Experiencing a first panic attack can be very frightening, but it is important to know that you are not alone in this experience. After your heart stops racing, your breathing returns to normal, and an emergency medical professional confirms your complete health, you might feel like your life has changed, even if the physical crisis phase lasted only five to twenty minutes.
However, the emotional consequences can persist for weeks or months. According to the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), the real battle with panic does not happen during the attack itself, but in the quiet, exhausting days that follow.
After a serious first panic attack, the basic sense of safety is disrupted. A person enters a state that psychologists call 'panic hangover.' If you experience certain symptoms, you should understand that this is a normal psychological reaction to trauma, not a sign of losing your mind.
These reactions include a loss of trust in one's own body, where ordinary physical sensations, such as a rapid heartbeat or dizziness, are perceived by the brain as precursors to catastrophe. There is also a search for a cause, as the first attack often seems sudden, causing the brain to blame the environment, for example, by considering shopping malls dangerous.
To ensure their safety, people begin to unconsciously make concessions: skipping events or ordering groceries online instead of going to the store. Gradually, the boundaries of life become extremely narrow.
According to Kassie Chambers, Director of Operations at SADAG, panic is not limited to the attack itself; the fear of a recurrence can be just as exhausting. This instinct to avoid places or stay home is called avoidance behavior. It is important to realize that avoidance is not a weakness, but a defense mechanism of the nervous system that has experienced a sharp adrenaline rush.
Nevertheless, every time a person avoids a place due to the fear of a panic attack there, the brain registers that place as a zone of real danger. Over time, this cycle can turn a single attack into a chronic panic disorder.
Recovery is not about promising never to feel anxious again, but about learning how to live alongside anxiety without letting it control your life. When you feel tightness in your chest, instead of self-criticism, you should approach your body kindly.
It is recommended to apply the 'act despite the fear' rule: if your brain urges you to leave a queue or change lanes, try to stay in place for another two minutes. This allows the anxiety to pass without running away from the situation and teaches the brain that the place is not harmful.
When thoughts start racing into the future, you need to use the 5-4-3-2-1 technique to bring attention back to the present moment: name five things you can see, four things you can touch, three sounds you can hear, two smells, and one taste.
Furthermore, since the nervous system is in a state of heightened sensitivity, you should temporarily reduce stimulants that mimic physical symptoms of panic. This includes decreasing caffeine intake, limiting energy drinks, ensuring regular sleep, and reducing alcohol consumption, which severely disrupts nervous system function.
With patience and the right tools, it is possible to restore trust in your body and return to a full life, without letting the world remain small.
Cadila Pharmaceuticals stated that Aciloc 150+ and Aciloc 300+ products continue to be supplied to pharmacies without any restrictions on production or sale.
On Wednesday, the company confirmed that there are no directives prohibiting the manufacturing, sale, or distribution of its Aciloc 150+ and Aciloc 300+ products. It was clarified that both medications comply with all current national regulatory requirements and remain available on the market.
Cadila provided clarifications regarding the composition of Aciloc 150+ and Aciloc 300+, noting that they contain famotidine—a histamine H2 receptor antagonist used to treat acid-related diseases. The company emphasized that the active pharmaceutical ingredient has always been clearly indicated on the packaging and labels of all Aciloc products in accordance with labeling requirements.
Company representatives reported that scientific and regulatory teams are actively interacting with relevant authorities and thoroughly examining this issue. Arani Chatterjee, President of Cadila Pharmaceuticals, stated: 'Patient safety remains our highest priority. The active pharmaceutical ingredient is clearly indicated on every Aciloc package in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements. We are working closely with the relevant authorities and providing them with full support while carefully reviewing this matter.'
He also added that the company remains committed to ensuring trust in the quality, safety, and proper use of its medicines while maintaining uninterrupted product availability. Cadila Pharmaceuticals reiterated its readiness to work with the relevant authorities, affirming its commitment to quality, patient safety, and regulatory compliance.
The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness has officially opened a new Provincial Linen Warehouse at the Tigerberg Hospital. This warehouse, valued at R11.4 million, is intended to ensure the uninterrupted functioning of medical services across the province.
Although linen service is often unnoticed by patients, clean bedding, gowns, and blankets are critical for preventing infections, maintaining patient dignity, and ensuring the daily operation of facilities. Mireille Wenger, Minister of Health and Wellness for the Western Cape, emphasized that strong healthcare systems are measured not only by what happens at the bedside but also by everything that enables quality care long before a patient sees a doctor or nurse.
