Author: Sondra Forsyth

Sondra Forsyth is Co-Editor-in-Chief of ThirdAge.com. She is a National Magazine Award winner with scores of major magazine bylines and twelve books to her credit. Her most recent book is “Candida Cleanse: The 21-Day Diet to Beat Yeast and Feel Your Best”. Sondra was Executive Editor at “Ladies’ Home Journal,” Features Editor at “Cosmopolitan,” and Articles Editor at “Bride’s”. A former ballerina, she founded Ballet Ambassadors, an arts-in-education company in New York City, and served as Artistic Director for 16 years.

Starting a 529 College Savings Plan Is a Great Idea, Even for Parents of a Newborn

There are two types of 529 accounts: the college savings plan and the prepaid tuition plan. The latter allows you to prepay for future college courses at current prices—in other words, get the 2018 rate 18 or 20 years from now. That sounds great, but there are major drawbacks. The prepaid plan guarantees to cover… Continue reading Starting a 529 College Savings Plan Is a Great Idea, Even for Parents of a Newborn

3 Reasons to Avoid – or Delay – Knee-Replacement Surgery

Hitting your 50s or 60s can bring several life changes, and increasingly those include artificial joints. For much of the aging U.S. population, knees in particular are wearing out. More than 600,000 knee replacements are performed annually in the U.S., according to The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. That number is expected to swell… Continue reading 3 Reasons to Avoid – or Delay – Knee-Replacement Surgery

Bacterial Pneumonia Is Far More Dangerous to the Heart Than Viral Pneumonia

If you were diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia rather than viral pneumonia you might feel relieved because medication can treat bacterial pneumonia but not vial pneumonia. However, the bad news is that heart complications in patients diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia are more serious than in patients diagnosed with viral pneumonia. That is the finding of 2018 research… Continue reading Bacterial Pneumonia Is Far More Dangerous to the Heart Than Viral Pneumonia

Do We Take Better Care of Our Cars Than Our Teeth?

When you buy a new car, you get an owner’s manual that tells you when to get the oil changed, how much air to put in the tires, and when to get the brakes repaired, among other important details about routine maintenance. When it comes to our teeth, though, we aren’t always as conscientious about… Continue reading Do We Take Better Care of Our Cars Than Our Teeth?

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at thirdAGE!

Strengths and Weaknesses of Emergency Departments and Urgent Care

Yelp reviews reveal that emergency departments are viewed as being higher quality but lacking in service as compared to urgent care centers, which patients rate the opposite That is the rinding of a 2018 study from researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The study results, published this month in… Continue reading Strengths and Weaknesses of Emergency Departments and Urgent Care

Is an Annuity a Good Choice for You? Here are the Questions to Ask

Annuities can help you save for retirement, reduce risk, cut your taxes and guarantee a lifetime income. But they’re not right for everyone. How can you tell if an annuity is right for you? And if one is, what kind would best meet your needs? Deferred annuities—fixed, variable and fixed-indexed—help you save more for retirement… Continue reading Is an Annuity a Good Choice for You? Here are the Questions to Ask

The Science Behind Face Massage Rollers

Facial massaging using a roller can increase skin blood flow for more than ten minutes after the massage. It can also improve vasodilation — the widening of blood vessels, — in the long-term, according to a 2018 study by researchers in Japan. Beauty experts rave about them, and millions of us buy them, but what… Continue reading The Science Behind Face Massage Rollers

Stress: Understand Root Causes for a Calmer, Healthier Life

Research has firmly established that stress weakens the immune system. When you are under stress your body produces adrenaline, cortisol and other stress hormones that can impair its ability to fight off disease. You owe it to yourself to find ways to reduce stress in your life for your own mental, emotional, and physical health.” THE… Continue reading Stress: Understand Root Causes for a Calmer, Healthier Life

10 Great Jobs for Stay-At-Home Moms

If you are a parent then you know that parenting is a full time job of cleaning, cooking and keeping small humans alive and entertained. But even though it can be hard, stay-at-home moms don’t get paid. This puts a strain on the family budget and by default, the family itself. However, remote work is… Continue reading 10 Great Jobs for Stay-At-Home Moms

Seven in Eight Children’s Tonsillectomies Are Unnecessary

A 2018 study done by the University of Birmingham in the has found that seven in every eight children who have their tonsils removed are unlikely to benefit from the operation. Although the research was done in the UK, American parents would do well to heed the results. The researchers analyzed the electronic medical records… Continue reading Seven in Eight Children’s Tonsillectomies Are Unnecessary

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance When Booking Your Holiday Vacation This Year

With hurricane season not ending until the end of November, right around the time when winter storms tend to pick up, weather can have a huge impact on your holiday vacation plans. In fact, a recent survey from TravelInsurance.com found that more than 90% of travelers have experienced at least some type of travel mishap,… Continue reading Don’t Forget Travel Insurance When Booking Your Holiday Vacation This Year

Grandparents Raising Their Children’s Children Get the Job Done

Millions of children are being raised solely by their grandparents, with numbers continuing to climb as the opioid crisis and other factors disrupt families. New research being presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 2018 National Conference & Exhibition shows that caregivers who step up to raise their grandchildren are overcoming unique challenges to… Continue reading Grandparents Raising Their Children’s Children Get the Job Done

Is Your Medicine Cabinet Ready for Winter?

We spend more time indoors during fall and winter, which means everyone in the family is at greater risk for bringing home plenty of germs. The common cold is a leading cause of missed days from school. Parents should brace themselves for cuts, bites, scrapes and other maladies “We buy jackets and decorate our homes… Continue reading Is Your Medicine Cabinet Ready for Winter?

What Does an ADHD Diagnosis Mean for Adults?

Do you lose or quit jobs frequently because you just can’t focus or stay organized? Have relationship problems because you can’t complete tasks? Forget important things or easily become upset over minor things? It’s possible you have attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which is surprisingly common in adults. Often unrecognized in adults, ADHD affects about 4.4%… Continue reading What Does an ADHD Diagnosis Mean for Adults?

Instant Soups and Noodles Are Responsible for Burning Nearly 10,000 Children Each Year

Microwavable instant soup products cause at least two out of every 10 scald burns that send children to emergency departments each year, according to new research presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 2018 National Conference & Exhibition. An abstract of the study, “Instant Soup Scald Injuries in Children,” was presented on Monday, November… Continue reading Instant Soups and Noodles Are Responsible for Burning Nearly 10,000 Children Each Year