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The High-Intensity Stress Reaction: How Stress Can Sabotage Your Fitness Goals
The High-Intensity Stress Reaction: How Stress Can Sabotage Your Fitness Goals

When it comes to achieving our fitness goals, we often focus on the physical aspects of exercise and nutrition. We spend hours in the gym, meticulously planning our meals, and monitoring our progress with carefully crafted journals and spreadsheets. However, there is a crucial piece missing from this equation: stress. High-intensity stress can have a profound impact on our bodies, making it increasingly difficult to reach our fitness objectives. In this article, we’ll delve into the world of high-intensity stress response, exploring how it can sabotage our fitness goals and provide practical tips on how to mitigate its effects.

The High-Intensity Stress Response: What is It?

The high-intensity stress response, also known as the HPA axis, is a natural response to acute stressors, such as public speaking, job interviews, or even traffic jams. When we encounter a perceived threat, our bodies release a cocktail of hormones, including cortisol, adrenaline, and the glucagon-like peptide (GLP). This hormonal storm causes our heart rate to increase, blood pressure to rise, and respiratory rate to quicken, preparing the body for the "fight or flight" response.

The Conundrum: How Stress Can Disrupt Fitness Goals

While the high-intensity stress response is essential for short-term survival, chronically elevated levels of stress can have detrimental effects on our bodies. When we’re consistently under pressure, our bodies begin to sabotage our fitness goals in several ways:
1. Muscle Breakdown: Chronically elevated cortisol levels lead to increased protein breakdown, causing our muscles to atrophy. This makes it challenging to build and maintain muscle mass, a crucial aspect of fitness.
2. Glycogen Depletion: Elevated cortisol levels also deplete our glycogen stores, leaving our energy reserves depleted and our ability to perform intense workouts hindered.
3. Hormonal Imbalance: The HPA axis can disrupt the natural balance of hormones, leading to decreased testosterone and human growth hormone (HGH) production. This hormonal imbalance can slow down the growth and repair of our muscles.
4. Inflammation and Recovery: Chronic stress can lead to increased inflammation, making it more challenging for our bodies to recover from intense workouts. This hinders our ability to adapt to new exercises and stresses, impeding progress towards our fitness goals.
5. Mood and Motivation: High levels of stress can also impact our mental well-being, leading to decreased motivation, anxiety, and frustration. This can result in a vicious cycle of self-sabotage, making it difficult to maintain a consistent fitness routine.
Practical Tips to Mitigate the Effects of High-Intensity Stress on Fitness Goals

While it’s essential to acknowledge the potential risks of high-intensity stress on our fitness goals, there are several strategies to help mitigate these effects:
1. Practices Stress-Reducing Techniques: Regularly engage in mindfulness exercises, meditation, or yoga to reduce stress levels and promote relaxation.
2. Prioritize Sleep: Ensure you’re getting 7-9 hours of sleep per night to help regulate your HPA axis and reduce cortisol levels.
3. Incorporate Stress-Reducing Foods: Focus on consuming stress-reducing foods, such as omega-3 rich fatty fish, complex carbohydrates, and lean lean protein sources.
4. Schedule Downtime: Build time into your schedule for relaxation and leisure activities to help manage stress.
5. Gradually Introduce New Workouts: Avoid sudden changes in your workout routine, gradually introducing new exercises to allow your body to adapt to the demands placed upon it.
6. Cultivate a Support Network: Surround yourself with people who encourage and support you, helping to reduce feelings of isolation and anxiety.
7. Schedule Regular Self-Care: Make time for activities that bring you joy, relaxation, and a sense of accomplishment, helping to reduce overall stress levels.
Conclusion

The high-intensity stress response is a natural and necessary response to acute stressors. However, chronically elevated levels of stress can have devastating effects on our fitness goals. By understanding the ways in which high-intensity stress can sabotage our efforts, we can take steps to mitigate these effects and cultivate a healthier, more balanced lifestyle. By incorporating stress-reducing techniques, prioritizing sleep, and scheduling downtime, we can optimize our bodies for fitness and well-being.

FAQs

Q: How can I manage my stress levels in the short term?
A: Engage in deep breathing exercises, try progressive muscle relaxation, or practice visualization techniques to help manage stress in the short term.

Q: Can high-intensity stress be beneficial for fitness goals?
A: Yes, a moderate level of stress can actually enhance our bodies’ response to exercise. However, chronically elevated levels of stress can have negative effects on our fitness goals.

