Health Videos
Fish slime offers a source of potential new antibiotics
New Delhi, Apr 02 (ANI): Scientists have identified that fish slime, protective mucus that coats young fish, could be a source of potential new antibiotics. The result of the research were presented at the American Chemical Society (ACS) Spring 2019 National Meeting & Exposition. A team identified bacteria with promising antibiotic activity against known pathogens, even dangerous organisms, such as the microbe that causes MRSA infections, in the protective mucus that coats young fish. "For us, any microbe in the marine environment that could provide a new compound is worth exploring," said Sandra Loesgen, the group's principal investigator. According to Loesgen, while novel chemical reagents have been found in the human microbiome, the marine equivalent remains relatively unstudied. One potential goldmine of microbes is the mucus that coats the surfaces of fish. This viscous substance protects fish from bacteria, fungi, and viruses in their environment, trapping the microbes before they can cause infections. The slime is also rich in polysaccharides and peptides are known to have antibacterial activity.
Eating later in the day could be linked to obesity
New Delhi, Mar 25 (ANI): Those who eat later in the day should start having meals on time as the habit could contribute to weight gain, according to a new study. The study was presented at ENDO 2019, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in New Orleans, LA. Previous studies have suggested that later timing of eating and sleeping are related to obesity, said lead author Adnin Zaman, MD, of the University of Colorado in Denver, Colo. However, few studies have assessed both meal and sleep timing in adults with obesity, and it is not clear whether eating later in the day is associated with shorter sleep duration or higher body fat, she said. The study used three types of technology to record participant’s sleep, physical activity and eating patterns. It has been challenging to apply sleep and circadian science to medicine due to a lack of methods for measuring daily patterns of human behaviour, she said. Later meal timing was associated with a higher body mass index as well as greater body fat.
Obesity could cause reproductive problems in women with type 1 diabetes
New Delhi, Mar 25 (ANI): A recent study has revealed that obesity may play a role in reproductive problems in women with type 1 diabetes. "Women with type 1 diabetes remain at risk of significant reproductive problems despite improvements in current therapies, and this may be partly explained by the high prevalence of obesity in this group," said lead researcher Eleanor Thong, M.B.B.S., Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, Clayton, Australia. The researchers found 24 per cent of women with type 1 diabetes were obese, compared with 16 percent of those without diabetes. Another notable finding was that one in four women with type 1 diabetes was current smoker, compared to one in six controls. Menstrual irregularities were seen in 47 per cent of those with type 1 diabetes, compared with 35 per cent of those without the disease. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) was found in 14 per cent of those with diabetes, compared with 5 per cent in those without the disease.
Depression in 20s linked to memory loss in 50s: Study suggests
New Delhi, Mar 21 (ANI): As part of a recent study, a team of psychologists has found that depression in the 20s can be linked to memory loss in 50s. The psychologists analyzed data from the National Child Development Study, which was established in 1958 with a cohort of over 18,000 babies and followed participants from birth into childhood and through to adulthood. The psychologists found that an accumulation of symptoms experienced by participants over the three decades provided a strong indicator of a linear decrease in memory function by the time the adults were fifty. They found that one episode of depression or anxiety had little effect on the memory function of adults in midlife, regardless of which decade it was experienced, but that once the episodes increased to two or three over the course of the three decades, that this predicted a steady decrease in the participant's memory function by the time they reached fifty. “We found that the more episodes of depression people experience in their adulthood, the higher risk of cognitive impairment they have later in life. This finding highlights the importance of effective management of depression to prevent the development of recurrent mental health problems with long-term negative outcomes," said Darya Gaysina, senior author of the study. “We'd, therefore, like to see the government investing more in the mental health provision for young adults, not only for the immediate benefit of the patients but also to help protect their future brain health,” Gaysina explained. As well as memory, the psychologists also assessed verbal fluency, information processing speed and accuracy scores of the participants once they turned fifty. Encouragingly, episodes of depression and anxiety had little impact on the latter four areas of cognitive function but the associated loss of memory suggests that depressive symptoms experienced in early adulthood could predict dementia in older adulthood. Previous research had found a relationship between depressive symptoms experienced in older adulthood and a faster rate of cognitive decline, but this is the first time that such a large and UK nationally representative sample has been able to make this link in the first three decades of adulthood. “We knew from previous research that depressive symptoms experienced in mid-adulthood to late adulthood can predict a decline in brain function in later life but we were surprised to see just how clearly persistent depressive symptoms across three decades of adulthood are an important predictor of poorer memory function in mid-life,” said Amber John, one of the lead researchers.
