A sweet tooth might not be the only reason why we reach for ice cream and cake in times of stress. Comfort from the consumption of fatty foods is not derived purely from the pleasurable sensory experience of eating but also through gut-brain signaling, according to a study by scientists at the University of Leuven, in Belgium. The study, which was published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, used MRI scans to investigate the effects of fatty acids on... 

Massage therapy may help people who suffer from chronic back pain, although the effects tend to disappear over the longer term, according to a U.S. study. After 10 weeks, patients who got weekly massage sessions used fewer painkillers and spent less time in bed than those who didn’t get any special care, although the positive impact had disappeared after a year, the report in the Annals of Internal Medicine said. “If we look at... 

The thing about accepting therapy when you’re dealing with depression is that often, you’re just too depressed for that kind of probing analysis, sitting on a couch. That kind of thing can often take months, if not years, to have any of the effects claimed for it kick in. Antidepressants certainly may help more quickly and reliably than talk therapy. But even so, often, medications can only treat depression; they can’t cure it. What that... 

There are millions of Americans who suffer from depression symptoms today; what is one do when one suffers from a depressive problem but still wishes to get on with life, with work and love? It isn’t just getting ahead at work that’s a problem when you suffer from depression. Dating can be a real challenge as well. While dates can be about love and romance, they can also be about proving yourself and remaining open to being judged. If you can’t... 

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and it’s in our best interest to ensure that we are taking care of ourselves mentally as well as physically. More recently, the medical field is acknowledging the importance of mental health in maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle. Studies have suggested that high levels of stress can have a detrimental effect on one’s health, and the stigma toward mental illnesses have somewhat reduced. Still, the public... 

When people read up on schizophrenia information for someone they know who has the disease, they usually quickly fasten on a little statement about the nature of the disease that alarms them – they read that schizophrenia is incurable. In medicine, there is a world of difference between treating a condition and curing it. To a doctor, a cure is something that makes a disease completely disappear after a certain given course of treatment. Diabetes, on... 

When someone is clinically depressed, how do you know? Sometimes, in the depths of winter, when the days are short and the nights are long and when the sky is constantly overcast, some people tend to come down with what could appear to be a case of depression.When there isn’t a cheery straw to clutch at anywhere, some people just tend to mentally succumb to a condition whose name really says it all – SAD or seasonal affective disorder. It actually... 

Anxiety and Panic, Panic attack symptoms, What is generalized anxiety disorder?, Thehealthtime.com Anxiety and Panic: Gaining Control Over How You’re Feeling What is anxiety? Anxiety can be a normal “alarm system” alerting you to danger. Imagine coming home and finding a burglar in your living room. Your heart beats fast. Your palms get sweaty. Your mind races. In this situation, anxiety can provide an extra spark to help you get out of... 

Affective Disorder, Seasonal Affective Disorder, What are the symptoms, What is seasonal affective disorder?, Thehealthtime.com Seasonal Affective Disorder What is seasonal affective disorder? Seasonal affective disorder (also called SAD) is a type of depression that is triggered by the seasons. The most common type of SAD is called winter-onset depression. Symptoms usually begin in late fall or early winter and go away by summer. A much less common type... 

Stress, What causes stress?, What can I do to manage my stress?, Possible signs of stress, Thehealthtime.com Stress: How to Cope Better With Life’s Challenges What causes stress? Feelings of stress are caused by the body’s instinct to defend itself. This instinct is good in emergencies, such as getting out of the way of a speeding car. But stress can cause unhealthy physical symptoms if it goes on for too long, such as in response to life’s...