In tough times, here’s how to persevere

Plus: Beware bootleg Botox

View this email online April 21, 2024 by Andrea Muraskin This week: Tinnitus can be maddening, but a surprising piece of technology shows promise in distracting the brain from the buzz. Plus: Americans are getting sick from counterfeit Botox injections – here’s how to protect yourself if you go under the needle. And: Advice from inspiring leaders facing difficult challenges on how to keep on keepin’ on.  How do you keep calm and carry on in a world full of crises? Amnon Gutman for NPR If you were to page through my journal, you’d think I lived a dramatic and largely tragic life. You’d read about things like the loneliness of moving halfway across the country, the frustration of chronic illness, and of course, relationships: their blissful beginnings, wobbly middles, and bitter ends. But that’s just because I only journal when I’m processing strong emotions. In reality, pleasant and encouraging things happen to me often – I just don’t think to document them.  Julian Gerhart, who spends his days educating young people about civics and misinformation in  Slovakia, takes the opposite approach –  his journal is full of humblebrags. “It could be anything,” he told NPR global health correspondent Gabrielle Emanuel. “It could be one student coming up after our workshop and telling us he loved the workshop. A small thing, but it's very heartwarming.” Gerhart says when he feels depressed, he scrolls through his journal, and realizing the impact he’s had on others, he calms down.  Gerhart is one of 1,500 scientists, philanthropists, activists and entrepreneurs who gathered at the Skoll World Forum in Oxford, England – an annual event focused on social change – earlier this month. NPR asked several participants what keeps them going when things get tough. I’m partial to this offering from Jordanian microbiologist Rana Dajan, who studies the impact of trauma on people’s DNA: “Islam tells me: It doesn't matter what happens in the end. What matters is what you do now. And so I start thinking, ‘What can I do now?’ And that gives me a purpose. And because I have a purpose, I get into action. And because I'm getting into action, it gives me hope,” she says. Here’s more advice from innovators and do-gooders to help you get started and press on.  ICYMI: How do you stay optimistic in spite of it all? 6 hopeful souls share their secrets Newsletter continues after sponsor message Fake Botox has sickened patients nationwide. Here's what to know — and what to avoid Jens Kalaene/picture alliance via Getty Images When it comes to the surging popularity of Botox for cosmetic use “the impact of social media cannot be underestimated,” according to an October 2023 article in Vogue. But if you’re considering Botox, don’t just pick a provider off of TikTok, cautions Dr. Seemal Desai, president of the American Academy of Dermatology. Desai spoke with NPR’s Rachel Treisman after the CDC announced  this week that 19 people across the country have become ill from counterfeit Botox injections, nine of whom have been hospitalized. Their symptoms included double vision, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, constipation, incontinence, shortness of breath, weakness and difficulty lifting their head after an injection. Botox works by temporarily preventing facial muscles from contracting, thus reducing the occurrence of wrinkles. The solution is derived from the same bacteria that causes botulism, a type of food poisoning. According to the Mayo Clinic, the forms of purified botulinum toxin used by licensed health care providers meet FDA standards for safety. The 19 patients who fell ill after receiving injections were all treated either by untrained individuals, or in non-health care settings like homes and spas. Read on for expert guidance on how to choose a provider, how to spot fake Botox, and how to identify unusual symptoms.  Also: They came to clinics in Mexico for cosmetic surgery and got a deadly fungal meningitis Understand one big story in minutes with the Consider This newsletter With more and more information coming at you all day, every day, it can be hard to know where to focus. The new Consider This newsletter can be that focus.   Every weekday afternoon, we take one of the day’s biggest news stories and break it down in a simple, skimmable format. So you can get a better grasp of one important topic, and what it means for you, in a couple of minutes.   Sign up for free to make sense of today. Subscribe Got tinnitus? A device that tickles the tongue helps this musician find relief David Petrelli/Victoria Banks When Victoria Banks developed tinnitus three years ago, the buzzing in her head was like a “ton of cicadas,” she says. “It was terrifying.” The tinnitus made it difficult for her to sing and listen to music, which was a real bind for the Nashville-based singer-songwriter. More than 25 million adults in the U.S. have this disorder, and there’s no known cure, as NPR’s Allison Aubrey reports.  Hearing aids are helpful for some, but Banks didn’t have hearing loss. Instead, her audiologist prescribed a new device called Lenire, designed to stimulate the tongue. While Lenire gently tickled her tongue through electrodes, Banks listened to tones and ocean sounds on headphones. After a few months of doing this an hour a day, the tinnitus had quieted down to the extent that Banks could get back to writing and playing music.  Strange as it sounds, the device works by refocusing the brain’s attention, says Banks’ audiologist, Dr. Brian Fligor. We're wired to focus on important information coming into our brains, Fligor says. Think of it as a spotlight at a show pointed at the most important thing on the stage. "When you have tinnitus and you're frustrated or angry or scared by it, that spotlight gets really strong and focused on the tinnitus," he explains. The vibrations of the tongue and the sounds coming in through the headphones “unstick the spotlight” and desensitize people to the noise of the tinnitus.  Learn more about the new device and other ways to turn down the volume on tinnitus. Plus: From lawn mowers to rock concerts, our 'Deafening World' is hurting our ears Before you go:  Eric Lee for NPR 'We created this problem:' a pediatric surgeon on how gun violence affects children Trader Joe's recalls basil linked to 12 salmonella infections in 7 states Which scientists get mentioned in the news? Mostly ones with Anglo names, says study In the womb, a brother's hormones can shape a sister's future We hope you enjoyed these stories. Find more of NPR's health journalism online. All the best, Andrea Muraskin and your NPR Health editors Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from WUFT 89.1 (edit station). What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: health@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Goats & Soda, Up First, Life Kit and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Health emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy