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Sitting on the floor is considered by some experts to be a natural position that promotes strength, flexibility, and wellness.

Millions of people in the US suffer from back pain each day. In fact, back pain is so prevalent, the condition is estimated to cost the American economy hundreds of billions of dollars each year in healthcare costs. Yes, billions of dollars!

For some people the cause of their back pain remains elusive but many can trace it to their daily routine. Spending the majority of your waking hours sitting at a computer in a lousy desk chair can easily cause your lower back to seize up. What’s the solution? Some experts are saying it’s getting out of it and returning to a childlike position.

Sitting on the floor might help your back act as nature intended

When you sit on a surface that’s cushioned, you often don’t maintain your spine in a static position for very long. Some experts are now saying sitting crossed-legged on the floor helps you better keep your spine in its natural position.

Sitting with your legs crossed stretches your hips out, as well as your legs and pelvis. This sitting position is used by people in many cultures around the world from Turkey to Korea, Japan, and beyond, and can even be found in yoga’s vast lexicon of bodily contortions. When you sit cross-legged on the floor, you may also help improve your lower-back strength and thereby help reduce your chances of developing continual back pain over time.

How chairs cause problems

Your chair may seem to be an innocent piece of mundane office equipment but don’t be fooled. This furniture isn’t to be underestimated!

According to some research, the lumbar lordosis, that spot just above your bum that curves inwards, gets flattened a bit when you sit in a chair. This can in turn cause problems.

This being said, when you sit on the floor experts say it’s important that you sit with something called a lordotic lumbar curve. In other words, don’t slouch and make sure you sit up straight.

The key to good sitting

Whether you sit on the floor, the countertop, or in a chair, the key is to change things up often. Don’t sit for hours on end, (even if your shows are amazing or you have endless days of work to complete). Get up every twenty minutes or so and move around. Change your sitting position to give new parts of your body a rest and to keep your blood flowing. Stretch things out so you don’t get too stiff.

Experts recommend you go for a five-minute stroll every half hour to avoid too much sedentary time.

And remember to get your recommended 30 minutes of cardio exercise per day, as this can make a big difference. (Is your neck seizing up from too much screen time? Go for a jog!)

For more on this topic and all types of sitting advice, click here.

photo credits: Africa Studio/Shutterstock.com

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$\"Sitting$

A man sits at a desk and holds his lower back in pain.

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A man sits at a desk and holds his lower back in pain. Facebook Comments

\n","modified_gmt":"2023-01-28T16:41:29","ID":198369,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/how-sitting-on-the-floor-helps-solve-lower-back-pain/youngmansufferingfrombackacheinofficecloseup/","title":"back pain","modified":"2023-01-28T16:41:29","type":"attachment","date_tz":"UTC"},"date_gmt":"2023-02-03T09:00:40","comment_status":"closed","parent":null,"format":"standard","date":"2023-02-03T09:00:40","status":"publish","guid":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/?p=198361","terms":{"post_tag":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","meta":{"links":{"collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms/70"}},"ID":70,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/tag/featured/","description":"","count":2308,"parent":null,"name":"featured","slug":"featured"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","meta":{"links":{"collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms/73542"}},"ID":73542,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/tag/how-to-alleviate-back-pain/","description":"","count":1,"parent":null,"name":"how to alleviate back pain","slug":"how-to-alleviate-back-pain"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","meta":{"links":{"collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms/73543"}},"ID":73543,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/tag/how-to-cure-back-pain/","description":"","count":1,"parent":null,"name":"how to cure back pain","slug":"how-to-cure-back-pain"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","meta":{"links":{"collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms/73540"}},"ID":73540,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/tag/sitting-on-a-chair-and-back-pain/","description":"","count":1,"parent":null,"name":"sitting on a chair and back pain","slug":"sitting-on-a-chair-and-back-pain"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","meta":{"links":{"collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms/73541"}},"ID":73541,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/tag/sitting-on-the-floor-and-back-pain/","description":"","count":1,"parent":null,"name":"sitting on the floor and back pain","slug":"sitting-on-the-floor-and-back-pain"}],"category":[{"taxonomy":"category","meta":{"links":{"collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/category/terms","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/category/terms/2"}},"ID":2,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/category/health/","description":"","count":2032,"parent":null,"name":"Health","slug":"health"}]},"sticky":false,"slug":"how-sitting-on-the-floor-helps-solve-lower-back-pain","excerpt":"

Sitting on the floor is considered by some experts to be a natural position that promotes strength, flexibility, and wellness. Millions of people in the US suffer from back pain each day. In fact, back pain is so prevalent, the condition is estimated to cost the American economy hundreds of billions of dollars each year in healthcare costs. Yes, billions of dollars! For some people the cause of their back pain remains elusive but many can trace it to their daily routine. Spending the majority of your waking hours sitting at a computer in a lousy desk chair can easily

\n","modified_gmt":"2023-01-30T22:41:11","ID":198361,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/how-sitting-on-the-floor-helps-solve-lower-back-pain/","title":"How Sitting on the Floor Helps Solve Lower Back Pain","modified":"2023-01-30T22:41:11","type":"post","date_tz":"UTC"},{"content":"

Be prepared before potential infection strikes.

If you are a senior, and particularly someone living with an underlying condition, you have probably already heard of Paxlovid. This is the oral antiviral drug therapy that consists of two separate medications that work together during the first few days of being infected with COVID-19.

