Archive for category: Science

    Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is affecting an estimated 63 million people worldwide. The disease is heterogeneous, meaning the disease is a result of multiple causes. Given the obvious complexities there currently are no cures. COPD is characterized as incompletely reversible and manageable. Acute exacerbation COPD, AECOPD, is the frequent cause of hospital admission; intensive care unit; and mortality. Thus therapies are primarily palliative and administered at serious illness stage of disease. The standard management mainly includes bronchodilators, non-invasive ventilation (NIV), and oxygen therapy.

A recent, first of it’s kind; double-blind randomized, controlled trial research study comparing efficacy of hydrogen/oxygen therapy to oxygen alone therapy has surfaced. The primary purpose of study is to compare the efficacy of hydrogen/ oxygen mixture therapy to an oxygen alone therapy in patients enduring AECOPD. The secondary purpose was to assess its safety and tolerability. The study included 108 patients over 40 years of age that met specific criteria and BCSS score of at least 6 points. (Breathlessness, Cough, and Sputum Scale) Double blind requires that participants nor the experimenters know who is receiving a particular treatment; thus reducing and preventing bias in results and placebo effect. Hydrogen/ oxygen mixture is the new intervention group trial and oxygen is the control group trial. Control trials simply involve previously known medical efficacies, in this case, oxygen therapy for AECOPD. The control trial is the standard basis that a new intervention treatment is compared to; thus creating efficacy endpoints for decision.

The primary efficacy endpoint, is the change in baseline BCSS score at day 7; higher scores indicated greater severity (0-12). The new intervention group treatment was given hydrogen/ oxygen gas, through nasal mask, at a flow rate of 3.0 L/min and a hydrogen/oxygen volume ratio of 2:1. The control group treatment was given air/ oxygen, through nasal mask, at a flow rate of 3.0 L/min and air/ oxygen ratio of 2:1. The secondary endpoints were the change in Cough Assessment Test (CAT). Higher scores (0-40) indicated greater severity and a change in noninvasive oxygen saturation. Exploratory endpoints were also investigated; change in pulmonary function, change in arterial blood gas, and oxygen inhalation / NIV evaluations. Both treatment therapies were performed for 7 consecutive days at a minimum of 6 h/ day and to a maximum of 8 h/ day. Throughout the seven day trial no plateau period was observed in the tendency of symptom improvement; especially in the hydrogen/ oxygen therapy.

The change of BCSS score in Hydrogen/oxygen group was larger than that in Oxygen group and thus met the criteria for superiority. FAS population (-5.3 vs. 2.4; difference: -2.75). PPS population (-5.2 vs. -2.69; difference: -2.69). FAS and PPS are simply methods of calculating stats within the experiment based on real time subject variable changes and subject experiment violations. There was significant reduction of Cough Assessment Test score in hydrogen/oxygen group compared to oxygen group; FAS population (-11 vs. -6, p<0.001). The therapies did not elicit significant changes in pulmonary function, arterial blood gas, and non invasive oxygen between groups as well as other endpoints/ points of evaluation.

Both trial group regimens presented acceptable safety and tolerability profiles. The adverse events, AE, in both groups were mild and moderate in severity. Note, most if not all, of the AEs were known to be frequently reported in all COPD treatments in or out of study. All the AEs were controllable and tolerable; all resolved soon with interruption treatment and symptomatic treatment. Also, Hydrogen/ Oxygen intervention group had no notable changes in laboratory test and physical examinations; thus no interference with the vital organs and bodily functions. Also, Device related adverse events were infrequent and only a few occurrences in each group, indicating that both the two devices were safe.

Hydrogen/ oxygen mixture resulted in more significant improvements of AECOPD symptoms of breathlessness, cough, and sputum. The secondary purpose was met as a safe and tolerable profile was indicated. Given the favourable results of hydrogen/ oxygen therapy more and larger studies are warranted. Scientists speculate that its superiority are attributable to hydrogens physical properties; anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and rapid cellular diffusion. The imbalance between oxidative stress and anti-oxidative capacity is thought to play an important role with the development and favourable progression of COPD. Thus hydrogens systemic healing properties are thought to be advantageous during AECOPD. Not only for emergency management, research scientists boldly speculate that hydrogen/ oxygen therapy may be an alternative to at home long-term oxygen therapy. Considering the COPD characterizations, new and improved therapies are welcomed as the medical industry continues to advance the reversal progression of COPD. All this to say, Hydrogen/Oxygen therapy for home use is boldly considered beneficial for management and healing of COPD.

https://respiratory-research.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12931-021-01740-w

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stroke is the leading cause of serious long-term disability in the U.S. Strokes affect almost 800,000 Americans each year, killing more than 140,000. This makes stroke the fifth leading cause of death in the country. Chances are, you or someone you know has been affected by this condition. Fortunately, new studies have found that Hydrogen gas inhalation may help to augment the primary treatment for strokes and significantly improve a stroke sufferer’s recovery and prognosis after care.

