If you’ve ever cared for an elderly loved one you know how challenging it can be. The fact is that it’s difficult to watch someone close to you struggle mentally and physically, and being there for them around the clock can take a toll on you. What are the best ways to cope and make… Continue reading 10 Dos and Don’ts of Caring for the Elderly
Tag: Depression
How Our Brains and Personalities Protect Against Emotional Distress
Researchers at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois recently examined a sample of 85 healthy college students to see how a number of personality traits can protect an individual’s brain against symptoms of emotional distress, namely depression and anxiety. A release from the institute quotes Matt Moore, a… Continue reading How Our Brains and Personalities Protect Against Emotional Distress
Anxiety, Depression May Increase Heart Attack and Stroke Risk in People Over 45
Adults ages 45 or older who experience psychological distress such as depression and anxiety may have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, according to new research in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, an American Heart Association journal. In a study of 221,677 participants from Australia, researchers found that: among women, high/very high psychological distress… Continue reading Anxiety, Depression May Increase Heart Attack and Stroke Risk in People Over 45
Am I Sleep-Deprived and Tired – or Depressed?
Sleep-deprived? It’s common sense that being fatigued generally leaves us in a foul mood. But how can we tell when we’re sleep-deprived and merely tired – or if we’re actually depressed? I frequently speak to curious patients about this issue. Since exhaustion, irritability, lack of motivation, anxiety and tearfulness are all symptoms of sleep deprivation… Continue reading Am I Sleep-Deprived and Tired – or Depressed?
A New Way to Deal with The Body Image Blues
Researchers know a lot about what makes a woman’s body image worse, but there are few proven methods of changing that attitude. Now, though, researchers have come up with a method that appears to work better than verbal affirmations: giving women writing exercises to address their own body. The issue of negative body image is… Continue reading A New Way to Deal with The Body Image Blues
Men Tolerate Stress Incontinence Years Before Seeking Help
Men who suffer from stress urinary incontinence often endure it for more than two years before asking for medical help, researchers say. And one third of those men put up with it for more than five years. The findings, according to UT Southwestern researchers, indicate the importance of physicians’ checking for the problem. Published in… Continue reading Men Tolerate Stress Incontinence Years Before Seeking Help
Considering Microdosing LSD for Treatment-Resistant Depression? Read This First
For years Rachel* found herself battling a recurrent and noxious depression. She tried Zoloft but it had little effect. Nor did regular psychotherapy. In 2010 the then 45-year-old, a life coach, yoga devotee, and single mother began contemplating hallucinogens. She’d tried an LSD tab decades before at a music festival and found the 20-hour experience… Continue reading Considering Microdosing LSD for Treatment-Resistant Depression? Read This First
Study: African Americans and Latinos Likelier than Whites to Be at Risk for Depression
African Americans and Latinos are significantly more likely than Whites to experience serious depression, but chronic stress doesn’t seem to explain the difference, according to a new study. Dr. Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable, director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) and the senior study author, also found that African Americans and… Continue reading Study: African Americans and Latinos Likelier than Whites to Be at Risk for Depression
Psychedelic Drugs Could Help to Fight Depression, Anxiety, Addiction + PTSD
Psychedelic drugs may have mind-altering powers in the physical sense, too. A study done at the University of California, Davis and published June 12th 2018 in the journal Cell Reports found psychedelics — specifically 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI), Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) –can change brain cells in rats and flies, making neurons more likely… Continue reading Psychedelic Drugs Could Help to Fight Depression, Anxiety, Addiction + PTSD
10 Ways to Stay Active
Maintaining an active lifestyle is good for people of all ages. . For seniors, staying active can bring a number of benefits. These include better mood and feelings; lowered risk of stroke, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer; enhanced ability to learn, think and make decisions; and enhanced appreciation of one’s… Continue reading 10 Ways to Stay Active
Researchers Find That Grape-Derived Compounds May Promote Resilience Against Depression
In a study published online February 2nd 2018 in Nature Communications, scientists from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai describe an extensive analysis of novel grape-derived compounds, dihydrocaffeic acid (DHCA) and malvidin-3′-O-glucoside (Mal-gluc),which might be developed as therapeutic agents for the treatment of depression. The study results indicate that these natural compounds may… Continue reading Researchers Find That Grape-Derived Compounds May Promote Resilience Against Depression
Older Adults with Metabolic Syndrome May Be More Resistant to Depression Treatments
Researchers suspect that having Metabolic Syndrome makes it harder for older adults to respond to therapies for depression. (Metabolic Syndrome is a mix of conditions like increased blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol levels). In a new, first of its kind study, published in January 2018… Continue reading Older Adults with Metabolic Syndrome May Be More Resistant to Depression Treatments
African-American Adolescents and Depression
Black adolescents express depressive symptoms differently than people from other age and racial groups, according to a new study, and clinicians need to take that into account when they develop a treatment plan. The study was led by a researcher from Rutgers University-Camden. “Adolescent depression is a dire public concern in the United States, and… Continue reading African-American Adolescents and Depression
How to Conquer Insomnia
The most common sleep problem in adults age 60 and older is insomonia. People with this condition have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. Insomnia can last for days, months, and even years. There are many reasons why older people in particular may not get enough sleep at night. Feeling sick or being in pain can… Continue reading How to Conquer Insomnia
Dry Mouth Linked to Dozens of Medications
In an effort to combat dry mouth, a common side effect of medications, researchers are recommending that health care providers monitor that effect and adjust doses of medicine as needed. Having dry mouth means you don’t have enough saliva to keep your mouth wet. The condition can lead to problems chewing, eating, swallowing, and even… Continue reading Dry Mouth Linked to Dozens of Medications
During Cancer Treatment, Distress Is Associated With Missed Appointments & Hospital Admission
Psychological distress has long been associated with negative health outcomes for cancer patients, though specific reasons remain unclear. A 2017study finds that roughly half of all patients who reported having severe distress, which the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN) describes as “a mix of anxiety and depressive symptoms,” subsequently missed one or more radiation therapy… Continue reading During Cancer Treatment, Distress Is Associated With Missed Appointments & Hospital Admission
Study: A Need to Rethink Hospice Admissions
Many older adults are admitted to hospice for only a short amount of time, even though they have been experiencing symptoms months before the end of life, researchers say. The Yale-led study highlights the need for earlier hospice admission or other strategies to address such cases. The study was published on September 12 in the… Continue reading Study: A Need to Rethink Hospice Admissions
Depression and Menopause
Experts from the London Women’s Centre tell you how to handle the depression that too often occurs with menopause: Women are particularly vulnerable during menopause, as they tend to experience huge hormonal changes, often significantly affecting moods. During menopause, women are four times more likely to suffer from depression than those under the age of… Continue reading Depression and Menopause