Daily Health News Blog

Depression has become one of the most widely increased diagnosed disorders in this country over the past few years. Things like the falling economy causing a decrease in personal finances, in addition to life’s daily stresses and worries have caused many Americans to become depressed. You may have seen the recently advertised television commercials offering depression testing. Depression not only saddens an individual’s state of mind, but also causes symptoms like fatigue, anxiety and loss of motivation, even in the simplest of daily activities. People who are depressed are not temporarily moody or sad. The condition is unfortunately, long-term and negatively affects the way a person feels, thinks and behaves. Depression is a genuine medical condition that can be treated, but the help has to be sought out. That in itself can often times be a difficult task for someone experiencing this ailment. A Depression Test is important because depression is a disease that requires attention and m

By Ed Mayhew Exercise  is the single most powerful tool we have to maximize our brain function. This is because of the extensive cascade of chemical compounds, including hormones, neurotransmitters and growth factors, that are unleashed in and into the brain when we get in a good workout. A bit of history to explain how we know this is in order. In the late twentieth century, scientists discovered a naturally-occurring compound in the brain and named it Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, or BDNF. They found that when brain cells resting comfortably in a petri dish were sprinkled with BDNF, they started growing -- sprouting dendrites like mad -- similar to what they do as part of our brain's mass when we are  learning  something new. Since then there have been thousands of research papers written about BDNF. In these myriad studies researchers have found that when this compound is activated, it acts to protect brain cells from deterioration, strengthens neural connections and even

Aging Gracefully By Mark Warrington By the end of 2009, almost 40 million people comprise the 65 and above age bracket of the US population. That is approximately 13% of the total US population. Conditions associated with this age group is fatigue, weakness, decrease in physical and mental health and increased depression and  anxiety . In most of these cases, the one common thread is a sedentary lifestyle. And the most proposed intervention is physical activity. Starting  exercise  at age 65 may be commendable but the person's general health condition should be thoroughly assessed before starting an  exercise  program. The changes we see in an older person are usually the effects of a sedentary lifestyle. That's not to say that exercise, or at least an active lifestyle will stop the hands of time completely. At the least, it will slow down the  aging  process.  Exercise  is not referred to as the fountain of youth for nothing. When you  exercise , you will glow, your hear