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“There is power in listening,” says Nancy Mramor, PhD, a licensed psychologist based in Pittsburgh. “But it’s not new.” For thousands of years, oral storytelling was humanity’s only learning tradition. Podcasts are the latest iteration in that long history, so it makes sense that they’re so popular, says Dr. Mramor, who researches media’s impact on health. “We have been programmed from childhood to look forward to, and enjoy, stories that bring us pleasure,” adds Jodi De Luca, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist based in Erie, Colorado....

Still, because the liver plays a vital role in your health, it makes sense to educate yourself about it, especially if you have a history of liver issues. RELATED: Your Everyday Guide to Living Well With Hepatitis C Here are answers to nine common questions about the liver. 1. What does my liver do? As one of the hardest-working organs in your body, the liver performs hundreds of functions, according to UPMC....

Why does color matter, though? Well, it’s not a coincidence that the most colorful foods also happen to contain the most nutrients. Health experts push fruits and vegetables because they tend to be low in calories and fat and high in fiber and essential vitamins and minerals. But their colorful flesh is also indicative of plant compounds known as phytonutrients, which provide their characteristic color and have unique health benefits, reports Harvard Medical School....

Research shows that drinking alcohol may put a person at greater risk for developing Afib in the first place. One study, published in 2011 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, analyzed data from 14 studies that had investigated the link between developing atrial fibrillation and drinking alcohol. The researchers concluded that avoiding alcohol completely is the best way to avoid the risk of atrial fibrillation. A Closer Look at Atrial Fibrillation and Alcohol Risk However, this doesn’t mean a person at risk for atrial fibrillation or who already has the condition can never sip a glass of wine or beer again....

Barbara Ford Shabazz, PsyD, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, is painfully familiar with the various mental health issues that many members of the Black community face. A clinical psychologist as well as a psychology professor, she has helped her clients and students in the Hampton Roads area of southeastern Virginia for more than 20 years with numerous challenges, including what comes with being Black in white America. Currently focusing on her work as a personal and executive coach through her company Intentional Activities, Dr....

A specialist in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), she incorporates training in awareness and presence into campus-wide wellness programs to bolster resilience and coping skills among students and healthcare providers. Her teenage bout with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following her mother’s sudden death ignited a passion: Melnyk vowed to find ways to bring young people the support and coping skills they need to weather life’s challenges. We sat down with Melnyk to discuss her current work and to learn more about her perspective on wellness....

The statement is a reminder that heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States, can affect anyone regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. A study published in April 2019 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes analyzed health survey data from a four-year period to compare the rates of cardiovascular disease and heart attack in transgender men and women with those of cisgender men and women. Researchers found that on average, transgender people have a higher risk of heart attack than their cisgender counterparts....

These shifts are more severe than the normal changes in mood that affect everyone. They can involve impaired thinking and behavior, and can affect your ability to function day to day. When a person doesn’t meet the criteria for any of the other types of bipolar disorder but still experiences periods of a significant, abnormal elevation in mood, they may be diagnosed with “other specified and unspecified bipolar and related disorders....

When someone with bipolar disorder is having a manic episode, impulsive, reckless sexual behaviors and significantly increased sex drive are quite common. Such hypersexual behavior is often a warning sign of a manic episode. Experts aren’t sure why some people with bipolar disorder experience symptoms of hypersexuality and others do not. “In general, hypersexuality is a symptom of hypomania or mania — it goes with that particular mood episode,” says Adele C....

Preliminary research presented at the American Stroke Association (ASA) International Stroke Conference that took place March 17–19, 2021, added to a growing body of research that seeks to better understand why Black Americans are more likely to die of stroke than any other racial group. Researchers looked at data from nearly 750,000 Medicare patients who had a stroke between 2005 and 2007, and followed their long-term health over the next 10 years....

Join the conversation as Dr. Rosmarin talks about how we can manage our feelings during the COVID-19 pandemic — and how we can emerge mentally stronger. Rosmarin and Connolly also speak with guest Mike Veny, who normally boxes at a gym to keep his temper under control. The gym is closed due to the pandemic, and Veny speaks about his struggles since losing his main outlet. The following are some highlights from an edited transcript of the interview....

