A study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that people with substance use disorders (SUDs) are more susceptible to COVID-19 and its complications. The research, published in Molecular Psychiatry, was co-authored by Nora D. Volkow, M.D., director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). The findings suggest that health care providers… Continue reading Substance Abuse and COVID-19
Tag: alcohol
Seeking Alcohol Counseling During the Pandemic
Keeping away from one another is crucial for stopping the coronavirus. But that distancing also risks keeping people away from vital support. “It’s a real danger,” said Mike Marshall, executive director of Oregon Recovers, a coalition of addiction recovery groups. According to a news release from the American Heart Association (AHA), Marshall explained that people… Continue reading Seeking Alcohol Counseling During the Pandemic
COVID-19: How to Safely Use Hand Sanitizer
Each of us can help stop the spread of COVID-19 disease by washing our hands regularly with soap and water for 20 seconds – especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose. If soap and water are not available, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)… Continue reading COVID-19: How to Safely Use Hand Sanitizer
Battling the Overdose Crisis
Whether it’s due to opioids, alcohol poisoning or the overconsumption of another drug, there’s a public-health crisis involving overdoses. People of all ages, from all backgrounds, are unintentionally dying from overdoses due to addiction as well as misuse or abuse of substances like opioids and alcohol. In 2017, more than 190 million prescriptions were written… Continue reading Battling the Overdose Crisis
Alcohol-Related Deaths on The Rise
An analysis of U.S. death certificate data by researchers at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has found that nearly 1 million people died from alcohol-related causes between 1999 and 2017. The number of death certificates mentioning alcohol more than doubled from 35,914 in… Continue reading Alcohol-Related Deaths on The Rise
How to Battle Rosacea Flare-Ups
Rosacea is a common skin condition that causes redness to form across the nose and cheeks. According to dermatologists from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), a number of factors — including sunlight, stress, and many foods and beverages — can play a role in worsening rosacea symptoms. In addition to seeing a dermatologist for… Continue reading How to Battle Rosacea Flare-Ups
Five Myths about Alcohol
It is not uncommon for people to hold familiar myths as fact. Many people regard old proverbs about partying and alcohol as tried and true. Most often, they’re not. Here are five myths – and the real facts: Myth #1: Eating after a night of heavy drinking will reduce your hangover The general belief is… Continue reading Five Myths about Alcohol
In-Person Contact May Protect Vets Against PTSD and Depression
Having regular in-person contact appears to protect against depression and PTSD in veterans, but Facebook contact might not be beneficial. The results of the study, by Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System and Oregon Health and Science University researchers, will appear in the Jan. 15, 2019 issue of the Journal of Affective Disorders. “When we… Continue reading In-Person Contact May Protect Vets Against PTSD and Depression
Lack of Sleep Leads to Risky Behavior in Teens
High school students who don’t get enough sleep are likelier to engage in risky activities ranging from carrying a weapon to attempting suicide, according to research from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.. Previous studies have demonstrated that insufficient sleep among youth can result in learning difficulties, impaired judgment and risk of adverse health behaviors.… Continue reading Lack of Sleep Leads to Risky Behavior in Teens
Alcohol, Not Drugs, Most Popular Among College Students
A federal survey on substance use among teens transitioning to adulthood showed that 13 percent of non-college young adults report daily, or near daily, use of marijuana. Among full-time college students, alcohol use is much more common. Those figures come from The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and its latest Monitoring the Future (MTF)… Continue reading Alcohol, Not Drugs, Most Popular Among College Students
Alcohol and the Aging Brain
There’s really no way around it. Like all other organs and tissues of the human body, the brain is subject to the aging process and the typical structural and functional changes that go along with it. With normal aging, the brain begins to shrink in middle age, losing volume primarily in the frontal lobes and… Continue reading Alcohol and the Aging Brain
The Dangers of Drowsy Driving
Drowsy driving is a major problem in the United States. The risk, danger, and sometimes tragic results of drowsy driving are alarming. Drowsy driving is the dangerous combination of driving and sleepiness or fatigue. This usually happens when a driver has not slept enough, but it can also happen due to untreated sleep disorders, medications,… Continue reading The Dangers of Drowsy Driving
A Third of Young Adults Have Ridden with an Impaired Driver
Roughly a third of recent high school graduates have ridden in a motor vehicle with a substance-impaired driver, according to a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health and other institutions. The study found that during the first two years after high school graduation, 23 percent of young adults had ridden with a… Continue reading A Third of Young Adults Have Ridden with an Impaired Driver
How to Get Your Best Night’s Sleep Every Night
Waking up on the wrong side of the bed is a place we’ve all been: you tossed and turned all night, get up feeling less than refreshed, and are already daydreaming about a Starbucks trip. From busy schedules to poor sleep routines, there’s a plethora of reasons why between 30 and 40 percent of American… Continue reading How to Get Your Best Night’s Sleep Every Night
6 Tips to Reduce Dementia Risk
Nearly 50 million people worldwide currently suffer from dementia, and this is set to almost double by 2030, and more than triple by 2050. Alzheimer’s is the best known, most common form of dementia, the 6th leading cause of death in America, and once diagnosed with it, the average remaining lifespan is only 8 years.… Continue reading 6 Tips to Reduce Dementia Risk
Home Remedies That Can Help Stop Snoring
Although snoring is often the subject of jokes, it can be serious. Snoring affects up to half of adults, according to the Mayo Clinic. Snoring occurs when air flows past the relaxed tissues in your throat and causes the tissues to vibrate as you breathe. It’s often associated with a disorder called obstructive sleep apnea… Continue reading Home Remedies That Can Help Stop Snoring
Simple Steps to Reduce Breast-Cancer Risk
When it comes to breast-cancer prevention, most women know about the importance of self-examinations, mammograms and any genetic factors. But other steps that can help women avoid breast cancer may not be as well known, or at least not as often discussed. “Although breast cancer is, rightfully, a significant concern, every woman should keep in… Continue reading Simple Steps to Reduce Breast-Cancer Risk
The Hidden Health Hazard in Alcohol
Editor’s note: Junk food (and beverages) are heavy on what experts call empty calories – i.e. the calories add up, but without any benefit to you. They won’t leave you satisfied until your next meal, in other words. Here, in a Mayo Clinic Minute broadcast program, Donald Hensrud, M.D., director of the Mayo Clinic Healthy… Continue reading The Hidden Health Hazard in Alcohol