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Alcohol is one of the most commonly used substances globally and has been linked to a wide range of negative consequences.
It can harm mental health, including increased risk for anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses.
Understanding the relationship between alcohol and mental health is important because it can help reduce the prevalence of these conditions and improve people's lives.
Alcohol can exacerbate anxiety in several ways.
Alcohol causes a temporary spike in heart rate and blood pressure.
Chronic consumption of alcohol can lead to ongoing increased heart rate and blood pressure, weakened heart muscles, and irregular heartbeat.
A Sneak-peek Into the Gene Health Report
Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals.
Alcohol consumption interferes with neurotransmitter levels, throwing your body out of balance.
For example, GABA is a neurotransmitter that reduces energy levels and calms your body down.
When alcohol increases the GABA levels, the sedation effects are amplified, causing wobbly walking and speech slurring.
Alcohol also increases dopamine levels, stimulating the brain's reward centers, thus tricking you into thinking alcohol is pleasurable.
Thus, alcohol consumption throws your neurotransmitter levels off balance, thereby worsening your activity.
Alcohol can induce feelings of relaxation and sleepiness; however, excess consumption can lead to poor sleep quality.
Alcohol is a depressant and results in quick sleep onset. So, people fall into deep sleep quicker, creating an imbalance in the stages of sleep.
This decreases the overall sleep quality, making anxiety management difficult.
Alcohol affects how nerves communicate with each other in a region of the brain called the hippocampus.
The hippocampus plays a role in memory formation.
Alcohol slows down the normal nerve activity here, thereby worsening short-term memory.
This can be very unsettling, even more so for people with anxiety.
Hangxiety is hangover-related-anxiety.
It describes the significant increase in anxiety one may experience after a night of heavy drinking.
Everyone may not experience this.
People with existing anxiety or social phobia are more prone to it.
There are a few hypotheses on why hangxiety happens.
Image: Hangover and Anxiety - Hangxiety Management
For people with anxiety, a few drinks may help them relax.
But alcohol can also make anxiety worse in some people.
Here’s how:
While alcohol may initially relieve anxiety symptoms, they return once alcohol is eliminated from the body.
Over time, the more you drink, the more alcohol it'll take for your body to be in a relaxed state.
This tolerance build-up can put a person at dangerous risk for alcohol addiction.
Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress, but it can interfere with daily life when it becomes excessive or disabling.
There are many ways to manage anxiety; here are a few tips to get started:
https://www.healthline.com/health/alcohol-and-anxiety
https://www.sleepfoundation.org/nutrition/alcohol-and-sleep
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/hangover-anxiety
Anxiety is a normal emotion that may cause you to sweat, feel restless or helpless, and have a rapid heartbeat.
It is a feeling of uneasiness, fear, or dread.
Most people experience anxiety at some point in their lives.
However, if you have anxiety that does not go away or only worsens with time, you may have an anxiety disorder.
There are different types of anxiety disorders, the most common ones being:
Anxiety is caused due to a complex interplay between different factors, including:
Some factors that may increase the risk of developing anxiety are:
Some common symptoms of anxiety disorder are:
Genetics plays a significant role in anxiety and panic disorder.
A family member with anxiety disorder increases one’s risk of developing the condition.
Several studies conducted over the past few decades have reported a genetic association with anxiety. Some key highlights include:
Anxiety does have a genetic component but is influenced by environmental and social factors.
This means that having a family history of anxiety disorder does not confirm you will develop the condition.
It is also possible to develop anxiety disorder without it running in your family.
Monogenic diseases are caused when mutations or abnormal changes in a single gene are inherited by the Mendelian model of inheritance.
A complex interplay between several genes and external factors contributes to the development of anxiety disorders. For this reason, anxiety disorders are said to have a polygenic etiology (caused by multiple genes).
Single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs in the following genes have been studied for their association with anxiety disorders:
Those carrying mutations in these genes and subjected to environmental stressors are at higher risk for anxiety than those without the mutations.
Gene-environment interactions emphasize the complex nature of anxiety and its related disorders.
Also Read: Cracking the Anxiety Code Using your DNA Raw Data
Anxiety and anxiety disorders can be treated using medications and counseling.
