Happiness declining in U.S. due to 'social crisis'

Levels of happiness in the United States are falling, according to results from the World Happiness Report 2017, and it appears to be down to a "social crisis."

A new report reveals that happiness levels in the U.S. are falling.

The report - released to coincide with the International Day of Happiness - has ranked the U.S. as number 14 out of 155 countries for happiness levels, dropping one place from last year.

According to Jeffrey D. Sachs, director of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network and co-author of the report, a decline in social support, a loss in the sense of personal freedom, and an increase in distrust of the government, are all key players in America's dwindling happiness.

"America's crisis is, in short, a social crisis, not an economic crisis," says Sachs.

The World Happiness Report is an annual report provided by the United Nations (UN) that ranks the levels of happiness across 155 countries.

The results are based on data from surveys that use six criteria to assess the happiness levels in each country: healthy life expectancy, GDP per capita, social support, perceptions of freedom to make life choices, generosity of donations, and perceptions of corruption.

Each country is allocated an average score between zero and 10, with 10 representing the highest levels of happiness.

Norway is the world's happiest country

In this year's report, based on survey data gathered between 2014 and 2016, Norway took the top spot for the world's happiest country, with a score of 7.53.

Report co-author Prof. John Helliwell, of the University of British Columbia in Canada, says that given the recent fall in oil prices, it is "remarkable" that Norway - a major oil supplier to the European economy - ranked first for happiness levels.

He speculates that this is down to factors independent of Norway's economic outlook.

"By choosing to produce oil deliberately and investing the proceeds for the benefit of future generations, Norway has protected itself from the volatile ups and downs of many other oil-rich economies," notes Prof. Helliwell.

"This emphasis on the future over the present is made easier by high levels of mutual trust, shared purpose, generosity, and good governance. All of these are found in Norway, as well as in the other top countries," he adds.

Denmark came a close second for happiness, followed by Iceland, Switzerland, and Finland.

The U.S., however, missed out on a spot in the top 10. An average score of 6.99 for happiness put the country in 14th place, ranking one place lower than in last year's report. Why are Americans becoming less happy?

America 'looking for happiness in all the wrong places'

In a section of the report titled "Restoring America's Happiness," Sachs looks back at the state of happiness in the U.S. over the past 10 years.

He notes that while per capita GDP in the country is rising, happiness levels have mostly declined since 2007, suggesting that other factors are at play.

Looking at the individual happiness criteria for the U.S., Sachs identified a decline in four areas: social support, personal freedom, generosity, and perceived corruption - areas in which Nordic countries are thriving.

"In sum, the United States offers a vivid portrait of a country that is looking for happiness 'in all the wrong places.' The country is mired in a roiling social crisis that is getting worse. Yet the dominant political discourse is all about raising the rate of economic growth.

And the prescriptions for faster growth - mainly deregulation and tax cuts - are likely to exacerbate, not reduce social tensions."

Jeffrey D. Sachs

Sachs points to a number of factors that may be to blame for such declines in the U.S. One he cites is the aftermath of 9/11.

"America's reaction to these unprecedented terrorist attacks was to stoke fear rather than appeal to social solidarity," Sachs writes. "The U.S. government launched an open-ended global war on terror, appealing to the darkest side of human nature by invoking a stark 'us versus them' dualism, and terrifying American citizens through the government's projections of fear."

Additionally, Sachs believes the "severe deterioration" of the educational system in the U.S. has played a role in the country's declining happiness, noting that the percentage of students in America achieving at least a university degree has become motionless.

"This matters because the failure of America to educate its young people is a major force behind the rise in income inequality (condemning those with less than a bachelors degree to stagnant or falling incomes) and, it appears, to the fall of social capital as well," writes Sachs. "The U.S. political divide is increasingly a divide between those with a college degree and those without."

How can America's happiness be improved?

Sachs suggests that in order for America's happiness to be restored, the country must place more focus on improving the social capital, rather than the economy.

He adds that this should involve addressing the fear created by the aftermath of 9/11, noting that President Trump's travel ban to stop individuals from Muslim countries entering the U.S. is a "continuing manifestation" of such fear.

An improvement in educational quality and attainment should also be a key focus in the U.S., says Sachs.

"America has lost the edge in educating its citizens for the 21st century; that fact alone ensures a social crisis that will continue to threaten well-being until the commitment to quality education for all is once again a central tenet of American society."

Small cell lung cancer: Symptoms, treatment, and outlook

Small cell lung cancer is characterized by the presence of cancerous tumor cells in the lung tissues.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for 10-15 percent of all lung cancer cases and typically involves fast-growing, aggressive tumors. Smoking is the most common risk factor associated with SCLC.