Inflammation links heart disease and depression: Study
New Delhi, Mar 20 (ANI): As a part of recent study, researchers have found the difference between heart disease and depression. According to the findings, people with heart disease are more likely to suffer from depression, and the opposite is also true. The study also suggest that while inflammation is a natural response to fight off infection, chronic inflammation – which may result from psychological stress as well as lifestyle factors such as smoking, excessive alcohol intake, physical inactivity and obesity is harmful. The link between heart disease and depression is well documented. People who have a heart attack are at a significantly higher risk of experiencing depression. Yet scientists have been unable to determine whether this is due to the two conditions sharing common genetic factors or whether shared environmental factors provide the link.
Sugary drinks associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases
New Delhi, Mar 19 (ANI): Here's another reason to cut down those sugar-sweetened drinks from your daily diet. According to a recent study, sugary drinks may be associated with an increased risk of death from cardiovascular diseases. Frequently drinking sugar-sweetened drinks, such as sodas and sports drinks, was associated with an increased risk of death from cardiovascular diseases and, to a lesser extent, cancers, according to new research published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. Among study participants the risk of death rose as people drank more sugar-sweetened drinks. In addition, substituting one sugary drink a day with an artificially sweetened drink was associated with a slightly lower risk of dying, but drinking four or more artificially sweetened drinks a day was associated with a higher risk of death among women. "Drinking water in place of sugary drinks is a healthy choice that could contribute to longevity. Diet soda may be used to help frequent consumers of sugary drinks cut back their consumption, but water is the best and healthiest choice," said Vasanti Malik, lead author on the paper. But few studies have examined whether sugar-sweetened beverages or artificially sweetened beverages can be linked to mortality. The current study used data from two large-scale longitudinal studies to do just that. Researchers examined data from 37,716 men in the Health Professionals follow-up study and 80,647 women in the Nurses' Health Study. They controlled for other dietary factors, physical activity and body mass index so that any effect measured could be independently linked with sugar-sweetened beverages. It also examined the association between drinking artificially sweetened beverages and death. The American Heart Association recently issued a science advisory on artificially sweetened drinks that concludes that for adults who are habitually high consumers of sugary drinks, low-calorie sweetened drinks (artificially sweetened) may be a useful replacement strategy to reduce intake of sugary drinks.
Mentally draining work linked to higher diabetes risk among women: Study
New Delhi, Mar 18 (ANI): Women who find their jobs mentally tiring are at increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, a new study has found. The results of the study were published in 'European Journal of Endocrinology.' The study suggests that mentally draining work such as teaching may increase the risk of diabetes in women. The study suggests that employers and women should be more aware of the potential health risks associated with mentally tiring work.Type 2 diabetes is an increasingly prevalent disease that places a huge burden on patients and society and can lead to significant health problems including heart attacks, strokes, blindness and kidney failure. Numerous factors can increase the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes including obesity, diet, exercise, smoking or a family history of the disease.
Sperm of infertile men is healthy when taken directly from testicles
New Delhi, Mar 17 (ANI): Scientists have found that the DNA of sperm taken from the testicles of infertile men was as good as that of ejaculated sperm of fertile men. The research may explain a major cause of male infertility and open up the possibility of using sperm taken directly from the testicles to overcome infertility among males. The research was presented at the European Association of Urology Congress in Barcelona. UK-based scientists took sperm samples from the testicles of 63 infertile men and matched them with ejaculated sperm samples produced by the same men. These infertile men had failed previous fertility treatment (intracytoplasmic sperm injection or ICSI). The scientists also examined the sperm for two types of DNA strand breaks (single and double strand breaks) each in the testicular and ejaculated sperm. Infertility is a major public health issue. One couple in six is infertile across Europe, with male infertility now being the biggest cause in couples seeking treatment. Sperm DNA damage is known to be a major cause of male infertility and reduces a couple's chances of having a family. This study shows that on the journey from the testicles along the long series of ducts before ejaculation, sperm DNA can suffer major damage, some of which is due to oxidative stress.
Sense of Control makes older adults feel younger
New Delhi, Mar 16 (ANI): A new study reveals that when older adults have more control over their daily lives, regardless of stress and health concerns, they feel young. However, stress and health – not a sense of control – play a significant role in how older adults feel young. An individual’s sense of control has no bearing on self - perceptions of age for young adults. The more control older adults think they have, the younger they feel. But stress and adverse changes did make young feel older.
