Ways to trick yourself into liking exercise
You know that exercise usually makes you feel better, but sometimes life, or excuses, can get in the way. You can spend 20 minutes debating about whether it might rain, or focusing on all of the reasons why right now is not a good time to walk — or you could just lace up your shoes and go.When it becomes easier to talk yourself out of exercise than it does to just get out there,... READ MORE
Five good reasons to love dark, leafy greens
Dark, leafy greens — like kale, spinach and collards — are packed with fiber and vitamins A, C and K. They are delicious raw, in a stir-fry, sautéed or added to dishes like casseroles, omelets or soups.You may already know that these greens are vitamin and nutrient powerhouses, but they also provide some other, surprising benefits. Here are five more reasons to help convince... READ MORE
Study looks for early signs of Alzheimer’s
“Where did I leave my keys?” It’s a question most of us have asked ourselves on more than one occasion, and the inquiry is more likely a symptom of our increasingly hectic lifestyles rather than a true failure of our memory.But when are these seemingly innocent episodes of forgetfulness really the first sign of something much more significant? What are the earliest signs... READ MORE
Don’t ignore symptoms of cardiac arrest
Sudden cardiac arrest may not always be so sudden: New research suggests a lot of people may ignore potentially life-saving warning signs that occur hours, days, even a few weeks before they collapse.Cardiac arrest claims about 350,000 U.S. lives a year. It’s not a heart attack, but worse: The heart abruptly stops beating, its electrical activity knocked out of rhythm. CPR can buy... READ MORE
Gum disease may lead to heart problems
People with gum disease — which begins when the sticky, bacteria-laden film known as plaque builds up around your teeth — are almost twice as likely to have heart disease as those without it.The reasons behind this link aren’t completely clear. One possibility is that people without access to good dental care may also lack the resources to keep heart disease at bay.Still,... READ MORE
Can lab-grown vocal cords restore voice?
From mom’s comforting croon to a shout of warning, our voices are the main way we communicate, and are often something we take for granted unless something goes wrong.Now researchers have grown human vocal cords in the laboratory that appear capable of producing sound — in hopes of one day helping people with voice-robbing diseases or injuries.Millions of people suffer from... READ MORE
Studying head and neck cancer treatment
Cancers that are known collectively as head and neck cancers usually begin in the squamous cells that line the moist, mucosal surfaces inside the head and neck, such as inside the mouth, nose and throat.While head and neck cancers account for approximately 3 percent of all cancers in the United States, these cancers are nearly twice as common in men as they are in women. Head and neck... READ MORE
What screening tests do you really need?
Recently, during her annual “well woman” exam, Mary, a healthy 50-year-old schoolteacher, asked me about screening her for ovarian cancer.Tragically, one of Mary’s friends recently died from ovarian cancer. Mary has no risk factors for ovarian cancer and no family history of ovarian cancer or other cancers. I explained to Mary that, unfortunately, there are no reliable... READ MORE
Complex treatments can work at any age
Irwin Weiner felt so good after heart surgery a few weeks before turning 90 that he stopped for a pastrami sandwich on the way home from the hospital. Dorothy Lipkin danced after getting a new hip at age 91. And at 94, William Gandin drives himself to the hospital for cancer treatments.Jimmy Carter isn’t the only nonagenarian to withstand rigorous medical treatment. Very old age is no ... READ MORE
Some effective ways to fight colds and flu
I think I am a real germaphobe because I get very conscious when someone sitting next to me starts coughing, especially when they don’t cover their mouth. I’ll let the first one slide, but if it happens again, I am apt to leave or hand them a Kleenex. Is it just me or are you that way, too? If you feel like you’re coming down with something, here are five things that may... READ MORE
