Daily Health News Blog

High cholesterol, low energy? Get a thyroid test! A poorly-functioning thyroid gland can cause a long list of mysterious symptoms. It could produce one or many of these: Fatigue, weakness, infertility, coarse skin, hoarse voice, cold intolerance, depression, mood swings, memory loss, decreased concentration, or painful joints, to name a few. The most serious effect of mild thyroid failure is without symptoms. An elevation of cholesterol is one of the characteristic features of an underactive thyroid gland, according to the Thyroid Foundation of America in Boston. Millions of North Americans have the condition and are not aware that a sluggish thyroid is hiking their cholesterol and harming their hearts.  Doctors quoted in Prevention magazine recommend that the simple TSH test be done each time a cholesterol test is ordered. It can be done with the same blood sample and is very inexpensive. Usually, however, physicians don't order the test unless they suspect an under-active

Tip # 1 Skin care, beauty, fitness and health go hand in hand. For those of you who are looking to loose weight, beauty is a key factor in keeping motivated. If you don't feel beautiful, you are more inclined to not follow through any diet or exercise program. If you don't feel good about yourself you will most likely not be motivated and give up. However , on the other hand, If you look good on the outside, it tends to make you feel good on the inside; hence, giving you the motivation to follow through and complete your diet and/or exercise program and loose the weight you want to and be healthy and fit. Tip # 2 Skin care is very important to younger healthy looking skin. You should use a cleansing product that targets your specific needs and is specific to your age and skin type. Not all cleansing products are the same just as not everyone's skin is the same. The same goes for creams. You should use a product that targets your specific needs and is specific to your

All physical activity reduces Alzheimer's risk  An important new study shows that any physical activity, not just exercising, is linked to a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.  The finding should be considered by people in middle age, since the disease develops for years before any symptoms occur. Protective activities included washing dishes, cooking, cleaning, gardening and even playing cards.  Study subjects had no signs of dementia at the start of the study, which is part of the ongoing Memory and Aging Project at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. This is the first study to use an objective measure of physical activity in addition to self-reports. Participants wore an actigraph on their wrists to assess levels of activity.  Those in the bottom 10 percent for physical activity were almost twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's. Quoted in USA Today, study leader, physician Aron Buchman says, "The implication of this study is really astoun

Summer's a great time to do it To burn more fat, build more muscle Forget fad diets, weight-loss pills, and supplements that are supposed to create muscle growth. The path to better health and a leaner body lies in eating a proper diet and exercising to build muscle. The more muscle you build, the more you perk up your metabolism to burn more calories. For each pound of muscle, you burn an extra 12,000 calories a year. Nutritionist and author Miriam Nelson says muscle burns more calories when you walk, when you exercise, and even when you sleep. Building muscle becomes even more important when you realize that people lose about a fourth of a pound of muscle per year and replace it with fat. That means that during a 12-year period of middle life, the average person will lose three pounds of good, solid muscle. How can they get it back? Researchers at the University of Arizona at Tucson say strength training is one of the best ways to build muscle, but it also buil

Spinach, the big-time cancer fighter, has many benefits Popeye the Sailor Man smoked a pipe. Lucky for him, he also ate lots of spinach.  We can only hope he downed the juice as well. Of all the vegetable juices, spinach juice is said to be the best for the prevention of cancer cell formation.  Spinach also boasts an extraordinarily high vitamin C content. It is rich in riboflavin, vitamin A, folate, magnesium, potassium, and vitamins E, B6, and thiamin. Like other greens, it shrinks a lot when it's cooked. A pound of leaves can be reduced to about a cup. The water can be added to soups. A treat for your heart, the folate and vitamin B6 in spinach helps to control homocysteine levels. Studies at Tufts University in Boston and the Framing Heart Study show that high homocysteine levels are a big heart attack risk. Microwaved spinach, they say, is your best bet for managing homocysteine. Eating spinach and other dark leafy greens throughout your life will protect your e

