Stress Management + Original Articles

With a little effort and some self-awareness, you can motivate your coworkers to put forth their best effort and minimize their stress in the process. Being a good boss isn't easy, but it may help to know that most people want to follow an effective leader. If your job involves supervising others, your actions could be the reason your employees aren't and your efforts are failing. Workplace stress caused...

Moving can be challenging. Follow our expert's advice for making the transition easier. Moving to a new location can be quite exciting, but all the changes that accompany relocating can also cause your stress levels to rise. Here's how to bring calm to the chaos: Research Your Relocation "Some of our clients' biggest relocation concerns include adjusting to the new environment, creating a social life outside of work, and building a new support network," says Jeff Mahoney, Executive Vice President of Churchill Corporate Services.

Whether it's your doctor, personal trainer, or massage therapist, if you're not seeing the results you want, or being treated with respect, it's time to move on. Here's how. Staying healthy requires a professional team approach. The doctors, personal trainers, massage therapists, and other healthcare professionals we choose for our team help us stay at the top of our game or give us a boost when we're not at our best. What if your healthcare professional isn't a good team player? Then it's time to bench him.

That thrill you get from tough challenges or risky behavior could actually be the result of a clinical addiction. If you thrive on extreme living, tough challenges, and compulsive or risk-taking behavior that gives you something of a "high," you may have more than an adventurous nature; you may actually have an addiction. And the adrenaline that flows through your blood, feeding life on the edge, may be your drug of choice.

Learn how you can cope with the daily grind of getting to and from work. Crowded subways, packed buses, traffic jams, and busy schedules make commuting a stressful experience for many people. But a new study says it's especially anxiety-producing for women—more so than for men. Multitasking and Mental Health Generally speaking, men spend more time commuting to and from work than women, but travel affects women's mental health more.

A new study has zeroed in on a promising approach to erasing painful memories from the mind. This research may lead to improved treatments for anxiety disorders. A new study finds a promising approach to erasing painful emotional memories. The research may lead to improved treatment for those who suffer from anxiety disorders. The research, published by the journal Science, found that newly formed emotional memories can be erased in the human brain.

Think you always have to be the one in charge? It's time to think again. If you are like many women today, there's a lot on your plate. You work, care for family, run a household, cultivate relationships with friends and colleagues. But there's an underlying part that really drives you—the feeling that you must do it all, and do it perfectly.

Paying attention to your breath could put you on the fast track to stress relief. What if there was a quick, easy, no-cost way to relieve stress? There is, and you're already doing it-every single day. This magic remedy is breathing. Breathing is automatic and something we don't think about. However, the simple act of taking a few moments to be mindful of our breathing can be transformative.

Many programs and resources are available to help provide financial assistance. An expert discusses some of the options. If you've recently been in the hospital, you may feel overwhelmed by the staggering amount of medical bills for co-pays, co-insurance, and deductibles that you owe after your health insurance pays its part. This is a common situation, according to Nicholas Newsad, MHSA, author of The Medical Bill Survival Guide: Easy, Effective Strategies for People Experiencing Financial Hardship.

Certain soothing sounds can make a world of difference toward the quality of your sleep, and how you feel when you wake up. The popularity of nighttime sound machines is a testament to the fact that noise has a profound effect on how well we sleep. The right noises can help you settle down and drift off, while the wrong ones will jar you awake, as anyone who has ever shared a bedroom with a snorer can attest.

In the wake of Sandy, be aware of the psychological impact such a disaster can bring. Manmade and natural disasters certainly test our resilience. In just the last decade or so, we've experienced terrorist attacks, major hurricanes, wars, and now, superstorm Sandy. Relief efforts for Sandy are in the early stages, and professionals and volunteers are focusing on restoring basic services and fulfilling victims' needs for food, safety, and medical care.

Oh, go ahead, let your mind wander. Did you know it's actually good for your mental health? If while in a meeting you find yourself staring out the window fantasizing about your upcoming vacation, or thinking about how glorious your post-work yoga class will be, you may be considered a bit of a daydreamer. For the most part, daydreaming has a bad wrap—teachers labeled it as "not paying attention" or a lack of mental discipline.

You probably already know that stress can have a big impact on your health. Here's how to release and let go for the sake of your health. Got stress? You're certainly not alone. Everyone experiences stress in his own way. It may manifest as knotted muscles, painful digestion, troubled sleep, breakouts, chronic illness, weight gain, headaches, and fatigue. And that's just the physical symptoms.

Stress leads to the behaviors that bring on heartburn, but our tips can quell the flames and help you cope. Stress itself does not cause heartburn. There is data that suggests you produce more acid when you're under stress, but reflux is not so much a problem with stomach acid, it's a problem with acid in the wrong place—the esophagus instead of in the stomach.

It's common knowledge that stress affects many aspects of your health. Did you know that it can impact your eyes? Learn more. Stress can impact your life in a variety of ways. You know about good stress—the type that's necessary to make a really killer presentation or perform your best in a competition. But stress has an evil side, too. Bad stress can have emotional, physiological, and behavioral consequences.

With the proper treatment, asthma sufferers can live full and active lives. Here's a look at the condition by the numbers. Asthma is a chronic lung disease that inflames and narrows the bronchial airways, causing recurring wheezing, chest tightening, shortness of breath, and coughing. It typically begins in childhood and persists into adulthood. Asthma is common, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in 2010 almost 19 million adults and seven million children had asthma.

Migraine pain can be excruciating, but with the right treatment, the condition can be controlled. Migraine headaches are unlike ordinary headaches. Characterized by a pulsing, throbbing pain and perhaps accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to sound and light, they're much more common than you'd think. Migraines affect more than 10 percent of people worldwide.

Men can prevent health risks by paying attention to changes in their body and seeing their doctor when something isn't right. When it comes to scheduling doctor visits, some men are notorious procrastinators. But this can be risky. Routine preventive care can find diseases in the early stages when there are more options for treatment and better chances of treating the issue.

Thanks to TV ads erectile dysfunction is no longer under the covers. Still, misconceptions remain. Learn what causes impotence and ways to reduce your risk. Between 15 and 30 million men suffer from some form of impotence or erectile dysfunction. At first glance this range seems wide, but it's due to the fact that some health professionals use the term "impotence" to include a host of sexual problems in men—not just the total inability to have or maintain an erection.

A study reveals that these mini-computers have a big impact on your stress levels. According to researchers from the University of Worcester, who presented their findings at a recent meeting of the British Psychological Society, the number of times a person checks his smartphone is directly correlated with higher stress levels. The reason comes from the feeling that one "needs" to respond to every alert.

