Getting a Good Night’s Sleep
Many people suffering from insomnia use sleep medications to help them nod off, but this isn’t a good first choice for combating sleep problems.
“Natural sleep is healthier than drug-aided sleep. After taking sleep medications, people often feel hazy and detached when they wake up. In contrast, people who fall asleep naturally […]

A vote for your favorite candidate may also be a vote for your good health.
Researchers say expressing your right to vote may help promote good mental health and, in turn, good physical health, but some people will likely benefit from voting more than others.

Researchers: Stress Causes Forgetfulness
Stressful situations in which the individual has no control were found to activate an enzyme in the brain called protein kinase C, which impairs the short-term memory and other functions in the prefrontal cortex, the executive-decision part of the brain, says Dr. Amy F. T. Arnsten of Yale Medical School.

Physical Inactivity Costs Millions in Health Care Expenses
Lack of physical activity is costly not just to people’s health but to their wallets as well, a new study suggests. Researchers found that sedentary lifestyles can lead to higher medical costs, which they say are borne by consumers and employers in the form of health insurance premiums, […]

I’m not sure you caught this over at JAMA, but the US presidential candidates, Senator John Kerry and President George W. Bush, outline their plans for improving healthcare access and controlling costs. See the commentaries by John Kerry and George W. Bush.
For some real fun, come back here in 3 1/2 years and […]

Cognitive behavioral therapy combined with antidepressant effective in treating adolescent OCD
According to current epidemiological data, approximately 1 in 200 young people suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). OCD patients ‘obsess’ about thoughts of bad things that can happen (obsessions) and perform repetitive, destructive actions (compulsions) as a means of dealing with those thoughts. OCD can cripple […]

Experts Urge Care Dealing With Anorexics
Thousands of Americans notice friends or daughters going beyond skinny to skeletal, and the urge to confront loved ones showing signs of anorexia - “Will you please just eat?!” - can be powerful.
But mental health professionals counsel gentle persuasion over hard lobbying. Friends and family need to realize that an […]

Promise for helping adults with dyslexia
Adults suffering from dyslexia can benefit from tutoring in processing words, and their brains show changes that indicate neural modifications due to the training, researchers have found. Guinevere Eden and her colleagues said that their studies indicate that adult dyslexics can be helped by training.
The findings are important, they wrote, […]

People with depression who have suspected heart disease don’t do well on exercise tests, Canadian investigators report.

Bush Signs Youth Suicide Prevention Law
President Bush on Thursday signed into law a bill authorizing $82 million in grants aimed at preventing suicide among young people.
The Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act is named for the son of Oregon Republican Sen. Gordon Smith, who championed the legislation as a tribute to his 21-year-old son, who committed […]

FDA Orders Strong Antidepressant Warnings
All antidepressants must carry a “black box” warning, the government’s strongest safety alert, linking the drugs to increased suicidal thoughts and behavior among children and teens taking them, the Food and Drug Administration said last Friday.
Because the warnings are primarily seen by doctors, the agency also is creating a medication guide […]

The last time I saw Carlos, he tried valiantly to convince me that he was fine. “I’m moving to Los Angeles,” he said. “At least it’s sunny there.”
I was more than a little worried. Carlos had been struggling for the better part of a year to acknowledge that he had bipolar disorder and to accept […]