Editor’s note: Recently the FDA issued a ruling prohibiting the marketing of soaps and body washes containing the “antibacterial active ingredients,” including triclosan and triclocarban. This ruling will affect millions of consumers who have used antibacterial soaps in the belief that they guard against illness. Here, the FDA explains its ruling – and what you… Continue reading Antibacterial Soap? Skip It
Author: Jane Farrell
Depression Treatment: Too Little and Too Much
Although depression is commonly discussed in the media, researchers have found that most Americans affected by the condition don’t receive treatment. At the same time, the investigators found, it’s possible that overtreatment of depression is widespread. Less than a third of American adults who screened positive for depression received treatment for their symptoms, whereas over… Continue reading Depression Treatment: Too Little and Too Much
Self-Sabotage and The Time of Day
New research shows that people are more likely to undermine their performance at stressful tasks when they’re operating at “peak capacity” based on their preferred time of the day. The seemingly counterintuitive results, recently reported in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, are based on an investigation into the connection between people’s circadian rhythm and… Continue reading Self-Sabotage and The Time of Day
Work-Life Balance: What It Really Means
Everybody talks about work-life balance, but what does it really involve? Glad you asked! Here are the six components of work-life balance. Master these, and you’ve got it made in the shade: Self-management Sufficiently managing one’s self can be challenging, particularly in getting proper sleep, exercise and nutrition. Self-management is the recognition that effectively using… Continue reading Work-Life Balance: What It Really Means
Diet and Exercise Equally Effective Against Heart Disease
When it comes to improving cardiovascular health, what’s important is weight loss – but not how you do it. Exercise and dieting, or a combination of both, are equally effective. “For men and women with excess body weight, modest weight loss provides powerful protection against cardiovascular disease, regardless of whether weight loss is achieved by… Continue reading Diet and Exercise Equally Effective Against Heart Disease
Researchers Link Obesity to More Kinds of Cancer
There’s yet another reason to maintain a healthy weight as we age. An international team of researchers has identified eight additional types of cancer linked to excess weight and obesity: stomach, liver, gall bladder, pancreas, ovary, meningioma (a type of brain tumor), thyroid cancer and the blood cancer multiple myeloma. Limiting weight gain over the… Continue reading Researchers Link Obesity to More Kinds of Cancer
Hair Coloring and Allergy
Choosing a new hair color wouldn’t seem to be the kind of decision that comes with much peril. But anyone intent on going from blond to brunette, or from gray-haired to redhead, could be in for a surprise. In fact, chemicals used in hair dyes can trigger allergic reactions, and skin exposed to the chemical… Continue reading Hair Coloring and Allergy
How Long Do You Want to Live?
Researchers have found that more than one in six younger people would prefer to die before they are 80. The team of investigators from the Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center, Mailman School of Public Health, said there no indication that the relationship between preferring a life shorter or longer than average life expectancy depended… Continue reading How Long Do You Want to Live?
Hope for Coma Patients
UCLA researchers have discovered how to “jump start” a brain after an injury, They say that a 25-year-old man recovering from a coma has made remarkable progress following the treatment. The technique uses sonic stimulation to excite the neurons in the thalamus, an egg-shaped structure that serves as the brain’s central hub for processing information.… Continue reading Hope for Coma Patients
The Ice Bucket Challenge: Did It Work?
Remember the Ice Bucket Challenge, the social media videos that went viral during the summer of 2104? What began as a few videos circulated between some charity volunteers snowballed into an internet sensation. Its premise was simple: Make a video challenging friends, family and co-workers to donate money to fund ALS, a rare neurological disease,… Continue reading The Ice Bucket Challenge: Did It Work?
Fabulous Fitness Travel
Staying in shape is easy when you’re on home turf. But what happens when you travel? It’s the perfect time to try a new fitness regimen! A change of scenery may be just what you need to make your fitness anything but routine. Check out these destinations across the country and see how you can… Continue reading Fabulous Fitness Travel
Family More Important than Friends in Later Years: Study
For older adults, having more or closer family members in one’s social network decreases his or her likelihood of death within a given period, but having a larger or closer group of friends does not, according to a new study presented at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association. “We found that older individuals… Continue reading Family More Important than Friends in Later Years: Study
The Truth about “Clean Eating”
Clean eating is the practice of choosing foods in their whole-food state, and avoiding processed and refined foods. However, according to the Mayo Clinic, the interpretation of clean eating can vary from person to person. Here, from a Mayo dietitian, is an overview of the issue. “I’ve seen many nutrition trends over the years,” says… Continue reading The Truth about “Clean Eating”
Standing Up for Yourself Is Worth It
Although avoiding disagreements might seem easier than confronting them, in fact it’s worth the effort, new research shows. A new study from the University at Buffalo that assessed bodily responses suggests that standing up for your beliefs, expressing your opinions and demonstrating your core values can be a positive psychological experience. There can be a… Continue reading Standing Up for Yourself Is Worth It
A Telephone Resource for Alzheimer’s Caregivers
Do you have a family member with dementia, but the nearest support service is two hours away? This is an issue that a lot of caregivers face. Sometimes, it can help to talk with, and gain support from, others who are going through the same situation as you. The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) offers… Continue reading A Telephone Resource for Alzheimer’s Caregivers
What Dogs Really Want from People
Praise or food? Lots of dogs just want praise, according to research publisven the choice, many dogs prefer praise from their owners over food, suggests a new study published in the journal Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience. The study is one of the first to combine brain-imaging data with behavioral experiments to explore canine reward… Continue reading What Dogs Really Want from People
A Safe Painkiller?
Researchers working from scratch have developed a new opioid drug candidate that blocks pain without the dangerous side effects of current prescription painkillers. The international team — led by scientists at UC San Francisco, Stanford University, the University of North Carolina (UNC), and the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg in Germany — explored more than four trillion… Continue reading A Safe Painkiller?
Baby Boomers and Food Safety
Editor’s note: Steering clear of food poisoning is crucial, and older people face special risks from this condition. The experts from FoodSafety, a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, offer these tips for dealing with a common and potentially deadly issue. Adults 65 and older are at a higher risk for hospitalization and death… Continue reading Baby Boomers and Food Safety