Worst Chronic Disease Is Depression

In some, it can lead to positive changes

(NEWSER) - It's a counterintuitive idea, but depression could actually be a good thing. The Independent addresses the question by looking at studies and talking to experts and depression sufferers. Though not everyone agrees, a surprising number seem to think the answer is yes: Those who suffer depression and come out the other side have "seen the abyss" and end up stronger. Of course, experts are cautious in their phrasing: "Depression can end in suicide, so it is not to be taken lightly," says one. More»

Fatty, refined foods jack risk by 58%

(NEWSER) - Feeling blue? Put down the cookies: Eating a diet rich (or, should we say, poor) in processed foods increases the risk of depression, a study finds. British scientists studied 3,500 adults over five years; those who ate mainly fried, processed, refined, high-fat foods had a 58% greater risk of depression than those who ate the least. And those who consumed mostly whole foods, produce, and fish showed a 26% lower risk than those who consumed the least of those foods, reports the BBC . More»

People who live near vegetation suffer fewer diseases

(NEWSER) - People who live close to parks or other “green spaces” are likely to be healthier, a new study suggests. Dutch researchers scoured the health records of 345,000 people, comparing their health status to the amount of green space in the surrounding area, from a half-mile to 2-mile radius. Of 24 health conditions—including cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurological diseases—people living in purely urban areas suffered higher instances of 15 of them, notes HealthDay. More»

(NEWSER) - The end of a marriage means the end of good health for many people, a new study finds. Researchers discovered that people who lost a spouse, whether through divorce or death, were roughly 20% more likely to suffer chronic health problems even if they later remarried, HealthDay reports. The scientists believe the stress of loss causes lasting physical and emotional damage. More»

Older adolescents who watch in their bedrooms pick up bad habits with the remote

(NEWSER) - Older teens feeling too fit, well nourished, and smart can turn all that around with one simple move: install a TV in the bedroom. Kids 15 to 18 with a boob tube in the boudoir were twice as likely to watch 5 or more hours a day than those who had to get their MTV in the family room, Reuters reports—no surprise there, but their diet and exercise habits were also suspect. More»