Q: Can I still achieve my fitness goals if I experience high-intensity stress?
A: Yes, while high-intensity stress can be challenging, it’s not impossible to achieve fitness goals. Focus on making gradual changes, prioritizing sleep, and incorporating stress-reducing activities to help mitigate the effects of high-intensity stress.

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March 6, 2025
Trump Applauds 13-Year-Old Cancer Survivor After Slashing Funding for Pediatric Cancer Research

President Donald Trump honored and applauded a young cancer survivor during his recent joint address to Congress despite his numerous attempts to cut funding for healthcare, including pediatric cancer research.

DJ Daniel, 13, was introduced to the audience by the 47th president on Tuesday night, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd.

“Joining us in the gallery tonight is a young man who truly loves our police,” Trump announced. “His name is DJ Daniel is 13 years old, and he has always dreamed of becoming a police officer. But in 2018, DJ was diagnosed with brain cancer. The doctors gave him five months at most to live. That was more than six years ago.”

Daniel and his father have been trying to actualize Daniel’s dream of becoming a real police officer, Trump explained. Since they began, the child has become an honorary member of local police departments, reported ABC News.

“Tonight, DJ, we’re going to do you the biggest honor of them all,” Trump said. “I am asking our new Secret Service Director, Sean Curran, to officially make you an agent of the United States.”

Last month, the Trump administration attempted to enact cuts worth $4 billion for funding towards cancer research at universities, cancer centers and hospitals. He attempted to impose a policy under which indirect costs for research grants distributed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) would be capped at 15 percent.

Universities and research centers responded to this initiative with a lawsuit claiming that cutting this funding represented “flagrantly unlawful action” and “will devastate medical research at America’s universities.” US District Court Judge Angel Kelley ordered the administration to hold off on the cuts.

“Once again, President Trump and Elon Musk are acting in direct violation of the law. In this case, they are causing irreparable damage to ongoing research to develop cures and treatments for cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, ALS, Diabetes, Mental Health disorders, opioid abuse, genetic diseases, rare diseases, and other diseases and conditions affecting American families,” said Education Subcommittee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro. “The Trump Administration is attempting to steal critical funds promised to scientific research institutions funded by the NIH, despite an explicit legal prohibition against this action.”

“The reduction in research and care funding is a devastating setback for the pediatric cancer community, one that threatens all the progress we’ve made. This unfortunate turn of events only reinforces the urgent need for us to continue advancing care, supporting cutting-edge research, and improving conditions for pediatric cancer patients and their families,” Danielle Fragalla, the Chief Executive Officer of Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation, said.

“At the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation, our work has never been more critical. Through our institutional priorities—Powering Research, Equitable Care, and Survivorship & Mental Health—we are committed to driving innovating solutions that not only improve outcomes but also ensure that every child and family has access to the support they need.”

Originally published by Latin Times.

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March 5, 2025
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March 5, 2025
5 Ways to Make Exercise Less Boring
Exercise feels monotonous and boring, and it’s the last thing I want to do with my free time.

Sound familiar? Believe us, you’re not alone if you feel this way. It’s hard to drum up motivation when you think something is boring. Nobody wants to spend their free time doing monotonous and tedious tasks! So, how can we make movement less tedious and more enjoyable—something you look forward to?

Savoring is a psychological tool that can help with changing our perspective. Let’s unpack this to transform “Exercise is boring” into “I’m motivated to do this!”

How to Make Exercise Enjoyable

Exercise can often feel more like a “should” than a want. You know it’s good for you in the long term, but you don’t want to invest the time right now. Temptation bundling is pairing something that has delayed rewards (exercise, in this case) with something that is pleasurable in the short term. In a large research study with over 6,000 participants, when subjects were told to pair their session with a pleasurable audiobook they only listened to when they exercised, it boosted their likelihood of doing a weekly workout by 10–14%. Why? When you temptation bundle exercise, it’s instantly less boring and more gratifying.

Being with friends can turn into a pickleball meetup. Your love for coffee can turn into a walk to the local café to grab a cup. Stretching your hips or being active in the garden can pair nicely with listening to your favorite podcast. To shift your perspective on exercise monotony, think about the type of exercise you’re trying to motivate yourself to do, then come up with some fun, enjoyable activities you can do or environments you can create at the same time. You can try some of these ideas:
- Take a walk at the farmers’ market.
- Call your sister while walking.
- Watch your favorite show at the gym (and only at the gym!).
- Wear your most comfy exercise clothes while you move.
- Bike along the prettiest streets.
- Book a class with your favorite instructor.
I (Diana) temptation bundle by stretching while watching our favorite family show, The Amazing Race. Teams are racing around the world, and I send my foot around in circles, or take a figure four stretch to work on my hips, or practice doing headstands with my kids. My body thanks me for it, and it feels better to move while watching people sprint to the finish line.

With temptation bundling, it’s pretty simple: to make your movement less monotonous, pair it with something else you love.

I (Katy) love rocking out to music, but between work and family time, I struggle to find time to blast what I want to hear. So for me, heading out for a walk is just as much about a chance to listen to music uninterrupted as it is the exercise of taking a walk. Looking forward to picking out my own music is often what motivates me at the end of the day.

With temptation bundling, it’s pretty simple: to make your movement less monotonous, pair it with something else you love. And be present while you do it (don’t worry, we’re about to teach you how!).

How to Savor Exercise

You can make movement less boring by bringing awareness to the full experience of moving your body…and savoring it. Savoring is the act of intentionally paying attention to, appreciating, and enhancing the positive aspects of an experience. When you savor your experience, it increases your positive emotions, helps with stress reduction, and can turn even the most mundane experiences into pleasurable ones.

The key here is to be fully present with pleasurable aspects of what you are doing—flexibly shining your attention spotlight on the good stuff. This doesn’t mean ignoring discomfort; it’s more about attentional shift—which involves perspective-taking and being present. You get to choose where you place your attention.

Try this right now:
1. Let your chin drop toward your chest, then gently bring your right ear toward your right shoulder, then slowly take your left ear to your left shoulder.
2. Notice: Where is the movement restricted? Where is it easy?
3. Linger on the spots that could use a little extra love. Breathe into and around the areas that are tight and relax your shoulders. Close your eyes and luxuriate in the chance to rest your mind as you roll.
4. Have gratitude for this moment to be with your body. Even the most monotonous things can become interesting when you are present for them and savor them.
There are five ways to savor an experience, according to Erika Miyakawa, a Japanese psychologist who researches savoring: thanksgiving, basking, marveling, luxuriating, and knowing. They all involve being fully present with your experience. Let’s explore how you can apply each of these to your movement or exercise.

5 Ways to Savor

Pick a physical activity that you usually find tedious or repetitive (for me, Diana, this is walking in circles around the airport while waiting to board, or waiting during my son’s baseball practice while he’s doing drills). Now try to apply each of these types of savoring to it. Notice how it changes your experience.
1. Thanksgiving: Appreciate the opportunity to move your body. Feel gratitude for this chance to move. Appreciate the place, people, and activities you get to engage with by moving your body.
2. Basking: Take in feelings of pride at growing stronger in your body with movement. Feel the accomplishment of living out your values, finishing a challenging workout, or meeting movement goals.
3. Marveling: Let yourself feel awe through movement. Be amazed by the beauty of nature, surprising sights, and the capabilities of your human body.
4. Luxuriating: Enjoy the physical and sensory pleasures of movement. Enjoy the good feeling of stretching your muscles, the release of tension and stress, the flow of your body, or the creativity of movement.
5. Knowing: Savor the wisdom that comes through moving your body—the knowledge you gain from interacting with new places, fresh faces, experiences, and challenges, or the knowledge gained by learning about yourself and your capacities.
The next time you find exercise a drag, dear reader, try this savoring skill and focus your attention on the positive aspects of movement. The most important factor is being fully present—shifting your attention to here and now, and the good that can come with moving your body.

Rethinking Movement: Make It Playful

Exercise often has to be slotted into our free time, where it’s competing with all the other things we enjoy doing. For many, exercise can feel like a chore: boring! Counting reps or laps, monitoring intensity, and paying attention to other metrics is the opposite of play, and when it comes to motivating ourselves to pick movement, we might need to boost the fun factor.

Think about the physical activities you loved as a kid, back before you thought about them being good for you and instead just thought they were fun.