Paxlovid can potentially reduce your chances of suffering from a serious or life-threatening case of COVID. How can you access it and when should you take it? Here’s a look.

When to Access Paxlovid

Health experts advise you take Paxlovid within the first five days of testing positive for COVID-19. In the US, Paxlovid is recommended for adults and children over the age of 12 who weigh at least 88 pounds, have mild to moderate cases of the virus, and are more likely to become very sick when infected. After you’ve been sick for a while, Paxlovid ceases to be as effective. It works best in the initial stages of infection and isn’t something that will save the life of someone who has already fallen very sick with COVID-19 and has been hospitalized.

How Paxlovid Works

As an antiviral, Paxlovid works by targeting specific areas of the virus that causes COVID-19 and prevents it from multiplying rapidly within you. The drugs do this by inhibiting a specific enzyme. This can help prevent a dreaded cytokine storm from occurring in your body and stop widespread inflammation before it begins. This means you can potentially recover faster and avoid being hospitalized or dying from the virus.

Paxlovid therapy involves two medications, nirmatrelvir and ritonavir, taken twice daily for five days at home. There are three pills to take each time adding up to six pills a day.

Who is Paxlovid For?

As stated above, Paxlovid is an antiviral for people who are at risk of developing severe COVID. This treatment is for those who have tested positive and who are living with an underlying medical condition like cancer or obesity, or who are 65 or older.

Does Paxlovid Have Any Side Effects?

As with any medication, this one has possible side effects but many people are said to tolerate it well. According to Yale Medicine, these can include:

Nausea
Stomach pain
Aching muscles
Feeling unwell
Increase in blood pressure
Diarrhea
A change in your sense of taste

Serious side effects include:

A rash
Hives
Trouble breathing
Trouble swallowing
A tight throat
Swelling of your face, lips, and mouth

Stop taking Paxlovid immediately if you experience any of these symptoms and get medical help right away. You could be having a serious allergic reaction.

Experts advise it’s wise for seniors to develop a plan of what you’ll do if you catch COVID-19. Since it can be difficult at times to access a doctor exactly when you need one, it’s a good idea to talk with yours before you may fall sick.

Some people are on medication that can interact in dangerous ways with Paxlovid like certain blood thinners. Because of this, it’s essential to talk with your doctor about your plan and be ready to take the right course of action. Some might recommend you come off your blood thinner if you catch COVID so you can take Paxlovid, and others may not. In any case, if it can help, you may be able to obtain a prescription for Paxlovid to have on hand just in case you do test positive.

The pandemic has been declared over in the US but people continue to die from COVID -19 and seniors are particularly at risk. Protect your health. For more information on this topic click here.

photo credits: vovidzha/Shutterstock.com

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","password":"","menu_order":0,"modified_tz":"UTC","meta":{"links":{"version-history":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/posts/198348/revisions","replies":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/posts/198348/comments","author":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/users/34","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/posts/198348","collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/posts"}},"author":{"nickname":"vsimpson","last_name":"Simpson","URL":"","description":"","first_name":"Victoria","name":"Victoria Simpson","slug":"vsimpson","meta":{"links":{"archives":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/users/34/posts","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/users/34"}},"registered":"2015-06-26T18:03:33+00:00","ID":34,"username":"vsimpson","avatar":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/aba76f5c3ff99a95cd18b7bb019f14f6?s=96"},"ping_status":"closed","featured_image":{"attachment_meta":{"height":657,"width":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"mime-type":"image/jpeg","height":70,"url":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/paxlovid-70x70.jpg","width":70,"file":"paxlovid-70x70.jpg"},"medium":{"mime-type":"image/jpeg","height":214,"url":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/paxlovid-326x214.jpg","width":326,"file":"paxlovid-326x214.jpg"},"medium_large":{"mime-type":"image/jpeg","height":505,"url":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/paxlovid-768x505.jpg","width":768,"file":"paxlovid-768x505.jpg"}},"file":"2021/12/paxlovid.jpg","image_meta":{"orientation":"1","copyright":"Copyright (c) 2021 vovidzha/Shutterstock. No use without permission.","created_timestamp":"0","aperture":"0","credit":"Shutterstock","keywords":["antibiotic,pills,covid,medical,pharmaceutical,pandemic,kn95,pill"],"caption":"","title":"New,York,,Usa,-,08,November,2020.,Concept,Of,Antiviral","focal_length":"0","shutter_speed":"0","camera":"","iso":"0"}},"content":"

$\"Pfizer's$

Paxlovid is a drug from Pfizer that may prevent people from severe COVID-19 if taken early on.

\r\n\t\tFacebook Comments\r\n\t\t

","source":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/paxlovid.jpg","password":"","menu_order":0,"modified_tz":"UTC","meta":{"links":{"author":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/users/34","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/media/196388","up":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/media/196361","replies":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/media/196388/comments","version-history":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/media/196388/revisions","collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/media"}},"author":{"nickname":"vsimpson","last_name":"Simpson","URL":"","description":"","first_name":"Victoria","name":"Victoria Simpson","slug":"vsimpson","meta":{"links":{"archives":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/users/34/posts","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/users/34"}},"registered":"2015-06-26T18:03:33+00:00","ID":34,"username":"vsimpson","avatar":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/aba76f5c3ff99a95cd18b7bb019f14f6?s=96"},"ping_status":"closed","date_gmt":"2021-12-22T16:16:16","comment_status":"closed","parent":196361,"format":"standard","date":"2021-12-22T16:16:16","status":"inherit","guid":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/paxlovid.jpg","terms":[],"sticky":false,"slug":"newyorkusa-08november2020-conceptofantiviral","is_image":true,"excerpt":"

Paxlovid is a drug from Pfizer that may prevent people from severe COVID-19 if taken early on. Facebook Comments

\n","modified_gmt":"2021-12-22T16:17:05","ID":196388,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/pfizer-paxlovid-covid-medication-how-it-works/newyorkusa-08november2020-conceptofantiviral/","title":"Paxlovid","modified":"2021-12-22T16:17:05","type":"attachment","date_tz":"UTC"},"date_gmt":"2023-02-01T09:00:34","comment_status":"closed","parent":null,"format":"standard","date":"2023-02-01T09:00:34","status":"publish","guid":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/?p=198348","terms":{"post_tag":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","meta":{"links":{"collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms/70"}},"ID":70,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/tag/featured/","description":"","count":2308,"parent":null,"name":"featured","slug":"featured"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","meta":{"links":{"collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms/73539"}},"ID":73539,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/tag/how-to-take-paxlovid/","description":"","count":1,"parent":null,"name":"how to take Paxlovid","slug":"how-to-take-paxlovid"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","meta":{"links":{"collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms/73154"}},"ID":73154,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/tag/paxlovid/","description":"","count":2,"parent":null,"name":"Paxlovid","slug":"paxlovid"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","meta":{"links":{"collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms/73537"}},"ID":73537,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/tag/paxlovid-and-seniors/","description":"","count":1,"parent":null,"name":"Paxlovid and seniors","slug":"paxlovid-and-seniors"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","meta":{"links":{"collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms/73538"}},"ID":73538,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/tag/seniors-and-covid/","description":"","count":1,"parent":null,"name":"Seniors and COVID","slug":"seniors-and-covid"}],"category":[{"taxonomy":"category","meta":{"links":{"collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/category/terms","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/category/terms/71995"}},"ID":71995,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/category/health/coronavirus/","description":"","count":334,"parent":{"taxonomy":"category","meta":{"links":{"collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/category/terms","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/category/terms/2"}},"ID":2,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/category/health/","description":"","count":2032,"parent":null,"name":"Health","slug":"health"},"name":"Coronavirus","slug":"coronavirus"},{"taxonomy":"category","meta":{"links":{"collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/category/terms","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/category/terms/2"}},"ID":2,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/category/health/","description":"","count":2032,"parent":null,"name":"Health","slug":"health"},{"taxonomy":"category","meta":{"links":{"collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/category/terms","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/category/terms/60233"}},"ID":60233,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/category/health/seniors-health/","description":"","count":229,"parent":{"taxonomy":"category","meta":{"links":{"collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/category/terms","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/category/terms/2"}},"ID":2,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/category/health/","description":"","count":2032,"parent":null,"name":"Health","slug":"health"},"name":"Senior's Health","slug":"seniors-health"}]},"sticky":false,"slug":"are-you-a-senior-what-you-should-know-about-paxlovid-and-covid","excerpt":"

Be prepared before potential infection strikes. If you are a senior, and particularly someone living with an underlying condition, you have probably already heard of Paxlovid. This is the oral antiviral drug therapy that consists of two separate medications that work together during the first few days of being infected with COVID-19. Paxlovid can potentially reduce your chances of suffering from a serious or life-threatening case of COVID. How can you access it and when should you take it? Here’s a look. When to Access Paxlovid Health experts advise you take Paxlovid within the first five days of testing positive

\n","modified_gmt":"2023-02-01T14:05:15","ID":198348,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/are-you-a-senior-what-you-should-know-about-paxlovid-and-covid/","title":"Are you a senior? What you should know about Paxlovid and COVID","modified":"2023-02-01T14:05:15","type":"post","date_tz":"UTC"},{"content":"

In an unexpected twist, trauma may increase empathy and civic engagement.

Do you know someone who recycles their plastic forks, (or flat-out refuses to use them), buys all their clothing used and doesn’t own a car? They aren’t just picky or poor. These friends, family members, and acquaintances are often environmental advocates. They are strong believers in living right to save the planet and they exist in altruistic ways for the benefit of future generations. It might seem like these people have the ability to see into the future with greater clarity than the rest of us. According to a new study, they also may be more likely to have experienced childhood trauma.

Public engagement and early experiences

A study done by researchers at the University of Colorado at Boulder surveyed 450 American adults. Their goal was to examine people who engage in civic causes and display “green behavior”. Civic engagement was measured in how many hours participants devoted to environmental protection causes each month. This included writing letters to officials and donating time and resources to organizations. Researchers also examined how people acted to benefit the environment in their private life by recycling and adopting other green habits and behaviors such as taking shorter showers.

It was found that people who had experienced childhood trauma were more likely to engage in both private green behavior and public environment engagement. It isn’t known why trauma at a young age can result in this but some researchers feel it may have to with developing a stronger sense of empathy.

“It suggests that there could be another way of looking at trauma,” said the study’s lead author Urooj Raja, who is now an assistant professor at Loyola University in Chicago.

Spending time in nature and traveling also made a difference

The study also showed that participants who had traveled as a child or spent regular time in nature were also more likely to engage in behavior that benefited the environment.