There are two major forms of lung cancer: SCLC and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which is far more common and carries a better outlook than SCLC.

Cancer cells associated with SCLC tend to be smaller and tumors progress relatively rapidly, making early detection and diagnosis challenging.

Contents of this article:

1. Causes and risk factors
2. Symptoms
3. Diagnosis
4. Treatments and outlook

Causes and risk factors

Lung cancer may be caused by a variety of different factors, but tobacco or smoke exposure remains the leading cause.

A variety of factors influence the chances of developing lung cancer, but tobacco or smoke exposure is the leading cause of SCLC cases. In the United States, smoking is responsible for 83 percent of male lung cancer deaths and 76 percent of female deaths each year.

Most people who develop SCLC have a history of smoking or have been exposed to secondhand smoke, but not all. Some people with no history of smoking or smoke exposure will still develop lung cancer.

When cigarette smoke is inhaled, tiny particles damage lung tissues.

Anytime a cell must repair itself or regrow, there is a chance for things to go wrong. If certain mutations occur, a cell can become cancerous. With repeated smoke exposure and damage, the chances of a cancerous lung cell developing increase dramatically.

Age is a major risk factor for developing lung cancer. Roughly 98 percent of those diagnosed with lung cancer are over the age of 45. Roughly two-thirds of people who develop lung cancer are 65 or older.

Causes and risk factors for SCLC include:

• smoking
• exposure to tobacco smoke
• exposure to radiation
• CT scans
• exposure to asbestos, tar, or soot
• exposure to diesel fuel
• exposure to nickel or beryllium
• living in areas with heavily polluted air
• arsenic exposure from drinking water
• HIV status
• beta carotene supplements combined with heavy smoking

Research is still underway to better understand the influence of gender, ethnicity, and race on lung cancer.

While black American men and women are more likely than white Americans to develop lung cancer, fewer develop SCLC. Rates for the latter are 15 percent less for men and 30 percent less for women.

Symptoms

Often symptoms do not begin until the tumor has spread. Many lung cancer symptoms can sometimes be mistaken for those of other conditions.

The location, size, and extent of the tumor greatly influence the chances of someone experiencing symptoms.

Symptoms of SCLC include:

• hoarseness or rough cough
• changes in cough pattern
• wheezing
• shortness of breath
• fatigue
• headaches
• pneumonia
• long-term chest infections
• chest pain or pain when breathing
• coughing up blood
• loss of appetite
• pain or difficulty swallowing
• swelling in the face or neck veins
• excess fluid in the lungs or lining of the heart
• high-pitched sound upon inhalation

If any of the above symptoms become long-term or troublesome, a person should see their doctor. People over 55, or with a history of heavy smoking or smoke exposure, should be monitored even if they are not experiencing symptoms.

Diagnosis

After an initial examination by a healthcare professional, a CT scan may be required to determine the stage of SCLC.

A doctor will first complete a physical examination, review the person's history, and take blood, urine, or tissue samples, if required. A chest X-ray may also be taken.

Doctors may decide to continue monitoring people whose symptoms, personal history, or test results are cause for concern.

Depending on the results of this initial workup, a CT scan can be used to examine the chest, torso, and brain. A sputum cytology test, where phlegm and mucus are inspected under a microscope, can help spot cancerous cells.

A biopsy, where cells are removed from the lungs to be examined by pathologists, may also be performed. Lung biopsies are divided into surgical and nonsurgical options.

The most commonly used and least invasive form of biopsy is fine needle aspiration, a nonsurgical option where general anesthesia is used.

Once a cancer diagnosis has been made, the stage of the cancer must be established to determine the best treatment plan.

Tests used to determine SCLC stage include:

• CT scan of upper body and pelvis
• bone scan
• bone marrow aspiration
• PET scans
• MRI of brain
• further biopsy

Many of these procedures and tests are also used to determine if treatments are working and to monitor cases long-term.

Stages of SCLC

There are generally four recognized stages of lung cancer, ranging from 1 to 4.

• Stage 1 cancers are confined to the lung. Tumors are typically 2 inches or less in diameter.
• Stage 2 cancers involve tumors that have exceeded 2 inches in diameter or have spread to surrounding tissues. The lymph nodes may be involved.
• Stage 3 cancers are defined by large tumors that have spread to other organs neighboring the lungs or smaller tumors in lymph nodes further away from the lungs.
• Stage 4 cancers involve tumors that have spread far beyond the lungs to affect more distant regions of the body.

In SCLC cases, additional stages defined as "limited" and "extensive" are used to describe whether the cancer is present in one or both lungs.

