Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction is a type of relaxation practice that cultivates a nonjudgmental awareness of day-to-day life. Practicing mindfulness helps you appreciate each moment, as it is, without the need for judgement. By cultivating this awareness, you can experience each moment more fully and find yourself more energetic and enthusiastic about life. The benefits of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction are many, and can range from improved mood and energy levels to improved ability to cope with difficult situations. Additionally, it can significantly reduce your pain and anxiety and can help you manage your condition with fewer uncomfortable symptoms.
Reduces symptoms of depression, anxiety and chronic pain
Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) techniques include meditation, movement, and body awareness. These skills can help people cope with stress and pain by changing the way they experience unpleasant experiences. Unpleasant experiences trigger feelings, thoughts, and defense mechanisms that are detrimental to overall health. Through MBSR, these reactions can be reduced and improved. By focusing on the present moment, we can experience the present moment more fully.
MBSR has been studied for its effectiveness in treating chronic pain. Researchers found that it reduced co-occurring symptoms of depression and chronic pain. This is important because comorbidity between chronic pain and depression has led to an alarming increase in suicide among veterans. In fact, suicide rates among veterans with chronic pain have increased by 1.5 times, indicating the need to better manage these conditions.
The American Academy of Pain Medicine has estimated that nearly 100 million people in the United States suffer from chronic pain. This pain can be either physical or emotional and can occur after an injury or without any apparent damage. Chronic pain often impairs one’s life and interferes with relationships. People with chronic pain often suffer from anxiety and depression, as well as reduced self-esteem and functional abilities.
Increases CD4+ T lymphocyte counts in HIV-1 infected adults
Increasing CD4+ T lymphocyte counts in HIV-infected adults is becoming an essential part of medical management for people living with HIV. The goal is to improve the immune function of patients infected with the virus and prevent further progression of the disease. In the United States, this metric is an integral part of HIV medical care. But how does this measure work? And which tests are accurate?
The study included 2235 subjects infected with HIV-1, who began treatment with HAART between 1996 and 1997. Among the participants, 49% showed an increase in CD4 T lymphocyte counts above 200/uL, compared with 16% who were below 200/uL at baseline. CD4 T-lymphocyte counts were higher in the participants who had higher baseline levels of HIV-1 RNA. Moreover, greater increases in CD4 T-lymphocyte count were associated with a lower baseline CD8 T-lymphocyte count.
The study found that women had higher CD4+ T-cell counts than males at the beginning of infection. But CD4+ T-lymphocyte count decreased faster in females, leading to a faster progression of HIV. This was particularly true of HIV progression in females than in males. In the 10-year cohort study, the Western New York HIV/AIDS Referral Center recruited 1422 people. Of these, 333 had CD4+ T-cell counts of 500/uI or higher. Of these, 178 were considered eligible. Interestingly, the mean CD4+ T-cell count was higher in females than in males.
Lessens bothersomeness and distress due to hot flushes in HIV-1 infected adults
The aim of this study was to determine whether a treatment for HIV-1 infection could lessen the distress and bothersomeness associated with hot flashes in HIV-1 infected adults. The research found that women with HIV-1 had higher hot flash severity and interference with daily life compared with women who were not infected with the virus. These effects may decrease quality of life and interfere with important health-promoting behaviors such as antiretroviral therapy.
