_ The Latest on Gluten-Free Foods By Jane Farrell article WeΓÇÖve heard a lot about gluten-free foods; most supermarkets even have a gluten-free section. But what does it mean, and how do you tell if you should be eating gluten-free food? Here, from the federal Food and Drug Administration, are some answers as well as information on the new labeling thatΓÇÖs going into effect right now: What is it? Gluten means the proteins that occur naturally in wheat, rye, barley, and crossbreeds of these grains. Why can it be a problem?
The Words We Use to Describe Mental Illness: How They Matter By blog We hear the words often - words that imply that a person is a disease and the disease is a person. For example, we may say that someone is a diabetic or a hypertensive. But that's not right. The diabetes and the hypertension (high blood pressure) don't define the person. The person lives with or has diabetes or hypertension. Do you see the difference?
_ Weight Loss Stress Could Equal 11 Extra Pounds Per Year By Jane Farrell article One or more stressful events on any given day can actually slow the bodyΓÇÖs metabolism and potentially lead to weight gain, a new study has found. Researchers from the Ohio State University said that a single high-fat meal eaten the day after a stressor such as an argument or work-related pressure can make unhealthy weight gain easier.
_ Stroke Fewer Stroke Deaths Over Past 2 Decades By Sondra Forsyth article Fewer Americans are having strokes and those who do have a lower risk of dying from them according to a a study led by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researchers and is published in the July 16th 2014 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
_ New Hope for Alzheimer’s Treatment By Sondra Forsyth article A relatively frequent genetic variant turns out to provide significant protection against Alzheimer's disease and can delay the onset of the disease by as much as four years. That is the finding of research done by Judes Poirier, PhD, C.Q., and colleagues at the Douglas Mental Health Institute and McGill University in Montréal. The discovery opens new avenues for treatment against this devastating disease. Dr. presented the study at the annual Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Copenhagen in July 2014.
Pets Fight Fleas And Ticks The Right Way By Jane Farrell article Fleas and ticks can be real problems for pets ΓÇô and for their owners. In animals, according to the federal Food and Drug Administration, flea bites can cause flea allergy dermatitis , an allergic reaction to proteins in flea saliva.
_ Exercise Understanding the "Why" of Exercise Procrastination By Sondra Forsyth article By Dan Nguyen We all know how easy it can be to procrastinate in order to avoid going to the gym or to put off starting our workout routines. Here are my tips to help you get moving: ΓÇó Unpack Emotional Baggage: Many people have limiting beliefs they are not even aware of that keep them from achieving their health and wellness goals. Let go of these counterproductive thoughts and replace them with thoughts and visualizations to help you get and stay fit.
_ Aging Well Exercise More of Us Are Exercising This Year! By Sondra Forsyth article The 2014 United States of Aging Survey found that 37% Americans 60 and older say they exercise every day, compared with 26% in 2013. Maybe all those reports about how ΓÇ£sitting is the new smokingΓÇ¥ are motivating us! Even so, we can do better. Almost 2/3 of us are still not living lives that are active enough to promote good physical and emotional health. Yet older adults who do exercise daily are much more likely than those who never exercise to say the past year of their life has been better than normal.
_ Medical Care Antibiotic Use Prevalent in Hospices By Sondra Forsyth article The use of antibiotics is still prevalent among terminal patients who have chosen hospice care as an end-of-life option, despite little evidence that the medications improve symptoms or quality of life, and sometimes may cause unwanted side effects. That is the finding of a study done at Oregon State University and the Oregon Health & Science University and published on July 14th 2014 in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.
_ Kidney Health Supplements & OTCs May Hurt Your Kidneys By Sondra Forsyth article How well are your kidneys working? Unless youΓÇÖve had problems in the past, you probably take for granted that your kidneys are working as they should. But more than one in 10 adults in the United States has kidney disease, and most people who have it donΓÇÖt know it.
_ Four Steps To Self-Esteem By Jane Farrell article By Mayo Clinic Staff Low self-esteem can negatively affect virtually every facet of your life, including your relationships, your job and your health. But you can take steps to boost your self-esteem, even if you've been harboring a poor opinion of yourself since childhood. Start with these four steps. STEP 1: Identify troubling conditions or situations Think about the conditions or situations that seem to deflate your self-esteem. Common triggers might include: A business presentation A crisis at work or home
_ Exercise Exercise: The Newest "Prescription" By Jane Farrell article The newest ΓÇ£medicineΓÇ¥ that should be prescribed? Exercise, according to a study. Researchers from the Queensland Institute of Technology (QUT), in Australia, reached that conclusion after looking for five years at the impact of mental and physical health in women over 50. Professor Debra Anderson , from QUT's Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation , said that the research indicated that in addition to conventional treatments for physical and mental health, health professionals should be prescribing tailored exercise programs for older women.
_ Pain Management A New Means to Erase Pain By Sondra Forsyth article A study published in the July 2104 issue of Nature Neuroscience by Yves De Koninck and Robert Bonin, two researchers at Université Laval in Quebec, reveals that it is possible to relieve pain hypersensitivity using a counterintuitive method that involves rekindling pain so that it can subsequently be erased. This discovery could lead to novel means to alleviate chronic pain.
_ Senior Health Older Adults Can Safely Donate Kidneys By Sondra Forsyth article Previous studies linking older age with kidney and heart disease have raised concerns about the safety of living kidney donation among older adults. However, in the first study to look closely at this issue, researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania report that older kidney donors (55 years and above) enjoy similar life expectancy and cardiovascular health as very healthy older people who did not donate their kidneys.
_ Protect Yourself from Wildfire Smoke By Sondra Forsyth article Dry conditions in parts of the United States increase the potential for wildfires in or near wilderness areas. Stay alert for wildfire warnings and take action to protect yourself and your family from wildfire smoke. When wildfires burn in your area, they produce smoke that may reach your community. Smoke from wildfires is a mixture of gases and fine particles from burning trees and other plant materials. Smoke can hurt your eyes, irritate your respiratory system, and worsen chronic heart and lung diseases. Who is at greatest risk from wildfire smoke?
Aging Well Senior Health WhatΓÇÖs Really Keeping You From Aging Well? By Sondra Forsyth article By Dr. Kevin J. McLaughlin During my experience as a health care provider, I have realized that, when it comes to aging well, many older women are worried about developing cancer, especially breast cancer, more than any other age-related diseases.
_ How Friends and Family Can Help With Your Doctor Visit By Jane Farrell article At any age, itΓÇÖs crucial that you not only look after your health with doctor visits and self-care, but itΓÇÖs also essential that you learn the most from those visits. As people get older, and usually have several health conditions, itΓÇÖs even more important. ItΓÇÖs not uncommon, though, for patients to be so upset or even frightened by a doctor visit that they canΓÇÖt absorb what theyΓÇÖre being told, or the subject may be one theyΓÇÖre not familiar with. In either case, that means they wonΓÇÖt be learning as much as they could from the physician.
Coming Next Week! July 14th to July 18th 2014 By Sondra Forsyth article HereΓÇÖs a sneak preview of the articles and blogs weΓÇÖll be posting during the coming week on ThirdAge, the biggest and best site for ΓÇ£boomer and beyondΓÇ¥ women since 1997. As always, weΓÇÖll bring you the latest information from top experts about maintaining a healthy body, mind, and spirit as you navigate both the challenges and the joys of being a ThirdAger. In addition, be sure to come back every morning to check out the ThirdAge Exclusives, We write them after culling the most important new academic and government studies from around the world that are making news that day.