Use Meditation to Relax. Regular meditation can help relax both the mind and the body. The Mayo Clinic offers these suggestions: concentrate on breathing deeply and slowly, focus on relaxing every area of your body, repeat a mantra or prayer, meditate as you walk, read something that’s personally meaningful, listen to soothing music, and focus…

A Stable Family Life Helps Teens Avoid Obesity. Researchers reviewed information on about 3,700 females and 2,600 males aged 14 to 24 and found that those with stable families and strong relationships with their parents were more likely to follow a healthy diet. These children were also more likely to be both physically active and…

Depression Common Among Those with COPD. Two new studies have revealed that patients struggling with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) may have an increased risk for developing depression. The first study followed COPD patients over a three-year period and found one in four participants reported persistent depressive symptoms. The second study found that 22% of…

Heart Failure Boosts Depression Risk! Heart failure appears to be a substantial risk factor for the development of depression among adults over the age of 40. In this study, German researchers followed 66,497 heart failure (HF) patients and a similar number of people without heart failure for five years and found participants in the HF…

Lifestyle Changes May Help Kids with ADHD. Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are often treated with medications; however, new research suggests that parents can also help their kids by promoting healthy habits. Researchers looked at 184 children with ADHD and 104 without the condition and found that those with ADHD were less likely to follow…

Doctor Attire May Affect Patient Outcomes. In this study, participants were shown photos of dermatologists wearing different outfits, and 73% of participants preferred images of doctors wearing a white coat, followed by surgical scrubs at 19%, a suit at 6%, and casual clothing at 2%. The study authors note that patients quickly form opinions about…

Large Waist Size Could Mean Higher Risk for Cognitive Disorders. New research indicates a relationship between a greater waist size and lower levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)—a protein that supports the survival of existing neurons in the brain and encourages the growth and development of new neurons and synapses—that may hasten the development of…

 Email-Based Interventions Improve Wellbeing. In this study, researchers found that participants who engaged with an email-based program aimed at improving their wellbeing experienced long-term improvements in their ability to handle stress, in their confidence in the future, and in the amount of physical activity they engaged in per week. The authors conclude, “Internet-based interventions are…

Depression Affects Many Caregivers of the Critically Ill. According to new research, caregivers of critically ill patients often suffer from depression that lasts long after their loved one’s hospital stay ends. Researchers collected information on 280 caregivers of patients who had been in the ICU for seven days or longer. They then evaluated the caregivers…

Don’t Blame Bad Behavior on the Full Moon. Many parents and teachers swear that children act differently when the moon is full, but new research suggests otherwise. The study tracked more than 5,800 kids across five continents over 28 lunar cycles. While the researchers found that nighttime sleep duration was about five minutes shorter around…