Under the Tree: Medical Myths

Stress of political races can cause overeating, premature aging

(NEWSER) - Even the presidential candidates who miss out on the White House will feel the effects of their campaigns for years to come. The mad dash to the Oval Office—speeches all day, deadline pressures, cross-country tours—puts tremendous stress on the body. Forbes takes on the low points:

1. Sleep deprivation, leading to memory losses and risky decision-making.
2. Poor diets, causing that waist to grow (Clinton favors ice cream; Obama, French fries).

Mostly thanks to poverty

(NEWSER) - It turns out being a country mouse may be bad for your health. People who live in rural parts of the US may be significantly less healthy than those living in cities and suburbs, according to a new study from the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. The study found that 48% of the healthiest counties in the country were urban or suburban—while 84% of the least-healthy counties were rural, according to Reuters . More»

Far less clear is how much exercise is best for physical health

(NEWSER) - If the goal of your exercise program is better mental health, a new study shows that even 20 minutes a week of sports, gardening, or housecleaning may be enough to boost your mood. But if you want to improve your cardiovascular fitness, lose weight, or reduce your risk of life-threatening diseases, figuring out the best amount of exercise becomes much trickier, the New York Times reports. More»

From diet to depression, here's what to watch

(NEWSER) - New research suggests our lifestyle choices affect memory loss almost as much as aging. Forbes looks at 10 surprising factors, positive and negative, that determine how sharp you'll stay:

1. Tofu—eating too much can increase dementia in the elderly.

2. Carbs—likewise, too many derail Alzheimer's-fighting enzymes in the brain.

3. Hot flashes—women who suffer have trouble remembering names.

And why it's hard to treat

(NEWSER) - Electrical signals carry pain impulses to the brain—that much scientists know. But how to treat pain remains a question, LiveScience reports. Here's the scoop:

1. It "is a complex mixture of emotions, culture, experience, spirit, and sensation," one expert said. In other words, it's hard to even define.

2. People suffering from chronic pain like backaches have smaller brains. Maybe their neurons just get stressed out.