Treatment options for anxiety include:
The most commonly used medications in the treatment of anxiety disorder are:
This therapy is usually done by a trained psychologist and involves helping you learn about how your emotions affect your behavior.
During psychotherapy, the mental health professional guides you to understand and manage your feelings and fears.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most commonly used psychotherapy for anxiety disorder.
Some lifestyle changes to help you manage symptoms of anxiety disorder are:
Anxiety disorders are chronic and cannot be completely cured.
However, with the effective treatment mentioned above, people can manage their symptoms and learn to cope better.
Anxiety is the body’s natural response to stress.
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), anxiety is “an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes like increased blood pressure.”
Though we all go through anxiety multiple times in our lives, experiencing persistent and overwhelming anxiety can be debilitating.
When anxiety interferes with your daily activities or causes distress, you may have an anxiety disorder.
Anxiety disorders are mental health disorders, and their cause may be complicated.
Some possible causes:
Studies have shown that anxiety runs in families.
Children of parents with anxiety disorder are seven times more likely to develop the condition.
Though genetics is only 30-40% responsible for anxiety disorder, a recent study on twins showed a direct transmission of anxiety genes from the parent to the child.
Studies also show that over-controlling and anxious parental behavior can promote anxiety in children.
Though genetics play an essential role in the transmission of anxiety in families, environment and parenting also have a significant impact.
A new study found that brain function resulting from anxiety and depression is inherited.
In a research study, young rhesus monkeys were exposed to mildly stressful situations.
It was found that monkeys stopped moving or vocalizing while their stress hormones shot up.
Shy human children show similar behavior.
In another study, researchers found that nearly 30% variation in early anxiety has been credited to family history.
Further, children with highly anxious temperaments are at a 50% risk of developing mental health disorders later in life.
Researchers have found three brain regions involved in anxiety that were heritable. These include:
It is, therefore, believed that the overactivity of the brain that causes anxiety is inherited from our parents.
Parents with anxiety disorders may have no control over the genes they transfer to their children.
However, since environmental and lifestyle factors play a role in anxiety, early intervention can help prevent anxiety in an individual.
Here are some effective ways to break the cycle of anxiety:
Learn to recognize anxiety in your child
As parents with anxiety, it is important to recognize signs of anxiety and nervousness in your child.
You must also teach your child to identify thoughts that scare them.
Apart from recognizing the fear, children must be taught how to deal with their scary or fearful thoughts.
Share your stories
To alleviate fear and anxiety in children, parents must create a safe and trusted environment.
An effective way to do so is to share your stories of vulnerability, anxiety, or depression. Your child may find comfort in knowing that you understand these feelings.
Create smooth communication channels
An essential pillar of support when a child is going through anxiety is knowing whom to speak to when they feel low or anxious.
Keeping communication channels open with your child and initiating conversations about how they are feeling or how their day went can help reduce their anxiety.
Build their confidence
As parents, fixing a problem for your child is an instinct. However, doing so steals from them an opportunity to use and practice their competence.
An excellent way to alleviate your child’s anxiety is to build their confidence by guiding them in problem-solving.
Genetic test
A genetic test can help understand the risk for anxiety and provide personalized recommendations to help prevent it.
Gene therapy is a medical approach that treats and prevents genetic and inherited conditions.
Using gene therapy, doctors can treat a condition by altering an individual’s genetic makeup with surgery or medications.
The earliest forms of gene therapy used gene transfer or gene addition, where a new gene or a non-faulty copy of a gene was introduced into the cell to fight disease.
The latest technology revolutionizing gene therapy is CRISPR-Cas9 or genome editing.
Several advanced molecular tools are used in gene-editing and are currently being studied to:
Today, gene therapies are used to treat a few diseases, including Leber congenital amaurosis, spinal muscular atrophy, and autism.
The use of gene therapies for several other conditions is underway.
The main focus of gene therapy is still treating conditions caused by mutations in a single gene.
However, since ASD is not associated with a single gene, using gene therapy to prevent and treat the condition or spectrum of disorders is challenging.
There are two types of ASD:
Caused by abnormal changes or mutations in a single gene and is considered a neurological condition like Fragile X syndrome.
Caused by unknown genetic or environmental factors.
Syndromic ASD is usually more severe, and since mutations of only one gene (monogenic) are responsible for this condition; gene therapy is most promising in these conditions.
