Sixty-five is the age when many people retire, kick back, and take it easy. And so it often is with the human immune system. After years of fending off influenza and other infectious diseases, the immune system gradually starts to lose its oomph for fighting infection. As a result, viruses, bacteria, and other microbial intruders… Continue reading Boosting Immunity in Older Adults
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.
House Cleaning Tips for Allergy Sufferers
One of the first lines of defense to avoid the wheezing, watery eyes, sneezing, and congestion that can be caused by irritating indoor allergens is to put a weekly house cleaning routine into place. Regularly cleaning your home can help reduce allergens and minimize your allergy symptoms. Here are Hudson Allergy’s house cleaning tips for… Continue reading House Cleaning Tips for Allergy Sufferers
Unsafe Behaviors in Older Adults Who Likely Have Dementia
Older adults who likely have dementia but have not been given the diagnosis are more likely to engage in potentially unsafe activities, suggests research published in June 2016 inthe Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. A release from the publisher explains that among 7,609 Medicare beneficiaries, those with probable dementia were more likely to drive,… Continue reading Unsafe Behaviors in Older Adults Who Likely Have Dementia
5 Things to Consider Before Your First Empty Nest Vacation
The kids are gone and you and your mate find yourselves going on your first trip as “empty nesters.” No more choosing your destination based on what your kids want (and don’t want!) to do. You can even finally travel when school is IN session. Fall is ideal for most destinations and is often off-season… Continue reading 5 Things to Consider Before Your First Empty Nest Vacation
Essential Self-Defense Techniques and Tips
You get health checkups and dental cleanings, wear a helmet when biking or skiing, regularly change the batteries in your smoke detector, and take daily vitamin supplements. These actions help protect your overall well-being; but do you also have a grasp of important self-defense techniques to protect yourself if you are physically attacked? Most people… Continue reading Essential Self-Defense Techniques and Tips
Phubbing: the Act of Ignoring People While Staring at Your Phone
It’s common now to see people snubbing social companions to concentrate on their smartphones. But what causes this behavior, known as “phubbing”, and how did it come to be regarded as normal? Research by psychologists at the University of Kent in the UK suggests people’s internet addiction is leading them increasingly to “phub” – and… Continue reading Phubbing: the Act of Ignoring People While Staring at Your Phone
New Drug to Prevent Migraine May Start Working in Days
A new drug to prevent migraine called TEV-48125 was associated with fewer headache hours for people with chronic migraine within three to seven days after the first injection, according to a study published in the June 8th, 2016, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Chronic migraine is defined… Continue reading New Drug to Prevent Migraine May Start Working in Days
Clinical Trial Examines Treatment of Complicated Grief
A new study reports on the results of a randomized clinical trial that looked at whether the antidepressant citalopram would enhance complicated grief treatment psychotherapy, and if citalopram would be efficacious without it. The article was published online in June 2016 by JAMA Psychiatry. A release from the publisher explains that complicated grief occurs in… Continue reading Clinical Trial Examines Treatment of Complicated Grief
What I Wish We Had Known About Hip Replacements Before My Husband’s Surgery
When my husband’s hip and thigh pain prevented us from taking walks together, and then confined him to reclining on the couch watching TV all day, we knew he needed help. After an x-ray showed his ball and socket bones grinding against each other, hip replacement surgery was recommended. To prepare, I talked to everyone… Continue reading What I Wish We Had Known About Hip Replacements Before My Husband’s Surgery
Photographing Your Activities Boosts Positive Feelings about the Experiences
While you might think taking photos would detract from the enjoyment of everyday activities, research published in June 2016 by the American Psychological Association suggests that people who take photos of their experiences usually enjoy the events more than people who don’t. “To the best of our knowledge, this research is the first extensive investigation… Continue reading Photographing Your Activities Boosts Positive Feelings about the Experiences
Pictures Warning of Smoking Dangers Increased Quit Attempts
Putting pictures on cigarette packets to illustrate the dangers of smoking increased attempts by smokers to quit, according to the results of a clinical trial published online by JAMA Internal Medicine in June 2016. According to a release from JAMA, reducing smoking is a top public health priority because it is a leading cause of… Continue reading Pictures Warning of Smoking Dangers Increased Quit Attempts
We’re Living Longer, and Free of Disabilities!
For those worried about the burden of old age, a 2016 Harvard study has some good news. David Cutler, the Otto Eckstein Professor of Applied Economics in the Department of Economics, Mary Beth Landrum, Professor of Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School, Michael Chernew, Leonard D. Schaeffer Professor of Health Policy at Harvard Medical… Continue reading We’re Living Longer, and Free of Disabilities!
Living with Ambivalence
There is a social myth that we are supposed to love without ambivalence. If I love my husband, I am not supposed to fantasize about someone else. If I am a good mother, I am not supposed to feel that my children interfere in my life. But the reality is that wives and husbands can… Continue reading Living with Ambivalence
Intensive Treatment of Glucose Levels Can Lead to Serious Complications
With a more-is-better mindset common in society, frequent commercials encouraging checks of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) levels, and ads for new diabetes medications to lower HbA1C in adults with Type 2 diabetes, Mayo Clinic researchers were not too surprised to find overtesting occurring. Beyond overtesting, however, such focus on HbA1C levels can lead to serious harms… Continue reading Intensive Treatment of Glucose Levels Can Lead to Serious Complications
Life with Harry’s Hearing Loss
Harry is 62 and has been married to his college sweetheart, Sue, for almost 40 years. Sue knows that Harry doesn’t hear as well as he used to, but she’s not sure what to do about it. Every time she brings it up he has an excuse, such as “Kids these days all mumble.” Sue… Continue reading Life with Harry’s Hearing Loss
Are You an Aquaholic? Too Much H20 Can Be Dangerous
If you’ve ever tried to lose weight, you’ve probably heard a lot about water and weight loss. Can drinking more water really help you lose weight? The short answer is yes — and no. If you’re already well hydrated and getting plenty of water, getting more water into your diet probably won’t make a lot… Continue reading Are You an Aquaholic? Too Much H20 Can Be Dangerous
People Tend to Downgrade the Looks of Those Who Could Threaten Romantic Relationships
What psychological factors might couples use to stay committed to their partners? According to a study published in June 2016 in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, people in relationships see tempting people outside of their partnership as less attractive than they really are. This perceptual bias could represent an unconscious method of self-control that assists… Continue reading People Tend to Downgrade the Looks of Those Who Could Threaten Romantic Relationships
10 Tips to Fall Asleep Faster
Restless tossing and turning and trouble falling asleep or staying sleep are a familiar problems for many Americans over the age of 40. Factors such as stress, insomnia, and sleep disorders make it difficult to maintain healthy sleep patterns. In the past few years, more and more people have turned to sleep aids like Ambien… Continue reading 10 Tips to Fall Asleep Faster