_ Toxic Substances Make You Older By Jane Farrell article Environmental toxins play a significant part in your molecular aging, according to new research. Researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill say toxins that affect the rate of such aging include benzene, cigarette smoke and even stress. Molecular age refers to the age of the bodyΓÇÖs cells, and is different from chronological age.
_ Vision Health Toward a Cure for Dry Eye By Jane Farrell article Dry eye syndrome, a condition that is especially prevalent in women as they age, happens when the quantity of tears is no longer sufficient to lubricate the eyes. A burning sensation is typical and impaired vision including damage to the cornea may result. In search of a cure, researchers led by Kara Maki Ph.D. at the Rochester Institute of TechnologyΓÇÖs School of Mathematical Sciences in New York are testing computer simulations that map the way tears move across the surface of the eye. The study was published on May 6th 2014 in the journal Physics of Fluids.
_ Mental & Emotional Health When Thoughts Pop Into Your Head By Jane Farrell article When a random thought pops unbidden in your head, do you ever have the feeling that this occurrence reveals some meaningful insight about you? Then youΓÇÖre far from alone. Yet according to researchers at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh and Harvard Business School, that notion is not based in fact and can sway your judgment.
_ The Hardest Part of Alzheimer's Caregiving By Jane Farrell article Everyone whoΓÇÖs cared for an AlzheimerΓÇÖs patient knows how sad and frustrating the changes can be. But perhaps among all the effects of the illness ΓÇô difficult communication; hallucinations; wandering; disturbed sleep patterns ΓÇô aggression, often accompanied by agitation, can be the most unsettling. Patients may get so angry that they literally lash out at others, occasionally even putting caregivers in harmΓÇÖs way.
_ Breast Cancer Chemotherapy and Hospitalization By Jane Farrell article Scientists have zeroed in on which chemotherapy regiments are likelier to lead to hospitalizations for early stage breast cancer patients. The retrospective study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, was conducted by researchers from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. For their analysis, the researchers looked at hospitalization-related insurance claims by patients who were undergoing varying chemotherapy regimens.
Oral Health The Best Foods to Eat for Optimal Oral Health By Jane Farrell article By Dr. K.J. McLaughlin Did you know that your diet can directly influence the level of your oral health? The health of your teeth and gums is extremely important as this area of your health can also have an impact upon the health of your heart, arteries, and immune system. Of course poor oral health also affects has your appearance. Your lifestyle, including smoking, alcohol consumption, and your diet, can greatly influence your teeth and gums.
Pain Management 6 Myths About Painkillers By Jane Farrell article By Richard W. Rosenquist, MD , Chairman of Pain Management at Cleveland Clinic When it comes to prescription pain medications, thereΓÇÖs a lot of misinformation out there.
_ Exercise How to Get the Most Out of Exercise at Home By Jane Farrell article By Soriyaa Bawa Whether you exercise at home or at the gym, some form of physical activity is essential for aging well. We know of the infinite benefits that exercise at home has on physical health, but more and more findings have been emerging as of late to support the idea that exercise at home is just as important for mental health.
_ Relationships & Love Toxic Relationships Raise Your Blood Pressure By Sondra Forsyth article Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have shown what you have probably suspected all along: Unpleasant or demanding interpersonal encounters increase hypertension risk. That unfortunate result is particularly true for women 51 to 64 -- but not men. The study was published in May 2014 in the American Psychological Association's journal Health Psychology.
A Better Tool for Tracking MS By article Imaging scientists at Western University's Robarts Research Institute in London and Canada have developed a better way to track the progression of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) from its earliest stages. Led by Ravi Menon, PhD, the researchers used what's called "Quantitative Susceptibility (QS) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)," to measure damage in specific areas of the brain which the study showed to be common to all patients. The findings were published in advance online in May 2014 in Radiology.
_ Partners in ParkinsonΓÇÖs By Jane Farrell article The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) and the AbbVie pharmaceutical company announced on May 27th 2014 the launch of Partners in ParkinsonΓÇÖs, a new strategic health initiative offering comprehensive support to help people with ParkinsonΓÇÖs disease (PD) optimize their care at every stage of the disease. ΓÇ£No two cases of ParkinsonΓÇÖs disease are alike.
Time For A Deep Cleaning By blog Are you ready for some cleaning? Not the kind where you clean out your closet, wash your windows or freshen up your home accessories. IΓÇÖm talking about DEEP cleaning! Clearing your mind, body and spirit of the limiting beliefs that are keeping you from reaching your full God-given potential, so you can move forward with a lightness in your step and joy in your heart. There is no better time than today to begin a midlife cleanse!
_ Sleep Health Melatonin and Osteoporosis By Jane Farrell article Melatonin is a widely touted sleep aid, but researchers have discovered that the supplement makes bones stronger in elderly rats and may do the same for humans. The research was led by Faleh Tamimi, a professor in the School of Dentistry, of McGill University, Montreal. It was published in the journal Rejuvenation Research. Although a good nightΓÇÖs sleep and osteoporosis may not seem to have any connection, in fact there is a link.
E-Cigs Not Healthy By Jane Farrell article Researchers at the Mayo Clinic Division of Allergy and Immunology warn that although one of the initial "health benefits" proposed by e-cigarettes makers was that it would help those who smoke cigarettes cut back, that theory hasn't been proven and there's no evidence to support the claims. An article about the findings was published in the June 2014 issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).
Cancer Center Cancer Center Ads Emotional, Not Informative By Jane Farrell article Emotional reactions to cancer center consumer advertisements may lead to unrealistic expectations and inappropriate treatments, according to a study done at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health and published in May 2014 in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine. A release from the American College of Physicians notes that in response to a rapidly increasing demand for cancer care in the United States, a growing number of cancer centers are marketing their clinical services directly to patients through consumer advertising.
_ Stroke A Longer Window for Treating Stroke? By Jane Farrell article There is an urgent need for developing new drugs that can alleviate the harmful effects of a stroke because current treatment possibilities using thrombolysis are limited to the first hours following a stroke. To that end, researchers at Lund University in Sweden are studying brain cells known as pericytes. The team discovered in 2012 that pericytes can for new cells. According to a release from the university, the 2014 research shows for the first time that pericytes are directly involved in the reaction of the brain tissue after stroke.
Heart Health ΓÇ£Virtual HumanΓÇ¥ Shows How Stiff Arteries Raise BP By Jane Farrell article High blood pressure is highly age-related and affects more than 1 billion people worldwide. The condition is a major source of morbidity and mortality, because it makes individuals more prone to heart failure, stroke and kidney disease. Yet doctors can't fully explain the cause of 90 per cent of all cases. Now a computer model of a "virtual human", created by researchers at Norwegian University of Life Sciences, suggests that stiff arteries alone are enough to cause high blood pressure. The study was published in May 2014 in in PLOS Computational Biology.
What Nobody Tells You About Losing Weight By blog What is weight loss, really? ItΓÇÖs not what it seems. Seriously. And thatΓÇÖs where folks get into trouble. They think weight loss is a magic cure all. That once they hit their goal, the work is done. In their minds, they might know better. But then thereΓÇÖs that part that wants, well, the magic. I know, because I used to think this way.