It’s wise to pay attention to pain. That throbbing in your knee could be telling you to go easy on the yard work, and that ache in your head might be your body’s plea for a nap or a tall glass of water. Some types of pain may even be a sign that you need to get to a hospital Read More

 First-hand accounts can provide a fresh perspective on the issue of violence and mental health. Illustration: Getty Images When Anna* became physically unwell as a student, her GP referred her to a psychiatrist and she agreed to voluntary treatment. After interviewing her for less than an hour, the psychiatrist diagnosed her with schizophrenia and told her there was a risk Read More

Mindfulness — a meditative practice that focusses on paying attention to the present moment — can increase person’s tolerance to pain, a study has found. Researchers from Wake Forest School of Medicine in the US analysed data obtained from a study published in 2015 that compared mindfulness meditation to placebo analgesia. They sought to determine if dispositional mindfulness, an individual’s Read More

Active older adults with back pain may experience less energy efficient walking and poorer endurance, a new study suggests. “Older adults are living longer and healthier active lives, so paying attention to conditions that may threaten independent function is increasingly important,” said lead author of the study Eleanor Simonsick, from the National Institute on Aging in the US. The study, Read More

  Taking part in regular exercise is one way the multiple sclerosis sufferers can help reduce their pain. (Photo courtesy: AFP Relaxnews/ klohka/ shutterstock.com) New research has shown how a healthy lifestyle of eating well, regular exercise, and no smoking can help reduce pain in people with multiple sclerosis. An estimated 2.5 million people worldwide have multiple sclerosis (MS), a Read More

“Meditation could ease the agony of back pain, a study suggests,” the Daily Mirror reports. A US study compared a technique called mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) with usual care and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for long-term non-specific lower back pain. The term “non-specific” refers to when there are no obvious causes, such as a slipped disc. MBSR is based on yoga Read More

“Meditation could ease the agony of back pain, a study suggests,” the Daily Mirror reports. A US study compared a technique called mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) with usual care and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for long-term non-specific lower back pain. The term “non-specific” refers to when there are no obvious causes, such as a slipped disc. MBSR is based on yoga Read More