Taking too much vitamin D may cloud its benefits
New Delhi, Mar 15 (ANI): While vitamin D comes with a lot of benefits, one should know the right amount of intake of vitamin D. According to a recent study, obese older women, who take more than three times the recommended daily dose of vitamin D showed improvements in memory and learning but also had slower reaction at times. The researchers hypothesized that slower reaction times may increase the risk of falling among older people. The results of the study were published in 'Journals of Gerontology.
Smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity linked to unhealthy brain
New Delhi, Mar 14 (ANI): Here is another reason to let go of unhealthy addictions. According to a recent study, factors that influence the health of our blood vessels, such as smoking, high blood and pulse pressures, obesity and diabetes, are linked to less healthy brains. The study examined the associations between seven vascular risk factors and differences in the structures of parts of the brain. The strongest links were with areas of the brain known to be responsible for our more complex thinking skills, and which deteriorate during the development of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. The researchers, led by Simon Cox, a senior research associate at the University of Edinburgh (UK), examined MRI scans of brains of 9,772 people, aged between 44 and 79, who were enrolled in the UK Biobank study - one of the largest groups of people from the general population to have data available on brain imaging as well as general health and medical information. All had been scanned by a single scanner in Cheadle, Manchester, and most of the participants were from the north-west of England. This is the world's largest single-scanner study of multiple vascular risk factors and structural brain imaging. The researchers looked for associations between brain structure and one or more vascular risk factors, which included smoking, high blood pressure, high pulse pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol levels, and obesity as measured by body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio. According to Cox, lifestyle factors are much easier to change than things like your genetic code - both of which seem to affect susceptibility to worse brain and cognitive ageing. These have all been linked to complications with the blood supply to the brain, potentially leading to reduced blood flow and the abnormal changes seen in Alzheimer's disease.
Moderate muscle strength may lower risk of diabetes: Study
New Delhi, Mar 12 (ANI): Building muscle strength may be one way to lower the risk of type 2 diabetes, a recent study suggests.The study, which involved over 4,500 adults, found that moderate muscle mass reduced the risk of type 2 diabetes by 32 per cent. The benefits were independent of cardiorespiratory fitness, and higher levels of muscle strength did not provide additional protection. According to the researchers, the results are encouraging because even small amounts of resistance exercise may be helpful in preventing type 2 diabetes by improving muscle strength. However, it is difficult to recommend an optimal level as there are no standardised measurements for muscle strength
Smoking during pregnancy increases risk of sudden infant death: Study
New Delhi, Mar 12 (ANI): According to a study, mothers who smoke before and during pregnancy contribute to risk of infant death. The results of the study were published in the journal ‘Pediatrics’. As per the study, even just one cigarette a day, can double the risk of unexpected infant death. For women who smoke an average of 1-20 cigarettes a day, the Sudden Unexplained Infant Death (SUID) increased by 0.07. The researchers of this study used computational modeling technique to analyse maternal smoking habits for all US live births from 2007-2011. The data of this study is used to support public health effort that encourages pregnant women to quit smoking.
Chemical pollutants in home degrade fertility in men and dogs: Study
New Delhi, Mar 11 (ANI): Here’s another reason to take environmental degradation seriously. Suggests that environmental contaminants found in the home and diet have the same adverse effects on male fertility in both humans and in domestic dogs. There has been increasing concern over declining human male fertility in recent decades with studies showing a 50% global reduction in sperm quality in the past 80 years. A previous study by the Nottingham experts showed that sperm quality in domestic dogs has also sharply declined, raising the question of whether modern day chemicals in the home environment could be at least partly to blame.
Moderate alcohol consumption associated with high blood pressure
New Delhi Mar 10 (ANI): If you believe that moderate alcohol consumption is harmless, a recent research is here to prick that bubble. The study shows that moderate alcohol consumption- seven to 13 drinks per week- substantially raises one's risk of high blood pressure. The findings contrast with some previous studies that associated moderate drinking with a lower risk of some forms of heart disease. However, hypertension is a leading risk factor for heart attack and stroke, the new study calls into question the notion that moderate alcohol consumption benefits heart health. Data for the research came from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study (NHANES), a large, decades-long study led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Second-hand smoking dangerous, reveals study
New Delhi, Mar 09 (ANI): A recent study has discovered a link between second-hand smoking and development of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The study, published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, found out that exposure to second-hand smoking increases the risk of various diseases and the researchers investigated the link between exposure to second-hand smoking and CKD. The study included 131,196 never-smokers who participated in the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study from 2001 to 2014.