Currently, gene therapies that permanently alter the genome are being developed for over 11 monogenic autism syndromes.
Gene therapies for autism depend upon the genetic cause and structural variants of the gene causing the condition.
Accurate diagnosis and precise prediction of the sequence in a mutation will enable the safe application of gene therapy in the future.
A gene called the UBE3A is considered a risk gene for autism.
The UBE3A gene is vital for learning.
When the nerve cells in the brain fire impulses, the activity of the UBE3A gene rises and switches off by itself.
It is this activity that enables us to learn.
When a region in the UBE3A gene is lost or in excess, the learning cycle is affected, resulting in learning difficulties characteristic of people with ASD.
Scientists Zylka and Yi demonstrated that the drug Rolipram suppresses the overactive UBE3A gene.
So, by screening individuals with increased UBE3A gene activity, targeted treatments can be given to alleviate ASD symptoms.
This way, genetic research, and testing can help treat diseases like ASD.
Genetic Testing For Autism: Use Your DNA Raw Data
https://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/can-genetics-find-cure-autism/
https://www.science.org/content/article/gene-therapy-ready-treat-some-forms-autism
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4000534/
Autism is a part of a spectrum of disorders and is a complex, life-long developmental condition that affects the brain.
Autism impacts how an individual perceives and socializes with others, often resulting in interaction and communication.
The signs and symptoms of autism usually show up in early infancy or childhood.
Each child with autism shows a unique pattern of symptoms and behavior.
The exact cause of autism is still unknown.
However, studies suggest that genetics and environmental factors can affect one’s risk of developing the condition.
Few risk factors associated with an increased likelihood of one developing autism are:
Studies have also suggested that autism is four times more common in males and females due to genetics.
The effect of genetics on autism has been known since the 1970s. Several studies on twins suggest that autism is inheritable.
Though genetics cannot be solely blamed for autism and ASD, it is a combination of environmental factors that activate the autism gene, resulting in the condition.
For example, environmental factors like exposure to the maternal immune response in the womb or complications at birth may cause autism or intensify its traits.
Abnormal changes in the genes or mutations are known to cause autism. These mutations may be passed directly from the parents or may develop in the individual.
There is no single gene or mutation responsible for autism.
Several genes have been studied concerning autism, including PTEN, ACTL6B, and others.
No single gene can be directly blamed for the development of autism.
In fact, over 100 genes have been studied so far to have strong links to autism and ASD.
Most of these genes are involved in communication between neurons and controlling the expression of other genes.
Several conditions associated with autism arise from mutations in a single gene, including the Fragile X syndrome.
A few autistic individuals show macrocephaly or a larger than normal head for their age.
Extreme macrocephaly in individuals with ASD has been associated with the PTEN or Phosphate and Tensin Homolog gene.
Individuals show overlapping symptoms with PTEN-Hamartoma Tumor Syndromes like polydactyly and pigmented macules on the penis.
The PTEN gene gives instructions for the production of an enzyme that acts as a tumor suppressor (it prevents abnormal and uncontrolled growth and multiplication observed in cancer)
So, autistic individuals with macrocephaly are recommended to undergo PTEN sequencing.
Studies have shown that around 10% to 20% of autistic individuals with macrocephaly show mutations in the PTEN gene.
This gene plays a role in regulating the structure of DNA.
CHD8 is the closest to being an “autism” gene.
It is active both in the brain and in the nerve cells of the gut and contributes to intellectual and gastrointestinal issues in autism.
Prenatal screening of congenital and hereditary conditions is common in most countries worldwide.
Since no single gene is associated with autism, genetic testing for autism and related disorders can be challenging.
However, a few standard genetic tests for syndromes associated with autism, such as the fragile X syndrome, detect if an unborn baby is likely to develop autism in the future.
A new study by Azrieli National Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Research researchers in February 2022 stated that a routine ultrasound might help identify the early signs of ASD.
Genetic Testing For Autism: Use Your DNA Raw Data
Have you ever entered a damp, musty room that has been closed for a while or has an earthy smell and instantly began sneezing?
It may be due to a mold allergy!
Mold is a type of tiny fungi found indoors and outdoors.
