962. This book examines the lives of many different individuals receiving mental health treatment in a psychiatric hospital. Below there is a link to a pdf of the book. On page 136, patient Sefelt experiences a seizure because he refused to take his epilepsy medication. A flat stick is placed in Sefelts mouth during this situation when everyone is trying to help prevent him from getting hurt. 

https://books-library.net/files/books-library.online-12230134Co1W4.pdf

Based on medical research, NOTHING should ever be placed in a person’s mouth during a seizure, especially a stick. This is because the person may bite down hard on the object and break it, causing injuries to the mouth and jaw (National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2022). It can also obstruct the person’s airway making it difficult to breathe (Limmer et al., 2016). 

What should I do if I see someone having a seizure? 

The Epilepsy Foundation has created a flyer posted below about what to do when you witness a seizure. When in doubt call 911 they are there to help. 

https://www.michigan.gov/-/media/Project/Websites/mde/Year/2021/10/18/sitecore/media-library/Project/Websites/mde/ADA_Seizure_Training_Standards_Tier_1.pdf?rev=ff7c564081f24f86ba7da4d6c8ea6b6b

Conclusion

You can not trust all health-related information you see in the media. There are many television shows, movies, and books similar to the ones described above where seizure first aid is misrepresented. Remember NEVER place anything in a person’s mouth while they are having a seizure it can be dangerous.

References

Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care. (2019, December 5). Epilepsy: What to do if someone has an epileptic seizure. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved May 10, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK343305/

Limmer, D., O’keefe, M., Grant, H., Murray, R., & Bergeron, J. D. (2016). Seizure disorders. In Emergency Care (13th ed., pp. 544–548). Pearson Education. 

National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2022, January 2). Seizure first aid | epilepsy | CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved May 1, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/epilepsy/about/first-aid.htm 

Rank, W. P. (2020). Seizure first aid for bystanders. Nursing, 50(10), 11–12. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.nurse.0000697196.36554.fe 

Rossi, K. C., Baumgartner, A. J., Goldenholz, S. R., & Goldenholz, D. M. (2020). Recognizing and refuting the myth of tongue swallowing during a seizure. European Journal of Epilepsy, 83, 32–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seizure.2020.09.023 

Occupational Therapy and stroke

What is a stroke?

A stroke, also known as a cerebral hemorrhage, occurs when blood circulation to the brain is interrupted. It is a life-threatening circumstance. To function properly, the brain requires a steady flow of oxygenated blood. Even a brief interruption in blood circulation might create complications. After only a few mins lacking oxygenated blood, brain tissue starts to perish. Brain activity is compromised as brain tissue perishes. You may be unable to do tasks that are regulated by that region of your brain. Such as movement, speech, eating, memory, Maintain control over your poop and urination.

Stroke symptom 

Warning Signs for F.A.S.T.

F: Face Sagging – Is one half of your face sagging or numb? Request that the individual smile. Is the individual’s smile irregular?

A: Arm weakness- is one of your arms weak or numb? Request that the individual lift their arms. is one of your arms drooping down?

S: Speech Issues – is the speech muddle?

T: Time to call for an ambulance

‌ (American Stroke Association, 2019)

Rehab Team

An individual’s stroke treatment session includes OT and PT. The Otr, as well as PT, will design a treatment session that will assist you in regaining functionality and being as self-sufficient as possible These disciplines collaborate to attain this clear objective, and they’re also distinct in certain aspects. Occupational therapy will focus more on activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living, and physical therapy focus more on balance and strengthening, and coronation.

Occupational therapy 

Occupational therapists use a comprehensive method to assist individuals in regaining the best degree of performance and independence possible throughout stroke rehab. The technique emphasizes combining the individual’s intellect, body, faith, and passion.

OT will cover the main sections:

Activities of the living

• Dressing
• Toilet hygiene
• Eating
• Personal hygiene
• Sexual activity

Instrumental activities of the living

• Food prep
• Religious & Faith expression
• Safety awareness
• Shopping
• Driving & public transportation
• Money management

Occupational therapy also focuses on Active range of motion, passive range of motion, trunk control, and eye-hand coronation and compensatory techniques to be able to complete daily tasks.