Limited stage cancer

In the limited stage, SCLC tumors are restricted to one lung and any affected lymph nodes will be on the same side of the chest. Because limited cases of SCLC can be targeted within a single radiation field, they are often treated with both radiation and chemotherapy.

About one in three SCLC cases are in the limited stage when first diagnosed.

Extensive stage cancer

In the extensive stage, both lungs are affected, as are other parts of the chest and sometimes body. An SCLC case may also be considered in the extensive stage when the cancer has spread to the fluid surrounding the lungs.

About two in three SCLC cases are in the extensive stage when diagnosed.

Treatments and outlook

SCLC may be treated with a combination of treatments including radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy.

Because SCLC cases are often diagnosed late in the course of the disease, aggressive treatment plans are often used.

When possible, SCLC is treated with a combination of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Different specialists will work together to find the best course of action for each case.

A range of medications will be prescribed to help manage the symptoms. Nursing care may also be ordered.

Chemotherapy given orally or intravenously, alongside radiation therapy, is the preferred treatment for SCLC because of how quickly the tumors grow and spread. Fortunately, most SCLC cases respond well to radiation therapy, at least initially.

In limited stage SCLC cases, radiation therapy may also be used after 3-4 months of initial chemotherapy.

Common surgery options include:

• segmental, wedge, or sleeve resection to remove the affected part of lung
• lobectomy to remove one lung lobe
• bilobectomy to remove two lung lobes
• pneumonectomy to remove the whole lung
• lymph node removal

The cancer stage, the person's gender, age, family history, lifestyle habits, and general health will influence the chances of recovery for a person with SCLC.

The outlook for SCLC varies according to the individual and the stage of the cancer, but the average 5-year survival rate is 7 percent.

For SCLC cases in the limited stage, the relative 5-year survival rate is 31 percent. For SCLC cancers in the extensive stage, the relative survival rate varies from 8-19 percent. Stage 4 SCLC cancers have a 5-year survival rate of 2 percent.

It is important for people to keep in mind that each SCLC case is unique while statistics are averages. While they should be used with caution, lung cancer staging calculators exist.

Complementary therapies

Complementary therapies are those used alongside conventional medical therapies and may help manage SCLC symptoms.

Complementary therapies and lifestyle recommendations include:

• nutritional supplements
• massage
• Reiki
• guided meditation
• yoga
• acupuncture
• avoiding non-essential daily tasks to save energy

Alternative therapies are not meant to replace conventional therapies. Anyone thinking about an alternative treatment should discuss it first with a doctor.

Despite research, there are no treatments available today to cure SCLC outright. Many clinical trialsexist that offer people new options and the number of such trials continues to grow.

HOW TO SURVIVE HEART ATTACK WHEN YOU ARE ALONE.

A very important subject.
Please note, the topic is very necessary especially that you may be in the desert, for example, and there is no chance enough.

To save the lives of many!
Treating chronic stress. If you get when you are alone:

All of a sudden If you started feeling a lot of pain in your chest which had been spreading up to your shoulder and your hand until your mouth and you're on your own, you need to know that the person who doesn't beat his heart regularly and became feel faint, has only ten seconds before To lose all consciousness.

If you are one of the victims of cardiac arrest, you can help yourself by following the steps below.
Cough so hard and often. A deep breath should be taken before each cough. And the cough must be deep and long and repeated every two seconds. At least without stopping or surrender until help arrives, or until the heart is felt to be back to normal pulse.

Through deep breathing oxygen enters the lungs cough either movement is putting pressure on the heart and circulatory movement. Pressure on the heart of the cough. Bring back the natural beat of the heart also.

Higher Blood Pressure Risk In Teenagers Linked To Poor Or Insufficient Sleep

US research reveals that teenagers who don't sleep enough or have poor quality sleep may be at higher risk of elevated blood pressure that could lead to cardiovascular disease in adulthood. The study is the first to examine links between high blood pressure and sleep quality in healthy adolescents.

The research appears as a paper published online before print on 18th August in Circulation, the journal of the American Heart Association (AHA). It was written by senior author Dr Susan Redline, professor of medicine and pediatrics and director of University Hospitals Sleep Center at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, and colleagues. 

Redline and her team carried out a cross-sectional analysis of 238 healthy 13 to 16 year olds (123 boys and 115 girls) who had not been diagnosed with sleep apnea (where breathing stops while you are asleep) or other severe problems.

They found that shorter time spent asleep, but poor sleep quality in particular, were linked to higher risk of elevated blood pressure, and that "technology" in bedrooms, such as music players, phones and computers, may be part of the problem.