Here's how Neem is beneficial for your health!
New Delhi, Mar 08 (ANI): Consumption of Neem capsules can give a myriad number of health benefits. Neem or Azadirachta indica, a miraculous herb is known to possess powerful health promoting properties for millennia. It has been a part of traditional remedies for healing in various countries since ages and even today Neem possesses a unique therapeutic value. Consumption of Neem capsules can not only help you bolster your immune system but can also solve many of your health related problems. Neem Capsules help in case of diabetes, acne, blood impurities, eczema, dermatitis, infections etc.Here's a list of five incredible benefits of Neem:Skin and hair: Neem prevents and cures acne and it also treats dry skin. It is an excellent remedy for skin problems like blackheads, large pores and whiteheads. Neem is also good for your hair as its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties can help treat dandruff and promotes hair growth.Blood purification: Neem detoxifies the blood removing the harmful toxins that disrupts functioning of vital parts like liver and kidney. So pop one or two Neem capsule a day and detoxify your blood from various impuritiesImmunity: Neem boosts the immune system helping the body's ability to fight all kinds of infections. It also helps regulate blood sugar levels and is very good for people suffering from diabetesOral health: Neem helps to prevent inflammation of gums. It also helps eliminate bacteria that causes cavity. Neem enhances the mouth immunity in general and also freshen the breath.Aid to digestive problems: The anti-inflammatory properties of Neem can help prevent stomach and intestinal problems. Neem helps remove discomfort and provide relief to suffering from stomach infections.
Nutritional supplements don't prevent depression: Study
New Delhi, Mar 06 (ANI): Daily intake of nutritional supplements does not prevent any major depressive episode, concluded a recent study. As part of the study, Over 1,000 participants who were overweight or had obesity and were identified as being at elevated risk for depression but who were not currently depressed, from four European countries -the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Germany and Spain, took part in the study. Participants were randomized to either take nutritional supplements containing folic acid, vitamin D, zinc, selenium or to a pill placebo, and half of participants also received a behavioural lifestyle intervention intended to change dietary behaviours and patterns."Daily intake of nutritional supplements over a year does not effectively prevent the onset of a major depressive episode in this sample. Nutritional supplements were not better than placebo. Therapeutic sessions aimed at making changes towards a healthy dietary behaviour did also not convincingly prevent depression", said study author Mariska Bot. Depression is a common disorder. One in ten men and one in five women suffer from clinical depression at least once during their lifetime. Depression is one of the most prevalent and disabling disorders in the EU. Given the increasing prevalence of depression, more people are actively searching for ways to decrease their risk through lifestyle modification. Behavioural therapy to encourage a healthy dietary behaviour and improve diet was not effective at preventing depression overall, there was some evidence during the research that it prevented depressive episodes in those participants who attended a recommended number of sessions. This may suggest the food behavioural therapy only works if the participants get sufficient exposure and are able to sufficiently improve their diet and dietary behaviour. Based on a large number of studies and careful analysis, researchers have come to three important conclusions at the end of their project. First, a healthy dietary pattern, typified by a Mediterranean style diet high in fruit, vegetables, whole grains, fish, pulses and olive oil, and low in red meat and full-fat dairy products, may reduce the risk of developing depression. Second, in people with obesity, weight loss can lead to a reduction in depressive symptoms. Third, current evidence does not support the use of nutritional supplements in order to prevent depression.
Smokers misunderstand health risks of smokeless tobacco products: Study
New Delhi, Mar 05 (ANI): Smokers often misunderstand health risks that come with consuming smokeless tobacco product, a recent study suggests. While smokeless tobacco products are addictive, contain cancer-causing chemicals and are linked with cardiovascular and certain cancer risks, products such as snus, a kind of smokeless tobacco, have comparatively fewer health risks than smoking when used exclusively. This product can also serve as harm-reduction alternatives for smokers unable or unwilling to completely quit tobacco. Published in the Journal of Addictive Behaviors, the study provides new research on what smokers think about snus. Snus -- a Swedish word for "snuff" -- is a moist powder tobacco that can be sold in a loose form or in small pre-packed pouches that users place under the top lip for about 30 minutes. It is typically spit free. The researchers reviewed how 256 smokers responded to questions about their perceived risk of developing lung cancer, heart disease and oral cancer from using snus versus cigarettes, and whether there were subgroups of smokers with similar patterns of beliefs. More than 75 per cent of the participants smoked daily and about 20 per cent had tried smokeless tobacco. The researchers found that smokers fell into three subgroups based on their beliefs. However, smokers who have not been successful in quitting or who do not want to quit tobacco entirely may be able to reduce their risks by learning about and switching to a product like snus, Wackowski said.