Here's how to pick the right scale to support your goal of achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. Go into any home-products store or browse online and you're likely to be overwhelmed by the sheer variety of scales for sale. So what's really important when making this purchase? The first choice you'll need to make is between the two main types of bathroom scales: Digital and analog.

Single? Married? Divorced? Your answer may have a direct impact on your health. Want to live a long, healthy life? You may stand the best chance if you're happily married. Married folks are less likely to get heart disease, cancer, and even dementia, according to research reported in The New York Times.  But don't think you'll stay healthy if you're in a toxic relationship.

Here's how certain natural scents may help improve your health and overall state of mind. Can you sniff your way to a better mood and better health?  It all depends on what scents you smell. If you surround yourself with these aromas, you might find that the secret to health is all in your nose. Aromatherapy is a form of alternative and complementary medicine based on the use of concentrated oils from flowers, leaves, bark, branches, rinds, or roots of plants with purported healing properties.

Broken Heart Syndrome can be harmful to your mind and body, and it can be treated. Chest pain, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, and generalized weakness are all well known symptoms of a heart attack. However, they may also indicate a condition called Broken Heart Syndrome—officially called takotsubo cardiomyopathy. While this condition sounds like something straight out of a blues ballad, it is very real.

Insomnia affects more than 70 million Americans. Find out more about what's keeping you awake at night. "To sleep, perchance to dream." Shakespeare's famed words sound so tranquil, but if you've ever read Hamlet, you know the story's about to take a bad turn. For many Americans, sleep is also a maddening prospect representing hours of tossing and turning with little to show for it other than the eventual fatigue, irritability, and exhaustion.

It's not always easy to pinpoint ADHD in adults, but spotting the symptoms is the first step toward getting the right diagnosis and treatment. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, more commonly known as ADHD, is usually associated with children. And given the statistics, it's no surprise: The condition affects up to 9 percent of school-age children, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

Millions of Americans suffer from irrational or excessive fears. Learn about the five most common phobias. Do you have an irrational or excessive fear of something? If so, you're not alone. More than 19 million Americans suffer from a phobia of some kind. What Is a Phobia? A phobia is defined as an abnormally emotional and physical response to an imagined or irrationally exaggerated fear.

Headaches are among the most common pain symptoms in the world. Learn about the different types of headaches and what causes them. At one time or another, nearly everyone has had a headache. In fact, 70 percent of people have had at least one in the past year. What's more, roughly 45 million Americans suffer from chronic headaches, a condition that costs U.S. companies billions of dollars in lost productivity annually.

Follow these easy tips to make exercise part of your daily routine. Let's face it: We live in an inactive nation where obesity has become a growing epidemic. More than one-third of American adults meet the criterion for obesity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The good news is that it's never too late and never too hard to get in shape.

Rosacea, which often causes constant redness in the face, can be frustrating and difficult to treat, but there are steps you can take to manage the condition. Rosacea is a common, long-term skin disease that affects more than an estimated 16 million Americans. The condition may produce persistent redness, or flushing; acne; and visible blood vessels in the center of the face. What's more, these symptoms can eventually spread to the cheeks, forehead, chin, and nose.

Psoriasis can be frustrating, painful, even embarrassing. Follow these tips to keep flare-ups at bay. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as many as 7.5 million Americans suffer from psoriasis—a chronic, non-contagious skin disease that affects the life cycle of skin cells. For most people, skin cells take about one month to move from the lowest skin layer to the outermost layer, where they die and flake off.

Learn about the most common forms of arthritis, from causes and symptoms to treatment. More than 46 million Americans have been diagnosed with some form of arthritis—a disease that affects 50 percent of adults over 65 and is the leading cause of disability in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Can't get a good night's sleep? Follow these easy guidelines. If you can't seem to get a good night's sleep, you're not alone-more than 70 million Americans suffer from sleep problems, according to the National Institutes of Health. The good news is, many of these issues can be solved by simply changing your daily routine and creating a better sleep environment.

Follow these tips to help reduce the likelihood of a manic episode. One of the best ways to manage bipolar disorder is to prevent manic episodes before they start. Although that's not always doable, it is possible to identify triggers that may lead to mood disturbances. Follow these tips to reduce the likelihood of a manic episode: Stick to a daily routine Schedule meals at a regular time, make exercise a part of your daily schedule, and practice relaxation techniques each night before bed.

Diabetes is a lifelong disease, but these tips can make it easier to manage the condition. According to the American Diabetes Association, more the 25 million Americans are living with diabetes. Try these tips to help manage the condition and prevent the serious complications associated with the disease. 1. Follow a balanced diet. A low-fat eating plan with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein can help keep blood sugar at healthy levels.

Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease can be a challenge. Follow these tips to make it easier. According to the National Alzheimer's Association, more than 10 million Americans are currently caring for a relative with Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia. Although the task can be challenging and even overwhelming at times, there are things you can do to ease the process.

Want to enjoy the festivities without piling on the pounds? Check out our top eight tips. It starts with Halloween and plastic pumpkins full of sugary treats, then continues through Thanksgiving weekend, with plentiful mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, pies, and leftover turkey sandwiches. And don't forget December: office parties, cookie exchanges, and that food-filled week between Christmas and New Year's Day.

Get the top eight signs, and learn how to break the cycle. Perfectionists often believe that doing everything right can win them success, acceptance, even love. But sadly, their seemingly flawless behavior can actually undermine their efforts. According to counselors at the University of Illinois, the desire to be perfect can rob people of their sense of personal satisfaction, preventing them from achieving as much as those with more realistic goals.

Although there's no known cure for Crohn's disease, these tips may help patients to manage their symptoms. Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that affects an estimated 500,000 Americans. The disease is characterized by inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, and symptoms may include frequent diarrhea, gastrointestinal bleeding, anal tears, and bowel obstructions.

Many people successfully kick the habit, and you can too. Here, the top 10 benefits of smoke-free living. Although the health risks associated with smoking are irrefutable, many people have difficulty butting out. After all, nicotine is a powerful drug, and when smokers quit, they can experience withdrawal symptoms ranging from anger and irritability to headaches and insomnia.

Sick of starving to lose weight? Follow these tips to shed pounds. No diet required. For most people, diets aren't enjoyable, and they never seem to yield lasting results either. Although dieters may lose weight initially, most relapse and soon regain the pounds they shed, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease can be overwhelming. Follow these tips to help deal with the diagnosis and cope with the holidays and every day. Caring for a loved one who has Alzheimer's disease (AD) means that each new day brings a unique set of challenges. Coping with changing levels of ability and new patterns of behavior can become overwhelming at times. Not surprisingly, research has shown that caregivers often are at increased risk for depression and illness, especially if they do not receive adequate support from family, friends, and the community.

