Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Cortisol Also Associated with Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder affects 1 to 2% of the population. Patients alternate between depressive and manic episodes. Many patients can control or reduce their symptoms with drugs, but for a lot of patients, life can be hellish for them and their families. A member of my family has it.

According to this article, "oversecretion of cortisol" is one possible cause of bipolar disorder.

I wonder if the high levels of cortisol produced by muscular trigger points could be causing some cases of bipolar disorder. Stress has been associated with the development of bipolar disorder. In fact, many people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder become bipolar too.

The more I look into the effects of cortisol, the more I am convinced that raising awareness about trigger points is one of the most overlooked opportunities in medicine.

If we get serious about diagnosis and treatment, older people could stay fit and mobile for many more years. That alone would save tens of billions of health care dollars. Never mind the reductions in diabetes, hypertension and mental illness.

Its crazy that we aren't throwing billions at this problem.

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