Wellness
News ... what the editors are
researching ...
To
treat pain, you need to
treat the patient. People in chronic
pain are some of the most difficult
patients to treat. They have complex
circumstances that medicine can't
always remedy. Pain can be
amplified, by depression and
anxiety, genetics and quality of
life. UW Medicine Center for Pain
Relief. Journal of General
Internal Medicine
Corporate
wellness programs. Increasing
productivity by one day each month.
Corporate wellness programs have
been shown to save companies money
by reducing absenteeism and health
insurance costs. Researchers have
quantified an additional benefit to
companies' bottom line, showing that
a wellness program they studied
resulted in higher productivity for
all participating employees. This
improvement was dramatic:
approximately equal to an additional
productive work day per month for
the average worker.
Almost 90 percent of companies use
some form of corporate wellness
programs, with the most
comprehensive offering biometric
health screenings, nutritional
programs, fitness classes, and
educational seminars on topics
ranging from smoking cessation to
work-life balance. Gubler said the
findings add to a growing body of
management research on the
relationship between employee
wellbeing and organizational
performance. However, this is the
first study to show a direct "causal
link" for improvements in
productivity through wellness
programs, and employees improving
their health. "Our research suggests
that corporate wellness plans can
boost employee satisfaction by
offering a tangible benefit that
empowers them to take care of their
health in a way that's integrated
into their busy lives. The result is
healthier and happier employees who
are not only less expensive and less
absent, but also more productive,"
he said. University of California,
Riverside, UCLA, and Washington
University in Saint Louis. Management
Science
Post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD);
how the brain encodes fear
memory. To survive in a
dynamic environment, we develop
adaptive fear responses to dangerous
situations, requiring coordinated
neural activity in the hippocampus,
medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), and
amygdala - three brain areas
connected to one another. A
disruption of this process leads to
maladaptive generalized fear in
PTSD, which affects 7 percent of the
U.S. population. Researchers found
that a population of hippocampal
neurons project to both the amygdala
and the mPFC, and that it is these
neurons that efficiently convey
information to these two brain areas
to encode and retrieve fear memory
for a context associated with an
aversive event. University of
California, Riverside. Journal
of Neuroscience
Eating more whole
grains linked with lower
mortality rates: Eating more
whole grains may reduce the risk
of premature death, according to a
new meta-analysis by researchers
from Harvard T.H. Chan School of
Public Health. The study found
that people who ate the most whole
grains (70 grams/day, about 4
servings), compared with those who
ate little or no whole grains, had
a lower risk of dying during the
study period. "These findings
further support current dietary
guidelines that recommend at least
3 daily servings (or 48 grams) of
whole grains to improve long-term
health and prevent premature
death," said Qi Sun, assistant
professor in the Department of
Nutrition and senior author of the
study. The researchers recommend
that people choose foods that are
high in whole grain
ingredients--such as bran,
oatmeal, and quinoa--that have at
least 16 grams per serving, while
reducing consumption of unhealthy
refined carbohydrates. Circulation
Babies feel pain 'like
adults' - The brains of
babies 'light up' in a very
similar way to adults when exposed
to the same painful stimulus, a
pioneering brain scanning study
has discovered. The findings
suggest that not only do babies
experience pain much like adults
but that they also have a much
lower pain threshold. University
of Oxford. eLife
Better sleep -
Inflammatory processes occur
throughout the body, with a
primary function of promoting
healing after injury.
However, when too active, these
inflammatory processes can also
damage the body in many ways, and
may contribute to heart
disease, stroke, certain cancers,
and other significant medical
problems. Stress,
including sleep disturbance,
is a major contributor to
inflammation in the body. Insomnia,
one of the most common sleep
disorders, is associated with
increased risk for depression,
medical comorbidities, and
mortality. A reports that
treatment for insomnia, either by
cognitive behavioral therapy
or the movement meditation
tai chi, reduces inflammation
levels. "Behavioral interventions
that target sleep reduce
inflammation and represent a third
pillar, along with diet and
physical activity, to promote
health and possibly reduce the
risk of age-related morbidities
including depression," said Dr.
Michael Irwin. They found that
treatment of sleep disturbance
with cognitive behavioral therapy
for insomnia reduces insomnia
symptoms, reduces levels of a
systemic marker of inflammation
called C-reactive protein, and
reverses activation of molecular
inflammatory signaling pathways.
Tai chi, a lifestyle intervention
that targets stress that can lead
to insomnia, was also found to
reduce inflammation, and did so by
reducing the expression of
inflammation at the cellular level
and by reversing activation of
inflammatory signaling pathways.
These results provide an
evidence-based molecular framework
to understand how behavioral
interventions that target sleep
may reduce inflammation and
promote health. "This study
suggests that there are
behavioral approaches that can
improve sleep, reduce stress,
and thereby improve health,"
commented Dr. John Krystal, Editor
of Biological Psychiatry. "It is a
reminder, once again, that there
is no health without mental
health." Cousins Center for
Psychoneuroimmunology at the
University of California Los
Angeles. Biological
Psychiatry
Smoking thins vital
part of brain - Years ago,
children were warned that smoking
could stunt their growth, but a
major study shows new evidence
that long-term smoking could cause
thinning of the brain's cortex.
The cortex is the outer layer of
the brain in which critical
cognitive functions such as
memory, language and perception
take place. The findings also
suggest that stopping smoking
helps to restore at least part of
the cortex's thickness. Montreal
Neurological Institute at McGill
University and the University of
Edinburgh. Molecular
Psychiatry
Should smoking be
banned in UK parks? Lord Ara
Darzi and Oliver Keown at the
Institute of Global Health
Innovation want a ban to help
smokers quit and to protect
children from seeing people
lighting up. Extending
anti-smoking legislation in the UK
to encompass a ban in parks and
squares "is an opportunity to
celebrate the great beacon of
healthy living, clean air, and
physical activity our green spaces
are designed for," they write.
"And, crucially, it is an
opportunity to support our
population - young and old - to
make healthier lifestyle choices
easier." The evidence remains
clear: smoking tobacco is still
the largest contributor to ill
health and preventable mortality
in the world today. BMJ
Cyberbullying,
depression - Facebook
users with so-called optimistic
bias think they're less likely
than other users to experience
cyberbullying, depression and
other negative social and
psychological effects from using
the site. The study suggests that
optimistic bias, or an intrinsic
tendency to imagine future events
in a favorable light that enhances
positive self-regard - in other
words, wishful thinking - leaves
those Facebook users vulnerable to
the negative realities of social
media. Dartmouth College and
Cornell University.
Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and
Social Networking
Mortality risks of
cigar smoking similar to that of
cigarette smoking - Cigar
smoking is associated with many of
the same fatal conditions as
cigarette smoking. This
underscores the fact that cigar
smoking is not a safe alternative
to cigarette smoking. Lead
researcher, Cindy Chang from the
Food and Drug Administration,
says: "The results reinforce the
fact that cigar smoking carries
many of the same health risks as
cigarette smoking. Cigar smoking
is linked to fatal oral,
esophageal, pancreatic, laryngeal,
and lung cancers, as well as heart
disease and aortic aneurysm." BMC
Public Health
Self-esteem, Food and
Obesity - Researchers have
identified two seemingly unrelated
but strong predictors of obesity:
having low self-esteem related to
one's weight and keeping food
visibly available around the
house, outside the kitchen.
"The amount of food in
the homes was similar, but in the
homes of obese individuals, food
was distributed in more locations
outside the kitchen," said Charles
Emery, professor of psychology,
also a professor of internal
medicine and an investigator in
Ohio State's Institute for
Behavioral Medicine Research.
"That speaks to the environment
being arranged in a way that may
make it harder to avoid eating
food."
In addition, obese
participants reported
significantly lower self-esteem
related to their body weight than
did non-obese people. Obese
participants also reported more
symptoms of depression.
"Most weight-loss
interventions for children and
people with eating disorders
include a focus on self-esteem,
but it's not standard for adult
weight-loss programs. Self-esteem
is important because when adults
don't feel good about themselves,
there may be less incentive for
implementing behavioral changes in
the home environment," Emery said.
Ohio State University.
International Journal of Obesity
More women turning to
complementary and alternative
medicine (CAM) for menopause.
The use of complementary and
alternative medicine (CAM) is
increasing for the treatment of
menopausal symptoms. It is
estimated that 53 percent of
menopausal women use at least one
type of CAM for the management of
such menopause-related
symptoms as hot flashes, night
sweats, anxiety, depression,
stiff or painful joints, back
pain, headaches, tiredness,
etc. The authors suggest that
healthcare providers - in
particular family medicine
practitioners - need to be more
aware of the various CAM therapies
and take a more active role in
guiding patients through their
options to more safely and
effectively coordinate their care.
Menopause
Social exchange can
amplify subjective fear and
anxiety - The world is a
risky place. But our subjective
fears and anxieties are often at
odds with the evidence. New
findings show that subjective
fears about potential risks may be
amplified in social exchange. Max
Planck Institute for Human
Development and the University of
Konstanz. Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences
Subconscious learning
shapes pain responses -
People can be conditioned to
associate images with particular
pain responses - such as improved
tolerance to pain - even when they
are not consciously aware of the
images. "These results demonstrate
that pain responses can be shaped
by learning that takes place
outside conscious awareness,
suggesting that unconscious
learning may have an extensive
effect on higher cognitive
processes in general", says Karin
Jensen. Dr Karin Jensen and
colleagues. Osher Center at the
Department of Clinical
Neuroscience, Karolinska
Institutet, Sweden. PNAS
People with depression
may be more likely to develop
Parkinson's disease - "We
saw this link between depression
and Parkinson's disease during
over a timespan of more than two
decades, so depression may be a
very early symptom of Parkinson's
disease or a risk factor for the
disease," said Peter Nordström,
PhD. Umea University, Sweden.
American Academy of Neurology,
Neurology®
Nail biters, beware:
Teeth grinding is next - Anxiety
disorders affect
approximately one in six adults.
