Impertedge intergrated Health Services

Pregnancy and childbirth are a special time for most women, especially in Africa where traditionally, marriage is considered to be for having children. This culture is so strong that once a couple is married, relatives start observing the newly married wife for a bulging stomach and once they go past the 9 month mark, they start getting questions asking what the problem is if they see no sign of a pregnancy.

Today's discussion isn't about culture though. Rather, we'll be talking about pregnancy and Diabetes. You see, Diabetes doesn't usually start suddenly. It starts gradually over years and worsens as it progresses. By the time a person has symptoms that make them go to hospital, they've had the disease for some years already. Women have some sort of advantage here because when they get pregnant, there are 2 signs that show if the woman is at risk for Diaetes. The first is having babies weighing more than 4.5Kg while the second is finding sugar in their urine even though their blood sugar is normal.

If any of these two happens to you or any woman you know, it's best to start a healthy diet and lifestyle to prevent the condition from getting worse and developing into confirmed Diabetes. This is the reason some women have sugar in their urine during pregnancy which becomes normal after delivery. Pregnancy only revealed the risk.

Has this happened to you or anyone you know?

Best always

Dr Barbara Akinbuwa

Over time, arteries may become narrower naturally. However, there are factors that can speed up the process, including:

Smoking
High blood pressure
Obesity
High cholesterol levels
Diabetes
Excessive alcohol intake
Comorbidities
Haemorrhagic Strokes11

While less common than ischaemic strokes, a haemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain breaks and leaks in or around the brain.

true
Risk Factors

High blood pressure is the most common risk factor for haemorrhagic strokes, but is significantly under-treated.

The proportion of people with known high blood pressure who achieve adequate blood pressure control is well below half.12 By reducing your blood pressure, you can reduce your chances of having a stroke.

There are a number of causes of high blood pressure, including:

Being overweight or obese
Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol
Smoking
A lack of exercise
Stress, which may cause a temporary rise in blood pressure
Brain aneurysms (the rupture of a balloon-like expansion of a blood vessel) and the rupturing of abnormally formed blood vessels are also causes of haemorrhagic stroke.

Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke13

Atrial fibrillation (Afib), a type of irregular heartbeat, can also cause stroke - most often, ischaemic strokes.

true
Did you know…?

People with Afib are five times more likely to experience a stroke, and these strokes tend to be more severe than those caused by other risk factors.13
Afib is associated with more severe strokes, leading to higher mortality and more disability.8,9
The 2016 European Society of Cardiology Guidelines for Afib Management recommend that anyone over 65 years of age, or who is at high risk of stroke, is screened for Afib.14
The four chambers of the heart work together to pump around 2,000 gallons of blood around the body, beating about 100,000 times a day. The top chambers (known as the left and right atria) pull blood into the heart, and the bottom chambers (known as the left and right ventricles) push blood out to the body.15

When you have an Afib episode, the top chambers contract quickly and irregularly. Quick heartbeats are known as tachycardias, and irregular heartbeats are known as arrhythmias; both can be a symptom of Afib. These contractions prevent the atria and ventricles from working together the way they should, causing blood to pool within the atria.15

There are three types of Afib:16,17

Paroxysmal Afib:
These are short episodes that come and go and usually stop within 48 hours, but may last for up to seven days. Infrequent Afib is sometimes called paroxysmal Afib.
Persistent Afib:
These are persistent episodes that last for longer than seven days. Over time, infrequent episodes of Afib will probably turn into long-term episodes. In other words, Afib has a tendency to worsen with time.
Permanent Afib:
As Afib progresses and gets worse, it ceases to present episodically and becomes permanent. This means that the irregular heart beat is present all the time rather than coming and going. Most people with Afib have permanent Afib.

Understanding the causes of stroke is important. Everyone should have the opportunity to reduce their risk of stroke, and those who do have a stroke should have the opportunity to get treatment and receive the long-term support they need to regain as much independence as possible.

