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Posted: 2015-11-21T11:01:18Z | Updated: 2017-01-17T04:55:14Z ICYMI: Why Writers Run And How To Cope With Terrorism Anxiety | HuffPost Life

ICYMI: Why Writers Run And How To Cope With Terrorism Anxiety

Health stories you may have missed.
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ICYMI Health features what we're reading this week.

In light of last week's attacks in Paris, we spent time with a piece about anxiety in the face of terrorism and how to cope in what seems like an increasingly unpredictable world.

And in lighter fare, we read up on the running habits of our favorite writers, including Joyce Carol Oates, who used the solitary physicality of afternoon runs as a method of banishing writer's block.  

Read on and tell us in the comments: What did you read and love this week?

The world's collective response following the Paris attacks highlighted the bias humans have toward people and places that feel similar to them. 

Why are most of us more familiar with Paris than Beirut? Perhaps if we read more human interest stories about those who died in Beirut or had more cultural exchange with Lebanese movies and books, there would not be the same divide.

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Phillip Suddick via Getty Images

Jonathan Swift, Louisa May Alcott and Joyce Carol Oates all enjoyed the "special solitude" of running.

Running affords the freedom of distance, coupled with the literary appeal of solitude.  

It's often hard for regulators to determine how dangerous a drug is until history has run its course.

The distinction between medication and recreation is blurry, and becoming increasingly so.

 

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Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images

Rationally assessing their relative risk -- which can be hard! -- and limiting social media exposure can help worriers keep their anxiety in check.

The point of terrorism is to terrify, public officials often say in these situations, so the best reaction is to go about your lives. But what if you’re still anxious?

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Jacquie Boyd via Getty Images

A new head-to-head study of mindful eating vs. calorie counting showed that calories do matter.

No one, she says, is likely to lose weight over the long term by responding intuitively to hunger with a serving of chocolate cake.

Families grieving an infant are turning to an unconventional healing method -- having volunteer photographers document the infant's short life with photographs.

'The intimate tears and the faces I see on us in those pictures -- those are the ones I think that help me remember most of what happened that day,' Julie says. 'Not in a good or bad way, just remember.'

