19.08.2010
Lifestyle Coaching: Changing Your Path, Pain Management: Controlling Your Life, Stress Management: Maintaining Balance
An intriguing article discusses a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine that indicates the practice of Tai Chi may improve symptoms of Fibromyalgia (a global pain condition that may include significant symptoms of fatigue).
According to the article, 66 people with Fibromyalgia were divided into two groups. One group did hour-long sessions of Tai Chi twice a week for 12 weeks while the other had twice-weekly wellness education classes followed by gentle stretching.
The Tai Chi group experienced “decreased pain and increased ability to do daily tasks without pain; less fatigue, depression and anxiety; and an overall better quality of life. Furthermore, they reported better sleep quality and improved physical conditioning.”
Although the article stated that the study had no definitive answer as to exactly how Tai Chi had generated these improvements, principle investigator Chenchen Wang, M.D., an associate professor of medicine at Tufts Medical Center, Boston noted, “the physical component of Tai Chi can improve aerobic capacity, strength and muscle function. But in my opinion, the most important part is mental. You see lots of patients improve their depression and become good friends with each other.”
These results are very promising and yet another indication of the value of non-pharmacological techniques and practices to help increase well-being and quality of life.
Article available at: http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=642242
Study abstract available at: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa0912611
Dr. Schwartz
San Diego Psychologist
www.integrative-health.net
29.04.2010
The Darkness of Depression, The Wounded Heart: Heart Disease and You
A recent news release from the American Physiological Society indicates that people taking a certain type of anti-depressant called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) [for example, Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro, Celexa] may actually have a second benefit of reducing potential heart problems.
According to the article, the researchers noted that the medication “may help protect cardiovascular health by slowing the clumping of blood platelets, thus reducing the risk of hardening of the arteries and blood clots that can cause heart attack and stroke.”
Article available at: http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=638424
Dr. Schwartz
San Diego Psychologist
www.integrative-health.net
01.03.2010
The Darkness of Depression, The Heaviness of Weight Management
In a Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) multi-study, researchers found a significant link between obesity and depression. “We found bidirectional associations between depression and obesity: obese persons had a 55 percent increased risk of developing depression over time, whereas depressed persons had a 58 percent increased risk of becoming obese.” Available at: http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=636477
Dr. Schwartz
San Diego Psychologist
www.integrative-health.net
23.02.2010
The War with Cancer
An intriguing Saint Louis University study indicates that Bitter Melon may potentially be helpful in the fight against breast cancer. One of the researchers noted, “The bitter melon extract killed only the cancer cells, not the healthy breast cells.” Although it’s just a preliminary study and hasn’t been human tested yet, it’s good to see research like this. Available at: http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=636317
Dr. Schwartz
San Diego Psychologist
www.integrative-health.net
22.02.2010
The Darkness of Depression
A Columbia University study shows that happiness can potentially reduce the risk of heart problems. The authors found, “For every point on the happiness scale, people were 22 percent less likely to have a heart problem.” As reported by the San Diego Union Tribune. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/feb/18/happiness-helps-when-it-comes-to-the-heart/
Dr. Schwartz
San Diego Psychologist
www.integrative-health.net
18.02.2010
Headaches: A Big Pain in the Neck
An interesting research based article discussing overall negative effects for migraine sufferers that go beyond pain. This includes factors ranging from increased depression to job disability to increased risk of diabetes. http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=636117
Dr. Schwartz
San Diego Psychologist
www.integrative-health.net
05.02.2010
The Darkness of Depression
A Columbia University shows that untreated mild depression can grow into much more. Remember, be aware of your symptoms, talk to your health care provider, and stop depression from taking over. The article is available at http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=635574 Let me know if you have any questions.
Dr. Schwartz
San Diego Psychologist
www.integrative-health.net
21.01.2010
The Darkness of Depression
Well, as it has been windy and pouring rain here in San Diego, CA I’ve been thinking about mood and weather. How does weather affect our well-being? Do you find that you’re tired during a rainy day? How is your mood during the winter vs the summer? What do you think about S.A.D [Seasonal Affective Disorder]. Now, just to get you thinking…I thought of a couple articles/abstracts for you regarding this concept:
(1) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16137259?itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum&ordinalpos=3
(2) http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=93481
Dr. Schwartz
San Diego Psychologist
www.integrative-health.net
13.01.2010
The Darkness of Depression
Depression is a mental health condition which involves negative, lethargic, and self-loathing thoughts, behaviors, and emotions that may significantly interfere with everyday functioning. Approximately 20 million people in the U.S. have symptoms of depression.
13.01.2010
What is Biofeedback?
Biofeedback is one of many tools that Dr. Schwartz utilizes to treat health conditions and improve quality of life. It is a very basic, yet extremely effective physiological monitoring tool. It is a non-invasive “treatment” in which patients are connected to a computer via electrodes to obtain information such as temperature, sweat gland activity, muscle tension, breathing, and heart functioning [NOT for treating or diagnosing heart conditions]. These measurements represent common physiological reactions to anxiety, stress, chronic pain and discomfort; even depression and trauma. This data is then “fed back” to the individual via information displayed on a computer monitor. This information can be monitored while performing relaxation exercises, hypnotherapy sessions, during psychotherapy, etc; thus making it an outstanding learning and awareness tool.
13.01.2010
Services Posts
Depression is a mental health condition which involves negative, lethargic, and self-loathing thoughts, behaviors, and emotions that may significantly interfere with everyday functioning. Approximately 20 million people in the U.S. have symptoms of depression.
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13.01.2010
Services Posts
Stress can be summarized as one word: Strain. As noted above, it can be Mechanical, as in force or load on a system (pounds per square inch (PSI); Physiological, as in a reaction by an organism to a stimulus that destabilizes the balance of the physical functioning of that organism; or Emotional or Cognitive strain, such as a person reacting with anxiety, fear, or other emotional or cognitive distress to a situation he or she is in.
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