1. Better information and support

   PatientsLikeMe serves as a social media site for individuals with various conditions to connect and share their experiences and treatment options that work and do not work for them. As the site grows, so too does participants’ knowledge of what’s happening to their bodies, making it easier for them to communicate with their doctors about possible treatments, rare and common symptoms, and more. In addition, banding together with others in their situation offers necessary comfort and understanding patients might not necessarily receive from even the most well-meaning loved one.

2. Greater risk of compromised confidentiality

   Don’t panic; the vast majority of doctors probably won’t be Alexandra Thran, a Rhode Island physician fined for posting enough information online for readers to recognize her patient. All the same, though, savvy consumers should pay attention to their new and old doctors’ Internet presence for signs of breaking confidentiality. The threat might be minimal, but that doesn’t mean patients should grow complacent when it comes to their health and safety.

3. More balanced drug information

   In order to counterbalance Big Pharma’s massive social media presence, doctors such as immunologist and allergist Ves Dimov utilize their Facebooks and Twitters to perpetuate more scientific studies proving and disproving the information advertised. Doing so, they feel, will better educate their patients about what drugs they may or may not need when seeking treatment. Be forewarned that many healthcare professionals receive kickbacks, so stay wary of those who seem to eagerly push one specific brand over another. Researching and asking around will dredge up the most trusted professionals speaking on the subject.

4. Better patient interaction

   Outside the office, doctors have been known to use social media to let patients ask broad(!) questions without having to schedule appointments for every last one. Some use printouts with diagrams, charts, and links to other resources — including Facebook and Twitter sites — where they can learn more. Dimov highly recommends this heightened interactivity because it provides a much clearer picture about the conditions in question and a faster forum for educating the ailing. He also thinks blogging holds more than a few merits for medical professionals looking to connect with one another and those they are meant to heal.

5. Increased trust in the patient-doctor relationship

   For doctors and medical centers such as La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, social media means attracting more people. Patient testimonials make their services seem more attractive to potential patrons, nurturing a greater sense of trust in a wider range of consumers. According to US News & World Report, it also hosts polls on various subjects and throws “virtual birthday parties for its doctors.” Such connectivity makes it easier for those considering their services to know whether or not the overarching climate will prove a satisfying fit.

6. More informed doctors

   Not only does social media (when used responsibly, anyway) better educate patients about the medical field, it also results in doctors better versed in the latest news and views within their industry. In a post at the well-regarded blog KevinMD.com, Dr. Natasha Burgert reflects upon how one year working with Facebook and Twitter greatly enhanced her pediatrics. She lauds the technology as essential to staying on top of research (many leading medical journals now boast a social media presence) that could better benefit her patients and increase the level of trust between them.

7. Details about what to expect from specific procedures ahead of time

   Doctors, hospitals, medical schools, and even the National Library of Medicine have all established YouTube accounts with everything from lectures to step-by-step walkthroughs of surgical procedures available. For patients nervous about an upcoming appointment, whether routine or critical, watching everything unfold might ease the anxiety before setting foot inside the facilities. Or at least familiarize them with what to expect once everything begins. The popular site’s offerings also tie into the overarching educational benefits social media grants to professionals and consumers alike.

8. More opportunities to participate in clinical research

   Men, women, and children who want to do their part in medical research — especially inquiries into rare and serious diagnoses — can take part in polls and studies even faster than before. Rather than going through their healthcare providers, they can search social media sites (PatientsLikeMe has linked up with scientists for Nature Biotechnology before) for opportunities to help save some lives. While this access won’t significantly change doctor’s appointments, it does at least alter it somewhat, especially for the brave souls hoping to help others in any way they can.

9. Check certifications faster

   The advent of social media also meant a brand new way for scammers and other sketchy opportunists to separate consumers from their money. Cardiologist and blogger Dr. Wes talks about a colleague offered a fake “board certification” in the industry, which he and his readers quickly identified as a complete fraud. Patients hoping to learn more about what their doctors and potential doctors have to offer have a much faster way of educating themselves about certification claims and other qualifications — or made-up qualifications, as it were. This will help them ferret out medical professionals who aren’t everything they claim.

10. Faster aid

    Healthcare professionals working in isolated or impoverished regions, particularly those subjected to natural and political turmoil, use social media to let potential donors know what money and resources they need to better serve their patients. Mashable’s writeup about Floating Doctors discusses how their Facebook and Twitter feeds have proved necessary in helping them establish clinics in Central America and the Caribbean. For some patients, this assistance from abroad might very well mean the difference between life and death.

11. Remote diagnoses

    Using social media and resources such as Skype can be a bit dicey in some situations, but in others, Floating Doctors have proven how essential they can be when forging an accurate diagnosis. One story they shared with Mashable involved a Haitian man whose arm was fractured and never properly treated, which resulted in a rare and bizarre condition. Posting videos to YouTube and pictures to Facebook and Twitter allowed other medical professionals to discuss what might have happened and possible treatment options. What resulted was a worldwide effort to get him all the care he needed, and as a result his arm eventually received the right attention from an orthopedic specialist!

12. Group visits

    Obviously, scheduling group appointments causes quite a divide within the medical community, but some doctors swear by it as a means of building compassion and empathy between patients with similar conditions. Plus, those in resource-strapped areas or with clogged schedules use the setup in order to make what they have available stretch as far as possible. Social media, while not specifically referenced by the American Academy of Family Physicians, provides a private way for participants to coordinate meetings and discuss what they’ve learned when off the clock.

