Adjust your diet to nourish your bones

Unlike the static human skeletons that commonly hang in biology classrooms, your bones are continually being broken down and rebuilt. In fact, your entire skeleton is replaced about every 10 years.In addition to exercise, about 20 different nutrients help prevent the weakening of bones that leads to osteoporosis. We review nutrients you’re more than likely falling short on, and where... READ MORE

Try PT and injections to fight knee pain

Knee pain caused by worn cartilage due to arthritis or a torn meniscus can be so debilitating that you find yourself unable to exercise, go the grocery store, or even walk across a room. While surgery is often the fix, it’s not always necessary to relieve knee pain. “I see surgery as the last resort,” said Dr. John Melmed, who focuses much of his practice at the Silver Spring... READ MORE

You need some types of fat in your diet

Eight ways to lower your blood pressure

When it comes to “natural” ways to improve blood pressure, sodium restriction snags the spotlight. Most experts agree that limiting sodium is a smart strategy for those looking to lower blood pressure.But why focus on what you can’t — or shouldn’t — have? Shift your emphasis to positive lifestyle changes you can make to improve blood pressure. Here are... READ MORE

Snacks can be fine, if you snack smarter

Eating a snack or two between meals can curb hunger so that you don’t inhale everything on the dining room table when you finally sit down to supper. Snacking can also help you get in all the nutrients you need. On the flip side, grazing all day — particularly on foods of little nutritional value — may result in eating too much and packing on extra pounds. The key is taking a smart ... READ MORE

Medicare open enrollment thru Dec. 7

It’s time for your annual checkup — of your Medicare plan.  Medicare’s annual open enrollment period started Oct. 15 and runs through Dec. 7. This is the time of year you can make changes to your plans.Review your current Medicare Part D Prescription Drug and, if you have it, your Medicare Part C Advantage Plan coverage to see if you can lower your costs or find a... READ MORE

Avoiding delirium during a hospital stay

My mother was lucid and alert when she was hospitalized for pneumonia. But by the middle of the first night, she was wondering how she had ended up at a “hotel” that allowed strangers to enter her room at all hours. The second night, she wandered into the corridor, slipped and fractured a hip. She didn’t leave the hospital alive. Her story, though extreme, is sadly typical.... READ MORE

Reaping benefits from simple meditation

Q: I have been hearing a lot more about mindfulness recently. Given my hectic life, it sounds like I might benefit. But I am not sure how to start. Any suggestions? A: Mindfulness is the practice of purposely focusing your attention on the present moment — and accepting it without judgment. Mindfulness meditation is an excellent way to get started. In mindfulness meditation, you... READ MORE

The truth about tequila and bone health

“Tequila could reverse osteoporosis!” “Drinking tequila is good for your bones!” “Have a third margarita — because tequila’s great for your bones!” Talk about misleading headlines! These are prime examples. It’s true that a newly published study found that a substance in tequila  — called agave tequilana, or tequila agave — might help maintain bone health. And... READ MORE

New technique depicts brain synapses

The brain’s nerve cells communicate by firing messages to each other through junctions called synapses. Problems with those connections are linked to disorders like Alzheimer’s and epilepsy. Now Yale University researchers have developed a way to picture synapses in living brains. The technique, using PET scans, is highly experimental, but it raises the possibility of one day... READ MORE