Postmenopausal women who are stressed, depressed or have trouble sleeping may face an increased risk of a common heart rhythm disorder, new research suggests.

The study, of nearly 84,000 women over the age of 50, found that certain psychological factors were linked to the risk of developing atrial fibrillation, or a-fib -- a heart arrhythmia that can cause serious problems over time.

As kids prepare to return to school, a new poll warns that the many children who found the last school year challenging are likely to be apprehensive this time around.

The online survey, conducted by the Harris Poll on behalf of the nonprofit On Our Sleeves Movement for Children's Mental Health, found that 71% of American parents say their children experienced challenges last school year....

Many studies have suggested that light drinking can do the heart some good, and now researchers think they have found one reason why: It helps the brain relax.

It's no secret that many people pour a drink as a way to unwind and shed the stressors of the day. And research suggests that is not just a placebo effect. In the short term, alcohol has a quieting effect on the amygdala -- a brain...

The high cost of -- everything: Rising inflation rates are ramping up anxieties among some groups of Americans much more than others, a new study reports.

Women, middle-age adults and people with less education or lower pay are feeling much more stress over higher prices, as well as people who were previously married but are now widowed, divorced or separated, according to findings publi...

Dealing with discrimination at work -- from bosses or coworkers -- may be enough to send your blood pressure through the roof, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that among more than 1,200 U.S. workers, those who felt they often faced on-the-job discrimination were 54% more likely to develop high blood pressure, versus workers with little exposure to such bias.

Over eight year...

You had a rough day at work and got stuck in traffic on the way home, and suddenly your head starts pounding.

Stress headaches can be debilitating in the moment, but you don't have to suffer indefinitely.

If you're struggling with stress, you're not alone. More than one-quarter of adults in the United States reported they're too stressed out...

Striking a better work-life balance might make you a more effective manager on the job, according to a new study.

A survey of managers and their employees found that bosses who could shut off after-work emails, calls and job-related stress had greater success guiding underlings to meet work goals.

“We found that when leaders psychologically detached from work when at home -- they ...

We know that stress can take a toll on the body, but many may not realize it can produce a rash.

“Stress can increase the level of the hormone cortisol, increasing inflammation in your body, which can lead to hives, acne, eczema, and hair loss, among other symptoms," dermatologist Dr. Elizabeth Farhat said in...

Cafeteria workers. Receptionists. Pharmacists. Janitors. Administrators. Physical therapists.

Much has been made of burnout among doctors and nurses, but a new survey has found high rates of work fatigue in nearly every type of job associated with health care.

Physicians, nurses, clinical staff and non-clinical support workers in health care all are experiencing substantial levels o...

Close relationships -- and whether your experiences within those relationships are positive or negative -- could influence your physical health.

New research found that the way you feel about your close relationships may affect the way your body functions.

“Both positive and negative experiences in our relationships contribute to our daily stress, coping and physiology, like blood...

If you've been suffering from caregiver stress, you've got plenty of company.

It affects about 36% of the 53 million unpaid family caregivers in the United States, according to a recent report by the AARP and the National Alliance for Car...

Your eyes close and your mind shuts down the second your head hits the pillow, but you wake up 10 hours later still feeling tired.

Many people complain about sleeping too little, but some struggle with the opposite problem: oversleeping.

Oversleeping, or hypersomnia, is a sleep disorder characterized by complaints of excessive daytime sleepiness occurring regularly or often, ev...

Living closer to outdoor spaces and natural water may be better for your mental health, researchers say.

A new study finds that close proximity to nature may reduce an older person's risk for serious psychological distress. That distress can lead to mild impairment of thinking and memory, as well as dementia.

The study is scheduled for presentation at a meeting of the American Acade...

In today's highly polarized political environment, is it possible to stay up-to-date with the news of the day without getting totally stressed out?

If not, is there a way to limit the emotional and physical fallout? Or is all that individual stress in service of a greater societal good?

New research paints a complex picture with no easy answers.

On the one hand, paying cl...

Capitalism is thought to bring out the best in workers, but there's a dark side to tying a person's everyday efforts to their weekly paycheck.

Folks relying on short-term, freelanced office jobs, or jobs where pay is linked to hustle -- depending largely on tips, commissions and bonuses -- may often suffer poor health related to their financial insecurity, new research has shown.

Em...

Evaluating a person's psychological stress can be a good way to gauge their risk of heart and blood vessel disease, new research suggests.

