Health Matters

Connecting you to the sources of health.

by Robert J. Hedaya, M.D.

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 deficiency and its detection have been in the news lately from the New York Times to The Dr. Oz Show. The effects of vitamin B12 deficiency are widespread. Vitamin B12 has a major influence on the function of neurons and also on the ability of the bone marrow to make red blood cells. Read More

Light Therapy and Your Mental Health

Light therapy is useful in treating mood disorders. Read More

Can a Brain Be on Fire?

Yes! Over the last 20 years, ample evidence has accumulated to prove that inflammation in the body causes changes in the brain that lead to depression, anxiety, sleep problems, and memory problems. Inflammation comes from the Latin ‘inflammare' -- to set on fire. Our brain is ‘on fire' when it is inflamed, or when our body is inflamed. Read More

Mood, Gut Bacteria, and the Immune System

Many people would be surprised that the immune system, the gastro-intestinal tract and stress interact, but that is what the most recent of a number of studies shows. Read More

Japan and Radiation: What should you do?

With the ongoing release of radiation into the atmosphere from the damaged Japanese nuclear facilities, many people are wondering whether they should protect themselves as well as what they can do to protect themselves and their families. Read More

Highest Rates of Bipolar Disorder in the United States: Why?

According to a new study discussed on Health.com "about 2.4% of people around the world have had a diagnosis of bipolar disorder at some point in their lifetime, according to the first comprehensive international figures on the topic.The United States has the highest lifetime rate of bipolar disorder at 4.4%, and India the lowest, with 0.1%". Read More

Panic Disorders: Part 2

Biological Theory of Panic Disorder (Recurrent Panic Attacks) The prevailing theory of panic disorder states that there are two types of panic attacks, non-phobic spontaneous panic and triggered panic attacks. Nonphobic panic attacks are thought to be the result of abnormal, over- sensitivity of a brain alarm system whose function is to detect early signs of suffocation. Read More

Panic Disorders: Part 1

The Spectrum of Disorders Associated with Panic Panic attacks are among the most terrifying experiences a person can have. Panic disorders include panic with and without agoraphobia, simple phobia, posttraumatic stress disorder, and perhaps social phobias. Read More

Memory Matters

Memory loss creates fear in the very core of one's being because it threatens one's identity, and raises the specter of losing one's independence. Forgetfulness can be a signal that dementia is imminent, but it can also be a warning that other problems are present, which untreated, may develop into pseudo-dementia (a false dementia). Read More

The Mystery of Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is the result of infection with the spirochete Borrelia Burgdorferi. It is generally thought that the infection is the result of a tick bite, which about 50% of the time results in a rash, often described as a 'bulls eye' rash, but which can vary in appearance. Read More

Nutrition and Depression: Nutrition, Detoxification, and Depression, Part 4

Nutrition, Detoxification, and DepressionAn additional avenue through which nutrition can help mood disorders is via liver detoxification, which can influence mood via the modification of steroid hormone metabolism (e.g., DHEA, testosterone, estrogen, cortisol). Read More

Nutrition and Depression: Nutrition, Methylation, and Depression, Part 2

Nutritional support for the methylation cycle is another area in which nutrition plays a critical role. The methylation cycle is essential for mental and physical health. It is critical to the metabolism of catecholamines in the synapse via an enzyme (COMT) as well as the synthesis of ‘depression-relevant' compounds such as melatonin, myelin basic protein, carnitine, CoQ10, etc. Read More

Nutrition and Depression: Nutrition, Neuronal Protection, Omega 3 Fatty Acids, Vitamin D and Depression, Part 3

Neuronal protection (protection against cognitive decline) requires glutathione peroxidase (a crucial enzyme). R-lipoic acid, vitamin C and omega 3 fatty acids are also critical to neuronal protection. Read More

Nutrition and Depression: State of the Science and Treatment, Part 1

Efficacy and Use of Medications in the Treatment of Depression

It is becoming widely recognized that the current treatment of mood disorders (such as depression), while offering better outcomes than several decades ago, leave much room for improvement. The remission rate at the end of the first phase of the well-publicized STAR-D study (1) was only 25%. Read More

“Are there Benefits to having Bipolar Disorder?”