Millions of women and girls are affected by ADHD, but they're rarely diagnosed. Learn how to spot the symptoms. When most people hear the term "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder" (ADHD), it conjures images of children, usually boys. And there's some data to support that: According to the National Institute of Mental Health, experts estimate that, of the 3 to 5 percent of school-age children affected by ADHD, the majority of them are boys.

These strategies can help you cope with the most common caregiver emotions. When you're caring for an elderly loved one, it's normal to feel sad or discouraged from time to time. Ignoring your feelings won't make them go away; in fact, it may even make them grow stronger. Instead, try these six suggestions from the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.

Living with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can be a challenge, but these tips can make it easier. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can present any number of challenges for adults, from keeping focused to maintaining healthy relationships. The good news is, there are several steps you can take to make living with ADHD easier. Try the following seven tips to help manage your condition.

Feeling stressed out? Regain your calm with these tips. Sometimes daily life can get the best of us, and our stress levels can zoom off the charts. Family issues, workplace worries, and day-to-day obligations can take a toll on how we feel, both physically and emotionally. To ease feelings of anxiety or tension, try these methods of stress reduction: 1.

12 Ways to Beat Exhaustion and Burnout For caregivers, juggling the demands of work and family with parenting our own parents can be a struggle. Just listen to the emotional turmoil expressed by fellow caregivers attempting to manage a turbulent, uncharted course and fill a role they most definitely never wished for.

An estimated 5.7 million Americans suffer from bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression. Here's one man's story of despair, diagnosis, treatment, and hope. "I'll never forget the day when my doctor put his comforting hand on my shoulder and said the two words that cleared up a lifelong mystery: "Bipolar disorder. "Until then, I simply couldn't figure out why, like an out-of-control roller-coaster, I plunged into a downward spiral from extreme happiness to extreme depression, why I plummeted from such highs to such lows.

Persevering through trying times may have long-term benefits, new research suggests. What can you reap from life's difficulties? Martin Luther King, Jr. said the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. King, of course, was speaking of adversity and the power to overcome it.

Stress can stir up an emotional appetite that can lead to overeating. The best solution is to find something other than food to take the edge off. If you eat in response to stress, you are not responding to real hunger but instead to a coping mechanism—comfort food. A study reported in Physiology Behavior found that 73 percent of participants reported eating more sweets and fewer meal-type foods, such as meat, seafood, fruits, and vegetables, during periods of stress.

Bringing a pet into your home is a big commitment, but it can come with serious rewards including a potential reduction of your pain. Pet owners love their companions for a variety of reasons. But can having a pet relieve your chronic pain? In fact, studies have found that, yes, pets can help relieve many of the symptoms associated with chronic pain conditions and help patients live better lives.

Contrary to popular belief, it's not weak for men to show emotions. As a matter of fact, research found that the more "macho" a man is, the less likely he is to be healthy. Diet and exercise aren't the only parts of overall health. Here's how to sharpen your mental and emotional skills. Lack of emotion has long been considered a sign of strength. The most masculine—or macho—men don't reveal or discuss their feelings and are admired for their toughness. Real men don't ask for directions, don't go to the doctor, and rarely (if ever) shed a tear.

Work-related stress due to underemployment or workplace competition is taking a toll on men. Don't ignore the symptoms associated with this kind of stress. Here's how to deal with a high-demand job or a non-challenging work environment. Not all stress is bad. In fact, some level of stress at the workplace is normal—even productive. Feeling stressed means you care and that can actually be motivating. Too much stress, however, can be counterproductive and have a negative impact on your emotional and physical well-being.

The ups and downs associated with relationships don't pertain only to emotions. In fact, your partnership, good or bad, can have a real effect on your body. When you and your partner or significant other are happy together, your stress level plummets, and your heart thanks you for it. Conversely, a toxic relationship puts considerable stress and unhappiness on a couple, and their hearts can show the strain, experts say.

Although the act of men expressing their anger is typically accepted as normal, the truth is that venting one's anger in an unhealthy manner can be a burden on your relationships. We've all felt it before. Your blood begins to boil; your fists clench; and your brow furrows. Anger is a powerful and natural reaction that can range from being irritated to feeling enraged. Anger is often associated with men. A study conducted by researchers at Southwest Missouri State University (SMSU) suggest that, while anger is part of both male and female experiences, men will express their anger "outwardly and directly.

Several studies have shown that lack of sleep has a profound effect on your mental well-being and that, for some people, chronic insomnia increases the risk of developing a psychological disorder such as depression or anxiety. You know how you feel after a restless or sleepless night—grouchy, stressed out, and just plain awful! The longer you go without a good night's sleep, the worse you feel. Here's what you can do to get your sleep habits—and your mood—back on track.

Taking a hot bath every evening is a natural way to decrease stress and anxiety, and ease yourself into a good night's sleep. Here's how to make this pre-bedtime ritual work for you. Taking a hot bath every evening is a natural way to decrease stress and anxiety, and ease yourself into a good night's sleep. Here's how to make this pre-bedtime ritual work for you. Timing is Everything Figure out how much sleep you need and what time you need to go to bed to get that amount.

Some doctors say it's a real condition, some say it's not. Here's a breakdown of both sides. People are talking about adrenal fatigue. The symptoms are vague and mimic those of many conditions. Many doctors aren't convinced it's a real medical problem, but a growing number of health professionals say adrenal fatigue is among the most commonly undiagnosed conditions today.

This drugstore staple is often overlooked in our search for the best health and beauty aids. But there are some good reasons to add this affordable compound to your shopping cart. This drugstore staple is often overlooked in our search for the best health and beauty aids. But there are some good reasons to add this affordable compound to your shopping cart. Epsom Salt—or magnesium sulfate—is a pure mineral compound and essential electrolyte that many of us need more of in our diet.

While clenched fists and gritted teeth may seem like the anger response of a toddler, new research suggests this reaction can set you at ease. While clenched fists and gritted teeth may seem like the anger response of a toddler, new research suggests this reaction can set you at ease. In a study published in the Journal of Consumer Research that was conducted at National University of Singapore and the University of Chicago, participants were better able to withstand physical pain when clenching their muscles—squeezing their fists, clenching their teeth, or scrunching facial muscles.

