David Crawford MD

According to psychiatrist David Crawford MD, a phobia is an excessive an irrational fear reaction. If you have it, you may experience a deep and irrational sense of dread or panic when you encounter the source of fear, which can be anything from a certain place, situation, or object. The main difference between a phobia and general anxiety disorders is that this is rooted from and connected to something specific. Its effects can be severely disabling, as individuals suffering from it often fail to recognize that their fear is irrational, but at the same time, they cannot do anything about it, thus interfering with professional and personal relationships. A phobia can be caused by numerous things, including genetic and environmental factors, such as distressing events and near-death experiences. Exposure to confined spaces, extreme heights, or animal or even insect bites can be sources of phobias. Similarly, individuals with ongoing medical conditions or health concerns can also deve...

According to psychiatrist David Crawford, insomnia does not just affect younger people in their 20s and 30s – even older women can suffer from it, and there are certain foods that make them more prone to it. Recent studies have shown that older women who consume a large amount of sweets and processed grains may be more likely to suffer from insomnia than those who do not consume a lot of these foods. The research, which was participated in by over 50,000 women in their mid-60s who have already gone through menopause, examined data from the participants’ food diaries and found that women with the highest dietary glycemic index scores, or those who consumed more refined carbohydrates such as white bread, sweets, and sugary soda, were 11% more likely than women with lower scores to report to have insomnia by the end of the study period. Researchers also take into account that they are past menopausal stage, a transition that is also associated with an increased risk of sleep problem...

David Crawford MD, a psychiatrist, believes that food can have a significant effect on your mood and emotions. Eating too much sugar may increase your risk for mood disorders, including depression. Sugar is naturally occurring in complex carbohydrates, which includes fruits, vegetables, and grains. It is also present in its simple, refined form in foods like pasta, cakes, baked goods, soda, and candy, to name a few. The consumption of too many simple sugars is what puts you at risk for mood disorders – eating unprocessed, whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, and fish for heart and brain health is a must in warding off chronic diseases and mental health issues such as depression. Another thing that makes simple sugar dangerous is that studies have shown that it is more addictive than cocaine – the high you get from it is stronger than the high one can get from cocaine. It is also linked to inflammation, which is linked to depression. Symptoms of inflammation are also common...

David Crawford MD believes that there is a link between nutrition and pain relief to patients suffering from osteoarthritis. Small changes to an individual’s lifestyle and diet could help with pain relief as well as prevent the condition from getting worse. Osteoarthritis affects mostly the knees and hips and individuals with the condition often feel joint stiffness and severe pain, which makes it difficult for them to perform daily activities. While there is no cure for it, doctors often manage symptoms through surgery or by using pain medication. There are also a number of lifestyle changes that doctors recommend to help patients manage their symptoms, including: Weight loss Losing any extra weight relieves the pressure on your joints, which lessens the pain and helps slow down cartilage loss. Overweight osteoarthritis patients can lose weight safely with a balanced diet that is rich in healthy fats, protein, and green, leafy vegetables and avoiding processed foods and ...