Bridging the gap between research and real life
July 2022 was one of the hottest months on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It was the sixth-hottest July since the U.S. began recording temperatures 143 years ago. In addition, overnight temperatures in the month hit their highest levels in recorded history. [Read more…]
Approximately 147 million people worldwide consume cannabis, or marijuana each year; a number that continues to grow, especially in North America and Europe, according to the World Health Organization. [Read more…]
Vitamin D is one of the most commonly taken supplements in the U.S., consumed by an estimated one-third of people age 60 and older. For decades, doctors have touted the vitamin’s ability to help the body absorb and retain calcium and phosphorus, which help bone growth, reduce cancer cell growth, and control infections. [Read more…]
Even though it’s the dog days of summer vacation, many schools across the country are getting ready to bring students back into the classroom — and that means giving serious thought to the best ways to teach the youngest students to read. [Read more…]
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates nearly 40 percent of Americans will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their life. Currently, there are more than 20 million cancer survivors in the United States, and that number is growing.
While surviving cancer is the best-case scenario, it comes with its own issues: potential dental problems, infertility, heart and lung problems, osteoporosis, and more. Doctors have also documented another long-term psychological consequence: fear of the cancer coming back.
A systematic review published earlier this year found that the most common unmet need among cancer survivors is calming that fear. The constant worry often leads to depression, impaired daily functioning, and reduced quality of life. Many cancer survivors worry for years and report that they feel as worried as when they were first diagnosed with cancer.
The review combined data from 46 studies with more than 9,000 participants from 13 countries. The studies all used data from the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory, a widely-accepted survey to identify clinically-significant fear. Nearly 60 percent of study participants had fears that were clinically significant, and nearly 20 percent scored at the highest level, meaning their fear of cancer recurrence was debilitating.
These fears were prevalent regardless of the participant’s type of cancer and where they lived. Women were more likely to experience clinically-significant fear compared to men, and young people were more likely to experience clinically-significant fear compared to older people.
The first step is to recognize when fears become a significant problem. If you are a cancer survivor, you should report worries that interfere with relationships and daily activities to your health care provider. If you are afraid to go to your follow-up cancer appointment or if you feel hopeless about the future, those are also signs you may need some extra help. In addition, be on the lookout for difficulty sleeping or eating well and trouble concentrating or making decisions.
Researchers have tested a wide range of interventions to address the fear of cancer recurrence. One systematic review found therapy is an effective treatment for this problem and that improvements, although small, lasted on average more than seven months after therapy ended. Another found that mind-body interventions, such as meditation, relaxation skills, and cognitive-behavioral training are effective at addressing fear of cancer recurrence.
There is evidence that participating in a support group of cancer survivors often creates a sense of belonging that helps survivors feel less alone and more understood.
It’s also important to adhere to your follow-up care plan, even though those appointments might temporarily raise your anxiety levels.
The take-home message: Fear of recurrence is a significant problem for cancer survivors, but one that health care providers can address with follow-up care and therapy.
When you imagine an older person, what sort of picture pops into your head? Do you see someone walking stooped over a cane? Do you imagine them in a long-term care facility sitting in a wheelchair? Or do you imagine someone competing in a track meet, like the athletes who participated in last month’s National Senior Games track and field competition? [Read more…]
Scrolling through a social media feed, you might expect to see photos of friends’ travels, political opinions, and images of the latest fashions. You’ll also find a tremendous variety of health information.
With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for reliable health information is central to our lives; social media outlets have played an even larger role in spreading both information and disinformation. As a result, a new body of research is exploring the impact of social media on public health, and how we can best use online tools to improve our well-being. [Read more…]
This week’s horrific school shooting in Uvalde, Texas prompted renewed calls for laws that promote gun safety in the U.S.
The standard script after mass shootings goes like this: Democrats make the case for passing more stringent policies about what types of firearms are available and who can own them; Republicans make the argument for Second Amendment rights because “guns don’t kill people; people kill people.”
[Read more…]
“Can you please put your dishes in the sink?”
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“Please put your dishes in the sink.”
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“I’m not sure you heard me. Can you put these dishes in the sink?” [Read more…]
A new survey from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals bleak circumstances for many U.S. teens, who were already more likely to suffer from abuse and depression while staying home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Getting out of bed for a particular week in mid-March is often associated with heavy eyelids and foggy brains – the consequences of losing an hour of sleep when we push our clocks forward for daylight saving time. [Read more…]
Many people seek a silver bullet that will help them age gracefully and maintain wellness in their later years. A growing body of research suggests there is an overlooked element that helps determine health status later in life: the health and wellness of one’s long-term partner. Researchers are finding that as long-term couples age together, they develop biological similarities that affect their health in the long run. [Read more…]
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