Study: Placebos Make People Feel Better
Patients will feel better if they believe they're taking painkillers -- even if their doses contain no medication, according to a University of Michigan study.
The study, examining the placebo effect, shows that the brain releases chemicals that relieve pain in patients who believe they're being treated.
It is to be published Wednesday in the Journal of Neuroscience.
Researchers say the findings could lead to new ways to treat chronic pain.
"This deals another serious blow to the idea that the placebo effect is a purely psychological, with no physical basis," said Dr. Jon-Kar Zubieta, associate professor of psychiatry and radiology at the Michigan Medical School. "The mind-body connection is quite clear."
While previous studies at Michigan and elsewhere have shown how the brain reacts physically to placebos, researchers said this study is the first to pinpoint a specific brain chemistry mechanism.
The study involved 14 healthy men, ages 20 to 30, who were given a salt water injection that caused pain to their jaw. They were then injected with a placebo and told it was a painkiller.
Researchers asked the men questions and monitored their brain activity during the process.
For each of the men, their brains released more natural painkilling endorphins after the placebos were administered. Nine were classified as high placebo responders, while five were classified as low responders.
The scientists say further research is needed to determine if the results hold up in women and people with various illnesses.
The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health and completed by researchers at Michigan's Molecular and Behavioral Neurosciences Institute.
Health Tip: Test Young Children for Vision Problems
The sooner problems with vision are detected, the quicker a child can get the necessary treatment.
According to The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, some children are more at risk for vision problems. Your infant may be more prone if:
She or he was born prematurely.
There is a family history of vision problems.
You had an infection during pregnancy.
Your baby has heart disease or hearing problems.
If you suspect your baby is having difficulty seeing, consult your doctor.
Health Tip: Treating a Deep Cut
While you can treat most cuts at home, deeper ones require emergency medical treatment.
If your child cuts himself severely and you can't get to the hospital right away, The Nemours Foundation suggests you:
Rinse the wound and apply pressure to the cut with sterile gauze, a bandage or a clean cloth.
If blood soaks through, place another bandage over the first, and continue applying pressure.
Raise the inured part to slow bleeding, but don't apply a tourniquet.
Food Fact:
Tempeh -- jewel of the Southwest?
It may sound like a town in Arizona, but it's actually the meatiest of soy foods. Chewy and full-flavored, tempeh is made from whole soybeans, which means it's loaded with beneficial soy isoflavones. Tempeh slices easily, holds its shape during cooking and loves a good marinade.
Fitness Tip of the day:
Home sweat home.
A home gym can remake your body and save money -- if you know how to use it. For home exercise programs to succeed, you need to treat a room in your home like your own private health club. When you enter the room you have entered the gym. Be sure to establish a training time that you will stick to, and keep all other activities OUT of the room.
FAQ of the day:
Why warm up before a workout?
During a warm-up, your body gradually prepares to bring extra blood and oxygen to the muscles during your workout. Your heart and respiration rate slowly increase, capillaries dilate and blood supplies flow to your extremities, which will need extra oxygen to fuel your muscles when you pick up the pace. The added heat and blood flow allow muscles to become more compliant, and thus less prone to injury. Finally, a proper warm-up is likely to improve your performance.
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