13. Online scheduling

    Beyond online support groups, patients in most major American cities can use the Internet to schedule their appointments quickly and (relatively) painlessly under some healthcare plans. Services such as ZocDoc link up physicians and people in need of their care at no cost to the consumer — doctors pay for listings. USA Today quotes its appointments as comprised of 85% new users and 40% of appointments happening within a day of hopping online. There’s even an Android app available for scheduling with specialists, dentists, and more while out and about.

14. Insight into just what doctors do on a daily basis

    Lauded physician and social media expert Dr. Kevin Pho of KevinMD.com thinks sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube demystify much of the responsibilities doctors face on a daily basis. Removing the shroud marks another strategy for establishing patient comfort. He touts that their knowing exactly how much paperwork his position entails fosters bonding, as it’s something to which so many of them relate. And this relative transparency helps quell some of the nerves that inevitably pop up.

General

These feeds are great places for just about anyone to find autism support.

1. @ASN_tweet: This global autism support network posts regularly, offering interesting questions, links to studies, and great articles from their own site.
2. @theautismnews: Make sure you’re keeping up with the latest research and discoveries related to autism by following this feed.
3. @swmoautism: The Autism Support Group provides support and information for families looking to help loved ones who are on the autism spectrum.
4. @toddfugere: Todd Fugere blogs about a wide range of autism topics and shares links to his writing and his larger support group efforts through this feed.
5. @AMFAS: Are you a military family? Then look to this feed for help in finding support for autism virtually anywhere in the world.
6. @autism_support: Those with autism spectrum disorders and their families can find support through this feed.
7. @MyAutismSupport: This Twitter feed represents an online autism support group for parents, offering up lots of reassuring tweets, helpful articles, and more.
8. @asdhelp: Autism Community is a great website for meeting other families with ASD children, and you can learn more about the education, communication, and medical resources they share from their feed.
9. @MyAutismTeam: Join the My Autism Team social network to get connected with an amazing community of autism families and educators online. Afterward, make sure to follow their feed for essential updates and news.

Organizations

Head to one of these organizations’ feeds to find out more about the help and services they offer to the autism community.

10. @autismspeaks: This organization is one of the best places to get loads of information and to find resources for helping someone with autism. Check out their feed for more information.
11. @Jakes_House: Jake’s House is an organization that provides assistance and support for families and children living with autism. Through their feed, readers can find out more about the events they sponsor.
12. @GenRescue: Check out this feed to learn more about the medical resources available to families dealing with autism. While its ideas are a little controversial, you might just find something of interest.
13. @AgingwithAutism: Autism doesn’t go away once a child grows up. This organization can help you find out about resources to help adults with autism get the help and support they need.
14. @AutismScienceFd: Stay on the cutting edge of autism research through this scientific organization’s feed.
15. @GrantAGift: Grant a Gift offers autism support services to children and their families, aiming to improve their quality of life. You can find out more about what they do and how you can get involved by following their feed.
16. @autismcenter: The Autism Center provides help and information on autism, Asperger’s, and PDD to parents, some of which is passed on through their Twitter feed.
17. @Autisable: Autisable is a site filled with blogs all about autism. Start following them on Twitter to learn more about autism and to hear real-life stories from others working to understand the condition.
18. @AutismSociety: Find out how you can give your support to this organization working to help improve the lives of those with autism.
19. @AutismOne: Here you’ll find information on autism events, research, policy, and a few seriously helpful articles.

Parents

Learn how others are helping their autistic children thrive and dealing with the many frustrations that happen along the way, when you follow one of these feeds.

20. @hollyrpeete: You may know Holly Robinson Peete from her work in television and music, but did you know she’s also the mom of an autistic child? Follow her on Twitter to learn more about her life and her advocacy work.
21. @CarmenVeal: CEO and fashion designer Carmen Veal balances her day job with running a nonprofit called hope4autisminc, all while raising a daughter with autism.
22. @HDCautism: Jocelyn is a mom who has two teenage sons with ASD. Visit her feed to learn about her struggles and triumphs and get insights into some of her favorite pastimes.
23. @myautisticson: Eric shares his journey in parenting a young son with HFA on this feed.
24. @AutismMomExpert: If you’re looking to connect with other parents of autistic children, check out this feed from Amalia Starr. She has an adult son with autism and today works as a motivational speaker and the founder of the Autism Independence Project.
25. @AutismNostrum: This autism-focused mom tells it like it is, posting some great insights into life with an autistic child.
26. @xtremeparenthood: Parenting is always a challenge, but things can get even more so with a child who has autism. Visit this feed to learn more about a dad who’s doing his best raising two boys with severe autism.
27. @TannersDad: This twitterer is an outspoken advocate for kids with autism, and you can learn more about his mission when you check out his feed.
28. @autismfamily: Mom Bonnie Sayers is raising two autistic teens as a single parent but still has time to do awesome things like start Autism Twitter Day.
29. @AutismRealityNB: Harold Doherty’s son Conor has autism, which motivated him to learn more about and educate others on the condition.
30. @reality_autism: This mom shares peeks inside her life as she raises three young boys with autism.

Experts and Advocates

You can learn a lot from these tweeters who are leading experts and advocates for autism.

