Recently, a report with recommendations of a working group of the National Cancer Institute was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The report advocates changing the definition of cancer and eliminating the word from medical diagnoses in cases where it is deemed unwarranted resulting in over-diagnosis and over-treatment to the detriment of
Only two countries permit the direct advertisement of pharmaceutical drugs to consumers. Can you guess which ones? These advertisements invariably list side-effects. Ingrid Peschke, health blogger in Massachusetts, writes in The MetroWest Daily News about side-effects, placebos, and a pre-med student who found a non-pharmacological approach to health without side-effects. An interesting read: A Prescription For Health Without Side-Effects.
“When showering, don’t just think about keeping externally clean. Look within. Exfoliate dead-end thinking. Cleanse away any build up of disappointment or resentment. Allow calming, comforting, reassuring, and peace-encouraging ideas to flow into thinking.” This intriguing approach comes from Health Blogger Beverly Goldsmith of Melbourne, Australia, who examines how “detoxing your thought could lead to
What helps us live a long and healthy life? It’s not money and it’s not a pill. It seems rather simple, really – intuitive almost. Here are two articles that share lessons from people in Japan: 1. 10 Tips For a Healthy Life From The World’s Oldest Person Jiroemon Kimura, who lived in a village in
On the East Bay in Traverse City, Michigan
Friday marks the official start of summer, and for many, summer is vacation time.
Research has found that vacations are beneficial for health and well-being, at least in the short run.
For example, one study¹ looked at fifty-three employees and measured physical complaints and the quality of sleep and mood both 10 days before and 3 days after vacations. These measures all improved. And then, again, five weeks after vacations, the employees still reported fewer physical complaints. The study concluded that vacations may improve well-being on a short-term basis.
Perhaps not surprisingly, though, it depends on the nature of the vacation. For example, other studies² have found that:
(Glowimages.com/stock photo — model used for illustrative purposes only)
Think thought doesn’t matter when it comes to health? Consider the following two articles that look at how thought affects our health – both of which address all of the following:
(©Glowimages/Stock photo; Models used for illustrative purposes only)
Images of the category EF-5 tornado that went through portions of Oklahoma on Monday and the trail of destruction it left behind can be disturbing to watch. And, as in the case of other recent tragedies, such as hurricane Sandy, the Newtown massacre and the Boston Marathon bombing, our hearts yearn for everyone involved to find comfort and peace, along with any needed provisions.
Perhaps we recognize familiar sentiments from these words of the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah when he wrote in the book of Lamentations¹ about devastation:
My mother – through her example and her actions – instilled in me a recognition of the value of spirituality as it relates both to health and to everyday life. She didn’t push spirituality at others, she quietly lived it – in patience, caring, tolerance, and in a daily practice of Scripture reading and prayer.
(©Glowimages/Stock photo – models used for illustrative purposes)
The Michigan Legislature passed a resolution recognizing National Nurses Week – May 6-12 – here in Michigan. It points out that the “146,488 nurses in Michigan comprise the largest group of health care professionals in the state.” And it calls on the residents of Michigan to honor our nurses and appreciate their efforts to improve the health of our state.
I’d especially like to honor the recognition by most nurses of the value of spirituality and spiritual care in nursing.
Here are some examples in which this is evident:
Treating the whole person
In 2007 Malkia Newman was appointed to the board of the Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority and she now chairs this board. Speaking at last month’s Public Services Committee meeting, she shared her insights from being the only person ever to be treated by the program and, then, to become its board chair. “Having received the treatment, having received the education, because education and treatment go hand in hand – you can’t just throw medicine at a problem, you have to treat the whole person.”