Research on stress and its effects on mind and body. Covers work stress and health, mood-supporting materials, stress-response cells, and deep sleep's role.
The Transcendental Meditation (TM) program was shown to decrease atherosclerosis and risk of heart attack and stroke in hypertensive African Americans. The study found that TM practitioners had a significant reduction in carotid intima-media thickness, comparable to lipid-lowering medications and intensive lifestyle modification programs.
A new study at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that newer oral contraceptives may reduce the risk of heart problems for women who smoke. The study compared the cardiovascular responses to stress among healthy women taking different formulations of the drugs, including those with smoking habits.
A new study by Canadian scientists found that highly stressed patients with ischemic heart disease do not respond as well to medications for their condition. Higher levels of stress resulted in lower effectiveness of treatment, with more highly stressed patients experiencing a greater reduction in episodes of angina.
A recent study found that leisure physical activity buffers the effects of minor stress, but aerobic fitness does not. This suggests that exercise may help minimize stress-related symptoms by distracting from stressors or instilling a sense of accomplishment.
A study found that people with pets experienced half the increase in blood pressure under stress compared to those without pets. The researchers used medication to control high blood pressure and tested the effects of pets on stress reactivity.
A national survey found that one in four female veterans experienced military-related sexual assault, leading to significant symptoms of depression and problems with alcohol. The study highlights the importance of addressing these issues for veterans' mental health care.
A study by University of Michigan researchers found that US teens feel stressed more often than East Asian students, despite performing poorly on math tests. The stress is mainly caused by unclear academic goals and societal expectations, while Japanese students have a clearer focus on academic achievement.
A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that prolonged mental stress increases the levels of atherogenic lipoproteins and decreases the rate at which fats are cleared from the blood after a meal. This can lead to higher lipid levels and increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
A study of 318 men found that high levels of stress and low social support are associated with higher levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood, a marker for prostate cancer. The research suggests that psychosocial factors may promote prostate disease through direct physiological pathways.
A new study found that a psychological intervention program boosted antibody levels and reduced stress hormone cortisol in women with breast cancer, leading to improved quality of life and higher chemotherapy doses.
Researchers at the University of Washington developed a scale to measure air travel stress, finding that men and women experience it differently. The study suggests that anxiety and anger can trigger stress, but also highlights the importance of coping mechanisms such as relaxation skills and adaptive behavior.
Researchers found that psychological stress increases cortisol levels, which can slow down the delivery of cytokines to wounds, leading to slower healing times. This study provides a new insight into how stress affects physiologic changes within the body and may have serious consequences for patients recovering from surgery.
Research suggests that stress can alter key biochemical markers in the body, weakening the immune response and increasing susceptibility to infections. Stress may also lessen vaccine effectiveness and confound studies of certain illnesses.
A new study by researchers at UCLA found that pregnant women with positive psychological resources tend to have healthy-weight infants. The study, which analyzed data from 230 pregnant women, suggests that a woman's ability to adapt to the challenges of pregnancy is crucial to the outcome.
Researchers at UNC Health Care found that men with high stress levels and weak social support developed AIDS faster. The study of 82 HIV-infected gay men showed that cumulative stressful events doubled the risk of progressing to AIDS.
A new study found that mild psychological stress can temporarily increase blood levels of homocysteine, a chemical associated with the development of heart disease. Researchers discovered that brief periods of stress resulted in a sharp rise in homocysteine levels in middle-aged women.
Research suggests that physical stress and surgery can suppress natural killer cell activity, leading to increased tumor development. Protective measures, such as analgesia, may help prevent this suppression.
Researchers found that psychological stress increases levels of IL-6, a cytokine linked to immune system response, making the body more susceptible to developing infection and symptoms of respiratory illness.
A recent study found that women who use oral contraceptives and smoke have significantly greater cardiovascular reactivity to stress, as well as increased lipid and fibrinogen levels. This can lead to a higher risk of heart disease.
A study suggests that maternal stress and stress hormones may influence fetal brain development. Research found associations between maternal factors, such as medical and psychological stress, and fetal brain function.