Older adults consuming high-fat diet at risk of heart disease, diabetes
New Delhi, Mar 04 (ANI): According to a recent study, elderly people, who consume a high-fat diet rich in Omega-6 fatty acids, could be at risk of developing health issues ranging from diabetes to heart failure. Ganesh Halade and colleagues investigated how aging and an obesity-generating omega 6-enriched diet impact microflora in the gut, the structure and function of the spleen, and a subsequent immune response to heart attack, using a mice model. The researchers reported that a calorie-dense, obesity-generating diet in ageing mice disrupted the composition of the gut microbiome, and that correlated with development of a system wide non resolving inflammation in acute heart failure, with disruptions of the immune cell profile. It is known that diet interacts with gut microbes to calibrate the body's immune defense capacity. The researchers examined this further, with regard to ageing and a high-fat diet. They found that the obesity-generating diet caused a sharp increase in bacteria belonging to the genus Allobaculum, phylum Firmicutes. The obesity-generating diet also increased the proportion of neutrophils in the blood of young mice. In aged mice, a similar increase in the proportion of neutrophils was found for both old mice fed a standard diet and old mice fed the obesity-generating diet.
Electronic cigarettes linked to gasping in adults
New Delhi, Mar03, (ANI): According to a recent study, electronic cigarette use (vaping) is associated with wheezing in adults. The study was published in the journal ‘Tobacco Control’. The study found that people who vaped were nearly twice are likely to experience wheezing compared to people who who didn’t regularly use tobacco products. Wheezing, which is caused by narrowed or abnormal airways, is often a precursor to other serious health conditions such as emphysema, gastro-esophageal reflux disease, heart failure, lung cancer and sleep apnea. Study author Deborah J. Ossip said that, “The changes we’re seeing with vaping, both in laboratory experiments and study of people who vape, are consistent with early signs of lung damage which is very worrisome.” Senior study author Irfan Rahman said that the research clearly identifies another health repercussion from vaping. With the emergence of small, sleek vaping devices that are used with nicotine pods in hundreds of different flavours researchers fear the number of young people who vape will continue to grow and that serious health consequences, including allergies, loss of immunity, and subsequent infections will follow. According to the report, in 2018 vaping increased by 78 percent among ninth to 12th graders and 48 percent in sixth to eighth graders.
Weekend sleep-in may ruin your waistline, says study
New Delhi, Mar 3 (ANI):- A new study now finds that sleeping in on weekends may not be such a good idea for a person's waistline or health. According to experts, even if one sleeps longer on weekends, if they continue to sleep poorly, they will still eat too much, and they will still gain weight, reported CNN. Speaking about it, study author Kenneth Wright Jr, said that the common behaviour of "sleeping in on the weekends doesn't correct the body's inability to regulate blood sugar if that weekend is followed by a workweek or school week full of insufficient sleep," adding, "And when we go back to getting too little sleep again.” The study, published Thursday in the journal Current Biology, assigned volunteers to three groups that had different sleep requirements over a total of 10 days. None of the participants had newborns in the home or any health impairments that would affect the quality of their sleep. The first group had the opportunity to sleep for nine hours each night for the 10 days. The second group was restricted to only five hours of sleep a night for the same duration, while the third was restricted to five hours Monday through Friday but allowed to sleep as long as they wanted on the weekend and go to bed as early as they liked on Sunday night. Short, insufficient sleep schedules will lead to an inability to regulate blood sugar and increases the risk of metabolic disease in the long term."
Wakefulness may predict if patients can breathe on their own: Study
New Delhi, Mar 01 (ANI): According to a recent study, patients who are critically ill are more likely to be successfully weaned from a ventilator or breathing machine if they have higher levels of wakefulness.“Patients under mechanical ventilation in intensive care units frequently suffer from severe sleep deprivation and, as a consequence, exhibit abnormal patterns of sleep or wakefulness, which explain in part the frequent development of delirium,” said Brochard, senior study author.As the research explains, critical patients who are using the mechanical ventilator would respond much better if and when, both their right and left brains experience the same depth of sleep and have higher levels of wakefulness. As for the patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) attached to the ventilator, which does save their life by letting the body rest and breathing for them can also cause lung damage, the risk of infections and various health problems which in need the patient to be weaned off from the breathing machine.The researchers found that the sleep-deprived patients produce brainwave patterns similar to being wakeful and despite being clinically awake they are not fully awake. The authors speculate that this pathological wakefulness is the flip side of sleep deprivation.
