Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center's Christopher Sciamanna, M.D., M.P.H., is seeking volunteers who experience a lot of stress who are interested in decreasing their stress and improving their well-being. (more)
Women may be more likely to have heart trouble symptoms from being stressed than men, according to researchers at Penn State College of Medicine. (more)
Studies show that 40 percent of Americans find their jobs extremely or very stressful. That percentage might be even higher for nurses. But some experts say there is a remedy for all of that stress: laughter. To watch this story, visit http://live.psu.edu/youtube/kucvpTsOpzE online. (more)
Stress is America's No. 1 health problem, according to the World Health Organization. Seventy-five percent of Americans report feeling stressed at work, and those who work in stressful environments, like health care professionals, may face even higher levels of stress.
Health care professionals will learn the secrets to successfully managing stress and rejuvenating their body and mind on Thursday, Nov. 3 at the 21st annual Strategies: Educational Excellence for Health Care Providers at the Nittany Lion Inn. Keynote speaker and humor consultant, Joe Cardone will demonstrate the importance of laughter as a stress reliever and its positive effects in the workplace. (more)
David Almeida, professor of human development in Penn State's College of Health and Human Development, will present the 2011 Pattishall Research Lecture. His lecture, "The Speedometer of Life: Daily Stress, Health, and Well-Being," will be given at 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 30, in the Bennett Pierce Living Center, 110 Henderson Building on the University Park campus. The event, sponsored by the College of Health and Human Development, is free and open to the public. (more)
Stress and its role in heart disease was the focus of a one-day conference developed by William Gerin, professor of biobehavioral health. "We're aware that stress has a lot to do with chronic illness. The question is why -- what are the biological, social, and environmental factors involved," said Gerin. (more)
Recovering addicts who avoid coping with stress succumb easily to substance-use cravings, making them more likely to relapse during recovery, according to behavioral researchers. "Cravings are a strong predictor of relapse," said H. Harrington Cleveland, associate professor of human development at Penn State. "Whether you avoid problems or analyze problems not only makes a big difference in your life but also has a powerful impact on someone who has worked hard to stay away from alcohol and other drugs." (more)
Depression raises stress hormone levels in adolescent boys and girls but may lead to obesity only in girls, according to researchers. Early treatment of depression could help reduce stress and control obesity -- a major health issue. "This is the first time cortisol reactivity has been identified as a mediator between depressed mood and obesity in girls," said Elizabeth J. Susman, the Jean Phillips Shibley professor of biobehavioral health at Penn State. (more)
Penn State researchers are examining how stress at work impacts employees and their families using a data collection method known as the "daily diary." Susan McHale, professor of human development and director of Penn State's Social Science Research Institute, and three other investigators on the multisite Work, Family & Health Network presented data at a congressional briefing in October. McHale's presentation focused on studying the effects of workplace stress using a daily diary. (more)
Caring for an elderly family member can be stressful and can pose health threats to caregivers. Steven Zarit, professor and head of the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Penn State, received a $3 million grant from the National Institute on Aging to study the effects of caregiving on familial caregivers. He will look at people who care for family members with dementia and how adult day care impacts the stress levels of all individuals involved. (more)