Any movement can become playful—play has more to do with your attitude than the specific activity—and playful activities can be easier to stick to. Sports and physical games, like pickleball and Kubb (a backyard throwing game) count, but it’s also playful to get a weighted hoop going around your midsection for fifteen minutes while you’re standing in the living room. Reroute your daily walk past a playground, where you can go across the monkey bars, ride the slide, and hop on the swings to challenge your vestibular/balance system. Put on your favorite dance music and boogie. I (Diana) keep a big open space in our living room solely for the purpose of fun movement. Over the years we’ve played balloon volleyball and Twister, and made forts together there. Open spaces are great invitations for the whole family to move.

Think about the physical activities you loved as a kid, back before you thought about them being good for you and instead just thought they were fun. For me (Katy), some playful activities were “being a mermaid” in the pool for hours, riding bikes with my sister around our neighborhood until dark, and hitting tennis balls against the side of the house by myself. When you’re looking to add movement, there’s no need to pick from a list of activities you find boring. Find exercise that closely resembles your “play” list so it’s easier to choose.

This excerpt is from Diana Hill and Katy Bowman’s forthcoming book I Know I Should Exercise, But…: 44 Reasons We Don’t Move and How to Get Over Them (Uphill Books, March 2025) and is reprinted with permission from the publisher.
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March 5, 2025
The Ultimate Guide to Zero Waste Living
The Ultimate Guide to Zero Waste Living

Introduction

In today’s fast-paced world, waste has become an inevitable part of our daily lives. From packaging and single-use plastics to disposable goods and excess consumption, it’s easy to get caught in the cycle of waste. However, the environmental, social, and economic impacts of waste can be devastating. As consumers, we have the power to make a change and adopt a zero-waste lifestyle. In this guide, we’ll explore the concepts, strategies, and practical tips to help you transition to a zero-waste living.

Understanding Zero Waste

Zero-waste living is not about achieving perfection but rather making conscious choices to reduce waste in all aspects of your life. It’s about adopting a minimalist lifestyle, reducing consumption, and promoting sustainability. Zero-waste living is not just about recycling and composting but also about changing our mindset and thinking about the impact of our actions on the environment.

Benefits of Zero Waste Living

Adopting a zero-waste lifestyle can have numerous benefits, including:
- Reduced carbon footprint and environmental impact
- Saved money and reduced financial waste
- Increased awareness and accountability for your consumption habits
- Improved health and well-being due to reduced exposure to toxins
- Stronger community connections and social connections
Practical Tips for Zero Waste Living
1. Reduce Your Footprint:
  - Assess your lifestyle and identify areas where you can reduce waste
  - Shop second-hand and reuse items instead of buying new
  - Avoid single-use plastics and opt for reusable alternatives
  - Choose products with minimal packaging or those packaged in biodegradable materials
2. Practice the 4 Rs:
  - Refuse single-use plastics, straws, and water bottles
  - Reduce your consumption and only purchase what you need
  - Reuse items like bags, containers, and containers
  - Recycle and compost as much as possible
3. Get Creative with Reuse:
  - Upcycle old items to create new products
  - Repurpose jars, bags, and containers for storage
  - Use cloth napkins, towels, and dishtowels instead of paper products
4. Swap, Share, and Borrow:
  - Share items with friends and family instead of buying duplicates
  - Borrow items instead of purchasing new
  - Participate in clothing swaps and exchanges
5. Plan and Prepare:
  - Meal plan and prepare meals in bulk to reduce food waste
  - Plan your shopping trips and avoid impulse purchases
  - Use a zero-waste shopping list to stay on track
Zero Waste in the Home
1. Zero-Waste Kitchen:
  - Switch to a menstrual cup and reusable products
  - Use rags and cloth pads instead of disposable alternatives
  - Compost food waste and yard trimmings
2. Zero-Waste Bathroom:
  - Use a reusable water bottle and refill
  - Avoid single-use soap, shampoo, and toothpaste
  - Use a menstrual cup and reusable products
3. Zero-Waste Laundry:
  - Choose laundry detergents with minimal packaging
  - Use a reusable laundry bag and soap nuts for cleaning
  - Avoid fabric softener and dryer sheets
Zero Waste in Daily Life
1. Zero-Waste Travel:
  - Bring a reusable water bottle and coffee cup
  - Avoid single-use travel accessories
  - Choose accommodations with eco-friendly policies
2. Zero-Waste Work:
  - Bring a reusable coffee cup and lunch container
  - Avoid single-use office supplies
  - Choose a job or work with companies that prioritize sustainability
3. Zero-Waste Community:
  - Join local zero-waste groups and attend events
  - Participate in community clean-ups and fundraise for environmental causes
  - Support zero-waste businesses and initiatives
Conclusion

Zero-waste living is achievable and empowering. By adopting a few simple habits, you can reduce your environmental footprint, save money, and promote sustainability. Remember, zero-waste living is a journey, not a destination. Start with small changes and gradually work towards a more zero-waste lifestyle.

