'Mindfulness' on Your Mind? It Has Limits, Review Finds

• Denise Mann HealthDay Reporter
• January 14, 2021
• Full Page

Mindfulness is all the rage when it comes to boosting mental health, but new research suggests that it may not help everyone equally.

Practicing mindfulness meditation -- which involves paying close attention to what you are feeling in the ...

More Breast Cancer Survivors Opting for 'Going Flat' After Mastectomy

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• January 14, 2021
• Full Page

When journalist Catherine Guthrie learned that she would need to have a mastectomy following a breast cancer diagnosis, she was shocked by what seemed like a cursory explanation from her surgeon about what would happen next.

That included r...

'Awareness' Under C-Section Anesthesia May Be Less Rare Than Thought

• Robert Preidt
• January 13, 2021
• Full Page

It's a woman's worst nightmare: You're having a C-section under anesthesia, but you suddenly become aware of what is happening during your surgery.

Now, a new study shows that phenomenon, known as "accidental awareness," is more common than believed. In fact, it may occ...

For Many Cancer Patients, Diagnosis Brings Psychological 'Silver Lining'

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• January 11, 2021
• Full Page

Could a cancer diagnosis sometimes produce positive life changes? In a new study, many people with colon cancer, even in advanced stages, believed their diagnosis had brought some beneficial effects to their lives.

In surveys of 133 colon cancer patients, researchers fo...

Coping With Anxiety, Fear During a Rocky Presidential Transition

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• January 8, 2021
• Full Page

The nation is in a state of shock and outrage over Wednesday's riotous siege on the U.S. Capitol Building by supporters of President Donald Trump, and there could be still worse to come before the Jan. 20 inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.

So, taking care of your...

'Pandemic Fatigue' Setting in? Here's How to Stay Safe and Strong

• Cara Murez
• January 8, 2021
• Full Page

The COVID-19 pandemic may feel like it's been going on forever, but it's important to keep up safety measures, a mental health expert says.

Dr. Olusinmi Bamgbose, a psychiatrist at Cedars-Sinai in Southern California -- an area that's facing an unprecedented surge in cor...

Is Self-Control the Key to a Long, Healthy Life?

• Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
• January 7, 2021
• Full Page

If your children are well-behaved, do they stand a greater chance of having healthy, happy lives as adults?

A new study says yes.

After tracking just over 1,000 New Zealanders from birth to the age of 45, investigators found that kids who were goal-oriented and bet...

Hope Can Save People From Making Bad Choices: Study

• Robert Preidt
• January 7, 2021
• Full Page

Hope may help prevent you from doing things that aren't good for you, a new study claims.

The investigators wanted to find out why some people are more likely to fall into risky behaviors, such as gambling, drinking too much, taking drugs and overeating.

To do this...

Survey Shows Mental Woes Spiked in U.S. Pandemic's First Months

• Cara Murez
• January 6, 2021
• Full Page

It may be no surprise that the COVID-19 pandemic is causing some Americans significant psychological distress. That mental trauma hit people hard, even early in the pandemic, new research shows.

A new RAND Corporation study reports that more than 10% of Americans surveye...

Got Wanderlust? Travel Makes Folks Happier, Study Shows

• Steven Reinberg
• January 6, 2021
• Full Page

It might be tough to imagine jetting off to far-flung destinations right now, but new research shows that people who love to travel are happier than homebodies.

Chun-Chu (Bamboo) Chen, an assistant professor in the School of Hospitality Business Management at Washington ...

Stressed Out in Lockdown, America's Young Adults Are Overeating

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• January 4, 2021
• Full Page

When the coronavirus pandemic started, many people began baking banana bread and sourdough loaves at home. Stress eating is nothing new, and 2020 was a year filled with angst for a lot of people.

But researchers at the University of Southern California (USC), Los An...

As Lockdowns Keep Pregnant Women From Exercise, Depression Rates Rise: Study

• Cara Murez
• January 4, 2021
• Full Page

The COVID-19 pandemic is taking a toll on the emotional health of pregnant women whose exercise routines have been disrupted because of the coronavirus, new research shows.

Those women had higher depression scores than their counterparts who were able to exercise as usua...

