health news

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

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

Tonsil removal (tonsillectomy) does not cause permanent changes to a person's sense of taste or smell, concludes an Austrian study of 65 patients.

"A number of case reports and a few systematic investigations of patients experiencing taste disorders after tonsillectomy have been published. However, based on the present results, taste loss after tonsillectomy seems to be a rare complication," a team at the University of Vienna wrote in the July issue of the journal Archives of Ophthalmology -- Head & Neck Surgery.

The patients rated their taste and smell on a scale of zero to 100 (zero = no taste and smell, and 100 = excellent taste and smell) before and after surgery.
The patients' self-reported scores declined from an average of 62.3 before surgery to 51.1 after surgery.

More information
There's more about tonsillectomy at the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

| Tags: Children's Health, Personality |

Labels: Children's Health, Personality

By detaching, rerouting and reattaching a muscle used for chewing, surgeons were able to restore the ability to smile to seven patients with facial paralysis.

The procedure, called temporalis tendon transfer, is combined with intense physical therapy before and after surgery and could help similarly stricken patients right away.

"It's really a very doable procedure, and we're realizing how it can be done more simply," said study lead author Dr. Patrick Byrne, director of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery in the department of otolaryngology and head and neck surgery at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. "It's very applicable on a wide scale," he added.

According to the study, which appears in the July/August issue of Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, correcting facial paralysis is one of the biggest challenges facing reconstructive surgeons.

"People who smile are happier, and people who can't smile are depressed. It really affects the brain," Byrne said. "There's no question we've seen this in these patients. They are happier and more upbeat after having this procedure."

More information
There's more on this topic at The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

| Tags: Personality, Relationships, Skin and Beauty |

Labels: Personality, Relationships, Skin and Beauty