Among the many popular types of yoga offered at studios and gyms, one style might make you break a sweat in a super-hot room, while another might be mellow and cool. Do you know what you're getting into when you sign up for a yoga class? Among the many popular styles offered in gyms and studios these days, one might make you break a sweat in a super-hot room, while another might be mellow and cool. The word yoga means to yoke or unify the mind, bod,y and spirit.

Asthma is a chronic medical condition that not only impacts your respiratory system, but can also affect your neurological health. Asthma is a chronic medical condition that not only impacts your respiratory system, but can also affect your neurological health. There are three ways asthma can affect your brain: When coping with stress and anxiety When asthma management becomes too stressful to handle.

There's been much talk about the possibility that wearing high heels could be connected with getting migraines, but is there scientific weight to this claim? Many women are willing to invest their entire paychecks and suffer a few blisters in order to walk in a much-coveted pair. There's been much talk recently about the possibility that wearing high heels could be connected with getting migraines—a debilitating headache that causes throbbing pain and sensitivity to sound and light.

Giving blood is straightforward, safe, and infinitely helpful to those in need. So if you want to join the effort, here are six steps you can take to ensure the process is as easy as possible. Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood, according to the American Red Cross. What's more, nearly 38,000 blood donations are needed every day. Needless to say, the demand for blood is high. But blood donations are very popular among many Americans.

After a stressful week, you may find your asthma acting up. And sometimes, dealing with asthma can become very stressful. So does asthma cause stress or is it the other way around? The answer is more complicated than you may think. After a stressful week, you may find your asthma acting up. And sometimes, dealing with asthma can become very stressful. So does asthma cause stress or is it the other way around? The answer is more complicated than you may think. The Link Between Stress and Asthma While asthma is recognized as a medical condition, emotions can trigger the symptoms or make them worse.

Antidepressants are the most commonly prescribed medication in the country, so mental health experts are trying to understand if, when, and how patients should cease taking them. Here, a guide to the transition to life without depression medication. Antidepressants are the most commonly prescribed medication in the country, so mental health experts are trying to understand if, when, and how patients should cease taking them. Unfortunately, despite the dramatic increase in use, there isn't a lot of information about life after antidepressants.

When faced with a 40-plus hour work week, bills to pay, and trekking the kids to-and-fro, how do you let loose? This summer, make it a point to relieve your stress by utilizing the great outdoors. When faced with a 40-plus hour work week, bills to pay, and trekking the kids to-and-fro, how do you let loose? This summer, make it a point to relieve your stress by utilizing the great outdoors. Exercise has long been touted as an excellent and natural way to manage stress.

You're a smart person. So why, when you're under the most stress, does it seem your brain shuts down and your intelligence disappears? You're a smart person. So why, when you're under the most stress, does it seem your brain shuts down and your intelligence disappears? You know stress causes numerous physical problems and even serious disease. But did you know that prolonged or extreme stress might also impair your mental faculties, leaving you feeling.

Is it possible that your pain is caused by the way you walk and sit? If so, the Alexander Technique might be for you. Most of us move without giving it much thought. We balance, walk, sit, dance and work the way we always have. But what if we discovered we'd been doing it wrong and could improve our health and well-being by relearning to move properly? That's the concept behind the Alexander Technique, which teaches that changing your moving habits could decrease pain and improve your posture, outlook and productivity.

Depression is one of the most common complications in people with chronic illness, occurring in up to one-third of chronically ill patients. Learn how to manage your symptoms with these tips. Depression is one of the most common complications in people with chronic illness, occurring in up to one-third of chronically ill patients. Older adults are particularly at risk for both chronic illness and depression due to isolation and loss of functional ability.

Taking care of your health is the single most important way to extend your life. And even though, in general, men tend to have a lousy track record, there are simple ways you can turn that around. According to the Agency for Health Care Quality and Research (AHRQ), men are: 24% less likely than women to have visited a doctor in the past. 22% more likely to have neglected their cholesterol tests. 28% more likely than women to be hospitalized for congestive heart failure.

Not all bacteria are bad: They can positively contribute to the digestive process. But too much good bacteria can also be unhealthy. That's why, when your bacteria balance gets out of whack, you can develop dysbiosis. Discover the symptoms, causes, and treatments for this condition. Your digestive system is a complex mechanism made up of hollow organs that begins in your mouth and continues to your esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine (also called the colon), rectum, and anus. When you eat, food is not in a form that your body can use as nourishment.

Can diet, stress-reduction, and change of lifestyle be our only hope to remedy IBS or can charcoal capsules be the next cure? Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects more than 55 million Americans-mostly women-and can cause a vast array of symptoms such as severe abdominal pain, cramping, diarrhea, constipation, and excessive gas. One potential IBS remedy that's gained some recent attention is charcoal.

According to a new study, women who experience high stress on their jobs have an increased risk for heart attack or other forms of heart disease. According to a new study, women who experience high stress on their jobs have an increased risk for heart attack or other forms of heart disease. The findings, based on data from 17,415 healthy middle-aged women participating in the Women's Health Study,...

Women simultaneously give their best as professionals, mothers, wives, friends, sisters, daughters, and more. They work inside and outside the home and somehow find time for everyone...except the one person who is most important: Herself. What if Superwoman were overweight, depressed, anxious, and crabby? What if she was forgetful, distracted, and downright unhappy? Would we still consider her a superhero? That's what millions of women worldwide experience when they try to do it all; simultaneously giving their best as professionals, mothers, wives, friends, sisters, daughters, and more.

Every once in a while, allergy symptoms can be overwhelmingly intolerable. But can it be so intolerable that thoughts of suicide emerge? There may be times when you feel so overwhelmed by allergy symptoms that you simply can't tolerate them for another minute. But have you ever felt so desperate that you thought about suicide? The latest research shows that a small link exists between severe allergies and suicide.

You can minimize a bipolar episode and maintain some control over your life with a bit of planning and being aware of your environment. Here are a few suggestions for managing your bipolar triggers. Bipolar disorder is characterized by alternating extremes in mood, energy, activity levels, and ability to function day-to-day. Living with this disease can leave you feeling helpless at times. While bipolar disorder is not curable, it is treatable and manageable.

How safe is your neighborhood? If the answer is, "Not very," then you could be at an increased risk for asthma complications. How safe is your neighborhood? If the answer is, "Not very," then you could be at an increased risk for asthma complications. While violence and asthma may sound like an unlikely connection, a new study reveals that people who live in inner cities and are exposed to violence are much more likely to be hospitalized for asthma than their counterparts.

