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Health News Results - 39

Here's 8 Habits That Could Lengthen Your Life

Eight healthy habits could add years to your life.

A new study of more than 700,000 U.S. veterans breaks down the habits that when adopted by middle age, can help someone live substantially longer than folks who don't have these habits.

These are the big eight:

  • Be physically active.
  • Don't smoke.
  • Don't get addicted to opioids.
  • Don't binge-drink on a...

Social Lives Can Thrive in Walk-Friendly Neighborhoods

Living in a walkable neighborhood fosters socialization and helps create a strong sense of community, new research shows.

Among the active behaviors these walkable neighborhoods promote are walking for leisure or as transportation to school, work shopping or home.

“Our built environments create or deny long-lasting opportunities for socialization, physical activity, contact with ...

How to Help Someone Dealing With Depression

There is little that is harder than watching a loved one struggle with depression. So what can you do?

More than you might think, experts say.

First, depression is a mood disorder that can affect anyone, regardless of age, race, socioeconomic status or gender. Symptoms ranging from mild to severe and it impacts the way you feel, think and behave, according to the

  • Mandi Harenberg HealthDay Reporter
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  • March 3, 2023
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  • Skip the Texts: Face-to-Face Meetings Make College Students Happier

    In a world where everyone spends more and more time with eyes fixed on their phones, new research suggests young people feel happier after socializing with friends in person rather than virtually.

    The conclusion is an outgrowth of nearly four years spent analyzing how social habits of more than 3,000 college students affected their state of mind.

    "The findings of

  • Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
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  • August 4, 2022
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  • Even Chores, Socializing Might Lower Your Odds for Dementia

    Your daily walk, cleaning the house and lunch with friends could together be keys to staving off dementia, according to researchers.

    A new study looked at lifestyle habits that could help lower risks, instead of factors that may contribute to the disease.

    Researchers in China combed t...

    Friends Want to Hear From You More Than You Think

    If you've ever hesitated to text or email friends you haven't seen in a while, a new study has a reassuring message: They'll probably appreciate it more than you think.

    In a series of experiments involving nearly 6,000 adults, researchers found that, in general, people underestimated the value of "reaching out" to someone in their social circle they hadn't contacted in a while.

    Reci...

    Being Social May Be Key to 'Sense of Purpose' as You Age

    Want to feel you matter after you retire? Start socializing, a new study suggests.

    Researchers from Washington University in St. Louis found that positive connections with other people were associated with a sense of purposefulness in older adults.

    Having a sense of purpose is...

    Study Spots Key Factor in Kids' Friendships

    While kids in a classroom are likely to be familiar with all their classmates after a short time, the children they are assigned to sit near are likely to become their closer friends, a new study suggests.

    Researchers from Florida Atlantic University found that after seat assignments changed, students were more likely to become friends with newly near-seated classmates, than with those w...

    Smells Like Friendship: Similar Body Odors May Draw Folks Together

    You and your best friend may have your noses to thank in helping bring you together, a new study suggests.

    Researchers found that pairs of friends who'd just "clicked" upon meeting tended to smell more alike, compared to random pairs of strangers. What's more, a high-tech electronic nose was able to predict, based on body odor, which strangers would hit it off during their first interacti...

    'You Didn't Tag Me!' Instagram Snubs Hurt, Study Confirms

    Think what happens online stays online? Think again.

    According to new research, a social media diss can leave people feeling genuinely hurt and ostracized.

    "Social media ostracism means being excluded or ignored online on social media networks like Instagram, Facebook or Twitter," explained lead study author Christiane Büttner. She's a PhD candidate in the department of social psy...

    As Holidays Return to Normal, Here's How to De-Stress

    A return to a more normal holiday season may also mean higher stress levels, so an expert offers some coping tips.

    Don't get too focused on buying the perfect presents, making the best dinner or planning the perfect party. Try to be mindful of pleasant things and moments, suggested Jennifer Wegmann, a health and wellness studies lecturer at Binghamton University, State University of New Y...

    Do Your Genes Up Your Odds for Alcoholism? One Factor Cuts the Risk

    Even when genetics and personality are working against you, having a strong network of supportive friends and family may help lower alcoholism risk, researchers say.

    "Genes play an important role in alcohol use," stressed Jinni Su, an assistant professor of psychology at Arizona State University in Tempe, and lead author of a new study.

    But "genes are not our destiny," she added.

    Could You Help Prevent a Suicide? Know the Warning Signs

    Knowing the warning signs of suicide can save a life, experts say.

    Suicide is the 10th leading overall cause of death in the United States, and number two among people between the ages of 10 and 34.