Only childhood trauma, however, made people significantly more likely to be associated with public, civic engagement.

“It emerged as a very powerful piece of why people wanted to and became engaged with environmental work,” said Raja.

Researchers in this study say many students and professionals working in environmental fields struggle with the demands of their work. They also deal with the life experiences that led them to their chosen profession.

“It’s emotionally intense and exhausting. You’re talking about a community of people that seem to be carrying other kinds of emotionally complex burdens,” noted Amanda Carrico. Carrico is co-author of the study and associate professor in the Department of Environmental Studies at CU Boulder.

The healing power of nature

Many people may be trying to save the environment, and while at it, nature is in turn healing them. According to an article on PsychologyToday.com, being in nature is a pathway to inner peace. Time spent in trees reduces our stress and calms an overactive mind. Being in nature can even reduce inflammation and stabilize your heart rate.

So, if you feel inspired, confront your inner trouble with a hike or a day on the beach. And join the local environmental group if you feel a calling to do so: you might find like-minded individuals with more in common than you think.

photo credits: d.ee_angelo/Shutterstock.com

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","password":"","menu_order":0,"modified_tz":"UTC","meta":{"links":{"version-history":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/posts/198371/revisions","replies":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/posts/198371/comments","author":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/users/34","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/posts/198371","collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/posts"}},"author":{"nickname":"vsimpson","last_name":"Simpson","URL":"","description":"","first_name":"Victoria","name":"Victoria Simpson","slug":"vsimpson","meta":{"links":{"archives":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/users/34/posts","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/users/34"}},"registered":"2015-06-26T18:03:33+00:00","ID":34,"username":"vsimpson","avatar":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/aba76f5c3ff99a95cd18b7bb019f14f6?s=96"},"ping_status":"closed","featured_image":{"attachment_meta":{"height":546,"width":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"mime-type":"image/jpeg","height":70,"url":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/environmental-70x70.jpg","width":70,"file":"environmental-70x70.jpg"},"medium":{"mime-type":"image/jpeg","height":197,"url":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/environmental-360x197.jpg","width":360,"file":"environmental-360x197.jpg"},"medium_large":{"mime-type":"image/jpeg","height":419,"url":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/environmental-768x419.jpg","width":768,"file":"environmental-768x419.jpg"}},"file":"2023/01/environmental.jpg","image_meta":{"orientation":"1","copyright":"Copyright (c) 2021 d.ee_angelo/Shutterstock. No use without permission.","created_timestamp":"0","aperture":"0","credit":"Shutterstock","keywords":["csr,achievement,criteria,friendly,pollution,artificial intelligence,eco,businessmen,growing,green factory,manufacturing,big data,energy,development,ecological,natural,investment,economy,creative,conservation,background,ethic,renewable,header,care,concept,icon,global,protection,agriculture,design,company,hand,carbon dioxide,green,business,cg,health,clean,leaf,environment,corporate,management,future,earth,esg,air pollution,growth,finance,governance"],"caption":"","title":"Hand,Planting,Trees,With,Technology,Of,Renewable,Resources,To,Reduce","focal_length":"0","shutter_speed":"0","camera":"","iso":"0"}},"content":"

$\"People$

a person hold dirt and plants in their hands against a green background in this image.

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","source":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/environmental.jpg","password":"","menu_order":0,"modified_tz":"UTC","meta":{"links":{"author":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/users/34","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/media/198379","up":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/media/198371","replies":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/media/198379/comments","version-history":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/media/198379/revisions","collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/media"}},"author":{"nickname":"vsimpson","last_name":"Simpson","URL":"","description":"","first_name":"Victoria","name":"Victoria Simpson","slug":"vsimpson","meta":{"links":{"archives":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/users/34/posts","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/users/34"}},"registered":"2015-06-26T18:03:33+00:00","ID":34,"username":"vsimpson","avatar":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/aba76f5c3ff99a95cd18b7bb019f14f6?s=96"},"ping_status":"closed","date_gmt":"2023-01-28T17:00:36","comment_status":"closed","parent":198371,"format":"standard","date":"2023-01-28T17:00:36","status":"inherit","guid":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/environmental.jpg","terms":[],"sticky":false,"slug":"handplantingtreeswithtechnologyofrenewableresourcestoreduce","is_image":true,"excerpt":"

a person hold dirt and plants in their hands against a green background in this image. Facebook Comments

\n","modified_gmt":"2023-01-28T17:01:25","ID":198379,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/childhood-trauma-linked-to-environmentalism-as-an-adult/handplantingtreeswithtechnologyofrenewableresourcestoreduce/","title":"environmentalism","modified":"2023-01-28T17:01:25","type":"attachment","date_tz":"UTC"},"date_gmt":"2023-01-30T22:38:42","comment_status":"closed","parent":null,"format":"standard","date":"2023-01-30T22:38:42","status":"publish","guid":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/?p=198371","terms":{"post_tag":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","meta":{"links":{"collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms/69479"}},"ID":69479,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/tag/childhood-trauma/","description":"","count":2,"parent":null,"name":"childhood trauma","slug":"childhood-trauma"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","meta":{"links":{"collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms/73544"}},"ID":73544,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/tag/childhood-trauma-and-environmentalism/","description":"","count":1,"parent":null,"name":"childhood trauma and environmentalism","slug":"childhood-trauma-and-environmentalism"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","meta":{"links":{"collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms/70"}},"ID":70,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/tag/featured/","description":"","count":2308,"parent":null,"name":"featured","slug":"featured"}],"category":[{"taxonomy":"category","meta":{"links":{"collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/category/terms","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/category/terms/1"}},"ID":1,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/category/living/","description":"","count":791,"parent":null,"name":"Living","slug":"living"}]},"sticky":false,"slug":"childhood-trauma-linked-to-environmentalism-as-an-adult","excerpt":"