You may not realize that something as mundane as a car accident could put you at major risk for this disorder. Typically, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with soldiers who have returned from combat; however, new information has found that the most common cause of PTSD is car accidents. Car accidents are also the most frequent kind of trauma experienced by American men and the second most frequent trauma experienced by American women.

If you suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), there may be a way to ease your symptoms. Changes in sunlight trigger SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), a type of depressive disorder. Symptoms often appear in the fall and winter but generally disappear in the spring when the days begin to lengthen. About three fourths of SAD sufferers are women, and people with SAD may suffer from other mood disorders as well.

Joint pain may seem to naturally result from purely physical ailments such as arthritis, but there's significant evidence that joint pain can be caused or exacerbated by mental distress. Although it may seem that joint pain should naturally result from purely physical ailments such as arthritis or other conditions, there's significant evidence that joint pain can be caused or exacerbated by mental distress. Specifically, anxiety disorders have been targeted as the culprit in many cases of joint pain, both anecdotally by arthritis sufferers and by scientists officially studying the phenomenon.

The main problem may be that parents don't recognize the symptoms of stress in their kids. According to the APA's Stress in America report (Jan. 2010), more than two-thirds (69 percent) of parents of teens and tweens say that their stress has slight or no impact on their children. But the kids disagree: only 14 percent of them say their parent's stress doesn't affect them.

Here are tips to help your child identify stress and strategies to cope with it. Try adopting them yourself--they work for adults. If your child is stressed, you probably are, too. Chronic stress that isn't managed can lead to mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. Here are some tips to help your child identify stress and strategies to cope with it. Try adopting them yourself-they work for adults.

Although the procedure may sound complex, the intended results are not. NFT seeks to teach a brain with a particular abnormality how to behave normally. Picture the scene from TV. A patient suffering from some mental malady is holed up in a windowless office, electrodes placed strategically about her head, while a screen records responses to various stimuli. It's fiction, but the premise is anchored in scientific accuracy.

Facing the upcoming holiday celebrations and the inevitable food frenzy can be difficult if you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Facing the upcoming holiday celebrations and the inevitable food frenzy they provoke can be difficult if you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Irritable bowel syndrome is a common disorder that affects the large intestine (or colon)-and more than 20 percent of U.

Stress is inevitable and, although it generally gets a bad rap, sometimes stress can actually be a good thing. Search on the word "stress" on Amazon.com and you'll get a list of more than 31,000 book titles. Most describe the serious health risks of too much stress, or offer recommendations about how to successfully manage stress. The plethora of books, articles, and self-proclaimed experts on stress management speaks to how pervasive stress is in our society.

Exhibiting defensive qualities is usually viewed as negative, but this may not always be the case for men. Typically, defensiveness-a trait characterized as rejecting, repressing, or contradicting information that's perceived as threatening-is viewed as a negative quality, and in a lot of ways it is; for men, however, this may not be the case. You've seen it: the coworker contradicting or becoming uptight about constructive criticism, or the friend that flips the switch from friendly to antagonistic once you crack a joke.

Identifying causes for post nasal drip is the only way to find the best treatment. Though it can be difficult to decipher, consider these possible culprits. Post nasal drip is a common condition that happens when mucus from the back of your nose thickens and drips down into your throat. When this occurs, it can make you cough and try to clear your throat. This can sometimes be accompanied by bad breath and sinus pressure.

If you need another reason to convince you it’s important to manage stress, here’s one you might not expect: stress takes a toll on your teeth and gums and can cause long-term damage and subsequent oral health problems. If you need another reason to convince you it's important to manage stress, here's one you might not expect: stress takes a toll on your teeth and gums and can cause long-term damage and subsequent oral health problems. Stress is a normal part of life.

If you have a lot on your plate, stress and anxiety can creep in. But can it also worsen your asthma? The link between asthma and stress has long been recognized, and both psychological and physical causes of stress can affect your respiratory system. For instance, self-esteem issues, depression, anger, anxiety, illness, fatigue, and even side effects from medication can all affect your breathing and, in some cases, leave you wheezing.

A study of the effect of work environment on employee mental health found that a negative environment, defined in the study as poor team climate, was significantly associated with depressive disorders and antidepressant use. A study of the effect of work environment on employee mental health found that a negative environment, defined in the study as poor team climate, was significantly associated with depressive disorders and antidepressant use. Today's work environment is unquestionably stressful, and many employees-maybe even you-bring their fears, anxieties, and worries to work with them, where they tend to spread like wildfire.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, teaches patients strategies, and provides tools, for dealing with stress and unhealthy thoughts. Unlike traditional therapy, which can last for years, CBT is generally a short-term treatment. Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, became a household word in the 1970s, thanks to the Bob Newhart show, a sitcom starring therapist and his loony cast of patients. Of course, in real life, there's nothing funny about mental illness. However, psychotherapy--especially Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-is effective for treating depression and other mental health disorders.

Is your city getting you down? Find out if where you live made our list. Feeling stressed? Overwhelmed? Depressed? Did you ever think that where you live could be making you miserable? According to experts, environmental factors can have a major impact on your mood. And if you live in a dangerous place or a city known for high stress levels, it's possible that your location could be dragging you down, too.

While stress typically starts out as mental and emotional stress, it quickly takes on a physical component, resulting in muscle tension in the body. For many Americans, this muscle tension is often felt as a stiff, uncomfortable and sometimes painful neck. Millions of Americans suffer from high levels of stress due to heavy demands at work, at school, in relationships and at home. While stress typically starts out as mental and emotional stress, it quickly takes on a physical component, resulting in muscle tension in the body.

A new study shows that enjoying a little dark chocolate on a regular basis may lower your stress level. Not only have studies shown that eating dark chocolate can lower the risk of heart disease, lower blood pressure, relieve pain, and protect from skin cancer, a new study reports that eating dark chocolate may actually reduce your level of stress. In the study conducted by researchers at the Nestle Research Center in Lausanne, Switzerland and published in the Journal of Proteome Research, researchers looked at the effects of eating 1.

Doctors and patients report that improving sleep habits can reduce the frequency and severity of migraine headaches. Migraines affect approximately 28 million people in the United States. They throb, they ache, and they can rob sufferers from their quality of life. There is a lot of research looking into how to help migraineurs—and sleep is turning out to be a major factor.

Men who feel stressed at work are at a greater risk of having a stroke. Every 45 seconds someone has a stroke in the United States, according to the American Heart Association. Furthermore, stroke is the third most common cause of death in the country. Studies show that high blood pressure is the most important risk factor for stroke with various lifestyles factors increasing this risk, such as obesity, lack of exercise, diet, drug use, alcohol, smoking and stress.

