Posts

Dementia is increasingly prevalent with an estimated 55 million people worldwide experiencing the condition. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, over six million people aged 65 and older in the United States have Alzheimer’s disease—the most common cause of dementia—a number that researchers expect to more than double to almost 13 million by 2050. Key Takeaways Over six million people in the United States have dementia. A new study looked at the impact of robotic pet cats on elderly dementia patients....

Milk, in one form or another, is a good source of calcium, vitamin D, and protein for children and adults. Depending on how old they are, most kids should drink two to four glasses of milk each day. This is especially important if they aren’t eating or drinking other calcium-rich foods, such as yogurt, cheese, or calcium-fortified orange juice. In light of the childhood obesity epidemic, parents sometimes wonder which milk is best for their child—particularly where fat content is concerned....

The somatic nervous system carries motor and sensory signals to and from the central nervous system (CNS). Because of this bodily system, we are able to control our physical movements and process four of the five senses—smell, sound, taste, and touch. The somatic nervous system is part of the peripheral nervous system and plays a role in voluntary movements and sensory processing. Learn more about the somatic nervous system, including its location, function, and parts....

From stork bites to port wine stains, newborns and infants can have a variety of marks and spots on their bodies. Depending on their size, shape, color, and location, some of these normal infant skin conditions can be shocking. One such mark that can be scary and upsetting to see growing on your baby is the strawberry hemangioma. What is it, and is it dangerous? Here’s what you need to know about strawberry hemangiomas including how they grow, what to watch for, and how to treat them....

What is it that makes a person thankful and why is it that we often only acknowledge our appreciation for what is important in our lives around the holidays? While it’s true that we shouldn’t only be thankful at the end of the year, it’s actually a very good time to talk to your children about the concept and why it is so important. This is especially true with preschool-age children who often do best learning a new idea when it is modeled for them....

Putting in time at the batting cages is one way that baseball and softball players can boost their hitting skills, but wearing the right batting gloves can also improve their game. Batting gloves provide a better grip on the bat, so your hands don’t slide and you have more control with each swing. They can also wick away sweat, protect you from blisters, absorb vibration, and keep your hands warm when playing in cold temps....

The color of breast milk is usually yellow, white, clear, cream, tan, or blue-tinged. However, at some point during your breastfeeding experience, you may be surprised to find that your breast milk can be other colors as well. Depending on what you eat or drink, your breast milk may look as though it has a green, pink, or red tint. Sometimes, a little bit of blood may even make it’s way into breast milk giving it a brown or rust color....

An estimated 46% of children experience trauma at some point in their young lives. While kids are resilient, they’re not made of stone. Adults often say things like, “They were so young when that happened, they won’t even remember it as an adult,” but childhood trauma can have a lifelong effect. That’s not to say that a child will be emotionally scarred forever if they endure a horrific experience. But it’s important to recognize when a child may need professional help for dealing with their trauma....

Bipolar disorder is a condition characterized by extreme changes in mood, behavior, and thoughts. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a condition that causes recurring, intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors. Clinical research suggests that OCD and bipolar disorder co-occur with each other at a higher rate than would be expected by chance. Importantly, the presence of bipolar disorder can affect OCD symptoms and treatment. This article discusses the link between OCD and bipolar disorder including the symptoms and how the conditions are diagnosed when they co-occur....

Globally, 264 million people suffer from depression and it is a leading cause of disability, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In the most recent edition of the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM-5), there are criteria laid out that help a clinician, or anyone doing their own research, identify depression. Some of the symptoms of depression include sleep disturbances, suicidal ideation, and low mood. If some of these symptoms persist for two weeks are more, that is usually sufficient to arrive at the diagnosis of major depression (major depressive disorder)....

The TWEAK alcohol screening test is a short, five-question test that was originally designed to screen pregnant women for harmful drinking habits. The name of the test is an acronym for tolerance, worried, eye-opener, amnesia, and k/cut down (with a poetic license use of “K” instead of “C” for cutting down on alcohol consumption). Background Researchers at the Research Institute on Addictions at Buffalo, New York, Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, and Wayne State University developed the TWEAK as a short test that’s designed to be more sensitive to detecting alcohol problems in pregnant women....

Stress is a universal experience—an unavoidable part of being human—but too much unmanaged stress can take a heavy toll on your health and wellbeing. Stress levels are rising in recent years, and an effective method of stress management is becoming a must for most people. Many of us are learning more about stress and how to effectively manage it. However, certain misconceptions about stress and stress management still persist, and these misconceptions may negatively impact your ability to relieve stress in your life....

What Is Traumatic Grief Therapy? Traumatic grief therapy is a type of treatment used to help people who have experienced the sudden death of a loved one. When a loved one passes away suddenly, the people left behind often experience traumatic grief. In order to deal with this intense kind of grief, therapy can be a helpful and healthy way to process painful emotions. Jennifer R. Levin, PhD, a therapist who is an expert in thanatology (the study of death, dying, and bereavement), defines traumatic grief therapy as “therapy that simultaneously addresses the trauma response and grief associated with a traumatic death....

Phobias are one of the most common mental disorders in the U.S. with around 10% of the population reporting specific phobia, says the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Specific phobia is defined as an intense, irrational fear of something that in fact poses little or no real danger. Key Takeaways A new study found that combining VR exposure therapy and CBT via an app was successful in helping people treat their phobias....

People going through fertility testing often hear about follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and may wonder what a normal FSH level is to get pregnant. As part of a basic fertility workup, your doctor will likely order blood work to check your FSH levels. Sometimes called the day 3 FSH test, this is a simple blood test meant to measure the amount of FSH in your bloodstream. While normal levels vary from person to person, the typical healthy range is between 4....

What Is Déjà Vu? It is an incredibly common experience, something upwards of 97% of people are thought to have experienced it at least once, with more than two-thirds of people experiencing it with some regularity. Déjà Vu Déjà Vu is literally translated from French to mean “already seen.” It is a sense of having already seen something—coupled with knowing you haven’t actually seen it, which is why it catches many people so off guard....

Many of us, especially the younger generations, have been plugged into newer technology for social connection, work, and education for years. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the widespread stay-at-home orders that came with it, however, there has been a huge shift to virtual connectivity among people of all ages, with Zoom being one of the biggest beneficiaries. Key Takeaways Zoom exhaustion is prevalent due to the COVID-10 pandemic and the global shift to virtual communication settings....

It happens to a lot of people. You fall in love, and the romantic phase can blind you to your partner’s imperfections. Unfortunately, later you may realize that your spouse annoys and frustrates you. Or perhaps you find that you don’t really like your spouse. Overview You think your mate will change. Or that you can help bring out the best in them. You hope that in time, the difficult aspects of your spouse’s personality will go away....

There are many reasons why parents should consider teaching empathy and nurturing emotional intelligence in their kids. In basic terms, empathy is the ability to be able to put oneself in someone else’s shoes and understand that person’s emotions and feelings. Why Emotional Intelligence and Empathy Matter Studies have shown that empathy is an essential life skill. Emotional intelligence or emotional quotient (E.Q.)—defined as being able to understand one’s own feelings and the feelings of others as well as being able to control one’s own emotions and exercise self-control—is thought to be more important for success in life than I....

If you are looking for meaningful analysis of why we call grandparents the names we do, don’t look here. If you just want a sampling of grandmother names and grandfather names, along with some touching stories about grandparents and grandchildren, this book is just the ticket. Attractively designed and printed, it would be perfect as a gift to announce, “Guess what! You’re going to be a grandparent!” What’s in a Grandparent Name?...