31. @autismtoday: Karen Simmons is the founder of AutismToday.com and an author of several autism-related books, so check out her feed for some savvy advice on all things autism.
32. @Autism_Women: Connect with the Autism Women’s Network to meet up with others girls and women who have autism or love someone who does.
33. @GiftsofAutism: Life coach Lori Shayew offers up her advice on autism through this feed.
34. @AlleviateAutism: Anne Burnett wrote and award-winning book on autism called Step Ahead of Autism, so she’s an obvious choice to follow to learn more about autism issues.
35. @AutismResources: Founder of National Autism Resources Bonnie Arnwine shares support and information here for helping those with autism live long and fulfilling lives.
36. @AutismTips: Andrea is a mom of five and a special education teacher who loves to share her ideas for thriving with autism here.
37. @WendyFournier: Head to this feed to hear more from the president of the National Autism Association.
38. @SkillSprout: Amy Shymansky heads up SkillsSprout, a program designed to help children with ASDs learn and grow.
39. @iteachautism: Find loads of resources for teaching students with autism from this special ed teacher and web consultant.
40. @NutrCareAutism: Diet may play a role for some kids when it comes to autism, so learn more about the nutritional aspects of the condition from registered dietician Judy Converse.
41. @AutismIsARose: Who’s more of an expert on autism than someone who has it? Here, you’ll find the tweets of Lindsey Nebeker, a woman with autism who’s making waves with her music.

Location Specific

These supportive feeds are location-specific, but even if you don’t live in these communities they still offer some amazing resources for autism.

42. @AutismSupportVA: Through this feed, residents of Richmond, Va. can find support, services, and resources in the community for helping those with autism.
43. @AustimSupportMD: Looking for autism support in Cambridge, Mass.? Check out this feed for help.
44. @Perth_Autism: Those living down under should check out this feed for some great resources on autism support in the Perth area.
45. @autismfriendsuk: Covering the whole UK, this organization is a great place for British kids and their families to find support.
46. @socautismsupport: Based in Sonoma County, this autism support group can help parents meet and find support for any challenges they might face.
47. @AASGautismsyd: Here you’ll find the large and growing autism and Asperger’s support group based out of Sydney, Australia.
48. @VictoriaAutism: The Victoria Society for Children with Autism, located in British Columbia, provides support, education, and resources to children and teens with autism.
49. @Autismcentralma: This autism resource center is located in central Massachusetts and provides numerous ways for parents and kids to connect throughout the state.
50. @austismcornwall: Make sure to check out the feed of this British support group for some great articles.

While the placebo effect itself is a fascinating topic of study, there are a lot of very practical and perhaps even inspirational lessons that can be taken away from this phenomenon and applied to everyday life. Here are just a few that we think are especially powerful that offer insights into motivation, mindfulness, and even happiness that we can all stand to benefit from.

1. Belief is often more powerful than reality.

   When researchers study the placebo effect, they often find that those who aren’t given a particular treatment improve in many of the same ways as those that are, simply because they believe that they are being treated, not because they’re getting any real medical help. While believing things, even very strongly, doesn’t always cause them to be true, it can have a marked impact on how we see and experience the world, often much more so than things that are regarded as fact. Belief can, in many ways, be a much more powerful force than reality, coloring our perceptions, pushing us forward, and changing what we feel is possible to accomplish.

2. Life is all about perception.

   The placebo effect is all about perception, as people respond to an outside stimulus in a way that isn’t congruent with the effect the stimulus should actually have on the body (in many cases, there should be no effect at all). This reaction isn’t exclusive to issues of healthcare, however, as a number of studies have shown. People perceive a wine to taste better when they believe it’s expensive, and they get a greater health benefit from doing something if they believe it qualifies as exercise. How we think about something can entirely change how we react and how it affects us, whether it’s something as simple as enjoying wine or something much more complex like getting along with a boss, caring for an aging parent, or coping with the stresses of everyday life. The placebo effect teaches us that we can choose how things, whether bad or good, in the outside world affect us. That’s an incredibly powerful piece of knowledge to have.

3. Sometimes you get in your own way.

   Belief is a powerful force, but sometimes the power it wields over us can actually hold us back and keep us from meeting our goals. The placebo effect can work in two ways: one that motivates, heals, and helps, and the other that can induce self-doubt, destructive thoughts, and keep success at bay (sometimes called the nocebo effect). If you believe you can’t accomplish something because you’re not smart enough, good enough, or fast enough, these beliefs may become a self-fulfilling prophecy and you may fail not because you truly can’t do something, but because the doubt and uncertainty caused by your beliefs trips you up or makes you overly cautious. Take a child who is struggling with learning as an example. If he or she is told they will never grasp a concept, are stupid, and should just give up, eventually this message will sink in and the child will give up, regardless of his or her actual abilities.

4. There truly is power in positive thinking.

   If the placebo effect teaches us anything, it’s that there is something to be said for positive thinking. It may not bring you unlimited riches or the perfect life, but it can have an effect on your happiness, relationships, and, of course, your health. Studies have shown that positive thinking can help you control stress, lower rates of depression, and may even result in a longer life span. So believing in the best outcome may just be what you need to get your life on track.

5. Anything is possible, if you put your mind to it.

   As cliché and saccharine as it may be, there is truth in this old adage. Many things seem impossible until someone really puts effort into showing how they can be done. Take runner Roger Bannister as an example. Roger decided he would set the world record for running a mile, with the goal of a time that was under 4 minutes. People told him it wasn’t possible; after all, no one had ever done it before. In 1954, Bannister completed a mile run in 3 minutes and 59 seconds. Within a year of breaking this previously unheard of barrier, more than 30 other runners had also run with similar times. All it took was someone changing the beliefs surrounding the achievement to make others see it as a possibility, something we can all take note of in our own lives.

