_ Healthy Diet & Nutrition Update on Leptin & Appetite Control By Jane Farrell article Twenty years ago, scientists found that the hormone leptin regulates metabolism, appetite, and weight through brain cells called neurons. Now Yale School of Medicine researchers have discovered that the hormone also acts on glial cells in the brain cells to control appetite. The study, published in the June st 2014 issue of Nature Neuroscience, could lead to development of treatments for metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes.
The "Alzheimer's Movie" By blog There are hundreds and hundreds of books on the topic of the AlzheimerΓÇÖs disease, the brain and brain health. But there are few novels that feature the disease as its central plot. One single novel stands out. ΓÇ£Still AliceΓÇ¥ is the best-selling book written by first-time author Lisa Genova, a Harvard-educated neuroscientist. Published in 2009, ΓÇ£Still AliceΓÇ¥ is a moving, compelling and heart-breaking work of fiction that totally captures the experience of early-onset AlzheimerΓÇÖs. If you have not read it, I highly recommend you do. This book will move you to tears.
Weight Loss When to Start a Diet By Sondra Forsyth article By Sondra Forsyth Bathing suit weather is back and you may be wishing you had stuck your New YearΓÇÖs Resolution to lose some weight. DonΓÇÖt be discouraged! Here are some strategies for getting kicking off a diet and sticking with it: PICK A START DATE THAT HAS POSITIVE SIGNIFICANCE FOR YOU
Male Menopause: No Longer a Myth, But a Medical Reality By blog My search to understand male menopause began in the early 1990s and was both personal and professional. Personally, I was nearing the age of 50 and my wife was telling me something was wrong. ΓÇ£YouΓÇÖre hormonal,ΓÇ¥ she told me. ΓÇ£ItΓÇÖs like youΓÇÖre going through menopause or something.ΓÇ¥ At first I laughed at the idea. But professionally many of my male clients were experiencing prostate problems, erectile dysfunctions, anger, depression, and other symptoms that I was learning were related to the ΓÇ£change of life.ΓÇ¥
_ Recognizing the Symptoms of Hepatitis C By Jane Farrell article WHEN TO CONTACT A DOCTOR Unfortunately, itΓÇÖs possible to have hepatitis C without knowing it. But there are symptoms that can reveal its presence. The federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC) lists these: Fever Fatigue Loss of appetite Nausea Vomiting Abdominal pain Dark urine Clay-colored bowel movements Joint pain Jaundice (yellow color in the skin or eyes)
_ What causes Hepatitis C? By Jane Farrell article HCV is most often spread by contact with the blood of infected people, especially if you have an open cut or puncture wound that would allow the virus to get past your skin and into your bloodstream. Here are some causes Hepatitis C: ΓÇó Getting a blood transfusion before 1992 or receiving blood clotting products before 1987. Those are the dates when screening for HCV infected donor blood and blood products went into effect.
_ 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.
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.
_ How Long Should Hep C Treatment Last? By Jane Farrell article As new treatments for hepatitis C virus (HCV) are approved, biomedical scientists are exploring their mechanisms and what they reveal about the virus. An online publication in May 2014 in Hepatology is the first to report real-time tracking of viral decay in the liver and blood in 15 patients with HCV.
_ 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.
_ If You're Considering A Cochlear Implant By Jane Farrell article Cochlear implants ΓÇö which bypass damaged or nonworking parts of the inner ear ΓÇö can improve hearing for anyone with hearing loss that canΓÇÖt be adequately managed with conventional hearing aids. Cochlear implants are electronic devices that convert acoustic sounds into electrical pulses that stimulate the auditory nerve directly. The pulses, which are organized like the keys of a piano, are delivered to points along the inner ear. The pulses stimulate the auditory cells that represent the various speech sounds.
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.
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.
A New Understanding of the Anti-Cancer Drug Taxol By Jane Farrell article Scientists have discovered exactly how the anti-cancer drug Taxol works, and the discovery could lead to designing better medicines. Taxol, one of the most widely prescribed anti-cancer drugs globally, disrupts the workings of microtubules, part of the cellΓÇÖs skeleton.
_ Exercise Fitness Trends: Hot or Not? By Jane Farrell article By Scott Weiss, D.P.T., A.T., CSCS With summer just around the corner, many people are focusing their energy on getting back into shape. Unfortunately, what used to be a simple trip to the gym has now turned into a roundabout of trial and error, checking out each of the new classes and workouts that keep popping up. Variety is both fun and beneficial, but while choosing which activities best suit your needs, also remember to be wary of the trendy workouts topping the charts. Here are my recommendations: