_ Complicated Grief: When Sorrow Is Overwhelming By Jane Farrell article Losing a loved one is one of the most distressing and, unfortunately, common experiences people face. Most people experiencing normal grief and bereavement have a period of sorrow, numbness, and even guilt and anger. Gradually these feelings ease, and it's possible to accept loss and move forward. For some people, feelings of loss are debilitating and don't improve even after time passes. This is known as complicated grief. In complicated grief, painful emotions are so long lasting and severe that you have trouble accepting the loss and resuming your own life.
_ Healthy Diet & Nutrition Tree Nuts Help Lower Blood Sugar Levels By Sondra Forsyth article Eating tree nuts appears to help lower and stabilize blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes compared to those on a control diet, according to a study done at St. MichaelΓÇÖs Hospital in Toronto and published July 30th 2014 in the online journal PLOS ONE. Tree nuts include almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, chestnuts, coconuts, hazelnuts, pecans, macadamia nuts, walnuts, pine nuts and pistachios. They do not include peanuts, which are legumes.
_ Hope for Accurate Diagnosis of Memory Problems By Sondra Forsyth article More accurate tests could be created to diagnose diseases such as Alzheimer's or memory problems stemming from head injuries. These tests could lead to earlier intervention, according to findings from the University of East Anglia in the UK published July 30th 2014 in the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience.
_ Stress-Free Living Not Wild about Your Backyard Wildlife? By Sondra Forsyth article By Diane Blum A variety of wildlife routinely exists in many neighborhood backyards. Homes that are near open space, hills, natural water sources, meadows and the like are known as an urban or suburban interface. In these areas in particular, people not only will see deer and other small animals, but sometimes more dangerous wildlife may move in. Hillside development may destroy previously wild habitat. Drought can also cause bears, mountain lions, and other predators to move in to residential areas.
_ Healthy Diet & Nutrition Controversy Over Changes to Food Labels By Sondra Forsyth article To help Americans make better decisions about what they eat, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) earlier this year proposed significant changes to the Nutrition Facts label found on nearly every food product in the U.S. An July 2014 article in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly news magazine of the American Chemical Society (ACS), explains the suggested updates ΓÇö and the fight that has ensued.
_ Healthy Diet & Nutrition Menus Trick You Into Choosing Unhealthy Items By Sondra Forsyth article After analyzing 217 menus and the selections of over 300 diners, Cornell Food and Brand Lab study published in July 2014 in the International Journal of Hospitality Management showed that any food item that attracts attention with bold, hightlighted or colored font or set apart in a text box makes people more likely to order it. Unfortunately, according to a release from Cornell, lead author Brian Wansink, author of
_ Aging Well Caregiving 3 Tips for Choosing an Assisted-Living HomeΓÇ¿ for Your Parents By Sondra Forsyth article By Peder Johnsen Seventy percent of people age 65 and older will need long-term care at some point in their lives, according to a 2014 study by CareScout, a division of Genworth Financial Services. But that doesnΓÇÖt mean they have to sacrifice quality of life. In fact, a person who needs some assistance with day-to-day living will often find he or she is much happier in a good assisted-living community with an atmosphere that reminds them of their former home.
_ Multiple Sclerosis Cell Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis By Sondra Forsyth article Scientists at The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) Research Institute are one step closer to creating a viable cell replacement therapy for multiple sclerosis from a patient's own cells.
_ How to Fight Prediabetes By Jane Farrell article Type 2 diabetes is one of the most serious chronic illnesses in existence; it puts people at risk for everything from heart and kidney disease to amputation of limbs. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), it is shockingly widespread 29.1 million Americans have the illness. And the ADA estimates that 86 million more Americans have prediabetes, a condition that indicates a high risk of developing the illness. Here, from the federal National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse and the ADA, is what you need to know about prediabetes:
_ Breast Cancer Exposure To Nighttime Light Could Be Dangerous for Breast-Cancer Patients By Jane Farrell article The breast-cancer drug tamoxifen is useless if a patient is exposed to even dim overnight light, according to a new study. But it can become effective during the same period in combination with the hormone melatonin. Researchers from Tulane University School of Medicine published the study in the journal Cancer Research. It is the first study to show that melatonin, which regulates sleep and wake cycles, is essential to tamoxifenΓÇÖs success in treating breast cancer. But melatonin doesnΓÇÖt work if itΓÇÖs shut off by exposure to light at night.
_ Alcohol and Aging By Jane Farrell article Although we often associate drinking too much with younger people (parties, bars, spring break vacations), alcohol abuse is a problem at any age. And while itΓÇÖs true that younger people drink more than older people, alcohol abuse presents some age-specific issues for seniors. Here, from the SeniorHealth division of the National of Health (NIH), is an explanation of the damaging effects, and how you or a loved one can get help if itΓÇÖs needed.
_ The Latest Approach to Anti-Aging By Jane Farrell article Instead of fighting chronic diseases one by one as they develop, researchers suggest, medicine should focus instead on preventing several of these illnesses at once. That approach, the investigators say, could help extend healthy lifespans.
Simple Minded By blog This is the seventh blog in a series. To read the earlier entries, click here: Archive: The ThirdAge Romance Saga of Sally Franz. The great thing about living in a place that is a vacation destination is that everyone finally wants to come visit me. Not so when I lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma or Tarboro, NC. Not saying those places don't have their peculiar charm, but living next to a national park trumps azaleas and magnolias (in 104 degree heat) big time.
_ Are You A Stress Eater? By Jane Farrell article From the Mayo Clinic EditorΓÇÖs note: Whether youΓÇÖre trying to lose some weight, or maintain the weight you have, stress-related eating can be one of the most discouraging obstacles. For many people, stress-related eating can happen out of the blue, making you feel out of control. Here, Edward T. Creagan, MD, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., offers some strategies for dealing with stress-related eating.
_ Aging Well Exercise Health & Fitness Healthy Diet & Nutrition 7 Strategies to Optimize Your Growth Hormone By Sondra Forsyth article By Sara Gottfried MD ΓÇ£My husband and I had the most amazing sex in years,ΓÇ¥ Martha began, slightly cautious she was oversharing. When my facial expressions suggested otherwise, she continued:
_ Mental & Emotional Health When It's More Than Just Anxiety By Jane Farrell article Although thereΓÇÖs a lot of talk about depression, another condition ΓÇô Generalized Anxiety Disorder ΓÇô doesnΓÇÖt get nearly as much attention. And that can make it harder for friends and family to understand whatΓÇÖs happening when someone they love has GAD. Here, from the National Institute of Mental Health, are some things you should know: What Is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
Functional Foods Give A Boost to Your Wellness By blog What we eat plays a key role in keeping us healthy and protecting from major diseases, such as cancer and heart disease. Researchers are studying how certain foods can help enhance health and prevent illness.
_ The Science of Therapy: More Progress Needed By Jane Farrell article Although itΓÇÖs well known that therapy helps patients with psychological disorders, researchers arenΓÇÖt clear what changes occur in the brain to relieve some of the disorders, according to a newly published paper.