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Depression Archive

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A single-session class offers chronic low back pain relief

A single two-hour pain management class may offer months-long relief from chronic low back pain compared with other approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy and back health education.

Breathing your way to better health

Taking time out of a stressful day to perform simple breathing exercises can reduce chronic stress and prevent the harm it can inflict on the body. Even a few short breathing sessions can make a big difference for many people. Chronic stress, when it goes unchecked, can lead to a host of health problems, including high blood pressure, obesity, anxiety, depression, and reduced immune response.

When someone you love has heart disease

People can support family members and friends with heart disease by encouraging them to do cardiac rehabilitation, a 12-week program that teaches the fundamentals of a heart-healthy lifestyle and features supervised exercise training. They can also ask about the person’s health goals and ways to help, rather than becoming frustrated if the person appears to be making poor choices. Finally, acknowledging and sharing emotions, such as fear and worry, may improve communication.

Pain, anxiety, and depression

Pain, anxiety, and depression often coincide because the parts of the brain and nervous system that handle sensations and touch interact with those that regulate emotions and stress.

Waking up one hour earlier than usual may reduce depression risk

New research suggests that people who wake up an hour earlier than usual, without sleeping less, may reduce their risk of major depression.

The benefits of volunteering, without leaving home

Volunteering has many benefits, enabling people to gain a sense of purpose, connect with others, and get a break from their own problems. Those benefits are associated with better health, including greater levels of physical activity, better sleep quality, a healthier diet, reduced rates of cardiovascular disease, and even longevity. A person may be able to reap many of those benefits by volunteering from home, such as doing work for a nonprofit group via computer or phone.

Back to the future: Psychedelic drugs in psychiatry

There is a renewed interest in the potential for psychedelic drugs to be used for medical purposes in the treatment of a variety of psychiatric conditions. Broadly, these drugs are able to induce altered thoughts and sensory perceptions, and research has found them to be beneficial in treating depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, and they can also be helpful for some people in end-of-life situations.

Treating sleep apnea: Good for your heart and mind?

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when soft tissue at the back of the throat temporarily blocks the airway during sleep. People with sleep apnea face a heightened risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack, atrial fibrillation, and stroke. The condition can also affect mood, and some people diagnosed with depression may actually have sleep apnea. Treating apnea with positive airway pressure improves both high blood pressure and depression.

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