The new 300 square meter warehouse will serve as a buffer stock and provide urgent replacement or replenishment of linens for all 554 provincial health facilities and service points. These facilities include hospitals, clinics, public health centers, mobile and satellite clinics, Forensic Pathology Services, and Emergency Medical Services.
Unlike other provinces where chronic linen shortages are an issue, the Western Cape supports a functioning system, which this investment strengthens to meet the growing demand for public healthcare. The Western Cape Department of Health has become the first provincial structure in South Africa to utilize the Ministry of Labour's 'Service Products' programme. Through this partnership, linens are procured from nine national factories where people with disabilities work, promoting inclusive employment and supplying vital healthcare goods.
Wenger noted that this collaboration demonstrates how interdepartmental cooperation can improve public services. She cited recent severe storms that highlighted the importance of these behind-the-scenes services. The Minister mentioned that during road and supply chain disruptions earlier this year, one of the main concerns at Worcester Hospital was having sufficient clean linen to continue treating patients. She also stressed that effective support services often go unnoticed precisely because they operate so smoothly, allowing doctors and nurses to focus entirely on treatment, confident in the reliability of the supporting systems.
Taking nicotinamide, which is vitamin PP, is statistically associated with a reduced probability of developing open-angle glaucoma in individuals with elevated intraocular pressure. This conclusion was reached by American researchers after analyzing data from electronic health records collected from nearly three thousand patients.
Furthermore, the vitamin helps decrease the likelihood of needing local treatment aimed at lowering intraocular pressure, and it also reduces the need for laser trabeculoplasty. The results of this study were published in JAMA Ophthalmology.
Open-angle glaucoma is characterized by impaired outflow of intraocular fluid, leading to increased intraocular pressure and subsequent damage to the optic nerve and other eye structures. Ophthalmologists usually prescribe therapy to control pressure, but a significant portion of patients develop optic neuropathy.
Recent scientific investigations indicate that a disruption in the metabolism of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide—one of the key coenzymes in the redox processes of all living cells—may be the cause of this disease. This coenzyme participates in processes such as glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and fatty acid beta-oxidation. For example, a deficiency of this substance in retinal ganglion cells can cause a failure in energy metabolism and metabolism.
To test the potential preventive effect of influencing this part of the pathogenesis, a research group led by Iqbal Ayka Ahmed from the University of Utah conducted a cohort study using electronic health records of 2920 patients with elevated intraocular pressure. The researchers studied the effect of systemic nicotinamide intake (vitamin PP, vitamin B3), traditionally used to combat pellagra, on the risk of developing glaucoma. Initially, participant characteristics were carefully balanced across all variables after matching procedures.
During the average observation period of 3.7 years, nicotinamide use correlated with a reduction in the incidence of open-angle glaucoma. Diagnosis was made in 51 patients (3.5 percent) in the treatment group compared to 132 patients (9 percent) in the control group (risk ratio was 0.34; p < 0.001), demonstrating an absolute risk reduction of 5.5 percent. It was also found that fewer patients in the nicotinamide group required local therapy to lower intraocular pressure (risk ratio 0.57; p < 0.001).
The frequency of laser trabeculoplasty, a method to improve the outflow of intraocular fluid through the trabecular meshwork, was also lower in the systemic nicotinamide intervention group (risk ratio 0.38; p = 0.003). Furthermore, refraction indices and the frequency of ophthalmologist visits showed no differences between the studied groups. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the previously identified associations.
The study authors believe that taking nicotinamide may serve as an accessible additional strategy for preventing the development of open-angle glaucoma in people with high intraocular pressure. However, practical implementation of this method requires prospective clinical trials to confirm its safety and efficacy.
It is also worth noting the work of Yuanyuan Du from Chongqing Medical University and her colleagues from China, Singapore, and the UK. They analyzed data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) collaboration for the period from 1990 to 2023. Their findings showed a continuous increase in the prevalence of infertility among women aged 35–49, with a projection of nearly a one-and-a-half-fold increase by 2036. The study utilized the GBD 2023 dataset, covering 204 countries and territories, and a forecast up to 2036 was made using multilevel trend analysis and Bayesian modeling. These results were published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women's Health.