In an unexpected twist, trauma may increase empathy and civic engagement. Do you know someone who recycles their plastic forks, (or flat-out refuses to use them), buys all their clothing used and doesn’t own a car? They aren’t just picky or poor. These friends, family members, and acquaintances are often environmental advocates. They are strong believers in living right to save the planet and they exist in altruistic ways for the benefit of future generations. It might seem like these people have the ability to see into the future with greater clarity than the rest of us. According to a

\n","modified_gmt":"2023-01-30T22:39:14","ID":198371,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/childhood-trauma-linked-to-environmentalism-as-an-adult/","title":"Childhood Trauma linked to Environmentalism as an Adult","modified":"2023-01-30T22:39:14","type":"post","date_tz":"UTC"},{"content":"

Treatments exist if you’re feeling blue in the winter time due to a lack of light.

Feeling blue is something many people experience from time to time. Some people suffer from low feelings more in winter when the temperature dips and the sun can hide behind the clouds for days, if not weeks, at a time. But what causes it? Here are five things to know about seasonal blues.

Exposure to sunlight plays a key role

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is the official medical term for the kind of depression that strikes in fall and winter. People who suffer from SAD often feel like their energy is sapped and their mood dips as soon as fall weather settles in. Once the weather warms up in spring and summer, their symptoms of lethargy and depression subside. SAD can cause you to feel:

Sad every day
Restless
Sluggish
Trouble concentrating
Unable to sleep well
Hopeless
Worthless
Suicidal
Craving carbohydrates

People who suffer from bi-polar disorder are more likely to experience and suffer from seasonal affective disorder. In general, the changing seasons may cause people who are bipolar to feel depressed in fall and winter and manic, anxious, and agitated in summer.

SAD is more likely to affect women and those living in colder climates.

Getting enough vitamin D is also important

Vitamin D plays a key role in your health and getting enough is important. If you live where winter brings colder weather, the sun ceases to provide you with enough vitamin D come winter time. Getting vitamin D throughout the winter through your diet by eating foods supplemented with it such as milk or some types of orange juice, oily fish such as salmon or mackerel, or a vitamin supplement. Research shows getting enough vitamin can help alleviate SAD symptoms in some people.
\nCraving carbs is a symptom

Interestingly, craving carbs in winter is a distinct symptom of SAD. Comfort foods like cakes and cookies can easily lead to weight gain, especially over the holidays.

If you find you have a strong craving for carbs once the heat of the sun wanes, talk to your doctor.

Light therapy can help

Several types of therapy exist to help alleviate SAD. Some patients might receive psychotherapy as a solution that may talk you out of your depression. This type of therapy can help you get back to activities you love, better manage stress, and identify thought patterns that bring you down. Psychotherapy can also remind you to get active and focus on obtaining a good night’s sleep.

Light therapy is another solution that many people find helpful. Light therapy imitates the sun and can change your mood by stimulating brain chemicals that make you feel happier. Your therapy will expose you to bright light via a light box each day within an hour after waking up.

If neither of these two approaches garner any results, your doctor might suggest medication.

Treatments can potentially trigger a manic episode

Getting the right treatment for SAD can help you gain back your happiness and zest for life. If you suffer from bipolar disorder, it’s important to inform your healthcare provider when seeking treatment for SAD. Light therapy and antidepressants can both trigger a manic episode, so it’s important to approach things with balance.
\nSAD is something that can be mild in some patients and quite strong in others. Always seek help for depression.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 in the US.

photo credits: Maridav/Shutterstock.com

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","password":"","menu_order":0,"modified_tz":"UTC","meta":{"links":{"version-history":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/posts/198331/revisions","replies":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/posts/198331/comments","author":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/users/34","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/posts/198331","collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/posts"}},"author":{"nickname":"vsimpson","last_name":"Simpson","URL":"","description":"","first_name":"Victoria","name":"Victoria Simpson","slug":"vsimpson","meta":{"links":{"archives":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/users/34/posts","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/users/34"}},"registered":"2015-06-26T18:03:33+00:00","ID":34,"username":"vsimpson","avatar":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/aba76f5c3ff99a95cd18b7bb019f14f6?s=96"},"ping_status":"closed","featured_image":{"attachment_meta":{"height":667,"width":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"mime-type":"image/jpeg","height":70,"url":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SAD-70x70.jpg","width":70,"file":"SAD-70x70.jpg"},"medium":{"mime-type":"image/jpeg","height":214,"url":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SAD-321x214.jpg","width":321,"file":"SAD-321x214.jpg"},"medium_large":{"mime-type":"image/jpeg","height":512,"url":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SAD-768x512.jpg","width":768,"file":"SAD-768x512.jpg"}},"file":"2023/01/SAD.jpg","image_meta":{"orientation":"1","copyright":"Copyright (c) 2020 Maridav/Shutterstock. No use without permission.","created_timestamp":"0","aperture":"0","credit":"Shutterstock","keywords":["covid,mental health,sorrow,social distancing,anxious,depressed,lockdown,lonely,grief,19,looking out window,isolation,girl,covid19,anxiety,unhappy,person,covid 19,worried woman,bored,despair,self-isolation,women,woman,distance,winter,loneliness,house,thinking,virus,alone,confinement,psychology,sad,corona,seasonal affective disorder,mind,stress,negative emotions,asian,tired,coronavirus,covid-19,people,home,self,quarantine,depression,apartment,corona virus"],"caption":"","title":"Sad,Pensive,Woman,At,Home,Winter,Depression,-,Seasonal,Affective","focal_length":"0","shutter_speed":"0","camera":"","iso":"0"}},"content":"

