Health

Study Finds - A study published in BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care offers a glimmer of hope for those battling cancer pain. Researchers from Malaysia have discovered that a single 20-minute session of mindful breathing can significantly reduce pain intensity, unpleasantness, and anxiety in cancer patients. Led by Dr. Seng Beng Tan from the Subang Jaya Medical Centre, the study aimed to explore the efficacy of a brief mindfulness intervention in alleviating cancer-related pain. While previous research has shown the benefits of longer mindfulness programs, this study focused on a short, accessible intervention that could be easily integrated into daily care routines.

For those unfamiliar with mindfulness, it’s a practice that involves focusing one’s attention on the present moment, often through techniques like meditation or controlled breathing. In this study, the mindful breathing session guided participants through four 5-minute steps: identifying the in-breath and out-breath, following the entire length of the breath, bringing the mind back to the body, and relaxing the body. The study involved 40 adult cancer patients admitted to the University of Malaya Medical Centre. To be included, patients had to report a pain score of 4 or higher on a 0-10 scale, indicating moderate to severe pain. The researchers randomly assigned participants to either the 20-minute mindful breathing session or a 20-minute supportive listening session, which served as the control group.

The results were striking. Patients who participated in the mindful breathing session reported significantly greater reductions in pain intensity and unpleasantness compared to those in the supportive listening group. Moreover, the mindful breathing group experienced a more substantial decrease in anxiety levels.

How to mindful breath 

BBC- US health officials have confirmed a human case of bird flu in a patient that had no immediately known animal exposure. The patient, in the state of Missouri, was treated in hospital and has since recovered, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.It is the 14th human case of bird flu in the US in 2024 and the first without a known occupational exposure to infected animals, according to the CDC.