Imagine not being able to hear the sound of your child laughing, your favorite song on the radio, or even the person on the other end of the phone. Your ears are responsible for sending sound and balance information to your brain, so it is important that you keep them clean and healthy. The health… Continue reading Ear Care 101
Author: Jane Farrell
Typical Gender Expectations Hurt Men as Well as Women
Gendered expectations in marriage are not just bad for women, they are also bad for men, according to a new study by University of Connecticut (UConn) sociologists. The study, “Relative Income, Psychological Well Being, and Health: Is Breadwinning Hazardous or Protective?” by Christin Munsch, an assistant professor of sociology at UConn, and graduate students Matthew… Continue reading Typical Gender Expectations Hurt Men as Well as Women
Why Some Breast-Cancer Tumors Resist Medicine
A team of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine cancer researchers has uncovered one way certain tumors resist vital medication. In the study, published in Oncotarget, the researchers studied tumor biopsies collected from breast cancer patients before and after treatment with the go-to breast cancer drug trastuzumab (also known as Herceptin). Some of the… Continue reading Why Some Breast-Cancer Tumors Resist Medicine
Does Your Skin Have a Hangover?
Before stepping out for that weekly happy hour, think about how those libations may impact your skin. What many people don’t realize is that drinking alcohol in excess can have a negative impact on our appearance. Alcohol dehydrates your body including the skin, your body’s largest organ. This happens every time you drink. Extra cocktails… Continue reading Does Your Skin Have a Hangover?
Found: Important Clue to Development of Alzheimer’s
Researchers have discovered a gene signature in healthy brains that echoes the pattern in which Alzheimer’s disease spreads through the brain. The findings, published in the journal Science Advances, could help uncover the molecular origins of this devastating disease, and may be used to develop preventative treatments for at-risk individuals to be taken well before… Continue reading Found: Important Clue to Development of Alzheimer’s
The Depression/Dementia Connection
Editor’s note: Depression can be devastating for the sufferer and his or her loved ones, but when paired with dementia, it can be especially heartbreaking. Here, from the experts at Generations Healthcare, a network of skilled nursing, memory care and rehabilitation facilities in California, is an explanation of the link between depression and dementia, and… Continue reading The Depression/Dementia Connection
How Healthy Are Your Kidneys?
Editor’s note: Keeping your kidneys healthy is a crucial issue for millions of people. Here, from the experts at the National Institute of Digestive and Diabetes and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), one of the National Institutes of Health, is what you need to know. The steps you take to keep your kidneys healthy help the rest… Continue reading How Healthy Are Your Kidneys?
Radiation Just as Good as Surgery for Aggressive Prostate Cancer
In cases of aggressive prostate cancer, high-dose radiation is just as effective as surgery, according to a new study by researchers at the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. The study also suggests that a particular form of radiation therapy, consisting of external radiation followed by brachytherapy (a type of radiation treatment in which a radioactive… Continue reading Radiation Just as Good as Surgery for Aggressive Prostate Cancer
Should You Ever Skip Washing Produce?
Editor’s note: Food poisoning ranges from the possibly fatal to the just yucky. Here, the Mayo Clinic talks about what fruits and vegetables you should pre-wash – and which ones should you leave alone: According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) you should be washing most fruits and vegetables, Mayo says. (Click here… Continue reading Should You Ever Skip Washing Produce?
Many Patients Released before Vital Signs Are Stable
Twenty percent of people hospitalized are released before all vital signs are stable, a pattern that’s been linked to an increased risk of death and hospital readmission, a new study by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers shows. As hospital stays have shortened dramatically over the past 30 years, there is increasing concern that patients are… Continue reading Many Patients Released before Vital Signs Are Stable
Medical Devices that Treat Obesity: What to Know
An update from the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on devices that may help if diet and exercise aren’t eliminating obesity: If your health care provider finds that you’re overweight or obese, you’re not alone. More than 68 percent of U.S. adults are considered overweight, according to federal statistics. And close to 36 percent… Continue reading Medical Devices that Treat Obesity: What to Know
Positive Attitude Toward Aging Helps with Stress
A positive attitude toward aging gives older adults more resilience in stressful situations, according to new research from North Carolina State. “There has been a lot of research on how older adults respond to stress, but the findings have been mixed: some studies have found that older adults are less resilient than younger adults at… Continue reading Positive Attitude Toward Aging Helps with Stress
What Makes a Good Farmer’s Market?
It’s a typical farmer’s market scene: freshly harvested honey from local hives, locally rendered goat cheese, carved wood ornaments. Perhaps even more so than food, you’ll find plenty of crafts and artisans selling their wares. Are you more likely to find crafts and handmade items now instead of food at your local farmer’s market? Don’t… Continue reading What Makes a Good Farmer’s Market?
Intensive-Care Units May Not Be Best for Some Patients
Patients who suffer heart attacks, or flare-ups of congestive heart failure, can be cared for in a variety of hospital locations. But a new study suggests that they’ll fare worse in hospitals that rely heavily on their intensive care units to care for patients like them. In fact, depending on where they go, they may… Continue reading Intensive-Care Units May Not Be Best for Some Patients
The Secrets of Fulfilled People
Are there real tricks to becoming fulfilled in life? You bet. My research and that of others suggests that there are key street-smart actions that those who are most fulfilled use every day in their professional and personal lives. I interviewed over 100 successful people—some who were fulfilled and others who were not—to understand why… Continue reading The Secrets of Fulfilled People
Assisted-Living Facilities Wary of Seniors’ Sex Lives
Although assisted-living facilities emphasize independence and autonomy, a study from researchers at the Gerontology Institute of Georgia State University researchers found that there is an “environment of surveillance” that limits residents’ sexual freedom. The findings were published in the Journals of Gerontology: Social Sciences, indicate conflict between autonomy and the protection of residents in regard… Continue reading Assisted-Living Facilities Wary of Seniors’ Sex Lives
Caregiving and Atrial Fibrillation
Many people associate cardiovascular disease solely with blocked arteries and heart attacks. However, over five million people suffer with electrical problems of the heart—a complex condition called atrial fibrillation. Most common in the elderly, AFib, as it’s known, comes in various forms; some come and go while some are persistent and even permanent, but they… Continue reading Caregiving and Atrial Fibrillation
Exercise Improves Brain as Well as Body
Researchers have discovered that regular physical activity for older adults could lead to higher brain volumes and a reduced risk for developing dementia. The investigators, from UCLA, found that physical activity particularly affected the size of the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain controlling short-term memory. Also, the protective effect of regular physical… Continue reading Exercise Improves Brain as Well as Body