$\"Seasonal$

A woman looks out a window in winter in this image.

\r\n\t\tFacebook Comments\r\n\t\t

","source":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SAD.jpg","password":"","menu_order":0,"modified_tz":"UTC","meta":{"links":{"author":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/users/34","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/media/198352","up":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/media/198331","replies":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/media/198352/comments","version-history":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/media/198352/revisions","collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/media"}},"author":{"nickname":"vsimpson","last_name":"Simpson","URL":"","description":"","first_name":"Victoria","name":"Victoria Simpson","slug":"vsimpson","meta":{"links":{"archives":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/users/34/posts","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/users/34"}},"registered":"2015-06-26T18:03:33+00:00","ID":34,"username":"vsimpson","avatar":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/aba76f5c3ff99a95cd18b7bb019f14f6?s=96"},"ping_status":"closed","date_gmt":"2023-01-24T22:24:40","comment_status":"closed","parent":198331,"format":"standard","date":"2023-01-24T22:24:40","status":"inherit","guid":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SAD.jpg","terms":[],"sticky":false,"slug":"sadpensivewomanathomewinterdepression-seasonalaffective","is_image":true,"excerpt":"

A woman looks out a window in winter in this image. Facebook Comments

\n","modified_gmt":"2023-01-24T22:25:15","ID":198352,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/5-things-to-know-about-seasonal-blues/sadpensivewomanathomewinterdepression-seasonalaffective/","title":"Sad,Pensive,Woman,At,Home,Winter,Depression,-,Seasonal,Affective","modified":"2023-01-24T22:25:15","type":"attachment","date_tz":"UTC"},"date_gmt":"2023-01-27T16:52:49","comment_status":"closed","parent":null,"format":"standard","date":"2023-01-27T16:52:49","status":"publish","guid":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/?p=198331","terms":{"post_tag":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","meta":{"links":{"collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms/70"}},"ID":70,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/tag/featured/","description":"","count":2308,"parent":null,"name":"featured","slug":"featured"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","meta":{"links":{"collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms/64689"}},"ID":64689,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/tag/sad/","description":"","count":2,"parent":null,"name":"SAD","slug":"sad"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","meta":{"links":{"collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms/2025"}},"ID":2025,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/tag/seasonal-affective-disorder/","description":"","count":5,"parent":null,"name":"seasonal affective disorder","slug":"seasonal-affective-disorder"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","meta":{"links":{"collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms/73536"}},"ID":73536,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/tag/treatment-for-sad/","description":"","count":1,"parent":null,"name":"treatment for SAD","slug":"treatment-for-sad"}],"category":[{"taxonomy":"category","meta":{"links":{"collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/category/terms","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/category/terms/1"}},"ID":1,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/category/living/","description":"","count":791,"parent":null,"name":"Living","slug":"living"},{"taxonomy":"category","meta":{"links":{"collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/category/terms","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/category/terms/4"}},"ID":4,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/category/wellness/","description":"","count":426,"parent":null,"name":"Wellness","slug":"wellness"}]},"sticky":false,"slug":"5-things-to-know-about-seasonal-blues","excerpt":"

Treatments exist if you’re feeling blue in the winter time due to a lack of light. Feeling blue is something many people experience from time to time. Some people suffer from low feelings more in winter when the temperature dips and the sun can hide behind the clouds for days, if not weeks, at a time. But what causes it? Here are five things to know about seasonal blues. Exposure to sunlight plays a key role Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is the official medical term for the kind of depression that strikes in fall and winter. People who suffer from

\n","modified_gmt":"2023-01-27T16:52:49","ID":198331,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/5-things-to-know-about-seasonal-blues/","title":"5 things to know about seasonal blues","modified":"2023-01-27T16:52:49","type":"post","date_tz":"UTC"},{"content":"

February is American Health Month and the perfect time to take stock of your overall health and wellness.

As much as we’ve heard about other ailments in the news in the recent past, heart disease remains the number one killer in the US. Heart disease can lead to a heart attack, stroke, heart failure, aneurysm, sudden cardiac arrest, and peripheral artery disease.

Not all cases of heart disease are preventable but research shows lifestyle changes can go a long way towards improving your overall health. Check out these daunting facts provided by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

About 1 in 5 deaths in the US were caused by heart disease in 2020 in the US.
Heart disease cost the US around $229 billion in the year leading up to 2018.
One in person dies every 34 seconds from cardiovascular disease in the US.
Someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds in the US.
About one fifth of all heart attacks aren’t known by the victim but cause lasting damage.

How can you avoid heart disease?

