health news

When it comes to a woman's choice of a life-partner, a man's face may mean a lot, a new study finds.

Many women regard men with masculine facial features -- such as a square jaw, larger nose and smaller eyes -- as unsuitable long-term partners, because they're more likely to be domineering, unfaithful, unaffectionate and poor parents, U.K. researchers have found.

On the other hand, women believe that men with finer facial features -- fuller lips, wide eyes and thinner, more curved eyebrows -- to be more committed, less likely to cheat, and to make better parents, said the study by psychologists at Durham and St. Andrews Universities.

More information
There's more on first impressions at the American Psychological Association.

| Tags: Anxiety, Relationships, Women's Health |

Labels: Anxiety, Men's Health, Relationships, Women's Health

Posted by Klodian at 9:42 PM | Digg it | Del.icio.us | Comments

People who experience high levels of stress and anxiety appear to be more likely to develop irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) following a severe gastric infection, UK and New Zealand researchers report

A variety of studies have suggested that the cause of IBD has psychological and behavioral components, Dr. Rona Moss-Morris of the University of Southampton and Dr. Meagan J. Spence of the University of Auckland point out in the medical journal Gut.

This study shows that various psychological factors, particularly stress, anxiety and a tendency to push oneself to keep going when ill and then collapse in response, interact with the physical illness in causing IBS, Moss-Morris told Reuters Health.


SOURCE: Gut, August 2007.

| Tags: Addiction, Anxiety, Digestive, Personality, Work and Life Health |

Labels: Addiction, Anxiety, Digestive, Personality, Stress

Posted by Klodian at 8:58 PM | Digg it | Del.icio.us | Comments

Insomniacs may not only toss and turn all night -- their symptoms may be worsened by a constant need to get up and urinate, Danish researchers reported on Wednesday.

Tests on 20 people who were deliberately deprived of sleep produced more urine at night, and it was saltier than usual, the researchers said. The effects were much stronger in men than in women.

Birgitte Mahler and colleagues at Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark found no differences in urine production or quality during the day in their sleep-deprived volunteers.

Sleep deprivation reduced the usual dip in blood pressure that is seen at night, they found. This, in turn affected blood pressure-related substances such as rennin, angiotensin II and aldosterone, which could have in turn kept the kidneys on a daytime schedule, the researchers said.

The urine of the sleep-deprived volunteers also contained higher than usual levels of sodium and potassium.

| Tags: Anxiety, Sleeping Disorders, Stress |

Labels: Anxiety, Sleeping Disorders, Stress

Posted by Klodian at 8:18 AM | Digg it | Del.icio.us | Comments

Fainting occurs due to a sudden drop in blood flow to the brain, resulting in brief loss of consciousness. Fainting can be accompanied by dizziness or nausea.

Here are some common triggers, courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

- Straining during urination or a bowel movement.
- Excessive coughing.
- Standing for too long in the same position, or quickly standing up from a lying position.
- Severe pain, stress, fear or emotional distress.
- Excessive bleeding or dehydration.
- Medications used to treat conditions like high blood pressure, anxiety, allergies and nasal congestion.
- Use of drugs or alcohol.
- Low blood sugar.

Sourse - HealthDay News

Labels: Allergy, Anxiety, Stress

Posted by Klodian at 11:05 PM | Digg it | Del.icio.us | Comments

Vitamin D deficiency is a common problem that can lead to a number of serious health conditions, but it can be prevented, says one expert.

People get vitamin D from sun exposure, diet and supplements. Yet vitamin D deficiency is all too common.

In utero and in childhood, not getting enough vitamin D can cause growth retardation, skeletal deformities and increase the risk of future hip fractures. In adults, too little vitamin D can lead to or exacerbate osteopenia, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, fractures, common cancers, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases and cardiovascular diseases.

Holick says that the current recommended adequate intake for vitamin D needs to be increased to 800 to 1,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D3 per day.

More information
The National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements has more about vitamin D.

| Tags: Anxiety, Children's Health, Nutrition, Work and Life Health |

Labels: Anxiety, Cancer, Children's Health, Nutrition

Posted by Klodian at 9:21 PM | Digg it | Del.icio.us | Comments

If you sometimes have problems remembering things, try following these tips from the American Academy of Family Physicians:

Keep lists of things you need to remember, a detailed calendar, and follow a regular daily routine.
Make connections in your mind to help you remember -- like associating places with certain landmarks.
Keep objects you use regularly -- like your keys -- in the same place each time.
When trying to remember the name of a person you just met, repeat his or her name to yourself.
Keep your mind and body busy and active.

Sourse - HealthDay News

| Tags: Anxiety, Depression |

Labels: Anxiety, Depression

Posted by Klodian at 5:48 PM | Digg it | Del.icio.us | Comments

Dealing with the death of a loved one, friend or family member can take a toll on your health -- both physically and emotionally.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions to cope with a loss:

- There is no right or wrong way to feel -- allow yourself to experience any emotions.
- Ask for help when you need it, and talk to friends and family about what you're going through.
- Keep up with your regular daily tasks to prevent them from piling up and overwhelming you.
- Try to maintain a regular daily routine.
- Get plenty of sleep, eat a healthy diet, and avoid alcohol.
- Try to avoid making any major decisions while still dealing with your loss.