OT and meaningful activities with stroke

Kristensen et al. cover occupational therapy interventions in stroke rehabilitation. A client-centered approach can help stroke patients recall goals, feel more involved, and manage their daily occupations after rehabilitation. Occupational therapy is key in stroke rehabilitation and has shown improved outcomes in the performance of ADLs. The information in this source is reliable and objective and reflects similar findings to Hoffman et al. (2010). The source assisted in clinically justifying how the outcomes of the everyday lives of stroke patients can be improved post-rehabilitation through occupational therapy treatment

Hoffman et al. cover cognitive impairment, occupational therapy, and stroke patients. Most stroke patients experience cognitive impairment after recovery, which affects their activities of daily living. Occupational therapy can help stroke patients reach their maximum level of functional independence. The source provides similar recommendations within occupational therapy rehabilitation as the media does in its message to its audience.  Additionally, this source presented as unbiased and reliable using a test trial on 33 participants with an objective goal to test the effectiveness of occupational therapy in treating cognitive impairment. The source is academically beneficial as it provides information on how occupational therapy can facilitate patient recovery and improve the prognosis of stroke survivors. In relation to my YouTube videos, the article and the YouTube videos share common highlights of Occupational Therapy treatments for stroke victims, such as compensatory methods for therapeutic exercises and functional activities so they may perform activities of daily living with the highest level of independence.

Does Occupational therapy help with stroke

It definitely does work.

Petruševičienė and Kriščiūnas discuss occupational therapy in helping stroke patients during rehabilitation directly via independence training. The effectiveness of occupational therapy varies depending on age, gender, type of stroke, and the degree of the lesion. The purpose of this resource was to assess the efficacy of OT and its predictive validity. The information is reliable and objective as it was obtained from a field study and fits my research in providing information about occupational therapy and its clinical benefits that can facilitate rehabilitation and improve the lives of stroke survivors post-recovery.

What Should I Trust on The World wide web?

Reference

Hoffmann, T., Bennett, S., Koh, C. L., & McKenna, K. T. (2010). Occupational therapy for cognitive impairment in stroke patients. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (9).

Kristensen, H. K., Persson, D., Nygren, C., Boll, M., & Matzen, P. (2011). Evaluation of evidence within occupational therapy in stroke rehabilitation. Scandinavian journal of occupational therapy, 18(1), 11-25.

Petruševičienė, D., & Kriščiūnas, A. (2008). Evaluation of activity and effectiveness of occupational therapy in stroke patients at the early stage of rehabilitation. Medicine, 44(3), 216.

Rowland, T. J., Cooke, D. M., & Gustafsson, L. A. (2008). Role of occupational therapy after stroke. Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology, 11(5), 99

Activities of Daily Living (ADL) After Stroke: Part Two. (n.d.). Www.youtube.com. Retrieved May 11, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GwGnUJ01tw

Road to Recovery – Upper Body Dressing (shirt). (n.d.). Www.youtube.com. Retrieved May 11, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lz2c4LEw-Q

What OT Can Do For You: Recovering After a Stroke. (n.d.). Www.youtube.com. Retrieved May 11, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfpVMZDRg9A

Rehabilitation after Stroke Occupational Therapy improves strength, endurance, and arm function. (n.d.). Www.youtube.com. Retrieved May 11, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnV0-INuzJM

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Payton Fye

Cold Therapy Appears in Mainstream Media

It seems recently it is impossible to browse social media without seeing some mention of cold therapy and its “magical health benefits” promising outcomes similar to that of a “fountain of youth”. Popularized by Wim Hof (pictured below), a Dutch motivational speaker and extreme athlete known for his physical and psychological feat of practicing cold therapy and breathing exercises daily in the most extreme condition.

http://i.inews.co.uk/content/uploads/2022/04/SEI_98513523-1-640×360.jpg

The Science Community Gets Involved

Countless amounts of scientific studies peer reviewed articles and medical journals have released information relating to research in benefits and potential problems surrounding cold therapy. “Temperature-related therapies can be applied to a small area if local treatment is desired (e.g., via cold compress, heating pad, or sterile cooled radiofrequency probe), a larger area (e.g., using a heating/cooling blanket, or infrared light), or to the entire body (e.g., use of a whirlpool bath, hot shower, or sauna)” (Walsh, 2018). It would be impossible to cover all of these studies as they all have varying forms of cold therapy technique, varying outcomes in what they were researching, and varying groups that they were studying. Like most things in science, cold therapy goes both ways. In my research I found information supporting and declining cold therapy for many uses.

