Today: July 06, 2024
Today: July 06, 2024

Latest From Nahal Garakani

Health|WrittenByLAPost

How Amy Schumer's Cushing's revelation highlights the significance and dangers of cortisol

When comedian Amy Schumer shared her Cushing’s syndrome diagnosis, she put the spotlight on this little-known disorder caused by too much “stress hormone.” Cortisol is supposed to help our bodies deal with stress, but when levels stay high for too long, big problems start. Symptoms like sudden weight gain, mood swings, weak muscles and more can take over your life. Schumer even said the constant cortisol made her feel like “a different person.” Cushing’s is complex, confusing and nothing to joke about. While Schumer’s candid admission has raised public awareness, it has also fueled anxiety and uncertainty surrounding cortisol balance

How Amy Schumer's Cushing's revelation highlights the significance and dangers of cortisol
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When does "main character energy" cross the line from self-love into self-absorption?

Strolling along Melrose Avenue with a cappuccino in hand, you notice your reflection in a boutique window and can’t help but appreciate how great you look today. People call it “main character energy” – when someone carries themselves as the protagonist of their own story. Experts say this self-affirming perspective can be healthy and help prioritize self-care as long as it’s not taken too far. “When you think of movies and the main character, that’s the person you’re following, that’s the person you’re rooting for,” says Raquel Martin, a licensed clinical psychologist in Los Angeles. “I see it the same

When does "main character energy" cross the line from self-love into self-absorption?
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The conservative argument against no-fault divorce

Even though no-fault divorce has been legal for over 50 years, many conservatives still argue against it. They think ending a marriage without blaming someone goes against family values. Some even want current no-fault divorce laws repealed. But supporters say no-fault divorce gives people more freedom and fairness. They warn that limiting it could lead to real harms. This big split shows a divide between different worldviews in America — those who think morals are relative and those who see moral truth as universal. When California legalized no-fault divorce in 1969, it began a nationwide shift in how the law views

The conservative argument against no-fault divorce
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Ditch dull strolls and say hello to rucking

Rucking, which comes from the military word “ruck marching,” is just walking while carrying something heavy on your back, and it is the newest exercise trend taking the internet by storm.This one-of-a-kind full-body workout used to be mostly done by military trainees during intense training, but it’s becoming more and more popular because it burns a lot of calories while lowering the risk of injury.   As former Navy SEAL Stew Smith shared, weighted walking has become a routine sight even on suburban streets. He frequently spots neighbors lugging small loads in their backpacks, likely unaware that they are taking part

Ditch dull strolls and say hello to rucking
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Autism's skyrocketing suicide risk in California

Autism makes it difficult for individuals to communicate, express emotions, and perform the same actions repeatedly, and this condition is becoming more prevalent among children. What is occurring, and how can scientists assist these children and their families? A new study says that autism affects approximately 4% of males and 1% of girls aged 8, according to the study. Twenty years ago, the prevalence was below 1 in 100 children. By 2018, the proportion had surpassed 2 in 100. There are different numbers of autism in different parts of the United States. Some places have a lot more kids with

Autism's skyrocketing suicide risk in California
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Losing your mind early? It could be dementia 

At just 59 years old, talk show host Wendy Williams has been diagnosed with early-onset dementia, and because of her public battle, people are now more aware of this mental illness that can happen midlife. Williams first found fame with her nationally syndicated “Wendy Williams Show,” known for piping hot celebrity gossip. But last year, fans grew concerned as she seemed to slur her speech on air or stare blankly at cue cards. This February, through her spokesperson, Williams revealed doctors diagnosed her last summer with Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD).   FTD ravages brain parts responsible for personality, behavior, and language. What

Losing your mind early? It could be dementia 
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FAA blasted over "outdated" pilot mental health rules

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is facing renewed scrutiny over its pilots’ mental health policies. This comes after an off-duty Alaska Airlines captain allegedly tried to crash a commercial flight, later telling police he was depressed. The incident has reignited calls for the FAA to reform its stringent medical certification process that deters pilots from seeking mental health treatment over fears it could ground them.   Critics argue the FAA’s antiquated approach perpetuates a culture of shame and silence around pilots’ mental health issues. They say the agency’s blunt messaging and threat of revoked licenses cause many to avoid treatment altogether.