Sourse - HealthDay News

| Tags: Anxiety, Personality |

Labels: Anxiety, Personality

Posted by Klodian at 9:18 PM | Digg it | Del.icio.us | Comments

Typical signs of depression actually show a change in the way a person has come to think about himself.
“I just can’t get myself to do any work around the house. My marriage is falling apart.”
“My hair is thinning. I’m losing my looks. No one will care about me anymore.”

These are typical thoughts of people who are depressed and show a change in thinking, feeling and acting.

Here are other signs of depression :
Continual feelings of sadness, emptiness and helplessness that seem to have no cause
Loss of interest or pleasure in ordinary activities
Decreased energy, fatigue
Sleep and/or eating problems
Difficulty concentrating and making decisions
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness and helplessness
Irritability, excessive crying
Chronic physical aches and pains that do not go away
Feelings of hopelessness
Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts

If a person shows several of the above signs of depression for an extended period (2 weeks or more) he should consult a physician.
| Tags: Anxiety, Depression, Sleeping Disorders |

Labels: Anxiety, Depression, Sleeping Disorders

Posted by Klodian at 9:46 PM | Digg it | Del.icio.us | Comments

Problems at school, home, or frustrations with friends can all lead to stress in children. Like adults, children need to learn healthy outlets for stress, and how to deal with their emotions.

Here are suggestions to help your child when she's stressed, courtesy of the Nemours Foundation:

Encourage her to talk to people she trusts -- if not you, then a teacher, counselor or relative.
Help her work out her stress, by biking or walking, listening to music, or writing in a journal.
Don't let her take stress out on herself.
Once she's calm, work with her to figure out a solution to the problem that's causing her stress.
Try to keep her feeling positive -- there are few problems that can't be solved, and stress is only temporary.

Sourse - HealthDay News

| Tags: Anxiety, Children's Health, Stress |

Labels: Anxiety, Children's Health, Stress

Posted by Klodian at 9:05 PM | Digg it | Del.icio.us | Comments

Resulting brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

People who are often stressed out or depressed are far more likely to develop memory problems than those with sunnier dispositions, U.S. researchers said on Monday in a finding that sheds light on early predictors of Alzheimer’s disease.

They said those who most often are anxious or depressed were 40 times more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment, a form of memory loss that is often a transitional stage between normal aging and dementia.

“Not only are these individuals losing cognition, but they are showing many of the changes in the brain that are associated with Alzheimer’s disease,”

| Tags: Anxiety, Depression, Stress |

Labels: Anxiety, Depression, Stress

Posted by Dottore at 9:28 PM | Digg it | Del.icio.us | Comments

Studies show that the incidence of mental illness on college campuses is rising, and a new survey of 2,785 college students indicates that more than half of students with significant symptoms of anxiety or depression do not seek help.

This is despite the fact that resources are available at no cost on campus, said Daniel Eisenberg, assistant professor at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Eisenberg and doctoral students Sarah Gollust and Ezra Golberstein conducted the Web-based survey in an attempt to quantify mental health service use and factors associated with whether or not students seek help.

A study looking at the same issues at 12-15 universities nationwide will begin this fall, Eisenberg said.


For more on Eisenberg, see: http://www.sph.umich.edu/iscr/faculty/profile.cfm?uniqname=daneis

| Tags: Anxiety, Public Health and Safety, Sleeping Disorders |

Labels: Anxiety, Depression, Public Health, Sleeping Disorders

Posted by Klodian at 4:22 PM | Digg it | Del.icio.us | Comments

Suicide attempts dropped among people with depression soon after they started treatment, either with antidepressant drugs or psychotherapy, a study of more than 109,000 patients shows.

The study results come after a controversial 2004 recommendation on antidepressant labeling from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). That move slapped a strong "black box" warning on the labeling of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which include Celexa, Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft.

Sourse - HealthDay

| Tags: Anxiety, Depression |

Labels: Anxiety, Depression

Posted by Klodian at 11:02 PM | Digg it | Del.icio.us | Comments

Growing up, my dad always smoked cigarettes. At least 2 daily packs of either Camel Lights or Ultra Lights, depending, I suppose, on what level of tar he was feelin’ that day. I went to school every day wearing clothes completely reaking of smoke, and, suffice it to say, the other kids noticed. I was so embarassed by it that I swore that I would NEVER touch a cigarette as long as I lived.

Well, high school hit, and somewhere between classes and social pressures, my previous resolutions went right out the window. At age 14, I took my first drag and thus began a 7-year long addiction. Why did I decide to smoke that first cigarette? Who knows. I’m sure there are a lot of things feeding into at the time, including my young stupidity, but if you are a proponent of determinism, as I am, then you also know that it couldn’t have been any other way.

read more

| Tags: Addiction, Anxiety, Smoking Cessation |

Labels: Addiction, Anxiety, Smoking Cessation

Posted by Klodian at 9:40 PM | Digg it | Del.icio.us | Comments