Friday, May 26, 2006

High Blood Pressure?

Can Spirituality Help Blood Pressure?

Do you have high blood pressure? A little dose of faith might help. Learn more.

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Children's Excessive Crying

Children's Excessive Crying Linked to Increased Risk of Eating and Sleeping Disturbances

Investigators suggest that parents of children with excessive crying that lasts beyond the first 6 months of life should be offered counseling for multiple regulatory disorders.

Monday, May 15, 2006

Depressed?

Is Depression Driving Your Relationship Apart?

Learn how depression can appear in a relationship and cause fatigue, stress, and guilt. Get the facts and fight back.

Thursday, May 11, 2006

Counseling


4 Kinds of Talk Therapy: Which Will Work?

Psychotherapy is an important part of recovering from depression. The key is to find a therapist you trust. Then you can talk about their approach, and how long you will continue seeing them.

Mood Disorder Drugs

FDA Safety Changes: Effexor, Effexor XR, Depakene

The FDA has approved revisions to the safety labeling for venlafaxine tablets and extended-release capsules (Effexor and Effexor XR) and valproic acid capsules/syrup (Depakene).

Medscape Medical News 2006

Monday, May 08, 2006

Memory Improvement


A Gym for Your Memory

Want to have the kind of mind that can recall directions with MapQuest-like accuracy? Get moving. Take a walk, go for a bike ride, hit the gym. Exercise makes extra space in the "scratch pad" part of your brain, also known as . . . Read more.

An Ailing Mind?

10 Signs of an Ailing Mind

If living on the "last straw" has become your way of life, experts say there's something on your mind that is crying out for your attention. Also See: New Theory About Stress & Anxiety

Saturday, May 06, 2006

When Not to Sleep with Your Spouse

The marriage bed is a powerful symbol of wedded bliss. But according to a 2001 National Sleep Foundation (NSF) poll, 12 percent of married adults are sleeping in separate beds—in most cases just to get a good night's rest. Check out the following results from a 2004 survey that show how your bedmate's snoring, restlessness, and mattress hogging can negatively impact your sleep.
  • Men who snore a few nights a week: 40%
  • Women who snore a few nights a week: 31%
  • Men who sleep less because of bedmate: 17%
  • Women who sleep less because of bedmate: 30%

So what's the solution?

  • Push twin beds together to make your spouse's movements less disruptive.
  • Try sleeping together every other night. "We can all handle one night of poor sleep, but after two or three, we're in trouble," says Sheila Goss, a marriage and family therapist.
  • Begin the night in the same bed, then separate and reunite for a morning cuddle. "There is no wrong sleeping arrangement as long as a couple maintains intimacy, even if it has to be scheduled," says Goss. "A 'you come to my bed Tuesday and Thursday, and I come to yours Monday and Wednesday' system can heighten expectations—and fun."

—Ladies' Home Journal (October 2004)

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Sleep and Suicide

How is sleep related to suicide?

Sleep disturbances can signal suicidal risk in adolescents. Although the link appears to be mediated by depression, data suggest an independent predictive role of nightmares. Find out more.

[Curr Opin Psychiatry 19(3) 2006]

Peace & Calm

Give Your Heart the Silent Treatment

Loud noises that drive you batty may be bad for your heart, too. Screaming children, honking traffic, the construction site next door -- being constantly assaulted by the high-decibel sounds of modern-day life can make stress levels soar and heart health plummet. The simplest solution may be . . . Read more.

Monday, May 01, 2006

Saving a Marriage With a Recovering Addict

[by Dr. Marie Hartwell-Walker]

Q: My husband was addicted to crack. I knew something was wrong for the last two years but had no idea what it was. one day he got pulled over and went to jail for possession. He called me from jail and let me know he had a drug problem. I considered splitting up with him but I love him and i want our marriage to work. I have given him one more chance. I have given him rules to follow and if he doesn’t follow them, then I’m through with him. my question is he has ruined my trust for him .if he does what he is supposed to do, will i ever trust him again? every time he does something strange I end up constantly asking him is he back on the stuff. I lived that life for two years and if I see any behavior that looks odd , I feel I have to ask him about it. He lied to me and hid things and the trust is totally gone. I feel like I have to stay in high alert so I will be ready for anything. I am always stressed out and I find it hard to relax, I’m scared that we might end up back in that old life and I refuse to go there. I want my husband back the way he was before this problem. Am I just fooling myself into thinking he can change? He will go to court soon and if he gets probation where they drug test every week, I think I will be able to relax more, because I will know for sure that he is clean. Do you have any advice for me on if I will be able to trust him again? I feel like I worry about things too much. I don’t like people who cheat, steal or lie and I feel like he has done all three. Any advice would be really helpful to me. Thank you.

A: Of course you’re sressed out. You love your husband and you don’t want him to get caught up in that life again. Of course you are “on his case”. You’re scared. But, here’s the thing: If you don’t find a way to give him a little room, he’ll never have a chance to prove to you and to himself that he has what it takes to manage recovery over the long term.

Read the rest of this question and answer »

Who Enjoys Sex More?

Which Sex Enjoys Sex More?

A new study says one sex is having most of the fun in the boudoir. Find out who is getting most of the satisfaction and see what could be to blame.