City Parks Are a Mood Booster

TUESDAY, Aug. 20, 2019 -- Living in the city can be hard on the senses and the spirit, but spending some time in a tree-lined park could counteract that stress, new research suggests.

"Over a three-month period, we collected tweets from 4,688 Twitter users before, during and after they posted from the park," explained study author Aaron Schwartz. He's a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Vermont's school of environment and natural resources and the Gund Institute for Environment.

Music Soothes the Stressed Soul Before Surgery

FRIDAY, July 19, 2019 -- Music may be as powerful as drugs in calming patients before they undergo surgery, new research suggests.

It worked just as well as a tranquilizer before patients received a peripheral nerve block prior to their procedure, the researchers said. Peripheral nerve block numbs a specific area of the body where surgery is being done.

How to Avoid Information Overload

WEDNESDAY, July 3, 2019 -- Being able to go online offers a wealth of knowledge, keeps you connected to loved ones and makes all sorts of transactions more convenient. But there's a downside.

In a nationwide survey by the Pew Research Center, more than three-quarters of respondents said they liked having access to a vast wealth of information, and two-thirds said it helped them simplify their lives. Those with many electronic devices felt that all the gadgets made it easier to manage a steady flow of information.

Vets With PTSD Face Higher Odds for Early Death From Multiple Causes

MONDAY, June 24, 2019 -- U.S. veterans with PTSD are twice as likely as the general population to die from suicide, accidents and viral hepatitis, a new study finds.

Veterans with PTSD also have a higher risk of death from diabetes and liver disease, according to the study published June 24 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.