Here's what controls the tips of our chromosomes
New Delhi, Mar 1 (ANI): In a new, a research team from Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia (IGC; Portugal), led by Jose Escandell and Miguel Godinho Ferreira, discovered a key aspect of the regulation of telomeres - structures that appear at the tips of our chromosomes.They work as a protective cap that prevents genetic material from unfolding and corroding away. However, when they do not work properly, telomeres can lead to the total erosion of genetic material and can trigger cancer and age-related diseases.There is an increasing number of human syndromes attributed to telomeres malfunction. One such disease was recently identified as the result of a malfunction of a protein complex known as CST, which is responsible for maintaining telomeres.Deficiencies in this complex give rise to a telomeropathy known as Coats Plus. This syndrome is genetically inherited and characterised by abnormalities of the gastrointestinal system, bones, brain and other parts of the body.The work of the IGC researchers now unveils the regulation of the "S" component of that CST complex.The researchers discovered that STN1 (the protein that corresponds to the S component) is regulated by a chemical modification that results in the insertion of phosphorus in this protein, and it can be reversed by an enzyme, the phosphatase SSU72. In this way, it allows telomere duplication and telomerase regulation, which is the enzyme that elongates telomeres.The researchers also showed that this process is identical both in yeast and in human cells. This means that the regulation of the 'S' component has been conserved throughout evolution of species, which somehow reveals the importance of this process for the correct functioning of cells.This opens new avenues to the discovery of therapies capable of dealing with debilitating diseases associated to defects in telomeres. "The unanticipated role of this evolutionary conserved phosphatase is reminiscent of the regulation of the cell cycle by phosphatases that counteract the role of kinases, thus re-establishing the ground state of 'once and only once' cell cycle processes", said investigator Miguel Godinho Ferreira."With this work, we now understand better how telomere regulation works, a key process in cancer and ageing", says Jose Escandell, first author of the publication," Ferreira added. Telomeres structures that appear at the tips of our chromosomes work as a protective cap
Child anxiety could be major part in school absenteeism
New Delhi, Feb 28 (ANI): A new research now finds that anxiety can be a factor in poor school attendance among children and young people. The study, by the University of Exeter Medical School conducted a systematic review, which analysed all available evidence in the field. The study, published in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, increases our understanding of the link between anxiety and poor school attendance, particularly when unexcused. The team categorized school attendance into the following categories: absenteeism (i.e. total absences); excused/medical absences; unexcused absences/truancy; and school refusal, where the child struggles to attend school due to emotional distress, despite awareness from parents and teachers. Lots of things about school can trigger anxiety in children and it is important to realise that while we all get anxious about something, anxiety that is severe can have a major impact on children’s development. The researchers concluded that anxiety is highly treatable and there are effective treatments. It is also important to understand that anxiety can lead to impulses to avoid the thing that makes one anxious. Although this avoidance reduces anxiety in the short term, it makes it even harder to cope with the trigger next time and so makes the problem worse.
Being surrounded by greenery in childhood may improve mental health of adults
New Delhi (INDIA), Feb 28 (ANI):- A new study now finds that children who grow up with greener surroundings have up to 55 per cent less risk of developing various mental disorders later in life. The study, by Aarhus University, Denmark, emphasises the need for designing green and healthy cities for the future. With a majority of world population living in cities, WHO estimates, more than 450 million of the global human population suffer from mental disorders. Now, based on satellite data from 1985 to 2013, researchers from Aarhus University have mapped the presence of green space around the childhood homes of almost one million Danes and compared this data with the risk of developing one of 16 different mental disorders later in life. "With our dataset, we show that the risk of developing a mental disorder decreases incrementally the longer you have been surrounded by green space from birth and up to the age of 10. Green space throughout childhood is therefore extremely important," Kristine Engemann explained. The study published in American Journal PNAS, shows that children surrounded by the high amounts of green space in childhood have up to a 55 per cent lower risk of developing a mental disorder - even after adjusting for other known risk factors such as socio-economic status, urbanisation, and the family history of mental disorders. Speaking about it, lead author of the study, Kristine Engemann from said, "Our data is unique. We have had the opportunity to use a massive amount of data from Danish registers of, among other things, residential location and disease diagnoses and compare it with satellite images revealing the extent of green space surrounding each individual when growing up."
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