pandemic and mental health

Millions of Americans have irritable bowel syndrome and the stress of the past two years may have exacerbated stomach issues. There are ways to help, including meditation and practicing mindfulness.

Health & Safety

Pandemic anxiety was hard on IBS patients. Here's how to find relief

5:07am April 11, 2022

by Allison Aubrey

The brain and the gut are connected, so when uncertainty and isolation triggers stress, gut health can suffer. But a focus on diet and mindfulness can help manage symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

Dog and cat adoptions grew in 2020. Pets have been constant companions — easing our grief and fears. Now it's our turn to ease dogs' separation anxiety, as we head out into the world.

Health & Safety

COMIC: Adopted Pandemic Dogs Got Us Through. Now They Need Our Help

7:00am June 19, 2021

by Sarah Mirk

Dog and cat adoptions climbed in 2020. Pets have been constant companions — easing our grief and fears. Now it's our turn to ease dogs' separation anxiety, as we head back out into the world.

To 'Keep Sharp' This Year, Keep Learning, Advises Neurosurgeon Sanjay Gupta

1:50pm January 04, 2021

by Terry Gross

CNN's chief medical correspondent says it's never too late to develop new brain pathways. Even small changes, like switching up the hand you use to hold your fork, can help optimize brain health.

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A walk through the streets of New York during the pandemic echoes the loneliness and isolation many Americans are feeling in their battle against a virus that has brought multiple traumas — with no end in sight.

Pandemic's Emotional Hammer Hits Hard

4:37pm September 02, 2020

by Rhitu Chatterjee

Mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have been profound, researchers find. Nearly 25% of Americans are depressed, particularly those who have low incomes and have lost a job or a loved one.

Dr. Dinora Chinchilla is finally taking a month off after working seven consecutive months.

As Pandemic Persists, Health Care Heroes Beginning To Crack Under The Strain

4:34pm August 22, 2020

by Lesley McClurg

Many doctors are suffering burnout five months into the pandemic. But the toll is compounded for Latino doctors serving heavily affected Latino communities. Some are now beginning to seek help.

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Living with cancer can hold lessons for how to make a life during this unpredictable and chaotic time.

Health & Safety

Dear World, You're Not Going To Have The Year You Thought You'd Have

1:33pm August 09, 2020

by Marc Silver

A writer shares how his wife's journey with cancer prepared them both to adapt during this unpredictable and chaotic time.

The health threat posed by the coronavirus pandemic is particularly intense for people with cancer. Medication weakens the immune system. Cancer treatments are often delayed.

Pandemic Deepens Cancer's Stress And Tough Choices

1:31pm August 03, 2020

by Yuki Noguchi

For many cancer patients, daily life can feel full of risky choices involving work, family, friends and money. Nearly every option pits the risks of catching the coronavirus against other downsides.

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"The two most replicated, robust factors linked to suicide are economic change — downturn — and social disconnection," says Dr. Roger McIntyre, professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto. And both factors, he notes, are major hallmarks of th

Act Now To Get Ahead Of A Mental Health Crisis, Specialists Advise U.S.

6:00am May 13, 2020

by Yuki Noguchi

Suicide rates typically drop during natural disasters and other crises but then spike in the months or years after. So mental health specialists are looking to build psychological resilience now.