People
who make their work colleagues miserable by constantly moaning may actually
be suffering from a mental illness, a new German study suggests.
According to research from the University of Berlin, workers who whinge about their jobs or their bosses and spread vicious office gossip while doing little work are suffering from a new condition called ‘Post-traumatic Embitterment Disorder’.
They found that people who are passed over for promotion, who are openly humiliated by their bosses, or who feel that their true worth is not recognised are most likely to develop the condition.
Those affected often feel down-hearted, helpless and even aggressive. They are more likely to take unnecessary time off work, the Berlin study found, leading to underperformance at work, depression at home and feelings of being trapped in a vicious cycle of despair. In the most serious cases, people can suffer nightmares and phobias relating to work, severe depression and even violence and suicidal thoughts.
However, the researchers found that those affected can sometimes raise a smile, especially when plotting revenge.
Professor Michael Linden said that a better work/life balance is the key to overcoming the illness. Devoting more time to other areas of life, such as hobbies and social activities, can help.
Overbearing and over-critical bosses may help trigger the condition, the study found.
New research from the US has found that regular exercise and vitamin E intake can help prevent some HIV-related metabolic disorders.
Scientists from the Beth Israel Medical Centre in Boston studied 120 patients with HIV and found that those who took regular aerobic exercise suffered much less from metabolic abnormalities, such as lipodystrophy, lipoatrophy and insulin resistance, which are common among people on long-term antiretroviral therapy.
The research found that people who took high levels of vitamin E, either in their regular diets or as supplements, also had much lower blood pressure.
“Diastolic blood pressure was significantly and inversely associated with supplemental or total but not habitual dietary intake of vitamin E,” the study added.
The breakdown of body fats, often accompanied by high blood fat levels, and in some cases by a redistribution of fat, is common among people on HIV treatments in the longer term. Various theories are still being debated as to the cause of the syndrome, with some blaming the HIV drugs and other the virus itself (see here).
Meanwhile, most HIV specialists now believe that regular exercise not only helps with fat loss and high blood fat levels and also can help with severe weight loss, particularly in the arms, legs and buttocks, which often accompanies the syndrome.
The US study is published in the June edition of the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Cabbage leaves - a natural cure
Biggest food ad campaigns ‘are for the worst food’“The kinds of foods that attract the biggest advertising budgets are the fattiest, and sugariest, and saltiest,” Kath Dalmeny of the Food Commission said last month, suggesting the EU should ban adverts for energy-dense, low-nutrient food. A leading US consumer group, the Centre for Science in the Public Interest, says that the food industry goes to enormous lengths to confuse messages on healthy eating. “Food is big business, $1.3 trillion in revenue yearly,” said Dr Marion Nestle of New York University, “and the food industry will do everything to make sure no regulatory agency and no nutritionist ever suggests eating less.” Test your green matterDid you know that 297 additives are allowed for use in conventionally produced
food compared to only 27 permitted in organic food? To find out more about
the UK’s organic development try the quiz at the Organic Week website:
www.organicweek.org Tea boosts the body’s defences
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Edited by Rose de Freitas
Are drugs the only solution to the pain of neuropathy in your feet? David Smith explains the benefits of reflexology to ease this common HIV-drug-related complaint
Ask any patient on a long-term course of didanosine (Videx), stavudine (Zerit) or zalcitabine (Hivid) about the side effects of their medication, and you will probably hear about peripheral neuropathy. It happens when the nerve endings degenerate as a result of the medication, mainly in the feet.
The numbness; the pins-and-needles sensations; the sharp stabbing pain at any time of the day or night; the wildly fluctuating temperature changes - all of these can develop with surprising speed, and the symptoms do not necessarily resolve themselves when your HIV medication is discontinued or replaced.
There is no known treatment for the condition itself, but most physicians attempt to treat the symptoms of neuropathy with a course of anticonvulsants or even antidepressants. However, these have side effects like sleepiness.
Many physicians however, especially neurologists, are now beginning to accept that patients can find relief with the help of a qualified reflexologist.
Reflexology is an ancient form of medicine of unknown origin, with its roots in traditional beliefs (Chinese, Egyptian and Indian) of holistic treatment. Through the stimulation of ‘reflex areas’ or ‘zones’ located in the feet, which represent the organs and systems of the body, the pain is eased and a balance (or ‘homeostasis’ as it is called by practitioners) can be achieved. The immuno-response function is also activated. Mostly, the feet are treated, although the hands and ears can also be included.
The reflexologist typically uses his or her hands in a combination of manipulations of the feet to relax the patient, as well as pressing on the feet with varying degrees of pressure, depending upon the conditions being treated as well as the patient’s tolerance. The relaxation techniques loosen the joints, bring circulation to the feet and ankle and calm the patient. Twisting and kneading movements are common. The pressing techniques stimulate the reflex areas that refer to the organs and systems of the body. Creams, lotions and oils are sometimes used. A session lasts anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour.
It is important to note that the experience is not at all similar to a foot massage. Reflexologists actively seek out areas that are sensitive and painful, and often the patients will have some discomfort during the treatment. The discomfort should not last beyond the treatment, however, and typically the patient enjoys a very pleasant tingling and energized sensation afterwards.
Most patients claim a significant reduction in pain, as well as heightened sensations to temperature and touch. These benefits begin almost immediately after the start of treatment, which usually lasts for a period of six to eight weeks if the symptom-causing medications have been stopped or replaced.
One reason why reflexology seems to be effective in relieving neuropathy may involve a more general understanding of bodywork and its effects on the nervous system. If the body responds to the passive manipulations and systematic stimulation of the nerve endings on the tops and soles of the feet by regenerating damaged nerve endings, the end result could be the reversal of the effects of peripheral neuropathy. I can personally attest to the relief that was reported by my patients in practically all cases.
Thankfully, finding a qualified reflexologist is relatively easy. Contact either the Association of Reflexologists at: www.aor.org.uk or the British Reflexology Association at: www.britreflex.co.uk for a referral to a qualified reflexologist in your area.
NB: Most massage therapists, although well-intentioned, are not qualified to practise reflexology if they are not reflexology board-certified.
Be sure to ask your reflexologist about their experience with peripheral neuropathy, HIV/Aids, and the medications that cause the condition as well as those prescribed to treat their side effects. Your local HIV/Aids health centre might be able to assist you.
Talk to your doctor about your treatment alternatives, and ask about complementary therapies like reflexology and acupuncture.
HIV Centres that offer reflexologyIn London:
Outside of London:
Other helpful suggestions: take vitamin B12, make regular visits to your chiropodist and eat more oily fish. Also see Q&A. |
Freshly-washed cabbage leaves are known in European folklore as the poor man’s
poultice. The British Medical Journal (BMJ) last month highlighted the beneficial
anti-inflammatory effect of this ancient remedy to reduce painful swellings
such as sore knees and even painful nipples among breastfeeding women. The
BMJ suggests that using a cool cabbage leaf on a wound, bite or sprain is both
cheaper and better than expensive creams or sprays.
Research from Harvard Medical School has found that a chemical in tea can
boost the body’s defences fivefold against disease. The active substance
in tea is called L-theanine, which is broken down in the liver to ethylamine;
this molecule prompts the response to produce interferon, which in turn acts
as a key part of the body’s defences against infection.
David Smith is an ARCB board-certified reflexologist working in Palm Springs,
California and is a member of the International Council of Reflexologists.
He can be reached via email at