difficulty concentrating Archives - Amazing Health Advances

6 PRACTICAL Ways to Reduce Your Exposure to EMF Pollution

AHA Publisher — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 07:00:16 +0000

Lori Alton via NaturalHealth365 – Is your home environment making you sick? Cordless phones, computers, printers, fax machines, plus many other electrical devices may very well be slowly killing you. According to the Consumer Electronics Association, about 99 percent of U.S. households own a television, with the average home having three TVs and about 24 consumer electronic devices overall. This trend toward increased consumption of consumer electronics is expected to continue along with serious health consequences. Why Should You Care About EMF Pollution? Because this growing demand for more and more electronics is giving rise to a growing cloud of pollutants or “electronic smog” – floating around your home’s environment. Known as an electromagnetic field, or EMF, this indoor smog results from the large number of harmful positive ions emitted by the average household’s slew of electronics. Andrew Well, MD, has called electromagnetic pollution the most significant pollution human activity has produced this century, made all the more dangerous because it is an invisible toxin. Conscious Scientists Have a Serious Warning for Humanity Barry Trower, a former Royal Navy microwave weapons expert, said this about WiFi radiation: “We are risking the future generations of all the children in the world.” Swedish neuroscientist Ollie Johanssen, PhD has estimated, based on his research, that a full 50 percent of the world’s population will experience some symptoms of “electro hyper” symptoms by 2017. Samuel Milham, MD, MPH, a medical epidemiologist, said: “Very recently, new research is suggesting that nearly all the human plagues which emerged in the twentieth century, like common acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children, female breast cancer, malignant melanoma, and asthma, can be tied to some facet of our use of electricity. There is an urgent need for governments and individuals to take steps to minimize community and personal EMF exposures.” Every television, laptop computer, “smart” (utility) meter, or any use of wireless technology will expose your body to as much as 20 times higher frequency patterns than it would normally be used to. The problem is compounded by the added hazards of dust, bacteria, and other impurities floating around the average home’s air. The result? An unhealthy home environment robbing you of the safe, secure haven your home should be. How Is EMF Pollution Affecting My Health? As indoor air quality diminishes, your family’s emotional and physical health is impacted. Symptoms like insomnia, nervousness, and difficulty concentrating are all warning signs that positive ions exist in unhealthy concentrations in your living environment. Continued exposure to EMF smog can cause an accumulation of additional free radicals in the human body, increasing the risk of developing cancer. But there are steps you can take to protect your health and the health of your family, improving the air quality of your home and ridding it of EMF smog and other pollutants. Try These 6 Practical Ways to Reduce Your Exposure to EMF 1. Eliminate unwanted electronic devices One of the most obvious ways to lower the amount of EMF smog found in your home environment is to do an assessment of the number of electronic devices in your home and consider whether they are absolutely necessary. Improving your home’s air quality and reducing the threats to your family’s health could mean making a few lifestyle changes. The payoff, however, can be worth it. 2. Make use of Himalayan salt lamps High-quality Himalayan salt lamps are made from pure, natural Himalayan salt. As they warm, these lamps serve as natural room ionizers, emitting negative ions into the surrounding environment that effectively bind with all the excess positive ions, reducing EMFs, killing bacteria, and purifying the air. Be sure to purchase your lamp from a reputable company. 3. Distance yourself from the dangers of microwave radiation If you have a cordless phone – throw it away. Many studies suggest that cordless phones are more dangerous to use than cell phones. Use a corded phone instead – it’s much safer. When using a laptop or iPad – don’t place it on your lap. Long-term exposure to EMF pollution has been associated with reproductive and neurological disorders. And, by all means, don’t carry a cell phone against the body or place it on your head. 4. Utilize shielding The important thing to remember before investing in shielding is that you want to ensure the shielding material is less harmful to you and your family than the EMF exposure. In most instances, this will be the case, but be sure you understand the potential hazards of a particular shield before installing it. Performing an EMF survey first can help you determine where to invest in shielding. And, of course, proper testing before (and after) installing shielding material and devices will ensure a successful outcome. 5. Reduce static electricity There are already plenty of reasons to buy clothing and household linens made of natural fibers, like organic cotton and wool, rather than man-made synthetics, but you can add reducing exposure to static electricity to the list. Static electricity can be particularly harmful to people who are already EMF-sensitive. Remember to change out all bedding for natural fiber fabrics as well. 6. Turn off unused circuits Even when electronics are unplugged, electrical wiring can act like a broadcasting antenna for the power grid. By installing demand switches, you effectively turn these circuits off when they are not drawing power, giving your body a break. When demand switches cannot be installed, consider turning unused circuits off, particularly at night when much less electricity is needed. As a final note, to reduce the negative effects of EMF exposure, connect yourself to the Earth. What does that mean? Simply click this link and learn more about “Earthing.” Sources for this article include: NIH.gov EMFanalysis.com Safespaceprotection.com To read the original article click here.