One example of a study supporting is the use of pain management in post cardiac surgery patients. “Cold Therapy for the Management of Pain Associated with Deep Breathing and Coughing Post-Cardiac Surgery” sets out to explore the possibility for decreased pain when coughing and deep breathing for post-op cardiac patients with the use of cold therapy in the form of placing a frozen gel pack to the sternal incision dressing prior to deep breathing and coughing exercises, according to this study coughing has been identified as the most painful experience post cardiac surgery” (Chailler, 2010).

There however are also a significant amount of data that show no statistical significance between the interactions of cold therapy relating to muscle function or recovery. “There are not statistically significance interactions in any of the muscle function tests and blood markers between groups, meaning CWI has no significant restorative effect after an 80-minute rugby game in terms of muscle damage (Masaki, 2014).

Lastly it is also very important to note the dangers of performing cold therapy incorrectly as putting our bodies in extreme environment for extended periods of time can do more harm than any proposed good. “Cold-water immersion is a potentially fatal event that can include elements of hypothermia and near-drowning or submersion” (Herndon, 2006).

How the use of Deliberate Cold Exposure Benefits Mental Health

To have a common understanding of how deliberate cold exposure can affect mental health we have to have a shared definition of stress. For the sake of this explanation, we will be using Dr. Andrew Huberman’s definition of stress as times when adrenalin and norepinephrine are elevated in your body. Both are typically co-released with dopamine (all three are known as catecholamines) under certain conditions to interact with the central nervous system, nervous system, and neurologic system to deliberately elicit a stress response in the body.

Rules of thumb to follow when participating:

How cold do you want the water? If you are using deliberate cold exposure the environment that you place yourself into should place your mind into a state of “Woah, I would really like to get out of this environment, but I can stay in safely” Your cold tolerance will change throughout the day as your core body temperature does (Huberman, 2022).

Showers vs Immersion? “cold water immersion up to the neck with your feet and hands submerged is going to be the most effective, second best would be cold showers (very few studies have been done with this technique, because of the variability in measure of studies risks poor experimental integrity), third best would be to go outside with a minimum amount of clothing that would allow you to experience cold to the point where you would almost want to shiver or start shivering (Huberman, 2022).

Resilience/Grit/Mental Toughness

The first way deliberate cold exposure benefits mental health is by increasing resilience, grit, and mental toughness. Many people utilize deliberate cold exposure to increase the rate in which those previously mentioned catecholamines are released in the brain. That release is responsible for an increased stress response which in turn shifts the body’s physical response. This is used in practice to train a mental or cognitive response to better help individuals cope with stress (as previously defined) as it happens naturally. In other words, this is a method of creating a controlled stressful environment to train the body on how to respond to a similar release of neurological chemicals in an uncontrolled environment without losing their focus or cognitive function.

Increased Mood

Another way deliberate cold exposure benefits mental health is that it can be used to elevate mood for long periods of time 5x over baseline. This is done with the help of a specific neuromodulator known as dopamine. This chemical, when released in the brain, is responsible for feelings of an elevated mood, energy, feeling focused, motivation and as Dr. Andrew Huberman states “narrowed thinking goal directed behavior”. A study was preformed where people were exposed to different temperatures of cold-water submersion for an hour at a time, then had serum blood levels drawn. The following are the results: the group that was immersed up to the neck in 32 degrees C (89 degrees F) water did not experience a shift in metabolism nor a significant increase in dopamine norepinephrine or any other catecholamines. The group in 20 degrees C (68 degrees F) water experienced a 93% increase in metabolic rate. The group that was at 14 degrees C (57.2 degrees F) water for an hour experience a 350% increase in metabolism, an increase in norepinephrine in the blood by 530%, and subjects also experienced a 250% increase in dopamine concentrations. This study also found that those increases in dopamine persisted out to two hours after. Another important thing to note from this study is they did not observe any significant increases in the stress hormone cortisol. This is a key piece of information in determining the quality of stress stimulated by the cold emersion therapy. To put it simply, cortisol is a stress hormone elicited by stress that is happening to us rather than that of dopamine which occurs when we deliberately induce stress on ourselves. (Šrámek, 2000).