If your partner's stress makes you stressed, then fights and disagreements are probably in abundance. Here, learn how to better cope with your loved one's mood. Since bad moods and stress seem to be contagious, it's easy to be brought down by and enmeshed in your partner's negativity, says Debbie Mandel, the author of Addicted to Stress. Furthermore, she adds that men and women experience stress very differently, so it can be difficult to react and respond to your partner's stress in a way that disables it.

Stress affects millions of people in the US every year. If untreated, stress can cause serious health problems and speed-up the aging process. Health professionals encourage patients to integrate natural stress busters into their daily routine to reduce stress and improve their quality of life. Your shoulders tighten, your heart races, your mind spins, your palms sweat, your stomach twists, and you have difficulty sleeping. Unfortunately, this is far too familiar for far too many. If left unchecked, some serious health problems can occur. Studies show that prolonged or severe stress can weaken the immune system, strain the heart, damage memory cells in the brain, and deposit fat at the waist rather than the hips and buttocks, says Bruce S.

New study marks Wednesday as the most likely day for people to attempt suicide. It wasn't that long ago that Monday was considered the most likely day for people to attempt suicide. Now, a new study suggests that hump day, Wednesday, is the deadliest day for suicides. The study was conducted by researchers at the University of California, Riverside (UCR), and appears online in the journal Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology.

Stress at work is linked to depression which can increase absenteeism and affect your income. Learn how to recognize the symptoms and how to reduce stress in your workplace. For millions of Americans work stress is an all-too common reality. And it's seemingly getting worse. Technology such as cell phones, emails, and text messaging increasingly causes job stress to spill over into our personal lives. In some cases, this leads to severe illnesses, including depression.

Sure a massage feels good (great, actually), but did you know it can have a host of health benefits, too? See what people are saying about this article on our Facebook page! If you've always thought massage was something only pampered spa clients indulge in, you might want to reconsider. Massage, aside from feeling wonderful, actually delivers a host of legitimate health benefits.

General health problems that put your sexual health at risk — and what you can do about it. Consider this: Thirty to 50 percent of men with diabetes suffer from erectile dysfunction. Men in their 40s who have erectile dysfunction (ED) are twice as likely to develop cardiovascular disease compared to men without ED. These are just a few examples of how your sexual health relates to overall health.

Stress is detrimental to most critical bodily functions--but it could be making your allergies flare as well. Have you ever noticed that after a bad day at work or at school, your allergy symptoms seem to get worse? Doctors have long recognized that this isn't a coincidence. Now, research is shedding more light than ever on the connection. In fact, the findings of an Ohio State University study reveal that when you experience even a small amount of stress, it can make your allergic reaction much stronger to your everyday triggers.

Feeling anxious? Regain a sense of calm with these easy tips. Anxiety can strike at any time, and some of us are more susceptible than others. Family issues, workplace worries, and the day-to-day obligations of our busy schedules can take a toll on how we feel, both physically and emotionally. To ease feelings of anxiety or tension, try these easy methods for stress reduction.

You have the power to change your attitude for the better. It's not easy to be around people who are downers. But if you're the type who sees the bad in everything, you might be hurting more than just your social life. Several studies have revealed that those who think positive actually live better and longer than those whose glass is perpetually half empty.

Money worries keeping you up at night? Follow these seven steps to help you relax and take control of your stress. It seems like there's more bad news about the economy every day. Stock values are plummeting, some people owe more money for their home than it's worth, and big banks are going under. So it's no wonder that almost everyone is worried about their bank...

Millions of Americans are affected by migraines. Here, a look at this common neurological disease, from symptoms to treatment. At some point in their lives, 12 to 28 percent of people will be experience migraines, according to the European Journal of Neurology. What's more, in any given year, this common neurological disease will affect 6 to 15 percent of adult men, 14 to 35 percent of adult women, and approximately 4 to 5 percent of children under 12.

The word is out — sex can be great for your health in more ways than you can imagine. Looking for the secret to a better quality of life, or longer life? Some of us think the answer lies in a bottle of herbal pills, a better diet, or more aerobic exercise. Few of us would think sex could have the same benefits. But according to research, sex does much more than satisfy desire - it can have a significant impact on your health and increase your lifespan.

Stress has been shown time and again to negatively impact the heart. Here’s how to find relief. With the economy in shambles, the environment on the verge, and a collective lifestyle whose pace seems to get faster by the minute, it's hard for even the most Zen among us to feel stress-free nowadays. And all this stress can have an adverse effect on the cardiovascular system.

What's the connection between stress and diabetes? Knowing can help you gain more control of your condition and reduce the long-term impact. When you have diabetes, stress is a double whammy. While the medical community is reluctant to say stress can cause diabetes, they believe it may play a role in its onset—plus, it can make the symptoms worse. Also, diabetes can increase stress in your life, as does any chronic illness.

Learn how these two conditions are connected and what you can do combat them. Although researchers aren't entirely sure what causes depression, it's believed that environment plays a role along with genetics. And it stands to reason that if an environment is causing repeated stress, a susceptible person may eventually begin feeling depressed.

When the going gets rough, how bad does it tax the heart? Recent research provides some interesting answers. Stress is a natural part of life. But there are moments when the pressures of keeping our families afloat, ourselves together, and our futures bright are so great that we feel as if we're living through times that try not only our souls but our hearts as well—quite literally.

Discover some of the most common reasons for a lagging libido. Remember when you were young and crazy in love, and the world revolved around your mate? Now think about your marriage or partnership today--notice any difference in your sex life? For many women, sex takes more of a back seat as time goes on. This can be due to family pressures, work stress, and physiological changes.

Have you hit the wall lately? If you can’t find energy to do routine tasks, have problems concentrating or keeping your temper in check, you could be suffering from fatigue. And you’re not alone. In a 2008 Stress in America Survey conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA), 53 percent of people reported feeling fatigue. Several factors can be to blame, including some medical conditions, a lifestyle issue such as chronic stress, being overwhelmed with work, or bad nighttime habits such as eating late or sleeping in a lumpy bed.

Depression has been linked to a higher likelihood of cardiovascular disease. Heart disease and depression share a circular relationship: In some cases, heart disease can bring about depression, with an estimated one in six heart-attack sufferers facing clinical depression after the event, which can increase their mortality rate to 17 percent.