    Most suicides result from depression. It can cause someone to feel worthless, hopeless and a burden on others, making suicide falsely appear to be a solution, according to the

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  • September 12, 2021
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  • Having Someone Who'll Listen May Be Good for Your Aging Brain

    Could the constancy of a sympathetic ear help guard your brain against the ravages of aging?

    Yes, claims new research that analyzed data on nearly 2,200 American adults and found those in their 40s and 50s who didn't have someone to listen to them had a mental ("cognitive") age that was four years older than those who had good listeners in their lives.

    Having an ear to bend when you...

    Friends, Family Key to Turning a 'No' on Vaccination to a 'Yes'

    Public health officials and government workers are trying everything they can to promote COVID-19 vaccination -- advertisements, news releases, cash lotteries, and even incentives like free beer, joints or doughnuts in some places.

    But nothing sways a vaccine-hesitant person more than a word with a family member, friend or their own doctor, a new Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) poll reveal...

    Most Romantic Couples Started Out as Friends, Study Finds

    Some think that romance begins when two strangers catch each other's eye across a crowded room. Others seek it out by swiping right.

    But new research suggests that more than two-thirds of all romantic relationships begin as friendships.

    It's a question that Danu Anthony Stinson and her collaborators have been asking for a long time while studying relationship initiation.

    "We s...

    Even Preschoolers Want to Be in the 'In Crowd,' Study Finds

    People aren't born understanding social norms, but kids do have a desire to fit in with the crowd from an early age, according to a new study.

    Researchers from Duke University in Durham, N.C. found that when 3-year-olds were asked to behave in a certain way and did so, they weren't conforming just to obey an adult, but were going along with the group.

    Kids begin to pick up on societ...

    Feeling Down? Support Via Social Media May Not Be Enough

    Looking for a morale boost or some solid encouragement? If so, socializing the old-fashioned way -- live and in-person -- will likely do more to lift your spirits than online interactions, new research suggests.

    It's the key takeaway from a survey of more than 400 college undergraduate students.

    "We wanted to see if the social support provided over social media was associated with b...

    Talking Points: People Rarely End Conversations When They Want To

    Ever been caught in small-talk you secretly wanted to end?

    So has nearly everyone else, according to new research that finds that both partners in a conversation often want it to end sooner than it does.

    The flip side is often true, as well. Study author Adam Mastroianni said that his team was "surprised to find that conversations also sometimes end beforeeither person want...

    Loneliness Continues to Rise for Americans Under Lockdown

    Loneliness, particularly among folks under shelter-in-place orders, is a growing issue for Americans during the coronavirus pandemic, new research finds.

    More people report they are feeling lonely, depressed and even harboring thoughts of suicide as COVID-19 cases in the United States soar. And those who are chafing under lockdown or other stay-at-home restrictions appear to be at the gre...

    Amid Lockdowns, Online Exercise Classes Help Seniors Feel Less Alone

    Participating in group exercise classes is good for seniors and not just in the ways one might expect.

    The classes reduce loneliness and social isolation, according to a new study. And early results suggest that's true even after the coronavirus pandemic forced those classes to meet virtually.

    "As the demographics of our country shift, more people are living alone than ever before,"...

    Staying Social Can Boost Healthy 'Gray Matter' in Aging Brains

    Older adults who get together with friends, volunteer or go to classes have healthier brains, which could help them ward off dementia, according to a new study.

    Researchers who used brain imaging to examine brain areas involved in mental decline found that greater social engagement made a difference in brain health.

    Being socially engaged -- even moderately -- with at least one ...

    Adult Life Tougher for Teens Who Had Controlling Parents: Study

    Back off, Mom and Dad: Teens who feel their parents are overly controlling may have more difficulty with romantic relationships as adults, a new study suggests.

    The study, which followed 184 teens, found that those with domineering parents had a future that was different from their peers: On average, they did not go as far in their education, and they were less likely to be in a roman...

    Money Not a Good Measure of Your Self-Worth

    When the Beatles sang that "money can't buy me love," they were right, researchers say.

    "When people base their self-worth on financial success, they experience feelings of pressure and a lack of autonomy, which are associated with negative social outcomes," said researcher Lora Park, an associate professor of psychology at University at Buffalo, in New York.

    These feelings...

    Friends Matter for LGBT Health

    Having a large social network of other people with the same sexual identity benefits the health of LGBT people, a new study finds.

    Previous studies have found that discrimination and related stress can be harmful to the health of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, so researchers decided to look at social factors that may reduce that harm.

    The investigators...

    Are You Lonely? Your Tweets Offer Important Clues, Experts Say

    Analyzing people's tweets could reveal if they're lonely, researchers say.

    Loneliness -- which has been linked with depression, heart disease, dementia and other health problems -- affects about 1 in 5 adults in the United States.