For the study, there were two measuring periods, at home and in the lab. At home, the participants wore movement detectors on their wrists for five to seven days to monitor their sleep patterns. They also completed a sleep log to give estimates of sleep patterns.

In the lab, the researchers measured the participants' sleep quality during overnight sleep, for instance using a polysomnograph machine that monitors brain function, eye and body movement and breathing. They also took 9 blood pressure readings.

Upon analysing the results Redline and colleagues found that:

• The odds of elevated blood pressure increased 3.5 times for those teenagers with low sleep efficiency and 2.5 times for those who slept less than 6.5 hours.


• These figures were unaffected by gender, body mass index (BMI) and socioeconomic status.


• Teenagers who had trouble falling asleep at night and waking up in the morning (low sleep efficiency), had an average 4 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury) higher systolic blood pressure compared to teenagers without these problems (higher sleep efficiency).


• 14 per cent of the teenagers had pre-hypertension or hypertension with blood pressures in the 90th percentile (among the top ten per cent in the country) for their height, age and gender.


• 26 per cent of the participants had low sleep efficiency and 11 per cent slept for less than 6.5 hours (extremely short sleep).


• Nearly two thirds of the teenagers with short sleep duration also had low sleep efficiency.


• 27.9 per cent of the teenagers with low sleep efficiency also had short sleep duration.


• Participants with less than 85 per cent sleep efficiency in the lab phase had nearly three times the odds of having elevated blood pressure.

Redline and colleagues concluded that:

"Poor sleep quality is associated with prehypertension in healthy adolescents."

They said the link is not explained by "socioeconomic status, obesity, sleep apnea, or known comorbidities, suggesting that inadequate sleep quality is associated with elevated blood pressure".

Redline suggested part of the problem was the "technological invasion of the bedroom with computers, cell phones and music". Sending text messages or listening to music all night, with early rising for school, compresses the time left for sleep. 

"Adolescents need nine hours of sleep. Parents should optimize sleep quality for their family with regular sleep and wake times and bedrooms should be kept quiet, dark and conducive to sleep," said Redline.

The researchers said further studies were needed to find out if preventing high blood pressure in children should consider not only ways of losing weight and doing more exercise, but also how to sleep better.

"Meanwhile, pediatricians should view sleep quality and patterns as an intervenable health concern," said Redline.

"Our data underscores the need to monitor quality and quantity of sleep as part of a child's overall health strategy," she added.

"Sleep Quality and Elevated Blood Pressure in Adolescents."

Insufficient sleep may raise nighttime blood pressure

Having prolonged periods of insufficient sleep is linked to significant increases in blood pressure during nighttime hours.

Insufficient sleep is linked to occupational errors.

This was the finding of a small study from Mayo Clinic that was presented at the 64th Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology in San Diego on Sunday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say insufficient sleep is a public health epidemic in the US.

Insufficient sleep is linked to motor vehicle accidents, industrial disasters and medical and other occupational errors.

People who do not get enough sleep are also at higher risk for chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and depression, as well as cancer, premature death and reduced quality of life and productivity.

For their study, the Mayo team enrolled eight healthy people of normal weight, aged from 19 to 36, in a 16-day inpatient trial.

The first 4 days was an acclimatization period. Then followed 9 days of either sleep restriction (4 hours of sleep a night) or normal sleep (9 hours a night), and 3 days of recovery.

The participants' blood pressure was monitored regularly over the study period.

The results showed that in the nighttime, the average blood pressure readings in the sleep restriction phase compared with the normal sleep phase were 115/64 mm/Hg versus 105/57 mm/Hg.

Normally, one expects blood pressure to fall during the night, but the researchers found this was not the case during the restricted sleep period.

The researchers also found that nighttime heart rate was higher during the sleep restriction phase than the normal sleep phase.

Lead author of the new study Dr. Naima Covassin, a research fellow in Mayo's Department of Cardiovascular Diseases in Rochester, MN, says:

"We know high blood pressure, particularly during the night, is one of the major risk factors for heart disease, and Americans typically do not get enough sleep.

For the first time, we demonstrated that insufficient sleep causes increases in nighttime blood pressure and dampens nocturnal blood pressure dipping by using a controlled study that mimics the sleep loss experienced by many people."

The results are part of an ongoing Mayo Clinic study funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).

