More than four years after the first humans became infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, scientists understand more than ever before about how COVID-19 affects people. Beyond respiratory symptoms, COVID can lead to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rashes, and even eye infections. We’ve also learned that people can experience long COVID, which involves continued symptoms for months or even years after they initially get sick. [Read more…]
Do COVID Infections Impact Mental Health?
April 25, 2024 By
The Dangers of Perinatal Depression
April 21, 2024 By
Experiencing depression during pregnancy or the first year after a child is born significantly increases a woman’s risk of attempting suicide or dying by suicide, according to two new large studies. [Read more…]
What Happens In the Brain During PTSD?
April 19, 2024 By
An estimated one in 11 U.S. adults will experience post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, in their lifetimes.
PTSD occurs when people have intense and disturbing thoughts and feelings related to a previous traumatic experience. These can arrive in the form of nightmares or flashbacks and often make them feel like they are reliving a terrifying event. PTSD affects a person’s ability to function in everyday life, and it can persist for years. [Read more…]
The Psychological Impacts of Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy
December 8, 2023 By
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 2.6 million Americans identify as transgender, meaning their gender identity is different from the sex assigned to them at birth.
When transgender people seek medical therapy, they most commonly receive gender-affirming hormone therapy, which involves taking hormones to develop physical characteristics that better match their gender identity. Feminizing hormone therapy can trigger the development of breasts, help redistribute body fat to the hips and thighs, and lead to thinning of facial and body hair. Masculinizing hormone therapy can lead to a deeper voice, the redistribution of body fat away from hips and thighs, increased body and facial hair, increased muscle mass, and changes to the menstrual cycle.
Is Coffee a Superfood?
December 7, 2023 By
It’s not an exaggeration to say that America runs on coffee—some 400 million cups a day, according to the most recent data from the National Coffee Association. That works out to about 9 pounds of coffee per person per year. [Read more…]
New Evidence on the Best Ways to Quit Smoking
December 6, 2023 By
We’ve known for decades that smoking leads to serious health problems including cancer, lung and heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Despite the health risks, quitting smoking is a significant challenge for most people because the nicotine in cigarettes is incredibly addictive.
A new systematic review published in the journal BMC Medicine takes a careful look at non-pharmacological interventions to help people quit smoking. [Read more…]
2 Easy Steps To Calm Down
December 5, 2023 By
For many people, hearing familiar Christmas jingles and seeing decorations galore in stores inspires happiness and excitement. But for others, the arrival of the holiday season can trigger feelings of apprehension, anxiety, and sometimes dread. [Read more…]
As You Age, Exercise Prevents Cognitive Decline
October 10, 2023 By
If you aren’t already convinced that exercise is the best way to improve health outcomes as you age, there is now even more evidence to bolster that case. [Read more…]
How Heat Waves Affect Your Ability to Think and Reason
August 30, 2023 By
Heat waves have rippled across North America this summer, leading to an increase in heat-related illness and deaths.
Unfortunately, the data gathered on heat illnesses and deaths in the U.S. are incomplete. But we know that last year, extreme heat killed more people in the U.S. than hurricanes, floods, lightning, or tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service. This year, we’re on track to exceed the number of deaths due to heat. [Read more…]
Spirituality Can Help Protect Mental Health
August 28, 2023 By
Nearly 70% of Americans identify with a specific religion, and another 25-to-30% consider themselves spiritual.
It turns out, that’s a good thing. A large and growing body of evidence demonstrates that spirituality is good for our mental health. [Read more…]
What We Know About Youth Mental Health Visits to the ER
August 7, 2023 By
It’s well-established that youth mental health has suffered in recent years—with wide-ranging factors contributing to the problem including the proliferation of social media among young people and the isolation created by the COVID-19 pandemic. [Read more…]
Loneliness Harms Your Health
July 28, 2023 By
A broad new analysis published in the journal Nature Human Behavior demonstrates that social isolation and loneliness can lead to premature death. [Read more…]
