Study Says 72 Percent of Americans Feel Lonely

Loneliness
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As owner and CEO of the Roman Medical Group, Dr. Charles Roman provides both preventive and clinical treatment for numerous medical conditions. As part of his continuing education in the field, Dr. Charles Roman is an active member of several professional organizations, such as the American Osteopathic Association.

In conjunction with the American Osteopathic Association, the Harris Poll recently surveyed just over 2,000 adults in the United States about loneliness. The results of their poll found that nearly three-quarters of them say they have felt lonely, and 31 percent of those surveyed saying that have lonely feelings on a weekly basis.

According to osteopathic doctors, loneliness can be a contributing element to many health problems, such as drug abuse, depression, and chronic pain.

Jennifer Caudle, DO, is the assistant professor of family medicine at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, and she suggests that individuals who are lonely may need to scale back their use of social media in favor of more face-to-face interactions in order to combat feelings of isolation.

Osteopathic Doctors Recommend Early Drug Screenings

Osteopathic Medical Conference & Exposition
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A primary care physician with over two decades experience, Dr. Charles Roman served as owner of Roman Medical Group for more than 15 years. In an effort to continue his career education and networking, Dr. Charles Roman maintains membership in various professional organizations, such as the American Osteopathic Association.

Osteopathic doctors who specialize in addiction medicine say screening young people as early as 12 years old for drug abuse, such as alcohol, tobacco, and other such substances, can lead to a decreased incidence of overdose as they grow older.

A recent survey found a large amount of drug abuse in eighth graders. Ten percent of that age group said they had used alcohol within the last month, and marijuana with in the most recent year. Among 10th graders, there was a three percent use of OxyContin within a one-year time frame, nearly one percent of that same group reported methamphetamine use in the past year as well.

Because the incidence of drug use is happening to younger and younger adolescents, doctors recommend developing a regular screening plan with primary physicians. In this environment, these young patients should have the opportunity to ask questions in a safe, judgment-free space, so they can be educated on the consequences of prolonged drug abuse.

New Study on the Links between Sleep Apnea and Hypertension

Hypertension
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As head of the Roman Medical Group in Columbus, Georgia, physician Dr. Charles Roman provides patients with general medical services. Board certified in internal medicine for nearly two decades, Dr. Charles Roman has extensive knowledge of conditions such as heart disease and hypertension.

One major cause of high blood pressure is obstructive sleep apnea, which is experienced by one-fourth of people from age 30 to 70. A recent study by researchers at the University of Chicago’s Center for Systems Biology of Oxygen Sensing and Institute for Integrative Physiology examined the sleep apnea-hypertension connection, with a focus on the carotid arteries, which run through the sides of the neck.

Those with sleep apnea stop or slow their breathing as sleep progresses, which prompts the carotid arteries to send out signals that cause the body to increase breathing rate and bring up blood oxygen levels. Unfortunately, these signals can also boost blood pressure, which in turn can lead to a stroke while sleeping. Unfortunately, standard approaches to hypertension do not work for those with this type of hypertension, which involves constricted vessels.

One particular area of focus is a drug-based pathway toward treatment of patients with sleep apnea and hypertension. In particular, the laboratory researchers found that use of the cystathionine-y-lyase inhibitor L-propargylglycine is effective in inhibiting the hydrogen sulfide production that causes oxygen intake to rise.