Probiotic May Ease Fatigue Syndrome Anxiety

Taking a daily probiotic supplement appears to improve anxiety in patientswith chronic fatigue syndrome, new Canadian research suggests, a finding that might one day impact how depression and other mental disorders are treated. The researchers, led by A. Venket Rao of the University of Toronto, found that giving patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) a probiotic for two months not only boosted so-called "good" bacteria in their stomachs, it also led to a significant decrease in their anxiety symptoms. A probiotic is a dietary supplement, most often in pill or powder form, that contains live bacteria such as Lactobacillus or Bifidobacteria. These bacteria help maintain gut flora, microbes in the stomach that perform a variety of functions, including aiding digestion, boosting the immune system and warding off harmful bacteria."We were quite excited with the fact that these were positive results and we felt that probiotics truly have a role to play in the management of neurophysiological disorders such as anxiety, such as depression and other symptoms associated with that," Rao told CTV News. "Rather than going into medications, which may result in side effects, it's a safe, it's a very easy way to manage problems such as that."The findings are published in the journal BMC Gut Pathogens. Patients who are diagnosed with CFS often experience a broad range of symptoms, the most significant being persistent fatigue. Nearly all CFS patients also experience neuropsychological problems, such as cognitive dysfunction, sleep disturbances, anxiety and depression. In fact, according to the researchers, about half of all CFS patients meet the diagnostic criteria for an anxiety disorder or major depressive disorder. As well, CFS patients often complain of gastrointestinal problems and many are diagnosed with digestive disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome. Tests show that they often have lower levels of so-called "good" bacteria in their stomachs, which can regulate digestive activity. All of this has led researchers to begin probing a link between gut bacteria and mental disorders and early findings suggest that bacteria levels may influence behavior related to anxiety and depression. Researchers believe that probiotics "crowd out" the more toxic stomach bacteria that are linked to an increase in depression and other mood disorders, study co-author Dr.Alison C. Bested told CTV News. For this study, Rao, Bested and their team gave 39 CFS patients either a daily dose of Lactobacillus casei or a placebo for two months. They found that 73 per cent of subjects taking the probiotic experienced an increase in levels of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria in the gut, which correspondedwith a significant decrease in anxiety symptoms. In the placebo group, only 37.5 per cent showed an increase inBifidobacteria, while only 43.8 per cent showed an increase in Lactobacillus bacteria. The researchers found no statistically significant change in anxiety symptoms among this group. According to Bested, Bifidobacteria appears to increase levels of tryptophanin the brain, a chemical that "helps people feel better." Patients taking theprobiotic also showed a marked improvement in their digestion, experiencing less bloating and gas and a reduction in inflammation. The findings are"huge," Bested said. "(Subjects) felt less anxious, they felt calmer, they felt better able to cope with their illness, they were sleeping better, had less heart palpitations and less symptoms of anxiety," she said. "We were pleasantly surprised, that people who were taking probiotics were able to lower their anxiety." Rao explained that the good bacteria produce "compounds that get to the brain and help the brain to manage problems associated with behavioral and mood problems, such as anxiety and depression." He said the findings open "a door to a whole new field, and that is the relationship of gut micro flora, or gut bacteria, to many disorders - mental disorders being one of them. So it opens a door to many future research and applications in this area."--------(c) 2009 Bell Canada

Source: Sympatico
Date: April 7, 2009

How A Woman with Illness Can Romance Her Husband

"Hot and bothered!" For most people these words create images of being twisted up in sheets, breathlessly reaching out to the one you love. For those with chronic illness, however, "hot" is more likely to refer to one's thyroid condition, night sweats, or a heating pad on high. "Bothered. . ." Well, let's just say when your body aches, everything makes you feel bothered: a cat that won't move off your leg, a joint that continues to throb, and a husband that is able to snore through minor earthquakes. It can be hard to be romantic! Nearly 1 in 2 people live with a chronic illness in the U.S. which means that a lot of marriages are disrupted by this uninvited third party of illness, often including mental illness as well. Seventy-five percent of marriages end in divorce. But romantic ideas don't have to be used just on Valentine's Day. So! How do you get the spark back? Here are some creative romantic gift ideas and ways to say, "I love you." Make an effort. Stop with the excuses. "I'm tired, I don't feel good. I am in so much pain." I've said them all. Guess what? You'll probably always be tired. Put on some music, sit back and relax. You're in pain? If you can push past some of the physical pain you'll soon be distracted and forget at least a good part of it. Make romance a priority. That means not spending the whole Saturday cleaning your house and then being exhausted. Rest up, even if it's just so you can have a conversation without falling asleep. Be enthusiastic during your romantic evening. Even if you're just going out for dinner, don't say, "I'm doing this just for you. I don't really feel like it." (Oh, yeah, that will turn him on.) Smile and talk about pleasant memories or dreams you have. Promise yourself not to talk about your illness for just one night.You don't have to write romantic love poems. Just put together a mini-album of your favorite photos and include notes about your memories and how much he means to you. Make a list of all the things you notice he does that you don't usually thank him for: taking out the garbage, getting you medication in the middle of the night, giving your child a bath, cleaning out the litter box. Type out a sheet of all of this stuff in fun fonts and different colors. Women, get over feeling self-conscious and buy some underwear that doesn't look like your grandmother's. Text message him something daring or outrageously romantic that you would have said when you first fell in love. Back before text-messaging existed. Give him a home-made coupon for something he would like but doesn't splurge on very often such as, "Good for 5 guilt-free hours with your friends watching football." Avoid making him feel guilty whenever he wants to do something you can participate in (like going hiking or riding a roller coaster.) There is no such thing as a perfect marriage. But a marriage where both people are involved in keeping it alive, despite the existence of a chronic illness, can be one of the most rewarding joys in your life. Romance comes in many forms. I loved my husband more than ever the night I literally could not move because of a rheumatoid arthritis flare. I "slept" sitting on the couch and he slept on the floor beside the couch to comfort me every time I moved and screamed from the pain. Love comes in many forms. One of the books I've bought all the couples in my life is "Love & Respect: The Love She Most Desires, the Respect He Desperately Needs" by Emerson Eggerichs. Men often feel loved when they are respected, women want to feel loved. Usually we are offering our spouse what we want, not what they need. Being aware of all of the little things we do each day that give one another love and respect, add up to romance when you least expect it.

Lisa Copen
January 14, 2008