Why your sleep and wake cycles affect your mood
It’s no accident that most people tend to sleep at night and are awake during the day. Our sleep-wake cycle is determined by our circadian rhythm, the body’s internal clock. Like old-time clocks, this internal clock needs to be reset every day, and is adjusted by first exposure to light in the morning.
How does circadian rhythm work?
Our circadian rhythms are controlled by multiple genes and are responsible for a variety of important functions, including daily fluctuations in wakefulness, body temperature, metabolism, digestion, and hunger. Circadian rhythm also controls memory consolidation (the formation of long-term...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - May 13, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Lawrence Epstein, MD Tags: Behavioral Health Mental Health Sleep Source Type: blogs
5 Things To Be Proud Of When Fighting Depression (And How To Get Better)
I have heard depression described as an angry black shadow that follows you wherever you go -- and this is a description I agree with wholeheartedly.
I mean, if you take a second to think about it, it just makes sense.
You are forever in its presence, constantly aware of it, but not often within its dark embrace. You feel it creeping away at the edge of your consciousness, but everytime you turn to look at it, it disappears into nothingness.
Then it suddenly engulfs you at the slightest provocation, and you are rendered completely and utterly incapitated.
During these times it feels as if the world is end...
Source: PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement - May 12, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Lindsay Israel Tags: depression featured motivation psychology self-improvement positivity Source Type: blogs
Can light therapies help with bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder characterized by episodes of both depressed and elevated mood. It typically begins in the late teens to early 20s. During depressive episodes, people experience low mood, loss of self-confidence, hopelessness, and impaired sleep and appetite. Manic episodes are marked by an increase in energy, euphoric or irritable and rapidly changing mood, higher self-confidence, and decreased need for sleep. People may experience a mood episode every few years, or as frequently as several times a year.
Bipolar disorder can be treated with medications and psychotherapy. Certain chronotherapies — appr...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - February 18, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Elizabeth Liebson, MD Tags: Anxiety and Depression Behavioral Health Complementary and alternative medicine Mental Health Source Type: blogs
6 Ways to Stay Positive During the Dark and Cold Winter
“In the depths of winter I finally learned there was in me an invincible summer.”
Albert Camus
“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.”
Anne Bradstreet
Up here in Sweden the winter is dark, cold and often comes with a mix of rain and snow.
And spring is still far away.
It is not easy to keep the energy and optimism up like in the bright and warm summer days.
So today I'd like to share 6 habits I use that make it a lot easier to stay positive even throughout this dark and often grey season.
1. Find one of your b...
Source: Practical Happiness and Awesomeness Advice That Works | The Positivity Blog - January 15, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Henrik Edberg Tags: Habits Happiness Personal Development Success Source Type: blogs
From Lifespan to Healthspan: Brain Scientists Tap Into The Secrets Of Living Well Longer
Yolanda Esparza (right) and Mary Lyons (left) continue their 2‑mile group trail ride originating from the Conley-Guerrero Senior Activity Center in Austin, Texas, on Dec. 3, 2019. (Julia Robinson for KHN)
_____
AUSTIN, Texas — Retired state employees Vickey Benford, 63, and Joan Caldwell, 61, are Golden Rollers, a group of the over-50 set that gets out on assorted bikes — including trikes for adults they call “three wheels of awesome” — for an hour of trail riding and camaraderie.
“I love to exercise, and I like to stay fit,” said Caldwell, who tried out a recumbent bike, a low-impact option that can be eas...
Source: SharpBrains - January 8, 2020 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Sharon Jayson at KHN Tags: Cognitive Neuroscience Education & Lifelong Learning Health & Wellness behavioral neuroscientists brain brain-body connection brain-training-exercises cognitive decline Golden Rollers healthspan keep-brain-sharp lifespan nutritioni Source Type: blogs
Psoriasis and cancer: What ’s the link?
This study does not go into detail about the extent to which these comorbidities may influence the increased risk of cancer in psoriasis patients.
People with severe psoriasis often do not get enough relief with topical therapies (ones applied to the skin), such as topical corticosteroids and vitamin D analogues. They may then be started on medications that target specific immune cells and proteins. Some of these medications increase the risk of infections. Previous studies have found little to no increased risk of cancer in patients receiving these therapies. Other treatments, such as phototherapy (light therapy), are kno...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - December 5, 2019 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Dominic Wu, MD Tags: Cancer Skin and Hair Care Source Type: blogs
5 Things To Be Proud Of When Fighting Depression (And How To Get Better)
You're reading 5 Things To Be Proud Of When Fighting Depression (And How To Get Better), originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you're enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.
I have heard depression described as an angry black shadow that follows you wherever you go -- and this is a description I agree with wholeheartedly.
https://unsplash.com/photos/VBWWscZtszY
I mean, if you take a second to think about it, it just makes sense.
You are forever in its presence, constantly aware of it, but not often within its dark embrace. You feel it creepin...
Source: PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement - November 22, 2019 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Lindsay Israel Tags: depression family featured health and fitness motivation psychology self confidence self improvement mental health pickthebrain Source Type: blogs
Light Therapy Device to Treat Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon monoxide (CO) is one of the most common substances that people are poisoned by. It has no smell and is invisible to the naked eye, but can cause severe damage to tissues and lead to death. Patients who have already suffered significant lung damage because of CO inhalation too often don’t respond sufficiently to pure oxygen. Now, researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have shown that a new device that treats patient blood using visible light works better that standard of care oxygen therapy.
