Q: I am 39 years old and have been having panic attacks since my early 20s. Because I breathe too fast during an attack, my doctor suggested that I breathe into a paper bag to regain control. This does help. The problem is that it is embarrassing to do this in front of people, or in a public place. All I can do then is rush outside or to a washroom, which makes people wonder what is wrong with me. Do you have any better suggestions?
A: I agree that bringing out the lunch bag and breathing into it could look a bit strange. It works by making you breathe in your own exhaled air, which is higher in carbon dioxide and lower in oxygen. During a panic attack when you breathe too fast, you wash too much carbon dioxide out of the bloodstream. When this happens, the normal trigger mechanism in the brain does not work properly to make you take another breath, and so you feel as though you cannot get your breath even though you are panting.
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Another way to achieve the same effect is to try to take a deep breath and hold it as long as possible. This is hard to do when you are panicking, so try counting to 10, which will distract you a little. You may not get as far as 10 before you feel forced to take another breath, but even five is good. Repeat the process until your breathing is under control. You can do this quite surreptitiously in public so no one will notice.
Usually this method will calm people down in a minute or two. Without any intervention, panic attacks can last 20 minutes or more, which can make a person who is not used to them think they are dying or having a heart attack. Because of the pounding heart, some people end up in emergency departments where they are reassured that all is well, except for their anxiety.
Do carrots improve eyesight?
Q: My optometrist recommends that I take vitamins for my eyesight, which is deteriorating in my left eye due to macular degeneration. For years, people believed that carrots were great for vision and the main ingredient in these vitamins appears to be beta-carotene. Some say broccoli is even more effective. Are these beliefs medically proven?
A: Yes, it is true carrots and any other red or dark green vegetables that contain beta-carotene are good for vision, particularly night vision. Carotenoids are the chemical substances found in darkly coloured vegetables, as well as liver and eggs, and they are a precursor of vitamin A. It is another ingredient that is proven to be helpful in maintaining a healthy retina – the back part of the eye that is sensitive to light and colour.
When you do not eat enough food containing vitamin A to meet the body’s needs, the liver releases some of the stored vitamin. It is therefore important to replenish the supply by eating plenty of carrots and broccoli. Because these vegetables contain other natural substances that maintain good health, it is better to eat the food rather than take pills. But you could try the vitamins and see if they help.
For those of you who have computers and wish to research this subject further, there is a list of references to medical articles at http://www.pressenter.com/~generics/refer.htm.
Clare Rowson is a medical doctor with a practice near Belleville, Ont. Her columns are intended for general information only. Individuals are encouraged to also seek the advice of their own doctor regarding medical questions and treatments.
