ScienceDaily: Living Well News

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• Relationship satisfaction linked with changing use of contraception
• Early menopause increases heart failure risk, especially for smokers
• East/West differences in meditation: Spirituality or technique
• Elderly men with high blood pressure lower death risk with moderate fitness
• Parental disapproval contributes to racial/ethnic differences in prescription drug misuse by teens
• 'Motivation enhancement' key for success in job training programs
• Majority of pets overweight: How to tell if your furry friend is packing extra pounds
• Children of nicotine-addicted parents more likely to become heavy smokers

Relationship satisfaction linked with changing use of contraception Posted: 14 May 2014 08:17 AM PDT Women's sexual satisfaction in long-term heterosexual relationships may be influenced by changes in hormonal contraceptive use, research shows. "Our findings showed women who had met their partner while taking the pill and were still currently taking it -- as well as those who had never used the pill at any point -- reported greater sexual satisfaction than those women who had begun or stopped using the pill during the course of the relationship," says lead researcher.

Early menopause increases heart failure risk, especially for smokers Posted: 14 May 2014 05:46 AM PDT Women who go through menopause early -- at ages 40 to 45 -- have a higher rate of heart failure, according to a new study. Smoking, current or past, raises the rate even more. The authors' analysis of the data showed that women who went through menopause naturally at this early age had a rate of heart failure some 40% higher than women who went through menopause the usual age between 50 and 54. (The average is 51.) And for every one-year increase in age at menopause, the rate of heart failure was 2% lower.

East/West differences in meditation: Spirituality or technique Posted: 13 May 2014 06:24 AM PDT In Western tradition, meditation is linked to a personal relationship with God. Asiatic meditation places more emphasis on techniques, according to new research. Meditation is practiced in Norway as well as in India. With or without a religious purpose. And with a wealth of different techniques. Meditation has been performed for several thousand years, and appears in all the major religions. But what is meditation? What role does it play in various cultures? And how is it practiced in different parts of the world?

Elderly men with high blood pressure lower death risk with moderate fitness Posted: 12 May 2014 06:40 PM PDT Elderly men with high blood pressure can lower their risk of death with even moderate levels of fitness. The fittest of the elderly men in this study were half as likely to die as the least fit. The findings support the notion that fitness has a positive impact on health regardless of age or the presence of chronic illness.

Parental disapproval contributes to racial/ethnic differences in prescription drug misuse by teens Posted: 12 May 2014 10:48 AM PDT Parents' attitudes toward substance use may help to explain observed racial/ethnic variations in prescription drug misuse among teens, reports a study. "Our findings add support to growing evidence that parents continue to remain a vital part of adolescents' decision-making, particularly regarding potentially risky behaviors," researchers note.

'Motivation enhancement' key for success in job training programs Posted: 12 May 2014 09:41 AM PDT Freshly minted college graduates, take note: Buying a new suit may be No. 1 on your list for landing that first big job, but new research shows picking the right job training program could give you the real winning edge. How to choose the best one? The most effective teaches you how to set goals, be proactive, boost self-confidence and even get your whole family involved.

Majority of pets overweight: How to tell if your furry friend is packing extra pounds Posted: 12 May 2014 08:12 AM PDT While you're counting calories and getting in extra exercise, you probably should be doing the same thing for your pets. About 53 percent of dogs are either overweight or obese according to a recent survey. A veterinarian explains how to keep pets at a healthy weight.

Children of nicotine-addicted parents more likely to become heavy smokers Posted: 12 May 2014 07:17 AM PDT We've known that children of parents who smoke are more likely to pick up a cigarette. A new study now shows that the more time a child is exposed to a parent addicted to smoking, the more likely the youth will not only take up cigarettes but also become a heavy smoker. The findings suggest that parental smoking cessation early in their children's lives is critical to prevent habitual smoking in the next generation.

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