To Your Health

Did you know that on average, Americans gain a little over a pound in the week following Christmas? Would it make you feel better if I told you so do Germans and the Japanese? Misery loves company. And fudge.

The risk of a drug overdose can be reduced on the 31st, and year round through expanded access to overdose education and naloxone, public awareness, assessment, and referral to treatment according to The Missouri Opioid-Heroin Overdose Prevention and Education (MO-HOPE) Project.

When we first think of holiday conflict, we may picture Black Friday shoppers duking it out over big screen TVs; however, the holidays can be fraught with many potential conflicts with family.

The year of “firsts” following the loss of a loved one can be particularly challenging. And it’s common to have a swell of grief around the holidays. Amy Morin, a licensed clinical social worker, provided several strategies in Psychology Today to help people who are grieving during the holidays.

In recent years, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has created a robust toy safety system, by requiring testing by independent, third party laboratories around the world. However, as gift giving time nears, there are still risks that adults should be aware of when children tear into the wrapping paper.

It’s clear that having hobbies is good for us, which is something to be thankful for. Anything that increases creativity, physical activity, and social connection is bound to be good for you.

Recent studies published in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, suggest that dog ownership is linked to a 21% reduction in the risk of death for people with heart disease.

Social support was first described by G.E. Moss in his 1973 publication Illness, Immunity, and Social Interaction. In the last four decades, the definition of social support has evolved. You could call it the exchange of resources with the intent to enhance well-being or just people helping people.

In his 1963 Thanksgiving proclamation, President John F. Kennedy said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

Deep Vein Thrombosis occurs when a blood clot forms in one of the deep veins of your body, usually in your legs, but sometimes in your arm. Clots can break off from this and travel to the lung, causing a pulmonary embolism, which can be fatal.