Don't let stress take your breath away. If you've been under a lot of stress lately, you may feel your asthma symptoms kicking in with increased frequency. The fact is that challenges at work and home can be difficult to manage even without any health conditions to complicate things, but when you suffer from asthma, you can find yourself feeling even more overwhelmed and leaving you out of breath more easily.

If you’re thinking of moving, these cities might not be the best for your mood. Most depressed, saddest, or worst city in the country-labels that any city hardly covets; however, each year, numerous surveys and studies cast an unwanted spotlight on cities with the worst standards of living. Depending on which data you rely on and the focus of the reporting agency, the cities may vary.

Next time you feel stressed, try one or two of these tips to find a healthier and happier you. Reducing stress is imperative to good health. "The amazing thing about de-stressing is that in moments, you can change the internal bio-chemical "climate" in your body from high cortisol to lowered levels of stress hormones," says clinical psychologist Penny B.

A few simple changes can make a big difference. It may not be dinner-table conversation, but sometimes what we eat at the dinner table can affect us in negative ways. If you've ever left a meal feeling bloated, or suffered from heartburn or pain, your digestive system may not be operating at top capacity.

Learn more about this undeniable connection. If you wake up before sunrise, down a cup of coffee, rush to work, spend all day in the office, eat a large dinner, then lay on the couch watching TV before bedtime, you're like most stressed Americans. And if you suffer from heartburn, your lifestyle is almost definitely a contributor.

Learn how fitness can have a positive effect on your mind. Although exercise may be the last thing you feel like doing when you're down in the dumps, research shows that it can definitely help. Exactly how exercise boosts your spirits isn't fully known, but there's evidence showing it increases neurotransmitters in the brain that regulate mood.

See how this disorder that affects 6 million Americans can be a burden to your heart. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, some 6 million Americans have been diagnosed with panic disorder, a condition in which one is frequently besieged by an inexplicable, intense bout of fear that manifests itself through a range of physical ailments and lasts anywhere from 15 seconds to an hour.

Stress and asthma...is there a connection? If you've been under a lot of stress lately, you may feel your asthma symptoms kicking in with increased frequency. The fact is that challenges at work and home can be difficult to manage even without any health conditions to complicate things, but when you suffer from asthma, you can find yourself feeling even more overwhelmed and leaving you out of breath more easily.

Learn how relaxation can help you better manage your condition. We can trace the belief in a mind-body wellness connection all the way back to ancient Greece. Today, the medical literature is mixed when it comes to the relationship between stress and illness. We know for sure that the underlying cause of Crohn's disease is biological-it's an inflammation of the digestive tract.

Some simple lifestyle changes can significantly improve your mood. If you're feeling down, it can be an effort just to get through the day. While major depression generally isn't something you can alleviate on your own, and you should speak to your doctor about any symptoms you're having, some simple lifestyle changes may be enough to banish a mild case of the blues: Exercise.

Find out why women are at such a high risk for heart disease. Though men are still perceived to comprise the majority of heart disease sufferers, as women age, their heart attack risk starts to equal that of men's. According to the American Heart Association, heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death among older women, with about twice as many dying of cardiovascular disease than all the cancers combined.

Find out what you can do to prevent the number one killer of American women. Heart disease should be a concern for every American. According to The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death for both women and men in the United States. However, among all U.S. women who die each year, one in four dies of heart disease.

Sometimes escaping the daily grind doesn't require a tropical vacation. Being stressed is an awful feeling. It can toy with your mental state ("I'll never get my work done") and can affect your physical well-being: according to a recent study, being stressed can actually make you itchy. But the secret to stress management may lie in an activity that involves fundamental human actions: stretching, breathing, and relaxation.

Read on to find out how stress can be a burden on your body. In the movies, traumatic news is enough to trigger a heart attack. On TV shows, a dramatic mother tells her rebellious teen son that he's going to give her a heart attack. As it turns out, these situations may not be too far from the truth. Research shows a direct link between stress and an unhealthy heart.

If you're having trouble shedding extra pounds, the stresses of daily life could be the culprit. If you've ever polished off a pint of ice cream when you were under pressure or consumed a whole bag of chips when you were worried, it will come as no surprise that stress can lead to weight gain. And according to new research, stress puts people at increased risk for obesity because it not only prompts them to eat more, but also because it releases certain hormones that encourage the body to store fat.

These jam-packed metropolises may put you too close for comfort with your neighbor. They say three's a crowd...but what about 26,000? When it comes to population density (the number of people per square mile), some cities really push the envelope. And if you've ever walked the streets of these jam-packed locales, you've probably had first-hand experience with the squeeze of these tight spots.

Although the holidays are supposed to be a time of joy, they can also be a time of stress and depression. Find out how you can avoid the holiday blues. Many of us will attend or host a winter holiday party this season. We have to balance normal work and home demands with special holiday events and shopping for gifts. Festive lights, warm fires, and family gatherings are common during the holidays, but unfortunately so are stress, anxiety, and sometimes, depression.

Plagued by painful headaches? Find out how to pinpoint their source so you can prevent and treat them. Headaches often strike when you least expect them--and they can range in severity from dull throbs and intense aches to debilitating pain. In fact, they land someone in the emergency room every 10 seconds, according to the American Headache Society. As if that weren't frustrating enough, oftentimes the direct cause of a headache is unknown.

Sure, your diet and exercise schedules can contribute to your weight. But who knew that your job could, too? Ever-improving technology has replaced manual labor at many American jobs, making sedentary lifestyles commonplace. A whopping 60 percent of the population is overweight or obese, and occupations that require little or no movement certainly haven't helped.

From war to human trafficking, these 10 spots are the most dangerous on the planet. Looking for exotic and exciting getaway? While the ten places on this list certainly meet those criteria, none of them will provide the kind of relaxing reprieve you had in mind. These locations are often war-ravaged and suffer from problems such as government corruption and human trafficking.

Do you find yourself speeding, honking, or constantly changing lanes? If so, you may have road rage. Read on to spot the top 10 signs. Consider this: Americans spend 100 hours a year commuting but take only 80 hours of vacation annually, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Is it any wonder that many of us have road rage? Even so, road rage isn't acceptable. Aggressive driving, which includes speeding, weaving in and out of traffic, and not paying full attention to the road, puts many people at risk.

We all feel a little bummed from time to time, but could your diet be the cause? Find out here. In our modern American society, anxiety, stress, and depression can play a large role with respect to work, relationships, and money. In fact, 33.9 percent of adults report having poor mental health, according to the Kaiser Family Health Foundation. Many people eat when they're depressed, but few realize that what they eat may be at the cause of their woes.