There are numerous risk factors for heart disease and knowing what they are can help increase your chances of leading a long and productive life.

Some people suffer from heart disease because they have a family history that increases their risk. Certain genetic compositions can lead to an increased risk of clogged arteries over time. If one of your parents developed coronary artery disease, (plaque build-up in the walls of their arteries), it’s a good idea to let your doctor know.

Men who develop coronary artery disease before age 55, and women before 65, are more likely to have a genetic component to their disease. In essence, if someone in your family died early from a heart attack or stroke, this may be a warning sign. Inquire with your doctor about genetic testing for heart disease. This type of test is often as simple as providing a blood sample or a cheek swab. Don’t be afraid of your results. Your test results can help you and your doctor make health decisions that can be best for your heart.

People who smoke, don’t get enough sleep, avoid exercise, and eat an unhealthy diet have also been shown to be more at risk of developing heart disease.

To reduce your risk, do the following:

Exercise about 30 minutes a day, at least five days a week
Avoid smoking
Reduce your stress
Get 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night as an adult
Eat foods low in salt and saturated fats
Keep your weight in a healthy zone

The common signs of a heart attack

Knowing the signs and symptoms when it comes to a heart attack can help save lives. People display different signs and it’s important to get any unusual symptoms checked out.

The common symptoms of a heart attack are:

Shortness of breath
Pain in your jaw
Discomfort in your jaw
Chest pain or discomfort
Nausea
Vomiting
Back pain or discomfort
Neck pain or discomfort
Shoulder pain or discomfort
Stomach pain
Feeling lightheaded
A cold sweat

Seek medical help if you experience these symptoms without any other known cause. Heart disease can be addressed: you’re worth it.

photo credits: Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock.com

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","password":"","menu_order":0,"modified_tz":"UTC","meta":{"links":{"version-history":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/posts/198340/revisions","replies":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/posts/198340/comments","author":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/users/34","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/posts/198340","collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/posts"}},"author":{"nickname":"vsimpson","last_name":"Simpson","URL":"","description":"","first_name":"Victoria","name":"Victoria Simpson","slug":"vsimpson","meta":{"links":{"archives":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/users/34/posts","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/users/34"}},"registered":"2015-06-26T18:03:33+00:00","ID":34,"username":"vsimpson","avatar":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/aba76f5c3ff99a95cd18b7bb019f14f6?s=96"},"ping_status":"closed","featured_image":{"attachment_meta":{"height":667,"width":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"mime-type":"image/jpeg","height":70,"url":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/heart-attack-70x70.jpg","width":70,"file":"heart-attack-70x70.jpg"},"medium":{"mime-type":"image/jpeg","height":214,"url":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/heart-attack-321x214.jpg","width":321,"file":"heart-attack-321x214.jpg"},"medium_large":{"mime-type":"image/jpeg","height":512,"url":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/heart-attack-768x512.jpg","width":768,"file":"heart-attack-768x512.jpg"}},"file":"2023/01/heart-attack.jpg","image_meta":{"orientation":"1","copyright":"Copyright (c) 2018 Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock. No use without permission.","created_timestamp":"0","aperture":"0","credit":"Shutterstock","keywords":["medical,heart attack,mature,suffering,emergency,sickness,american,cardio,nigerian,sick,cardiac arrest,america,alone,attack,sudden,african american,african descent,injury,man,painful,heartache,black people,hand,illness,chest,pain,coronary,disease,nigeria,one,black,health,medicine,solo,cardiovascular,stroke,heart,single,ache,condition,blue,person,severe,uganda,hurt,male,cardiac"],"caption":"","title":"Black,Man,Having,A,Heart,Attack","focal_length":"0","shutter_speed":"0","camera":"","iso":"0"}},"content":"

$\"Heart$

A man holds his chest in pain in this image.

\r\n\t\tFacebook Comments\r\n\t\t

","source":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/heart-attack.jpg","password":"","menu_order":0,"modified_tz":"UTC","meta":{"links":{"author":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/users/34","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/media/198344","up":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/media/198340","replies":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/media/198344/comments","version-history":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/media/198344/revisions","collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/media"}},"author":{"nickname":"vsimpson","last_name":"Simpson","URL":"","description":"","first_name":"Victoria","name":"Victoria Simpson","slug":"vsimpson","meta":{"links":{"archives":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/users/34/posts","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/users/34"}},"registered":"2015-06-26T18:03:33+00:00","ID":34,"username":"vsimpson","avatar":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/aba76f5c3ff99a95cd18b7bb019f14f6?s=96"},"ping_status":"closed","date_gmt":"2023-01-21T02:36:42","comment_status":"closed","parent":198340,"format":"standard","date":"2023-01-21T02:36:42","status":"inherit","guid":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/heart-attack.jpg","terms":[],"sticky":false,"slug":"blackmanhavingaheartattack","is_image":true,"excerpt":"