Weird Things Running Does To Your Body
Self-Healing Heart(01 of08)
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Any runner will tell you that nothing gets the heart pumping like a long run on a trail or treadmill. But new research suggests that all that heart-friendly exercise may actually cause temporary damage to the right ventricle . In a study of 40 elite athletes who were training for endurance running events, researchers found signs of damage immediately following the races the heart was enlarged, and function of the right ventricle had decreased.Dont let this send you running away from your workout and to the doctor, though: Scientists say they found no evidence that running isnt healthy, and that amazingly, the athletes hearts were able to completely heal themselves from the damage in about a week. (credit:Shutterstock)
Crackling Knees(02 of08)
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Patellofemoral pain syndrome, also known as runners knee , is one of the sports most common body wreckers. Watch out for pain around or just behind your kneecap, especially after long periods of sitting with bent knees, running, squatting, or climbing or descending stairs.Wondering what you did to your knee to provoke those angry clicking noises? Consider the knee joints delicate location: It serves as the connector between your thigh bone and shin bone. If your kneecap doesnt move properly at this junction or if you increase your mileage too fast, you can develop runners knee as you extend your leg.Dont rush to alter your running style, though. Burns says that many runners actually injure themselves further by trying to fix their stride. The best treatment is to take a short vacation from running, and then ease back in steadily with plenty of warm-up exercise and supplemental training, such as straight leg raises and stretches, to strengthen your knee joint. (credit:Shutterstock)
Dead Butt Syndrome(03 of08)
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Theres been a lot of hype lately about running being a literal pain in the butt, Burns says. Pain in the butt, or dead butt syndrome, refers to the formally named condition gluteus medius tendinosis, which is an inflammation of the tendons in your rear. This pain doesnt strike only runners any rigorous activity can trigger it but distance runners are among the athletes most likely to experience it.Burns says that overuse can be a factor, which is a sign from your body that you should slow down or take a break altogether. Pulled muscles, muscle strains, and hip and pelvis misalignment are other culprits. The pain most commonly starts in the glutes and shoots down the back of the leg, and it can worsen over time if you dont stop to take care of it.Burns advises taking the same measures with your achy bum as you would with a bum knee. Dont drastically change your running style or stride in hopes of deflecting pain, just give your body some good old-fashioned rest and TLC, a pain reliever like ibuprofen, and ice. Dead butt shouldnt sideline you for too long, but talk to your doctor if the pain doesnt subside after about a week. (credit:Shutterstock)
Black Toenails(04 of08)
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Are you going through a Goth phase, or is that not black nail polish on your big toe? If you find yourself with an unintentional (one-toed) pedicure after a hard run, youre not alone. Many runners suffer from black toenails, which are caused by bleeding underneath the nail.Improperly fitted or too-small footwear is usually the culprit. Two of the most important pieces of equipment I own are my shoes, Burns says. The correct shoe can make all the difference. An ill-fitting shoe can rub harshly on your feet, eventually causing enough friction to bruise or bloody the toes. Remedy the problem by buying your running shoes a size larger, or talking to experienced runners or personal trainers at your local gym for shoe recommendations. (credit:Shutterstock)
Chafing(05 of08)
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The sporting goods industry has been kind to womens chests, producing sports bras in every shape imaginable. But because men dont have the protection of a sports bra, their sensitive nipples can chafe easily during long-distance training. Burns says he has seen many male runners sporting bruised or bloody chests after a marathon, and he advises them to use petroleum jelly or bandages to protect their nipples during long runs.Female runners commonly chafe along the bikini line especially if they wear thong underwear. The ropelike fabric can rub and irritate that sensitive area, and excess sweat makes the problem worse. To protect your nether regions, choose comfort over fashion while working out. Look for undergarments made of fabrics with natural wicking properties, like nylon or mesh. (credit:Shutterstock)
Runny Nose(06 of08)
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When you go running, does your nose follow suit? A 2006 study in the Journal Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology found that 56 per cent of people got the sniffles while running outdoors. This condition is called exercise-induced rhinitis, and its probably caused by the increased air flow that you inhale as your breathing rate quickens, which sends your nose into mucus-producing overdrive. Also, the weather has a serious impact: Both cool air and dry air have been found to increase nasal mucus production.Dont let your running nose interfere with your running schedule. Consider taking an antihistamine to dry out nasal passages prior to your workout, tucking tissues into the pockets of your shorts, or switching to indoor training. (credit:Shutterstock)
Overactive Bladder(07 of08)
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Found yourself with the gotta-go feeling only a couple miles in though you went right before you started your run? This could be due to a couple of factors. Increased blood flow from the cardiovascular workout can speed up other body systems as well, including your kidneys production of urine. Also, the urge to pee may not be what it seems, Burns says. If youre dehydrated, your body may hold on to this concentrated reserve of urine, creating a sensation similar to the one you get when you have to urinate.If this is a problem, dont stop hydrating, as water is essential to a healthy workout. Instead, plan ahead to scope out pit stops along your route, and talk to your doctor if it becomes a consistent issue. (credit:Shutterstock)
Runner's High(08 of08)
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As devotees will tell you, running isnt all aches and pains. Perhaps one of the greatest side effects of a runners lifestyle besides the lean physique and cardiovascular health is the natural runners high that you get from pounding the pavement. The psychological benefits of running are enormous runners euphoria is a real, proven benefit, Burns says.According to a study in the journal Cerebral Cortex, running really does produce feel-good endorphins in the areas of the brain associated with emotion. The study found that the time and intensity of running required to achieve runners high differs from person to person, as does the intensity of the high. But in general, researchers found most people to be happier and more relaxed during and after runs. The same endorphins that produce runners high also relieve stress and boost mood. (credit:Shutterstock)

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