How the use of Deliberate Cold Exposure Benefits Physical Health

The main and most interesting benefit of deliberate cold exposure (in my opinion) is the effects if can have on physical health, morse specifically metabolism. A study was preformed where subjects got into cold water for approximately 11 minutes per week, they divided that into two sessions. What they discovered was that by going into these cold environments up to the neck for 11 minutes total per week, these men experienced increases in brown fat thermogenesis and increases in core body temperature that translate to increases in core body metabolism. So deliberate cold exposure converts one kind of fat cell known as the white fat cell, which is a very low metabolic output (we will consider this the “bad fat” for the sake of explanation). The main function of this fat cell is to store energy. Deliberate cold exposure has the ability to change this “bad fat” to a “better fat” known by science as brown or beige fat. These fats contain mitochondria and are very metabolically and thermogenic active. The main function if this type of fat is to increase core body temperature, raise metabolism and help burn white fat in a caloric deficit (Morre, 2022).

*Medical Disclaimer*

I have included a medical disclaimer included in some of the used resources as this information is from a plethora of resources and this content shares the same risks.

This blog post is for general information and research data review purposes only and does not constitute the practice of any professional health care services including the giving of medical advice. The use of the information in this blog post or materials referenced from this blog post is at the users own risk. The content of this blog post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical conditions they may have and should seek the assistance of their board-certified healthcare professions for any such conditions.

Additional Research 

If this topic interests, you I would highly suggest watching/listening to Huberman Labs YouTube videos (attached below) and podcasts. This account does a really great job at explaining all the details of cold therapy (and many other interesting scientific studies and practices). There is so much more information on cold therapy that could not be included in this posting the information he shares is highly recommended.

Resources

Chailler M, Ellis J, Stolarik A, & Woodend K. (2010). Cold therapy for the management of pain associated with deep breathing and coughing post-cardiac surgery. Canadian Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 20(2), 18–24.

Herndon TM, Harman KR, Harman, K. R., & Herndon, T. M. (2006). Cold-water immersion in a 22-year-old service member. Military Medicine, 171(5), 459–462.

Masaki Takeda, Takashi Sato, Tatsushi Hasegawa, Hiroto Shintaku, Hisashi Kato, Yoshihiko Yamaguchi, & Zsolt Radak. (2014). The Effects of Cold-Water Immersion after Rugby Training on Muscle Power and Biochemical Markers. Journal of Sports Science & Medicine, 13(3), 616–623.

Moore, E., Fuller, J.T., Buckley, J.D. et al. Impact of Cold-Water Immersion Compared with Passive Recovery Following a Single Bout of Strenuous Exercise on Athletic Performance in Physically Active Participants: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis and Meta-regression. Sports Med (2022).

Šrámek, P., Šimečková, M., Janský, L. et al. Human physiological responses to immersion into   water of different temperatures. Eur J Appl Physiol 81, 436–442 (2000).

Walsh, K. R. M. C., & Woten, M. R. B. (2018). Heat and Cold Therapy: Understanding   Rationale for Use. CINAHL Nursing Guide.

By: Ikusuki

The link between Vaccines and Autism

According to the World Health Organization, about 1 in 100 children have autism spectrum disorder (ASD), whereas the Centers for Disease Control estimates about 1 in 44 children have ASD in the United States. ASD can be defined as a developmental disorder that affects the ability to communicate and engage in social interactions, its severity can vary from person to person. The cause of this diagnosis has been questioned by parents and clinicians alike, resulting in many research studies. Along with genetic and environmental factors, vaccines have been the public’s top concern after a British article was published in The Lancet back in the mid-1990s claiming a link found in the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines and autism. Although the study was false and the researcher and article were discredited, many people still believe there is a link today.

Role of Social Media Platforms

Social media plays a significant role in how information is portrayed to the public and guides its opinion on various topics. Jang et al. examined the flow of information from multiple social media platforms and found “reverse intermedia agenda setting in science communication” (Jang et al., 2019, p. 114). This means that the public can decide which health-related topics can make headlines in the news. By sharing relevant content on multiple social media platforms, any case can become center stage, forcing others to notice and talk. This can be seen in this controversy due to numerous studies on the vaccine-induced autism debate even today. However, the lack of a definitive answer may increase parents’ uncertainty about getting their children vaccinated.

