People who have psoriasis symptoms can improve the symptoms and their quality of life by losing weight, according to European researchers. The finding, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, stem from a study conducted by Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, in collaboration with the University of Copenhagen’s Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports and… Continue reading Psoriasis and Weight Loss
Author: Jane Farrell
Bone Density Tests: What the Numbers Mean
If you’re considering taking a bone density test, or have taken one but find the result puzzling, here are some helpful explanations from the NIH Osteoporosis and Related Diseases National Resource Center, part of the National Institutes of Health: A bone mineral density (BMD) test is can provide a snapshot of your bone health. The… Continue reading Bone Density Tests: What the Numbers Mean
Study: Help Others and Live Longer
Older people who help and support others such as their grandchildren live longer, according to a news release about research conducted by investigators from Australia, Switzerland and Germany. The team – from the University of Basel, Edith Cowan University, the University of Western Australia, the Humboldt University of Berlin, and the Max Planck Institute for… Continue reading Study: Help Others and Live Longer
Vanquishing Information Overload
Too much information, constantly, can lead to stress. Each day, do you feel besieged by information on a continual basis? There is good reason: one estimate holds that information doubles in the world every72 days. The Library of Congress catalogues 7,000 new items each day. More than 2,000 new Websites go online each day. A… Continue reading Vanquishing Information Overload
Loneliness and Serious Illness
Loneliness and social isolation take a substantial toll on the human body, researchers say, in some frightening ways. But they are beginning to find out exactly why that is. Studies show that people who are chronically lonely have significantly more heart disease, are more vulnerable to metastatic cancer, have an increased risk of stroke and… Continue reading Loneliness and Serious Illness
Re-do Your Coffee-Shop Stop
Editor’s note: Most of us go to our local coffee shop so often that we seldom stop to think about the calories adding up. But some drinks can total several hundred calories – as much as an additional meal. Here, the experts from www.choosemyplate.gov, a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, share strategies for… Continue reading Re-do Your Coffee-Shop Stop
One Patient’s Health Crisis Can Negatively Affect Others
Hospital patients can suffer negative health effects if a person in their unit has a crisis such as being transferred to an intensive-care unit, according to new research by University of Chicago physicians. The effect was described in a research letter published in JAMA. The researchers found that when one patient on a typical 20-bed… Continue reading One Patient’s Health Crisis Can Negatively Affect Others
Will Exploring Your Family History Unearth The Unexpected?
Actress Katey Sagal discovered a surprising fact about her family history when she appeared on the “Who Do You Think You Are?” TV show, which features celebrities tracing their roots. Some of her distant ancestors were Amish – a bit of information that somehow failed to work its way down through the ages to her… Continue reading Will Exploring Your Family History Unearth The Unexpected?
Healthy Habits: Family and Friends Can Help More than Doctors
When it comes to improving a patient’s health, relationships with family and friends may be more effective than interactions with physicians or other health care providers, experts say. According to a news release from the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Medicine experts suggest a five-step program to help bring out social engagements that promote health. The… Continue reading Healthy Habits: Family and Friends Can Help More than Doctors
The Latest in Treatments for Bipolar Disorder
You—or a loved one—feel depressed. Then very excited, or even “hyper.” Then depressed again. These ups and downs can be a sign of bipolar disorder, a brain disorder. Though there is no cure for this disorder, medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration can treat symptoms and help you feel better. Symptoms Bipolar… Continue reading The Latest in Treatments for Bipolar Disorder
Common-Sense Advice for Protecting Yourself from Financial Schemers
My friend’s mother, who is in her 70s, got a letter in the mail printed on official-looking letterhead of a familiar bank, which informed her that a long-lost account had been discovered. It had money that she could reclaim if she telephoned before a certain date. The woman had done business with that bank and… Continue reading Common-Sense Advice for Protecting Yourself from Financial Schemers
Use of NSAIDS Linked to Risk of Hearing Loss in Older Women
Prolonged use of over-the-counter pain relievers is linked to a higher risk of hearing loss in older women, according to new research. As many as two-thirds of women in the United States over the age of 60 have some degree of hearing loss. A team led by investigators from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, reached… Continue reading Use of NSAIDS Linked to Risk of Hearing Loss in Older Women
Parkinson’s and Complementary Health Treatments
Editor’s note: If you’re struggling with Parkinson’s, or have a loved one who is, it may be tempting to try complementary health treatments in addition to conventional medicine. But how good are these remedies? Here, experts from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, one of the National Institutes of Health, offer an overview.… Continue reading Parkinson’s and Complementary Health Treatments
Study: Red Meat Doesn’t Influence Short-Term Cardiovascular Risks
Some good news for meat lovers: Consuming red meat in higher-than-recommended amounts does not affect short-term cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as blood pressure and blood cholesterol, according to a new review of clinical trials from Purdue University. “During the last 20 years, there have been recommendations to eat less red meat as part of… Continue reading Study: Red Meat Doesn’t Influence Short-Term Cardiovascular Risks
How to Have A Harmonious 2017
A new year has started, and you’ve probably made yourself some promises. In case you haven’t, here are some suggestions: try to achieve serenity, to feel calmer, more peaceful, less worried. Tranquility may seem an elusive goal, but it’s one that can change your life. Here are a few tips to help you get going:… Continue reading How to Have A Harmonious 2017
Better Medical Communication Needed in Hospitals
Structured means of communication can help doctors, nurses and clinicians better understand each other during routines designed to evaluate patients, according to a new study. Previous studies on these routines – multidisciplinary rounds, or MDRs – have demonstrated that the daily meetings have positive effects on patient care and outcomes. MDRs involve health care personnel… Continue reading Better Medical Communication Needed in Hospitals
Remain Healthy While Seated
The more you sit the worse it is for you. Whether you work with a desktop, laptop or tablet, or some combination thereof, it’s too easy to fall into unproductive, energy-draining customs and postures. This is especially so when you sit for prolonged periods, fixated on a screen. Here are some simple exercises you can… Continue reading Remain Healthy While Seated
Detoxing Your Body (and Your Diet)
Over the holidays, you’ve probably eaten everything from candied yams to chocolate Santas. No wonder you’re feeling bloated. The good news is that despite holiday indulgence, most people gain only a pound. The bad news is that most of them never take it off. And when you consider that this pattern often repeats itself year… Continue reading Detoxing Your Body (and Your Diet)