Russia: To Be Patriotic, Smoke and Drink More

Other coping mechanisms do more harm than good: research

(NEWSER) - Humankind has developed plenty of coping mechanisms over the centuries, from long walks to hard drugs. While many of these methods have endured, not all of them are in our brains’ best interests, writes Alice Walton at Forbes . Smoking and drinking, for example, can lead to a vicious cycle of craving. Meditation, on the other hand, has long helped us get away from ourselves—and now there’s hard data showing it works. More»

Hundreds try to swim, fail

(NEWSER) - With temperatures in Moscow flirting with a 98.6F record, a staggering number of Russians, most of them drunk, are drowning in their attempts to cool off in the city’s lakes and ponds. Just yesterday, 49 people in the country drowned, including two children, a government official tells Reuters . “Russia’s Emergencies Ministry is very worried,” the official said. “The majority of those drowned were drunk. The children died because adults simply did not look after them.” More»

40% do no exercise at all, says federal report

(NEWSER) - Plenty of Americans still like to drink, smoke, and hang out on the couch. Over half of the population—61%—drinks alcohol, 20% smoke, and 40% do no leisure-time exercise at all, says a new government survey. Only about 31% exercise enough to reap benefits. The survey found little improvement in the last decade. More»

Don't quit smoking, start e-smoking, and other easy outs

(NEWSER) - Gawker knows you can’t keep those virtuous New Year’s resolutions, so it’s come up with some substitutions. They won’t make you “a better person,” but are at least achievable. Herewith, from Brian Boylan:

• Lose weight: That's too hard; "we live in a fat world." Instead, bulk up, "get on The Biggest Loser," and voila! "Fame, fortune, and a trainer to help you lose all the weight."
• Quit smoking: Also too hard. "Get one of those electronic cigarettes," and then you can "smoke" inside.

Increased likelihood of smoking increases mortality risk of nervous nellies

(NEWSER) - Neurotics are more likely to die prematurely than their mellower peers, LiveScience reports. A new study that followed nearly 1,800 men for 30 years found that those who fit self-descriptive criteria for neuroticism—constantly worried or anxious—were more likely to die early, in large part because they were more likely to smoke in order to quell their nervousness. More»