#Healthcare

Meditation is widely praised for reducing stress, improving focus, and supporting mental health. In Thailand, where Buddhist tradition intersects with urban wellness programs and school curricula, meditation is becoming part of everyday life. New findings from Harvard Medicine’s Meditation Research Program show that for many practitioners, meditation can trigger unsettling experiences. This prompts important conversations about safety and guidance in mental health care.

A large Harvard study published in Clinical Psychological Science found that more than a third of adults who meditate report occasional altered states of consciousness. About one in eight experience moderate to severe distress after these episodes. The researchers stressed that these experiences can be vivid and transformative, ranging from altered perception to intense emotional reactions. The lead investigator noted these experiences are more common than many clinicians expect, underscoring the need for informed guidance in practice.

Meditation, long celebrated as a path to tranquility, stress relief, and self-understanding, is now central to millions of lives globally and increasingly recommended by clinicians for anxiety and depression. Yet, recent research from Harvard Medical School’s Meditation Research Program uncovers a more complicated reality: for a significant number of practitioners, meditation can generate unsettling or even distressing experiences, sparking crucial new conversations in the mental health and wellness fields (Harvard Gazette).

A large international study shows that regular, supervised exercise after cancer treatment can lower the risk of cancer returning and reduce death rates. For Thai survivors, structured movement could become an accessible centerpiece of recovery, merging medical care with everyday activity.

In the trial, nearly 900 colon cancer patients at high risk of recurrence were followed for about eight years. Participants were split into two groups: one received standard guidance on diet and activity, while the other followed a structured exercise program with ongoing coaching and fitness tracking. The study found a 28% reduction in new or returning cancers and a 37% reduction in mortality for those in the exercise group.

A sweeping new study has found that rates of depression and severe psychological distress differ widely across job sectors, with employees in retail, food service, media, and healthcare support among the most at risk. The findings underscore the urgent need for tailored workplace mental health strategies, particularly as young adults and women are shown to be disproportionately affected.

The research, led by a team at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, analyzed data from over 536,000 working adults across 37 US states, collected between 2015 and 2019. The results, published in JAMA Network Open (JAMA Network Open, June 2025), paint a nuanced portrait of how occupation, age, gender, and insurance status shape mental well-being across the labor market. This information is particularly timely for Thailand, where the impacts of economic change, urbanization, and shifting industry are reshaping the workforce and its vulnerabilities.

A global study reveals that depression and serious psychological distress vary by job sector, with retail, food service, media, and healthcare support roles showing the highest risk. The findings underscore the need for sector-specific mental health programs, particularly as young adults and women are disproportionately affected. Data from more than 536,000 working adults across the United States informed the analysis, which examined how occupation, age, gender, and insurance status influence mental well-being. The insights are especially relevant for Thailand, where rapid economic shifts and urban growth are reshaping the workforce and its vulnerabilities. In Thailand, service and hospitality roles have expanded quickly, reflecting global patterns of stress in high-demand industries.

Ashwagandha, known to botanists as Withania somnifera and to traditional healers as the “strength of the stallion,” has captured the curiosity of the modern health world. This small, unassuming shrub—root and all—has been a cornerstone of Ayurveda, India’s ancient medicinal system, for centuries. In today’s climate of wellness trends, dietary supplements, and a yearning to reconnect with holistic traditions, ashwagandha’s reputation is surging, raising the question: How does this revered root truly measure up when ancient wisdom meets modern scientific scrutiny?

Is forgetting where you’ve placed your keys or struggling to remember names just a harmless part of daily life, or does it mean something more serious? As Thailand’s population ages, questions about memory and cognitive health are growing in urgency for many households. Recent research by leading neuroscientists, highlighted in a broadcast and a new book by a noted neurologist from the University of California, Davis, sheds light on the boundaries between normal forgetfulness and worrying signs that warrant closer attention—offering guidance relevant to millions of Thai families and caregivers.

As Thailand’s population ages, households are increasingly confronted with questions about memory and cognitive health. Recent guidance from leading neuroscientists, highlighted by a prominent neurologist’s broadcast and forthcoming book, helps distinguish normal forgetfulness from signs that warrant medical attention. The insights aim to support millions of Thai families and caregivers navigating memory changes.

Forgetting everyday details—like where you placed keys or names of acquaintances—happens to many people. The brain does not store every fact perfectly, and memory naturally fluctuates with age. Memory is an active, reconstructive process, and occasional lapses often reflect a busy life and information overload rather than illness. In Bangkok’s fast-paced environment, such “senior moments” can be common for healthy adults and older adults alike.

