Author: Jane Farrell

Have A Heart-Healthy Holiday

The joy of the winter holiday season is often marred for many, as research shows that more people die from heart attacks during the last week of December than at any other time of the year. The American Heart Association (AHA), the world’s leading voluntary organization focused on heart and brain health, says being aware… Continue reading Have A Heart-Healthy Holiday

Predicting Changes in Cognitive Health

A new measurement system based on phenotypic (observable) data can identify individuals at risk for adverse health outcomes based on their computed “aging score.” After collecting these data from nearly 1,000 people aged 24 to 93, researchers funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) found that individuals with higher biological aging scores exhibited faster… Continue reading Predicting Changes in Cognitive Health

How to Treat Large Facial Pores

When you look in the mirror, do you feel that your skin would look more attractive if you could shrink those large pores? There’s actually a lot you can do to make pores less noticeable. And you can do much of this on your own. Here’s what the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends: Use… Continue reading How to Treat Large Facial Pores

Telehealth and Heart Disease

Telehealth is a proven and valuable option for people with cardiovascular disease, although there are limitations to its use in rural and under-resourced communities, according to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Associationm (AHA). The statement was published Nov. 14 in the Association’s flagship peer-reviewed journal Circulation. An AHA scientific statement is an… Continue reading Telehealth and Heart Disease

Startling News About Melanoma

Although melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer, most patients have high chances of surviving the disease, new research shows. There is evidence that more cases of melanoma are being overdiagnosed in patients who would never experience symptoms. Using cancer registry data, investigators have identified a subset of patients with early-stage melanoma with… Continue reading Startling News About Melanoma

New Ways to Display Holiday Poinsettias

Nothing says the holidays like a poinsettia. This year, try some new ways to display this festive plant.  Poinsettias are available in a variety of colors including white, pink, hot pink, yellow, peach, marbled and speckled. These colorful parts of the plant, often referred to as flowers, are actually modified leaves called bracts. The real… Continue reading New Ways to Display Holiday Poinsettias

The Risk of Generosity

Older adults’ willingness to give away money is associated with decreased cognitive function, according to a study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. These results suggest that an increase in this behavior, known as financial altruism, could be linked to the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. The stud, funded by the National Institute on… Continue reading The Risk of Generosity

COVID’s Other Death Toll

U.S. deaths from heart disease spiked in 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic after a steady decline from 2010 to 2019, reversing a public health success, according to preliminary research to be presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2022. The meeting, held in person in Chicago and virtually, Nov. 5-7, 2022,… Continue reading COVID’s Other Death Toll

A New Health Screening for Teens

Children and adolescents may soon undergo anxiety screening as part of their annual physical. The recommendation for screeningcomes from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), a panel of medical experts, in response to the increasing frequency of self-reported anxiety symptoms in the general population. In 2016, the task force recommended screening for depression in… Continue reading A New Health Screening for Teens

Four Exercise Questions to Ask Your Doctor

Are you considering adding exercise to your daily routine or significantly increasing your level of activity?  If so, the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH, has some specific recommendations for you. Before beginning, be sure to talk with your doctor about the exercises and physical activities that are… Continue reading Four Exercise Questions to Ask Your Doctor

Preventing Isolation and Boredom among Seniors

We read a great deal about seniors’ physical health, but their mental and social health doesn’t seem to get nearly that much attention. Yet the issue is surprisingly widespread:  24% of community-dwelling seniors (7.7 million people) reported being socially isolated, and 4% (or 1.3 million) reported being severely socially isolated according to one federal study.… Continue reading Preventing Isolation and Boredom among Seniors

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Categorized as Aging

An Early Sign of Alzheimer’s Risk?

Abnormal cholesterol and glucose (or blood sugar) levels as early as age 35 may be associated with Alzheimer’s disease risk later in life, new research shows. These findings, published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, suggest that people with normal cholesterol and glucose measurements in early through middle adulthood may be less likely to develop Alzheimer’s as… Continue reading An Early Sign of Alzheimer’s Risk?

Shoulder Pain and Estrogen Therapy

A new study shows that post-menopausal women who are on hormone replacement therapy have a lower risk of developing a painful shoulder condition than women who aren’t receiving the treatment. The research into estrogen therapy and the condition, adhesive capsulitis, was conducted by the Duke University Departments of Orthopedics and Obstetrics & Gynecology. Results were… Continue reading Shoulder Pain and Estrogen Therapy

Avoiding Razor Bumps

There are many ways to get rid of unwanted facial and body hair, but shaving with a razor is one of the most common and inexpensive methods. Unfortunately, using a razor sometimes can lead to razor bumps, also called shaving bumps. “If you’ve ever shaved, you probably know how razor bumps feel,” says board-certified dermatologist… Continue reading Avoiding Razor Bumps

Is It Just Forgetfulness?

Many people become worried about forgetfulness as they age. Mild forgetfulness, such as losing things from time to time, can be a normal part aging. Consider these techniques to help manage memory and changes in memory: *Start and follow a daily routine *Stay in activities that help both mind and body *Get enough sleep, generally… Continue reading Is It Just Forgetfulness?

Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Your Brain

An exploratory study suggests that people who eat more foods with omega-3 fatty acids in midlife may have better thinking skills and even better brain structure than people who eat few foods with the fatty acids. The study is published in the October 5, 2022, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American… Continue reading Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Your Brain