Studies are going on right now to see if dogs can sniff out the coronavirus in people. For a long time, dogs have sniffed out other diseases (e.g., diabetes and malaria), so scientists are confident that they’ll be able to do the same with covid-19. Imagine dogs screening people at airports and gatherings. They’re quicker than waiting for the results of a test. Of course, if you’re singled out by the dog you’ll still have to take the test to be sure. If not, though, you forego the anxiety of wondering if you should be tested. Watch this short video:
Tag Archive for anxiety
Getting on Each Other’s Nerves
After weeks of being cooped up at home with the same people, we’re getting on each other’s nerves. It’s hard not to focus on our own anxieties and needs and lash out at those around us, forgetting that they, too, have anxieties and needs. Today’s Thursday Thought quote is something to keep in mind.
“Miracle Cure” Kratom
Health warning: The increasingly popular herbal “cure” for depression, pain, anxiety and opioid withdrawal not only isn’t a cure but can be dangerous.
According to the FDA, there have been 30+ deaths related to it, and there’s no evidence that it helps with any of those conditions. In fact, it can damage your liver and cause seizures.
So many of us believe in the power of nature–the herbal cures used successfully by our ancestors and other cultures. This is not one of them.
Please, dear readers, keep your loved ones and yourselves away from Kratom.
Anxious or Neurotic? You May be Healthier and Live Longer
[I guess I’ll have to stop trying to calm down my anxious and neurotic friends. According to a London study, they’re healthier and will live longer than me! — Thanks to Linda Younts for sending this to me.]
From “Calling all Clean Freaks….”:
If you’ve always seen yourself as a Monica Geller, George Costanza, Miranda Hobbes, Sheldon Cooper or Danny Tanner, we have news for you: Science says you might live longer than your laid-back, Uncle Jesse and Phoebe-esque friends.
Researchers from the University of Edinburgh and University College London recently studied a group of 500,000 U.K. residents, paying attention to those who identified themselves as being exceptionally nervous or anxious. In general, these neurotic people tended to be healthier and have a longer life span, especially if they perceived their own health as being fair or poor.
The theory? Because neurotic people tend to think their health is poor even when it isn’t, they’re more likely to visit a doctor and be proactive if they notice any strange symptoms. A more laid-back person might postpone getting checked out, or ignore an illness altogether. But not you, neurotic folks. You’re running to get checked out as soon as the office opens.
Nice work, anxious friends. We’ll see you in the waiting room.
Can’t Waste that Execution Chemical!
Next month Arkansas will go on a marathon of executions–8 people in 10 days–that mean doing 4 doubles. This has never been done before.
Why are they doing this? Is it because they need to lessen the prison population because of overcrowding? To end these prisoners’ cruel anxiety of having death constantly hanging over their heads? To give faster “closure” to victims’ families? Because a new law was passed? No.
This stepped-up execution schedule, after carrying out no executions for almost 12 years, isn’t for legal or humane reasons. It’s because one of the chemicals used in their executions is about to expire and they don’t want to waste it.
Unbelievable? Read Accelerated executions: Arkansas plans 8 over 10-day period.
Extra stress on staff is expected, so counselling is being arranged for them. And they promised that they’ll do everything right, even though horrific mistakes have been made during single executions under far less stressful conditions.
The whole thing gives me great pause.