The role of stress and one’s working environment in the disease process cannot be understated or underestimated. Yet, little attention is often given to such factors in preventing as well as reversing health conditions.
Recent research has drawn an interesting link between one’s risk of heart disease (and death) and working for a poor boss. This connection is discussed in more detail in the following article. (more…)
Two to three centuries ago, the American population was quite healthy overall.
Fast forward two to three hundred years, and, despite being one of the technological leaders of the world and being the top national spenders on medical care (spending a very large proportion of its GDP on medical bills), th US today is very heavily diseased and chronically ill. What’s gone wrong? (more…)
Don’t you just love the feeling of being in amongst nature, enjoying the serenity and fresh air? I most certainly do, and, compared to the polluted and noisy cities, it really feels like a different world altogether.
And it’s not just about feelings, too. There are clear, quantifiable health benefits, as the following studies outline. (more…)
A recent study has suggested that psychological counseling may boost breast cancer patients’ likelihood of survival.
By undergoing sessions which focused on improving mood, effective coping and altering health behaviors, it seemed the patients’ stress levels were reduced and this helped them to live longer. (more…)
When a friend is ill, we sometimes bring plants or flowers while visiting. People also report feeling better after going for a walk in the park. Indeed, nature gives us an array of health benefits, including fresh air, stress reduction and peace of mind.
A recent study at Kansas State University has strongly suggested that contact with plants directly benefits the health of hospital patients. (more…)
Intuitively as well as scientifically, we have a feel of how stress and diet both play large roles in cancer development. A study published in August 2008 in the International Journal of Oncology has given us some clues of how these two factors may interact to affect cancer risk.
In gist – stress induces certain hormones which promote growth, and this in turn seems to promote the growth of cancer cells. The good news is that we can inhibit this process by eating cruciferous vegetables. (more…)
A recent study at the University College London has found that stress raises the risk of heart problems, including heart attack, by steering people toward undesirable lifestyle habits.
Published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, the study had tracked 6,576 participants of the Scottish Health Study for a period of 7 years. (more…)
A study published in the October issue of Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences has revealed a certain “formula” for older folks to “thrive”, or enjoy excellent health, in their latter years.
The study, conduced by the Portland State University, the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Oregon Health & Science University, and Statistics Canada, had followed 2,432 Canadians for a period of ten years. “Thrivers” were those who enjoyed great health throughout the entire decade. (more…)