The good thing about being bad

&emsp;Most of us are governed by our own set of rules and tend to behave in socially acceptable ways. But misbehaving, or acting in ways we'd normally think improper, can be good for our souls. Misbehavior can boost our mood, provide us with a sense of liberation, stimulate creativity or make for some great memories.

September 20, 2009 | Kirven Weekley | Health

Remember in September

&emsp;The American Cancer Society estimates that 192,280 new cases of prostate cancer will occur in the United States during 2009. Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in American men, other than skin cancer. The only well-established risk factors for prostate cancer are age, race/ethnicity and family history of the disease.

September 18, 2009 | Staff Report | Health

Ask the Doc: Workplace survival in tough times

Fear is pretty common in our jobs these days, as downturns in the economy result in budget cuts, lay-offs and office closings. Many have lost jobs or had wages reduced. Anxieties abound as job security fades into the past. For each of us, our personalities will influence how we respond to job insecurity. According to Judith Sills, Ph.D., in Psychology Today, "Worriers, for example, will likely be beside themselves: distracted, preoccupied and potentially provoked into ...

August 26, 2009 | Kirven Weekley | Health

Ask the Doc: Fiscal follies and how they apply to nutrition

"Irrationality is responsible for the economic mess we find ourselves in right now - irrationality plus greed, of course, and a substantial dose of ignorance," says Peter A. Ubel, professor of medicine and psychology at University Michigan, Ann Arbor. Dr. Ubel points out that around a third of Americans have difficulty with simple math and cannot calculate 10 percent of 1,000, much less complicated ideas like compounding of savings and adjustable rate mortgages. Making matters ...

August 07, 2009 | Kirven Weekley | Health

Six tips to improve brain function

Did you know that the brain can change and reconfigure itself? Contrary to popular belief, the brain is actually quite malleable. It can restructure the function of different brain regions and can even grow new brain cells, a process called neurogenesis. Not all these new brain cells survive. In fact, most new brain cells die. Survival of new neurons depends on nutrients and connections with other brain cells that are thriving. This ...

July 26, 2009 | Kirven Weekley | Health

NMC takes pains to treat patients

For someone living with chronic pain, the hope of relief is the first thing on their mind when they wake up and the last thing they think about when they go to sleep. There is good news for the over 40 million Americans who are affected by chronic pain. The medical specialty of pain medicine is making giant strides with sophisticated new treatments. "I have been trained to treat pain with a focused multidisciplinary approach," ...

July 22, 2009 | Staff Report | Health

Ask the Doc: Some advice for moms-to-be

Imagine. In just 270 days, a single, fertilized cell in the womb becomes trillions of diverse and specialized cells, more cells than there are galaxies in the universe. "We pass more biological milestones before we are born than any other time in our lives," said Peter Nathanielsz, director of the Center for Pregnancy and Newborn Research at the University of Texas health Science Center. "If we don't pass them correctly, there is a price to ...

July 17, 2009 | Kirven Weekley | Health

The psychology of architecture

You might be surprised to know how powerfully our environment can affect us. For instance, Joan Meyers-Levy, a professor of marketing at the University of Minnesota, found that the height of a room's ceiling affects how people process information. Lower ceilings are good for focusing on specific details. Higher ceilings are associated with more creative and abstract thinking. So you would want your surgeon operating in a low ceiling room, but artists ...

July 03, 2009 | Kirven Weekley | Health

The link between PTSD The link between PTSD

Posttraumatic stress disorder and substance abuse are closely connected. Although the link frequently goes unrecognized, PTSD is one of the most common dual diagnoses for those with substance abuse problems. Research confirms that among women in treatment for substance abuse, 30 to 59 percent have co-occurring PTSD; among men in treatment for substance abuse, 11 to 38 percent have current PTSD. Women with PTSD and substance abuse typically experienced childhood physical and/or ...

July 03, 2009 | Peggy Nolen | Health

Boost your brain power, health

&emsp;The human brain is a marvel. It has neuroplasticity (can rewire itself) and is capable of neurogenesis (growing new cells). Scientists are studying and identifying factors that positively affect both. Here are six ways determined by research to boost brain power and health.

February 18, 2009 | Peggy Nolen | Health

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