Bedtime TV Severely Affecting Kids' Sleep

Do you find yourself struggling to get your child to sleep? Bedtime can be the most difficult time of the day for parents.

Besides the over-stimulation that watching television can cause, the type of programming can also make falling asleep difficult.

 A recent study has established that kids who watch more television sleep for a smaller duration of the night — nearly seven fewer minutes of sleep.

Read More ...  Bedtime TV Severely Affecting Kids' Sleep

Movember Madness

The moustache movement is raising awareness for prostate and testicular cancer research, and mental health. 

From Fuzz to Buzz —

The fuzz behind Movember stimulates conversations among families, friends, and co-workers — even complete strangers. These significant exchanges ultimately educate individuals on the health issues men face.

Read the entire story -- Movember Madness — Cancer Awareness

Workplace Mobbing and Mental Health

Many leave high school with a deep sigh of relief: Finally the days of bullying are long gone!

Little do some people know that school bullies can be replaced with cubicle bullies-- in a new type of workplace bullying, known as mobbing.

The principle characteristic of mobbing is performed by a group of employees targeting another employee.

Whether deliberate or consciously co-ordinated, mobbing at work is difficult to detect and harder to prevent and has a wide range of mental and psychological ramifications.  

Read full article here: Impact of Workplace Mobbing on Mental Health

Image source: bmas.de

Brain Scans Can Prevent and Predict Crime

Unfortunately, nowhere in the world is safe from bad people making wrong decisions. Criminal activity tends to climb every year at alarming rates.

Police and government authorities are failing to keep us safe in our own home, more scientists and researchers are trying to find ways to predict crime and, hopefully, prevent it from happening. A new study finds first evidence that brain scans might be used to predict the people who will commit a crime.

Scientists discovered an activity in a region called the anterior cingulate cortex that can help determine not only which persons were most likely to commit a criminal offense, but also how long it would take before this person breaks the law.

According to Psychology Today, a study conducted by postdoctoral scientist Eyal Aharoni, working at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque who worked with cognitive scientist Michael Gazzaniga and Kent Kiehl, a leading expert on architectural changes in the brain that may underlie psychopathic behavior (he also grew up near Ted Bundy).

The study examined ninety-six male prisoners who completed an MRI scan before they were released from prison on probation.

Read more about the study findings here: Can We Predict Crime Using Brain Scans?

Effects of Sexting on Teens Mental Health

Many kids and teens today have their mobile phones, tablet devices at their disposal to use for social, family and other purposes. Mobile phones are equipped to send/receive phone calls, text messages and multimedia data.

One of the highly prevalent phenomena among teens today is Sexting.

Teens who send explicit pictures or text messages are more likely to engage in sexual activity, raising their risks for sexually transmitted diseases.  

The alarming trend requires patent’s attention and awareness. The real issues can emerge when the parties involved in sexting are under 18 and when youngsters get peer pressured into sexting or when sexts go viral.

Learn how to educate yourself about social networking websites and to monitor your child’s communication on blogs and in chat rooms: Teen Sexting and Mental Health Effects

Reasons to Make Sleep a Priority This Year

Everybody's talking about New Year's resolutions, but we have one for you that can help you lose weight, have better sex, make you look younger, and improve your overall health.

What is it, you ask? Sleep more.

This is a resolution that's definitely easier said than done, especially due to our hectic schedules, but experts agree that getting a good night's rest on a regular basis is essential if you want to look and feel your best.

According to a recent article by The Huffington Post, sleep affects just about every aspect of your life, and this impact can be both positive and negative depending on the amount and quality of sleep you receive each night.

Here are 4 good reasons to make sleep a priority this year:

1. More sleep means a better sex life.
2. Better sleep can lower your risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and kidney failure.
3. Good quality sleep helps to prevent diabetes and obesity.
4. Resolving sleep disorders may help prevent or improve mental illness.

To learn more, read the full article: This Year, Sleep Your Way to Better Health

What Your Friends Reveal About Your Health

In life, there aren't many things we can control, but we can choose our friends, and a new study suggests this affects much more than our social lives.

Having good quality friendships has a major impact on physical and mental health, even more so than family relationships.

A new study shows that even online friendships can affect a person's overall health, and might even help them reach their personal goals of quitting smoking or losing weight.

This is especially true for those struggling with obesity. The study shows that online support helps people to follow diet and exercise plans better than real life friends can.

The author of the study, Damon Centola, wrote, "Our findings suggest that obese individuals may be more dependent than healthier individuals on the compositions of their social networks for making decisions about adopting health behaviors."

