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.

Brace Yourself, Parents: Halloween and Orthodontic Repairs Are Coming

Braces are designed to straighten teeth, but Halloween sometimes makes parents clench theirs in frustration. With the fun night of trick-or-treat around the corner, the annual concern of moms, dads and orthodontists is what kinds of candy the kids will eat. In any bag of goodies there’s always potential bad news – sugary delights that… Continue reading Brace Yourself, Parents: Halloween and Orthodontic Repairs Are Coming

Caregiving and Therapeutic Fibbing

It’s a strange feeling to lie to your mother or father when you are their caregiver; not unlike when you were a child learning right from wrong. It can be a gift, however, when your loved one has dementia. “Individuals with dementia are often living in their own reality,” says Debbie Fins (LICSW, CMC), a… Continue reading Caregiving and Therapeutic Fibbing

Antibiotics for Dental Procedures Linked to Superbug Infection

Antibiotics prescribed by dentists may contribute to the growing problem of Clostridium difficile (C. diff), a serious and potentially deadly infection that causes severe diarrhea, suggests research presented at Infectious Disease Society of America’s IDWeek 2017 in San Diego. And many of those antibiotics are likely unnecessary, researchers note. A release from the society notes… Continue reading Antibiotics for Dental Procedures Linked to Superbug Infection

8 Ways to Stop Your Medically Complex Child From Being Bullied

Young people living with serious health conditions face challenges their peers can’t even comprehend. You’d think their classmates would cut sick kids some slack. Sadly, that is not the case. Teasing someone for a difference that already limits them is just mean, but we all know that kids can be cruel. Study after study after… Continue reading 8 Ways to Stop Your Medically Complex Child From Being Bullied

The Link Between Bacterial Imbalances and Breast Cancer

In a study published online in Oncotarget in October 2017, Cleveland Clinic researchers have uncovered differences in the bacterial composition of breast tissue of healthy women vs. women with breast cancer. The research team has discovered for the first time that healthy breast tissue contains more of the bacterial species Methylobacterium, a finding which could… Continue reading The Link Between Bacterial Imbalances and Breast Cancer

Millions of Men May Be Unaware They Have a Virus That Can Cause Cancer

Women have long been advised to have annual Pap smears that can detect cervical cancer caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), as I reported in my August 28th 2017 article on thirdAGE.com. In that article, I also noted that HPV can cause head and neck cancers. The oral strain is the culprit. Now a… Continue reading Millions of Men May Be Unaware They Have a Virus That Can Cause Cancer

6 Tricks To Save Your Waistline This Halloween

It’s that time again, folks. Halloween is almost here. The holiday that begins the “sugar season” — four months of tempting treats everywhere you turn. If you’re trying to lose weight or just watching your waistline, October 31st might seem scarier than usual. Don’t fear! Whether you are handing out candy or hitting a costume… Continue reading 6 Tricks To Save Your Waistline This Halloween

“Ridiculously Healthy” Elderly Have the Same Gut Microbiome as Healthy 30-Year-Olds

In one of the largest microbiota studies conducted in humans, researchers at the University of Western Ontario and Lawson Health Research Institute in Ontario, Canada, and Tianyi Health Science Institute in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China have shown a potential link between healthy aging and a healthy gut. A release from the University of Western Ontario explains… Continue reading “Ridiculously Healthy” Elderly Have the Same Gut Microbiome as Healthy 30-Year-Olds

Is Poor Nutrition Keeping You Up at Night?

Most of us know what sleep deprivation feels like, and it is not pleasant. If we do not get enough healthy sleep (some children need 10 hours nightly, while most adults need at least seven), we may be left feeling irritable and disoriented. It can also be dangerous to be sleep deprived. According to the AAA Foundation for… Continue reading Is Poor Nutrition Keeping You Up at Night?

Blood-thinning Medications Associated with Increased Risk of Blood in Urine

Use of blood-thinning medications among older adults was significantly associated with higher rates of complications related to hematuria — the presence of blood in urine –including emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and urologic procedures to manage visible hematuria. That is the finding of reseach done at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto,according and published in… Continue reading Blood-thinning Medications Associated with Increased Risk of Blood in Urine

Put the News on Snooze: Taking a Break is Healthy

Overloaded on bad news? You’re not alone. When we tune in to see what’s going on all we see is suffering from natural disasters, shootings, terror attacks, reports about economic uncertainty and a divided political climate, plus celebrity deaths and just mean people being mean. We hear about a tragedy or disaster and we become… Continue reading Put the News on Snooze: Taking a Break is Healthy

Driving Speed Is Affected When a Driver’s Mind Wanders

Research done at North Carolina State University in Raleigh and published in the journal Transportation Research Part F found that driving speed fluctuates more when a driver’s mind wanders from focusing on the act of driving – and that the outside environment influences how often a driver’s mind wanders. The researchers define mind wandering as… Continue reading Driving Speed Is Affected When a Driver’s Mind Wanders

Bed Bugs Are Attracted to Dirty Laundry

Bed bugs are attracted to dirty laundry, according to research published in the journal Scientific Reports by University of Sheffield scientists in the UK on Thursday, September 28th 2017). A release from the university notes that the study, led by Dr. William Hentley from the University of Sheffield’s Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, suggests… Continue reading Bed Bugs Are Attracted to Dirty Laundry

The Parkinson’s Survival Guide

What should you do when you’re diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease? Here are 10 key actions to take following a diagnosis: Understand Your Diagnosis. Take a deep breath and ask what stage you are and what symptoms he used to make the diagnosis. Based on your condition, determine which medications are recommended and their side effects.… Continue reading The Parkinson’s Survival Guide

Keep Orchids Beautiful and Blooming

Lift your spirits, enliven your indoor décor or give the gift of beautiful blooming orchids. You’ll enjoy these exotic blossoms for months with just minimal care – once you know what to do. Start with a healthy flowering plant. The phalaenopsis or moth orchid is the most widely available and easiest to grow. It’s similar… Continue reading Keep Orchids Beautiful and Blooming

Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids: What You Don’t Know Could Hurt You

As of this writing, the Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act of 2017 has been recently introduced by a bipartisan committee of US Senators led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass). The bill seeks to establish an over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid category for adults who “perceive” themselves to have mild-to-moderate hearing loss. In effect, it would allow some… Continue reading Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids: What You Don’t Know Could Hurt You

Black Tea May Help with Weight Loss, Too

The benefits of green tea were already known, but a 2017 study done at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and published in the European Journal of Nutrition shows that polyphenols in both green and black varieties alter gut bacteria A release from the university notes that the UCLA research could help explain the… Continue reading Black Tea May Help with Weight Loss, Too