FAA blasted over "outdated" pilot mental health rules
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Breadcrumbing: The dating trend that leaves you starving for more affection

The damaging dating phenomenon labeled as “toxic breadcrumbing” leaves individuals struggling between optimism and despair. Breadcrumbing involves pretending to be romantically interested by sporadically offering attention that ultimately leads to nothing substantial. This manipulative conduct compels targets to fixate on someone incapable of making a genuine commitment. While breadcrumbing can happen in other contexts, it most commonly occurs in modern dating, where technology makes offering fleeting spurts of affection easy. The psychology behind why it works involves “intermittent reinforcement.” You keep trying for more when rewards come randomly, like from a slot machine.  Breadcrumbing takes an insidious emotional toll. Targets

Breadcrumbing: The dating trend that leaves you starving for more affection
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Out of sight, out of mind? Revealing Autism's hidden suicide risk

As autism diagnoses rise to 1 in 36 children, the community is grappling with a troubling threat – escalating suicide risks that have long gone overlooked. New research reveals people with autism face substantially higher chances of dying by suicide compared to the general population. A comprehensive study from the University of Toronto analyzing decades of medical data found alarming figures. Females with ASD faced an 83% increased risk of self-harm and a staggering 98% heightened risk of suicide death. Male suicide odds rose as well to 34%, with a 47% uplift in self-harm odds. Overall, 1 in 4 young

Out of sight, out of mind? Revealing Autism's hidden suicide risk
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Masked in code: Teens share self-harm on Instagram

A disturbing phenomenon is unfolding on Instagram largely unseen—in plain sight, teenagers struggling with self-harm are finding connection but also enabling each other’s affliction through covert communities operating via secret hashtags only they recognize as alerts to graphic content. Research out of Seattle first peeled back the veil on this practice in 2015, exposing the extensiveness of obscure keywords used by teens who cut or otherwise intentionally injure themselves. Their findings revealed a complex subculture of mutual validation but also normalization that pediatric specialists worry could spur higher rates of self-harm. Yet solutions remain murky for social platforms thrust into

Masked in code: Teens share self-harm on Instagram
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New study shows black teens crumbling under an "avalanche" of trauma

A new study in JAMA Psychiatry sheds light on the alarming effects online racism has on Black adolescents’ mental well-being. Researchers discovered that Black children and teenagers who encounter racial discrimination online may develop symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The research involved 525 African American adolescents aged 11-19. Heading the research was Dr. Ashley Denise Maxie-Moreman, a child psychologist from Children’s National Hospital in Washington D.C. Dr. Maxie-Moreman acknowledged cyberbullying troubles all children but emphasized for African American minors, web-based racial harassment poses heightened hazards. The participants reported several PTSD symptoms in response to online racism, including feeling on

New study shows black teens crumbling under an "avalanche" of trauma
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Does social media harm mental health?

A controversial new study from Oxford University experts says that more people using the internet has not really changed global mental health trends. The large study of over two million people from 168 countries, which was published in Nature Human Behaviour, tried to settle different ideas about how technology affects people’s minds. Even though they don’t see a clear threat, experts agree that they don’t have enough data to measure the effects in the real world. “There is no smoking gun to confirm that digital technologies are dangerously messing with the human psyche on a grand scale,” said co-author Andrew

Does social media harm mental health?
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Experts Link Social Media to Uptick in Teen Eating Disorders

New research shows that TikTok’s algorithms promote unhealthy eating and unrealistic body image among vulnerable teens. Based on their analysis of popular nutrition and weight videos, researchers from the University of Vermont claim that the “For You” feed, which never ends, contributes to harmful diet culture by subjecting young users to moralized, oversimplified messages from unqualified influencers. Led by senior author Dr. Lizzy Pope, director of UVM’s Didactic Program in Dietetics, the team raised alarms over TikTok overriding legitimate experts to promote thinness and restrictive dieting as the sole path to health. Researchers warn TikTok may fuel disordered eating and

Experts Link Social Media to Uptick in Teen Eating Disorders
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Peeing in the shower: harmless habit or hidden health hazard?

