A Civilization Intent on Eating Itself into an Early Grave
If the successes in technological development achieved over the past few hundred years is teaching us anything, perhaps it should be that individual members of a species that evolved in an environment of pervasive scarcity and intermittent famine are not well equipped for an environment of consistent plenty. Our biochemistry and our instincts lead us astray: eat too many calories and life expectancy and long-term health will suffer for it. This is not new. We are no different from our ancestors in this aspect of the human condition. The change lies in the fact that we now live in an age so wealthy and capable that consiste...
Source: Fight Aging! - July 25, 2017 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Medicine, Biotech, Research Source Type: blogs
How to Change Habits: 5 Proven Tips
Note: This post is written by Gabriel Smith
Almost half of the decisions you make are simply based on habits.
According to a paper published by Duke University, habits are neurological shorthand that frees our minds from the stress of decision making. This behavioral shorthand gives us more bandwidth to focus on unique tasks of our lives.
Most of us form habits unconsciously, wiring our brains into life-sucking routines that are seemingly impossible to short circuit. Quitting bad habits can be hard, but new research shows you can make a permanent change with the right tools.
Here are five tips on how to change habits.
1. R...
Source: Life Optimizer - July 20, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Gabriel Smith Tags: Attitude Learning Source Type: blogs
How to Change Habits: 5 Proven Tips
Almost half of the decisions you make are simply based on habits.
According to a paper published by Duke University, habits are neurological shorthand that frees our minds from the stress of decision making. This behavioral shorthand gives us more bandwidth to focus on unique tasks of our lives.
Most of us form habits unconsciously, wiring our brains into life-sucking routines that are seemingly impossible to short circuit. Quitting bad habits can be hard, but new research shows you can make a permanent change with the right tools.
Here are five tips on how to change habits.
1. Recognize Your Triggers
Recent research in ne...
Source: Life Optimizer - July 20, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Gabriel Smith Tags: Attitude Learning Source Type: blogs
Does Preventive Care Reduce Health Costs?
One anecdote does not constitute evidence; and I cannot vouch for the accuracy of the story below. But the information in the email, reprinted with the sender’s permission, is nevertheless suggestive:Dear Professor:I wasn ’t sure to whom I should write, so please pass this along to an economics colleague who specializes in health care costs.My husband, a man with a BMI of over 40 (a lifelong —since babyhood—“issue”), is currently working as a limousine driver for a commercial carrier regulated by FMCSA [the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration]. In October FMCSA’s Medical Review Board developed new r...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - June 28, 2017 Category: American Health Authors: Jeffrey Miron Source Type: blogs
Lifestyle change: “I know what to do, I just need to do it…but how?”
I hear this nearly every day in my primary care clinic. Many of my patients are overweight or obese, which mirrors the national trend: two out of three adults in the US are overweight or obese. Many of these folks suffer from medical issues such as low back, hip, knee, and foot pain; asthma; obstructive sleep apnea; fatty liver; type 2 diabetes; high blood pressure; high cholesterol; or depression. We know that these conditions often improve with weight loss. So, I often recommend weight loss as a first step in treatment, and the usual approach is through lifestyle change.
Lifestyle change programs for weight loss have bee...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - June 23, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Monique Tello, MD, MPH Tags: Behavioral Health Exercise and Fitness Healthy Eating Prevention Source Type: blogs
Psychology Around the Net: June 17, 2017
Happy Saturday, sweet readers!
My intention for this week’s Psychology Around the Net wasn’t to get straight to the point; rather, I had a story I wanted to share. However, given the topic of several of this week’s stories (you’ll see), I’ve decided to keep it short and sweet and turn off this computer as soon as I can and head out for a white water rafting trip I’ve been both anxious and excited about all week. I’ve never been white water rafting, so wish me luck!
This week’s edition of Psychology Around the Net gets you up to speed on restaurants that are eliminating WiFi f...
Source: World of Psychology - June 17, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Alicia Sparks Tags: Addiction Brain and Behavior Children and Teens Depression Exercise & Fitness Men's Issues Psychology Around the Net Relationships Research Sleep Technology Women's Issues Brown University Concentration Internet Addiction joh Source Type: blogs
How to Understand and Foster Self Esteem in People Living with Dementia
In conclusion, there are many ways to support a person with dementia to develop and maintain a healthy sense of self-esteem. Can anyone think of others not listed in this article?Marie Marley is the award-winning author of ‘Come Back Early Today: A Memoir of Love, Alzheimer ’s and Joy. ’ Caregivers say it helped them a lot, and former caregivers say they wish they’d had it when they were caregivers. She is also co-author (with Daniel C. Potts, MD, FAAN) of ‘Finding Joy in Alzheimer ’s: New Hope for Caregivers. ’Teepa Snow is one of America ’s leading educators on dementia. Working as a Registered Occup...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - May 22, 2017 Category: Neurology Tags: alzheimer's awareness alzheimer's care Alzheimer's Dementia care of dementia patients at home caregiving dementia care dementia help for caregivers family caregiving memory care self esteem Source Type: blogs
What I Would Do Differently if I Were Diagnosed with Depression Today?