6. We often become reliant on outside factors to empower ourselves.

   As the placebo effect shows, we often believe we need some form of outside input, a medicine or surgery say, to feel better. In reality, it may be enough to believe that we’ll get better, allow ourselves to heal, and let time take its course than looking for an outside solution to a problem. While help and support from others can be great, real motivation has to come from within. You have to want something for yourself or believe that it will happen to really make any progress.

7. Humans aren’t always rational.

   Like the half-human, half-Vulcan Spock in the classic Star Trek series, humans are constantly battling against their emotional side when trying to make logical, rational decisions. Often — perhaps too often — emotions win out, influencing our decisions on everything from business to buying a car. The way we react and the things we choose are rarely entirely rational or easily explicable to others. Our brains work in mysterious ways, as the placebo effect clearly demonstrates, so never forget to account for the effects of our ever powerful emotions in any situation, both in our own reactions and those of others. It may just give you a deeper understanding of a situation, temper your actions, and help you prepare for the unexpected.

8. You can choose your level of happiness in life.

   You can choose to believe a medication will work or believe it will do nothing at all, but as the placebo effect shows us, sometimes hoping for the best will actually increase the likelihood that these things will come to pass. You can choose your beliefs and in turn, choose the ways in which things affect you in your everyday life. If you believe that being stuck in a traffic jam is the worst thing in the world, it will be, raising your levels of stress and making you angry. But if you choose to believe that any delay can be an opportunity, you’ll be less stressed, more happy, and may use that extra time on the road to think, learn a language, tackle a book on tape, or just enjoy some music. Being happy isn’t just something that happens, it’s something you can choose.

9. What you think is just as important as what you do.

   Thoughts, even if we don’t act on them, have a big impact on our outlook on the world, what we do end up doing, and our overall level of happiness. They are incredibly powerful, often more so than we’re willing to readily admit. One lesson you can take away from the placebo effect is that your thoughts are just as important as your actions. After all, in placebo studies, doing an essentially empty task (taking a sugar pill) can have the same effect as actually doing something, because of a particular line of thinking. You can apply this to other areas of life as well, making sure careful and purposeful thoughts always precede any actions you take.

10. Life’s obstacles are rarely as insurmountable as they seem.

    If people can see a change in their health, or at least their perception of it, from doing nothing at all except thinking that they should feel better, than there really isn’t much in life that can’t be conquered (or at least managed) by changing the way you think. Think you’ll never complete a task? That you can’t get ahead in your career? That you’ll never get over a breakup? While we might all feel this way from time to time, framing your thoughts with respect to the bigger, overall picture of your life can change how you see your ability to push through. And, as we’ve already discussed, it doesn’t hurt to truly believe that you can do these things either.

Pinterest is a great resource for health inspiration, even if you’re just getting started. So many of the site’s users share ideas and tips they’ve found for healthy eating, workouts, and motivation for getting fit, that it’s easy to find something that matches your own fitness or health goals. You can follow along with some of the most influential of these Pinterest users to find the very best of what the site has to offer for health inspiration. Check out our list to discover some of the most "pinfluential" users in health, diet, and fitness.

1. Laura Cobb: Laura Cobb is a great resource for quick workouts, health articles, and challenges you can take on. Her best boards include Health & Fitness Inspiration and Good Eats.
2. Abbey: Turn to Abbey to find motivation for weight loss, healthy eating, and maintaining a running habit. Definitely check out her pins to learn how you can banish your excuses for living an unhealthy life.
3. Edna Gooden: Edna has found a way to make veggies look much more appetizing than junk food. On her Pinterest boards, you’ll find beautiful veggie photos that will have you running for the nearest farmer’s market.
4. Lilia Franco: Discover healthy, delicious food in Lilia Franco’s Pinterest boards, including chicken avocado boats, vegetable soup, and cucumber bites. Plus, check out her Physical Motivation board to get your butt off the couch.
5. Claire Sedate: Claire’s pins are full of motivational photos, simple ways to quickly burn a few calories, and reminders to hang in there and press on. Once you’re done with your workout, come back to find your reward with Claire’s hilarious Best Medicine board, as well as Dress Me Up fashion ideas for your newly toned body.

6. Janna McCormick: Follow Janna McCormick’s pins to learn about appropriate portion sizes, smart cooking methods, body image motivation, and more. She’s even got a great exercise board for interval training, yoga, and roasting calories.
7. Caitlin Fay: Learn about inspirational fitness icons, easy workouts to remember, and tricks like one-song workouts that help you find room for fitness in your day on Caitlin’s Motivation and Health board. You can also find awesome products to try in her Health and Beauty board.
8. Elizabeth Boon: Elizabeth Boon’s pin collection is full of great reminders and information about eating healthy and creating great habits. You may also be interested in her Vegetarian board, or find ways to reward your hard work with her Sweet Tooth pins.
9. Dollhouse: Follow this pinner’s boards to find great before and after stories, solutions for problem areas, and helpful reminders that hard work brings great rewards.
10. Adriane Denny: Make something healthy every day with Adriane’s Everyday Recipes Pinterest board, sharing cauliflower arugula soup and butternut squash mac and cheese. Or you can mix it up with some of the recipes on her Low Carb board.

11. Alexandra: Alexandra has a great Body and Workout pinboard full of photos, motivational quotes, and tips for slimming down. You’ll also be able to find your inner zen with her yoga board, and healthy food pins.
12. Laura: Laura shares her love of running on Pinterest, and motivates others to get out and hit the pavement. Once you’ve run it all out, come back for some healthy, yet rewarding deliciousness on her yummmm board.
13. Amanda Ciraulo: Use Amanda’s Gym Inspiration board to get your butt off the couch and into the gym with motivational photos, workout methods, and more.
14. Megan Stein Smith: Megan’s Soup or Salad Pinterest board is full of super healthy, super delicious soup and salad ideas, including a strawberry and spinach salad, chili, and homemade dressings. If soup and salad isn’t your thing, Megan also has an incredible If you make this, they will eat… board sharing healthy recipes the whole family can enjoy.
15. Kim Roberson Millsap: Kim shares delicious recipes and food ideas, from bright green breakfasts to fun veggie eats. Plus, she’s got great resources for finding your zen in the garden, or even through a mental vacation.

16. Amanda Russell Wagner: Amanda has it all, from fitness visualizations to deceptively healthy recipes to check out. On top of that, her Sustainability board has ideas for making the world healthier, too.
17. i jump jennifer: See what Jennifer’s interested in to discover healthy snacks, breakfast, and even dessert. Then get inspired to get out the door and breathe in some fresh air with her Spend Time in Nature board.
18. Lindsay Rogers: Visualize a healthier you with simple workouts, health benefit tips, detox tips, and home remedies on Lindsay’s boards.
19. Haley Paige: Find resources for sculpting your body into a healthy temple from Haley Paige’s Pinterest collection.
20. Lauren Parker: Healthy onion rings? Lauren Parker shares a recipe for these, mini portabella pizzas, and more. Plus, a great collection of recipes for raw eating.

21. Jessica Humphrey: Find the motivation for exercising and eating right from Jessica Humphrey, who shares office exercises, training schedules, and even great drinks that won’t sabotage your fitness efforts.
22. Johanne Morrison: Johanne Morrison has gorgeous food ideas that will inspire you to eat healthy, including delicious meals and snacks. Check out Johanne’s Anatomy board to understand more about your body as well.
23. Christine Shaw: Christine has an incredible collection of fitness photos that can motivate anyone to get up and move.
24. Hilary Vanderpool: Hilary shares inspirational fitness stories, helpful tips, and great advice for healthy eating.
25. Sarah Fox: Motivational reminders, discipline, and even exercises you can do with your baby are highlighted on Sarah Fox’s Pinterest boards.

There are plenty of things to stress about in April. On the 1st, you’re worried about getting pranked, on the 17th, you’re scrambling to get your taxes to the post office, and if you’re a student, finals and possibly graduation are just around the corner. But April is also Stress Awareness Month. Instead of wishing stressful activities in your life would go away, why not take this month to take control of your response to harmful feelings. These 10 books could hold the key for a brand new, stress-free life.

1. Mystic Cool: A proven approach to transcend stress, achieve optimal brain function, and maximize your creative intelligence by Don Joseph Goewey: PsychCentral called this book "the missing owner’s manual for your mind." Goewey’s premise is that stress is toxic for the brain, and by transcending it you unlock your mind’s potential. The book is a fun read as Goewey ties in Eastern thought with Western science while steering clear of boring medical terminology. Readers say his methods like the "clear button" for stress and "watching the thinker" have absolutely changed their lives.

   

2. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff–and it’s all small stuff by Richard Carlson: Before his death in 2009, Dr. Richard Carlson was widely recognized as a happiness expert. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff was a bestseller for two years after it came out, as people soaked in Carlson’s plain and gentle advice, like "Give people a second chance" and "Remind yourself that when you die, your inbox won’t be empty." As if to prove that point, Carlson died at just 45, shortly after publishing a new book. Let this small book be your friendly reminder to take life as it comes.

   

3. From Panic to Power: Proven Techniques to Calm Your Anxieties, Conquer Your Fears, and Put You in Control of Your Life by Lucinda Bassett: As a recovered sufferer of severe anxiety herself, Lucinda Bassett knows well of what she speaks and writes. The founder of the Midwest Center for Stress and Anxiety, Bassett overcame her panic attacks and now uses her experiences in her motivational speaking to prove stress does not have to rule our lives. Bassett is not a doctor, meaning the information is simple and straightforward. If you have been looking for an author who knows what living with anxiety is like, look no further.

   

4. How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie: Since hitting bookstores in 1990, 6 million copies of Dale Carnegie’s legendary stress management book have been sold. Like some of the best self-help books, much of the wisdom is not profound or even original. What there is is proven formulas and so-true quotes on how and why you should stop worrying, like living in "day-tight" compartments and remembering that most worry is based on a lack of facts. Take Carnegie’s opening line as a wake-up call: "Those who do not know how to fight worry die young."

   

5. Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen: Much of our stress is a result of all of us having so much to do and limited time to do it. But being stressed only inhibits our ability to knock things off the to-do list. David Allen is "the personal productivity guru," and with this book, he shows you simple and effective ways to focus your energy and either do it, delegate it, or defer it. Some of the technologies (PDAs) Allen mentions are outdated, but the principles and techniques can still transform your ability to get things done.

   

6. Angry Octopus: A Relaxation Story by Lori Lite: The ideal of a carefree child appeals to our nostalgia, but it is not always realistic. Negative stress on children under 10 can be more impactful than on other people because of their inability to think events through completely and control their feelings. Lori Lite has written many children’s books to help parents manage their kids’ stress. Angry Octopus introduces kids to deep breathing and "progressive muscular relaxation" as ways to control anger and relax.

