7 Effective Ways to Manage Anxiety in Children With Food Allergies
Food allergies — particularly ones that may lead to life-threatening anaphylaxis — can be stressful for parents and children alike. In one study, 77 percent of caregivers of children with food allergies reported psychological distress related to food allergies, and 52 percent of them said their child experienced similar distress. The most common issue was anxiety about having an...
Rheumatoid Arthritis Neuropathy: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatments
Beth Biggee, MD, is medical director and an integrative rheumatologist at Rheumission, a virtual integrative rheumatology practice for people residing in California and Pennsylvania. This first-of-its-kind company offers whole person autoimmune care by a team of integrative rheumatologists, lifestyle medicine practitioners, autoimmune dietitians, psychologists, and care coordinators.Dr. Biggee also works as a healthcare wellness consultant for Synergy Wellness Center in...
Clozapine Access Expanded for People With Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has just made it easier for patients to get clozapine, the only drug approved for treatment-resistant schizophrenia.The agency has removed a long-standing requirement for patients to submit lab test results showing healthy levels of white blood cells known as neutrophils in order to receive prescriptions for clozapine.The requirement was originally put in...
Autoimmune Disease Misdiagnoses Harm Patients’ Well-Being, Study Finds
Chronic autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels) can be difficult to diagnose and are often wrongly identified as psychiatric or psychosomatic (emotional symptoms that manifest physically, like a stress-induced stomachache).When doctors misdiagnose these conditions as “all in your head,” people may experience damaging effects on their well-being and self-esteem, and lose trust in...
Digestive Gas Pain and How to Relieve It
You can take steps to banish your gas pain at home. Whether you get your gas moving through abdominal massage and yoga or you drink warm tea and change your diet, there are plenty of gas-busting home remedies to try.Movement and Abdominal MassageTo get your gas moving, often your body just needs some movement or gentle massage. For example,...
11 Ways to Cope With the Emotional Aspects of Graft-Versus-Host Disease
Being told about the potential for GVHD can feel like a trade-off of one scary diagnosis (cancer) for another. GVHD can affect quality of life and require lifelong management in some cases. One recent review on the quality of life for people with GVHD found that it is a “life-altering full-time-job requiring unique knowledge, personal growth, and resilient coping...
MS, Motherhood, and Mental Health: New Study Reveals Risks
Motherhood and multiple sclerosis (MS) have had a complicated relationship for quite some time. Readers who were diagnosed decades ago may remember when women with MS were advised to reconsider having children because of the stresses that pregnancy, birthing, and childrearing might put on them.Over time, the prevailing advice changed to more of a “do it now, while you...
Understanding the Risks and Benefits
Not everyone who takes a statin will develop type 2 diabetes, Dr. Kim says.“For people who are at high risk of cardiovascular disease, the benefits of statins in reducing their risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular events usually outweigh the potential risk of developing diabetes,” she says.In addition to speaking with your doctor, you can check your...
How to Stay Happy in Winter
5. Stay ConnectedSocial connection is a basic human need. Seeking out positive interactions will help you feel better, and may motivate you to do the things you enjoy, says Schiff. Research also points to the important role social connectedness plays in supporting mental health.Meet friends at a coffee shop, visit a museum, or plan a virtual book club if...
What It is, Benefits, and 6 Ways to Do It
Hygge may be part of the reason why Denmark consistently ranks among the happiest countries on the planet, alongside Finland, Norway, and Switzerland (these rankings come from the annual World Happiness Report).Reduced Stress and Improved Emotional Well-BeingExperiencing hygge reportedly reduces stress and improves emotional well-being. However, there isn’t any scientific research examining the perks of the practice as a...