The most common places to find molds are on dead, decomposing plants, in damp areas indoors, in bathrooms, kitchens, basements, or attics.
Fungi release spores as a means of reproduction.
When mold releases its spores into the air, it can trigger an allergy in sensitive people or those prone to allergies.
Sometimes, disturbing a mold can release its spores into the air.
Since molds can be found practically anywhere and in most weather types, mold allergies can occur throughout the year.
Due to this, many people experience aggravated allergies during the rainy months or early spring.
Mold allergy is caused when one inhales airborne spores.
The spores enter the airways and trigger an immune reaction.
The body’s immune system cells produce certain chemicals to neutralize or kill these spores.
This results in allergic reactions.
Mold allergies are also more common in people who are allergic to other substances like dust, pollen, mites, and pet dander or have a family history of allergies.
Molds are of different types, and being allergic to one type does not mean you will be allergic to all molds or fungi.
People in some occupations are more likely to develop a mold allergy.
These include:
The symptoms of mold allergy are similar to those of other allergies.
You can experience symptoms of mold allergy indoors and outdoors.
Some common symptoms include:
Your allergy symptoms may appear immediately or may be delayed.
Like most other allergies, the duration in which mold allergy subsides depends upon your sensitivity to molds.
If you are not sensitive to mold, an allergy might not be long-lasting.
Moving away from a mold-ridden area can prevent aggravation of symptoms.
Medications prescribed by your doctor can also help alleviate symptoms.
Mold allergy can trigger an asthma attack.
Though a high concentration of fungal spores almost always causes asthma in susceptible individuals, studies are still underway to prove the same.
It is important to note that asthma is usually triggered or aggravated in people who have a history of asthma.
Genes can be a factor in susceptibility to mold toxicity leading to serious health challenges.
Those who carry specific changes in certain genes associated with immune responses are at increased risk for mold allergy.
Adenosine deaminase domain-containing protein 1 or ADAD1 gene is located on chromosome 4 and is associated with celiac disease, eczema, allergic rhinitis, and asthma.
rs17388568 is a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the ADAD1 gene.
People with the A allele of this SNP are at an increased risk of developing allergies to different substances like pollen, dust, cats, mite, etc.
Interleukin 2 or IL2 gene gives instructions to produce a protein that promotes the growth and proliferation of T and B lymphocytes.
rs2069772 is an SNP in the IL2 gene.
People with the C allele of this SNP have a greater risk of developing mold allergy than those with the normal T allele.
Integrin subunit beta 3 or ITGB3 gene gives instructions for producing integrins, a type of protein that regulates cell growth proliferation and signaling.
These proteins are also critical for processes related to inflammation and infection.
rs2056131 is an SNP in the ITGB3 gene.
According to a study, people with the A allele had a lesser risk of developing mold-induced allergy than those with the G allele.
Several factors can increase your risk of developing or aggravating mold allergy. These include:
Allergies can make one miserable.
However, sometimes mold allergies can be severe.
Some common complications that can occur if mold allergy is not treated in time include:
If you experience frequent bouts of allergic symptoms, consult your doctor.
Your doctor may refer you to an allergist or an immunologist who specializes in determining the cause of your allergy symptoms.
After reviewing your medical and symptomatic history, the allergist will recommend blood and skin prick tests.
These tests are routinely used to diagnose mold allergy.
A blood test for mold allergy includes an IgE test that verifies your allergic symptoms.
Skin prick tests are extremely accurate and give results in just a few minutes.
During this test, the allergist will use different types of mold or prick your skin to elicit a skin reaction.
They will determine a treatment plan for you based on the results of this test.
It may also be helpful to keep a diary of your symptoms and monitor what substances are triggering an allergic reaction.
If you suspect you are allergic to mold, the best way to prevent mold allergy is to prevent or reduce exposure.
Here are some ways to reduce your and your family’s exposure to mold:
After evaluating and diagnosing your mold allergy, your doctor will most likely recommend antihistamines and decongestants to help control your symptoms.
You will be advised to wear a mask to avoid the aggravation of your symptoms or if you need to go back to an area with a higher risk of mold exposure.
If you are expecting mold exposure during your work or profession, taking your allergy medication in advance may help.
If you have been to an indoor or outdoor area with greater exposure to mold, it may help to rinse your nose with saline solution.
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