It’s normal to have moments of feeling down or stressed. Sometimes the reason is obvious. (You’re running late. Foul weather ruined a planned outing.) Other times, the culprit is a mystery. Either way, what you want is to turn the day around — fast.    The good news is that there are many simple things you can do in the moment to boost your mood. Not only will you feel better, your overall health will reap the benefits, too.   Finding meaningful ways to brighten your outlook

Tinnitus is the medical term for “ringing in the ears,” or the perception of sounds without an external noise or source of the sounds. According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, more than 50 million people in the United States have experienced tinnitus. If you have tinnitus, you may hear more than just ringing. People commonly report hearing sounds like : buzzing roaring clicking whistling hissing music whooshing throbbing Tinnitus is not a co

You fall asleep at an appropriate hour, giving yourself enough time to rest before a big day ahead — only to be jolted awake by racing thoughts: Was your friend secretly offended by your joke? Are your kids safe when they’re at school? Will international conflict and political division ever end? Will you lose your job to artificial intelligence? The more your mental hamster wheel turns, falling back to sleep seems further out of reach. “Waking up in the middle of the night wi

In a recent outdoor therapy session, a client shared what she noticed while walking on the trail. The way the light shimmers on the water, the tree branches swaying, the leaves rustling and how the trees are different from each other. She felt calm. Relief. Belonging. Awe, looking around at how “big” the world is. Her problems felt slightly smaller on the walk back. For many people, this time of year can be hard on your mental health. The sun sets earlier as the skies get clo

The holiday season brings festive parties, family reunions, and time-honored traditions. It also ushers in cookies, egg nog, and pumpkin pie. As special occasions fill the calendar, myths about how this time of year harms your health swirl in real-life conversations and online. A lot of the so-called conventional wisdom about how to get through November and December without tanking your health goals simply isn’t true. We talked to nutrition and fitness experts to learn more a

Increasing your steps by even a little bit may help slow down the progression of Alzheimer's disease among people at heightened risk, according to a new study. In a paper published in Nature Medicine , Mass General Brigham researchers found that physical activity was associated with slower rates of cognitive decline in older adults with elevated levels of amyloid-beta, a protein associated with Alzheimer's. Cognitive decline was delayed by three years on average for people wh

You're back in school and suddenly have to take a test, despite not having been present to learn any of the material. Your teeth are suddenly falling out. You run into an acquaintance you haven't seen in 20 years. You're suddenly falling from a high distance, or maybe even flying. Dreams are a concept that humans have been fascinated with deciphering for thousands of years. Experts are still working on determining exactly what causes them, but they have posited a number of th

A new study suggests that quitting smoking – even in middle age or beyond – can slow cognitive decline. While cognitive decline naturally occurs with aging, research suggests that smoking exacerbates it and may increase the risk of dementia. Previous research found that quitting smoking early in life may reduce these effects. Mikaela Bloomberg, an epidemiologist at the University College London and the lead author on the paper published this week, says those who break the hab

The effects of certain foods on the brain make it hard for some people to avoid them. Food addiction operates similarly to other addictions. People may find it difficult to manage their cravings for certain foods — no matter how hard they try. Despite not wanting to, they may repeatedly find themselves eating large amounts of food — knowing that doing so may cause harm. This article examines food addiction and provides tips to overcome it. What is food addiction? Food addicti

A Nap a Day? Napping isn’t just for babies. Studies show that an afternoon nap is great for adults, too. There’s no need to feel lazy for indulging in daytime sleep. A short nap in the mid-afternoon can boost memory, improve job performance, lift your mood, make you more alert, and ease stress. Cozy up to these nap benefits. It Can Improve Your Memory Studies have shown that sleep plays an important role in storing memories. A nap can help you remember things learned earlier

1. Eat less added sugar A 2021 review of studies found that a diet high in saturated fat and added sugar may impair the function of the...

Brain-training exercises can improve your cognitive skills, including working memory, verbal memory, and global functioning. Challenging...

A Drink Will Help You Sleep Myth. Insomnia -- chronic trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep -- can leave you desperate for a good...

As we age, managing stress becomes increasingly important for maintaining overall health and wellbeing. Chronic stress can take a toll on...

