Practicing mindfulness meditation for 10 minutes a day improves concentration and the ability to keep information active in one’s mind, a function known as “working memory”. The brain achieves this by becoming more efficient, literally requiring fewer brain resources to do these tasks. Many big claims have been made about the effects of meditation, but...
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People who walk just 35 minutes a day may have less severe strokes
People who participate in light to moderate physical activity, such as walking at least four hours a week or swimming two to three hours a week, may have less severe strokes than people who are physically inactive, according to a study published in the September 19, 2018, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of...
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Forgiveness: Your Health Depends on It
Conflict doesn’t just weigh down the spirit; it can lead to physical health issues. But these steps from a Johns Hopkins expert can help you move toward forgiveness—and better health. Whether it’s a simple spat with your spouse or long-held resentment toward a family member or friend, unresolved conflict can go deeper than you may...
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Exercising with rheumatoid arthritis
(HealthDay)—Different from osteoarthritis, which is the wear-and-tear breakdown of joint cartilage experienced over time, rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is an autoimmune disease that causes both pain and intense fatigue. When you’re in the throes of a flare, exercise may seem like mission impossible and you might be advised to rest until it passes. But exercise...
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Your Apple Watch can now record your ECG – but what does that mean and can you trust it?
Apple’s new, fourth-generation watch has an electrical heart rate sensor. This can record your electrocardiogram or ECG, which Apple says: “… can classify if the heart is beating in a normal pattern or whether there are signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib), a heart condition that could lead to major health complications.” So, what actually is...
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Signs and symptoms of STDs in men
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), or sexually transmitted infections (STIs), can affect anyone, but the signs and symptoms can be different for men and women. It is important that men are aware of the signs and symptoms of common STIs as they are less likely than women to get tests for these infections. With early treatment,...
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‘Mindful people’ feel less pain; MRI imaging pinpoints supporting brain activity
WINSTON-SALEM, NC – Sept. 6, 2018 – Ever wonder why some people seem to feel less pain than others? A study conducted at Wake Forest School of Medicine may have found one of the answers – mindfulness. “Mindfulness is related to being aware of the present moment without too much emotional reaction or judgment,” said...
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A joint effort to understand cartilage development
Anyone with arthritis can appreciate how useful it would be if scientists could grow cartilage in the lab. To this end, Keck School of Medicine of USC scientists in the USC Stem Cell laboratory of Denis Evseenko, MD, Ph.D., collaborated with colleagues at several institutions to provide new insights into how gene activity drives the...
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Aggressive Skin Cancer Rates Skyrocketing
SAN DIEGO — The incidence of Merkel cell carcinoma has increased by an “astonishing” 95% in the last decade, according to the lead investigator of a national study. The rare but dangerous skin disease is becoming more common as the population ages, outpacing growth in melanoma, and the increase is likely to continue, Song Youn...
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New toolkit to assess musculoskeletal health in older people
A new way to assess the impact of normal ageing on bones, joints and muscles has been proposed that could provide a benchmark for how well older people are able to keep moving. Credit: Public Domain The composition of the body changes as we get older, as muscle strength and bone density decline. But the...