Before and after getting serious: how commitment physically changes your body and brain
Commitment changes people. That much has always been understood intuitively. What science is now revealing is that it changes them biologically, at the level of hormones, immune function, brain architecture, and cardiovascular health, in ways that are both measurable and significant. The before and after picture of entering a serious committed relationship is not just […]
Stress management has 4 proven blood pressure benefits that most patients never hear about
Stress management sits in an uncomfortable middle ground in hypertension treatment conversations. Every doctor knows that stress contributes to high blood pressure. Most patients are told to reduce stress in roughly the same breath as they are handed a prescription, with approximately the same level of clinical specificity as being told to eat better and […]
4 effective stress strategies that lower blood pressure
Most people with high blood pressure have heard some version of the same advice: take the medication, cut the salt, exercise more, and try to reduce stress. That last instruction tends to arrive without much explanation more of an afterthought than a treatment plan. New clinical research is changing that, and the findings are specific […]
Morning exercise beats afternoon training in 4 ways and the science finally proves it
Morning exercise is the fitness habit that divides people with an efficiency that few other health topics match. Those who do it tend to describe it with an evangelical enthusiasm that non-morning people find both impressive and mildly irritating. Those who do not do it cite every reasonable objection available, including the existence of beds, […]
Stress relief strategies that take five minutes or less
Managing stress well over the long term involves sleep, exercise, and consistent mental health practices. But not every stressful moment comes with space for any of those things. Research supports a range of faster interventions, some physical, some behavioral, that can lower heart rate, reduce cortisol, and shift the nervous system away from an anxious […]
Libido loss affects 4 in 10 adults and these 5 clinical causes are the real explanation
Libido loss is the sexual health conversation that most adults are having with themselves rather than their doctors. The script tends to go something like this: things have changed, it is probably stress, it will probably improve when life calms down, and since life shows no particular sign of calming down, the conversation gets deferred […]
Stress is unavoidable but these evidence-backed strategies actually make it manageable
From breathing techniques to therapy, evidence-based strategies can significantly reduce how often stress strikes and how deeply it takes hold. Stress is one of the few experiences that cuts across every age group, background and lifestyle. Most people are familiar with the racing thoughts before a high-stakes deadline, the tightness in the shoulders during a […]
Nature therapy is now clinically proven to treat anxiety in 5 powerful documented ways
Nature therapy, sometimes called ecotherapy or forest bathing depending on the cultural tradition it draws from, has spent years in the uncomfortable position of being simultaneously obvious and undersupported. Of course spending time outside makes people feel better. Anyone who has taken a walk in a park after a difficult day has their own empirical […]
Understanding exercise-induced panic attacks: Causes, symptoms and solutions
There’s nothing quite like the exhilaration of a good run, where the endorphins make you feel unstoppable. However, for some, this workout high can quickly turn into a feeling of intense anxiety, leading to disorienting symptoms such as heart palpitations, dizziness and overwhelming dread. This phenomenon, known as exercise-induced panic attacks, can be debilitating and […]