People infected with a mild version of AIDS have more mental problems than those who have a killer version of the virus, according to a New York psychiatrist.
Victims of mild AIDS–which doctors call ARC (for AIDS Related Complex)– live with a sense of impending doom because they know they may come down with all-out AIDS, psychiatrist Jimmie Holland says.
The mental turmoil of knowing there`s a one-in-six chance of ARC turning into AIDS is excruciating, Holland said. A study of 50 ARC victims showed frequent mental upsets: bouts of depression, grief, anger, suicidal thoughts, lowered self-esteem and sadness.
In contrast, most people who know they have AIDS are calmer and resigned to their fate, he said.
Both illnesses are caused by a virus that destroys the body`s ability to defeat infections and cancers. There are two cases of ARC for every case of AIDS.
MAGIC OF MAGNESIUM
If you want to increase your exercise capacity, a small dose of dietary magnesium may be just the thing, according to Drs. Lucille Hurley, Carl Keen and Eric Gershwin of the University of California at Davis.
The researchers don`t know why laboratoy animals had more gusto after receiving supplementary magnesium. But they believe low magnesium impairs athletic ability.