FAQs

Q: How do I get started with zero-waste living?
A: Start by assessing your lifestyle and identifying areas where you can make changes. Begin with small steps like refusing single-use plastics and reducing consumption.

Q: How can I reduce food waste?
A: Plan your meals and prepare food in bulk, and compost food waste and yard trimmings.

Q: What are some affordable zero-waste alternatives?
A: Look for reusable products, second-hand shopping, and DIY projects to reduce consumption and save money.

Q: I’m already reducing my waste, is there more I can do?
A: Yes, continue to educate yourself on sustainable living and participate in community initiatives. Encourage friends and family to join you in the zero-waste journey.

Q: What’s the biggest impact I can make?
A: Your everyday choices have a significant impact. By making conscious decisions about consumption and waste, you can contribute to a larger movement towards sustainability.
March 5, 2025
Are Plant-Based Meats Good for Us?

What are the different impacts of plant protein versus animal protein, and do the benefits of plant proteins translate to plant protein isolates?

Are plant-based burgers healthy or not? The answer is: Compared to what? Eating is kind of a zero-sum game where every food has an opportunity cost. Each time we put something in our mouth, it’s a lost opportunity to eat something even healthier. So, if we want to know if something is healthy, we have to compare it to what we’d be eating instead. For example, are eggs healthy? Compared to a breakfast sausage link, yes, but compared to oatmeal? Not even close. Sausage is considered a Group 1 carcinogen. We know that consumption of processed meat causes cancer. Each 50-gram serving a day (equal to about one or two breakfast sausages) has been linked to an 18 percent higher risk of colorectal cancer. In fact, the risk of getting colorectal cancer from eating those daily sausages is about the same as the increased risk of lung cancer we’d get from breathing in secondhand cigarette smoke living with a smoker. So, compared to sausage, eggs are healthy, but compared to oatmeal, eggs are not.

When it comes to Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods plant-based burger patties, they may be better in that they have less saturated fat than conventional meat burgers, but if you really want less saturated fat, plant-based meats are no match for unprocessed plant foods, such as lentils and beans. And lentil soup or a bean burrito could certainly fill the same culinary niche as a lunchtime burger. But, if you are going to have some kind of burger, it’s easy to argue that plant-based versions are more healthful, as seen below and at 1:43 in my video Plant-Based Protein: Are Pea and Soy Protein Isolates Harmful?.

There is a sodium issue with those plant-based patties, though, and they aren’t that much lower in saturated fat. That is due to coconut oil, which is as bad as animal fat, so there isn’t much advantage on that front. I am excited to say that Beyond Meat has since significantly improved their formula since I made that graph for UBS. Now Beyond has 310mg of sodium and only 2 grams of saturated fat thanks to a switch from coconut oil to avocado oil.

The total protein is similar across the board. Does that matter? Is there any advantage to eating protein from plants over animals? Let’s look at the association between plant and animal protein intake and mortality. In the twin Harvard cohorts, which followed more than 100,000 men and women over decades, researchers wrote: “After adjusting for other dietary and lifestyle factors, animal protein intake was associated with a higher risk for mortality, particularly CVD mortality,” that is, dying from cardiovascular disease, “whereas higher plant protein intake was associated with lower all-cause mortality,” meaning a lower risk of dying from all causes put together. So, “replacing animal protein of various origins with plant protein was associated with lower mortality,” especially if processed meat and egg protein were replaced, as they were the worst.

When it comes to living a longer life, plant protein sources beat out each and every animal protein source. Not just better than bacon and eggs, but better than burgers, chicken, turkey, fish, and dairy protein, as shown here and at 2:53 in my video.

Together with other studies, these “findings support the importance of protein sources for the long-term health outcome and suggest that plants constitute a preferred protein source compared with animal foods.” Why? Well, “unlike animal protein, plant protein has not been associated with increased insulin-like growth factor 1 levels.” (IGF-1 is a cancer-promoting growth hormone.) Soy protein is similar enough to animal protein that, at high enough doses, like eating two Impossible burgers a day, our IGF-1 may get a bump. But the only reason we care about IGF-1 is cancer risk, and, if anything, “higher soy intake is associated with a decreased risk of breast and prostate cancer.”

A recent systematic review and meta-analysis found that “soy protein intake was associated with a decreased risk in the mortality of breast cancer,” for instance. “A 12% reduction in breast cancer death was observed for each 5-g/day increase in soy protein intake.” But, as shown below and at 4:07 in my video, the high-soy groups in these studies were on the order of more than 16 grams a day, which was associated with an incredible 62 percent lower risk of dying from breast cancer. More than 10 daily grams of soy protein may be good, associated with nearly halving breast cancer mortality risk, and getting more than 16 grams a day may be better, which is like one Impossible burger a day. (We simply don’t know what happens at consumption levels far above that.)

Plant protein has also “been linked to lower blood pressure, reduced low-density lipoprotein [LDL cholesterol] levels, and improved insulin sensitivity. Substitution of plant protein for animal protein has been related to a lower incidence of CVD [cardiovascular disease] and type 2 diabetes.” Indeed, 21 different studies following nearly half a million people found that “high…animal protein intakes are associated with an increased risk of T2DM [type 2 diabetes], whereas moderate plant protein intake is associated with a decreased risk of T2DM.” Those were just observational studies, though. The researchers tried to control for other dietary and lifestyle factors, but cause and effect can’t be proven until it’s put to the test.

Enter “Effect of Replacing Animal Protein with Plant Protein on Glycemic [Blood Sugar] Control in Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.” Researchers found that replacing only about a third of protein from animal sources with plant sources yielded significant improvements in long-term blood sugar control, fasting blood sugars, and insulin.

Same with cholesterol. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on the effect of plant protein on blood fats again found that replacing animal protein with plant protein decreases LDL cholesterol. What’s more, this benefit occurs whether you start out with high or low cholesterol, whether you’re replacing dairy, or meat and eggs, and whether you’re swapping in soy or other plant proteins, as seen here and at 5:31 in my video.

We’ve known about soy’s beneficial effects on cholesterol for nearly 40 years, but other sources of plant protein can be helpful, too. However, in the case of plant-based burgers like Beyond Beef and the Impossible Burger, beef isn’t being replaced with beans. Those products are mostly isolated plant proteins—mostly pea protein isolate in Beyond Meat products and concentrated soy protein in Impossible Foods products. If you isolate the plant proteins themselves, will you still get benefits? Surprisingly, yes. Check it out.

The researchers concluded: “Interestingly, our…analyses did not ﬁnd a signiﬁcant difference between protein isolate products and whole food sources for any given endpoint, suggesting that the cholesterol-lowering effects are at least, in part, attributable to the plant protein itself rather than just the associated nutrients.” So, it isn’t just because plant protein travels with fiber or less saturated fat. Plant proteins break down into a different distribution of amino acids. So, if you give people arginine, an amino acid found more in plant foods, that alone can bring down cholesterol, for example. And the plant protein concentrates used in these meat-free products aren’t just pure protein; they retain some active compounds, such as phytosterols and antioxidants, which also can have beneficial effects.

This is the third in a series on plant-based meats. If you missed the first two, see The Environmental Impacts of Plant-Based Meat Substitutes and Are Beyond Meat and the Impossible Burger Healthy?.

Check the related posts below for the upcoming videos on plant-based meats.

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March 4, 2025
Health Officials Beg Texas Families Not to Attend ‘Measles Parties’ As Push to Get Kids Vaccinated Continues

Texas health officials have pleaded with families residing within the state, urging them to avoid attending “measles parties” and ensure that their children are vaccinated in the wake of a severe measles outbreak that has already killed one child.

“Measles parties” refer to gatherings in which attendees deliberately expose themselves to the illness within a controlled environment in order to build natural immunity instead of obtaining a vaccine, reported Dallas News.

“It’s not good to go have measles parties … let me discourage you from doing this,” Dr. Ron Cook, chief health officer for the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock, said during a Friday press briefing. “We can’t predict who is going to do poorly with measles, be hospitalized and potentially get pneumonia or encephalitis and or pass away from this.”

Prior to the invention of the chicken pox vaccine in 1995, people would attend “chicken pox parties” for the same reasons, resulting in the rapid spreading of the illness. Measles is among the most contagious viruses globally and can severely impact those who are not vaccinated.