Transient Ischaemic Attack18

The causes for a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) are similar to those of other types of stroke. Therefore, understanding the causes of all types of stroke is important in helping ensure appropriate preventative methods are considered.

Learn more about the signs and symptoms of stroke here.
Learn More
About Stroke
What is a stroke?
What causes stroke?
Signs and Symptoms
Understanding Your Stroke Risk
Show more links
“Start thinking wellness, not illness”
Dr Kate Allatt DLitt, , Stroke Survivor
References
Privacy
Terms
THE POLISH STROKE FOUNDATION
© Copyright 2017 Sign Against Stroke
Sign the Charter

15 MILLION PEOPLE DIE EVERY YEAR DUE TO PARASITES! 97% OF PEOPLE ARE INFECTED ! MAIN AMERICAN PARASITOLOGIST TELLS HOW TO ESCAPE THESE "MURDERERS" 20000NGN ! - TELLS THE MAIN PARASITOLOGIST OF THE COUNTRY!

Cameron Miller Jr.
Associate Professor, Ph.D. - Head of the Research Institute of Medical Parasitology and Tropical Medicine. More than 60 scientific papers on molecular parasitology.
Work experience - 21 years

According to the latest HHS (The United States Department of Health and Human Services) data, it is the parasites in the human body that cause the majority of fatal diseases. Starting from hepatitis and stomach ulcers, ending with cancer tumors. Every year, 15 million people die because of parasites, and the scale of infection is such that parasites live inside almost every person

Today, we will talk about this with the head of the US Institute of Parasitology Cameron Miller Jr.

— Cameron Miller Jr., good day! How true is HHS data on parasitic infection?

— A couple of years ago, the medical community believed that parasites weaken human immunity to the minimum level, but nobody thought thety are the key cause of the majority of diseases. Now, with the accumulation of statistics and research that started in this direction, it becomes clear that it is the infection with parasites that leads to fatal results in almost all serious diseases humans have.

I personally trust HHS statistics and I can say that it is confirmed by the research of our institute. About 92% of human deaths are caused by infestation by parasites. And this is not only deaths from diseases. The vast majority of so-called "natural deaths" are the consequences of the parasite activity inside people's bodies.

— People usually mean banal helminths or worms when talking about parasites. How can they lead to the death of a person?

— In fact, it is a big mistake to believe that the parasites of a person are exclusively helminths or worms. There is a huge number of different parasites living in different organs. And leading to a variety of consequences. Yes, and to be precise, worms are very dangerous. They literally destroy the intestines, causing it to rot and, ultimately, to die. By the way, even helminths are quite difficult to detect and destroy.

Moreover, there are thousands of parasites that can live in your liver, brain, lungs, blood, stomach. And almost all of them are deadly. Some of them immediately begin to act aggressively and destroy the body. Others live quietly in your body, until their number becomes so big that the organism can no longer withstand them and the person dies.

At the same time, I can confidently say that almost everything is infected with parasites. Besides, most of them are extremely difficult to detect. And when the effects of parasite infection appear, doctors try to treat the person. This can be followed by surgeries and special tests to detect parasites in the body.

There are thousands of parasites that can live in your liver, brain, lungs, blood, stomach. And almost all of them are deadly.

— Can you give any specific examples of infections with parasites?

— I can tell you hundreds of cases. But, perhaps, I will focus on those that will most clearly demonstrate the danger of parasites.

First, as it turned out, some tapeworms can cause cancer. Moreover, it is not the man himself who is formally infected, but the worms. But their malignant cells spread throughout the body, infecting the human organism. This happens when the larvae of the worm enter the human lymph nodes from the intestines. As a result, they turn into cancerous tumors, rapidly infecting a person. Death comes literally in a matter of months. Just that week, such case of human death from such tumors was recorded.

In the center of this photo: a malignant tumor cell transmitted to a person from a parasite worm

Another common case is infection by the parasites of the human brain. This leads to neurosis, fatigue, excessive excitability and drastic mood swings. And at a later stage, as the brain is filled with parasites, more serious diseases develop, which ultimately lead to death.We are conducting a photographic archive of the autopsies, where parasites were found in the organs. Here are a few photos, but I warn you, they are terrible.