Key Ingredients like MMR and Thimerosal in Vaccines

The video made by The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia raises two main components that are crucial ingredients thought to cause autism, including MMR and thimerosal. Various studies have thoroughly studied these ingredients and have found no link with autism. A recent study conducted in 2015 by Gadad et al. examined infant monkeys following the administration schedule of vaccines used in the 1900s and 2008. They aimed to see the effects of thimerosal-containing vaccines (TCV) and measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) in three brain regions, including the cerebellum, hippocampus, and amygdala. As previously identified in the post-mortem brains of those diagnosed with autism, along with noticing any social and non-social behavior. The study consisted of six test groups, including a control group (who received saline placebos), a 1990s pediatric group (standard doses given previously in 1990), a 1990s primate group (who received four times accelerated regime), a TCV group, an MMR, and a 2008 group (standard doses given previously in 2008). Results showed no significant changes between the control and test groups for behaviors and vaccines. When examining the three brain regions, “no significant differences in Purkinje cell number or cell size, cerebellar volume, CA1 cell size, dentate gyrus volume, hippocampal neurogenesis, or lateral nucleus of the amygdala volume/cell number in animals in the 1990s Primate or 2008 groups compared with control animals” (Gadad et al., 2015, p. 12500). The study concludes that TCV and MMR vaccines do not correlate with autism or neuropathological changes.

Myth Debunked

In another study, the author Breggin attempts to inform readers about the harms of vaccines and their association with autism. Since autism is a developmental disorder, he claims that a vaccine cannot cause it, debunking the myth. However, as seen in the interview conducted by 60 minutes from a parent’s perspective, it can be hard to believe their child, who was perfectly normal before a vaccine was given, is now autistic afterward. According to Adams and Victor’s Textbook of Neurology, “no environmental factors, including the often-mentioned measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination, mercury exposure, and food allergies, have been credibly connected to autism” (Breggin, 2017, p. 1077). However, in some cases, vaccines like MMR can cause neurological effects such as encephalopathy and encephalitis. Breggin questions the manufacturers of vaccines on their lack of evidence on risks of developing neurological disorders. This reality goes unaddressed by most published authors and manufacturers. More light should be shed on these rare cases to make the public aware of the true risks while maintaining the fear that vaccines cause autism and is unfounded and dangerous to public health.

In conclusion, vaccines do not cause autism. The rate of preventative diseases can rise if the refusal of these vaccinations persists. The choice to delay or skip certain vaccines for reasons aside from medical fragility is irresponsible and can be harmful to your own child’s health and the larger community.

Resources

60 Minute Australia. (2019, March 23). Controversial researcher claims link between vaccine and autism | 60 Minutes Australia [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqizB87kkhc

Breggin, P. R. (2021). Moving past the vaccine/autism controversy to examine potential vaccine neurological harms. International Journal of Risk & Safety in Medicine, 32(1), 25–39. https://doi.org/10.3233/JRS-200052

Demystifying Medicine. (2017, May 16). Vaccines and Autism: Medical Myth [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goRZrmuoMT4

Dixon, G., & Clarke, C. (2013). The effect of falsely balanced reporting of the autism–vaccine controversy on vaccine safety perceptions and behavioral intentions. Health Education Research, 28(2), 352–359. https://doi.org/10.1093/her/cys110

Gadad, B. S., Li, W., Yazdani, U., Grady, S., Johnson, T., Hammond, J., Gunn, H., Curtis, B., English, C., Yutuc, V., Ferrier, C., Sackett, G. P., Marti, C. N., Young, K., Hewitson, L., & German, D. C. (2015). Administration of thimerosal-containing vaccines to infant rhesus macaques does not result in autism-like behavior or neuropathology. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 112(40), 12498–12503. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1500968112

Jang, S. M., Mckeever, B. W., Mckeever, R., & Kim, J. K. (2019). From Social Media to Mainstream News: The Information Flow of the Vaccine-Autism Controversy in the US, Canada, and the UK. Health Communication, 34(1), 110–117. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2017.1384433

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. (2020, March 16). Do Vaccines Cause Autism? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2K_q1sWWpc