The most well-known of these
include panic disorder,
post-traumatic stress disorder,
obsessive-compulsive disorder,
and social anxiety disorder.
But what of brief bouts of anxiety
caused by stressful social
situations? A new study finds that
anxiety experienced in social
circumstances elevates the risk of
bruxism - teeth grinding
which causes tooth wear and
fractures as well as jaw pain.
"Interaction with people seems to
be necessary to trigger bruxism in
socially anxious people," said Dr.
Winocur. "By treating social
anxiety, we will be able to
treat bruxism as well." Dr.
Winocur is currently researching
the effect of post-traumatic
stress disorders on sleep and
awake bruxism. Journal of Oral
Rehabilitation
Healing plants -
Treatments used by traditional
healers inspired scientists to
synthesize four new chemical
compounds that could one day lead
to better therapies for people
with psychiatric disorders. The
current drugs used for
schizophrenia effectively treat
delusions and hallucinations but
are only partially effective for
cognitive impairment. Early
experimental research of these new
compounds shows promise in
improving cognitive impairment.
Northwestern University.
Angewandte Chemie International
Edition
Mixing energy drinks,
alcohol tied to abusive drinking
- A study found teens aged 15-17
years old who had ever mixed
alcohol with energy drinks were
four times more likely to meet the
criteria for alcohol use disorder
than a teen who has tried alcohol
but never mixed it with an energy
drink. "Abusive alcohol use among
adolescents is a dangerous
behavior that can lead to injury,
chronic alcohol use and abuse, and
even death," said Jennifer A.
Emond, MSc, PhD. "Identifying
those most at risk for alcohol use
is critical. Given that this is a
sensitive issue, it's possible
that clinicians, parents, and
educators might open dialogues
about alcohol use with adolescents
by starting the discussion on the
topic of energy drinks." The
Geisel School of Medicine at
Dartford. Journal of
Pediatrics
Lack of exercise
responsible for twice as many
deaths as obesity - A brisk
20 minute walk each day could be
enough to reduce an individual's
risk of early death. Just a modest
increase in physical activity
could have significant health
benefits. Physical inactivity has
been consistently associated with
an increased risk of early death,
as well as being associated with a
greater risk of diseases such as
heart disease and cancer. Although
it may also contribute to an
increased body mass index (BMI)
and obesity, the association with
early death is independent of an
individual's BMI. University of
Cambridge. American Journal
of Clinical Nutrition
Weight Management,
Weight Loss - Smaller
plates, smaller portions? It may
have become conventional wisdom
that you can trick yourself into
eating less if you use a smaller
plate. But a study finds that
trick doesn't work for everyone.
"The study's results imply that
diet education for overweight or
obese adolescents should be clear,
simple, repeated, and
interesting," says psychiatry
professor Lance Bauer. "The next
step might involve incorporating
information about an overweight or
obese child's cognitive abilities
in his or her weight loss
treatment. In diet education, one
size might not fit all."
University of Connecticut
Pain - For some people
suffering from chronic pain, part
of their daily routine is
recording the extent of it in a
pain diary. Often done at the
request of their physician or
therapist, patients may be asked
to record how severe the pain is,
how it affects daily activities
and which treatments ease it or
make it worse. A study shows those
well-intentioned diaries may have
unintended consequences. "What we
found is that the group who kept
the pain diary--even though we
didn't ask them to keep an
extensive diary, and even though
many of them didn't keep a
complete diary--had a much worse
outcome," says Robert Ferrari, a
clinical professor in the Faculty
of Medicine & Dentistry's
Department of Medicine and a
practicing physician. "The
self-reported recovery rates were
52 per cent in the group that kept
a pain diary and 79 per cent
recovery at three months in the
group that did not keep a pain
diary. Ferrari believes the
findings are a clear indication
that asking patients to focus too
much on symptoms may cause them to
amplify them, creating a
perception of illness and in turn
preventing recovery. In light of
the findings he recommends
physicians and therapists not ask
their patients to keep pain
diaries."It's just more evidence
suggesting that how we think about
our symptoms affects our symptoms.
Symptoms are everything when it
comes to the sense of recovery."
University of Alberta's Faculty of
Medicine & Dentistry.
Rheumatology International
Prenatal depression?
Researchers have found evidence
suggesting that yoga could help
pregnant women with significant
depression reduce the severity of
the mood disorder. Cynthia Battle
said she learned in prior research
that depressed pregnant women are
often reluctant to use medications
and some also have difficulty
engaging in individual psychotherapy.
When she asked them what other
treatments they might find
appealing, some mentioned yoga.
"This is really about trying to
develop a wider range of options
that suit women who are
experiencing these kind of
symptoms during pregnancy," said
Battle, associate professor of
psychiatry and human behavior in
the Alpert Medical School of Brown
and a psychologist at Butler and
Women & Infants. A few small
studies have also suggested that
yoga and
mindfulness-based approaches
could help prevent or treat
depression during pregnancy. Women
should consult a healthcare
provider before pursuing any
remedy for depression, the
researchers noted. Brown
University, Butler Hospital, and
Women & Infants' Hospital.
Women's Health Issues
More news and research
|
