Between the extreme opposites of toxic positivity and pessimism lies a healthy middle ground that we often overlook: practical optimism. What does it mean to move through the world with optimism? And even if we often feel pessimistic or hypervigilant, how can we practice optimism on a daily basis to develop this emotional muscle? To explore this topic, we spoke with Sue Varma, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist and author of the new book Practical Optimism: The Art, Science, and Practice of Exceptional Well-Being, about the importance of cultivating everyday mental wellness and developing emotional resilience to help us navigate inevitable moments of crisis and triumph. This discussion of practical optimism is a powerful reminder that the glass is neither half full nor half empty - the glass is simply refillable.

How Can Practical Optimism Change Our Lives?

WebMD Chief Physician Editor Neha Pathak, MD, and Chief Medical Officer, John Whyte, MD, MPH, explore fascinating stories to find the unexpected things that help us understand our health.

Medicine

Science & Medicine

Health & Fitness

In this episode, discover effective solutions for constipation and tools to improve gut health. Each year, millions suffer from  constipation, leading to 2.5 million doctor visits. What are the signs that it’s time to consult a doctor? What are the most effective ways to manage constipation? Will Bulsiewicz, MD, better known as Dr. B, a board-certified gastroenterologist and NYTimes bestselling author, sheds light on the root causes of constipation,  effective remedies, and the critical role of  fiber in gastrointestinal health. Discover the most effective ideal tools for constipation relief, why fiber rich foods are best for your gut, and the surprising breathing exercises that enhance gut function. Tune in to unlock the secrets to better gut health.

Constipation: Your Guide to Optimizing Gut Health From Fiber To Breathing Exercises

We are experiencing a youth mental health crisis. Young people worldwide are increasingly struggling to manage the escalating stress and complications of everyday life. In 2021, 42% of high school students reported feeling so sad or hopeless for two consecutive weeks that they would stop engaging in their usual activities, up from 26% in 2009. Is there a way to eliminate the stigma around mental health and make kindness cool? We spoke to Claudia-Santi F. Fernandes, Ed.D., LPC, MCHES, and Rahul Rangan, MBBS of Born This Way Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded by Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, about the ways peer-to-peer support can benefit today’s youth, the vital mental health resources needed in schools, and the impact of Born This Way Foundation’s Be There Certificate and their Channel Kindness program on building a kinder and braver world.

Building Kinder Communities: Addressing Youth Mental Health with Born This Way Foundation

Every night, millions of Americans are affected by insomnia. Insomnia presents in various forms, including difficulty falling asleep at night and frequent waking up during the sleep cycle, resulting in feeling tired during the day. What are the causes of insomnia? And how do factors like screen time and caffeine consumption during the day impact our sleep? We spoke to Michael Breus, PhD, DABSM, clinical psychologist and diplomate of the American Board of Sleep Medicine, about the common reasons for sleep disruption, the role our chronotypes play in insomnia, the ways we can track our sleep cycle, what we should be asking our doctors when it comes to sleep, and a five-step plan we all can use on the path to more restorative sleep.

The Path to Restorative Sleep: Insomnia Insights from a Sleep Expert

More than one million Americans are diagnosed with gallstones every year, and women of all ages are more likely to develop them. How are gallstones formed? What do they mean for our health? While gallbladder problems can be uncomfortable and potentially risky, understanding the treatment options available is the first step toward relief. We spoke to Benjamin Schmidt, MD, board-certified gastroenterologist and creator of the healthcare platform Doc Schmidt, about the function the gallbladder serves, signs and symptoms of gallstones, treatments available once diagnosed, and what care looks like post-gallbladder removal.

Gallstones and Gallbladder Health: What to Know and Life After Removal

Health equity is when everyone has a fair opportunity to achieve their highest level of health. But in the United States, that’s not always the case. Today, Black Americans are more likely to die at early ages for most health issues, and young Black Americans are living with diseases that are typically more common in other races during older age. How do barriers in healthcare contribute to the current health disparities in the Black community? And how do these challenges spill over into worse health outcomes? We spoke to Georges Benjamin, MD, executive director of the American Public Health Association and one of the nation’s most influential physician leaders, about the pressing health disparities affecting the Black community today, including access to care and quality of care, the social determinants that affect health, and some of the major policy interventions that need to take place in order to achieve more equitable health outcomes.

How Can Practical Optimism Change Our Lives?

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