Is it a smart move to hold off buying a fixed-rate annuity because the Federal Reserve is raising short-term interest rates? It may seem reasonable, but it’s usually not a good idea. Annuity rates aren’t likely to rise as a direct result of the Fed’s hikes. Meanwhile, you’re getting a lower rate in a money… Continue reading Waiting for Higher Annuity Rates Is Unlikely to Pay Off
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.
Create a Healthy Foundation for Fall Plantings
Fall is a great time to start a garden or renovate an existing planting bed. The soil is warm while the air is cool – a perfect combination for establishing new plantings. It is also a great time to prepare gardens for the next planting season. Investing time up front to create a healthy foundation… Continue reading Create a Healthy Foundation for Fall Plantings
It’s Complicated: Our Relationship with Texting
Texting has the power to both help and hinder our relationships, whether we’re tapping our fingers to stay in touch or using our smartphones to avoid difficult situations, according to research on texting and sexting presented at the 2018 annual convention of the American Psychological Association (APA) in San Francisco. A release from the APA… Continue reading It’s Complicated: Our Relationship with Texting
Why You’re Getting Sick in the Summer . . . and How to Avoid That
Despite the association made between sickness and wintertime, many are surprised when they fall ill during the beautiful, warm summer season. While our immune systems do tend to take down viruses with more ease in the summertime, they don’t always win the fight. Thankfully, combatting summer sickness requires a simple, straightforward approach. To protect yourself… Continue reading Why You’re Getting Sick in the Summer . . . and How to Avoid That
Americans May Have Outgrown Traditional Advice of Having a Varied Diet
When it comes to diet in the Western world of overconsumption where cheap convenience food rules, the age-old adage “everything in moderation” has been put to the test, prompting the American Heart Association (AHA) to issue a 2018 science advisory led by researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). Marcia… Continue reading Americans May Have Outgrown Traditional Advice of Having a Varied Diet
Back-to-School Eye Health Tips
New clothes and a new backpack may be on your child’s back-to-school list. But, what about a back-to-school eye exam? Lighthouse Guild, the leading vision and health organization, points out that vision is one of the keys to success in school and encourages parents to make sure their children get regular vision screenings. Dr. Laura… Continue reading Back-to-School Eye Health Tips
White Button Mushrooms as a Prebiotic May Help Improve Glucose Regulation
Eating white button mushrooms can create subtle shifts in the microbial community in the gut, which could improve the regulation of glucose in the liver, according to a team of researchers at Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences. The team also suggests that better understanding this connection between mushrooms and gut microbes in mice could… Continue reading White Button Mushrooms as a Prebiotic May Help Improve Glucose Regulation
Drugs for Heart Failure Are Still Under-Prescribed, Years After Initial Study
A 2018 UCLA-led study found that many people with heart failure do not receive the medications recommended for them under guidelines set by the American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association and Heart Failure Society of America. The study appeared in the July 24th issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. A… Continue reading Drugs for Heart Failure Are Still Under-Prescribed, Years After Initial Study
How Selfies and Filters Affect Body Image
With the spread of photo-editing technology through applications like Snapchat and Facetune, the level of physical “perfection” previously seen only on celebrity or beauty magazines is now all over social media. As these images become the norm, people’s perceptions of beauty worldwide are changing, which can take a toll on a person’s self-esteem and can… Continue reading How Selfies and Filters Affect Body Image
Heart Health Glossary
Here, from the National Institute on Aging, are the crucial terms you need to know about heart disease: Angina Angina (an-JI-nuh or AN-juh-nuh) is chest pain or discomfort that occurs if an area of your heart muscle doesn’t get enough oxygen-rich blood. It may feel like pressure or squeezing in your chest. The pain also… Continue reading Heart Health Glossary
Harvest and Preserve Herbs for Flavorful Meals Year-round
Add a flavorful boost to any meal with garden-fresh herbs. You’ll quickly discover the difference fresh herbs make when preparing any meal or dessert. Harvest herbs whenever you need them for cooking or garnishing a favorite dish. Adjust the quantity of herbs used to allow for variations in flavor intensity and your family’s preference. In general,… Continue reading Harvest and Preserve Herbs for Flavorful Meals Year-round
What’s That Stink? A Phantom Odor
Imagine the foul smell of an ash tray or burning hair. Now imagine if these kinds of smells were present in your life, but without a source. A new study finds that 1 in 15 Americans (or 6.5 percent) over the age of 40 experiences phantom odors. The study, published in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head and Neck… Continue reading What’s That Stink? A Phantom Odor
Am I Sleep-Deprived and Tired – or Depressed?
Sleep-deprived? It’s common sense that being fatigued generally leaves us in a foul mood. But how can we tell when we’re sleep-deprived and merely tired – or if we’re actually depressed? I frequently speak to curious patients about this issue. Since exhaustion, irritability, lack of motivation, anxiety and tearfulness are all symptoms of sleep deprivation… Continue reading Am I Sleep-Deprived and Tired – or Depressed?
A Deeper Look at Severe Asthma Yields NET Results
Of the more than 24 million people in the U.S. who have asthma, 10 percent have severe asthma – a form of the disease that does not respond to treatment. The immunological mechanisms underlying severe asthma and asthmatic lung inflammation are not well understood. A 2018 study by investigators from Brigham and Women’s Hospital published… Continue reading A Deeper Look at Severe Asthma Yields NET Results
Eating Crickets Can Be Good for Your Gut
Valerie Stull was 12 when she ate her first insect. “I was on a trip with my parents in Central America and we were served fried ants,” she says. “I remember being so grossed out initially, but when I put the ant in my mouth, I was really surprised because it tasted like food —… Continue reading Eating Crickets Can Be Good for Your Gut
Belly Bloating: What to Eat and What to Avoid
Regardless of weight or body type, it’s common to see some belly bloat. The foods we choose, how we’re digesting and simply the air we’re swallowing, can all add up to feeling and looking bloated. To help us keep our bellies as bloat free as possible I’ll share shares what to eat and what to avoid… Continue reading Belly Bloating: What to Eat and What to Avoid
Women Survive Heart Attacks Better with Women Doctors
If you’re having a heart attack and you’re a woman, hope a female doctor greets you in the emergency room. A 2018 review of nearly 582,000 heart attack cases over 19 years showed female patients had a significantly higher survival rate when a woman treated them in the ER, according to Seth Carnahan of Washington… Continue reading Women Survive Heart Attacks Better with Women Doctors
Five Myths and Five Insights about Chronic Pain
In “acute” pain (caused by a recent injury), the pain signals tissue damage. In ‘chronic’ pain (pain which has lasted after the tissue has healed) the pain is a sort of “ghost”. It no longer indicates ongoing injury. Most doctors are taught that this is true. Because of this belief, they keep looking to the… Continue reading Five Myths and Five Insights about Chronic Pain