A new analysis in medical research has illuminated a crucial aspect of the battle against mental health stigma: there are two very different—and deeply misunderstood—types of stigma affecting people with mental illnesses, each requiring distinct approaches to overcome. The findings, published this week in STAT News, call for nuanced strategies in advocacy and policy to ensure that the global response to mental health challenges is both effective and compassionate.

For Thailand, where mental health issues have traditionally been shrouded in silence and misconceptions, these insights could be game-changing for healthcare providers, educators, and policymakers striving for a more inclusive and supportive society.

A fresh analysis in medical research identifies two separate, deeply rooted forms of mental health stigma that require different strategies to overcome. Published recently, the study urges nuanced advocacy and policy actions to improve mental health support worldwide. For Thailand, where conversations about mental health have historically been limited, these findings offer practical pathways for clinicians, teachers, and policymakers to build a more inclusive system.

Globally, stigma prevents people from seeking care, leading to untreated conditions and social isolation. In Thailand, mental illness is often treated as a family issue—“เรื่องในบ้าน”—worth keeping quiet rather than seeking help. The research argues that anti-stigma efforts must separately address beliefs about psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, and common conditions like depression and anxiety.

Handwriting issues among doctors have spurred legislation and raised questions for patients, pharmacists, and policymakers worldwide. Recent interdisciplinary research shows that poor penmanship is not simply carelessness. For Thai readers who rely on handwritten notes for prescriptions or hospital charts, understanding the science behind legibility is crucial for safety and clear communication.

Writing matters in everyday Thai life, from classrooms where students learn to write to patient charts in regional clinics. The common critique of doctors’ “chicken scratch” notes has real consequences, including potential medication errors and miscommunications. Some jurisdictions, including several Brazilian states, now require typed prescriptions or utterly clear handwriting, a policy echoed by Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health as part of ongoing efforts to improve patient safety.

Doctors’ notoriously difficult-to-read handwriting has triggered a wave of legislative action worldwide and raised enduring questions for patients, pharmacists, and even policymakers. But why do so many healthcare professionals—and people in general—struggle to write clearly? Recent interdisciplinary research offers nuanced answers drawn from anthropology, neuroscience, and psychology, revealing that poor penmanship is far more than a simple lack of care or discipline. For Thais who depend on handwritten medical notes for prescriptions or hospital charts, understanding the roots of this phenomenon is crucial for both safety and effective communication.

A new wave of research highlights a troubling trend: more people turning to herbal and dietary supplements for perceived health benefits, and an alarming rise in severe liver injury and liver failure linked to these products. Health professionals warn that “natural” does not always mean safe, especially for the liver, the body’s key detox engine.

The trend mirrors a global shift toward wellness, including in Thailand, where fitness routines, organic diets, and vitamin and herbal remedies are increasingly common. Brands promise longer life, weight loss, or stronger immunity. Yet experts warn these products can harm health rather than help, a concern echoed by recent studies in the United States that may have global implications, including Southeast Asia.

A recent wave of research has spotlighted a troubling trend: as more people embrace herbal and dietary supplements for perceived health benefits, cases of severe liver injury and even liver failure connected to these products are climbing at an alarming rate. This trend comes as health experts caution that supplements, frequently advertised as safe and “natural,” can in fact carry significant health risks—particularly to the liver, the body’s vital organ for filtering toxins.

A growing trend is reshaping retirement abroad, with Chiang Mai in northern Thailand emerging as a favored destination for foreign retirees. A Business Insider profile follows a former Disney Imagineer couple who traded high-pressure careers in the United States and Asia for a new life in Chiang Mai. Even as they faced health setbacks, their backgrounds in architecture and design helped them discover a balance of affordable living, accessible healthcare, and a creative lifestyle that many retirees in the West often seek. This story highlights both opportunity and challenge for foreign retirees in Thailand and invites reflection on healthcare, living costs, and the country’s evolving role in global retirement migration.

A major Oxford study shows loneliness is not merely an emotional issue. It compounds health risks for people on low incomes, even when social time is similar to that of wealthier groups. The research followed about 24,500 individuals across 20 European countries and found that nearly half of the lowest-income participants felt lonely, versus 15% of higher-income peers. The loneliness tied to poverty was linked to higher pain, fatigue, and low mood, a pattern researchers describe as a “defensive symptom cluster.” Social connections provided the strongest relief for those on the economic margin, underscoring the critical role of relationships in health outcomes.

A major new study from the University of Oxford finds that loneliness is not just a matter of feeling isolated—it actually hurts the health of the poor more than the wealthy, even when both groups spend similar amounts of time socializing. Surveying over 24,500 people across 20 European countries, researchers discovered that nearly half of low-income individuals reported feeling lonely, versus just 15% of their high-income peers. Most strikingly, these lonely, low-income individuals experienced far higher rates of pain, fatigue, and low mood—a so-called “defensive symptom cluster”—with social relationships providing the strongest relief for those at the economic margins Neuroscience News.

