In This Week's Issue:
On the Job Risk of Major Depression
If you're working lots of overtime, you could be at an increased risk of major depression. A new study from researchers in Finland and Great Britain found that individuals who work 11 or more hours per day have 2.43 times the risk of a major depressive episode as those who work the usual seven to eight hours. The investigators compared health and work information from more than 2,000 British civil servants ages 35 to 55 and found that those who put in the longest hours were married men who had a high occupational grade. After 5.8 years of follow up, the researchers documented 66 cases of major depression, an annual rate of 3.1 percent. (No additional association with depression was found based on marital status, job strain, smoking or working only nine to 10 hours a day, even after the researchers accounted for occupational grade.) In addition, the study showed that the association between working 11 hours or more per day and the risk of depression wasn't statistically significant for individuals of higher economic status. However, in conjunction with long hours, being young, female (with a low occupational grade), suffering from chronic illness and moderate alcohol use were factors that the researchers identified as contributors to the association with major depression. The study was published online on Jan. 25, 2012 in the journal PLoS One.
My take? This study may provide some insight into a question I raised in my latest book, Spontaneous Happiness and on my website, SpontaneousHappiness.com: Why is there an epidemic of depression today? The behaviors strongly associated with depression - reduced physical activity and human contact, overconsumption of processed food, a desire for endless distraction - are the very behaviors that more and more people now can indulge in, or are even forced to embrace by the nature of their sedentary indoor jobs. This study suggests that the long working hours some jobs require may be part of the equation.
It's the Journey Not the Destination
Make each day count, with an outlook that is both serene and inspired. Dr. Weil's new website, SpontaneousHappiness.com, has everything you need to get on the path to emotional well-being. From articles and checklists to exclusive videos featuring Dr. Weil, we can help you make each day a little brighter. Learn more - take the tour today!
Emotionally Upset? Don't Sleep on It
Sleep may reinforce the negative emotions aroused by witnessing something scary or traumatic. As a result of "sleeping it off," you may be just as upset reviewing images of the event as you were in the first place. You can even have vivid flashbacks. But by staying awake after seeing, for instance, an accident or its aftermath, the emotional response to reviewing images of the event afterwards may be reduced, according to a new study from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. The researchers tested out the well-worn assumption that sleep softens negative emotions aroused by a disturbing event or scene. The investigators asked their 106 young adult study participants to rate on a scale of one to nine their estimation of a picture (was it happy or sad?) and their personal responses (calm or excited). Some volunteers saw the first set of pictures late in the day and the second set after sleeping overnight; another group saw the photos in the morning and then again later the same day. The investigators found that those who had slept between viewings had the same emotional response on reviewing the images as they had the first time they saw the photos, while those who stayed awake had what researchers termed a "softened" response.
Inspirations for Mind, Body & Spirit
Want to connect with yourself? Find balance from within? Learn about new therapies? Then sign up for the new, free Mind, Body and Spirit Newsletter! From the benefits of yoga and planting your own garden to breathing exercises and natural, effective ways to relieve stress, this weekly newsletter provides tips, inspirations and more. Sign up today for a more balanced you tomorrow!
Spinal Disc Degeneration and Your Weight
If you're overweight or obese, chances are that you're at increased risk for low back pain due to spinal disc degeneration. Results of a large study in southern China, which included nearly 2,600 adults (age 21 and older) demonstrates the risks to the discs of carrying excess weight. The participants, from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, were enrolled whether or not they reported lower back pain. All received MRIs of the lumbar spine. The researchers, from the University of Hong Kong, found that 73 percent of all participants had evidence of lumbar disc degeneration. The anatomical changes were observed in 76 percent of the men and 71 percent of the women, and not surprisingly, the older the participant, the more likely he or she was to have some disc degeneration. Overall, however, the investigators found that the severity of the condition increased significantly with elevated body mass index (BMI). They suggested that the disc degeneration seen in the overweight and obese participants might be due to the physical load of the excess weight, which stresses joints. They also noted that chronic low grade inflammation, driven by the hormonal activities of fat cells, may play a role in disc degeneration. The study was published online on Jan. 30, 2012 by the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism.
Are You Taking Quality Vitamins?
What may seem like a bargain on the shelf may not deliver, especially if the brands you choose use inexpensive binders and other inferior ingredients. Make sure your body absorbs what it should, with the high-quality supplements from Dr. Weil's Vitamin Advisor. Get your personalized recommendation today!
Recipe: Miso Pate
This appetizer is a bit complicated, but it's worth making for a fancy dinner. It's a vegetarian answer to chopped liver that will make the chickens thank you. The texture and flavor will develop as the mixture rests for a day after you put it together, so please resist the temptation to dig into it prematurely!
Try this recipe today: Miso Pate
Sponsor
You Aren't Alone
Millions of people worldwide want to improve their emotional health. If that includes you, learn to change your outlook - naturally. Dr. Weil's new website, SpontaneousHappiness.com, focuses on natural, gentle and effective ways to improve your mood, manage negative thoughts, even get better sleep. And our community is there to support you and let you know you aren't alone. Learn more - become a member today.
What's New
Dr. Weil Launches New Website: SpontaneousHappiness.com
Based on Dr. Weil's latest book, SpontaneousHappiness.com is designed to help you achieve emotional well-being in just eight weeks! This easy-to-follow plan has interactive tools and features focusing on natural ways to improve your emotional well-being in the areas of Body, Mind and Spirit. Begin your free 10-day trial today.
Spontaneous Happiness Talks With Dr. Andrew Weil at Miraval
Mar 6th & 20th, 2012, Tucson, Arizona
Join Dr. Andrew Weil for an exclusive opportunity to delve into the research behind his new book Spontaneous Happiness. Dr. Weil offers advice on lifestyle, behavior, and dietary changes to help you assess your emotional wellness and build a personalized step-by-step plan to manage your moods. There will be a Q&A portion of these lectures giving you the opportunity to have your health and wellness questions answered by Dr. Weil himself! Miraval guests must reserve the lecture with reservations, and must book a three-night stay or more to attend (at prevailing rates). For more information and how to register: www.miravalresorts.com
35th Annual Psychotherapy Network Symposium
March 22-25, 2012, Washington, DC
Dr. Weil will keynote at 35th Annual Psychotherapy Network Symposium, "Creating a New Wisdom" in Washington DC on Friday, March 23, at 12 noon. More information from Psychotherapy Networker.
9th Annual Nutrition & Health Conference
April 15-18, 2012, Boston, Massachusetts
Expanding on the growing success of previous Nutrition and Health conferences, the 9th annual meeting, co-directed by Dr. Andrew Weil, will assemble an outstanding faculty of internationally-known scientific researchers, skilled clinicians, innovative chefs, and best-selling authors whose work focuses on the interface between nutrition and healthful living. This conference will provide essential information for health professionals who address issues of food and nutrition in their clinical practices, including the latest research findings, practical recommendations for clinical care, and challenging discussions of public policy. Registration information: www.nutritionandhealthconf.org
Seventh National Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics
April 26-28, 2012, Tucson, Arizona
Dr. Weil will be part of a panel at the Seventh National Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics. The conference runs April 26-28 in Tucson, Ariz. This is an accredited conference for health care professionals, but registration is open to everyone.
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