In a small pilot program, researchers from the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have created technologies that will ultimately enable cellphones to automatically detect and intervene when a person suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or substance abuse problems needs support.  In a paper published in the Journal of Medical Toxicology, the researchers describe the first generation system, which includes wireless sensors that can measure stress symptoms and algorithms capable of crunching data from those sensors to detect patterns that suggest an emerging anxiety attack or drug craving.

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Pureed into soup, boiled, or grilled, this is one spring veggie you can't afford to forget about: artichokes.

Here's one of the best ways to satisfy your sweet tooth while keeping your blood pressure in check: Take a nibble of dark chocolate.

Got some vacation time built up? Then put aside whatever excuses you've been using for not taking it, and plan a mini holiday. Right now! Your heart requires it.

Depression in new mothers is well recognized -- but new dads get depressed, too, and it can negatively affect parenting, according to a large observational study.

As the New York Times and other news outlets have reported, the H1N1 pandemic so far has been less severe than many had feared. That said, some experts believe that the winter months may bring an additional, more serious outbreak of H1N1 flu. Furthermore, as reported in the Boston Globe, studies suggest that H1N1 flu can be devastating to “patients with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and other respiratory conditions.” Your Health Alerts team encourages all Yeshiva University community members to be inoculated against H1N1 influenza. The Google flu shot finder can help you locate clinics and retail outlets offering the H1N1 and seasonal flu shots. Injectable H1N1 vaccines are available at our campus health centers (Beren: 212.340.7792; Wilf, 646.685.0391). According to a December 31, 2009 communiqué from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene: We are just now entering what are usually the peak months for influenza transmission, so the Health Department urges you to immunize all patients who want protection against the H1N1 virus. There are no restrictions on who can receive H1N1 vaccine. Please remember that children from 6 months to 10 years of age need 2 doses of the H1N1 vaccine (a minimum of 21 days apart) to be fully protected.

Dear students: We would like to remind you that the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines are now available at both the Beren Campus and the Wilf Campus Student Health Center. At the present time, we have both the intra-nasal and injectable vaccines on campus and can accommodate both special needs and the general student population. If you have not yet done so, please drop by the Health Centers during their regular hours for your vaccinations. Beren Campus Student Health Center Brookdale Residence Hall, 2nd Floor Monday – Thursday: 8:30 am – noon and 1:00 – 4:30 pm Friday: 8:30 am – noon and 1:00 – 2:30 pm Wilf Campus Student Health Center 116 Laurel Hill Terrace (corner of 187th street) Monday – Thursday: 8:30 am – noon and 1:00 – 4:30 pm Friday: 8:30 am – noon and 1:00 – 2:30 pm There is a fee of $5 for the H1N1 vaccine and $18 for the seasonal flu vaccine. If you have a specific medical condition that might impact your decision to be vaccinated, please speak to your primary care physician. If there are any questions, please contact your Health Center (Beren Campus: 212.340.7792; Wilf Campus: 646.685.0391). Wishing everyone a Happy Hanukkah, Chaim Nissel, Psy.D. Associate Dean of Students for Health Affairs Director of Counseling Center Yeshiva University

The New York Times reports on research suggesting that loneliness is contagious and may cause a “cascade of loneliness” within a social network. The article quotes Dr. Nicholas A. Christakis of Harvard Medical School about the importance of paying attention to people who are socially isolated: When we pay attention to the experiences of those at the periphery, when we make an effort to prevent this sad experience of loneliness, then we can stabilize the whole social network… We all benefit when we attend to the needs of those at the margins. There is a risk of loneliness and isolation in any community—all the more so in a hectic metropolitan area like New York, and at a university like our own that prides itself on a challenging academic environment. So, what can you do today, right now, to reach out to people who might be feeling lonely? How about inviting them for coffee, asking them along to an event or just dropping by to say a quick “hello”? Time offers additional coverage and also reports on the happiness effect—the idea that positive emotions and behaviors can spread up to three degrees of separation away.

With midterms and holiday preparations fast upon us, anxiety is on the rise. The New York Times reports good news in the fight against anxiety: Researchers at Princeton University recently made a remarkable discovery about the brains of rats that exercise. Some of their neurons respond differently to stress than the neurons of slothful rats. “It looks more and more like the positive stress of exercise prepares cells and structures and pathways within the brain so that they’re more equipped to handle stress in other forms,” says one scientist quoted by the Times. Read the Times article for all the details, and take note: Exercise over time (for six weeks or more) appears to offer the most dramatic benefits, and aerobic activity (including swimming, jogging and cycling) seems to be key. Best of luck with midterms and a Happy Thanksgiving to all!