6 Ways to Build Health, Joy and Energy
Find creative ways to boost your body, mind and spirit and get on a path to better health.
Tips for Beating the Blues
Feeling low or sad? Try some easy ways to improve your mood and rejuvenate your body.
Help for Clinical Depression
Depression is a complex disease, but there is hope. Learn how to treat depression with talk therapy, antidepressants and more.
How to Lower Your Stress Levels
A completely stress-free life typically isn’t realistic. But you can do a lot to lower your stress with these tips.
What You Can Do to Prevent Suicide
Learn the warning signs, how to lower suicide risk and what you can do to help.
How to Help an Addicted Family Member
When someone you love is addicted to alcohol or drugs, the whole family is affected. Here’s how to help.
Featured Articles

How Stress Affects Your Body
Learn the details of how stress takes a toll on your physical health.

Is it Sadness or Depression?
When does feeling bad signal clinical depression? Learn the signs and symptoms.

Depression Symptoms by Age Group
Learn how the signs of depression and triggers differ in children, teens, adults and seniors.
Related Videos
Anxiety and Stress During Covid-19 Crisis
Ange Stephens, MA, LMFT, talks about handling anxiety during a crisis and demonstrates ways to relax.
Breathing and Centering Exercise to Calm Stress
Ange Stephens, MA, LMFT, leads a meditation exercise via audio recording.
5-Minute Loving Kindness Exercise
Listen to Ange Stephens, MA, LMFT, as she leads a short mindfulness session on loving kindness.
Ask an Expert
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
How much does alcohol contribute to high cholesterol, and can I drink while taking Lipitor?
Moderation is the key, as in many areas of health. In general, moderate alcohol consumption, medically defined as up to two drinks per day for men and one per day for women (different metabolism), has been show... continue reading about How much does alcohol contribute to high cholesterol, and can I drink while taking Lipitor?
Toni J. Brayer, M.D.
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation
Is drinking hard alcohol more likely to contribute to addiction than wine or beer?
The way your body metabolizes alcohol does not change if it is wine, beer or hard spirits. Addiction depends upon the quantity of alcohol that is consumed, not the type. A 12 oz beer has the same alcohol conten... continue reading about Is drinking hard alcohol more likely to contribute to addiction than wine or beer?
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
I have had asthma since childhood. As an adult, I find that when I'm really stressed or anxious, my asthma gets worse. Is there a correlation? Also how can I tell the difference between an asthma attack and an anxiety attack?
Stress and anxiety can both either trigger asthma or mimic it. With asthma there would tend to also be some wheezing, cough or chest tightness. Also, asthma would respond to Albuterol but anxiety would not. If ... continue reading about I have had asthma since childhood. As an adult, I find that when I'm really stressed or anxious, my asthma gets worse. Is there a correlation? Also how can I tell the difference between an asthma attack and an anxiety attack?
Deborah Kurzrock, R.D.
Mills-Peninsula Medical Center
I am a 49-year-old recovering alcoholic and have three years of sobriety. Since I got sober I have not been able to control my sugar cravings. Is there any thing I can do?
Congratulations on the hard work of addiction recovery. Sugar cravings are a problem for many people and can become all the more difficult when recovering from alcoholism. Research on food, mood, substance abus... continue reading about I am a 49-year-old recovering alcoholic and have three years of sobriety. Since I got sober I have not been able to control my sugar cravings. Is there any thing I can do?
Daniel Becker, M.D.
Mills-Peninsula Physician HMO Network
What are your thoughts on the long-term use of SSRIs like Prozac? I have OCD and think I'll probably need it for the rest of my life.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder that typically begins early in life - and which, for most afflicted individuals, has a chronic fluctuating course. Exacerbations of this disorder are o... continue reading about What are your thoughts on the long-term use of SSRIs like Prozac? I have OCD and think I'll probably need it for the rest of my life.
Richard H. Hongo, M.D., FACC
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation
I have been having palpitations and skipped heartbeats for several months. My EKGs and blood work are normal. Is this all stress and anxiety?
Palpitations are frequently caused by anxiety. On the other hand, anxiety can be caused by palpitations. Sometimes it is difficult to determine what is causing what.Typically, if you have no history of heart di... continue reading about I have been having palpitations and skipped heartbeats for several months. My EKGs and blood work are normal. Is this all stress and anxiety?
Daniel Becker, M.D.
Mills-Peninsula Physician HMO Network
Is there a test to confirm if you are bipolar? And would you have symptoms from birth or does it develop?
Bipolar disorder is an episodic mood disorder, the hallmark of which are manic episodes - characterized by grandiosity, distractibility, increased activity, excessive involvement in indiscreet activities, racin... continue reading about Is there a test to confirm if you are bipolar? And would you have symptoms from birth or does it develop?
Gary F. Milechman, M.D.
California Pacific Medical Center
Awhile ago my husband complained of a pounding heart. He said it felt like it was thumping against his chest. Tests showed that he was fine and it was probably caused by stress. How can we tell the difference between severe anxiety and a heart attack?
It is often very difficult to differentiate the symptoms of a heart attack from other causes. Even in the Emergency Department, with access to X-rays, EKG's, and fancy lab work, we sometimes cannot be 100 perce... continue reading about Awhile ago my husband complained of a pounding heart. He said it felt like it was thumping against his chest. Tests showed that he was fine and it was probably caused by stress. How can we tell the difference between severe anxiety and a heart attack?
Junaid H. Khan, M.D., FACC, FACS
Eden Medical Center
I've been through some bad loses this year (relationship, foreclosure) and have had chest pain and shortness of breath. My doctor said I had stress cardiomyopathy (broken heart syndrome). What are the other symptoms, is it dangerous, will I get it again?
I am sorry for your losses.Cardiomyopathy can be a serious condition. In addition to chest pain and shortness of breath, patients can have dyspnea on exertion, fatigue, edema, and in some cases hepatic or kidne... continue reading about I've been through some bad loses this year (relationship, foreclosure) and have had chest pain and shortness of breath. My doctor said I had stress cardiomyopathy (broken heart syndrome). What are the other symptoms, is it dangerous, will I get it again?
More Resources

Healthwise Medical Library
Look up helpful health information.

Patient Information
Practical info for Sutter patients.

Tools and Quizzes
Online tools to help you make decisions about your health.