    Researchers analyzed public accounts of Twitter users in Pennsylvania and identified more than 6,200 who used words like "lonely" or "alone" more ...

    Tying the Knot Is Tied to Longer Life Span, New Data Shows

    Married folks not only live longer than singles, but the longevity gap between the two groups is growing, U.S. government health statisticians report.

    The age-adjusted death rate for the married declined by 7% between 2010 and 2017, according to a new study from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    Posting All Those Selfies Online Could Backfire, Study Finds

    Posting selfies on social media won't do you any favors in terms of likability.

    A small new study finds that many people take a dim view of others who post a lot of selfies on Instagram.

    Researchers at Washington State University conducted an experiment to determine which posts lead to snap judgments about the user's personality.

    The upshot: People who posted lots ...

    Staying Optimistic Might Lengthen Your Life, Study Shows

    An upbeat view of life may increase your odds for living to a ripe old age, new research suggests.

    The finding stems from a look at optimism and longevity among nearly 70,000 women and 1,400 men. It builds on earlier research linking higher levels of optimism to lower risks of chronic illness and premature death.

    "This study took us further by suggesting that optimistic peo...

    Stay Social to Help Cut Your Odds of Dementia

    The evidence continues to mount that staying socially engaged as you age helps keep dementia at bay.

    In a new study, British researchers found that being socially active in your 50s and 60s may reduce the risk of developing dementia.

    The findings showed that people in their 60s who interacted with friends nearly every day had a 12% lower risk of developing dementia than ...

    The Dangers of Being a People-Pleaser

    Being thoughtful and caring are great qualities to have, but if you go out of your way to get people to like you, you could be a people-pleaser, with unfortunate consequences for your own well-being.

    If you're always saying yes to others, you're likely giving up time spent on things that really matter to you. If you're always acting in a way that makes others happy, but not doing the ...

    Kids With Autism 'In Tune' With Mom's Feelings: Study

    Children with autism may have trouble interpreting facial emotions in strangers, but research finds some are as "in-tune" with their mother's expressions as kids without autism.

    The study included 4- to 8-year-olds with and without autism who viewed five facial expressions -- happy, sad, angry, fearful and neutral -- on both familiar and unfamiliar faces.

    Children without au...

    Hate Those Stressful Office Parties? Just Fake It, Study Suggests

    Though they often dread social events, many introverts find they're not as bad as feared and some have learned to fake an outgoing personality to get through the experience.

    In the business world, socializing is a key to success, said Erik Helzer, who led a team that examined the psychological implications for both introverts and extroverts. Helzer is an assistant professor of managem...

    Why Watch Sports? Fans Get a Self-Esteem Boost, Study Finds

    When your favorite college team wins the big game, it can boost your self-esteem for days -- especially if you watch the game with others, a new study suggests.

    Researchers assessed 174 students from Ohio State (OSU) and Michigan State (MSU) universities before and after a key 2015 football game. Michigan State, then ranked No. 9, beat No. 3 OSU on a field-goal as time expired.

    ...

    1 in 3 Young Adults Suffers From Loneliness in U.S.

    For young adults, drugs and distracted driving are well-recognized health threats. Far less attention is paid to loneliness.

    But loneliness is common -- and it is a particular problem for people aged 18 to 24, a new study suggests.

    "We have this stereotype of the lonely old person in poor health, and the robust, socially active young person," said James Maddux, a senior scho...

    Poor Health Compounds Loneliness in Seniors

    Getting older can be a lonely business, and a new survey shows that health problems only make matters worse.

    The online poll of more than 2,000 adults, aged 50 to 80, revealed that one in four said they feel isolated from other people at least some of the time, and one in three say they don't have regular companionship.

    Health played a role in just how lonely someone was. Th...

    Bonding With Friends -- Without Food

    Socializing with friends is great for physical and emotional well-being, but if all of your get-togethers are at restaurants or bars, it can be hard to stick to a healthy eating plan.

    Try these ideas for having fun without placing the emphasis on food. Both you and your friends will benefit.

    Turn your brunch group into an arts project. Whether you're quilting, knittin...

    Ditch Your Leisure To-Do List

    If the fun is often missing from your social activities or play feels like work, researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have an explanation: You're probably overplanning.

    With so many demands on your time, precise scheduling might be the only way to accomplish everything you want. But while that can help at work and with family responsibilities, applying it to leisur...

    Friends' Vaping Could Pose Danger to Kids With Asthma

    Add another danger that e-cigarettes pose to teenagers: A new study finds secondhand exposure to vaping may raise the chances of asthma attacks in adolescents with the respiratory condition.

    Middle school and high school students with asthma were 27 percent more likely to have suffered an asthma attack if they'd been exposed to vapor from someone else's e-cigarette use, the researcher...