This is the perfect time of year for garage and yard sales. There are bargains galore, if you know how to shop wisely. To make your trips to garage sales fun and productive, take heed of these tips from some yard sale pros! Plan Ahead Use the newspaper classifieds to plan out your garage sale schedule. Having a good map is a plus. But don't forget to be flexible too. Many yard sales are not advertised in the paper, so keep your eye out for signs posted in the neighborhoods you are visiting. Try to arrive early, but not before the posted start time. Early birds are not always welcome. If you are looking for the lowest prices, consider visiting garage sales later in the day, when prices generally start to drop. Have the Right Equipment Wear comfortable shoes that can get dirty and wet-you never know what you might run into. Bring several bags or boxes in your car to place your items when you are ready to take them home. Have old newspapers to wrap breakable items, as many sellers don

Summer Salad 8 ounces nonfat plain yogurt 2 tablespoons thawed orange juice concentrate 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or 2 teaspoons dried basil leaves 1 tablespoon honey 1 small head iceberg lettuce cut into 8 wedges 8 fresh apricots, halved and pits removed 1 pint basket fresh strawberries 1 cantaloupe, seeded, sliced and rind removed 1/4 cup shelled and chopped natural pistachios To make dressing, in bowl whisk yogurt, orange juice concentrate, basil, and honey. To assemble salad, on individual serving plates (or on platter) arrange remaining ingredients, dividing equally. Serve dressing on the side. Fruit Salad with Strawberries and Cream 1 pint strawberries, stemmed and halved 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh mint or 1/2 teaspoon dried mint 1/2 teaspoon honey 1/2 cup light sour cream 2 cups fresh fruits in season (blueberries, sliced peaches, kiwifruit or raspberries) To make strawberry dressing: In a blender, puree enough of the strawberries (about 1/2 cup) to make 1/4 cup pur

Imagine having the hiccups for almost your whole lifetime! Charles Osborne of Anthon, Iowa, did, hiccupping for over 68 years. He started hiccupping in 1922. Two wives and eight children later, in 1990, his hiccups finally went away. Thankfully, this type of condition is incredibly rare. Believe it or not, hiccups are somewhat of a mystery to the medical profession. Although many causes of hiccups are understood, such as eating spicy foods or drinking too much, many cases are unexplained. Hiccups can also be a symptom of a stroke or a tumor. But many times, the cause is just "nothing." Hiccups have been studied for thousands of years, since the time of Hippocrates. In fact there is even a technical term for hiccups, "singultus." But as of yet, there is no known cure. There are, however, many home remedies. Some involve stimulating the back of the throat, like sipping ice water, swallowing sugar, or sucking on a lemon. Others interrupt normal breathing, like holding

To prevent skin cancer:  FDA pushes for more-informed daily sunscreen use. Even the most dedicated daily sunscreen users may not be using the right kind of product, and many are not using enough of what they do use, says the Food and Drug Administration. Three types of products are involved: Sunscreen. A broad-spectrum sunscreen protects against UVA and UVB rays. It should have a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. People with fair skin should use SPF 30. Antioxidant cream. Face cream containing antioxidants helps to prevent the sun's rays from causing free-radical damage, which can accelerate aging and wrinkles. Some sunscreens also have antioxidants. Makeup. Cosmetics with SPF act as an extra shield against the sun, especially when their SPF comes from a natural sunscreen like zinc oxide. Dermatologists quoted in The Wall Street Journal suggest applying makeup before sunscreen. * FDA guidelines say any product with an SPF of 14 or lower and pr

Summer is a great time to travel. If you or a loved one is a senior, you should be aware of some extra precautions to take before hitting the road. Check with your doctor before you leave. Ask if you should take any special precautions while away. Your doctor may ask you to come in for a check-up and will be able to suggest any vaccinations you may need if you are leaving the country. On your trip, you should bring a list of your current medications, copies of your prescriptions, and details of any medical conditions you have. You should also pack a list of contact information for not only family, but also all of your physicians. All of your medications should be placed in your carry-on bag and should be kept in their original containers. This can help you get through customs more easily and is helpful in the event you need a refill while you are away. Finally, enjoy some of the perks of being a senior. Ask about special shuttle services, early boarding procedures, and discounts for se