The research, so far performed in laboratory mice, uses an extracorporeal membrane oxygenator to shine light th...
Source: Medgadget - October 11, 2019 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Medgadget Editors Tags: Anesthesiology Cardiology Critical Care Emergency Medicine Public Health Source Type: blogs
Vitiligo: More than skin deep
Vitiligo (pronounced vit-uh-LIE-go) is a medical condition in which patches of skin lose their color. This occurs when melanocytes, the cells responsible for making skin pigment, are destroyed. Vitiligo can affect any part of the body, and it can occur in people of any age, ethnicity, or sex.
Affecting approximately 1% of the population, vitiligo can be an emotionally and socially devastating disease. Particularly frustrating to many is its unpredictable progression, which can be slow or rapid.
Thus far, there is no cure for vitiligo. But new hope is on the horizon, thanks to recent research that is improving our understan...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - September 26, 2019 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Kristina Liu, MD, MHS Tags: Autoimmune diseases Health Skin and Hair Care Source Type: blogs
Cosmetic brands and big companies – Who owns that – episode 191
On this episode of the Beauty Brains we answer a number of beauty product questions and talk about big companies and the brands they own.
Beauty Questions
What is the big deal about squalane Does the number of ingredients in a product impact its effectiveness? Are dip nails safe? And how do anti-dandruff shampoos work?
Beauty News
Rhode Island offers free sunscreen
The International Top 30 Household and Personal Products Companies
Recall Roundup – We check the FDA website so you don’t have to
Neutrogena light therapy mask recalled
See the FDA Recall site for youself
Beauty Questions
Gilli...
Source: thebeautybrains.com - August 6, 2019 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Perry Romanowski Tags: Podcast antidandruff dip nails squalane Source Type: blogs
Cosmetic brands and big companies – Who owns that – episode 191
On this episode of the Beauty Brains we answer a number of beauty product questions and talk about big companies and the brands they own.
Beauty Questions
What is the big deal about squalane Does the number of ingredients in a product impact its effectiveness? Are dip nails safe? And how do anti-dandruff shampoos work?
Beauty News
Rhode Island offers free sunscreen
The International Top 30 Household and Personal Products Companies
Recall Roundup – We check the FDA website so you don’t have to
Neutrogena light therapy mask recalled
See the FDA Recall site for youself
Beauty Questions
Gilli...
Source: thebeautybrains.com - August 6, 2019 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Perry Romanowski Tags: Podcast antidandruff dip nails squalane Source Type: blogs
Gold Nanoparticle-Coated Surgical Meshes for Photothermal Infection Control
Researchers at the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO) in Catalonia have developed a new technique to decontaminate surgical meshes once they are implanted in the body. The technique involves gold nanoparticle-coated meshes that heat up when they are exposed to near infrared light, destroying bacterial biofilms on the mesh surface. The researchers hope that this technique could be used to treat serious bacterial infections that can occur following the implantation of such meshes.
Surgical meshes are used in a variety of surgical procedures, with one of the most common being hernia repair. However, the meshes can become c...
Source: Medgadget - May 29, 2019 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Conn Hastings Tags: Nanomedicine Surgery Source Type: blogs
VitalMinds from Philips to Control Delirium in ICU
Patients in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) often suffer through delirium, including experiencing disorientation and witnessing hallucinations. Going through delirium seems to negatively affect future outcomes, in addition to being a hindrance to receiving proper medical care while hospitalized. For these reasons acute delirium should be dealt with, but there are few real treatment options. Philips is now releasing a solution that the company believes will help to lessen the frequency of delirium in ICU patients.
The VitalMinds product consists of a VitalSkyp light therapy system, a controlled sound environment, and training ...
Source: Medgadget - May 6, 2019 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Editors Tags: Critical Care Neurology Psychiatry Source Type: blogs
Ultraviolet and Red Light Kill Infections in Donor Organs
Donor organs are hard to come by partially because of ischemic damage, physical damage, presence of infection, and other reasons. Researcher at the University of Toronto in Canada and University of São Paulo in Brazil have developed a method of getting rid of bacteria and viruses from donor organs using only light.
The technique involves first removing all donor blood from the organ, running a preservation liquid through the organ, and illuminating organs using ultraviolet and red light for about a half hour or so. In order to boost effectiveness, a photosensitizing drug is introduced into the liquid that is activated by ...
Source: Medgadget - April 15, 2019 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Editors Tags: News Source Type: blogs
Pocket Sky Wearable For Seasonal Affective Disorder, Jetlag, and Shift Work Disorder
Active Wearables, a medtech startup based in Austria, has released Pocket Sky, a wearable designed to combat conditions resulting from time shifts and poor access to sunlight. The device can be worn like a pair of glasses and emits blue light to emulate sunlight, supposedly suppressing the production of melatonin. The company claims that the technology can help with conditions that are based on limited sunlight, such as seasonal affective disorder, or issues with circadian rhythms, such as jetlag or shift work disorder.
People with seasonal affective disorder can suffer depression during the winter. The disorder is linked ...
Source: Medgadget - February 6, 2019 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Conn Hastings Tags: Neurology Psychiatry Source Type: blogs
