Daily Health News Blog

      Although no one knows what causes osteoarthritis (the breakdown of joint cartilage), there is new evidence linking low levels of vitamin D with the progress of the disease.       Research reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine shows that people with osteoarthritis of the knee, who also had low vitamin D levels, were three times more likely to have a worsened condition over a period of years than those whose intake was adequate.       Researchers suspect that low levels of the vitamin harm the repair mechanism in bone. Although osteoarthritis has long been seen as a disease of cartilage, scientists now believe that changes in bone also play a role in its progression.       People with osteoarthritis of the knee who have low blood levels of D could benefit from increased dietary intake and exposure to sunlight. Good sources of vitamin D include milk, fatty fish, fish liver oils, and egg yolks.

It feels good to be a hero, and customer service people often get to play that role. The customer comes with a problem, you solve it, and you're a hero. That's the way it should be, but there are times when "grappling with grouches" seems to be the order of the day. When it happens, try the three steps of gentle confrontation recommended by Rick Kirschner in his video program, How to Deal With Difficult People. They are: Step one: Stay in control. You're a pro, and you can handle this. Step two: Stop the rant by repeatedly saying the person's name. At this point, it's also important to stop wishing that things were different. Step three: Tell them something that may be important to them. Then be quiet and let them talk. Remember to be understanding. It's not the same as being a doormat. The Greek philosopher Epictetus said, "If someone criticizes you, agree at once. Mention that if only the other person knew you well, there would be more to critic

Your attitude is a state of mind and the way we perceive things. It is what sets us apart from others as far as anything in life is concerned. It represents your likes and dislikes. Attitudes can be defined as positive, negative or neutral perceptions of certain things or ideas. Attitudes can be formed as different forms of judgments that may be true or untrue. As people grow up seeing things around them, they can form attitudes based on what they see. What they see can affect their perception of a certain person thing or idea. Attitudes are part of a person's personality and the well being of a person. Attitude is responsible for projecting a personality, be it positive or negative. Your personality can be a factor in determining a mental state of being and contributing to the aging process. Your attitude can also be defined as a form of an egotistical state of mind, regardless of whether it's about acceptance, expression of control or other traits that are considere

Even in nursing homes, Seniors try Facebook to visit and keep up with family and friends. Growing numbers of elderly people are learning how to use Facebook so they can stay in touch with their family and old friends. Classes that teach basics are popping up in many cities. Public libraries are a popular source of instruction. After taking the course, older seniors might need a little assistance with it at first, but family members, caregivers and nursing home aids don't mind helping them get started. Because many seniors don't send or receive text messages, the immediacy of Facebook   is what attracts them to take a class and create an account. At Fort Bend County libraries in Texas, public information officers say that classes are open to people of all ages, but most students are seniors. A study reported in the journal, Computers in Human Behavior, shows that retirees who use the Internet regularly are  28 percent less likely to be depressed. Older seniors may

Of all the organs of our body the heart is without doubt the most critical and rightly so as, if it stops pumping blood around the body and delivering vital oxygen to the other organs, including the brain, death will occur very quickly. Despite its importance however many of us pay little if any attention to the health of our heart until forced to do so, when it is often too late. And yet keeping a check on the heart by simple routine measurement of our blood pressure could not be easier. As with most things in life, if the heart starts to run into problems then there will be warning signs giving us time to take remedial action and these warning signs often come in the form of abnormally high or low blood pressure.

by: Hayden Solomon Are you looking for more motivation to exercise? If the numerous improved health benefits aren’t enough to get you off the couch, this just might- your sex life will improve if you exercise. However, be careful to not over-train. That could lead to the opposite effect.