Let me start by acknowledging what is well known: Manic Depression or Bipolar disorder can be a devastating illness. Affecting at least 1% of the population, it can, untreated, result in suicide, ruined careers and devastated families. Bipolar disorder is often accompanied by alcohol and drug abuse and addiction, criminal and even violent behavior. Read More

The Teenager's Brain

If you are reading this, you are probably a parent, a teacher, or perhaps even a teen yourself. In any case, you feel confounded by unpredictable and volatile behavior, emotions which seem to arise like tornados from out of the blue, and a parade of identities which seem to change as fast as a runway model's wardrobe. What causes all this chaos and confusion? Read More

Obesity, Insulin Resistance, Diabetes and Mental Health: Part II

As I mentioned in part I of this blog, there is a strong association between insulin resistance, diabetes and mental health. Read More

Obesity, Insulin Resistance, Diabetes and Mental Health: Part I

Insulin resistance is a fully reversible condition in which the cells of the body become insensitive to the insulin signal, which itself is designed to take glucose (sugar) out of the blood and into the cells (for energy). If insulin resistance becomes severe enough, it progresses into type II diabetes. Read More

Fractured Families - a good thing?

I was thinking about the high rate of fractured families and the lack of community in the US, when I began to look at the issue from a different perspective. Fractured families may not be pathological from the planet's point of view Read More

PMS and Insomnia: What to do?

In healthy women sleep disturbances occur twice as often as they do in men. Insomnia is also often more common in the 1-2 weeks before menstruation begins (the luteal phase of the cycle), when compared with the first half of the menstrual cycle. Read More

Female Hormones

Women have twice the frequency of depression as men, and are more vulnerable to many psychiatric disorders between puberty and menopause. Menopause and the post partum are time of high vulnerability for women. Read More

What kind of thyroid medication should I be taking?

Many people do quite well taking T4 (levothyroixine, synthroid, levoxyl), but often people find that they do not feel normal in one way or another when given T4. Sometimes it's a matter of raising the dose and getting the TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) into the correct range (see my last post). Read More

How much thyroid hormone is enough?

For a variety of reasons, it is becoming clear that a large portion of the U.S. population is hypothyroid. Most are taking some version of T4 (levothyroxine). The question is, how much should one take, and how should one gauge the dosage? For years there has been concern that excessive doses of thyroid hormone could cause osteoporosis or cardiovascular problems such as atrial fibrillation. Read More

Thyroid and Mental Health

A recent study known as the Colorado Thyroid Disease Prevalence Study, found that 13 million Americans may have undiagnosed thyroid conditions, and suggested that more widespread thyroid testing is needed. Among their findings are the fact that 9.9 percent of the population had a thyroid abnormality that had gone unrecognized. Read More

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? Read More

Depression, Inflammation, Immunity and Infection

By 2020, depressive disorders are projected to be the 2nd leading cause of worldwide disability. The burden of Mood Disorders is rising both for the individual, the family, and for the society. Currently, most people who are treated for depression are partially responsive or non-responsive. New tools are needed. Read More

Time for Health Care Solutions: Medicine and the Mask of Science: Part III

In my last two blogs, I wrote about the idea that much of the field of medicine hides behind a mask of science. I presented a very brief and minimal set of examples supporting my impression. And I promised to talk about some solutions. Read More

A Modern Myth: Medicine as Science: Part II

I am waking to the fact that there is a long-term historical pattern of disinformation. Despite the periodic real advances in medicine over the centuries, facts demonstrate that the medical field dons the mask of science on a pretty regular basis.

Here is a brief outline of some additional evidence: Read More

A Modern Myth: Medicine as Science: Part I

In a previous post ("Depression: we have been duped"), I made the following comments:

"On January 17th, 2008, the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine, published a landmark paper by Eric Turner and others:

"Selective Publication of Antidepressant Trials and Its Influence on Apparent Efficacy". Read More

Meditation on Oatmeal

Several years ago I meditated on a bowl of oatmeal. It just happened (no drugs were involved, promise). I focused on the oatmeal in my bowl, and every other thought was gone. I became aware of the miracle in my bowl. Read More

Robert J. Hedaya, M.D., D.F.A.P.A., is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Georgetown University Hospital and Founder of the National Center for Whole Psychiatry.

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