Q and As on fainting and forgetfulness
Q: What happens inside the body when a person faints? A: Fainting occurs when something interrupts blood flow to the brain. Although usually harmless, fainting can cause injuries and sometimes signals a problem with the heart or circulatory system. If you faint, it’s worth talking with your doctor, especially if there doesn’t seem to be an explanation. Some basic physiology... READ MORE
Celery boasts numerous health benefits
Celery juice has become a sensation recently. That fad aside (and with the lack of solid support for many of the claims), here’s the lowdown on celery’s nutrients and some of its research-backed potential health benefits: Celery is low in calories and hydrating. One large stalk contains a mere 7 calories and packs 2 ounces of water. That means that chowing down on six stalks adds up... READ MORE
What diabetics should know about COVID
Dear Savvy Senior, My husband and I are both in our late 60s, and have diabetes. We would like to find out if our diabetes increases our risk of getting the coronavirus. Concerned Diabetics Dear Concerned, Currently, there’s not enough data to show that people with diabetes are more likely to get coronavirus (COVID-19) than the general population. But the problem for diabetics is, ... READ MORE
Blood test can detect some early cancers
For the first time, a blood test has been shown to help detect many types of cancer in a study of thousands of people with no history or symptoms of the disease. The test is still experimental. Even its fans say it needs to be improved and that the recent results are not ideal. Yet they show what benefits and drawbacks might come from using these gene-based tests, called liquid... READ MORE
How long before we know if reopenings cause virus spikes?
States in the U.S. and countries worldwide are cautiously relaxing restrictions while watching for potential spikes in coronavirus infections. Getting the timing right is complicated. Disease trackers note the impossibility of seeing clearly what’s happening without widespread testing. Here’s a look at when we might start to see any health impacts of reopening: When are we... READ MORE
Have you heard of the other green tea?
It seems there’s another member in the green tea family. And it’s not even green! That’s because hojicha (pronounced HOE-jee-cha) is made from roasted green tea leaves, stems and stalks, giving it an earthy reddish-brown hue that makes it look more like black tea or coffee than its verdant cousins. Very popular in Japan, mellow, slightly sweet and smooth, hojicha (also... READ MORE
Repetitive motion injuries are on the rise
Dear Mayo Clinic: Earlier this year, I began experiencing some pain in my right hand and wrist. I am a systems engineer and have always done a fair amount of typing at work. Now, with the COVID-19 pandemic, I am working at home and spending even more time on a keyboard. I’m finding the pain has increased, and I’m also having some new tingling and numbness in my hand and... READ MORE
Recent Alzheimer’s prevention research
Research from the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California (USC) shows that damaged capillaries in the brain — independent of plaques and tangles of abnormal proteins — may set the stage for Alzheimer’s decades before memory problems emerge. “The fact that we’re seeing the blood vessels leaking, independent of tau and independent of amyloid, when... READ MORE
Steady diet of bad news is bad for health
Heidi Van Roekel makes instructional art videos for YouTube when coronavirus news overwhelms her. Bill Webb takes his boat out. Stacy Mitchell searches her TV for something — anything — to make her laugh. Paradoxically, Kevin Reed, a software designer from Kenmore, Washington, has binged “The Walking Dead” after turning off the news. He’d rather watch fake, flesh-eating zombies ... READ MORE
Study seeks to improve stroke recovery
Every year, 750,000 Americans suffer a stroke, which damages the brain’s ability to send messages to nerves and muscles. As a result, about 60% of stroke survivors lose control of their arms and hands. One axiom doctors recite after a stroke is, “Use it or lose it.” In other words, if patients practice using their muscles, they will improve their function. However, inactivity can ... READ MORE