The third example is the parasitic infection of the human heart. It is believed that this is a very common disease. But in fact, heartworms are present in about 23% of people in some quantity. That is, in fact, every fourth. At an early stage, they are completely invisible, their effect on the body is reduced to zero. But the longer time passes, the stronger the activity of worms in the human heart. They become the primary cause of many heart diseases, and if we talk about sudden death due to cardiac arrest, then the share of these parasites accounts for almost 100% of such cases.

— What is more dangerous infection with parasites?

In men, parasites cause: prostatitis, impotence, adenoma, cystitis, sand, stones in the kidneys and bladder. In women: pain and inflammation of the ovaries. Fibroma, fibroids, fibrocystic mastopathy, inflammation of the adrenal glands, bladder and kidneys develop. And, of course, premature aging of the skin occurs, wrinkles, bags under the eyes, warts and papillomas appear on the face and body

— How to protect yourself from parasites? Are there any tests, medications?

— Unfortunately, it can be stated that today there are no really accurate tools for diagnosing parasites inside a person. In part, this is due to the presence of a huge number of species of parasites (more than 2000 species, of which we are aware), and in part, with an extremely high level of difficulty in detecting them. The procedure for a complete analysis of parasites in Nigeria is available in literally several places and costs a fortune.

The first symptoms, according to which it can be said that parasites live in your body, are:

Unpleasant smell from the mouth;
Allergy (rash, watery eyes, runny nose);
Rash and redness on the skin;
Frequent colds, sore throat, nasal congestion;
Chronic fatigue (you get tired quickly, whatever you do);
Frequent headaches;
Constipation or diarrhea;
Pain in the joints and muscles;
Nervousness, disturbed sleep and appetite;
Dark circles, bags under the eyes.
If there is at least one of the symptoms - with a probability of 99% it can be said that you have parasites in your body. And they need to urgently fight!

If we talk about drugs, then everything is problematic. To date, there is only one single development that allows you to get rid of parasites.

— What kind of development is this and by whom is it created - can you tell us more?

ULTRA SLIM PREMIUM DETOX, which was created with the participation of our Institute of Parasitology and a group of independent young scientists. In parallel, we were engaged in work on two dozen parasite funds. But in the process of development it was revealed that it is “ULTRA SLIM PREMIUM DETOX” that effectively eliminates parasites from the body.

ULTRA SLIM PREMIUM DETOX is a unique dietary supplement with a natural formula of silicon dioxide and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). Today, it really is the only effective formula.In the West, people are ready to buy ULTRA SLIM PREMIUM DETOX at almost any price.

Moreover, the selling ULTRA SLIM PREMIUM DETOX in the West is ten times more expensive than selling it in Nigeria as the fabric is located in Europe, Ukraine and it's much cheaper to ship it to Nigeria than to USA.

— Why is ULTRA SLIM PREMIUM DETOX so good? Is it any different from other options for cleaning the body from parasites?

— As I said, today it is the only working tool for cleaning the body from parasites. That is why it is being chased by international pharmacy chains and pharmaceutical companies. Compared with other antiparasitic drugs, this tool works immediately against the entire spectrum of parasites that people can be infected with. I have already said above that it is almost impossible to understand what kind of parasites a person is infected with. And ULTRA SLIM PREMIUM DETOX destroys and sweeps out parasites from anywhere in the body - from the colon and the intestines to the liver and intestines. None of the existing drugs are capable of this anymore.

