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US still lagging in future life expectancy
Joan Spitrey Medical & Allied HealthcareDespite incredible medical advancements, increased health knowledge and a higher mean income, the United States continues to lag behind other developed countries when it comes to the health of its citizens. In a new study published in The Lancet, researchers examined statistical data from 35 industrialized countries to forecast national age-specific mortality and life expectancy based on birth in 2030.
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Researchers find key brain differences in those with ADHD
Dorothy L. Tengler Medical & Allied HealthcareWith symptoms of inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is challenging for families. Forgetfulness and disorganization cause problems at home as well as in school, and characteristics such as low self-esteem, aggressiveness and emotional immaturity affect the daily lives of all family members.
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Nurse practitioner hospitalists in the 21st century
Keith Carlson Medical & Allied HealthcareNot long ago, nurse practitioners seemed mostly to be employed in physician offices, community and university health centers, and so-called "minute clinics." In the midst of a growing shortage of primary care physicians, there is much in the news these days about NPs moving even more deeply into primary care. Concurrently, the growing presence of APRNs in the acute care setting is raising eyebrows among physicians and providing patients with more opportunities to receive hospital-based care from highly qualified nurse practitioners.
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Researchers discover brain changes in social anxiety disorder
Dorothy L. Tengler Mental HealthcareNo one enjoys making mistakes, looking bad, feeling embarrassed or being humiliated in front of others. But everyone has had such an experience at least once. An excessive and unreasonable fear of social situations, however, may signal a social anxiety disorder (SAD), and a lack of social skills may not help. People with SAD suffer with distorted thinking — false beliefs about social situations and the negative opinions of others — which interferes with normal daily routine, including school, work, social activities and relationships. SAD may be linked to other mental illnesses, such as panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and depression, which are often among the initial reasons for visiting a physician.
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Could marijuana be the key in curbing the opioid epidemic?
Katina Hernandez Medical & Allied HealthcareIt's no secret the legalization of medical marijuana has been a controversial subject as of late. But what if medical marijuana could help curb the epidemic of opioid addiction that affects more than 2.5 million Americans and was responsible for more than 30,000 overdose deaths in 2015? A growing number of experts in the medical community are starting believe medical marijuana has the potential to do just that — and their beliefs are increasingly being backed by science.
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The link between heart health and psychiatric disorders
Dorothy L. Tengler Medical & Allied HealthcareAlthough anxiety and depression are different disorders, they often produce similar symptoms, such as nervousness, irritability, trouble concentrating and problems sleeping. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting 40 million adults (18 percent of the population) aged 18 and older. As for depression, in 2015, an estimated 16.1 million adults aged 18 or older in the U.S. had at least one major depressive episode in the past year, representing 6.7 percent of all adults.
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Do night owls really work better at night?
Dorothy L. Tengler Medical & Allied HealthcareWe all know the old proverb, "Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." Ben Franklin started his day at 4 a.m. Winston Churchill was a famous night owl. Do you stay up long after midnight, or are you at the keyboard at sunrise? It has been suggested that our internal biological clocks, regulating our daily lives, may be genetic and that such a gene may even determine what time of day we will die.
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Bull rider’s suicide highlights the danger of concussions
Dr. Denise A. Valenti Sports & FitnessThe rodeo community is currently mourning the loss of 25-year-old sports bull riding hero Ty Pozzobon, whose suicide is thought to have come about during an extended period of depression and brain dysfunction that occurred after multiple concussive head injuries.
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Examining the link between mental health and opioid abuse
Sheila Pakdaman Mental HealthcareFor more than 5,000 years, people have been using opioid-based medications around the globe. It isn't exactly news that we, as a nation, are facing an opium problem. The New York Times calls it "America's 50-state epidemic," meaning it's not just effecting a region, it's affecting the places we least expect as well.
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Creative approaches to adulthood: Author shares tips to combat stress
Esther Cho Healthcare AdministrationFor many of us, stress and a rigid routine are a part of our daily rhythm, and there's no escape. For author and speaker Jason Kotecki, a whole other way to live exists — and he's on a mission to remind people of the alternatives.
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