And a brief questionnaire could help with the assessment, the study findings showed.

“Our study is part of the accumulating evidence that psychological distress is a really important factor in a cardiovascular diagnosis, such as the other healt...

Deaths caused by alcohol skyrocketed in the United States between 2019 and 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, according to a just-published government report.

The alcohol-induced death rate jumped 26% during that period, claiming more than 49,000 lives, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported...

Protecting pregnant women from air pollution may improve the birth weight of their babies, a new study suggests.

This is especially important for stressed-out mothers who live in neighborhoods burdened by poor air quality.

A mother-to-be's exposure to both

Universities sometimes offer "Pet Your Stress Away" events offering a chance to relax while gently patting the head and stroking the back of a calm dog.

But some people are more interested in interacting with cats than dogs, according to a new study that linked preference to personality type.

Over time, men and women under chronic stress face a significantly higher risk that they will die as a result of cancer, a new study warns.

The finding comes from an analysis of more than three decades of U.S. data from a federal health and nutrition survey.

After adjusting f...

Everyone knows dogs have a keen sense of smell, but now researchers have discovered they can even smell stress in the breath and sweat of humans.

"Dogs possess an incredible sense of smell. Previous research has demonstrated their ability to detect changes within the human body from odor alone, such as ou...

As scientists around the world investigate why long COVID strikes some and not others, a new study finds that suffering psychological distress prior to COVID-19 infection may increase the chances of getting the lingering condition.

Resea...

Numerous studies have found discrimination can hurt aspects of human health.

Now, new research adds to that the impact of discrimination on the youngest humans by linking discrimination with a heightened risk of underweight and premature infants.

Maternal death rates amo...

A tight deadline at work. A tough exam at school. A big vacation that requires tons of planning. A home repair that's gone awry.

These sources of stress are anything but pleasant, but a new study suggests that they might actually be good f...

Summer is a great time to enjoy the outdoors with your dog, but when the temperatures spike or the fireworks come out, it's time to make sure your furry best friend is having just as good a time as you are.

When a heat wave rolls in, try to only take your dog for walks in the coolest hours of the day, advised Mark Fr...

If you are feeling stressed and depressed, new research suggests that grabbing a trowel and getting your hands dirty may improve your mood.

Researchers found that tending to plants can reap mental health benefits, even for first-time gardeners. The activity was linked to decreased stress, anxiety and depression in h...

It takes much less than a "Matrix" plot to make American workers afraid for their jobs: New research reveals they stress out when they have to work alongside robots.

Even though many robots took on the most dangero...

Nearly all Americans are worried about inflation as economic worries oust COVID-19 as the nation's top source of stress, a new poll reveals.

Nearly nine out of 10 Americans (87%) said they are anxious or very anxious about inflation, up 8 percentage points from the previous month, according to...

Diane Kondyra knows a lot about the hidden dangers of diabetes.

Both she and her husband have been diagnosed with the blood sugar disease, and her husband suffered one of its devastating complications in 2018 when he developed a staph infection that cost him part of his leg. Uncontrolled diabetes can restrict blood flow to the legs, making it more likely that simple cuts can turn int...

Are you plagued by FOMO -- "fear of missing out"? Then silencing your smartphone may not be the stress-buster you think it is.

That's the takeaway from a new study that found many folks check their phones a lot more when they're set to mute or vibrate than when they beep and ring.

"Without any clear 'buzz' or sou...

While chronic stress is a key risk factor for heart disease and stroke, most cat and dog owners say pets help them chill out and stay active.

A new American Heart Association (AHA) survey of 1,000 pet owners found 95% relying on their animal companions for stress relief. About 7 in 10 said they'd rather spend time with their pet than watch television, and nearly half (47%) said their pets...

In a cancel culture where there's zero tolerance for prejudice, at least one form of discrimination appears to be alive and well.

Ageism involves prejudice based on people's advancing age. It can be as overt as not hiring someone because they are older, or as subtle as giving a loved one a...

Heartache and heartbreak are apt terms for the intense grief caused by losing a spouse.

A new study says such a loss can lead to major health problems and even death, and the paper may help explain why that happens.

When faced with stressful situations, grieving spouses have significant increases in

Stress may take a huge toll on your health, weakening your immune system and opening the door to serious illness, a new study suggests.

Traumatic events, job strain, daily stressors and discrimination may all speed aging of the