To learn more, read the full article: The Curious Connection Between Friendship and Health

7-Year-Old Girl Gets Gift of Liposuction for the Holidays

Poppy Burge, with her mother, Sarah Burge (aka "The Human Barbie")

While most kids spent the holidays unwrapping toys and games, Poppy Burge received quite the grown-up gift from her mother: plastic surgery.

In her stocking, Poppy found a voucher for liposuction, something her mother saw as an "investment for the future".

Ms. Burge told the Daily Mail, “I put the voucher in her stocking – there’s nothing wrong with that. She asks for surgery all the time. She wants to look good and lipo is one of those procedures that will always come in handy. I see these vouchers as investing in her future – like saving money for her education.”

Except, giving a 7-year-old girl plastic surgery for Christmas is NOTHING like saving up for her college education. Actually, it's more like the exact opposite.

This shocking story has sparked debate among pediatricians and psychologists about how young girls and boys today are growing up way too fast.

But who is the blame for this monster that's been created? Is it the media? The fashion industry? Or parents, like Ms. Burge, who truly believes she's doing a service to her young, impressionable daughter.


She told the Daily Mail, “Some people think it's controversial and I get angry when strangers say I'm a bad mother because I don't think there's any harm in giving her this gift. Poppy is a normal kid who is good at sports and loves playing outside. Girls don’t want Snow White and Cinderella anymore. They want to be WAGs [ a term for wives and girlfriends of famous footballers] and famous like Cheryl Cole and Lady Gaga. I’m just supporting her and making her dreams come true. Looks are a big part of how our futures pan out – there shouldn’t be a stigma around wanting to look good.”

To learn more, read the full article: Plastic Surgery...for a 7-Year-Old?

How Will You Get Healthy in 2012?

The holidays are officially over, which means it's time to make New Year's resolutions!

Although many people dread this long-standing tradition, New Year's resolutions are a great way to work towards becoming a better person. Whether your goal is to quit smoking, eat healthier, or help others, making that promise to yourself is an important first step.

So what are the most popular New Year's resolutions of 2012?

For Americans especially, this year is all about getting healthy. From joining a gym, to cooking healthier meals, adults and kids alike are beginning to take responsibility for their health and well-being. Businesses are recognizing this change as well, and soon fitness centers all over the United States will be fully equipped to get your body, mind and spirit in tip-top shape. Instead of just a physical workout, gyms are following the trend of well-rounded health, and employing mental health doctors, nutrition specialists, lifestyle coaches and more to help clients get back into gear.

Schools and other businesses are also jumping aboard the health train, offering more time to move and exercise, along with healthier food options to make weight loss that much easier.

If all of that isn't enough to keep you motivated this year, social media is also on a health kick, with many networking sites and applications specially designed to keep your health on track.

To learn more about the health trends of 2012, read the full article: Health Trends to Watch in 2012

The Holidays: A Time for Family, Celebration...and Stress

Remember the holidays as a child? This time of year was filled with hope, excitement, presents and delicious sweets.

Unfortunately, the holiday season just isn't the same as an adult.

According to a recent study, instead of embracing the joy of the season, many American adults dread it, claiming it's in fact the most stressful time of the year.

Between stressful shopping excursions, financial strain, the pressure to eat fattening foods and stress-filled family gatherings, the sources of stress and anxiety seem infinite when it comes to the holiday season.

"This commercial overindulgence wears on most of us," stated Tod Marks, senior editor of Consumer Reports. "The long season appears to sour the Tiny Tim in all of us."

But when does a little stress turn into a major mental health problem? And what can you do to curb stressful situations this holiday season and make a little more room for enjoyment?

To learn more, read the full article: Stress and Anxiety - A Common Holiday Fear 

What Type of Snorer are You?

Snoring is becoming a more talked about health issue recently, especially due to the rising number of sleep apnea cases worldwide.

This sleep disorder is very serious, although not all types of snoring are associated with sleep apnea.

Snoring is both a nuisance (causing strain on relationships, and pure exhaustion) and a legitimate health condition that can lead to heart disease, dementia, and stroke if not addressed by a medical professional.

To get to the bottom of your (or your partner's) snoring problems, experts suggest figuring out the cause of the snoring. This can be a result of excess weight, bad habits such as smoking and drinking, or an underlying health condition. Different types of snorers come with different causes, and each variety of snoring has its own unique treatment plan, which involves everything from at-home remedies to surgery.

To learn more, read the full article here: Getting to the Source of Snoring and Sleep Apnea 

More Couples Having Plastic Surgery...Together!

Want to ignite a spark in your marriage?