Someone in recovery circles once told me that if you have one foot in the past and another in the future, you are essentially peeing on the present. I try to remember that when I’m engulfed in regret — obsessing about all the things I did wrong in the past and wishing to God I had made different decisions. However, writing about my mistakes has always been healing for me because I’d like to think this small action could possibly prevent someone else from making the same ones. If I can help a young person or anyone who has recently been diagnosed with depression take a more direct route to healing, it seems irresp...
Source: World of Psychology - May 10, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Therese J. Borchard Tags: Depression Medications Mental Health and Wellness Motivation and Inspiration Personal Psychiatry Stress Suicide Treatment Bipolar Disorder Depressive Episode Epigenetics Major Depressive Disorder Melancholy Neuroplasticity Sa Source Type: blogs
Highlights from 16th Annual Design of Medical Devices Conference
The University of Minnesota and their industry sponsors held the 16th Design of Medical Devices Conference, touted by the organizers as the world’s largest premiere medical devices conference. Hundreds of biomedical engineers, students, physicians, and industry representatives traveled from all over the world to gather in a truly unique atmosphere. The state of Minnesota has a rich history in medical innovation. Clinicians at the University of Minnesota performed the first successful open-heart operation and implanted the first small, portable, battery-powered pacemaker. In fact, a great deal of medical device techno...
Source: Medgadget - May 5, 2017 Category: Medical Equipment Authors: Kenan Raddawi Tags: Exclusive Source Type: blogs
I ’ ll let you in on an industry secret
The unspoken secret is that healthcare providers prefer treatment over prevention, expensive over inexpensive, patent-protectable over non-patent-protectable, billable procedure over nonbillable procedure, BMW over Toyota Prius.
Spiraling healthcare costs are the expected result because greater revenues are built into the basic principles that drive the system. The endless year-over-year increase in your health insurance premiums should therefore come as no surprise because this system is designed to take more and more of your money.
Health care is a business, a big business (the biggest business of all in the United Stat...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - April 18, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: News & Updates Source Type: blogs
Don ’t take fatigue lying down
Have you ever had one of those days where you are so weary, you can’t seem to do anything except binge-watch Netflix?
Sure, everyone gets tired sometimes, and often bounces back after a quick rest or a good night’s sleep. However, if bouts of fatigue occur more often and last longer, you shouldn’t ignore them.
“Older adults may chalk up fatigue to aging, but there is no reason you should battle ongoing tiredness,” says Dr. Suzanne Salamon, a geriatric physician with Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
Here are signs that you should take your tiredness seriously:
inability to do activities yo...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - April 14, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Matthew Solan Tags: Health Source Type: blogs
Why doctors have a hard time talking about obesity
“For someone with your breast size, the risk of a complication is pretty high. I would recommend against the surgery.”
I smiled at the 50-year-old woman who sat in front of me wearing a pink, paper gown and a crestfallen look. She had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and was planning on undergoing a mastectomy as part of her cancer treatment. Her breast surgeon had referred her to me to discuss the possibility of beginning her breast reconstruction at the time of her mastectomy: an immediate breast reconstruction.
Prior to her arrival, I had reviewed her chart in the electronic medical record...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - April 13, 2017 Category: Journals (General) Authors: < a href="http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/vik-reddy" rel="tag" > Vik Reddy, MD < /a > Tags: Physician Obesity Source Type: blogs
Roy on the Pros and Cons of Medical Marijuana
Medical marijuana was legalized in Maryland two years ago, and this summer we will be getting our first dispensaries. Psychiatrists are starting to ask what this means in terms of treating patients. Roy did a great job summing up some of the research for our colleagues:Unfortunately, because of the many historical restrictions on research, there is increasing amounts of data available, yet few "facts" to go by ("fact" as in "a thing that is indisputably the case"). These data are often viewed from differing perspectives. Such as absolute vs relative risks. Harm reduction vs harm avoidance. Public health vs crim...
Source: Shrink Rap - April 3, 2017 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Dinah Source Type: blogs
MKSAP: 52-year-old man with sudden onset of erectile dysfunction
Test your medicine knowledge with the MKSAP challenge, in partnership with the American College of Physicians.
A 52-year-old man is evaluated for the sudden onset of erectile dysfunction that has persisted for 6 months. He reports having erections that are inadequate for vaginal penetration. He feels guilty about not being able to satisfy his wife’s requests for sexual intercourse, although he still has sexual desires. He has been sleeping poorly and feeling fatigued throughout the day. He reports no snoring or daytime somnolence, and his review of systems is otherwise negative. His wife does not report that the p...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - April 1, 2017 Category: Journals (General) Authors: < a href="http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/mksap" rel="tag" > mksap < /a > Tags: Conditions Primary care Source Type: blogs
I Am Rebelling
Sometimes I need to let my inner rebel out and stop being such a good patient. I usually try to be a good patient (and go to my appointments, take my meds as prescribed, talk to my doctors honestly and generally do what they want me to). But not right now.Last fall I was told I have sleep apnea and my doctors want me to have a CPAP machine for sleeping. I got my CPAP machine and hate it. I can ' t stand having anything on my face while I sleep. I am on my second mask and still cannot deal with it. I wake up and want to rip it off my face. If I sleep with the mask on, I don ' t ever feel rested and have the weirdest dreams....
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - March 23, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: apnea CPAP lack of sleep rebelling Source Type: blogs
