Study Shows A Little Anxiety Pays Sometimes

Anxiety gets a lot of bad press. Dwelling on negative can lead to chronic stress and anxiety disorders and phobias, but evolutionarily speaking, anxiety holds some functional value. In humans, learning to avoid harm is necessary not only for surviving in the face of basic threats ( such as predators or rotten food ) , but also for avoiding more complex social or economic threats ( such as enemies or questionable investments ) .

A team of psychologists at Stanford University have identified a region of the brain, anterior insula, which plays a key role in predicting harm and also learning to avoid it. In a new study, Gregory Samanez-Larkin and colleagues scanned the brains of healthy adults while they anticipated losing money.

Adults with greater activation of their insula while anticipating a financial loss were better at learning to avoid financial losses in a separate game several months later. Conversely, participants with low levels of insula activation had a harder time learning to avoid losses and lost more money in game as a result.

For these subjects, higher levels of insula activation helped them to learn to avoid losses months later. However, researchers have found that excessive insula activation might prove problematic. Previous research has shown that people who are chronically fearful and anxious have abnormal patterns of insula activation. So, while people with excessive insula activity are at risk for psychological disorders like anxiety and phobias, higher levels of insula activation in normal range may allow people to avoid potentially harmful situations.

The findings, which appear in April issue of Psychological Science , a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, point toward an optimal level of anxiety. While a healthy amount of anxiety grants some survival value, too much may lead to excessive worry and clinical conditions. This may help to explain why anxious traits persist in humanity's genetic endowment, even as environmental threats vary over the ages.

Author Contact: Gregory Samanez-Larkin

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -

Psychological Science is ranked among the top 10 general psychology journals for impact by the Institute for Scientific Information. Article " Individual Differences in Insular Sensitivity During Loss Anticipation Predict Avoidance Learning "

Source: Catherine West Association for Psychological Science

Explore health advises and choose right way.

Levitra - how with it.

Levitra: uses

Levitra is used to treat male sexual function problems ( impotence or erectile dysfunction ) by blocking a certain enzyme ( phosphodiesterase-PDE5 ) . In combination with sexual stimulation, Levitra works by helping blood flow into the penis to achieve and maintain an erection.

Levitra isn't indicated for use in women.

Use of Levitra does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases ( e. g. , HIV, hepatitis B, gonorrhea, syphilis ) . Practice " safe sex " such as using latex condoms. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

Levitra: how to use

Levitra is taken by mouth as needed, 1 hour before sexual activity with or without food; or use as directed by your doctor. Do not take more often than once daily as needed.

A high fat meal may decrease amount of drug that's absorbed.

Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while we are being treated with Levitra unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.

The dosage is based on your medical condition, response to therapy, and other medications we may be taking ( see also Drug Interactions section ) . Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

Read the patient information leaflet provided by your pharmacist and ask questions if any of the information is unclear.

Levitra: side effects

Headache, flushing, nasal stuffiness, stomach upset, heartburn, runny nose, dizziness, or nausea may occur while use Levitra. Vision changes such as increased sensitivity to light, blurred vision, or impaired blue/green color discrimination may also occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed Levitra because he or she has judged that benefit to you is greater than risk of side effects. Many people using Levitra don't have serious side effects.

Rarely, a sudden loss of eyesight in one or both eyes ( NAION ) may occur while use Levitra. This may or mayn't be due to Levitra. If this serious problem occurs, seek immediate medical attention. You have a slightly greater chance of developing this serious eye problem if you have heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, certain eye problems ( " crowded disk " ) , high blood pressure, are over 50 years of age, or if we smoke.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these highly unlikely but very serious side effects occur:

Sexual activity may put extra strain on your heart, especially if we have heart problems. If you have heart problems and experience any of these serious side effects while having sex, stop and tell your doctor immediately of:

For males, in very unlikely event you have a painful or prolonged erection lasting 4 or more hours, stop using Levitra and seek immediate medical attention, or permanent problems could occur.

Rarely, Levitra may cause sudden hearing problems, or ringing in ears. Stop taking Levitra and tell your doctor immediately if these effects occur.

A serious allergic reaction to Levitra is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction include:

This isn't a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Levitra: precautions

Before taking Levitra, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're allergic to it; or if we have any other allergies.

Before using Levitra, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of:

Levitra may make you dizzy or cause vision changes; use caution engaging in activities requiring alertness such as driving or using machinery. Limit alcoholic beverages.

To minimize dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a seated or lying position.

Caution is advised when using Levitra in elderly because they may be more sensitive to side effects of drug.

Levitra isn't indicated for use in women or children.

Levitra: interactions

Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring we for them. Don't start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.

See also How To Use section for drug-food interactions.

Levitra shouldn't be used with following medications because very serious ( possibly fatal ) interactions may occur:

If you're currently using any of these medications, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting Levitra.

Before using Levitra, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of:

If we are taking ritonavir or nelfinavir, don't take more than a 2. 5mg dose of Levitra in a 72 hour period. If you are taking indinavir or high doses ( 400mg daily ) of either ketoconazole or itraconazole, don't take more than a 2. 5mg dose of Levitra per day. If we are taking erythromycin or low doses ( 200mg daily ) of either ketoconazole or itraconazole, don't take more than 5mg dose of Levitra per day. For more details contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Other drugs besides Levitra which may affect the heart rhythm ( QTc prolongation in the EKG ) include dofetilide, pimozide, amiodarone, quinidine, sotalol, procainamide, and sparfloxacin among others. QTc prolongation can infrequently result in serious, rarely fatal, irregular heartbeats. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for details before taking Levitra. Ask for instructions about whether we need to stop any other QTc-prolonging drugs we may be using in order to minimize risk of this effect.

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using Levitra, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

Levitra: overdose

If overdose of Levitra is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call US national poison hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly. Symptoms of overdose may include back pain, muscle pain, abnormal vision.

Levitra: notes

Don't share Levitra with others, since they may have a problem that is not effectively treated by Levitra, or they may have a condition that's complicated by Levitra.

Levitra: missed dose

Not applicable.

Levitra: storage

Store Levitra at room temperature at 77 degrees F ( 25 degrees C ) away from light and moisture. Brief storage between 59-86 degrees F ( 15-30 degrees C ) is permitted. Do not store Levitra in bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Properly discard Levitra when it's expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

Levitra with worldwide shipping

My Medicines This Brochure Can be a Lifesaver. My Medicines, the title of a brochure offered by FDA's Office of Women's Health, can play a vital role in the medical treatment you receive during an emergency.

Pregnant Women to Benefit from Better Information. A proposed rule will give women and their health care professionals better information concerning the effects of medications taken during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Serious Health Risks with Antiepileptic Drugs. FDA warns about possible risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in patients taking antiepileptic drugs

FDA 101: Advisory Committees. FDA's Advisory Committees are critical to the agency's product review process. Find out the basics of putting special government employees with different perspectives on such scientific committees.

Merck Recalls Certain Lots of Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) Vaccine. Merck & Co. has initiated a voluntary recall in the United States for ten lots of PedvaxHIB and two lots of COMVAX.

My Medicines - This Brochure Can be a Lifesaver. My Medicines, the title of a brochure offered by FDA's Office of Women's Health, can play a vital role in the medical treatment you receive during an emergency.