Heena Sharma Blog

Trying to figure out a trick to keep mental stress in check? It turns out just thinking about your romantic partner during a stressful situation may help keep your blood pressure under control just as effectively as actually having your significant other in the room with you. As part of a recent study, 102 participants were asked to complete a stressful task which included submerging one foot into 3 inches of cold water ranging from 38 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. The participants, all of whom were in committed romantic relationships, were randomly assigned to one of three conditions when completing the task. * They either had their significant other sitting quietly in the room with them during the task. * They were instructed to think about their romantic partner as a source of support during the task * Or they were instructed to think about their day during the task. Those who had their partner physically present in the room or who thought about their partner had a lo...

Turns out, teenagers dealing with stress because of their families may affect certain processes in the body, including blood pressure and the immune system . The researchers at the Penn State explored the strategies adolescents used to deal with chronic family stress and their effects on various metabolic and immune processes in the body. Strategies could include cognitive reappraisal -- trying to think of the stressor in a more positive way -- and suppression, or inhibiting the expression of emotions in reaction to a stressor. The team found that when faced with greater chronic family stress, teens, who used cognitive reappraisal, had better metabolic measures. "These changes are not something that will detrimentally impact anyone's health within a week or two, but that over years or decades could make a difference," said Hannah Schreier, a researcher. "That may be how small changes in metabolic or inflammatory outcomes may become associated with...

As most brides-to-be aspire for a fairytale wedding , they often neglect the stress and anxiety that comes along with it. Don't get too consumed and do take care of your mental health, experts suggest. Shreyasi Ghosh, Content Head, The Wedding Brigade and Saket Nath Tiwari, Psychiatrist, National Mental Health Programme, Ghaziabad, have shared their thoughts on importance of mental health -- whether you're a bride-to-be with a pre-existing mental health disorder or one with a serious case of pre-wedding blues: Accept your condition: As in the case of every other problem, even with depression, acceptance is the first step towards getting better. Even if your first reaction to your diagnosis is denial, know that acceptance is extremely empowering. It prepares you for your next step towards recovery. Acceptance, however, does not mean resignation to your problem. It means understanding you have special needs and finding those to better equip yourself to feel calme...

Findings of a recent study suggest that a major traumatic injury - such as car crashes and falls - could increase the risk of mental health diagnoses and even suicide . The research has been published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). "Major trauma was associated with a 40 per cent increased rate of hospital admission for 1 or more mental health diagnoses," writes Dr Christopher Evans of Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, with co-authors. "The most common mental health diagnoses were alcohol abuse, other drug abuse disorders and major depressive disorders." There is little evidence on the link between major injury and later mental health issues. This large study, based on more than 19 000 patients in Ontario, contributes to the literature on this important topic. Most participants who had experienced major trauma were male (70.7 per cent), lived in urban areas (82.6 per cent) and had accidental (89 per cent) rather than in...

High maternal levels of the stress hormone cortisol during pregnancy can increase feelings of anxiousness and depression in female off springs at the tender age of 2, a new study reveals. The findings emphasize the significance of prenatal conditions for susceptibility of later mental health problems in off springs. The effect of high maternal cortisol hormone on the negative offspring behavior appeared to result from patterns of stronger communication between brain regions important for sensory and emotional processing. However, male off springs of mothers with high cortisol during pregnancy did not demonstrate the stronger brain connectivity or a connection between maternal cortisol and mood symptoms. "This study measured maternal cortisol during pregnancy in a more comprehensive manner than prior research", said study author, Alice Graham. To estimate the overall cortisol level during pregnancy, Senior author, Claudia Buss and colleagues, measured ...