A 2017 survey of over 2,000 women newly diagnosed with breast cancer found that half of those who undergo bilateral mastectomy after genetic testing don’t actually have mutations known to confer increased risk of additional cancers. That is the finding of a study done by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine and four… Continue reading Physicians’ Misunderstanding of Genetic Test Results May Hamper Mastectomy Decisions
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.
Living with Lactose Intolerance
According to the experts at the Mayo Clinic, people with lactose intolerance are unable to fully digest the sugar (lactose) in milk. As a result, they have diarrhea, gas and bloating after eating or drinking dairy products. The condition, which is also called lactose malabsorption, is usually harmless, but its symptoms can be uncomfortable. A… Continue reading Living with Lactose Intolerance
Inflatable Pool Toys May Contain Hazardous Substances
Inflatable pool toys and swimming aids, such as bathing rings and arm bands, often have a distinctive smell that could indicate they contain a range of potentially hazardous substances. Some of these compounds, which include carbonyl compounds, cyclohexanone, phenol and isophorone, might be critical when present in higher concentrations in children’s toys, say Christoph Wiedmer… Continue reading Inflatable Pool Toys May Contain Hazardous Substances
What You Need to Know About Prebiotics and Probiotics
With summer right around the corner, you may be starting to think about “suiting up,” and shed those few pesky pounds that just won’t go away, but most likely won’t succeed. Clearly, this has become an increasing source of frustration for many Americans. In fact, a recent report emphasizes just this. The incidence of obesity… Continue reading What You Need to Know About Prebiotics and Probiotics
Don’t Text While Driving, Even with a Head-Up Display
Even using a voice-to-text heads-up display feature can degrade driving performance in complex driving environments. Drivers commonly perform secondary tasks while behind the wheel to navigate or communicate with others, which has led to a significant increase in the number of injuries and fatalities attributed to distracted driving. Advances in wearable technology, particularly devices such… Continue reading Don’t Text While Driving, Even with a Head-Up Display
Can an Annuity Be a Smart Choice in an IRA?
Is it a good idea to buy an annuity within an IRA or Roth IRA? At first blush, the answer would seem to be “no” because one of the biggest benefits of an annuity is tax deferral, which you already have in an IRA. But it’s not so simple. “The answer is, ‘It depends”. It… Continue reading Can an Annuity Be a Smart Choice in an IRA?
Grow an Abundant Tomato Harvest in a Pot
Harvest and enjoy the garden-fresh flavor of tomatoes right outside your kitchen. Grow them in containers set on your patio, balcony, deck or stairs. You’ll enjoy the convenience of harvesting fresh tomatoes just a few feet away from where you prepare your meals. And your guests will enjoy harvesting fresh tomatoes to add to their… Continue reading Grow an Abundant Tomato Harvest in a Pot
Life Skills Are Important for Well-being in Later Life
Life skills such as persistence, conscientiousness, and control are as important to wealth and well-being in later life as they are when people are much younger, according to research led by University College London and published in the journal PNAS in April 2017. A release from the university notes that five life skills – emotional… Continue reading Life Skills Are Important for Well-being in Later Life
Shopping for Food That’s Good for You
According to the National Institute on Aging, If you have a choice of where to get your groceries, pick a store that is clean and well supplied. If it is also busy, the stock is probably more likely to turn over quickly and items won’t be near their sell-by or use-by date. But don’t depend… Continue reading Shopping for Food That’s Good for You
Breast Cancer Screening Recommendations Amid Changing Guidelines
Disagreement persists between professional societies and organizations over the best time to start and to discontinue mammography for breast cancer screening, as well as the optimal amount of time between screenings. A research letter published by JAMA Internal Medicine IN April 2017 examines breast cancer screening recommendations physicians give their patients amid recent guideline changes.… Continue reading Breast Cancer Screening Recommendations Amid Changing Guidelines
Gut Microbes Contribute to Age-Associated Inflammation
Inflammation increases with age and is a strong risk factor for death in the elderly, but the underlying cause has not been clear. A study published April 12th, 2017 in Cell Host & Microbe reveals that gut microbes are one of the culprits behind age-associated inflammation and premature death in mice. Imbalances in the composition… Continue reading Gut Microbes Contribute to Age-Associated Inflammation
Lack of Focus or is it Adult ADHD?
Twenty years ago, we hardly heard of ADHD, an acronym for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Today, the term ADHD is so loosely used that anytime anyone feels they are unfocused, overly scheduled or mentally cluttered they may say “I’m so ADHD”. But are they? When is it just a simple lack of focus due to stress or… Continue reading Lack of Focus or is it Adult ADHD?
With Baby Boomers Poised to Share Their Stories, Technology Lends a Hand
Baby boomers witnessed and experienced a lot in their formative years, such as the Cold War, the space race, political assassinations, the Vietnam War, Civil Rights protests and Watergate. Now they are reaching an age when many may want to pass along their experiences, memories and family stories to their children and grandchildren – and… Continue reading With Baby Boomers Poised to Share Their Stories, Technology Lends a Hand
Osteoporosis Drug Found Safe in Long-Term Trial
A study published in April 2017 in Journal of Bone and Mineral Research provides reassuring information about the short-term and long-term safety of denosumab, a monoclonal antibody that is used to treat postmenopausal osteoporosis. A release from the publisher explains that the study showed that adverse events that had been noted in a pivotal clinical… Continue reading Osteoporosis Drug Found Safe in Long-Term Trial
From the Garden to the Party
Make every meal a special event by bringing the garden to the table. Serve your favorite dishes made from homegrown ingredients. Then allow guests to add their own herbal seasonings right from the garden or container. Start by growing the ingredients for your favorite recipes and beverages. Consider those, like tomatoes, that taste best fresh… Continue reading From the Garden to the Party
A Little Nudge May Provide a Big Boost to Flu Vaccination Rates
Currently, only 44 percent of adults in the United States receive an annual flu vaccination. Though the rate has increased in recent years, the change has been slow and marginal. However, a study done at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and published online in March 2017 in the Journal of… Continue reading A Little Nudge May Provide a Big Boost to Flu Vaccination Rates
How to Match Your Current Savings to Your Ultimate Retirement Needs
In a nation that debates nearly everything, this topic creates almost no disagreement. Americans aren’t saving anywhere near enough for retirement, setting the stage for a potentially dreary time ahead for many when they reach the closing act of their lives. In fact, a study by the Economic Policy Institute found that almost half of… Continue reading How to Match Your Current Savings to Your Ultimate Retirement Needs
The Sounds of Nature Help Us Relax
The gentle babbling of a brook or the sound of the wind in the trees can physically change our minds and bodily systems, helping us to relax. Research done in 2017 at Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) in the UK explains how, for the first time. A release from the university explains that the… Continue reading The Sounds of Nature Help Us Relax