Your bellyaching over your bellyache may be caused by some of your favorite foods. Find out which foods are common offenders. Stomachaches, indigestion, gas, bellyache, agita, heartburn, upset stomach: Whatever you call it, digestive problems can be inconvenient and sometimes downright painful. Indigestion can be caused by a variety of reasons, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a physical condition in which stomach acid flows backward up into the esophagus.

From stress, suicide, and substance abuse to joint and back injuries, these jobs may be hazardous to your health. Most jobs come with some form of stress, but some are known to carry more physical and mental risks than others. While you probably rely on your job to pay your rent or mortgage and other bills, the stress and possible dangers could be doing you more harm than good.

Some drug side effects can be scarier than the diseases they're designed to treat. Before taking virtually any medication, you as the patient must ask yourself: will there be side effects, and if so, what will they be? Many side effects are minor, such as nausea or fatigue, but some can be serious or even life-threatening. Read on to discover nine of the most frightening medication-induced side effects.

Learn about the four classes of antidepressants, from their indications and efficacy to possible side effects. If you're among the 17 million Americans suffering from depression, a condition in which prolonged feelings of sadness and hopelessness interfere with the ability to function normally, you may be feeling overwhelmed by the alphabet soup of medications--SSRIs, SNRIs, NDRIs, TCAs, MAOIs--from which to choose.

When you've been wronged, can you forgive and forget, or do you need to exact revenge? Many of us love good revenge stories—tales in which victims ultimately become victors by wielding vengeance on all who've wronged them. But in real life, retribution isn't always all it's cracked up to be. In fact, according to experts, letting go of revenge fantasies may be one of the best things you can do for your health.

Irritable bowel syndrome affects up to 20 percent of the U.S. adult population, and the disorder has no known cause. Here, a look at IBS, from symptoms to treatment. Imagine not being able to make dinner plans with your friends or not eating your favorite foods for fear that it will send you running for the bathroom. For people who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), these scenarios may sound all too familiar.

Can't get a good night's sleep? One of these misconceptions may be undermining your efforts. Drinking alcohol makes you drowsy. Counting sheep makes you doze off. You can catch up on lost sleep over the weekend. When it comes to getting your Z's, it can be difficult separating fact from fiction. But according to experts, knowing the facts can help improve your sleep, reduce your disease risk, and boost your health.

Tutoring. Soccer practice. Student council. Piano lessons. Today's kids are master multitaskers. But are all these activities putting too much pressure on your child? Every parent wants his or her child to excel academically, athletically, socially--you name it. And it's only natural that we want our children to be given opportunities that we might not have had. But with all of the activities today's kids are juggling, some children may be taking on as many responsibilities as adults.

An addiction to your job could compromise your health. Find out whether you're a workaholic, and get on the road to recovery. Lately, your spouse has been complaining about the long hours you're putting in at work. Maybe you really want that promotion, or perhaps you just don't trust anyone else to get the job done. Whatever the reason, you've been glued to your desk for weeks, and your personal relationships are starting to suffer.

Do you see the glass as half-empty or half-full? Your answer could have major effects on your health. They're like night and day: Optimists manage to maintain a sunny outlook, even in the worst of times; pessimists assume the darkest possible outcomes, even when things are going their way. Which one are you? A growing body of research suggests that your answer could affect not only your attitude, but also your health, success, and longevity.

Everyone worries from time to time, but too much worrying can affect your health. Here, 10 ways to stop stressing. Did you forget to turn off the lights? Weren't you supposed to call your friend? What ever happened to your high-school yearbook? For many of us, worrying just seems like a natural part of our daily lives. But experts warn that too much worrying can affect your emotional and physical health.

Most Americans aren't getting enough Z's. Learn how to get the sleep you need. Today, the average American gets about seven hours of sleep on weeknights and seven and a half hours of sleep on the weekends, according to the National Sleep Foundation. However, most experts recommend that adults get a minimum of eight hours' sleep a night.

For centuries, we have attempted to decode our dreams. Here, find out what experts say they could symbolize. Whether we're losing our teeth, falling from a tall building, or being chased by a vicious attacker, at some point, we all have dreams that may seem absurd. But according to many psychologists, the mental pictures we conjure while we're asleep can speak volumes about our waking hopes and fears.

If you've been diagnosed with sleep apnea, a good night's sleep may seem like a dream. Try these tips to get your Z's. While you were sleeping, you may have woken up hundreds of times without knowing it—if you have sleep apnea, that is. Experts put the number of Americans with sleep apnea between 12 and 18 million, including many who are untreated and undiagnosed.

The first weeks after your baby is born can be exhausting. Find out how to take care of your baby and yourself. It seems like there's so much to do when your newborn baby first comes home. You've got to learn how to care for the baby, handle sleep disruptions, and adjust to life with a bigger family. You want to make sure your baby is healthy and happy, but don't forget to look out for your own health and happiness.

An estimated 10 million Americans, or about 6 percent of the U.S. population, experience these feelings in their most extreme form--a condition known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). For many, the holidays are a time to celebrate with family and friends. But for some, the season can bring on feelings of intense stress and sadness. In fact, an estimated 10 million Americans, or about 6 percent of the U.S. population, experience these feelings in their most extreme form--a condition known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

No matter how far away you live, these strategies can help you improve the time spent with an aging loved one. An estimated 6.9 million Americans are struggling to care for an aging parent or loved one who lives far away, according to Caring from a Distance (CFAD), an independent, nonprofit organization created by men and women who personally struggled with the anguish, stress, and frustration of long-distance care.

What's causing your psoriasis to flare up? Learn about the leading triggers--and how to prevent them. Unlike contagious diseases that you can catch from another person, experts believe that psoriasis is caused by a genetic vulnerability and triggered by a set of environmental factors. To reduce your risk of flare-ups, the National Psoriasis Foundation recommends steering clear of the following psoriasis triggers: 1.

Follow these easy steps to minimize your risk of breakouts. Contrary to popular belief, blemishes aren't just for teenagers. In fact, acne affects an estimated 25 percent of adult men and 50 percent of adult women-some of whom never experienced acne during their adolescence. What's more, adult acne tends to be different than teen acne.

Crowded and bustling malls, repeated trips to the airport to fetch long-lost relatives, and the constant shuffling of cookies and turkey out of your oven can translate into one reaction—stress. Crowded and bustling malls, repeated trips to the airport to fetch long-lost relatives, and the constant shuffling of cookies and turkey out of your oven can translate into one reaction—stress. So how do you stop from flying off the handle at this supposedly glorious time of year? Sometimes holiday festivities can become overwhelming.