Daily Health News Blog

Nutritional needs change as you get older, and you may have to fight the battle of the bulge throughout your senior years. By Diana Rodriguez Medically Reviewed by Cynthia Haines, MD Shouldn't one of the joys of aging be to finally forget about your weight and just relax? Unfortunately, even as a senior you have to think about weight management. In fact, it can become more difficult as you age because of changes in your body. Why It's a Challenge to Maintain Your Weight as You Age It can be perplexing: You find it a little harder to fit into your regular pants, and an extra walk each day just isn't taking care of those extra pounds. Even if you haven't changed your diet habits, your body is changing. It's much easier for seniors to gain weight and much tougher to lose it. If you feel like you're slowing down a little, you may be right, and your body is too — specifically, your metabolism. Metabolism is the process that your body performs to burn and

Certain medications and conditions can cause damage to your strands by Kim Hayes, AARP Full and luxurious hair can be a good sign that you are getting proper nutrition. While many of us only focus on the aesthetic pleasure of having flowing shiny locks, the fact is that dull, limp strands, or hair loss, can sometimes indicate a health issue. Here are a few conditions to watch out for: Hair loss and graying While thinning and graying hair can be a standard part of aging for both women and men, a recent study of 2,000 men in India showed that participants who had coronary artery disease were more likely to be prematurely bald or gray. The study, conducted by the European Society of Cardiology on men under 40, discovered that the 50 percent of participants with coronary artery disease were more likely to have gone prematurely gray, versus 30 percent of a healthy control group, the BBC reports. The participants in the heart condition group were also more likely (49 p

By Colleen McCleery, MD, OB/GYN—Exuberan® by Virtua Menopause is a mixed bag of little surprises. While most women look forward to saying goodbye to tampons and pads, far fewer are excited to now experience hot flashes and night sweats. And it’s probably fair to say that weight gain is the least popular and often least expected “side effect” of this hormonal shift. Considering many women struggle with their weight on a good day, it’s not surprising that this is the number one complaint from patients who are going through this transition. The biology of menopause During the late 40s to mid-50s, a hormone called FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) increases and no longer performs its job to regulate the ovaries. During this increase in FSH, other hormones like estrogen, progesterone and testosterone decrease. A decrease in testosterone can lead to weight gain and decreased energy. And, not surprisingly, estrogen loss has far-reaching effects beyond hot flashes. It contribut

10 Easy Ways to Love Your Liver by Jess Kuh In today's world it seems that it takes more effort to be healthy. Our daily lives are spent more inside than out in the sun. We exercise less because we have sitting jobs. Our foods come from depleted soil, and we fight being bombarded with chemicals. Yikes! Not a very encouraging picture is it? One advantage we do have, though, is more access to knowledge! There are ways to keep your body healthy and one of the best things you can do is keep your liver happy. The liver is a pathway to detox for your body, so if it isn't working properly, it is very easy for your body to get backed up. This can cause a cascade of other health issues. Thinking about doing a liver detox intimates to me so I like to add things to my daily routine that will help keep my liver happy. They are easy to get used to and help keep my liver working properly. 10 Easy Ways to Love Your Liver 1. Drink Enough Water Our bodies need water. It help

By Michelle S. Hunt, PsyD, LCADC Clinical Psychologist, Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor Virtua Medical and Bariatric Weight Loss People with food addiction struggle every day with a loss of control or inability to stop eating foods that are high in carbohydrates, fat, salt, sugar or artificial sweeteners. They also suffer from painful feelings of shame and embarrassment when it comes to their food behaviors. Food addiction is a relatively new topic. But, it’s a complex condition that has similarities to other types of addiction, such as drugs, alcohol, shopping or gambling. However, help is available. Understanding the causes and signs of food addiction can help you lower your risk and change potentially problematic behaviors. What causes food addiction? Consuming “highly palatable” foods, or foods that are high in carbohydrates, fat, salt, sugar or artificial sweeteners, triggers the pleasure centers of the brain and releases “feel-good” chemicals such as dop

Cold, Flu, or Allergy? Know the Difference for Best Treatment       You’re feeling pretty lousy. You’ve got sniffles, sneezing, and a sore throat. Is it a cold, flu, or allergies? It can be hard to tell them apart because they share so many symptoms. But understanding the differences will help you choose the best treatment. “If you know what you have, you won’t take medications that you don’t need, that aren’t effective, or that might even make your symptoms worse,” says NIH’s Dr. Teresa Hauguel, an expert on infectious diseases that affect breathing. Cold, flu, and allergy all affect your respiratory system, which can make it hard to breathe. Each condition has key symptoms that set them apart. Colds and flu are caused by different viruses. “As a rule of thumb, the symptoms associated with the flu are more severe,” says Hauguel. Both illnesses can lead to a runny, stuffy nose; congestion; cough; and sore throat. But the flu can also cause high fever that lasts fo

Take a few minutes each day to stop and reflect on your life. You can spend some time practicing gratitude. This helps give you some perspective and improves your ability to handle life's challenges. Remember that you have the power to control your thoughts. Researchers studying weight loss have found that most people will state that they need to lose 50 or more pounds to be "successful" at losing weight. This often sets them up for failure by making this goal seem out of reach. A better strategy is to set a reasonable goal, such as losing 10 pounds. Studies have shown that even a 10 pound weight loss has measurable effect on your blood sugar level and overall well-being. Once you've hit that first goal, simply set another until you've gotten as healthy as you can. To get the best protection from sunscreen, you don't have to buy the highest SPF you can find. Unless you have a skin condition, have had skin cancer, or are very fair, you can use a product wit