Stressed out, anxious or desperately needing to recharge? Grab some knitting needles and a pretty ball of yarn — Swedish research shows yarncraft improves mental health without medication. “Knitters have a creative leisure interest that can also help them cope with life and so improve their mental health,” said first author Joanna Nordstrand, an occupational… read on > read on >
People with heart disease can stay healthier if they address their emotional problems as well as their physical ailments, a new study says. Treating anxiety and depression reduced ER visits and hospitalizations among patients with heart disease, researchers report in the Journal of the American Heart Association. Psychotherapy, mood-controlling medication or a combination of the… read on > read on >
For the first time, the United States has fallen out of the top 20 spots on the annual world’s happiest nations list. Americans are now No. 23, far behind the top five countries — Finland (No. 1), Denmark, Iceland, Sweden and Israel. “The United States of America (23rd) has fallen out of the top 20… read on > read on >
Planting trees and bushes near busy highways helps clear the air of harmful air pollutants from motor vehicles, new research affirms. “They provide benefits that go beyond aesthetics,” Roby Greenwald, an associate professor of public health at Georgia State University in Atlanta, said in a university news release. “But,” he added, “I don’t want to… read on > read on >
Two of America’s leading health organizations are highlighting a global rise in measles cases as yet another reason for families to make sure they get the measles vaccine. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Medical Association (which represents the nation’s doctors), each issued advisories on Monday stressing the need for… read on > read on >
Grumbling and grousing to others isn’t an effective way of reducing rage, a new review shows. Folks who vent about a source of anger might feel better in the moment, but that won’t diminish their ire, researchers found. Instead, stress-reducing techniques like deep breathing, mindfulness, meditation and yoga are much more effective alternatives than griping,… read on > read on >
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first drug to treat yeast ear infections in dogs. DuOtic is also the first ear infection medication that does not contain an antibiotic, the FDA said in its approval announcement. The drug will allow veterinarians to avoid using antibiotics when treating dogs with yeast-only ear infections,… read on > read on >
As millions of Americans prepare to travel abroad this summer and measles outbreaks increase worldwide, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has tightened its guidance on how travelers should handle the potential health threat. Americans planning to fly to other countries should consult their doctors at least six weeks before they leave, if… read on > read on >
A parasite that can kill dogs has been found in a portion of the Colorado River that runs through Southern California. Heterobilharzia americana is a flatworm usually referred as liver fluke. It has never been reported this far west, according to scientists at UCRiverside, who are warning pet owners of the danger. The worm can… read on > read on >
Playing fetch or grooming Fido isn’t just good for your precious pooch — it also benefits your brain. Such interactions appear to strengthen brain waves associated with rest and relaxation, South Korean researchers report in the March 13 issue of the journal PLOS One. Their small study compared people’s mood or hormone levels before and… read on > read on >
