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Health

The Differences Between Just Overeating and a Binge Eating Disorder

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With so much of our culture hyper-focused on what a person eats (and what a person weighs), it can be hard to define what “overeating” actually is—and when that overeating becomes a bigger problem. Do you simply have a big appetite, or are you actually struggling with an eating disorder? Here’s how to decipher the differences between regular overeating and the more serious binge eating disorder.

What is binge eating disorder?

According to the National Eating Disorders Association, binge eating disorder is severe and can be life-threatening but is also treatable. It’s characterized by recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food. This is typically done very quickly and to the point of feeling uncomfortable. Other characteristics of BED include a feeling of loss of control during the binge and shame or guilt after it. Notably, bulimia involves unhealthy compensatory measures like purging after a binge, while BED does not.

BED is recognized in the DSM-5, but its addition to the diagnostic manual as its own disorder is relatively recent. Prior to 2013, it was considered a subtype of OSFED, or “other specified feeding and eating disorder.” Now, it’s the most common eating disorder in America.

Diagnostic criteria include the following:

  • Eating within a discrete time period an amount of food that is definitely larger than what most people would eat in that time period under similar circumstances
  • A sense of lack of control over eating during the episode
  • Eating more rapidly than normal, eating until feeling uncomfortably full, eating large amounts when not hungry, eating alone because of embarrassment over how much is being consumed, and feeling disgusted, depressed, or guilty afterward (note that three of these must be present for a diagnosis)
  • Marked distress regarding bingeing
  • The binge occurs, on average, at least once a week for three months
  • The binge eating is not associated with inappropriate compensatory behaviors like purging and does not occur exclusively during the course of bulimia nervosa or anorexia nervosa

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How is binge eating disorder different from overeating?

According to Healthline, BED is a medical condition, and overeating is not. BED is also associated with other psychological symptoms like depression and anxiety.

Another primary difference between the two is the feeling of distress or shame that comes with BED and its related behaviors. If you occasionally overeat, but you don’t feel distressed or guilty about it afterward, it’s unlikely you have BED. Next time you overeat, take note of what is going on. If you are doing it alone to hide your behavior, feeling out of control when it’s happening, and feeling ashamed afterward, you could have BED and should consider talking to a mental health professional.

(Here is how to find a good therapist even if you don’t have insurance, and here are warning signs your child may have BED.)

What can be done about BED?

If you end up with a diagnosis, here’s what you need to know: First, getting the diagnosis is a good thing, as BED can cause health complications like asthma, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure in addition to mental health problems like depression and anxiety.

Second, there are treatments available. Typically, people with BED will be treated with some kind of psychotherapy or counseling and there will be a medical or nutritional component, too. To figure out what kind of treatment you need, your mental health professional will consider emotional factors and the severity of your BED. Therapy can help address the underlying causes of the disorder, and medicine can help regulate your eating habits.

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Health

You’re Wrong About ‘Breaking the Seal’

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I was at a college party the first time I heard it: “If you break the seal,” my friend said darkly, “you’ll break the deal.” I was on my way to the bathroom, a standard and reasonable journey we all undertake multiple times per day—but, according to party legend, one that should put off as long as possible when consuming alcohol. The thinking is that once you pee for the first time while drinking, you’ll then have to pee a bunch more times in quick succession.

Is there any actual science behind this good-time lore?

No, you’re not “breaking” any seal

While it stands to reason you’ll pee a lot if you drink a lot—whether your beverages are alcoholic or otherwise—there is just no proof you’ll pee more after your first trip to the bathroom. Urologist Dr. Petar Bajic has summed up the issue like so: “To be clear, there is no seal that you’re protecting.”

Please consider what you know about anatomy. Where and how would such a seal—activated only when you’re throwing back shots or chugging a beer—actually function? Use your sober brain to ponder this puzzle so your drunk brain doesn’t have to.

