The circadian rhythm of gene activity changes with aging, according to a study by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical School. The finding was based on an investigation of thousands of genes from nearly 150 human brains. The discovery, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, also suggests that a novel… Continue reading Genes in The Brain May Affect Aging “Body Clocks”
Author: Jane Farrell
It’s Not Too Late to Get Your Flu Shot
Meant to get vaccinated in the fall to ward off the flu, but somehow didn’t get around to it? Think it’s too late to get vaccinated now? Not so. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), vaccinations can be protective as long as flu viruses are circulating. And although seasonal flu outbreaks can happen… Continue reading It’s Not Too Late to Get Your Flu Shot
The Hidden Sugars in Your Food
Any healthy diet should be low in sugars as well as fat. But sometimes it’s hard to determine just how much, and what kind, of the sweet stuff is in your food. Here, from the experts at SeniorHealth, a division of the National Institutes of Health, is a guide to recognize the different kinds of… Continue reading The Hidden Sugars in Your Food
Environment A Factor in Antibiotic Resistance?
Since the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, health officials have warned people about the dangers of overusing antibiotics. Now, though, research shows that that there may be another reason for antibiotic resistance: environmental contamination. The University of Georgia’s J. Vaun McArthur , a senior research ecologist with the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory and Odum School of… Continue reading Environment A Factor in Antibiotic Resistance?
Helping Others will Help You
Helping people, whether friends, family or strangers, can help lessen stress in our lives, according to new research published in Clinical Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. “Our research shows that when we help others we can also help ourselves,” explains study author Emily Ansell of the Yale University School of… Continue reading Helping Others will Help You
Avoid Infections by Taking Care of Artificial Nails
Cosmetic treatments for nails – acrylic nails, gel nails, and nail tips – can look beautiful. They need a little care to keep them looking good, and to take care of the real nails below. Here, from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), are some suggestions: Apply artificial nails only to healthy natural nails, the… Continue reading Avoid Infections by Taking Care of Artificial Nails
Millions of Women Are Getting Unregulated Hormone-Therapy Treatments
Millions of women are being prescribed hormone therapy with mostly unregulated compounds, according to a new study. The number of prescriptions has reached an estimated 26 to 33 million a year. That approaches the 36 million prescriptions per year for well-regulated and tested FDA-approved hormone therapy, shows an analysis of the market compounded hormone therapy… Continue reading Millions of Women Are Getting Unregulated Hormone-Therapy Treatments
Older Adults May Be Confused by Visual Stimuli
Older adults may have difficulty in combining what they see and hear – and that could have an effect on quick decision needed in situations like driving. A recent study from the University of Waterloo, in Ontario, found that seniors have a harder time distinguishing the order of events than younger adults. When researchers presented… Continue reading Older Adults May Be Confused by Visual Stimuli
Stay Safe and Healthy This Winter
In some sections of the U.S., winter has been so far unseasonably mild. But that doesn’t mean we’ll avoid the cold and its attendant hazards as the season continues. Here, from the National Center of Environmental Health, a division of the federal Centers for Disease Control, are some strategies to get you safely through the… Continue reading Stay Safe and Healthy This Winter
Heart Drug May Raise Risk of Alzheimer’s and Macular Degeneration
A drug that can halt the progression of heart failure and reduce cardiovascular-related deaths may have serious side effects, including increased risk of Alzheimer’s and macular degeneration, according to an article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The drug — a tablet that combines the agents valsartan and sacubitril, sold under the… Continue reading Heart Drug May Raise Risk of Alzheimer’s and Macular Degeneration
Pet-Safety Tips for The Holidays
Pet safety is important all year round, but you need to be especially wary at holiday time, when cats see interesting objects (plants, tinsel) they want to explore. Here, from the Pet Poison Helpline, are some things you should keep away from your pets. When decorating for the season, consider your pets. Holiday decorations such… Continue reading Pet-Safety Tips for The Holidays
Workplace Diabetes-Prevention Programs of Great Benefit to Employees
For employees who have high blood sugar, a diabetes-prevention program could be one of the best workplace benefits ever. A new study found that employees enrolled in a workplace intervention program as a group lost more weight, showed greater reductions in fasting blood sugar and ate less fat than employees who received only written health… Continue reading Workplace Diabetes-Prevention Programs of Great Benefit to Employees
Breast Cancer Drugs’ Side Effects May Depend on Patient’s Age
Two leading breast cancer drugs cause different symptoms depending on the age of the woman who is taking the drug, researchers say. The findings could be an important step toward personalized medicine for women with breast cancer, said Dr. Patricia Ganz, director of the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Prevention and Control Research program and… Continue reading Breast Cancer Drugs’ Side Effects May Depend on Patient’s Age
Are Your Senior Loved Ones Safe to Live Alone?
This week, millions of adult children will head “home” to spend time with their parents and grandparents over the holidays. It’s a time for family celebrations and bonding. And for adult offspring with elder loved ones, it’s also a rare time – with potentially five or more days spent together – to evaluate whether their… Continue reading Are Your Senior Loved Ones Safe to Live Alone?
The Nine Best Dry-Skin Solutions
According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), following the same skin care routine year round may not work so well when the humidity drops, as it does in winter. Without a change in your skin care, dry air can make fine lines and wrinkles more noticeable. It can also itch, flake, crack, and even… Continue reading The Nine Best Dry-Skin Solutions
When Unwanted Thoughts Take Over: Recognizing Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Do you feel the need to check and re-check things over and over? Do you have the same thoughts constantly? Do you feel a very strong need to perform certain rituals repeatedly and feel like you have no control over what you are doing? If so, you may have a type of anxiety disorder called… Continue reading When Unwanted Thoughts Take Over: Recognizing Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Computers May Not Always Benefit Doctor-Patient Relationship
Although exam-room computers may seem to support safer and more effective patient care, in fact it can be a threat to patient safety, good relationships and positive health outcomes. In a commentary published in JAMA Internal Medicine, Regenstrief Institute Investigator and Indiana University School of Medicine Professor of Medicine Richard Frankel, Ph.D., writes that the… Continue reading Computers May Not Always Benefit Doctor-Patient Relationship
Make Your Home Smoke-Free in 2016
It’s not unusual for restaurants or other public buildings to be smoke free – either voluntarily or by state law – to protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke. But the secondhand-smoke problem persists in private homes where each family sets its own rules. While the family smoker sometimes is banished to the patio, that’s not always… Continue reading Make Your Home Smoke-Free in 2016