Cholesterol is a type of fat that is essential for many functions in the body, including the brain. The relationship between cholesterol...

In early 2020,  COVID-19  brought an end to my workouts at the gym. I was self-employed and recently widowed, and my new normal felt like...

Artificial sweeteners have long been marketed as a healthier alternative to sugar, but new research suggests they may not be so harmless...

Learning doesn’t stop when we leave school — nor should it. In fact, adopting a student mindset throughout life can offer big rewards,...

“Brain games” have become a popular way to stay sharp as you age. Whether it’s a daily crossword, a book of Sudoku puzzles, or a virtual...

What Is a Stroke? A stroke is a medical emergency. It happens when a blood vessel in the brain bursts or, more commonly, when a blockage...

Hypertension (high blood pressure) occurs when the blood pressure against your arteries is regularly too high, above 130/80 millimeters...

The reality of life is that everyone deals with stress at some point. You may experience brief moments of high stress like when you are...

Whether you stir them into yogurt, sprinkle them on cereal or just pop them in your mouth one by one, blueberries are a tasty fruit with...

“Brain fog” may not be an official medical diagnosis, but it’s well known to many older adults. Much like literal fog, brain fog is hard...

Be honest, how often do you wake up and look at your phone first thing in the morning? It's become the norm to wake up and start the day...

While there are a few risk factors for dementia that you can’t control — like age and family history — a growing body of research shows...

Ever misplace your keys or zone out during a crucial meeting? We all experience forgetfulness from time to time; it’s a common issue,...

High blood pressure is incredibly common, affecting nearly half of U.S. adults. Certain medications—thankfully—can help people manage...

Gardening is one of the healthiest hobbies you can develop. It helps support your mental health and physical health! But there’s more to...

Cleanses Cleanses, sometimes called detoxes, involve fasting, drinking or eating only certain foods or drinks, or taking supplements or...

If you find yourself sleepy during your daily activities in your older age, you may need to consider it more than an inconvenience —...

Cleanses Cleanses, sometimes called detoxes, involve fasting, drinking or eating only certain foods or drinks, or taking supplements or...

The brain is involved in everything we do, and, like any other part of the body, it needs to be cared for too. Research has shown that...

There’s been a lot of chatter over the last few years on how to keep your brain sharp as you age. While plenty of people rely on things...

Going too far with a diet might have serious impacts on your mental health. Cutting your calories down too far could be linked with worse...

Though a lot of us think of anger as a limiting or mostly negative emotion, there are times it can be useful. "Anger can be helpful when...

When jolted awake by the blare of an alarm clock , it’s tempting to reach for the snooze button to catch a bit more shut-eye. In my case,...

Don’t get too comfortable in your chair. Sitting for too long during the day can compromise your health and shorten your lifespan.  A...

It May Help You Pay Attention Have you checked your individual alpha peak frequency (iAPF) lately? Probably not, unless your doctor...

Eating With Sleep in Mind If you’re tired of being tired, better nutrition before bed could lead to better sleep. “You don’t need...

Eating about a dozen servings of ultraprocessed food each day could more than double your risk of developing Parkinson’s disease,...

If you heard that Girl Scout cookies are toxic, that mRNA vaccines can harm you, or that immigrants are spreading tuberculosis in the...

Want to improve your chances for a good night’s sleep? This idea could actually knock your socks on, says behavioral sleep disorders...

Over the past few years, experts have been sounding the alarm over how much time Americans spend alone. Statistics show that we’re...

Atrial fibrillation is one of the most common forms of irregular or atypical heart rate, otherwise known as a heart arrhythmia. When you...

The science around cholesterol can definitely seem opaque—if you’ve ever been confused about which foods increase cholesterol, what...

“Stress is bad for your health” is one message we consistently hear. And it’s true: stress can be detrimental, and lead to a whole host...

When Dr. Luc Beaudoin was an undergraduate student nearly 40 years ago, he often had trouble falling asleep on Sunday nights and was...

Those of us who remember preschool days perhaps recall a routine of afternoon naps. A busy morning of activity would be followed by lunch...

Max Genecov is a doctoral candidate in clinical psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, a dad, and a stuffed animal owner. “I’ve...