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The Mental Fatigue You Feel Is Called ‘Cognitive Dulling’ and You Are Not Alone if You Are Experiencing It

AHA Publisher — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 07:00:01 +0000

University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston via Newswise – Someone asks you a simple question and you snap. Common tasks, like washing the dishes, feel impossible to accomplish. Constant virtual meetings on camera leave you feeling drained and make it difficult to concentrate on other duties. If you’ve experienced any of those scenarios, or simply a shift in emotional state and decline in performance, mental health experts at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) said you could be experiencing “cognitive dulling.” What Is Cognitive Dulling? Cognitive dulling is a form of mental fatigue that leads to difficulty concentrating, decreased productivity, and a decline in emotional and mental health, according to Jennifer Bahrman, PhD, assistant professor in the Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. She said it is the result of our bodies being in “survival mode” for the past year during the COVID-19 pandemic and enduring heightened stress levels, changes in routine and environment, and fear of the future. “March marked the one-year anniversary of stay-at-home orders across the country,” Bahrman said. “We thought the pandemic precautions would last for two weeks or even two months, but they’re still going on in various ways a whole year later. There’s been glimmers of hope with the vaccines and recent drops in case numbers, but many are still worried about the economy, whether we will see another COVID-19 wave with the new variants, and whether enough precautions are being taken. Many people are living in a constant state of fear wondering, ‘Am I going to become sick? Will I get someone else sick?’ People are adapting to new work and school environments while trying to emotionally process the huge amount of lives lost over the past year. It all takes a toll.” “Cognitive dulling is a combination of decision fatigue and Zoom fatigue, plus all of the other new things we’ve been experiencing during the pandemic,” said Vineeth John, MD, MBA, professor and vice chair for education in the Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. “It’s also the result of our regular experiences and daily routines constantly being altered. And dealing with constant isolation from the pandemic can prevent us from being present, productive, and creative.” Cognitive dulling can be caused by: Social isolation New routines Poor boundaries between work and home life Juggling having children at home while working Countless decisions about safety – for example, “Should I go to the store or order curbside groceries?” Video conference meetings – having to constantly focus on the computer screen and what you look like on-screen Heightened stress levels Worry about the future Emotionally processing loss of life What Does Cognitive Dulling Affect? Cognitive dulling can affect performance at work and at home. “If you are working from home, do you stop working at 5 p.m.? Many are working longer hours because they work through the time they would typically be commuting home. ‘Am I ready to end the day or could I be doing more?’ becomes another decision that needs to be made. If you are working additional hours, are you working at peak performance levels during that extra time? It can be difficult to focus for so long and many people feel guilty about not performing at a high level. There’s a sense of ‘I’m fortunate to have a job, so I need to do my best.’ And with our minds and bodies already going through so much, it can be difficult to manage it all,” Bahrman said. Mental fatigue can also leak into many other areas of life, including how we spend our free time. “Now we have to think twice about things we used to enjoy on the weekend or in our spare time. You have to question, ‘Am I going to feel comfortable playing tennis with a friend or getting takeout from a restaurant?’ We’re constantly in survivalist mode and that affects how we function across the board,” Bahrman said. What Can I Do to Combat Cognitive Dulling? Self-care, self-care, self-care: Bahrman noted that the term has almost become taboo, but self-care is something everyone needs to strive to do to give themselves a break. Options include practicing mindful meditation, meal-prepping so you can maintain a good diet, doing a hobby you enjoy, going on a vacation or staycation, taking a bath, playing with your kids or pets, going for a walk, or reading. Bahrman said just taking some time every day to not have to think can do wonders for your mental health. She noted the importance of encouraging self-care habits in children, too. Check in with yourself: Bahrman said it is critical to know your limits, and be kind to yourself when you reach them. “It’s okay to say no,” she said. “I talk about the importance of saying ‘no’ to my patients often. We don’t always need to agree to another meeting or opportunity – there will always be more meetings and opportunities. It is better to turn an opportunity down than to commit to it, but not be able to give it your all.” Manage stress in one area of your life: “Focusing on one area of your life, like work or a certain relationship, that you can control your stress in, can help you feel empowered,” Bahrman said. “It can give you a sense of normal in one area that you can build upon in other areas.” Take pressure off perfection: “Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good. With so much going on, just do your best and strive for good rather than perfect,” Bahrman said. Reduce the amount of decisions you have to make: For example, to make meal planning easier, prepare enough meals for the week over the weekend, Bahrman said. Other ideas include planning your outfits out in advance, simplifying your wardrobe so you don’t have so much to choose from, and helping your children pick their outfits in advance as well. Ask for help: Talking to a friend or loved one and seeking help from a professional can improve mental health significantly. “Everyone can benefit from therapy,” Bahrman said. If you or a loved one are feeling overwhelmed, there are resources available, including the Crisis Text Line. Simply text HOME to 741741 to reach a professional counselor. If you are experiencing a crisis, please contact the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK. To make an appointment with a UT Physicians mental health specialist, call 888-4UT-DOCS. To read the original article click here.