   

7. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Sourcebook by Glenn Schiraldi: PTSD is one of the most crippling psychological disorders a person can face, and it is also one of the most difficult to overcome. Glenn Schiraldi is a Ph.D. and served in stress management at the Pentagon. This book is one of his nearly dozen titles on stress. It is designed to explain PTSD to sufferers and their loved ones and show them how healing can begin. The writing is clear and concise, and many PTSD sufferers say they turn to its pages for comfort when they feel their anxiety building.

   

8. Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn: This book by famous scientist and meditation teacher Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D. was released in 1993 and became a bestseller published in over 20 languages. Kabat-Zinn teaches the art of "mindfulness" at the Stress Reduction Clinic at Massachusetts Medical Center he founded, not as a spiritual endeavor but a workout for your consciousness. Over the years since its publication, readers have been moved by the book’s beautiful writing and appreciated its scientific approach to introducing meditation to the uninitiated. You may find the answer to your stress problem is "being" rather than "doing."

   

9. Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome by James L. Wilson: It is believed that every American will face adrenal fatigue at some point in their lives. Unfortunately, most of us don’t know how to recognize the signs or what to do about it. Dr. James Wilson created this comprehensive guide that could change your life, even if you didn’t realize it needed changing. He covers diet, vitamins, medicine, and other areas where you can reduce stress. Dr. Wilson has three doctorates and two master’s degrees, so you’re in good hands. So don’t stress.

   

10. Positive Energy: 10 Extraordinary Prescriptions for Transforming Fatigue, Stress, and Fear into Vibrance, Strength, and Love by Judith Orloff: Buddhist and psychiatrist Judith Orloff’s "Positive Energy Program" is designed to help you counter the negativity that always accompanies stress and use diet and exercise to revitalize your health. You’ll also learn how to use laughter to protect yourself from those lethal "energy vampires" you encounter during your day. Many people have been inspired and motivated by the exercises and easy-to-read material. If you’re one of the millions of exhausted Americans, this book will be refreshment for your soul.

    

Maintaining a healthy diet ought to be an everyday habit, but March makes an appropriate time for those considering a changeover to finally go for it. Proper nutrition sometimes seems like such a trendy topic these days, but in reality it actually holds far more sway over public health and personal well-being than a true fad. Hopefully, the advancement of food education means more citizens enjoy access to and choose options that let them eat well and stay active. Whether getting started on a new regimen, hoping to better stick to a more established one, or just wanting to learn more about the role wholesome foods play in a healthy lifestyle, the following Twitter feeds offer up most excellent information. Give them a follow when looking for quick snippets to help you hack your health.

1. ChooseMyPlate.gov: The USDA presents a free tool encouraging Americans to think critically about their nutrition, and it shares little eating hacks on its related Twitter feed.

2. USDAnutrition: Studies link low income with poor nutrition, as the healthiest foods so often tragically prove the least cost-effective. Find out what the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Services offers economically deprived families to close this needless gap.

3. USDA Team Nutrition: Another USDA Twitter feed (surprise!), this time dedicated to its efforts regarding teaching kids about making the best nutritional choices they can.

4. U.S. FDA: Keep track of food recalls (and, of course, drugs and some pet care products) that might compromise your or your loved ones’ health with this handy dandy Twitter.

5. EatingWell Magazine: It shouldn’t be too difficult to gauge what this microblog and accompanying periodical are all about, but I have a word limit to hit and will explain anyways. Eating Well’s official feed talks about eating well. Like, the nutrition kind of well, not the Two Fat Ladies definition.

6. American Heart Assoc: Proper nutrition is essential to keeping one of the body’s most essential organs as happy and healthy as possible, and this popular organization offers up detailed advice about how to do it right.

7. TodaysDiet&Nutrition: With free recipes suitable for a wide range of diet restrictions, both the Twitter and free online magazine offer up some great ways to eat healthy and learn about nutrition.

8. Jeanette Jenkins: Follow one of the most popular nutrition and fitness experts on Twitter for a well-rounded look at how to eat right and exercise for a body that doesn’t hate you.

9. Fruits & Vegetables: Learn all about the role fruits and vegetables play in a well-balanced diet, and head to the More Matters official page for advice on cooking, serving, and involving kids in the fun.

10. Meals Matter: A grouping of the Dairy Council of California’s registered dietitians – who happen to also be mothers – dish out some great advice on whipping up nutritious, family-friendly meals.

11. Foodimentary: Even though this Shorty Award winner doesn’t exclusively talk healthy diets, it does educate readers about food in general, nurturing the critical thinking skills necessary for making good choices.

12. Susan Powers: Going raw foodist won’t meet everyone’s dietary needs, but for those interested in pursuing the lifestyle full- or part-time, Susan Powers provides all the information.

13. Sarah Dussault: Remember to check out Sarah Dussault’s YouTube channel for fitness tips to go alongside her tweets about keeping a proper diet, exercising, and other health hallmarks.

14. Nutrition News: Nutrition News cobbles together relevant resources and research regarding healthy eating so you don’t have to! Thanks, Nutrition News!

15. Nutrition Blog Network: All the blogs hosted here are owned and maintained by registered dietitians, who post regularly about the hows, whats, and whys behind eating well.

16. Just Food: Locavores and organic buffs should give Just Food a follow and stay on top of how the organization is promoting greener, healthier meal and snack options.

17. Elisa Zied: Parents and MSNBC.com contributor and registered dietitian Elisa Zied posts advice and answers questions regarding nutrition and food here.

18. Food Revolution: Jamie Oliver, The Naked Chef himself, heads up this initiative asking kids (and their parents!) to fight against unhealthy food additives and practices and for more cost-effective, nurturing replacements.