Does urine wash safely down the drain, or could peeing in the shower come back to bite you? New research reveals doing your business while bathing exposes surprising health risks between the tiles. As you stand there enjoying the steamy warmth enveloping your body, that familiar tingling urge suddenly strikes. You reason just a little pee can’t hurt anything amid the soothing hot water cascading over your feet. Yet growing scientific evidence demonstrates even this seemingly harmless shower move harbors hidden hazards that could seriously dampen your day if you let down your guard while soaping up. Repeated exposure to

Peeing in the shower: harmless habit or hidden health hazard?
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Why frequent flyers should skip the steamy shower post-flight

Travys Carinci typically logs almost 60,000 air miles monthly, crisscrossing Australia for work. But the veteran airline operations manager skips steamy showers upon returning home from grubby planes and airports despite yearning to scrub off germs. Why forgo a steamy shower? The health of the human body’s largest organ – the skin. “I skip overly hot showers which, even though it is tempting after a long flight, is a surefire way to dry out your skin,” Carinci revealed to Condé Nast Traveller, urging cooler cleansing for frequent flyer skin integrity. After inevitably contacting dubious surfaces and strangers gate-to-gate for hours, travelers

Why frequent flyers should skip the steamy shower post-flight
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Why Rubbing Your Feet Like a Cricket May Help You Sleep

Some people experience blissful slumber simply by rubbing their feet together before bed, and TikTokers can’t stop raving about the soothing sleep technique they call “cricketing.” The practice mimics crickets’ tendency to constantly fidget their legs as a self-calming behavior. And while the motion may appear odd, science and firsthand accounts affirm its incredible power lulling the body into peaceful relaxation ideal for rapid sleep onset. Over 50 million TikTok views extoll cricketing’s virtues through posters demonstrating pre-bedtime foot rubs while praising their effectiveness. “It’s comforting!” one commenter declared. And the mounting buzz even surprised longtime nightly practitioners unaware of

Why Rubbing Your Feet Like a Cricket May Help You Sleep
Environment|Health|WrittenByLAPost

Researchers scour NYC wildlife for next pandemic pathogen clues

A group of scientists in New York set traps for local wildlife, such as possums and raccoons, for months, ranging from Staten Island to Queens. Their goal was not to tag and release the animals but rather to thoroughly examine and swab them for pathogens that could be harmful to humans before the creatures disappeared back into the shadows of the city. Their goal is to shield city people from animal diseases that might be hidden among the furry residents who live off the main road in the large city. The Columbia University researchers aim specifically to trace coronaviruses and

Researchers scour NYC wildlife for next pandemic pathogen clues
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Nightmare Tenant Discovery: Drinking Toilet Water for Half a Year

A young couple in Beijing endured a nauseating ordeal after discovering a hidden pipeline had secretly been supplying their kitchen taps with toilet water for over six months. Only upon developing an unshakable cough and strange outbreaks of hair loss did the pair finally trace the source of their deteriorating health back to drinking and cooking with liquid siphoned straight from the latrine. According to boyfriend Mr. Tan, subletting an apartment with his girlfriend earlier this year initially proceeded smoothly until the roommates noticed concerning changes to their wellbeing soon after moving in. His hacking cough worsened while acne and

Nightmare Tenant Discovery: Drinking Toilet Water for Half a Year
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How Covid-19 Stunted a Generation

The COVID-19 pandemic threw off everyone’s life, but it was especially hard for people in their late 20s and early 30s, as goals and plans were delayed or abandoned due to lockdowns. This sense of falling behind is referred to as a “quarter-life skip” by psychologists. Dubbed the “pandemic skip,” the phenomenon describes a sentiment especially acute among teens, 20-somethings, and 30-somethings – that lockdowns slammed brakes on growing up itself. According to psychologists, this view is based on reality: without those happy events that shape adulthood, important stages of growth would have stayed dormant. “I’m 26 but feel 23,”