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New Studies Suggest Vaping Could Cloud Your Thoughts

AHA Publisher — Mon, 04 Jan 2021 08:00:57 +0000

University of Rochester Medical Center via EurekAlert – Two new studies from the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) have uncovered an association between vaping and mental fog. Both adults and kids who vape were more likely to report difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions than their non-vaping, non-smoking peers. It also appeared that kids were more likely to experience mental fog if they started vaping before the age of 14. While other studies have found an association between vaping and mental impairment in animals, the URMC team is the first to draw this connection in people. Led by Dongmei Li, Ph.D., associate professor in the Clinical and Translational Science Institute at URMC, the team mined data from two major national surveys. “Our studies add to growing evidence that vaping should not be considered a safe alternative to tobacco smoking,” said study author Li. The studies, published in the journals Tobacco Induced Diseases and Plos One, analyzed over 18,000 middle and high school student responses to the National Youth Tobacco Survey and more than 886,000 responses to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System phone survey from U.S. adults. Both surveys ask similar questions about smoking and vaping habits as well as issues with memory, attention and mental function. Both studies show that people who smoke and vape – regardless of age – are most likely to report struggling with mental function. Behind that group, people who only vape or only smoke reported mental fog at similar rates, which were significantly higher than those reported by people who don’t smoke or vape. The youth study also found that students who reported starting to vape early – between eight and 13 years of age – were more likely to report difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions than those who started vaping at 14 or older. “With the recent rise in teen vaping, this is very concerning and suggests that we need to intervene even earlier,” said Li. “Prevention programs that start in middle or high school might actually be too late.” Adolescence is a critical period for brain development, especially for higher-order mental function, which means tweens and teens may be more susceptible to nicotine-induced brain changes. While e-cigarettes lack many of the dangerous compounds found in tobacco cigarettes, they deliver the same amount or even more nicotine. While the URMC studies clearly show an association between vaping and mental function, it’s not clear which causes which. It is possible that nicotine exposure through vaping causes difficulty with mental function. But it is equally possible that people who report mental fog are simply more likely to smoke or vape – possibly to self-medicate. Li and her team say that further studies that follow kids and adults over time are needed to parse the cause and effect of vaping and mental fog. To read the original article click here.

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