The practice of yoga coupled with deep breathing eased the symptoms of individuals suffering from depression without the use of potentially harmful medication, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Major depressive disorder or MMD, or depression, is a common mood disorder causing sadness and serious mental health issues. Depression affects about 16… Read More
Surgery is a common approach to treat carpal tunnel syndrome. But, physical therapy may work just as well, a new study indicates. Researchers found that physical therapy -- particularly so-called manual therapy -- improved hand and wrist function and reduced pain as effectively as a standard operation for the condition. Moreover, after one month, physical therapy patients reported better results… Read More
Just a bit of vigorous exercise each day could help some children and teens reduce their risk of developing heart problems and diabetes, researchers say. The new study looked at nearly 11,600 kids, aged 4 to 18, in the United States, Brazil and Europe. The investigators found that replacing light exercise with as little as 10 minutes a day of… Read More
Lowering your salt intake could mean fewer trips to the bathroom in the middle of the night, a new study suggests. Most people over age 60, and many even younger, wake up to pee one or more times a night. This is called nocturia. This interruption of sleep can lead to problems such as stress, irritability or tiredness, which can… Read More
The World Health Organization estimates that 50 percent of the population will suffer from at least one allergy by 2050. Relaxnews spoke with Christine Rolland, director of the French association Asthme & Allergies, to help sort fact from fiction when it comes to allergies. More people suffer from allergies in spring than in winter. FALSE. People suffer from allergies all… Read More
Do you have a cruise planned or are you thinking of booking one? They're a great, relaxing, don't-worry-about-a-thing type of vacation that millions of Americans love. And with about 30 embarkation points across the nation, chances are one is within easy reach. At most, a cruise port is probably only a short flight away. Generally, a cruise is a very… Read More
More older American women than ever are drinking -- and drinking hard, a new study shows. Most troubling was the finding that the prevalence of binge drinking among older women is increasing dramatically, far faster than it is among older men, the researchers noted. The difference was striking: Among men, the average prevalence of binge drinking remained stable from 1997… Read More
Sometimes there is real danger in getting too much bang for your buck. That’s the case with B vitamins, says ConsumerLab.com, after the organization tested popular vitamins and found that many contained potentially toxic amounts of the vitamin as well as misleading labels. The Food and Drug Administration recently warned that the daily values assigned to most B vitamins are… Read More
The herb ashwagandha, which has been used for centuries in Indian folk medicine to promote sound sleep has been proven effective by Japanese researchers. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a central herb in Ayurveda, the traditional home medicine native to India. Its Latin name — somnifera — means sleep-inducing. Researchers at the University of Tsukumba studied the effects of various components… Read More
Using hair to measure long-term levels of the stress hormone cortisol, UK researchers confirm the link between chronic stress and packing on pounds, as well as difficulty shedding excess weight. Previous research has tied high levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the blood, urine or saliva to obesity, but these measurements can vary based on factors like the time… Read More
Everyone’s heard that oysters can give lovers a boost in the bedroom, but a lot of foods can have the exact opposite effect. “In general, eating unhealthily will lower your libido,” says Nashville-based sex therapist David Yarian. “You will have less energy and less vitality, and that translates into less sexual desire.” Surprisingly, even some relatively healthy foods can deflate… Read More
Antibiotics have saved untold millions of lives, but they do have a cost. Along with killing healthy cells together with the bacteria that cause infections, antibiotics used in high amounts for extended periods spur the creation of "superbugs" that become immune to antibiotics. Now, Canadian researchers have found that the sweet syrup you pour over waffles may hold the key… Read More
Do you have the sniffles? Are your eyes watering? If so, you may be a victim of spring's abundance of pollen that's triggering your runny nose and watery eyes. A warm February caused trees and plants to bloom early, with many blossoming a full month ahead of schedule, allowing for a longer pollen season. As a result, experts say we're… Read More
Adults who become overweight or obese have a higher risk of dying from heart disease, cancer or other illnesses, a new study suggests. Further, the risk of dying increases in proportion to the amount of excess weight you gain, the researchers found. The results undercut the so-called "obesity paradox" -- a theory that obesity could protect the health of some… Read More
Using antibiotics very early in life may lead to developing inflammatory diseases later in life, says a new report published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology. Using antibiotics in infancy disrupts the normal development and growth of gut bacteria, and in addition to contributing to gut problems such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the altered environment may contribute to other… Read More