by admin | Feb 3, 2021 | Health Awareness
Music therapy uses music to promote a person’s wellbeing. It uses an individual’s connection to music to spur positive changes in mood and mental health. Music therapists may use a variety of methods to support these outcomes, such as playing instruments, singing, or dancing.
Music therapy can enhance communication skills, confidence, and self-awareness, as well as concentration and attention. Oftentimes, improvisation is also incorporated into this form of therapy.
Music & The Brain
Music affects the mind in profound ways. Each aspect of effect is processed uniquely by a specific area of the brain. For example, the frontal lobes interpret emotional signals of music, while the cerebellum processes rhythm. When listening to especially powerful melodies, the reward center of the brain known as the nucleus accumbens can even trigger physical responses, such as goosebumps.
It’s, therefore, no surprise that experts have been seeking to leverage the power of music for centuries. The first instruments are believed to date back 40,000 years, and the use of music therapy has its roots in Ancient Greece. Today, music therapy spans several disciplines and can be found in social care, private care, and educational centers alike.
What Sets Music Therapy Apart
Because it doesn’t require verbal communication, music therapy is often a powerful alternative for people who struggle with verbal communication. People with dementia, for instance, are ideal candidates for music therapy. Music can also be played in any environment; for example, patients who can’t leave their beds can still enjoy music for its mood-boosting benefits.
What Are the Benefits of Music Therapy?
On the topic of benefits, there are several compelling advantages of this therapy, including:
- Boosted memory skills
- Improved communication
- Better self-expression
- Improved ability to process complex emotions and memories
- Stronger connections to others
- Increased verbalization
- Decreased anxiety
- Greater self-esteem
Music releases dopamine, the feel-good hormone, which has short-term benefits on mood. It can also control stress hormones, including cortisol, to curb anxiety. It may be a particularly powerful tool to help children find fun and engaging ways to process thoughts and emotions.
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by Stemedix | Feb 1, 2021 | Uncategorized
According to the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society, there is no single test available which can diagnose MS on its own. Instead, healthcare providers must use a variety of approaches to confirm that a patient has the condition. These may include lab tests, neurologic exams, and the patient’s medical history. Here is how multiple sclerosis diagnosed.
Doctors must also rule out other conditions which bear similar symptoms. For instance, infections such as Lyme disease, inflammatory disorders such as vasculitis, genetic conditions, and vitamin deficiencies can all cause neurological symptoms. Various tests, including MRI, blood tests, and a spinal fluid analysis are used to rule out these conditions and confirm the presence of MS.
As doctors work to rule out other conditions, the diagnosis process can take considerable time. Some patients may receive a definitive MS diagnosis relatively quickly, however. An accurate and timely diagnosis is critical, since uncovering the root cause for worrisome and uncomfortable symptoms can allow you to focus on treatment and alleviate any concerns over other potential causes. Moreover, starting treatment early can help to control the progression of Multiple Sclerosis, as neurologic damage can begin early on.
What Criteria Must Be Present for an MS Diagnosis?
For a confirmed MS diagnosis, there must be:
- Evidence of damage in at least two areas of the central nervous system (CNS), such as the spinal cord, brain, or optic nerve
- Evidence that the damage found occurred at different times
In addition, all other potential diagnoses must be ruled out.
What Methods Are Used to Diagnose MS?
The McDonald Criteria call for specific guidelines for diagnosing MS using MRI and cerebrospinal fluid. An MRI may be able to uncover a second area of damage in an individual who has experienced only one MS attack. In some cases, cerebrospinal fluid analysis can also indicate two separate instances of damage.
In addition to these measures, doctors will also ask you to describe any symptoms you’ve experienced, and may also gather information about your medical and family history, preexisting conditions, and places of travel which could indicate other illnesses or MS. They’ll also perform a comprehensive neurologic evaluation, which will encompass an analysis of the cranial nerves through swallowing and facial sensation, among other measures. Reflexes, coordination, sensation, gait, and balance will also be looked at.