A new comprehensive review published by the American Heart Association highlights the often-overlooked issue of sexual health following a stroke, calling for increased awareness and tailored support from healthcare professionals worldwide, including Thailand. As stroke survivors face numerous physical and psychological challenges, the report underscores that the impact on sexual function and intimacy is significant, yet remains rarely addressed in standard care.

Sexual health plays a crucial role in overall quality of life, particularly for stroke survivors, whose relationships and sense of self can be deeply affected. In Thailand, where over 250,000 people experience a stroke each year and the number of survivors continues to rise due to advances in acute care, the topic frequently falls outside the scope of post-stroke rehabilitation programs. According to the American Heart Association review, addressing the sexual wellbeing of stroke survivors should be an integral part of recovery—not only for physical rehabilitation but also for emotional and social reintegration (ahajournals.org).

A comprehensive review from the American Heart Association highlights a frequently overlooked aspect of stroke care: sexual health. The report calls for greater awareness and tailored support from healthcare professionals worldwide, including in Thailand, noting that sexual wellbeing significantly affects quality of life but is often not addressed in standard rehabilitation.

Sexual health matters deeply for stroke survivors, influencing relationships, self-esteem, and overall recovery. In Thailand, where more than 250,000 people experience a stroke annually and surviving patients rise with advances in acute care, post-stroke programs often exclude intimate health. The review emphasizes that sexual wellbeing should be an integral part of recovery—encompassing physical rehabilitation, emotional healing, and social reintegration.

Magnesium supplements have become a staple in health aisles across Thailand, promising everything from improved sleep to stronger bones. But with over 10 different types available, choosing the right form of magnesium can be a confusing decision. New research and expert interviews offer vital guidance for Thai consumers seeking to unlock the mineral’s many health benefits while avoiding common pitfalls.

Magnesium is an essential mineral renowned for its roles in relaxing muscles, supporting nerve function, aiding digestion, promoting sleep, reducing migraines, and maintaining heart and bone health. According to nutrition experts, there are more than 10 types of magnesium—each chemically bound to different compounds, such as salts or amino acids, which affect how the body absorbs and utilizes the mineral. This diversity, though beneficial, has led to confusion among consumers and a surge of marketing from supplement brands, especially as recent global trends and Thai retailers reflect growing interest in preventative health (Fortune/Yahoo).

Magnesium supplements have become common in Thai health aisles, promising benefits from better sleep to stronger bones. With more than 10 forms available, selecting the right type can be confusing. New research and expert insights offer practical guidance for Thai readers aiming to maximize the mineral’s benefits while avoiding pitfalls.

Magnesium is an essential mineral that relaxes muscles, supports nerve function, aids digestion, promotes restful sleep, helps prevent migraines, and protects heart and bone health. Nutrition experts note that dozens of magnesium forms exist, each bound to different compounds such as salts or amino acids. This variety can be advantageous but also fuels marketing hype that confuses consumers, especially as Thai retailers respond to growing interest in preventive health.

Receiving the right psychiatric diagnosis can be life-changing, yet for many sufferers of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), this clarity comes years after symptoms first appear. Recent revelations and mounting research highlight the widespread misdiagnosis of OCD as general anxiety disorder—a trend that has profound consequences for mental health treatment across the globe, including in Thailand.

The latest publicised case is recounted by a UK health reporter whose experiences echo the challenges many OCD patients face. For years, the journalist’s persistent, distressing intrusive thoughts were brushed aside as “just anxiety” by doctors and therapists. Only after seeking specialist help, and on the advice of an OCD-trained psychologist, did she receive an accurate diagnosis—a development that she described as “life-changing” (Daily Mail).

Misdiagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) as general anxiety is more common than many expect, and it carries heavy consequences for treatment and quality of life. Recent international findings and lived experiences point to a global pattern that also affects Thailand’s mental health landscape.

A recent public account from the UK illustrates how a patient’s intrusive thoughts were mistaken for everyday anxiety for years. After seeking specialised help and receiving an OCD-focused evaluation, she described the diagnosis as life-changing. This case underscores a pattern seen worldwide: many OCD sufferers are left without accurate treatment for far too long.

A recently published article in The Atlantic has put a spotlight on what social scientists, educators, and families around the world are increasingly calling the “default parent” problem—a persistent societal bias where mothers are treated as the primary caregiver by default, regardless of the actual family arrangement or parental wishes. Grounded in new research and illustrated by repeated real-life stories, this phenomenon persists in households, schools, clinics, and even airline cabins, with broad implications for work-life balance, gender equality, and family well-being.