You will pee more when drinking, but not because of a “seal”

Bajic pointed out that the average bladder is “pear-sized,” so it makes sense that the more liquid you consume, the more often you’ll need to go let it out. More frequent trips to the facilities on any given night make even more sense when you consider that alcohol is a diuretic, which means it increases urine production. You’re drinking a bunch of liquid and imbibing diuretics; of course you’re going to need to take a whizz more often than you normally would. That has nothing to do with what Bajic calls “the legendary seal”—because, again, the seal does not exist.

If you want to get deeper into the science of why you’re peeing so much at the club, you can go further: Alcohol suppresses the release of vasopressin, an antidiuretic hormone that would normally tell your kidneys to absorb fluids and distribute the rest out to your body. Per Healthline, the vasopressin suppression is notable because you’ll be producing more urine than usual and peeing out your fluid reserves.

This is why you should drink water on nights out. All that fluid depletion leads to dehydration—and if you drink enough to get a nasty little hangover, dehydration will only make you feel worse.

Don’t fall victim to an urban legend

People are suggestible. Drunk people can be even more so. Now is the time to do away with your adhesion to this urban legend in the same way you’ve matured out of believing that the order in which you consume certain types of alcohol will somehow impact your likelihood of barfing. At some point, you learned that moderation—not ordering a ton of drinks in a very specific order—was the key to staying puke-free, and yet the equally bogus myth of the seal has persisted. A pity.

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Health

Can Adults Get Ear Infections?

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Some medical incidents are inextricably linked to the childhood experience: Kids throw up a lot for some reason, they skin their knees, they have their tonsils removed, and they get ear infections. Of course, these things can happen to grown-ups, too, but it’s much less common. Still, because some maladies are so closely associated with kids, it can take some time before an adult recognizes the symptoms their body is displaying. Ear infections are a great example of this.

You can get an ear infection in your grown years, but if you’re stuck thinking that only happens to children, you might put off getting checked out. Let’s avoid that possibility by discovering the symptoms and causes of ear infections in adults.

Can adults can get ear infections?

They sure can. I texted a friend about writing this article and she told me she had one right now, but took weeks to get seen by a doctor because she figured there’s no way that could happen to someone in their 30s. The problem didn’t go away because she misidentified what it could have been and declined to seek treatment; it got worse in that time.

As the docs at Woodstock Family Practice & Urgent Care in Georgia explain on their website, kids do get ear infections more easily than adults because their eustachian tubes are small, short, and parallel to the ground while they’re developing, so they don’t drain super well. Mucus builds up, maybe because of a cold or allergies, and bacteria “set up shop and infect the tissues.”

Your eustachian tubes are more fully developed than they once were (congrats!) but that does not make you immune.

What are the kinds and symptoms of an ear infection in adults?

These are the types of ear infections you can get:

  • Inner ear infection
  • Middle ear infection
  • Outer ear infection

Each of these has its own set of symptoms. With an inner ear infection, for instance, you may experience dizziness, nausea, vomiting, vertigo, or hearing loss, according to Healthline. Issues in the inner ear may also be a sign of something more serious, like meningitis, so get checked out if you have those symptoms.

As for middle ear infections, watch out for a fever or trouble hearing. Fluid could drain from your ears if the infection progresses to a tympanic membrane rupture, which can cause a sudden loss of hearing. Per Healthline, this does tend to heal on its own. These can be caused by colds or respiratory issues.

Outer ear infections can be signaled by an itchy rash on the outer part of your ear. Your ear could be painful, tender, red, or swollen. You may also hear these referred to as “swimmer’s ear” because outer ear infections often start when water remains in the ear after swimming or bathing. Bacteria comes next. Bacterial infections can also start when your outer ear is scratched or irritated.

It’s important to stay on top of these symptoms to avoid permanent hearing loss or for the infection to spread to other parts of your head. Prompt treatment can usually nip the infection in the bud, so don’t worry too much—just get to a doctor.

What factors influence whether you’ll get an ear infection?

The size and slope of your eustachian tubes play a role here, but you’re forgiven if you’re not intimately familiar with those traits. Some influencing factors you can be aware of, though, include smoking or being around secondhand smoke, having allergies (either seasonal or year-round), or developing a cold or upper respiratory infection.

So, if you have any of the symptoms above and are a smoker, a person with allergies, or getting over a cold, consider that you might have an ear infection.

To prevent ear infections, dry your ears thoroughly whenever you get them wet, consider quitting smoking, and always manage cold or allergy symptoms as best as you can.

How are ear infections in adults treated?

Ear infections can resolve themselves on their own in a few days, per Healthline, but if an earache persists beyond a few days, go see a doctor—especially if you develop a fever. Fluid oozing from your ear or a loss of hearing also serve as signs you should seek medical attention sooner than later.

Once you get to the doctor, it’ll be a lot like what you remember from childhood: The doc peeks in your ear with an otoscope, maybe even using a pneumatic one to puff a little air in there to see how your eardrum reacts. Expect that you could have a hearing test, too.

With an inner infection, you’ll likely be prescribed some antibiotics, though there are no guarantees you’ll get that delicious pink liquid medicine you used to get back in the day. Sorry, growing up kind of sucks.

Middle ear infections will also probably net you antibiotics, though they can also be applied with ear drops instead of just orally. The doctor may also want you to pick up some over-the-counter pain meds or anti-inflammatories, or maybe decongestant or antihistamine if you’re still dealing with cold or allergy symptoms.

If you have an outer ear infection and your doctor determines it’s bacterial, guess what? Antibiotics again. You should also carefully clean the outer ear and apply antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory medicines. If the infection is fungal, expect a prescription antifungal medication.

   

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Health

Stop Cleaning Your Ears

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You rarely, if ever, need to remove earwax on your own. Earwax is good! I know this. I really do. And yet—even though I know better—sometimes I cannot resist the urge to use a cotton swab and clean my ears myself. Here’s what to know if you’re like me and occasionally go too far trying to clean your ears manually.

You really shouldn’t use cotton swabs to clean your ears

There’s a lot of confusion (or willful denial) out there about how to take care of our ears. We’ve previously covered how to properly maintain your ears and earwax, with a major takeaway being that you should always avoid sticking cotton swabs into your ear.

It’s rarely necessary to remove earwax on your own. Our ears are self-cleaning, and the earwax you have is important for protecting the outer ear from infection and injury. Moreover, using cotton swabs to clean inside your ears can cause a variety of ear complications.

And yet. Here we are.

What to do if you feel pain

So, what can you do if you’ve brazenly ignored medical wisdom and now feel pain from cleaning your ears? In the short term, you can use over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. According to Healthline, if ear pain persists after three days, you should make an appointment with your doctor.

Generally speaking, you shouldn’t typically need to see a healthcare provider to have your ears cleaned. However, sometimes earwax can build up or become too hard to be naturally cleared, even if you don’t use cotton swabs in your ear.

When to see a doctor about your ears

If you feel a sudden, sharp pain from using a cotton swab, you may have an ear injury, in which case you need professional treatment. Even if you haven’t used a cotton swab recently, make an appointment with your doctor to have them check your ears if you experience any of the following symptoms:

  • ear pain
  • ears that feel clogged or plugged up
  • drainage from your ear, such as pus or blood
  • fever
  • muffled hearing
  • hearing loss
  • ringing in your ears (tinnitus)
  • dizziness or vertigo

These symptoms could mean that a healthcare professional needs to remove an accumulation of earwax, or they could indicate a different health concern altogether.

The best treatment: Stop cleaning your ears

Cleaning your ears is a vicious cycle: Irritated ears produce more wax. There’s an old saying that you should never stick anything smaller than your elbow in your ear. It’s not necessary for cleaning, and it can lead to serious complications. If you must manually clean your ears, check out our guide alternative methods to clean your ears (that aren’t sticking a cotton swab in there). And again: See your doctor if you experience ear pain, ears that feel clogged, or loss of hearing.

  

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Health

Have You Been Holding Your Phone Wrong This Whole Time?

