Mind & Mood Archive

Loneliness is one of the greatest health risks facing older adults. The antidote to loneliness is more social engagement. Developing new friendships and maintaining existing ones is one of the best ways for people to remain socially active. Recreating the environments and settings where men first built long-lasting friendships, like the workplace and sports, can help them find friends and expand their social circle.

Taking regular afternoon naps for less than 60 minutes can improve mental alertness and increase productivity.

A 2022 study of 11,000 dementia-free people found that middle-aged participants who ate the most junk food had a faster rate (up to 28%) of cognitive decline, compared with those who ate the least junk food.

There’s no evidence that maintaining a healthy lifestyle will suddenly boost the immune system. However, it’s clear that healthy lifestyle habits contribute to overall health, supporting the body’s ability to fight infections instead of creating new problems. Healthy habits that help maintain a robust immune system include getting seven to nine hours of sleep per night, exercising, reducing stress, eating a healthy diet, not smoking, drinking alcohol only in moderation, maintaining a healthy weight, and getting underlying conditions under control.

Everyone has moments when their brain feels like it's gone haywire. When these racing thoughts take over the mind can't stay focused, feeding into a cycle of anxiety. But there are things you can do to break this cycle and regain control.

Therapies using an electric current for brain stimulation are not new, but marketing devices for home use is a relatively recent phenomenon. While claims include better energy, focus, mood and more, current evidence doesn't support this and the FDA hasn't cleared these devices.

Anxiety often brings physical sensations ranging from dry mouth, nausea, or sweaty hands to more severe symptoms such as dizziness, shortness of breath, or a racing heart. Extreme symptoms can manifest as anxiety attacks and cause people to avoid everyday activities. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is considered the gold standard treatment for extreme anxiety. One common form of CBT involves exposing people to stressful situations to learn how to cope.

Hives are red, itchy welts that crop up on the skin. Allergic reactions and stress, among other triggers, can cause episodes of hives, which typically last several days to a couple of weeks. Cases that last six weeks or longer may be autoimmune hives.

Regular meditation can lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and improve concentration. Practicing a simple 10-minute mantra-based meditation and observing mindfulness during everyday moments are ideal ways begin a meditation practice.