_ Warm-Weather Food Safety By Jane Farrell articleIt’s the height of picnic and barbecue season, but these festivities can quickly go sour if your food isn’t safe. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), each year about 1 in 6 Americans get sick from tainted foods. Most foodborne illnesses last only a short time. At the same time, foodborne diseases kill about 3,000 people nationwide each year. Those especially at risk include infants, older people, and people with weakened immune systems.
_ Vision HealthStudy: AMD Isn't Always Age-Related By Jane Farrell articleAge-related macular degeneration, until now seen as a condition of people in their 50s and beyond, is more prevalent in younger people than previously thought, according to new statistics.The findings comes from researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany. The investigators found that just under 4 percent of 35- to 44-year-old people in their study were affected by AMD.The illness is the most common cause of visual impairment and blindness in industrialized countries.
_ Watch: The Doctors Get Vaccinated By Jane Farrell articleHere's another addition to our ThirdAge video collection. Press play to start learning.
_ The Science of Therapy: More Progress Needed By Jane Farrell articleAlthough it’s well known that therapy helps patients with psychological disorders, researchers aren’t clear what changes occur in the brain to relieve some of the disorders, according to a newly published paper.
Pain ManagementHow To Avoid Ulcers By Jane Farrell articleOver the counter pain relievers may seem harmless enough, but take enough of a certain type and you could find yourself with a peptic ulcer, a potentially serious abdominal disorder.
The Foods That Can Make You Less Anxious By Jane Farrell articleCoping with anxiety can be a challenge and often requires making lifestyle changes. There aren't any diet changes that can cure anxiety, but watching what you eat may help. Try these steps:Eat a breakfast that includes some protein. Eating protein at breakfast can help you feel fuller longer and help keep your blood sugar steady so that you have more energy as you start your day.
_ Money MattersThe Documents Every Woman Should Have By Jane Farrell articleThere’s more to managing your money than the shoebox filled with crumpled receipts under your bed. According to Patrice C. Washington, Money Maven of the Steve Harvey Morning Show, organizing paperwork and keeping track of financial and legal documents is imperative to your financial well-being.“It is hard to stay on top of your finances if documents are scattered about,” Washington says. “On top of that, many women don’t know which types of documents they need or even where to start.”
_ Statins Prolong Life for Patients With Diabetic Heart Disease By Jane Farrell articleUsing cholesterol-lowering statins could help prolong life for people who have diabetic heart disease, a new study has found.Researchers from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center published their study in Diabetes Care.“Although our study was not a clinical trial, it did show that people with diabetes and heart disease can still live quite a few years by taking statins,” said Don Bowden, Ph.D., professor of biochemistry at Wake Forest Baptist and lead author of the study.
_ Losing Your Sense of Smell By Jane Farrell articleMany older people are not even aware that they have a problem with their sense of smell because the changes occur gradually over several years. They may not even notice that they are experiencing a loss of smell until there is an incident in which they don't detect food that has spoiled or the presence of dangerous smoke.
_ The Latest on Gluten-Free Foods By Jane Farrell articleWe’ve heard a lot about gluten-free foods; most supermarkets even have a gluten-free section. But what does it mean, and how do you tell if you should be eating gluten-free food? Here, from the federal Food and Drug Administration, are some answers as well as information on the new labeling that’s going into effect right now:What is it? Gluten means the proteins that occur naturally in wheat, rye, barley, and crossbreeds of these grains.Why can it be a problem?
_ Weight LossStress Could Equal 11 Extra Pounds Per Year By Jane Farrell articleOne or more stressful events on any given day can actually slow the body’s metabolism and potentially lead to weight gain, a new study has found.Researchers from the Ohio State University said that a single high-fat meal eaten the day after a stressor such as an argument or work-related pressure can make unhealthy weight gain easier.
PetsFight Fleas And Ticks The Right Way By Jane Farrell articleFleas and ticks can be real problems for pets – and for their owners. In animals, according to the federal Food and Drug Administration, flea bites can cause flea allergy dermatitis , an allergic reaction to proteins in flea saliva.
_ Distractions Can Hurt Memory By Jane Farrell articleOlder people are much likelier to suffer memory and cognitive impairment when they’re presented with “environmental distractions” such as material that’s irrelevant to the task at hand.The finding, by psychologists from Rice University and Johns Hopkins University, is the first to convincingly demonstrate impairment from environmental distractions, such as irrelevant speech, during tasks.
_ Four Steps To Self-Esteem By Jane Farrell articleBy Mayo Clinic StaffLow self-esteem can negatively affect virtually every facet of your life, including your relationships, your job and your health. But you can take steps to boost your self-esteem, even if you've been harboring a poor opinion of yourself since childhood. Start with these four steps.STEP 1: Identify troubling conditions or situations Think about the conditions or situations that seem to deflate your self-esteem. Common triggers might include:A business presentationA crisis at work or home
_ ExerciseExercise: The Newest "Prescription" By Jane Farrell articleThe newest “medicine” that should be prescribed? Exercise, according to a study.Researchers from the Queensland Institute of Technology (QUT), in Australia, reached that conclusion after looking for five years at the impact of mental and physical health in women over 50.Professor Debra Anderson , from QUT's Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation , said that the research indicated that in addition to conventional treatments for physical and mental health, health professionals should be prescribing tailored exercise programs for older women.
_ How Friends and Family Can Help With Your Doctor Visit By Jane Farrell articleAt any age, it’s crucial that you not only look after your health with doctor visits and self-care, but it’s also essential that you learn the most from those visits. As people get older, and usually have several health conditions, it’s even more important.It’s not uncommon, though, for patients to be so upset or even frightened by a doctor visit that they can’t absorb what they’re being told, or the subject may be one they’re not familiar with. In either case, that means they won’t be learning as much as they could from the physician.
_ Skin Skin HealthHelp for Eczema Sufferers By Jane Farrell articleScientists have developed a new medicine that may eventually give significant relief to people who suffer from eczema, the most common skin disorder.The study was reported in the New England Journal of Medicine.
_ Safe Traveling with Diabetes By Jane Farrell articleGetting out of your routine is part of the fun of vacation and traveling. But don’t forget your medications and your care routine, especially if you have diabetes, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says. Experts at the federal agency, part of the National Institutes of health, say that travel factors such as meals away from home, a change in physical activity, and different time zones can affect your management of your conditions.