Now turmeric and its main ingredient, curcumin, a polyphenol that has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and other neuroprotective effects, are starting to be investigated as possible adjunctive treatments for schizophrenia, among other mental health disorders. RELATED: 13 Herbs and Spices for Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptom Relief Preliminary Research Suggests Turmeric May Have a Role in Treating Mental Illness In a study published in the July–August 2019 issue of Clinical Neuropharmacology, 38 people with chronic schizophrenia were treated with either 3,000 milligrams (mg) per day of curcumin or a placebo, in addition to their regular antipsychotic medications, for 24 weeks....

And supplementing is only becoming more popular. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data published in February 2021 shows 57.6 percent of people have taken a dietary supplement in the past 30 days, and all age groups surveyed report higher supplement use from data collected in 2007–2008. But while supplements are often seen as a method to ensure you meet your daily nutritional needs, they can create problems if you’re not careful....

You’ve probably also heard that CBD can help lessen stress, anxiety, and pain. “When people are in pain, they have a stress response, which causes an increase in cortisol and an increase in blood sugar,” says Veronica J. Brady, PhD, CDCES, a registered nurse and an assistant professor at the Cizik School of Nursing at the University of Texas in Houston. Relieving pain can help alleviate the stress response and improve blood sugar levels, as well as aid sleep, she says....

“Usually cellulitis develops when a crack or break in the skin allows bacteria to enter into it,” explains Edidiong C. Kaminska, MD, a Chicago-based dermatologist. It typically affects the dermis — the layer of the skin below the top, outer layer (the epidermis). The dermis contains blood vessels, oil and sweat glands, nerves, hair follicles, and other structures, as well as subcutaneous connective tissue. Occasionally cellulitis spreads to the muscle and bone....

As a result, more young people have been developing serious health problems related to the condition, including severe eye damage. Research presented in JAMA Ophthalmology now indicates that kids with type 2 diabetes especially face a high risk of eye trouble. Based on medical records of residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, study authors found that among 525 youths ages 22 and under, the risk of diabetic retinopathy within the first 15 years of disease was 88 percent greater in those with type 2 diabetes (T2D), compared to those with type 1 diabetes (T1D)....

“Superfood” and “coconut” are two words that are frequently said together in the health lexicon, but scientific evidence on how powerful this is for health and wellness is still lacking. Coconut Meat, Dried (Unsweetened), 1 Ounce Calories: 187Fat: 18 gSaturated fat: 16.2 gProtein: 2 gCarbohydrates: 7 gFiber: 4.6 g (an excellent source)Sugar: 2.1 g Unsweetened Coconut Milk (in a Carton), 1 Cup Calories: 45Fat: 4 gSaturated fat: 3.5 gProtein: 0 gCarbohydrates: 2 gFiber: 1 gSugar: 0 g...

Here’s how to arm yourself with the right foods when you have leukemia. Cooking To Battle Leukemia A healthy diet for someone with leukemia is pretty similar to a healthy diet for the general population, says registered dietitian Dee Sandquist, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association in Fairfield, Iowa. But with leukemia, it’s even more important to follow healthy eating guidelines, because leukemia treatment can make patients nauseated and reduce their appetites, interfering with their best intentions to eat well....

Antidepressants Do Not Reduce COVID-19 Severity A new study by researchers at Intermountain Healthcare in Salt Lake City has found that the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants does not help reduce the severity of illness or even death for people who get COVID-19, as once thought. Some observational studies had suggested there may be a link between greater survival and lower COVID-19 severity in patients taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) — the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants in America....

“People are very focused on wearing sunscreen at the beach to avoid a sunburn, which is caused by shorter wavelength UVB rays. Don’t forget about UVA rays, which contribute to aging and skin cancer and can reach you while you’re indoors,” says Elizabeth Hale, MD, the senior vice president of the Skin Cancer Foundation and a clinical associate professor of dermatology at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City....