A man holds his chest in pain in this image. Facebook Comments

\n","modified_gmt":"2023-01-21T02:37:10","ID":198344,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/heart-disease-is-the-1-killer-in-the-usa/blackmanhavingaheartattack/","title":"Heart attack","modified":"2023-01-21T02:37:10","type":"attachment","date_tz":"UTC"},"date_gmt":"2023-01-23T15:11:32","comment_status":"closed","parent":null,"format":"standard","date":"2023-01-23T15:11:32","status":"publish","guid":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/?p=198340","terms":{"post_tag":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","meta":{"links":{"collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms/70"}},"ID":70,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/tag/featured/","description":"","count":2308,"parent":null,"name":"featured","slug":"featured"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","meta":{"links":{"collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms/4785"}},"ID":4785,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/tag/heart-attack/","description":"","count":22,"parent":null,"name":"heart attack","slug":"heart-attack"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","meta":{"links":{"collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms/370"}},"ID":370,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/tag/heart-disease/","description":"","count":84,"parent":null,"name":"heart disease","slug":"heart-disease"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","meta":{"links":{"collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms/73535"}},"ID":73535,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/tag/leading-cause-of-death-in-us/","description":"","count":1,"parent":null,"name":"leading cause of death in US","slug":"leading-cause-of-death-in-us"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","meta":{"links":{"collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/post_tag/terms/402"}},"ID":402,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/tag/stroke/","description":"","count":35,"parent":null,"name":"stroke","slug":"stroke"}],"category":[{"taxonomy":"category","meta":{"links":{"collection":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/category/terms","self":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/wp-json/taxonomies/category/terms/2"}},"ID":2,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/category/health/","description":"","count":2032,"parent":null,"name":"Health","slug":"health"}]},"sticky":false,"slug":"heart-disease-is-the-1-killer-in-the-usa","excerpt":"

February is American Health Month and the perfect time to take stock of your overall health and wellness. As much as we’ve heard about other ailments in the news in the recent past, heart disease remains the number one killer in the US. Heart disease can lead to a heart attack, stroke, heart failure, aneurysm, sudden cardiac arrest, and peripheral artery disease. Not all cases of heart disease are preventable but research shows lifestyle changes can go a long way towards improving your overall health. Check out these daunting facts provided by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

\n","modified_gmt":"2023-01-23T15:11:32","ID":198340,"link":"https://www.ratemds.com/blog/heart-disease-is-the-1-killer-in-the-usa/","title":"Heart Disease is the #1 Killer in the USA","modified":"2023-01-23T15:11:32","type":"post","date_tz":"UTC"},{"content":"

What isn’t known is what comes first: negativity or the disease.

Just about everyone has had a bad day where nothing seems to go their way. In fact, if you forgot your keys, missed your grocery pick-up, and had a nasty fight with your partner, you may have felt like the universe was conspiring against you.

Occasional negative thoughts and feelings are a normal part of life. Keeping them in check, however, is important for your emotional wellbeing. It can also be important for the physical health of your brain, research is now showing.

Negative thoughts aren’t just feelings, they can also affect your memory.

Older people with anxiety and depression may be more likely to develop dementia

Scientists have been studying human psychology and mental health for a long while. It’s already been shown that people who are able to change their emotions quickly-go from sad to happy, for example-often benefit from better mental health. On the flip side, those who can’t regulate their emotions very well can be stuck in negative emotional states for a longer time and are thus at a greater risk of suffering from depression.

Older people have been shown to be able to better regulate their emotions than younger ones, and they can find the positive more readily when something bad happens. But sometimes older brains are at a disadvantage.

Recent scientific work by neuroscientists at the University of Geneva (UNIGE) examined how the brain works when witnessing other people suffering psychologically. It was found that some older people have changes in the connectivity in their brain that cause certain negative effects.

Related: How to best treat a dry cough

These changes are present between the posterior cingulate cortex and the amygdala and it’s thought they may indicate that aging is going on in different way from normal. Older people who suffer from greater anxiety and negative emotions tended to show this alteration the most.

Because this area of the brain is one that’s the most affected by dementia, scientists now believe there’s a connection between too many negative thoughts and an increased risk of developing a neurodegenerative disease.

What isn’t known is which comes first.

”Is it poor emotional regulation and anxiety that increases the risk of dementia or the other way around? We still don’t know,” commented Sebastian Baez Lugo, a researcher who was a lead author in the study. ”Our hypothesis is that more anxious people would have no or less capacity for emotional distancing. The mechanism of emotional inertia in the context of aging would then be explained by the fact that the brain of these people remains ‘frozen’ in a negative state by relating the suffering of others to their own emotional memories,” Lugo explained.

Meditation may help reroute negative thoughts

The good news is that calming mental exercises like meditation may potentially help stave off those dangerously negative thoughts. Mindfulness is the act of becoming aware of a negative thought and then letting it go without ruminating too much. Meditation is about acknowledging the negativity and then, most importantly, moving on. Meditation can also help calm your mind in general and thereby relieve stress, which is also known to increase your risk of developing dementia.

So, find a quiet space, close your eyes, and drift away for a moment-it will do you some good. If you need tips on starting a meditation practice, check out Mindful.org.

photo credits: fizkes/Shutterstock.com

\r\n\t\tFacebook Comments\r\n\t\t

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$\"Seniors$

A senior woman holds her head in her hands upset in this image.

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A senior woman holds her head in her hands upset in this image. Facebook Comments

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What isn’t known is what comes first: negativity or the disease. Just about everyone has had a bad day where nothing seems to go their way. In fact, if you forgot your keys, missed your grocery pick-up, and had a nasty fight with your partner, you may have felt like the universe was conspiring against you. Occasional negative thoughts and feelings are a normal part of life. Keeping them in check, however, is important for your emotional wellbeing. It can also be important for the physical health of your brain, research is now showing. Negative thoughts aren’t just feelings, they

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