Help contribute to breast cancer research

By Beacon
Posted on September 01, 2016

Clinical trials are one of the major factors responsible for the gains made in breast cancer survival over the past 30 years.Thanks to such research studies, improvements have also been made in quality of life for people living with cancer, as researchers have been able to identify more targeted treatments that can help limit many cancer therapy side effects.The Sidney Kimmel... READ MORE

How are you feeling today?

By Suzy Cohen
Posted on August 29, 2016

It’s such a simple question and yet, I bet your own opinion of how you feel matters little to your doctors. It’s quite frequent that you’re told not to worry about your health if a lab test comes back as “normal.” The assumption is made that nothing’s wrong. New research from Rice University in Texas suggests that how you feel is a more reliable indicator of future illness... READ MORE

Added sugar isn’t so sweet for your heart

By Judy Thalheimer, R.D
Posted on August 26, 2016

People who consume more added sugars have a higher risk of death from heart disease.Researchers used to think it was the calories in sugary foods that were the problem: sugar made us fat, and obesity raised our risk of heart disease.But a 2014 research review in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that people who consumed more added sugars had more risk factors for... READ MORE

Relieving and preventing a pain in the neck

By Beacon
Posted on August 25, 2016

Neck pain is a nagging ailment that affects nearly everyone at some time. In fact, approximately 80 percent of people experience neck pain during their lifetime, and 20 to 50 percent deal with it annually, according to Dr. Frank Pedlow, an orthopedic spine surgeon at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.Besides the obvious problem of physical discomfort, neck pain can trigger... READ MORE

Multiple medications can multiply risks

By Beacon
Posted on August 18, 2016

Taking several types of medications can be challenging. But this is something you have to get right. If you don’t, you may have unwanted side effects, or you may not properly treat your chronic condition.“I see people who average 15 medications, and it’s very difficult for them to juggle that many pills,” said Joanne Doyle Petrongolo, a pharmacist at... READ MORE

When blood work is on the edge of normal

By Beacon
Posted on August 16, 2016

As a smart medical consumer, you know it’s important to look over the results of your routine blood work, even when the numbers are all within the normal range.But what if you notice that some results are at the high or low end of that range? Should you be concerned about this?“It’s tricky, because in some tests, a borderline result makes no difference. In others, it might ... READ MORE

Foods that protect your skin from the sun

By Brierley Wright, R.D.
Posted on August 12, 2016

By now, you probably already know that you should be protecting your skin with at least SPF 30 sunscreen to keep it healthy and younger looking.But here’s another tip: What you eat can also help protect your skin from the sun — and even help keep it looking smoother and more youthful. Here’s what to eat to help your skin glow.StrawberriesEating more vitamin C-rich foods... READ MORE

Do people burn more calories when cold?

By Barbara Ruben
Posted on August 11, 2016

Some studies show that when you are cold, you burn more calories to keep warm. A special kind of fat — called brown fat — may use more energy (and calories) to keep your body warm. For many years, scientists have known that small animals and infants have this kind of fat. Recently, research shows that adult humans may also have brown fat.If brown fat becomes active and burns... READ MORE

50+Expos return to Maryland, Virginia

By Beacon
Posted on August 05, 2016

Who will be the lucky winner of a 10-day vacation for two to China?One registrant at the 2016 Beacon 50+Expos, that’s who!For the 17th year in a row, the Beacon Newspapers expects to attract thousands of attendees to its 50+Expos — free annual events featuring expert speakers, health screenings, informative resources, technology education, and entertainment for older adults and... READ MORE

Studying fall prevention among veterans

By Carol Sorgen
Posted on July 28, 2016

Falls and their consequences are a serious medical concern for older adults. Complications following falls are the leading cause of deaths due to injury among them, and are the most common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospitalization for trauma.Even if an individual who falls does not sustain an injury, impaired balance among older adults often results in an overall lessening of physical... READ MORE