As of Monday, there are nearly 150 cases of the illness in the state, according to the Texas Department of Health Services, with one unvaccinated child dying from the illness last month.

“There are severe outcomes like pneumonia or death. There is encephalitis or inflammation of the brain. Even more rare, but it can happen … years down the road after you develop measles, you can get what is called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, which is fatal. It is a known side effect of having measles,” Cook continued.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has also encouraged people to get the measles vaccine following news of the outbreak, despite previously stating that the outbreak was “not unusual” during President Donald Trump’s first Cabinet meeting.

“Ending the measles outbreak is a top priority for me and my extraordinary team,” Kennedy said in a post on X.

Originally published by Latin Times.

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March 4, 2025
Healthy Young Man Nearly Dies From Stroke After Violent Sneeze Ruptures His Neck Artery

A fit and healthy young man in California is now facing a long and difficult recovery after suffering a major stroke, which nearly claimed his life. The stroke occurred after a seemingly harmless natural response—sneezing—caused a rupture in one of his neck arteries.

Ian Applegate, a 35-year-old from Santa Cruz started experiencing alarming symptoms of stroke on Feb 9, after sneezing while sitting inside his car with his wife and their four-year-old son. It was Applegate’s first day back at work after being down with flu for a week.

“I had just started the car and was getting ready to drive. I sneezed three times, then the third time it caused this blinding headache and made everything spin,” he recollected.

Applegate suddenly felt an excruciating, blinding headache, intense dizziness that felt like the world was spinning, and severe shooting pain that radiated from his neck to the back of his head and left eye. Soon, he sensed pins and needles across his body and the entire left side including his face went numb.

“The pain was excruciating. I was very disoriented and throwing up,” he said.

Suspecting a stroke, he was quickly rushed to the Dominican Hospital in California. Doctors discovered that his violent sneeze had caused a vertebral artery dissection, which led to a blockage and interrupted blood flow to his brain, triggering the stroke.

Vertebral artery dissection can occur without any clear cause but most likely occurs in people with certain health conditions, such as smoking, high blood pressure, or genetic disorders like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (issues of connective tissues). It can also result from neck injuries such as from car accidents, heavy weightlifting, or even sneezing. Other risks include yoga, chiropractic adjustments, or any situation involving sudden or prolonged neck movements.

Applegate was immediately put on blood-thinning medication to prevent further clotting and reduce the risk of additional complications. However, the severe stroke left him with significant damage to his left side, leaving him unable to swallow or walk without assistance, even a month after the incident.

“It was a pretty hard sneeze but I’ve never experienced anything like this in my life. I never thought this was possible. I’m scared to sneeze now. My wife is eight months pregnant and I want to be there for the delivery.”

“I can tell I’m going to struggle to take care of myself and the baby. I just want to be home in time for the baby’s birth. I’m trying to stay positive and continue my exercises until I get better,” he said.

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March 3, 2025
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March 3, 2025
Mental Health Interpreters Are at Risk of Burnout—But Mindfulness Could Help

The first time Adele Routliff tried communicating with her Deaf mother in public using sign language, her mother, she says, “put her hands on mine and placed [them] back in my lap. In other words, no, we don’t sign in public.” Her mother had grown up in a residential school for the Deaf where sign language was forbidden—enforced by physical punishment—and had internalized the idea that signing was only safe in private settings. Adele didn’t understand her mother’s resistance and so continued signing, even as her mother’s eyes grew wide with fear. “I didn’t understand it then,” she says. “But I know now it was shame.”

Now a certified American Sign Language-English interpreter, Adele actively works to raise awareness of deafness by bridging the communication gap and highlighting the importance of mental health in Deaf communities. Her lived experiences have motivated her in becoming a trained mental health interpreter, in providing mental health interpreting workshops for those looking to develop their skills, and in designing and implementing a curriculum for training new interpreters through Canadian Hearing Services.

Historically, Deaf mental health has been overlooked, and it received minimal attention until the past decade. Dr. Cathy Chovaz—director of the Centre for Deaf Education and Accessibility Forum (CDEAF) and an associate professor of psychology at King’s University College (Western University)—provides mental health care to Deaf individuals. She has led research that suggests that Deaf people face heightened risks of depression and anxiety, compounded by significant barriers and poorer outcomes within the justice system, mainstream education, and healthcare settings. Dr. Chovaz’ research shows that many healthcare professionals aren’t trained to recognize mental health conditions in Deaf patients. As a result, Deaf individuals are often misdiagnosed or go undiagnosed, even though they face unique challenges that put them at higher risk, such as limited early access to sign language, communication barriers within their families, neurological conditions linked to certain causes of deafness, and experiences of trauma or abuse.

