Trying to kick a drinking or smoking habit? Living in an area with ample green spaces may be the answer. A new study out of the University of Exeter found that people with more nature in their neighborhoods had a lower likelihood of smoking and consuming alcohol daily. After evaluating residents in 18 countries and […]
Those Living Near Nature Drink and Smoke Less, Study Shows Continue Reading »
Listening to others is a key part of making connections — but what if you can’t hear them? For those who struggle with hearing loss, effective care may empower them to overcome this obstacle, which could in turn ease the loneliness epidemic among older adults.
According to a new study, providing hearing aids to older generations and teaching them how to use the devices could help them maintain social connections, which often wane as time passes. The authors also say it could reduce increasing feelings of isolation many senior citizens experience.
Per a 2023 University of Michigan survey, 34% of adults between 50 and 80 years old feel isolated sometimes, while 37% feel a lack of companionship. And per the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 3 in 10 adults 65 or above lived alone in 2022.
Obsessive compulsive disorder has many unknowns, including what causes it, why symptoms can differ so much between people, how medication and therapy for it actually work, and why treatment is effective for some people and not for others. In our newly published research, my colleagues and I made a step toward unraveling some of these mysteries by shedding light on the genetics of OCD. Obsessive compulsive disorder is one of the most impairing illnesses worldwide. Affecting about 1 in 50 people globally, OCD is among the top 10 causes of years lost to disability, leading to harmful effects on a person’s ability to work and function in the world and on their family. Compared with people without OCD, a person with the condition has a 30% higher chance of dying prematurely from natural causes, such as infections or other illnesses, and a 300% higher chance of dying early from nonnatural causes, such as accidents or suicide. People with OCD experience obsessions – disturbing, recurrent and unwanted thoughts, fears or mental images – and compulsions, such as repetitive behaviors and rituals performed to ease the anxiety usually caused by obsessions. For example, someone might wash their hands dozens of times or in a specific way to get rid of germs, even if they know it’s excessive or illogical. Avoiding certain places or situations to reduce anxiety or prevent triggering obsessions and compulsions is also common.
Getting seven to nine hours of sleep is a tried-and-true doctor recommendation. While that’s generally solid advice, sleep is an individual thing and your genes can play a role in how much (or little) rest you need. Often called natural short sleepers, some people can snooze between four to six hours each night without feeling
If You Require Less Sleep Than Most, It May Be in Your Genes Continue Reading »
Where there’s a will, there’s a way — but what if you have no will? Whether you want to get better at putting down that cookie, taking deep breaths before blowing up at a friend, or resisting your fifth Amazon purchase of the week, mastering self-control is an important life skill when it comes to
When it comes to identifying a heart attack, every minute counts — and according to the British Heart Foundation, every 10-minute delay in treatment can lead to an extra 3.3 deaths per 100 patients. So, to help speed up the time to treatment, a team of researchers from the University of Mississippi developed wearable technology
New Wearable Tech Can Detect Heart Attacks in Real Time, Study Finds Continue Reading »
A lot has been written about gratitude over the past two decades and how we ought to be feeling it. There is advice for journaling and a plethora of purchasing options for gratitude notebooks and diaries. And research has consistently pointed to the health and relationship benefits of the fairly simple and cost-effective practice of cultivating gratitude.
This article was originally written by Stephen Beech for SWNS — the U.K.’s largest independent news agency, providing globally relevant original, verified, and engaging content to the world’s leading media outlets. The next time you’re out for your daily walk, add a little extra pep in your step — your heart will thank you. A
This article was written by Brian N. Chin, an assistant professor of psychology at Trinity College, for The Conversation — a nonprofit news organization dedicated to sharing the knowledge of researchers and scientists, under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here. “Avoid screens before bed” is one of the most common pieces of
When Martin J. Schreiber first ran for public office in 1962, his wife, Elaine, was his hardest working campaigner and biggest support system. She was there for him in subsequent elections whether he won or lost, and stood proudly by when he became the 39th governor of Wisconsin in 1977. In later years, Elaine remained