Oftentimes, medical history and neurologic exams are sufficient for getting Multiple Sclerosis diagnosed. Additional testing can confirm the diagnosis or uncover other potential causes for symptoms.
While there is no blood test that concludes the presence of MS, a blood draw can be used to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms. For instance, vitamin deficiencies, certain infections, and conditions such as Sjogren’s or lupus may be identified through a blood test. If you would like to learn more please contact a care coordinator today!
by Shoot To Thrill Media | Jan 29, 2021
Stemedix joins in Collaboration with the University of South Florida Stemedix joins in Collaboration with the University of South Florida UPDATE – Our excitement continues with our close partnership with the University of South Florida Research Department. Since the...
by Shoot To Thrill Media | Jan 29, 2021
Stemedix wins Global Healthcare Award Stemedix, Inc. is honored and humbled to be recognized globally as the 2020 Best Regenerative Medicine Services Provider in the US by Global Health & Phrama (GHP) in the Healthcare & Pharmaceutical Award Category. We are...
by admin | Jan 27, 2021 | Health Awareness
Experts have long suspected that sleep plays an important role in overall health, but new research published in the journal Circulation indicates an especially strong link between getting ample slumber and maintaining heart health. Specifically, individuals with the healthiest sleep habits slash their risk of heart failure by 42%. The condition happens when the heart can’t pump blood as well as it should, resulting in insufficient blood and oxygen to the cells. Patients experience fatigue, breathing challenges, and other health complications as a result.
The study characterizes healthy sleep as an early wake time, a duration of seven to eight hours each night, and no bouts of snoring, insomnia, or excessive tiredness. Markers of heart health included low LDL (“bad” cholesterol), reduced inflammation, and higher HDL (“good” cholesterol). These measures are commonly used to evaluate heart failure risk.
More than 408,000 participants were tracked over a decade, with 5,221 people developing heart failure. The data revealed the following trends:
- People who woke up early had an 8% lower risk of heart failure.
- People who didn’t experience frequent insomnia had a 17% lower risk.
- People who regularly got seven to eight hours of sleep had a 12% lower risk.
- People who didn’t feel sleepy throughout the day had a 34% lower risk.
Although the research couldn’t confirm whether poor sleep led to heart issues or vice versa, the researchers noted that they aimed to exclude people with existing heart failure from the study. Thus, the results in this particular study seem to suggest that poor sleep contributes to the condition, though a bidirectional relationship is possible.
The Potential Link Between Sleep & Heart Health
Other studies have examined a connection between poor sleep and cardiovascular issues, including arrhythmia, coronary heart disease, and coronary artery disease, all of which can contribute to heart failure. It’s also worth noting that two markers looked at in the study—daytime tiredness and snoring—are also potential indications of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). While the possible role of OSA in heart failure would need to be studied further, research has already linked it to other cardiovascular issues, including stroke, heart attack, and high blood pressure.
Finding the Sweet Spot
Getting enough sleep is important to overall wellness, but it’s also important to consider that too much sleep could present health issues. Sleeping over eight hours was associated with poor cardiovascular health in the study, and other research has also linked it to cardiovascular disease. Researchers believe excessive sleep could also point to health issues such as chronic illness or depression, which could explain the correlation. For this reason, it’s best to aim for seven to eight hours a night.
Tips for Healthy Sleep
In addition to getting seven to eight hours a night, try to wake early and address any sleep challenges, such as snoring, insomnia, or sleep apnea, with a healthcare professional. You can also use the following tips to improve your overall sleep habits:
- Turn off all electronics. At least a half-hour before bed, spend time away from screens. The blue light can disrupt the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone.
- Establish a winding down routine. Consider taking a soothing bath, listening to relaxing music, reading a book, or meditating.
- Turn the lights down. This can kickstart melatonin production and communicate to your body that it’s time for sleep.
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