Tips for getting a good night's sleep

The National Sleep Foundation suggest a number of things you can do to make your bedroom sleep-friendly:

• Dim the lights about an hour before bed to signal to your body that sleep time is approaching
• Make your bedroom peaceful and relaxing by decorating it lovingly and keeping it clutter-free
• Keep your bedroom cool for sleep - 60-67 °F (16-19°C) is ideal
• Choose mattresses and pillows that are comfortable for you
• Keep noise to a minimum - a fan or noise conditioner can help by giving a soothing consistent backdrop
• Surround yourself with soothing scents - they can improve mood before bedtime
• Turn off electronics while sleeping - light receptors in the retina signal to the brain about the status of the outside world and may affect sleep-wake rhythms.

Other habits for promoting good sleep include going to bed at the same time each night and getting up at the same time each morning, plus avoiding large meals, caffeine and alcohol close to bedtime, and avoiding nicotine.

Meanwhile, Medical News Today recently learned of a study that found sleep apnea is linked to a significantly higher risk of motor vehicle accidents. However, the researchers from Sweden also found that the risk reduces with effective continuous positive airway pressure therapy (CPAP).

Better sleep can literally make us feel like a million bucks

Sleep deprivation and sleep disorders are dangerous, costly, and impact our health and overall well-being. New research puts forth sleep as a major public health concern, and shows that the effects of a good night's sleep are as beneficial for our happiness and well-being as winning the lottery might be.

New research suggests that good sleep quality drastically increases happiness and should be promoted as a public health value.

Insufficient sleep has been recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a major public health concern. It is currently estimated that between 50 and 70 million people in the United States have a sleep disorder, and one analysis revealed that over a third of adults do not get enough sleep.

Sleep deprivation leads to traffic accidents and occupational errors that can, in turn, cause industrial or environmental disasters.

Additionally, sleep deprivation has many adverse health effects. According to the CDC, not getting enough sleep may lead to a range of chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, or cancer, as well as generally increasing the risk of dying prematurely.

Finally, a lack of sleep simply makes us unhappy. Insufficient shuteye reduces the quality of life, productivity, and may even lead to depression.

New research by scientists at the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom underscores the importance of sleep for public health, and suggests that improving our sleep quality can make us as happy as winning the lottery.

The study, published in Sleep, was led by Dr. Nicole Tang, of the Department of Psychology at Warwick.

Studying the link between sleep and well-being

Dr. Tang and colleagues examined the sleep patterns of 30,594 people over the age of 16 in the U.K. across a period of 4 years: sleep quality and well-being were assessed once between 2009 and 2011, and again between 2012 and 2014.

The variables analyzed were sleep quantity, sleep quality, and the use of sleep medication. The outcomes researchers looked at were health and well-being.

To measure these outcomes, the team used the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) as well as the mental and physical component scores of the 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) - a scale commonly used to assess health-related quality of life.

Using linear regression models on each outcome, the scientists adjusted for potential factors that may influence the results. Some of these confounding variables included sex, age, and ethnicity, as well as education and employment status.

Better sleep feels like 8 weeks of therapy or winning a quarter of a million

The researchers found that insufficient sleep or poor quality of sleep can worsen medical conditions and emotional states.

Interestingly, the use of sleep medication was also linked with these adverse effects.

Improvements in sleep quantity and quality, as well as using less sleep medication, were found to correlate with higher scores on the GHQ and the SF-12 scales. In fact, the researchers found a 2-point improvement in the GHQ score, which is the equivalent of an 8-week program of mindful cognitive therapy aimed at improving psychological well-being.

As the researchers note, the score improvements were also comparable with the average increase in well-being measured in lottery winners 2 years after a $250,000 jackpot win.

Overall, improvements in sleep quality accounted for the largest beneficial effects on health and well-being, suggesting that the quality may be more important than the quantity of sleep we get.

Quality sleep and less sleep medication should be public health values

Dr. Tang advocates promoting the reduction of sleep medication and improvement of sleep quality as public health values, and underscores the importance of improving sleep behaviors for the health and happiness of the general population, not just those with acute sleep disorders.

"The current findings suggest that a positive change in sleep is linked to better physical and mental well-being further down the line. It is refreshing to see the healing potential of sleep outside of clinical trial settings, as this goes to show that the benefits of better sleep are accessible to everyone and not reserved for those with extremely bad sleep requiring intensive treatments."

Additionally, Dr. Tang notes that improving sleep quality can be a cost-effective and simple way of increasing well-being on a societal level.

The lead author concedes that the study is purely observational and does not prove a causal link between sleep and happiness. She also indicates areas for future research.

"An important next step," Tang says, "is to look at the differences between those who demonstrate a positive and negative change in sleep over time, and identify what lifestyle factors and day-to-day activities are conducive to promoting sleep. Further research in this area can inform the design of public health initiatives."