19. Jamie Oliver: And for even more information about Food Revolution and other movements towards healthy foods, follow the man who stands at the forefront.

20. FN’s Healthy Eats: Food Network hosts its own blog (and, of course, Twitter) packed with expert advice on anything and everything related to launching and maintaining a healthy diet.

21. FoodInsight.org: Both nutrition and food safety are the name of the game here, as both contribute to keeping the body running as efficiently as it can, though many neglect the latter’s role.

22. Today’s Dietitian: One doesn’t have to be a dietary professional to find the industry magazine a useful read, though general audiences might think it gets a little technical in some spots.

23. Eat This, Not That!: Instead of sticking to fad diets, try something a little more sensible by merely swapping out the usual fare for something more conducive to health and wellness.

24. SchoolLunch: Parents, policymakers, and educators concerned about feeding kids the right stuff during school-based breakfasts and lunches should stay on top of the latest news and views concerning any progress.

25. Marion Nestle: NYU sociology professor Marion Nestle’s work merges public policy and health concerns in with proper nutrition and food safety protocols.

Despite millennia of human evolution, scientists still don’t know most of the intricacies of the body’s processes. Nature and nurture alike obviously factor into determining how one’s life progresses, and taking pains to become educated in what researchers and professionals know so far does nothing but keep things running as smoothly as possible. Check out the following TED Talks for some excellent little perspective on the past, present, and future of healing injuries and diseases.

1. Stuart Brown says play is more than fun

   In a TED Talk sure to satisfy anyone and everyone who enjoys a good time, medical professional Stuart Brown shares his research about the physiological and mental benefits of taking time out for recreation.

2. Jessica Green: Are we filtering the wrong microbes?

   Listen to what one University of Oregon ecologist and engineer has to say about inconsistencies in hospital air vents, which might actually be making patients, their families, and staff inhale harmful little microbes.

3. Dean Ornish: Help the body heal itself

   Check out some of these excellent, cost-effective strategies healthcare providers use to get bodies healed up as quickly and efficiently as possible by harnessing their own inherent defense systems.

4. Mechai Viravaidya: How Mr. Condom made Thailand a better place

   The delightful story of Mr. Condom’s revolutionary approach to promoting sexual health and family poverty can easily inspire and educate more than the individuals with whom he directly works.

5. Lucien Engelen: Crowdsource your health

   Apps do way more than let users knock over nasty little pigs or fight legendary lightsaber battles; innovative developers have been trying to whip up offerings making emergency medical access even faster.

6. Stephen Palumbi: Following the mercury trail

   The ocean comprises the vast majority of the planet (and its biomass), yet few ever stop to ponder how it can come to negatively impact the body — even when one does not consume seafood.

7. Bill Davenhall: Your health depends on where you live

   Location, location, location influences more than just real estate prices; environmental factors such as air quality, proximity to toxins, and others also hold quite the sway over one’s health and wellness.

8. Bonnie Bassler on how bacteria "talk"

   Despite their unicellular existence, bacteria actually communicate back and forth with highly complex chemical signals — and knowing how they work might very well mean curbing contamination.

9. A.J. Jacobs: How healthy living nearly killed me

   Health buffs with 10 minutes to spare should check out this humorous look into why doing everything supposedly right leaves one feeling utterly wrong.

10. David Agus: A new strategy in the war on cancer

    Whether intimately acquainted with cancer in some form or another or not, it’s incredibly useful and insightful to know about the unorthodox new ways oncologists wield technology and pharmaceuticals to eliminate its scourge.

11. Eva Vertes looks to the future of medicine

    Eva Vertes’ TED Talk pulls from both personal experience and her experiences watching a beloved grandmother succumb to Alzheimer’s to deliver a beautifully inspiring speech about how she hopes to eliminate disease.

12. Marvin Minsky on health and the human mind

    The mind-body connection isn’t just New Age-speak — even the most stringent scientific practitioners out there know that the two share an amazing, often baffling, physiological relationship.

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So why isn’t someone doing something about this obvious highway robbery? How could the FDA let evil pharmaceutical companies get away with this? The truth is that these are often lifesaving drugs that would not exist if it were not for their incredible cost. To be fair, pharmaceutical companies spend an amazing amount of money to make highly specialized drugs, often in the range of hundreds of millions of dollars. As such, the FDA supports this practice with the Orphan Drug Designation program, which encourages the development of drugs for rare diseases that, without special protections and benefits, might not ever be developed. While patients may be losing their shirts to the pharmaceutical companies, they are at the same time lucky not to lose their lives thanks to these drugs. Still, it is quite interesting to marvel at the sheer cost of annual treatment, and we’ve compiled a list of 11 mind-bogglingly expensive medicines being used to treat conditions in America right now.

1. Soliris

   Soliris has been made famous by Forbes as the world’s single most expensive drug, coming in at $409,500 a year. Soliris is used to treat paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, a rare blood disease that affects 8,000 Americans. Soliris’ high price tag is largely due to $800 million investment and 15 years of research that Alexion Pharmaceuticals put into its development. Its 2009 sales were $295 million, and in 2010, Alexion pulled in $541 million for the drug. The high cost of Soliris is shocking, but it does seem to be worth every penny: studies show that Soliris use results in a 90% reduction in the most serious complication and cause of death from paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.

