Multicellular Response Is 'All For One'
Real or perceived threats can trigger the well-known "fight or flight response" in humans and other animals. Adrenaline flows, and the stressed individual's heart pumps faster, the muscles work harder, the brain sharpens and non-essential systems shut down.
Mental Stress Reduces Blood Flow To The Heart In Patients With Gene Variation
University of Florida researchers have identified a gene variation in heart disease patients who appear especially vulnerable to the physical effects of mental stress - to the point where blood flow to the heart is greatly reduced. "Searching for the presence of this gene may be one way to better identify patients who are at an increased risk for the phenomenon, " said David S.
Stress At Work Increases The Progression Of Arteriosclerosis
Work stress, resulting from great pressure at the work place, may increase the progression of atherosclerosis by 46% in people who have highly reactive personalities to stress. This is demonstrated by a study which will be discussed at the XVI World Congress of Cardiology to be held from May 18th - May 22nd in Buenos Aires and will be attended by 15, 000 professionals from more than 100 countries.
Mother's Prenatal Stress Predisposes Their Babies To Asthma And Allergy
Women who are stressed during pregnancy may pass some of that frazzlement to their fetuses in the form of increased sensitivity to allergen exposure and possibly future asthma risk, according to researchers from Harvard Medical School who presented their findings at the American Thoracic Society's 2008 International Conference in Toronto on Sunday, May 18.
Is Panic A Pharmaceutical Invention?
A paper by Giovanni A. Fava and associates of the University of Bologna published in the April issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics summarizes the evidence which supports the seriousness of agoraphobia as an invalidating disease. At the same time it questions the excessive emphasis on panic which has been attributed in the past decade and the role of pharmaceutical industry in this attribution.
National Conference To Help Rural Veterans Cope With Combat Stress, Hosted By Geisinger
With the war in Iraq in its sixth year and a new generation of veterans requiring care, Geisinger Health System will host a conference May 13 that brings together military and civilian experts to better understand and meet the unique challenges faced by rural soldiers and their families.
Study Shows A Little Anxiety Pays Sometimes
Anxiety gets a lot of bad press. Dwelling on the negative can lead to chronic stress and anxiety disorders and phobias, but evolutionarily speaking, anxiety holds some functional value. In humans, learning to avoid harm is necessary not only for surviving in the face of basic threats (such as predators or rotten food), but also for avoiding more complex social or economic threats (such as enemies or questionable investments).
Seroquel Evaluation On Improvement In Short And Long-Term Symptoms
AstraZeneca (NYSE:AZN) announced new study data on SEROQUEL XR™ (quetiapine fumarate) Extended-Release Tablets (quetiapine XR) for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in adult patients. The results from the studies were presented today at the 161st Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) in Washington, DC.
Cancer Patients Put At Risk For PTSD By Anxiety And Mood Disorders
Breast cancer patients who have a prior history of mood and anxiety disorders are at a much higher risk of experiencing posttraumatic stress disorder following their diagnosis, new research suggests.A study of 74 breast cancer patients at the Ohio State University Medical Center found that 16 percent of them (12 women) suffered from PTSD 18 months after diagnosis.
The Psychological Cost Of Climbing Gas Prices
Rising gas prices are affecting more than the family budget. More pain at the pump results in more employee stress on the job, says Wayne Hochwarter, the Jim Moran Professor of Management at Florida State University's College of Business."People concerned with the effects of gas prices were significantly less attentive on the job, less excited about going to work, less passionate and conscientious and more tense, " Hochwarter said.