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STUDY SAYS
A new study, published in JAMA, found that cancer patients’ sense of meaning and peace was associated with spirituality and religiousness.
The study looked at the spiritual experiences, values and beliefs, religious practices, and an overall self-ranking of spirituality’s importance of 126 adolescents and young adults with cancer. Modeling revealed that meaning and peace were associated with aspects of spirituality and religiousness as well as anxiety, depressive and fatigue symptoms. Anxiety, depressive symptoms, fatigue and pain interference were predefined measures.
“Structural equation modeling showed that meaning and peace were inversely associated with anxiety, depressive symptoms and fatigue. Feeling God’s presence daily was indirectly associated with anxiety, depressive symptoms and fatigue through meaning and peace. Considering oneself very religious was indirectly associated with anxiety, depressive symptoms and fatigue through meaning and peace. Considering oneself very spiritual was indirectly associated with anxiety and depression through meaning and peace. No associations were found between spiritual scales and pain interference.”
Facets of spirituality were associated with anxiety, depression and fatigue. These measures were indirectly associated with a patient’s feeling of peace. This suggests interventions involving spirituality or religion may be therapeutic.
“Study results demonstrated how multiple facets of religion and spirituality were associated with anxiety, depression and fatigue among [adolescents and young adults] with cancer, which were associated with their sense of meaning and peace. Future research based on this study could explore the extent to which it represents a novel and potentially efficacious focus for intervention development to improve quality of life for [adolescents and young adults] after a cancer diagnosis.”
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NUTRITION STATION
Too much tofu can be harmful
Tofu is a Swiss Army knife of cooking. It can replace or join meat in virtually any dish, and contains essential amino acids, calcium, selenium, manganese and vitamins. According to USA TODAY, however, too much of the soybean product can “prevent your body from absorbing and processing protein at all, thanks to the legume’s high levels of trypsin and protease inhibitors.” To avoid these side effects, limit your consumption of tofu to four servings or fewer.
On the bright side, high levels of estrogen-like compounds found in soy products will not, contrary to myths, are not harmful and will not cause men to grow breasts.
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CONDITIONS 101
What to know about jellyfish stings
The severity of jellyfish stings vary greatly. According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common negative reactions are pain and red, irritated marks on the skin. More dire reactions can result in whole-body illness and, in some cases, can be life-threatening. Though most stings can be treated at home, severe reactions might require emergency medical attention. Severity can depend on size and type of jellyfish; health and age of the patient; how long the singers were in contact with the patient’s skin; and how much of their skin was exposed to the singers.
Common symptoms:
– Burning, prickling, stinging pain
– Red, brown or purplish tracks on the skin — a “print” of the tentacles’ contact with your skin
– Itching
– Swelling
– Throbbing pain that radiates up a leg or an arm
Severe symptoms:
– Stomach pain, nausea and vomiting
– Headache
– Muscle pain or spasms
– Weakness, drowsiness, fainting and confusion
– Difficulty breathing
– Heart problems
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HEALTH STAT
150: According to the Mayo Clinic, patients need to engage in 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity activity (such as swimming or fast walking) a week to prevent weight gain.
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