Laughter As Medicine: Clowns Help Hospitalized Kids Cope

• Cara Murez
• December 31, 2020
• Full Page

Send in the clowns. They could help hospitalized children cope with pain and anxiety.

New research shows that hospital clowns can help improve both physical symptoms and the psychological well-being of children and teens through laughter and play.

For the study,...

Roll Over, Fido. You're Hogging the Bed

• Cara Murez
• December 31, 2020
• Full Page

Forget buying a dog bed. New research shows that nearly half of pet parents say their pooches co-sleep in their owner's bed.

More than 1,000 Australian dog owners participated in the study conducted by Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y.

About 49% of participants, wh...

How to Make Your New Year's Resolutions Stick

• Robert Preidt
• December 30, 2020
• Full Page

If you find it difficult to keep New Year's resolutions, try rephrasing them.

Reformulating a resolution from "I will quit/avoid" to "I will start to" could improve the chances of success, researchers in Sweden say.

They looked at more than 1,000 people who made re...

Saying 'I Understand' Makes a Real Difference, Study Shows

• Cara Murez
• December 30, 2020
• Full Page

Showing support for a person's upset over something they've experienced can actually help boost their positive feelings, new research shows.

Just saying "I understand why you feel that way" makes a difference, according to Ohio State University researchers who explored p...

Pandemic May Be Tougher on Women's Mental Health Than Men's

• Robert Preidt
• December 30, 2020
• Full Page

The COVID-19 pandemic may be taking a bigger toll on women's mental health than on men's, new research suggests.

For the study, researchers examined the results of an online survey of 112 men and 459 women in Canada. The survey took place between March 23 and June 7, 202...

ADHD Raises Adult Suicide Risk, Especially for Women

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• December 29, 2020
• Full Page

Adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have a strikingly high prevalence of attempted suicide, with women being at particular risk, researchers say.

The study of nearly 22,000 Canadian adults found that 14% of those with ADHD had attempted suici...

What Loneliness Looks Like in the Brain

• Cara Murez
• December 29, 2020
• Full Page

As COVID-19 continues to spread and people face more isolation than usual, researchers are noting the impact of loneliness on the brain.

A new study from McGill University in Montreal found a tell-tale signature in the brains of lonely people. Specifically, they discover...

Caring for Elderly Loved Ones During a Holiday Lockdown

• December 24, 2020
• Full Page

While everyone is dealing with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, older adults may feel the loss of holiday traditions the most.

It is possible to make this season feel joyful, even with all the changes. It's also a good time to check on their health and boost their mo...

Involved Dads Make a Difference for Disadvantaged Teens

• Robert Preidt
• December 21, 2020
• Full Page

Dads matter: New research shows how attentive, involved fathers can really boost the mental well-being and behavior of teens from low-income families.

The study looked at 5,000 U.S. children born between 1998 and 2000, and their fathers' involvement with them between ag...

Poll Charts U.S. Parents' Biggest Worries During Pandemic

• Cara Murez
• December 21, 2020
• Full Page

Life has changed for a lot of families during the pandemic, and that has brought with it many worries for parents.

A new national poll found that parents' top concerns for their children include overuse of social media and screen time, internet safety, depression, suici...

Pandemic Tied to Higher Suicide Rate in Blacks, Lowered Rate in Whites: Study

• Denise Mann HealthDay Reporter
• December 17, 2020
• Full Page

The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated racial divides in health care in numerous ways, and a new study reveals yet another: Suicides among Black people doubled during COVID-19 lockdowns, while suicides in white individuals were cut in half during the same period.

"In p...

Loneliness Continues to Rise for Americans Under Lockdown

• Denise Mann HealthDay Reporter
• December 15, 2020
• Full Page

Loneliness, particularly among folks under shelter-in-place orders, is a growing issue for Americans during the coronavirus pandemic, new research finds.

More people report they are feeling lonely, depressed and even harboring thoughts of suicide as COVID-19 cases in the...

Depression in Youth Ups Odds for Adult Illnesses: Study

• Robert Preidt
• December 14, 2020
• Full Page

Having depression during childhood or in the teen years appears to increase the odds of illness and early death later on, researchers say.