Researchers found that a combination of an insecure man with a dismissive woman increases the likelihood of domestic violence. The study suggests that attachment styles, particularly insecure and dismissive styles, can be a powder keg waiting to explode.
A recent study by the American Heart Association found that women with heart disease are more likely to experience chest pain during mental stress. The study tested the effects of psychological stress on ischemic heart disease and found that heart rates increased twice as much among participants who reported chest pain.
A University of Colorado at Boulder study found that rats who exercised regularly before stress exposure were protected against its suppressive effect on immune response. Regular exercise in moderation can help buffer the negative effects of stress on the immune system, according to the researcher.
Researchers found that athletes in a cognitive-behavioral stress management group experienced significant reductions in depressed mood, fatigue, and serum cortisol. These findings suggest that stress management programs can be an effective way to support athletes' mental health during intense training periods.
A new study found that stress can lengthen the time dental wounds take to heal by 40% and reduce interleukin-1 production, a crucial cytokine for wound healing. Researchers believe that early supportive therapies may counteract this slowing effect, which occurs in the first few days after injury.
Traumatic stress triggers an intricate response in the body's biochemical equilibrium, affecting the brain, endocrine, and immune systems. Research aims to understand this process to create more effective treatments for related disorders.
Exposure to stress during puberty results in abnormal aggressive and submissive behaviors, as well as neurobiological alterations, in hamsters. The study suggests that an imbalance in vasopressin and serotonin brain chemical systems contributes to inappropriate behavior.
A study by Duke University Medical Center found that hostile women experienced significant increases in blood pressure and heart rate when discussing an emotional event, while low-hostile women showed no such response. The research suggests that emotional stress may not be harmful for everyone, but rather poses a risk to those already ...
A Cornell University study found that chronic airport noise increases blood pressure and stress hormones in third- and fourth-grade children. The study, which tracked the same group of children before and after noise pollution, suggests lifelong effects on health.
A large study by Ohio State University researchers has found that stress experienced after a breast cancer diagnosis and surgery can weaken the immune response in women. The study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, used biochemical indicators to measure the impact of stress on immune function.
Carnegie Mellon researcher Sheldon Cohen suggests that stress reduction may alter immune function, which could lead to better defenses against cancer. However, the evidence for this link is still incomplete, and more research is needed to confirm its validity.
A study by Purdue University professor Theodore Wachs found that children from highly noisy homes experience less cognitive growth, delayed language skills, and increased anxiety. To mitigate these effects, parents can implement suggestions such as turning off the TV, establishing quiet spaces, and imposing a regular schedule.
According to Chris Carr, a sports psychologist at Ohio State University, athletes often perform better and are happier if they focus on meeting personal goals rather than winning all their events. This approach helps athletes gain control over their performance and measure their improvement against themselves.
Researchers found that high cholesterol can lead to increased blood pressure during stressful situations, but lowering cholesterol can help control this response and reduce the risk of hypertension and heart disease. The study involved 70 people with normal blood pressure, with 33 having normal cholesterol and 37 having high cholesterol.
Researchers found a direct cause-and-effect relationship between negative emotions and an increased risk of myocardial ischemia, a precursor to heart attacks. Stress levels, both emotional and physical, were associated with a higher risk of ischemia, especially in the hour following stress.
Researchers found that bulimics exhibit a range of physiological and psychological problems, including abnormal blood pressure, poor response to stress, and low self-esteem. The study also revealed that bulimics are more likely to experience cardiovascular problems and major depression.
A study by Dianne Tice found that procrastination's initial enjoyment can turn into a heavy toll as deadlines loom, causing unforeseen events and increased stress. Procrastinators who fail to complete tasks often experience severe health problems, lower grades, and reduced work quality.
A new study by Duke University researchers found that mental stress testing identifies patients at high risk for cardiac events, which are often missed by standard exercise tests. The study reveals a large subgroup of at-risk heart patients who are not being identified by standard treadmill testing.