For patients who suffer from a stroke, early intervention can literally be the difference between life and death. The sooner treatment comes, the more fully patients are expected to recover. The CDC has found that patients who arrive at a medical facility and begin receiving care within three hours of their first symptoms often have less disability post-stroke than those whose care was delayed.

Stroke treatment varies according to the stroke type and cause. For ischemic stroke, which involves a blockage in the artery that carries blood to the brain, the medical team’s primary goal is to restore blood flow to the brain using clot-busting medications and procedures. A new study, published in the Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases found that the addition of hydrogen gas inhalation to the initial treatment plan significantly increased and improved a patient’s recovery after stroke.

For the study, researchers evaluated 50 stroke patients who were brought to a medical facility within 24 hours from the onset of symptoms. Half of the patients were sorted into a control group and received standard medical treatment while the other half inhaled hydrogen gas for one hour twice daily in addition to the traditional care. Daily observations were recorded on each participant’s vital signs, blood chemistry, physical therapy indices, MRI imaging and NIHSS, or National Institute of Health Stroke Scale, scores over a 2-week period. NIHSS scores offer a standardized tool for diagnosing neurological impairment in stroke patients. These scores evaluate parameters such as vision, facial paralysis, major motor skills, speech, and attention.

Researchers found that the patients who inhaled hydrogen-rich gas in addition to receiving standard medical care had MRI imaging that showed pathological changes that were less severe and more quickly normalized than the participants in the control group. In addition, patients in the H₂ group showed significant improvement in NIHSS scores and physical therapy indices over the 2-week study period compared to the control patients. These parameters indicated that the patients in the H₂ group were more likely than their counterparts in the control group to return to activities of daily living within 2-weeks after having a stroke.

The study’s authors concluded, “[t]he inhalation of H₂ gas was safe and effective in patients with acute cerebral infarction. Thus, H₂-gas therapy has a potential for actual application in acute cerebral infarction as a novel and safe therapeutic treatment.”

This study found that the inhalation of H₂ gas immediately after a stroke and in addition to standard medical care significantly improved and accelerated a patient’s recovery. That’s good news for the hundreds of thousands of Americans who may be affected by stroke this year.

For most of us, our vision and eye health is something we take for granted. If our eyes hurt or our vision becomes blurry, we may seek treatment, but we rarely think about the diseases that could be affecting our ocular health each day. Yet from cataracts to diabetic retinopathy, many of these eye diseases have no early symptoms and progress without pain or vision loss until they reach an advanced stage.

Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to protect your eyes and ward off ocular diseases. A recent medical review, published in Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management, took a closer look at some common ocular conditions and how treatment with hydrogen gas and hydrogen-rich saline can help keep eyes healthy.

Cataracts

More than 24 million Americans over the age of 40 are affected by cataracts. The condition, which is characterized by a clouding of the eye’s natural lens, is the most common cause of blindness around the world. At present, the only treatment for cataracts involves surgery. But new research published in the journal Ophthalmic Research shows that hydrogen gas may help to delay the development of cataracts.

In the study, researchers found that exposure to molecular oxygen accelerated the development of cataracts. But molecular hydrogen neutralizes these reactive oxygen species (ROS) and prevents cataract development.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is an ocular disease that affects roughly 45 percent of adults with diabetes, although according to the National Eye Institute, only half are aware they have the condition. In its early stages, the disease has few, if any, symptoms. But as it progresses, diabetic retinopathy can cause floaters, blurred vision, and vision loss.

Diabetic retinopathy is characterized by the leakage of blood and fluid into the retina as a result of blockages caused by the excess sugar in the blood. Studies have confirmed that ROS play a role in the development of this condition. So it’s not surprising that molecular hydrogen, thanks to its ability to neutralize ROS, may also help in the treatment of diabetes and subsequently, diabetic retinopathy.

According to the review, several studies, including this one published in Nutrition Research, have found that treatment with hydrogen-rich saline “improved lipid and glucose metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance,” and served as a “valid candidate in further clinical treatment of [diabetic retinopathy.]”

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a disease that affects the optic nerve, also known as the central control system for your vision. Glaucoma develops when the fluid in the eye becomes blocked and the fluid pressure in ocular tissues increases. The resulting damage can cause vision loss and blindness.

Unfortunately, glaucoma often goes undetected until it has progressed to the point at which irreversible impairment is caused. However, a slew of recent studies (such as this one published in Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science or this one from Molecular Medicine Reports), have found that treatment with hydrogen-rich saline protected the optic nerve and prevented the development of glaucoma.

The Eyes Have It

Don’t wait until you have issues with your vision to find out if your eyes are healthy. Get regular checkups and take a look at how molecular hydrogen can help protect your whole body, including your eyes, from disease.

