Adaptogens are compounds found in certain plants said to help reduce the negative effects of stress on the body. They’re often taken as dietary supplements. Adaptogens increase your body’s resistance to physical, biological, and chemical stress. These compounds also protect against stress-related damage. Adaptogens have long been used in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine but have recently gained popularity in Western households. So, are adaptogens a miracle cure-all? Not exactly. Precautio

Anxiety is a natural response to a threat you perceive. It starts with a physiological reaction in your brain that affects the rest of your body. When you perceive a stressor, your body goes through changes, and you may experience mental and physical symptoms. These symptoms of anxiety can include: Can stress and anxiety raise your body temperature? Yes. In some rare cases, anxiety symptoms may lead to a rise in body temperature. This is sometimes referred to as psychogenic fever, or a fever ca

Diagnosing narcolepsy can sometimes be challenging, but in the hands of a sleep specialist, it can be done. Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder that involves your brain’s ability to regulate your sleep-wake cycles. If you have narcolepsy, you will have excessive daytime sleepiness and may involuntarily fall asleep during regular activities, such as driving, talking, or eating. Narcolepsy can also affect your nighttime sleep cycle. You may frequently wake throughout the night or have restless

Your body and brain need sleep to function properly. Symptoms of psychosis may be possible when you go without sleep for a long time. If you’ve gone so long without sleep that you ’re having a difficult time telling the difference between what’s real and what ’s not, you may be experiencing sleep deprivation psychosis. Getting fewer hours of sleep every now and then may not significantly impact your health. But missing sleep for more than a day could lead you to experience various physical and m

ADHD can affect your daily activities and ability to perform tasks, such as making decisions. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental health condition that often begins during childhood but can continue into adulthood. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about of adults in the United States receive a diagnosis of ADHD. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that interferes with your relationships and ability to function. It’s characterized by a pattern of: Fo

Opioids can help you manage severe pain when used as prescribed. However, it’s essential to follow guidelines when taking these drugs. Health professionals have prescribed opioids to manage pain and control severe coughs for centuries. When used as prescribed, opioids can help you manage pain and improve your quality of life. As with all medications, it’s important to use opioids exactly as prescribed and not use them for longer than the intended treatment time. Not doing this could impact your

Antidepressants can improve symptoms of depression. But, are the results immediate? If you’re thinking about starting a new antidepressant or you just got a prescription from a health professional, you may have questions, including how long the drug will take to work. The answer to this question depends on many factors, including: • the severity of your symptoms • whether you’re going to therapy You may have taken the courageous step to seek professional help for depression. Your symptoms can be

New antidepressants may help fill that gap. The latest antidepressants use new mechanisms to pick up where older antidepressants left off. Treatment for depression typically involves a combination of therapy and medication. However, studies show that about one-third of people with depression don’t respond to current medications. But since that time, many new developments have been made in antidepressants . Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) changed the face of depression treatment with the