The new long-term study included nearly 1.5 million Swedes. Of those, more than 37,000 were diagnosed with depression at least once ...

Too Much Social Media Time Could Raise Risk of Depression

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• December 14, 2020
• Full Page

Young adults who spend hours a day on social media are at heightened risk of developing depression in the near future, new research suggests.

In recent years, a number of studies have linked heavy social media use to an increased risk of depression.

"But then you h...

For Cancer Patients, Holiday Season Can Be a Stressful Time

• December 12, 2020
• Full Page

The holiday season can be difficult for people with cancer, especially with the added stress of the COVID-19 pandemic this year.

As they undergo treatment and cope with symptoms and side effects, they may struggle to get any pleasure from the season, according to the Rut...

Working at Home Brings Its Own Health Perils: Survey

• Denise Mann HealthDay Reporter
• December 10, 2020
• Full Page

Working from home may take its toll on mental and physical health, but making some tweaks to your workspace and your headspace may help maximize the potential benefits and minimize any downsides, a new survey suggests.

Nearly 65% of people who were working from home due ...

Are You Happy? Your Answer May Depend on Where You Live

• Robert Preidt
• December 9, 2020
• Full Page

East or West, where you live can affect how you define happiness, a new study suggests.

Most studies of happiness focus on the Western world's concept that happiness is associated with independence, but in the East, happiness is linked to interdependence with others, say...

Binge Drinking Soared During Lockdown: Survey

• Cara Murez
• December 8, 2020
• Full Page

The COVID-19 pandemic and the life stresses it triggers are exacerbating binge drinking, a new study finds.

Researchers conducted an online survey of nearly 2,000 U.S. adults from mid-March to mid-April 2020, coinciding with a pandemic-related stay-at-home order ("lockdo...

'Body Issues' Raise Depression Risks for Teens

• Robert Preidt
• December 8, 2020
• Full Page

Body dissatisfaction significantly increases teens' risk of depression, researchers say.

The degree of heightened risk ranged from 50% to 285%, according to the report published online Dec. 8 in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.

"These findin...

Study Gauges Mental, Physical Toll of Divorce

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• December 4, 2020
• Full Page

Couples going through a divorce may see their mental well-being deteriorate -- especially if they are having angry exchanges and other conflicts, a new study shows.

The findings are no surprise, experts said. But the study appears to be the first to capture how married p...

Smile When You Get That COVID Vaccine, It'll Hurt Less

• Cara Murez
• December 4, 2020
• Full Page

Could a genuine smile be the key to getting a less-painful vaccination? Researchers from University of California, Irvine, say yes.

That genuine smile, which brings up the corners of the mouth and creates crow's feet around the eyes, can reduce the pain of a needle injec...

Take Care of Your Mental Health During Pandemic

• Robert Preidt
• December 2, 2020
• Full Page

It's crucial that you look after your mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, experts say.

"Historically, we know that pandemics and other public health crises, much like natural disasters, have a lasting impact," said Dr. Itai Danovitch, chair of the department of ...

Pandemic Could Be Golden Time for Narcissists: Study

• Robert Preidt
• December 1, 2020
• Full Page

The coronavirus pandemic is giving some narcissists a chance to bask in the admiration of others, a new study suggests.

It found that narcissists who are essential workers -- including those in restaurants and retail stores -- love their "hero" status.

"The word 'h...

How to Keep Kids Resilient in a Strange Holiday Season

• November 30, 2020
• Full Page

Parents who are worried about the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on their children's mental health can help them build resilience, according to experts from Nationwide Children's Hospital.

A hospital survey found that two-thirds of parents worry that the effects on their ch...

Delirium May Be Only Sign of Severe COVID in Elderly: Study

• Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
• November 25, 2020
• Full Page

Delirium is often the first symptom of COVID-19 to appear in older people, a new study finds.

They may have confusion with an altered level of consciousness, disorientation, inattention and other mental disturbances, but none of the other typical signs of the corona...

Anxiety Might Speed Alzheimer's: Study

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• November 24, 2020
• Full Page

Older adults with memory problems may progress to Alzheimer's more quickly if they are also suffering from anxiety symptoms, a preliminary study suggests.

