The 2022 Wayne State University football team in a huddle. Credit: Tamara Hew-Butler The mythology and physiology that characterize winners from losers remains elusive. While physiological profiling—studying biomarkers and body composition and using wearable technology—of “superhuman” athletes continues, our unsatiable quest for greatness often minimizes how our mental health can affect our physical health, athletic … Continue reading Depression and Sports: A Double-edged Sword
Depression
Could Anti-Inflammatory Medications Reduce Heart Disease Risk in People With Depression?
Credit: iStock Major depressive disorder, which occurs in about 15% of adults worldwide at some point in their life, is a staggering public health challenge. It’s projected to be the leading cause of global disease and disability burden by 2030, with an associated annual economic burden of more than $210 billion. Alarmingly, the number of … Continue reading Could Anti-Inflammatory Medications Reduce Heart Disease Risk in People With Depression?
How Smell Brings Back Memories
Credit: iStock Our waiter set down a warm bowl in front of me. The aroma and steam rising from the bowl grabbed me by the nostrils and sent me on a bullet train 40 years back to my grandma’s kitchen in Guam. I closed my eyes as the sweet perfume of coconut cream brought back … Continue reading How Smell Brings Back Memories
Is (Winter) Happiness in the Eye of the Beholder?
Credit: iStock Long winter nights got you down? If you’re having trouble getting in the holiday spirit and these emotions feel more persistent as the season progresses, it may be time to talk to your doctor. For some people, this time of year triggers a type of winter depression called seasonal affective disorder (SAD). SAD … Continue reading Is (Winter) Happiness in the Eye of the Beholder?
Spotlight On: Seasonal Affective Disorder
If you feel sad, gloomy and hopeless more often in the winter months compared to the rest of the year, you’re not alone. Between 4 and 6 percent of adults in the U.S. have been diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also known as winter depression. Another 10 to 20 percent may not have an … Continue reading Spotlight On: Seasonal Affective Disorder
Spotlight On: Circadian Rhythm
The phrase “circadian rhythm” seems to appear with increasing frequency in the news. The study of circadian rhythm also got a boost when the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to three pioneering researchers in this area. But many people may not understand what it means and why it’s important. All biological … Continue reading Spotlight On: Circadian Rhythm
Like Father, Like Son (and Daughter): How Your Dad’s Past Affects Your Future
What makes your father the best dad in the world? Maybe it’s his sense of humor or the times he has taken you to the movies or played catch in the yard. Or maybe it’s the fact that he made healthy lifestyle choices before you were born. Recent research suggests that your father’s health before … Continue reading Like Father, Like Son (and Daughter): How Your Dad’s Past Affects Your Future
Depression + Pregnancy = Diabetes?
Morning sickness, swollen ankles and a growing belly are just a few of the many physiological changes that women experience during pregnancy. The changes we can see are just the tip of the iceberg. Blood volume, bones, heart rate, skin and many other parts of a woman’s body function differently during pregnancy. Pregnancy-related changes can … Continue reading Depression + Pregnancy = Diabetes?
Can You Work Off Depression with a Workout?
Stress is a part of all of our lives. From work, to family, to waiting in rush hour traffic, stress comes at us from all directions and in many shapes and sizes. Stress and other physical and mental health problems have been linked to increases in depression, which is a globally recognized public health problem. … Continue reading Can You Work Off Depression with a Workout?