Could inhaling a deep whiff of another person’s sweat help ease crippling social anxiety? Quite possibly, new Swedish research suggests. The notion stems from a trial that involved just 48 women. All struggled with what’s known as social anxiety disorder — an often intense and relentless fear of being watched or judged by others when…  read on >  read on >

In yet another sign of the stress that can haunt gay, lesbian and bisexual youth, a new study finds that compared with their straight peers, they are twice as likely to report trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Depression and family conflict may be contributing to sleep issues in young LGBTQ people, the researchers noted.…  read on >  read on >

Close relationships — and whether your experiences within those relationships are positive or negative — could influence your physical health. New research found that the way you feel about your close relationships may affect the way your body functions. “Both positive and negative experiences in our relationships contribute to our daily stress, coping and physiology,…  read on >  read on >

For depressed or anxious children, taking melatonin may afford a good night’s sleep and, as a result, lower the odds they will harm themselves, new research suggests. The risk of self-harm increased before melatonin was prescribed and decreased by about half after kids started taking the supplement, the study found. Teen girls suffering from depression…  read on >

While all Americans could benefit from proposed new limits on what’s called PM2.5 air pollution, new research indicates the change has the potential to benefit Black and low-income Americans the most. The limits being considered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) could cut death rates in those more vulnerable groups by up to 7%,…  read on >  read on >

While thinking declines can be a common symptom of multiple sclerosis in women, new research suggests sleep, or lack of it, could be making matters worse. “Sleep disorders have gained substantial recognition for their role in cognitive [thinking] decline, which affects up to 70% of people with multiple sclerosis,” explained study author Dr. Tiffany Braley,…  read on >  read on >

Women who have both of their ovaries removed before age 43 have an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease or parkinsonism, according to a recent study. This may owe to the sudden loss of estrogen and other hormones, which causes an abrupt endocrine dysfunction in premenopausal women, researchers said. Study results were similar to 2008…  read on >  read on >

While some gamble socially and others do it for a living, it’s a serious addiction for those who have an uncontrollable urge to keep going at the risk of losing everything. “In our brain, the centers involved with gambling addiction are the same centers involved with substance addiction,” said Dr. Asim Shah, professor and executive…  read on >  read on >