More couples are doing this in surprising ways, including through plastic surgery.

Cosmetic procedures like Botox, dermal fillers, laser therapy, nose surgery, and eyelid lift surgery are becoming more popular amongst aging couples that hope to rejuvenate their appearances and their relationships.

Many patients have described the experience as a total bonding experience with their partners.

Carla Lundblade, a patient who underwent a total body makeover alongside her husband Rick confessed to the Los Angeles Times, “I can’t tell you what a difference it’s made to Rick and me, intimately. We feel like teenagers in love again.”

It's obvious to see where this would benefit couples. A better appearance means a more attractive spouse, and together, couples can feel younger again.

Would you consider undergoing cosmetic procedures with your significant other?

To learn more, read the full article: Could Couples Benefit from Cosmetic Surgery?

Man Transforms Himself into a Real Life Superman

Herbert Chavez's obsession with a certain super hero goes above and beyond the average person's admiration.

Chavez idolizes Superman so much that he's spent the past 15 years on plastic surgery procedures to transform his face, body and skin into a Man of Steel wannabe.

He said, “I decided to look like Superman, because since I was a kid, I want to be like him, and I know that having a look like Superman will make me happy and contented as long as I don’t hurt anyone.”

Chavez is confirmed to have undergone plastic surgery procedures in the Philippines, including Rhinoplasty (for Superman's sleek nose), lip augmentation, thigh implants, and chin augmentation (for his iconic cleft chin).

He is also rumored to have also had eyelid surgery, skin-lightening treatments, cheek implants, and jaw enlargement, although Chavez himself hasn't admitted to it.

By the looks of the photograph, it's clear that he's had a heck of a lot of work done. 

His obsession with plastic surgery, however, doesn't seem so bizarre to plastic surgeons, who face patients with Body Dysmorphic Disorder on a daily basis.

Experts believe that his mental illness has caused him to go to such extreme measures in order to look like his favorite super hero...

To learn more, read the full article: Superman Obsession Inspires Plastic Surgery Transformation

PTSD Support Needed for Cancer Survivors

A new survey shows that four out of ten cancer survivors experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 10 years after cancer diagnosis.

The study points out that even though these patients have physically beaten cancer, the fear and anxiety  associated with the disease lingers long after it's gone.

Common symptoms included edginess, troubling thoughts and being emotionally numb towards friends and family.

The results reported that one in ten patients avoided thinking about their cancer, while one in 20 kept away from situations and activities that brought back memories of their cancer experience.

This worries cancer care professionals, mainly because these symptoms could cause patients to avoid treatment, resulting in physical and mental health issues later on.

Researchers say that more support and mental health resources are needed to help cancer survivors recover completely, to improve their overall quality of life.

To learn more, read the full article: Many Cancer Survivors Struck with Symptoms of PTSD

Psychological Support Helps Weight Loss Surgery Patients Succeed

Many people don't realize that weight loss surgery is much more than a physical thing.

There are a lot of psychological issues that go hand-in-hand with obesity and bariatric surgery recovery.

Many weight loss surgery patients seek help because of an unhealthy relationship with food, which often stems from a mental health issue.

Most weight loss surgery clinics require a full psychiatric evaluation prior to undergoing gastric bypass or gastric band (lap band) surgery. This way, they can work out their issues with food beforehand and go into surgery with a positive mind; which makes recovery much more successful in the long run.

To learn more, read the full article: Support is Essential for Weight Loss Surgery Patients

Body Dysmorphic Disorder and Plastic Surgery

In a recent NPR and CNN report, Dr. Anthony Youn, a board certified plastic surgeon, exposes the dark side of plastic surgery.

He doesn't want to talk about scarring or botched jobs however, but an issue that goes more than just skin deep.

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a psychological condition that causes people to have a skewed view of themselves. They often go to great measures to look "perfect", and usually are never satisfied.

The occurrence of BDD in plastic surgery patients isn't really surprising at all. About 20 to 30% of patients exhibit some symptoms of BDD, but plastic surgeons weren't really talking about it until now.

Recognizing BDD is important for a patient's health and well-being, and it can also protect plastic surgeons as well. Dr. Youn actually turns down one out of every five cosmetic surgery patients for this reason alone, mainly because no matter how good the surgery is, the patient will never be happy with the result.

If you or someone you know if suffering from BDD, it's important to seek psychological counseling, because changing your insides (contrary to popular belief) is the only effective way for a person to feel truly good about themselves.

To learn more, read the full article: Mirror, Mirror - Body Dysmorphic Disorder and Plastic Surgery