For millennia humans have pondered the meaning of dreams, and why we dream at all. In more recent times, researchers have begun studying the importance of dreaming to our physiology, and how our dream life is affected by external stimuli.
Research Suggests that Smells Influence Our Dreams
Study: Knee Arthritis Operations Don’t Work
As the baby boomer generation ages, more individuals are experiencing joint problems and arthritis. Traditionally, sufferers of severe knee joint arthritis have been offered arthroscopy surgery in an attempt to lessen the severity of the arthritis symptoms, and increase the range of motion in the joint. But new research conducted in Canada suggests that there is no real benefit to undergoing surgery for knee arthritis, and less invasive methods provide better results for arthritis sufferers.
Do Those “Ask Your Doctor” Drug Ads Really Work?
We’ve all seen them: those pesky “ask your doctor” prescription drug ads that are targeted directly to the consumer. And though many of us may find them annoying and borderline unethical, the question remains; does direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising work?
Home of the Fat? US Obesity Rates Continue to Rise
Despite increased media attention and warnings by health authorities, the US obesity rate continues to increase. According to USnews.com, a report sponsored by Trust for America’s Health released this week indicates that adult obesity is on the rise in 37 states.
Research: Antidepressants Lead to Bad Driving
A study presented at the American Psychological Association convention in Boston this Sunday claims that depressed people drive poorly when they take antidepressant medications. The study was carried out by the University of North Dakota, where researchers measured driving skills in 60 individuals suffering with clinical depression. Some of the subjects were currently being medicated with antidepressant drugs, and others had never taken medication for their depression.
Placebos Have Greater Effect on Children than Adults
The medical community has known for ages that placebos (or sugar pills) can often have as much effect on a patient as actual medications. But up until the 1990s, relatively few studies had been done to investigate how the placebo effect works.
New Study: Antidepressants Replacing Therapy
A new study has revealed that antidepressants and other psychotropic medications are taking the place of psychotherapy and other therapeutic forms of treatment for emotional problems. The LA Times is reporting that the number of individuals receiving psychotherapy has dropped by more than 14% since 1996. During the same time period, the use of antidepressant medications has increased sharply.
New Research: “Noisy” Brain Activity is Healthy
All of us experience random brain “white noise” from time to time — the type of buzzing, non-focused mental activity that most of us associate with anxiety or stress. A new research study from Canada suggests that random brain “noise” is actually a sign of healthy brain activity.
Can Magnetic Pulses Cure Migraines?
Sufferers of frequent migraine headaches often find them debilitating, and may even experienced nausea and extreme sensitivity to light during the attacks. Traditionally, pain relievers such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen and aspirin have been used in an attempt to mitigate the pain associated with migraines — often with poor results. But a researcher at Ohio State University Medical Center believes that magnetic pulses have the potential to “zap” the headache pain away.
Studies Suggest Vitamin D Can Protect from Disease, Lead to Longer Life
More and more research continues to pour in that suggests that plain old vitamin D may be more important to our health and longevity than previously thought. A new study conducted in Austria found that people with a deficiency of vitamin D in their bloodstream or more likely to die (of any health-related cause) than others.
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