The Challenges of Mental-Health Interpreting

Considering the challenges faced by Deaf individuals, it’s not surprising that sign language interpreters working in medical and mental health settings also face heightened risks.

Sign language interpreting requires the interpreter to use their face and their body to communicate, both with the Deaf person and to the hearing person, an experience that can be emotionally and physically taxing. Sign language interpreters also have to remember that their job is to relay every word exactly as it’s signed—no matter how uncomfortable it makes them. One mental health interpreter, who wishes to remain anonymous—we’ll call her Jane—shared how challenging this can be: “There have been times I felt like I needed to wash my mouth out with soap,” referring to the language she had to interpret. “You almost want to say, ‘It’s not me, it’s them.’”

You walk into the most intimate moments in people’s lives as an interpreter. I’ve been at births, I’ve been at deaths, I’ve been at funerals. I’ve been there when families have blown up.

Jane explained that while interpreters are trained to remain impartial, it’s hard not to have a natural human reaction to some of the distressing things they hear in medical and mental health settings. “You’re told you’re just there to convey the language—to maintain professionalism, set boundaries, and be mindful of how you come across,” she said. This is especially crucial in high-stress or emotionally charged situations, which interpreters often find themselves navigating. As Adele said, “You walk into the most intimate moments in people’s lives as an interpreter. I’ve been at births, I’ve been at deaths, I’ve been at funerals. I’ve been there when families have blown up.”

The Health Risks of Helping People Be Heard

Medical interpreters who work with hearing people play a critical role in helping patients with limited English access and navigate the healthcare system, but the job can bring with it significant emotional strain. They often find themselves in high-stress situations: delivering difficult news, bridging cultural gaps, and facilitating conversations between doctors, patients, and families. Research shows that interpreters, especially those working with cancer patients and children, experience high levels of stress and struggle to manage their own mental health while supporting others.

Research shows that interpreters, especially those working with cancer patients and children, experience high levels of stress and struggle to manage their own mental health while supporting others.

And this emotional burden isn’t unique to spoken language interpreters—it also extends to sign language interpreters, who face their own distinct challenges in medical settings. Although research findings are mixed, recent studies indicate that regular exposure to emotionally charged or traumatic content significantly increases sign language interpreters’ vulnerability to vicarious trauma and secondary traumatic stress, with poor mental health outcomes reported in as many as 83% of interpreters. Jane shared with me a particularly stressful assignment: “I recognized I was no longer able to manage my emotions and it was affecting my ability to interpret in a neutral manner. So I had to take a step back.”

Mindful Skills May Help Sign Language Interpreters

Those working in emotionally charged settings, particularly medical and mental health contexts, could benefit from preventive measures. One promising approach is the use of mindfulness practices. While it is an understudied area, some research suggests that mindfulness can help interpreters manage work-related stress. A recent study adapted Mindful Practice® in Medicine (MPIM)—an evidence-based mindfulness program created by two physicians to improve coping skills and combat burnout—for medical interpreters.

The findings showed that the program effectively reduced distress in both spoken and sign language medical interpreters. The study also found that most participants valued the opportunity to share their stressors in an open and understanding environment with fellow medical interpreters. This sense of community not only helped them become more empathetic listeners but also provided a supportive space to debrief and develop mindful strategies for managing the challenges of their work.

Incorporating mindfulness-based practices into interpreter training programs and providing ongoing professional development can help interpreters better handle emotionally charged situations, enhance self-awareness and emotional regulation, build resilience to burnout, and, like Jane, recognize when an assignment exceeds their capacity. Jane, though not formally trained in mindfulness practices, shared that using mindfulness has helped her. Even something as simple as parking her car further away from her workplace, requiring a longer walk, was helpful to her in processing her day. Similarly, Adele has gained the ability to check in with herself and know what her limits are. While both have been lucky enough to find mindfulness in their own lives, the industry could benefit from offering interpreters formal mindfulness training, which could significantly reduce the stress of challenging interpretation work.

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March 3, 2025