2. Elaprase

   Patients who suffer from Hunter syndrome, an inherited disease caused by a lack of the enzyme iduronate sulfatase can find relief in the recombinant form of this enzyme, but at an incredibly high price of $375,000 each year. Some estimates put its annual cost as high as $657,000. Each vial of the drug is reported to cost $4,215 each, and in the U.S. alone, the 500 Americans who suffer from Hunter syndrome spent a combined $353 million on Elaprase in 2009.

3. Naglazyme

   Naglazyme is right behind Elaprase’s reported $375,000 price tag, coming in at the bargain price of just $365,000. This purified human enzyme is used to treat Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome, a rare genetic metabolic condition that typically presents itself in childhood through growth retardation in intellectually normal toddlers, and can cause tissue damage and mental retardation. The administration of the drug improves growth and joint movement, as well as range of motion and pain management.

4. Cinryze

   Patients with hereditary angioedema suffer from severe swelling, often in the face and airways, caused by low levels or improper function of the C1 inhibitor protein. This condition is hereditary, and there’s usually a family history, but often, deaths from hereditary angioedema go undiagnosed and reported as a sudden and premature death of a family member. This makes the condition relatively rare, and the treatment is quite expensive: an estimated $350,000 per year for Cinryze, an injectable man-made protein form of complement C1 esterase inhibitor. Cinryze maker Viropharma has mapped out yearly sales of the drug ranging from $95 million to as much as $350 million.

5. Folotyn

   Getting cancer is bad enough, but things just get even worse when the cost of treating such a severe disease begins to sink in. Patients with T-cell lymphoma typically turn to Folotyn when their cancer has not improved with treatment, or comes back. This drug works by killing cancer cells, and has a short course of treatment. Typically, patients will take the drug for about six weeks, but even in that short amount of time, the bill for this treatment is staggering — around $30,000 per month.

6. ACTH

   If you think $30,000 per month is insane, consider this: it’s a bargain compared to the approximate $115,000 per month families pay for ACTH. This drug is used to treat infantile spasms, seizures that often affect infants 4 to 6 months of age. Daily injections of ACTH are given for a period of weeks up to several months. At $23,000 per vial, patients often use 6 to 7 vials per course, and often go through two courses, which adds up to more than $300,000 in prescription drug bills. Unfortunately, ACTH is not FDA-approved to treat infantile spasms, and that means families may have trouble getting their insurance companies to pay for this mind-boggling bill.

7. Myozyme

   Developed by Genzyme, Myozyme costs up to $100,000 per year for child treatment, and about $300,000 per year for adults. Myozyme was created to treat a rare and often fatal disease, Pompe, which disables the heart and skeletal muscles. Often affecting infants, most of its sufferers die in the first year, and those who do survive typically need assistance like ventilators and wheelchairs. But thanks to Myozyme, some patients can do fairly well with the disease, able to speak, walk, and feed themselves. The drama behind creating such an expensive, yet lifesaving drug, was depicted in the movie Extraordinary Measures, sharing the race against time and profit motives experienced in the drug’s development.

8. Arcalyst

   Rare genetic conditions like Familial Cold Auto-inflammatory Syndrome and Muckle-Wells Syndrome are inflammatory disorders that cause the body to develop symptoms without a known cause, including virus and illnesses, and can affect the bones, joints, and major organs, leading to deafness, kidney impairment, and vision loss. These inherited conditions impair the immune systems of sufferers, but with Arcalyst, the symptoms associated with these syndromes can be treated and even prevented. It’s even been found to help prevent gout flares, but all of this helpful treatment comes at a very high cost: a reported $250,000 per year of treatment.

9. Ceredase/Cerezyme

   Patients with Gaucher disease, a condition that causes lumps of fat to build up in various places in the body, including the heart, brain, and spleen, suffer from the disease due to a missing enzyme. With Ceredase, made from human placentas, that enzyme can be replaced. But placentas don’t come cheap: the price of this drug is $150,000 per year. A new version, Cerezyme, came out in 1994, made with genetically engineered hamster cells, and was expected to be cheaper, but unfortunately for Gaucher disease sufferers, the price has actually gone up to $200,000 per year for the average patient. The drug has annual sales of more than a billion dollars.

10. Fabrazyme

    Like so many other terribly expensive drugs on this list, Fabrazyme replaces a necessary enzyme in the human body. Patients with Fabry disease suffer from the lack of or faulty enzyme that is needed to metabolize lipids. Without it, lipids are not effectively broken down, and can build to harmful levels in the nervous system, cardiovascular system, eyes, and kidneys, leading to cloudiness of the cornea, increased heart attack and stroke risk, as well as an enlarged heart and impaired kidneys. It’s not hard to understand why this condition is just downright harmful, and why it’s so important to treat. Using Fabrazyme, patients can make up for their enzyme deficiency, reducing deposits throughout the body. The treatment is reported to cost $200,000 for a year of treatment, that is, if you can get it: in 2009, Fabrazyme maker Genzyme’s plant was shut down due to contamination, and is just now resolving its manufacturing problems.

11. Aldurazyme

    Aldurazyme is used to treat a genetic enzyme condition, a far too common and expensive issue on this list. The condition in this case is Hurler syndrome, a metabolic disorder in which the lack of an enzyme keeps the body from breaking down certain sugars and proteins properly. Like Fabry disease, sugars and proteins not broken down will build up, leading to enlarged organs, breathing issues, decreased physical abilities, and more. With Aldurazyme, breathing and walking ability can be improved, but it does cost a pretty penny: $200,000 per year. The drug is usually given on a weekly basis in a clinic or hospital setting, which may incur additional costs as well.