It's common for people with Alzheimer's disease to have mood symptoms, including anxiety and depression. And some re...

Coping With Lockdown Loneliness During the Holidays

• November 22, 2020
• Full Page

Pandemic lockdowns will increase Americans' risk of loneliness and depression this holiday season, an expert warns.

"People are grieving for similar reasons: loss of family members, jobs, relationships, friendships and physical touch. Everyone is suffering," said Dr....

More Childbearing Women Having Suicidal Thoughts: Study

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• November 20, 2020
• Full Page

The number of women who contemplate suicide or self-harm during or after pregnancy may be on the rise, a large, new study suggests.

Among nearly 600,000 U.S. childbearing women, researchers found that close to 2,700 were diagnosed with suicidality in the year before or a...

Many Young Americans Lonely, Depressed During Pandemic: Survey

• Robert Preidt
• November 20, 2020
• Full Page

Loneliness, anxiety, depression and substance use have increased sharply among young American adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, a survey shows.

Over 1,000 people aged 18 to 35 took part in the online anonymous questionnaire between April 22 and May 11, 2020. Nearly ha...

Dirty Air Endangers Homeless People: Study

• Robert Preidt
• November 19, 2020
• Full Page

Air pollution poses a threat to homeless people's mental and physical health, researchers say.

They asked 138 homeless people in Salt Lake City about when and how they knew the air was polluted and how air pollution makes them feel. They also examined their health record...

Are You Feeling 'Pandemic Fatigue'?

• Cara Murez
• November 18, 2020
• Full Page

As COVID-19 case numbers surge across the United States, some people are experiencing pandemic fatigue after many months of social distancing, mask wearing and quarantines.

Experts from Penn State Health stressed the importance of continued vigilance and following estab...

Amid Lockdowns, Online Exercise Classes Help Seniors Feel Less Alone

• Cara Murez
• November 17, 2020
• Full Page

Participating in group exercise classes is good for seniors and not just in the ways one might expect.

The classes reduce loneliness and social isolation, according to a new study. And early results suggest that's true even after the coronavirus pandemic forced those cla...

Is the Pandemic Harming Kids' Mental Health?

• Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
• November 13, 2020
• Full Page

FRIDAY, Nov. 13, 2020 (HealthDay) -- Since last April, hospital emergency rooms across the United States have seen a sustained surge in visits related to the mental health of school-aged kids, a new report reveals.

The findings suggest the COVID-19 pandemic is taking a t...

Tips to Cope With Lockdown as Cold Weather Arrives

• Robert Preidt
• November 12, 2020
• Full Page

Isolation may pose mental health challenges for people as they spend more time indoors in the winter during the coronavirus pandemic, an expert warns.

Maintaining safe forms of social contact is crucial, especially for people who live alone, according to Frank Ghinassi, ...

B 11/11 Who Are The Loneliest Americans, And Why?

• Robin Foster and Carole Tanzer Miller
• November 11, 2020
• Full Page

Young adults are the loneliest Americans, according to a new study that examined the causes of loneliness throughout adulthood.

Researchers analyzed responses from more than 2,800 people nationwide (ages 20-69) who participated in an online survey.

They found that ...

Did Your Candidate Lose the Election? Study Finds Depression May Follow

• Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
• November 9, 2020
• Full Page

American presidential elections are clearly divisive, but a new analysis suggests they may trigger depression in residents of states that favored the losing candidate.

The investigators gauged the mental health of roughly half a million Americans after the 2016 presiden...

'Green Prescriptions' May Backfire for Some

• Steven Reinberg
• November 9, 2020
• Full Page

So-called "green prescriptions" may end up being counterproductive for people with mental health conditions, researchers say.

Spending time in nature is believed to benefit mental health, so some doctors are beginning to "prescribe" outdoor time for their patients.

Teens Benefit With Less Screen Time, More Time With Sports and Art

• Steven Reinberg
• November 9, 2020
• Full Page

Walking away from TV, laptops and cellphones and spending more time in sports and other extracurricular activities boosts teens' mental health, Canadian researchers say.

Spending less than two hours a day browsing the internet, playing video games and using social media ...