Take an active role to lower healthcare costs

It takes energy, motivation and the ability to understand what kind of medical treatment is best for one’s health. But when people take a proactive role in their healthcare management, the payoff may be more than just feeling better. It could be a financial savings as well, a new study found. A research team that looked at… Read more »

Campaign builds support for Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Two out of three people diagnosed with colorectal cancer survive the disease and early detection improves the survival rate. More than 90 percent of stage 1 colon cancer cases are cured, according to the advocacy group Fight Colorectal Cancer. During March, which is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, the organization’s One Million Strong campaign is particularly important to… Read more »

Pep up with a choice of mood-enhancing foods

Choosing what we eat has a lot more influence on the state of our minds than a mood ring does. Some foods really do enhance our mental outlooks because they contain nutrients that are known to pep us up psychologically. Invariably, the choices that put us in a good frame of mind can also improve our… Read more »

Prevent eye injuries and strain by taking common sense steps

Many of the 2,000 eye injuries that occur in the workplace each year, as well as cases of eye strain and mishaps in the home, can be prevented. Save Your Vision Month, observed throughout March, is a good time to start taking care of your eyes. Start by doing something as simple as wearing eye protection… Read more »

Alzheimer’s may be blocked earlier than previously believed

A new study has found that plaque accumulation in the brain that contributes to Alzheimer’s disease takes years to develop and could be blocked well before the condition becomes irreversible. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, say the development of amyloid plaque that eventually leads to the disease could take as long as 15… Read more »

Look for foods that limit sugar and strengthen teeth

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People who sip a sugary beverage slowly through the day or consume lots of sucking candy may be doing considerable harm to their teeth. Even cough drops should be used only when necessary during cough and cold season. That’s because both liquids and solid foods high in sugar can leave a continuous coating on the… Read more »

Married life may produce healthier hearts

Marriage may have its share of headaches, but researchers in Finland found that it’s good for the heart. And that’s apparently true for both sexes. Unlike similar previous studies that focused on men, the team reviewed the marriage experiences and health of both men and women for its population-based research. Published in the European Journal of Preventive… Read more »

A food diary keeps weight loss plans on track

By writing down what they eat in food diaries, dieters will discover bad eating habits they may not have noticed. Eating mindlessly, piling up huge portions and letting emotions and moods lead to overindulgence are actions that a food journal will be able to keep in check. Keeping a food diary has as much to do… Read more »

Heart disease and some cognitive problems in the elderly affect women more

During American Heart Month in February, a new study has shed light on the links between heart disease, poor circulation and mental decline in senior citizens. Mayo Clinic researchers report in the Journal of the American Medical Association on Neurology that women are particularly susceptible to the health connections to mild cognitive impairment as they age,… Read more »

Vegetarians fare better than meat or fish eaters in heart health 

A long-term study of nearly 45,000 people in England and Scotland added more fuel to doctors’ advice that vegetables will do the heart more good than meat or fish. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a study by researchers at the University of Oxford showed vegetarians are as much as one-third less likely to… Read more »