Health briefs

Feb 20, 2012, 3:06 GMT

Exaggerated anxieties can lead to serious disorder

Berlin (dpa) - Have I really turned the iron off? This is the kind of question that comes up repeatedly, even when you know very well that the iron has been turned off. Fears of this kind can mutate into obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Some people are so frightened of catching a virus, for example, that they draw back from shaking hands and are constantly washing their hands - a classic case of OCD.

This kind of behaviour urgently needs professional attention, says Frank Bergmann of the German association of neurologists. Early therapy can prevent the onset of a range of symptoms, like constant shaking, sweating and palpitations.

OCD can reveal itself in many ways. Persistent sexual obsession may also be an indication. Sufferers are constantly thinking about how to carry out certain acts in precisely the right way, Bergmann says. Many of those affected tend to hide their disorder for fear or shame, with the result that they often become depressed, because they fully realize how absurd their behaviour is.

As a result, anti-depressive medication can be particularly effective in combination with behavioural therapy in treating the condition, which affects up to 2 per cent of the population.

Pregnant women should stay away from raw animal products

Berlin (dpa) - Hormonal changes during pregnancy weaken the immune system, making pregnant women more susceptible to infection that could harm the unborn child. Toxoplasmosis and listeria, usually transmitted through food, are of particular concern to pregnant women. For this reason, they should avoid raw animal products, in particular dairy products made from unpasteurized milk, raw meat and raw fish.

Klaus Vetter, a German professor of gynaecology, says that salami and other prepared meat products are raw and can contain the relevant pathogens. These include various kinds of ham and cured meats, which can contain pathogens despite the high salt content. However, pregnant women who have eaten these products have little grounds for alarm, according to Vetter. 'In Germany, there are 50 reported cases a year out of a total of 670,000 births.'

Cancer risk makes sun beds ill-suited to counter Vitamin D deficiency

Berlin (dpa) - A visit to the solarium to top up that fading summer tan is ill-suited to boost the body's production of essential Vitamin D, as the ultraviolet rays are so strong that the risk of skin cancer is increased.

The German dermatologists association says the radiation is roughly as intense as the sun's rays on the equator. The association recommends instead going outside into the sun for 15 to 20 minutes a day and to expose the face, arms and legs to natural sunlight. This is sufficient for the body to metabolize the precursors to Vitamin D formation in the skin and thus ensure an adequate supply.

The association acknowledges that it can be difficult to get the required quantity of sunlight during the winter months in northern climates, but the body is able to make use of stocks stored up in the summer months, according to spokesman Eckhard Breitbart.

In the case of the elderly, vitamin synthesis by the body can decline, and the same happens with people who are ill or frail. Breitbart advises consulting a doctor who will be able to prescribe a supplement if required.