_ Diagnosing Muscle Loss By Jane Farrell articleResearchers have come up with a way of measuring the age-related loss of muscle mass and strength, and the discovery could lead someday to consistent diagnosis and even treatment for the condition.
Skin Skin HealthSkin Disorders and Aging By Jane Farrell articleYour skin changes with age. It becomes thinner, loses fat, and no longer looks as plump and smooth as it once did. Your veins and bones can be seen more easily. Scratches, cuts, or bumps can take longer to heal. Years of sun tanning or being out in the sunlight for a long time may lead to wrinkles, dryness, age spots, and even cancer. But there are things you can do to protect your skin and to make it feel and look better. Here are tips from the National Institute on Aging: Dry Skin And Itching
_ How to Win the Springtime Allergy Battle By Jane Farrell articleEditor’s Note: Millions of us have just suffered through one of the coldest, snowiest winters ever. But now spring is here (even if it’s still snowing in some unlucky parts of the country). It’s great that winter’s over, but here’s the bad news: the spring allergy season is gearing up. Anyone who’s suffered from this common problem knows how irritating it can be. What’s more, if you have allergies, they’ll find you no matter if the weather is wet or dry.
_ Diabetes and Mount Everest By Jane Farrell articleUsing the high altitude of Mount Everest, scientists have expanded our understanding of how low oxygen levels in the body are linked with Type II diabetes. The research, led by investigators from the University of Southampton in the UK, was published in the journal PLOS One.
_ PetsEaster Lilies Are Deadly For Cats By Jane Farrell articleBeautiful Easter lilies can be deadly news for your cats, and the FDA is warning pet owners about the dangers. The white, trumpet-shaped Easter lily, a popular gift and home decoration, symbolizes Easter and spring for many people. But you need to be careful about these blooms, including Tiger, Asiatic, Day and Japanese Show lilies.
_ The Role Of Enzymes In Breast Cancer By Jane Farrell articleA major new discovery confirms the role of some virus-fighting enzymes in cancer development. The research furthers the understanding of the biological processes that cause cancer. One group of genes, the APOBEC family, controls enzymes that fight off viral infections. But scientists have speculated that these enzymes are also responsible for a distinct signature of mutations that is present in approximately half of all cancer types.
_ MarriageAngry Spouses And Low Blood Sugar By Jane Farrell articleLower blood-sugar levels may make married people likelier to be angry at their spouse, new research shows. In a 21-day study, researchers found that blood glucose levels, measured each night, predicted how angry people would be toward their spouse at that time. After the study ended, people with the lower blood glucose levels were also shown in a lab experiment to be more willing to subject their spouse to unpleasant noises than those with higher glucose levels.
_ Heart Health10 Ways To Resist Tobacco Cravings By Jane Farrell articleFor most tobacco users, tobacco cravings or urges to smoke can be powerful. But you're not at the mercy of these tobacco cravings. When an urge to use tobacco strikes, remember that although it may be intense, it will be short-lived, and it probably will pass within a few minutes whether or not you smoke a cigarette or take a dip of chewing tobacco. Each time you resist a tobacco craving, you're one step closer to stopping smoking or other tobacco use for good. But it can be difficult.
_ Heartburn/GERDGERD: Help For Heartburn And Other Woes By Jane Farrell articleUgh…heartburn again? If that’s your mantra after meals or as you fall asleep, you may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In GERD, the valve between your lower esophagus and stomach weakens. This sometimes lets food and stomach acids back up into your esophagus. The result is usually a burning sensation behind the breastbone, or heartburn. But GERD can also cause other symptoms: hoarseness, chest pain, a dry cough, the sensation that food is caught in your throat. A Problem For All Ages
_ Doctors Say Malpractice System Is Better But Needs More Work By Jane Farrell articleIn a new assessment of the state of medical malpractice, the American College of Physicians (ACP) said that although the cost of liability insurance has leveled off, doctors still “fear litigation” and “expect lawsuits.” Molly Cooke, MD, FACP, president of ACO, also said that physicians feel “the psychological burden of navigating the complex medico-legal system.”
_ Needed: Better Decision Making for the Sickest Patients By Jane Farrell articleA sick, elderly patient who is considering risky surgery needs comprehensive help in the decision process, according to an analytical piece published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Laurent G. Glance, M.D, professor and vice-chair for research in the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, said that a team approach would lead to better care that’s in accordance with the patient’s values.
_ Avoid Portion Distortion By Jane Farrell articleWant to try eating smaller? These tips from choosemyplate.gov can get you off to a great start: We’ve all been guilty of “portion distortion” – of believing that we’re eating a lot less than we actually are. Avoid that trap by figuring out how big your portions really are:
_ Sleep HealthThe Dangers of Sleep Disorders By Jane Farrell articleThe doctor will then perform a physical examination, looking for signs of illnesses that can affect sleep, including Parkinson’s and heart disease. If your doctor feels more information is needed, he or she may refer you to a sleep center for more testing.
Telephone Care Helps Some Medicare Patients By Jane Farrell articleMedicare Patients And Low-risk Medicare patients who are getting home health care appear to benefit from medication management therapy conducted via phone, but that procedure doesn’t work for higher-risk patients, a new study shows. The study, conducted by researchers from Purdue University, aimed to see which patients benefit the most from medication management via telephone.
_ Potato Chips And Toxins By Jane Farrell articleResearchers have found that the snack food ingredient olestra speeds up toxin removal from the body. The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Cincinnati’s medical school, was published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. Olestra is a zero-calorie fat substitute found in low-calorie snack foods such as Pringles. Researchers said it could reduce the levels of serum polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in people who had been exposed to PCBs. High PCB levels have been linked to hypertension and diabetes.
_ Sleep HealthWatch: Are There Gender Differences In Dreaming? By Jane Farrell articleHere's another addition to our Third Age video collection. Press play to start learning.
_ Smart Ways To Buy Whole Grains By Jane Farrell articleSometimes it seems as if entire supermarket aisles are devoted to high-fiber, protein-packed, multi-grain or whole-grain foods. The grain issue can be especially complicated. Whole grains are crucial for nutrients such as zinc, magnesium, B vitamins, and fiber. But, according to the federal program choosemyplate.gov, you need to carefully evaluate foods that make grains claims. Here, the experts tell you how to get the best possible whole-grain nutrients.
_ Nasal Spray May Stop Depression By Jane Farrell articleNew research from Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City shows that an antidepressant nasal spray can become effective within 24 hours – an unusually rapid amount of time. The ketamine spray was well-tolerated by patients who have treatment-resistant major depressive disorder. Of 18 patients who took ketamine or the placebo saline for two days, eight responded to ketamine within 24 hours, while one responded to saline.