Health Memo Roundup: Attack Of The ‘Superbugs’

Here are some highlights from the world of health and wellness you may have missed this week:

• Sleep disorders are prolific, detrimental, and treatable. Snoring, sleep apnea, insomnia, and restless leg syndrome are among the afflictions that can get in the way of a good night’s rest, causing moodiness, irritability, and memory problems. Luckily, these can usually be treated with exercise, proper dieting, and other measures.

• The common cold and the flu are both viruses that can put you out of commission for a while, but while the former is relatively mild, influenza can turn aggressive and deadly pretty quickly. Especially for patients who are at greater risk for respiratory illness, it’s important to be able to identify which virus is which, and also to be aware of how to not only treat these infections — but prevent them as well.

• The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (aka “superbugs”) is one of the major potential health crises of the moment. These tough bugs have evolved to survive all the treatments that we currently have developed to combat bacteria, and after a recent outbreak in a Los Angeles hospital, other medical centers are stepping up. Learn how hospitals are changing their practices to curb the transmission of these difficult-to-kill pathogens.

• Tune in to this: There is compelling new evidence that using psychedelics, like LSD and magic mushrooms, does not harm your mental health. A recent study found no link between use of these drugs and the development of anxiety and depression later in life. If anything, the study found that those who experimented with psychedelics may be at a lower risk for mental health problems. Far out.

Image: BASF via Flickr