Do you regularly feel exhausted, even after a full night’s sleep? Do you fall asleep easily whenever you are sedentary throughout the day? Has your partner complained about your nightly snoring?

It’s possible that you might have sleep apnea, and it might be harming more than just your night’s sleep. Sleep apnea is a condition in which breathing stops and starts repeatedly throughout the night. It may happens a few times a night or multiple times per minute. In either case, the disorder hinders your ability to achieve a deep, restful night’s sleep.

Sleep apnea causes fatigue, headaches, irritability, and slowed reflexes. But it can also lead to potentially serious health consequences such as cardiac dysfunction (hypertension, heart failure, and atherosclerosis), type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and kidney disorders due to iron overload.

The most common treatment for sleep apnea is the use of a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine at night to keep airway passages open. New studies have also found promising results in the use of hydrogen to ameliorate some of the potential side effects of this condition.

A study published just a few months ago in the journal Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity looked at how the inhalation of hydrogen gas might help protect cardiac function in patients with sleep apnea. When oxygen levels are reduced due to sleep apnea, reactive oxygen species (or ROS) are generated within cells, causing oxidative stress. When this happens in the cells within the heart, the result is cardiac dysfunction in the form of hypertension, heart failure, and atherosclerosis.

Hydrogen is an anti-oxidant that is particularly effecivet at neutralizing ROS molecules. And due to its extremely small size, hydrogen can penetrate areas of the cell that other anti-oxidants cannot, providing protection from oxidative stress at all levels.

In this study, researchers concluded that hydrogen gas inhalation “could protect against the cardiac dysfunction and structural disorders,” induced by sleep apnea, noting that it was the specific ability of molecular hydrogen molecules to decrease ROS levels that was responsible for its protective effect on the heart.

In another study published in the journal Molecules, researchers looked at the effect of hydrogen gas inhalation on the kidneys, specifically kidneys that have been damaged by sleep apnea. Previous studies have shown elevated levels of iron in patients with sleep apnea. Researchers noted that this iron overload then causes oxidative stress which in turn leads to kidney damage. But in this study, researchers found that hydrogen gas inhalation protected the kidneys by preventing the buildup of iron and reducing oxidative stress.

If you have sleep apnea, talk to your doctor about the treatments that might help prevent this condition. And it’s worth taking a closer look at molecular hydrogen and how it might protect your body from this diseases’ damaging side effects.

Fancy waters are all the rage these days and many claim to have health benefits above and beyond what you would get from the tap. Two that are often confused with one another are alkaline water and hydrogen water. But only one of these waters can actually benefit your health. Here’s everything you need to know about alkaline water and hydrogen water and which one you should be drinking to live your best life.

What is alkaline water?

Alkaline water is water that has been specially formulated to increase its alkalinity, giving it a higher, less acidic pH. The theory behind alkaline water is that it can neutralize acids in the bloodstream and make the body less hospitable to the viruses and bacteria that could lead to disease.

The human body is designed to operate within a very tight blood pH range of 7.36 to 7.44. Remember that pH is measured on a scale of 0 (acidic) to 14 (alkaline.) A pH of 7 is neutral. Thus the blood pH for humans is slightly alkaline. So it would make sense that drinking alkaline water would help promote this alkaline environment, right?

It’s an interesting premise, but the theory doesn’t really hold water (excuse the pun.) Here’s why. You cannot alter the pH of your blood by consuming liquids that enter the digestive system. The second alkaline water hits the acidic environment of the stomach, it is neutralized and sent on its way. Alkaline water may affect the pH of your urine, but it cannot alter the pH of your blood; therefore it does not in any way affect what’s going on in your cells.

Also, it should be noted that the human body is designed to rigorously maintain blood pH within this narrow window. Even the slightest variation would signal the release of biological systems designed to restore balance. And a failure of the body to maintain blood pH would indicate health issues which could not be aided by the consumption of alkaline water.

Alkaline water can’t hurt, but it also can’t help. If you enjoy drinking it, great. But you’re better off saving your money.

What about hydrogen water?

Hydrogen water is water that is infused with extra hydrogen molecules. The theory here is that these extra hydrogen molecules can bond with free radicals and neutralize them before they wreak havoc within the cells. And due to their extremely small size, hydrogen molecules can enter parts of the cells that most anti-oxidants can’t, making them efficient at preventing disease and improving health.

Sound too good to be true? It’s not.

Researchers have begun studying the effects of hydrogen water on everything from improving athletic performance to controlling diabetes, to treating Alzheimer’s disease, and the results are overwhelmingly clear that hydrogen water delivers on its promises. By removing free radicals from the body, hydrogen water helps to reduce the inflammation that can harm overall health and eventually lead to disease.

The takeaway here is that drinking water is good for you. Drinking water that has been infused with hydrogen is even better.

Image By David Dewitt https://thecozycoffee.com/