A SET of mysterious medical symptoms first seen in US offcails in Cuba’s capital.
Since 2016, people from the US working for the government from several different countries have experienced similar symptoms:
Most people with Havana syndrome hear a loud noise and feel intense pressure or vibration in their head, as well as pain in their ears or head.
Other symptoms included problems with:
Cognition (e.g., related to memory and concentration)Dizziness and balanceHeadachesIrritabilityLight and sound sensitivitiesNauseaRinging in the ears, which is called tinnitusSleep impairment
Source: health.com
A new study conducted by researchers at the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), found “real symptoms” of the mystery ailment they called “quite profound” and “disabling”.
One examined brain imaging while the other looked at blood biomarkers and clinical assessments of hearing, vision, hand-eye coordination, cognitive ability and balance.
Neither study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found any significant differences between a control group of healthy people and about 80 sufferers of the condition.
Despite the lack of visible scarring seen in their MRI tests, the NIH doctors behind the new study voiced sympathy for the afflicted diplomats and their health issues.
“These individuals have real symptoms and are going through a very tough time,” Dr Leighton Chan, NIH’s chief of rehabilitation medicine and the study’s lead author, wrote.
“They can be quite profound, disabling and difficult to treat.”
Researchers said it’s good news that they couldn’t spot long-term markers on brain scans that are typical after trauma or stroke.
Despite the lack of medical evidence, participants continued to report fatigue, post-traumatic stress (PTSD), depression, dizziness, vertigo and unsteadiness that cannot be explained by another illness.
Dr French said: “The post-traumatic stress and mood symptoms reported are not surprising given the ongoing concerns of many of the participants.
“Often these individuals have had significant disruption to their lives and continue to have concerns about their health and their future.
“This level of stress can have significant negative impacts on the recovery process.”
In 2019, a separate study by the University of California said that Havana syndrome was likely a psychological illness, triggered by the fear of working in a hostile “cauldron of stress” in Cuba and China.
The team said the phenomenon is more akin to shell shock, with the symptoms paralleling those associated with war trauma.
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Publish date : 2025-01-10 03:02:00
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