Asthma and Awareness
Biofeedback-the science of monitoring one's own physiological changes to create mind/body awareness-looks to be a promising complementary treatment for asthma sufferers. People who learned to monitor their heart rate variability regularly were prescribed less medication and had fewer asthma attacks than a control group.
The Talking Cure
A few half-hour telephone-counseling sessions could significantly increase recovery rates for patients taking antidepressants. While the drugs have been shown to be more effective when taken in conjunction with psychotherapy, currently 40% of depressed patients who begin therapy quit within the first month. The more convenient phone method could help lower the drop-out rate.
Signs of Weakness
It may sound like a hokey astrology, but epidemiologists have found links between specific diseases and birth months. Schizophrenia is more common among those born in late winter or early spring, multiple sclerosis likes births in April, May and June, while epilepsy strikes most those with birthdays from December to March. Early exposures, such as a winter flu, could help explain the connections.