In addition, it is not a chemical medicine, but a completely natural product that excludes an allergic reaction, an imbalance of the intestines and other problems arising from the treatment with classic tablets, which in addition to the result also burden the body, causing it to process a lot of various chemical compounds.These are the official results of the study of the drug ULTRA SLIM PREMIUM DETOX at Emeri Institutу

MNT home
What causes an absence of menstruation?
Last reviewed Mon 3 Sep 2018 By Lana Burgess Reviewed by Holly Ernst, PA-C
Table of contents
Amenorrhea means an absence of menstruation. The term also applies to people who have not started their period by the age of 16, which is called primary amenorrhea. Secondary amenorrhea occurs in people who have missed 3 months of periods.
This article explores possible reasons for an absence of menstruation. It also covers when to see a doctor and the treatment options.

What is amenorrhea?
Concerned woman at her desk due to absence of menstruation
Amenorrhea is an absence of menstrual bleeding.
A period, or menstrual bleeding, is the womb lining exiting the body. Amenorrhea is the absence of menstrual bleeding.

During the menstrual cycle, hormones cause an o***y to produce and release an egg. The o***y also releases the hormones estrogen and progesterone.

Estrogen primarily causes the womb lining to thicken, while progesterone prepares the womb for the implantation of an egg.

If no s***m fertilizes the egg, pregnancy does not occur, and the egg dissolves. The levels of estrogen and progesterone decline, and the womb lining falls away. It leaves the body through the va**na, giving the person a period.

If a female reaches the age of 16 without any periods, this is called primary amenorrhea.

Sometimes a person will have no menstrual bleeding for more than three cycles despite having had regular periods until then. If there is no natural cause for this, such as pregnancy, they have secondary amenorrhea. Secondary amenorrhea occurs in approximately 3–5 percent of adult women.


Causes
Natural causes of amenorrhea include pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause. In these cases, there is no need to see a doctor.

When a person has regular menstrual bleeding, this means that the ovaries, uterus, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland are working well.

The absence of menstruation can indicate a problem with one of these parts of the body, or there may be an abnormality of the ge***al tract. Lifestyle factors, an underlying health condition, and some medications can also cause amenorrhea.

Possible causes of an absence of menstruation include:

1. Birth control

Some birth control pills may cause missed periods or the complete absence of menstruation.

This can occur in the first few months of taking a new pill or if a person does not take any placebo pills or have a pill-free week each month.

Some of the other birth control methods, such as the hormonal intrauterine device (IUD), implant, and injection can also result in amenorrhea.

2. Nutritional deficiencies

Malnutrition may affect how the hypothalamus and pituitary gland function, which can lead to amenorrhea.

3. Low body weight

Having a low body weight can also prevent the hypothalamus and pituitary gland from functioning correctly. This can lead to a type of amenorrhea known as functional hypothalamic amenorrhea.

powered by Rubicon Project

4. Stress

Stress can affect hormone levels in the body, and it is another cause of functional hypothalamic amenorrhea. People with this type of amenorrhea also have higher rates of depression and anxiety.

5. Excessive exercise

Excessive exercise is the third cause of functional hypothalamic amenorrhea. Some research estimates that half of the women who exercise regularly experience minor menstrual disorders.

6. Eating disorders

Having an eating disorder, such as anorexia or bulimia, may cause a person's periods to stop. This absence of menstruation is usually due to a nutritional deficiency or very low body weight.

7. Excessive weight gain

Rapidly gaining weight can cause a hormonal imbalance, which can lead to temporary amenorrhea.

8. Mental health medications

Some antidepressants and mood stabilizers may affect how the hypothalamus and pituitary gland work. If they are not producing the right levels of hormones, a person's periods may stop.

9. Polycystic o***y syndrome

Polycystic o***y syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder that affects 6–8 percent of women worldwide.


PCOS causes a range of symptoms including:

irregular periods
excessive hair growth
difficulty getting pregnant
weight gain
acne
PCOS may also lead to hyperandrogenemia, which is when a female has high levels of male hormones. A 2017 study of 266 women with PCOS found that over 78 percent of them had hyperandrogenemia.

Hyperandrogenemia may affect menstrual cycles and lead to amenorrhea.

