Smiling is good and brings many benefits, science confirms

An international analysis has shown how humour, used as a real hospital therapy, alleviates symptoms of anxiety, stress and depression in long-term chronic patients such as children who have just undergone surgery or even elderly people in nursing homes. The research was conducted internationally and published in the journal 'Brain and Behavior'. 

Basically, it was a review of the existing literature (quantitative, qualitative and mixed studies). Thus, in addition to existing papers, as many as 29 articles were included, involving 2964 participants, conducted in nine different countries, such as the United States, Australia, Italy, Turkey, South Korea, Iran, Israel, China and Germany.

The majority of patients, the study authors suggest, stated that humour therapy had positive effects in reducing anxiety and depression, compared to a small number of subjects who found this approach to be insignificant.

The vitamin B complex is a collective name for the B vitamins. They are water-soluble vitamins, necessary for the proper functioning of the metabolism. 

The B vitamins are essential for providing us with the energy we need to carry out our daily activities, as well as for protecting our skin, hair and teeth, and for the prevention of certain diseases, from cardiovascular to neurological to skin diseases. 

The 8 B vitamins include vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, vitamin B8, vitamin B9 and vitamin B12. 

What are the main sources of vitamin B? Let's find out together. (Source: humanitas.co.uk)

Continuous nail gnawing can lead to infection and damage to the cuticles, causing pain and irritation. 

It is important to try to break this nasty habit for the sake of the health and appearance of your nails. There are several strategies you can try, such as wearing fake nails or regular manicures to keep your nails looking their best, and finding healthy alternatives to manage stress and frustrations, such as yoga or physical activities.

Here are some of our tips for overcoming this addiction.

Abdominal diastasis is a problem that can affect some women in the postpartum phase. Often still considered just a cosmetic problem, abdominal diastasis actually involves a number of very uncomfortable symptoms.

When we speak of abdominal diastasis, we are referring to an enlargement and excessive separation of the central rectus abdominis muscles. The consequences of this vary depending on whether the two muscles are separated to a greater or lesser extent.

The reason why the problem occurs is mainly related to pregnancy, particularly if it is twins. However, it can also develop in men, both in cases of obesity and in cases of major weight loss. (Source: grupposandonato.it)

Parotitis is an infectious disease that is caused by a Paramyxovirus virus that is characterised by enlargement of the parotid glands located under the ears.

Like other diseases, parotitis can only be transmitted by contagion from person to person. The infection can affect individuals of any age, with complications affecting adults in particular.

Parotitis has specific symptoms, which allow it to be detected and is contagious in the first few days before symptoms appear. (Source: epicentre.iss.it)

Triglycerides are a class of lipids that can have a decisive influence on a person's cardiovascular risk.

If a balanced diet is followed, a normal amount of triglycerides is absolutely necessary for the body's health. If pathological causes or an unbalanced diet intervene, on the other hand, excess triglycerides (hypertriglyceridaemia) could seriously endanger health itself.

Let's therefore try to understand what the causes and symptoms of high triglycerides may be and what diet can help keep levels under control.

Having a beautiful, healthy and well-groomed smile greatly increases one's self-esteem, confidence in others and security in everyday life. 

Some people, however, experience a sense of discomfort and shame due to the yellowing of their teeth. Yellow teeth are not always the result of inadequate oral hygiene, but can be the consequence of many factors, from genetics to foods ingested to liquids drunk, among many other things.

Fortunately, modern medicine is well aware of the causes of yellowing teeth, as well as all the prevention and especially treatment strategies.

A phobia indicates an irrational and persistent fear and revulsion of certain situations, objects, activities, animals or people, which can sometimes be limiting and can have an impact on our everyday life.

Almost everyone has a more or less pronounced phobia, but while some are very rare and particular, others are widespread.

The 'World Mental Health Survey Initiative', a collaborative project of the WHO, Harvard University and the University of Michigan, has ranked the most widespread phobias.

When the intensity of blood directed to the brain decreases, a loss of consciousness and thus fainting may occur.

Fainting, mechanically, is manifested by a sudden loss of muscle tone, which causes a fall towards the ground, with loss of facial colouring. Before fainting, one may experience weakness, nausea and problems with vision and hearing. Usually the loss of consciousness lasts about two minutes.

The causes of fainting can be as varied as the symptoms preceding it. (Source: Humanitas Hospital Milan)