There's been a lot in the media lately about the growing epidemic of loneliness and how it can hurt your health. According to AARP, loneliness is a health risk affecting 800,000 older Americans and is a "significant predictor of poor health." Maybe you live or work alone, or you crave solitude and simply enjoy being alone - or even prefer being alone to the company of others. You might enjoy … [Read more...] about How Chronic Loneliness Harms Your Health
Moms and Massage, a Perfect Marriage
Mother's Day is approaching, and if your celebration includes gifts, it's not too early to start dropping some hints (or better yet, ask for what you want). Yes, I love surprises, but I also love getting a gift that I'll use and love...and to ensure that, I've learned to ask. After all, a gift is worth asking for: It's something special; something you wouldn't normally buy or do for yourself; … [Read more...] about Moms and Massage, a Perfect Marriage
How to Treat Your Aging Skin
When you think about things that cause wrinkles, sagging, and age spots, you probably blame the sun. And you'd be right: Sun exposure is the number one culprit in aging skin - but there are so many other factors. Some we can control, and others, we can't. It's normal for the actual structure of your skin to change with age. Its outer layer thins and the number of pigment-containing cells … [Read more...] about How to Treat Your Aging Skin
The Dos and Don’ts of Diarrhea for Quick Relief
Diarrhea is defined as having three or more loose, watery stools a day. It’s unpleasant and can also be dangerous if left untreated. So if you have it, it’s a good bet you’ll want to get rid of it as quickly as possible. “The thing we worry about most is dehydration,” says Lisa Ganjhu, DO, a gastroenterologist at NYU Langone Health in New York City. Signs of dehydration include: Read the … [Read more...] about The Dos and Don’ts of Diarrhea for Quick Relief
Intimidated by Fish? Don’t Be.
As a freelance health journalist, I'm fortunate to be invited to many interesting events on health, beauty, fitness and other interesting subjects. Yesterday ranks as one of my favorites: Hosted by New York City's Crave Fishbar and the Seafood Nutrition Partnership, the talented Chef Todd Mitgang and his staff prepped an amazingly delicious and varied mélange of seafood that would satisfy any … [Read more...] about Intimidated by Fish? Don’t Be.
Dry Skin and Menopause
When I was younger, the skin on my face was always slick with oil. And as only an adolescent girl can do, I let it get me down. Each time I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I'd recoil at that shiny reflection looking back at me. Of course, now, being in this so-called midlife, I wish there had been - along with that glimpse - a voice of reason to calm me. If there had been, it might have … [Read more...] about Dry Skin and Menopause
The Vulnerabilities of Aging
I recently read a stunning account of a sudden, overnight vision loss. Written by 53-year-old op-ed columnist Frank Bruni, the story, which appears in this past week’s New York Times Sunday Review, shares the details of Bruni’s struggle, both physically and emotionally, of coming to grips with a condition that caused sudden partial vision loss which made it difficult to read or type, because of … [Read more...] about The Vulnerabilities of Aging
Jimmy Carter’s Medical Miracle
Melanoma is usually curable if found and treated early. But when it spreads, it can be deadly. An estimated 87,110 Americans were diagnosed with melanoma in 2017, according to the American Cancer Society, and 9,730 died from it. But new treatments are showing more promise for later-stage melanoma. In addition to surgery and radiation to target his brain tumors, Carter received an intravenous … [Read more...] about Jimmy Carter’s Medical Miracle
How to Keep Friendships Strong During Cancer Treatment
“One of the first questions I ask my patients is, ‘Have any of your friends headed for the hills yet or has anyone unexpectedly offered to help?’” says Dianne Mead, a licensed clinical social worker at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Westchester, New York. “Oftentimes, people answer ‘yes’ to both questions,” she says. Although the changing nature of friendships during crises like … [Read more...] about How to Keep Friendships Strong During Cancer Treatment
How to Protect Yourself From Falling
Remember what it felt like to fall when you were a kid? Probably not, because most of the time it was not a big deal...you fell, you got up, dusted yourself off (or put a band aid on) and continued on your merry way. It's more than likely that there was no fear or embarrassment, and you fell without stiffening up or trying to catch yourself. But falling takes on a whole new meaning when … [Read more...] about How to Protect Yourself From Falling