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Quick, how do you hold your phone? Is the bottom of it resting on your pinkie, while you cradle the back with your index, middle, and ring fingers, and your thumb does all the scrolling? Alas, like the many other seemingly easy, intuitive things we do, it is wrong.

While the one-handed claw is seemingly the most convenient way to grip your device, over prolonged periods of time, it could be doing damage to your wrist and aggravating your ulnar nerve—among other issues.

What is smartphone pinkie?

You may already be familiar with the term “smartphone finger,” also known as texting tendinitis, texting thumb, and gamer’s thumb. But now we must also contend with “smartphone pinkie” (not a medical term—yet). According to Healthline, “The fingers most impacted by holding a smartphone, tablet, or video game controller are your pinky and thumb,” which can become cramped or inflamed.

Ann Lund, an occupational therapist and certified hand therapist at the Mayo Clinic told the Washington Post that given the smaller size of the pinkie, it won’t “tolerate the pressure and the positioning as well as a larger digit.” Michelle G. Carlson, a hand and upper extremity surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York added that using your pinkie to hold up the weight of your phone can strain the ligament that connects the finger to your hand. But that’s not all.

What is the ulnar nerve?

After this tweet telling us all to stop using our pinkie as a phone anchor went viral, Ben Lombard, a member of the UK’s Chartered Society of Physiotherapy told HuffPost UK, “We tend to hold our phones with the little finger underneath supporting the weight of the phone and our wrist turning inward to told the screen to our faces. This can cause ulnar nerve compression if sustained for long periods of time.”

One of three main nerves in your arm, the ulnar nerve runs from the armpit, down to your elbow, alongside the ulna (the long bone in the forearm) and finally to the pinkie side of your palm. According to the Cleveland Clinic, “It controls nearly all of the small muscles in the hand.” Ulnar nerve “entrapment” happens when there’s direct pressure on the nerve “in the elbow or wrist [which] causes a pinched nerve, nerve (neuropathic) pain and neuropathy (nerve damage).”

And then there’s the median nerve

In a 2017 study, Peter White, assistant professor in the department of health technology and informatics at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, examined the effects of electronics device overuse on the median nerve, which runs alongside the ulnar nerve and helps us move our forearms, wrists, hands and fingers. White found that students who held electronic devices in excess of five hours a day experienced more wrist and hand pain than “non-intensive users” (less than five hours a day).

In a follow-up study, White found that, “Wrist deviation from neutral [an all fingers extended position] can lead to more pronounced deformation of the median nerve.” To minimize the damage, “It is important to keep the wrist as near to the neutral position as possible during computer-related work and avoid keeping the thumb and fingers in a static flexed position when using mobile devices, especially for single-hand use.”

So how should we hold our phone?

In an interview with the National Desk, hand surgeon Dr. Steve Beldner said though everyone wants a small, thin device, “Our hand wasn’t designed to handle small objects.” Ideally, instead of zeroing our thumb in on a thin object, which loads the joint unfavorably, we want to “bring the thumb out into what we call abduction or away from the palm.”

To do this, Beldner said, make the device thicker—by propping a rolled up washcloth or t-shirt behind it—to take the stress off the joint. (Presumably, a PopSocket provides some of the same joint relief.) He also suggests keeping your elbow and wrist as straight as possible to allow for better circulation through the nerve.

Occupational hand therapist Dina Delopoulos advises smartphone users to take frequent rest breaks and stretch the flexor and extensor muscles by pushing our fingers up and back, perpendicular to the wrist. She recommended using a non-restrictive but supportive CMC neoprene splint and putting the phone down on a flat surface to scroll with fingers other than your thumb whenever possible. Driving the point home, she cited a patient “who was immobilized in a cast for four weeks because he had severe tendinitis in his thumb. From the phone.”

To recap: Staring at our phones nonstop is unnatural and damaging, not just for our mental health, but for our pinkies, thumbs, and forearm nerves. So consider this your daily reminder to quit scrolling, stretch your wrists, and go outside.



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