What is polycystic o***y syndrome?
What is polycystic o***y syndrome?
Learn more about PCOS, a condition that affects hormone levels and how the ovaries work.
READ NOW
10. Premature ovarian failure

Premature ovarian failure is when the ovaries stop working correctly before the age of 40.

This condition may lead to missed periods. However, it is not the same as early menopause, which is when menstruation stops completely.

11. Turner syndrome

Turner syndrome is a genetic disorder. People with this condition may have underdeveloped ovaries and an absence of menstruation.

12. Ge***al tract defects

Ge***al tract defects are structural problems that can cause an absence of menstruation or make it difficult for the menstrual blood to exit the va**na.

The most common female ge***al tract defect is an imperforate h***n, which is a h***n with no opening that closes off the va**na and does not allow blood to leave it during a period.


13. Pituitary gland problems

The pituitary gland releases the hormones that control the menstrual cycle. Issues with the pituitary gland, including those below, may lead to amenorrhea:

a pituitary gland tumor
postpartum necrosis, which is the premature death of cells in the pituitary gland after pregnancy
sarcoidosis, which is an inflammatory condition
Radiation therapy may also affect cells in the pituitary gland and cause amenorrhea.

When to see a doctor
People who miss three periods in a row but are not pregnant or likely to be entering menopause should see a doctor. This is especially important if they are experiencing additional symptoms.

People who have not started menstruating by the age of 16 should also speak to a doctor.

Treatment
yoga mat being rolled out
Yoga, mindfulness, and meditation can help to manage stress.
A doctor will recommend the best course of treatment for amenorrhea after diagnosing its underlying cause.

Primary amenorrhea is often due to late puberty, which usually resolves over time. However, a doctor can help determine if there is another underlying cause for periods not beginning. If a hormonal imbalance is responsible, the doctor may prescribe hormonal therapy.

The causes of functional hypothalamic amenorrhea may require lifestyle changes:

Low body weight: A doctor may refer an underweight person to a nutritionist who can help them adjust their diet to reach a healthy weight.
Stress: Finding ways to manage stress, such as yoga, mindfulness, meditation, or seeing a therapist, may be beneficial.
Excessive exercise: The doctor may recommend a moderate exercise regime.
If a person has amenorrhea due to rapid weight gain, the doctor is likely to recommend a calorie-controlled diet and exercise.

In cases where amenorrhea develops due to a structural problem, surgery and an individualized treatment plan may be necessary.

Outlook
Most causes of absence of menstruation are treatable. Following the treatment plan that a doctor recommends can help many people with amenorrhea regain a regular menstrual cycle.

RELATED COVERAGE

What are menstruation, periods, and PMS?
READ MORE

The differences between spotting and periods
READ MORE

What is amenorrhea?
READ MORE

Why do I have two periods in a month?
READ MORE

How does perimenopause affect periods?
READ MORE
email
WOMEN'S HEALTH / GYNECOLOGY
BIRTH CONTROL / CONTRACEPTION
FERTILITY
PREGNANCY / OBSTETRICS
Additional information

To all of us fasting, a kidney specialist has appealed to everyone not to drink cold drinks of any sort at fast breaking time . Because long day of fasting causes dehydration of the kidneys. Having cold and fizzy drinks suddenly causes the kidneys to fail. So, don't drink any cold drinks at fast breaking time. Instead, drink fresh warm water not directly from the fridge.

Please forward to your family, friends and loved ones. Pass it on.

Breast CancerCan diabetes influence cancer's spread?
People with cancer may have a higher risk of tumors spreading to other sites in the body if they also have diabetes. New research explains why.Cancer treatments: Patients need to know heart risks
Specialists warn that many people undergoing cancer treatment receive neither appropriate information about heart risks nor sufficient monitoring for them.

Ear, Nose and ThroatThrough my eyes: My first 48 hours with hearing aids
I'm not even 30 years old, and I need hearing aids. The discovery was a shock, but just 48 hours in and an exciting new world of sound is unfolding.

GeneticsUsing small molecules to regenerate heart tissue
New research in mice uses gene-regulating molecules called microRNAs to repair heart tissue after an adverse cardiovascular event such as a heart attack.

Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / VirusesIs it safe to mix Flagyl and alcohol?
Doctors advise people to avoid drinking alcohol when taking the antibiotic Flagyl. This is because serious drug interactions and side effects can occur. Learn more here.

Medical Devices / DiagnosticsWhat to know about hair follicle drug tests
Hair follicle drug tests involving taking a small hair sample to determine whether a person has been using illicit drugs or misusing prescription medications within the past 3 months. Learn more about how these tests work here.Study finds that many people diagnosed with MS do not have the condition
A new study suggests that almost 20 percent of people who receive a diagnosis for multiple sclerosis do not have the chronic disease

DiabetesHow is the pancreas involved in diabetes?
The pancreas plays a strong role in diabetes because it produces insulin and helps regulate blood sugar levels. In this article, we look into the links between diabetes and the pancreas.

HAPPY CELEBRATION

this episode, Dr. Libby Weaver, one of Australasia's leading nutritional biochemists, author, and speaker, explains exactly what stress is doing to your body emotionally and physically AND she tells you how you can break through that burden of stress to start living.



In Episode 6 of the Food Matters Podcast, you'll discover:

The damaging impact that stress and high cortisol levels can have on your body and your hormones.


Tools, techniques, and strategies to help counteract stressors in your life.


Why your need to rush may only be a perception, not a reality.


How your sympathetic nervous system can wreak havoc on your weight, sleep quality, self-esteem and overall quality of life.



Click here to start listening to Episode 6 now > >

Maintaining good health is important to stay on top of your game. Learn how Mayo Clinic Executive Health can help you protect your most important asset. 507-252-2750

Mayo Clinic is honored to be a founding sponsor of Host Committee. https://t.co/lWVqM2J9KY https://t.co/tIeoOgPRT1

Executive Health Program - Department home Learn more about services at Mayo Clinic.

DISCOVER HOW THOUSANDS IN NIGERIA HAVE COMPLETELY AND SAFELY REVERSED TYPE 2 DIABETES.

Welcome to HealthPortal. This is our arm of DIABETES REVERSAL PROGRAM that deals with diabetic patients.

For several years, we have been there for our Clients and many other Diabetic Nigerians who have undoubtedly benefited from our Diabetes Reversal Program.

Our Diabetes Reversal Program will help lower your blood sugar levels, eliminate sugar cravings, gain energy, and lose weight. Our goal is to get your blood sugar numbers back to normal range as safely and quickly as possible.

Our natural formula includes the use herb supplements, a delicious low-carb meal plan, exercise routine plan, weight control plan and stress management. The supplements offer an effective complementary or alternative approach to diabetes medications.

Diabetes is a serious disease. But, it is not too late to work on reversing it.

We know that many with type 2 diabetes desperately want to prevent the medical complications. That is why we are ready to help you reverse your diabetes naturally without medications because we know that the continuous use of diabetes drugs is harmful to your body. Also, be rest assured that we will help you eliminate diabetes symptoms within the first 10 days of the therapy.

Our natural formula option address the root cause of diabetes unlike conventional drugs. Diabetes is not a blood sugar disease. So, drugs that focus on the symptom of elevated blood sugar, rather than addressing the underlying cause, are doomed to fail in most cases because type 2 diabetes is a disease caused by insulin resistance and faulty leptin signaling (leptin is a hormone produced in your fat cells), both of which are regulated through your diet.

This is the reason why treating your blood sugar with drugs will never heal your diabetes; because you aren't treating the root cause of diabetes, rather you are only treating its symptoms.

If we treat the symptoms of a condition, rather than the causes of the condition, we can be stuck treating them forever. Wouldn’t it be wiser to treat the causes of diabetes rather than the symptoms? The groundbreaking treatment you will receive during therapy targets the causes of diabetes, which is why people see results so quickly and get off their medications.