How Covid-19 Stunted a Generation
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The Dark Side of Going Viral: 'Likes' Push Online Haters to Keep Topping Themselves

New research reveals much online hate speech stems less from malice than hunger for approval, ensuring trolls keep posting to chase “likes” from their bile. Cornell University investigators found users glowing with praise for early toxic posts reliably return with amplified attacks next, hooked on the viral attention rather than targets’ hurt. “It now appears that the same dynamics that can make some online relationships intensely positive can also fuel friendly feelings among those who join together online in expressing enmity toward identity groups and individual targets,” said scholar Joseph Walther of Harvard. Walther argues digital bonds formed through shared

The Dark Side of Going Viral: 'Likes' Push Online Haters to Keep Topping Themselves
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Traumatic memories continue to torment PTSD patients- here's why

A new brain imaging study shows that traumatic memories use different neural paths than normal memories. This shows that they work as vivid pieces of a current event rather than processed past memories. Findings from the study help us understand how traumatic memories stay with us for a long time. They shed light on why they keep coming back as flashbacks and night terrors, which are common symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Study co-author Daniela Schiller from Mount Sinai’s Icahn School of Medicine remarked, “The brain doesn’t appear to be in a state of memory; rather, it seems to

Traumatic memories continue to torment PTSD patients- here's why
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Tis the Season...For Cuffing?

With winter here and thoughts of cuddling up by a warm fire starting to circulate, many are wondering if it’s wise to commit while still navigating the ups and downs of college life. Although bonds can ease fears of the future and strengthen everyday communities, some bonds made in the midst of scholastic stress and loneliness may not be beneficial to development in the long run. When one’s job, priorities, and sense of self undergo continuous transformations until maturity takes its ultimate shape, it becomes imperative to regularly assess one’s relationships to ensure their well-being.. Making the most of limited

Tis the Season...For Cuffing?
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The science of bathing: Why more isn't always better

While survey data suggests 60% of Americans believe daily showers are essential, but experts say that there is no magic bullet when it comes to personal hygiene; rather, the appropriate number of baths each week is contingent on a wide range of individual health variables. No matter what, scientific knowledge about the when why, and how of lathering can help us understand our different skin types better. Those exercising heavily or prone to abundant perspiration should certainly wash away accumulating sweat regularly. Letting pores clog risks breakouts and infections, while scalp oils similarly merit shampooing too for some prone to

The science of bathing: Why more isn't always better
Health|Economy|WrittenByLAPost

Can You Really Test For Your "Trigger Foods"? The Controversy Explained

Millions seeking digestive relief turn to diagnostic kits promising personalized answers on triggering foods. However, experts argue evidence doesn’t support home sensitivity tests flooding the alternative wellness market and making big claims on customized health insights. Behind marketing suggesting custom diets curing bloating and discomfort lurk problematic science and potential harms meriting caution before buying. Mainstream medicine makes limited distinctions around adverse food reactions beyond clear-cut allergies and intolerances like lactose or gluten. Still, companies sell hair mineral scans or blood antibody screens purportedly unveiling specific inflammatory triggers. These expensive, unreliable results often severely restrict diets without clinical basis. Seeking

Can You Really Test For Your "Trigger Foods"? The Controversy Explained
Health|WrittenByLAPost

Christmas Trees Can Trigger Miserable “Holiday Syndrome”

Decking halls with boughs of holly and twinkling trees spreads yuletide cheer for many holiday celebrants. But amid the backdrop of nostalgic decor emerges a seasonal syndrome sabotaging merriment for some. Invisible allergens riding evergreens trigger classic respiratory and skin symptoms creating “Christmas tree syndrome” – the sad fate of developing runny noses, coughs or rashes instead of cozy comfort from the symbolic centerpiece. Culprits range from specific pollen species to generic irritants like mold, dust and pesticides. Real varieties pose more concerns with natural volatile oils and shedding pine needles. But cheap synthetic trees harbor other hazards after years

Christmas Trees Can Trigger Miserable “Holiday Syndrome”

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