Or another example. Let's say you broke your leg. What are the symptoms? Bleeding and lots of pain. If you take pain killers and wrap your leg in a bandage to stop the bleeding, have you fixed your broken leg? No, you simply treated the symptoms. You still have a problem - the broken leg.

So how does this compare to diabetes? Exactly the same. What are the symptoms of diabetes? High blood sugar and insulin resistance. What do doctors prescribe? Pills to lower blood sugar and insulin to help with insulin resistance. Have you actually done anything to treat diabetes itself? No. You have simply treated its SYMPTOMS. So again, you are still sick, you still have a problem, but now you feel a little better.

When you get sick, your body shows symptoms. Shouldn't you treat the underlying disease and not the symptoms?

Imagine a car. Something is wrong in the engine. A red warning light turns on - a symptom of a faulty engine. What would you do? Treat the red warning light or the actual engine?

Drugs only treats the red warning light. This is exactly what you do every single day by taking diabetes drugs - you aren't treating diabetes, you are treating the red warning lights - high blood sugar and insulin resistance.

Drugs manages your diabetes for the rest of your life, but taking this bold steps to address the causes of diabetes will completely reverse the disease. Our natural formula have totally reversed thousands of type 2 diabetes, yet you are still taking very dangerous drugs.

That’s why we want you to benefit from the same systems that work so well for many of our clients with diabetes

Please don't let anyone tell you that type 2 diabetes has no cure, as this is not true. Type 2 diabetes is not terminal; you don't have to live with it forever! Nearly 100 percent of type 2 diabetics can be successfully reversed.

Training the brain to boost self-confidence
Written by Honor Whiteman
Published: Today
email
4.5
133Share
Eating well, exercising, and being socially active are some factors that can help raise self-esteem. For some people, however, the road to confidence is much more challenging. Now, researchers suggest it may be possible to train the brain to boost confidence.
[Illustration of brain connections]
Researchers suggest that it may be possible to manipulate brain activity in order to boost self-confidence.

In a new study, scientists have identified brain activity patterns that can predict a person's confidence state. What is more, they have discovered that this brain activity can be manipulated to increase self-confidence.

Study leader Dr. Aurelio Cortese, of the Advanced Telecommunications Research (ATR) Institute International in Kyoto, Japan, and colleagues recently published their findings in the journal Nature Communications.

Self-confidence is generally defined as the belief in one's own abilities. As the University of Queensland in Australia put it, self-confidence describes "an internal state made up of what we think and feel about ourselves."

Low self-confidence can lead to shyness, social anxiety, a lack of assertiveness, and communication problems. These can have negative implications for many aspects of life, including relationships and career progression.

Studies have shown that low self-confidence can also increase the risk of mental health problems, such as depression and bipolar disorder.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to boosting self-confidence. Some people find making personal changes - such as adopting a healthy diet or joining a social club - can improve self-confidence, while others may benefit from mindfulness or counseling.

In the new study, Dr. Cortese and colleagues suggest it may be possible to alter brain activity as a means of boosting self-confidence.
Identifying and manipulating brain patterns to boost confidence

The researchers came to their findings through the use of a novel imaging technique known as "decoded neurofeedback." This involves brain scans to monitor complex brain activity patterns.

The team tested this imaging method on 17 study participants as they performed a simple perceptual exercise. As a result, the researchers identified specific brain activity that was associated with low and high confidence.

"How is confidence represented in the brain? Although this is a very complex question, we used approaches drawn from artificial intelligence to find specific patterns in the brain that could reliably tell us when a participant was in a high or low confidence state," explains study co-author Dr. Mitsuo Kawato, director of the Computational Neuroscience Laboratories at ATR.

Next, the researchers wanted to see whether they could use this information to induce high confidence states among the study participants.

All subjects took part in training sessions, in which they received a small monetary reward whenever high confidence states were detected through decoded neurofeedback.

Through these training sessions, the researchers found that they were able to unconsciously boost participants' self-confidence. In other words, the subjects were unaware that their brains were being manipulated to make them more confident