Daily Health News Blog

Tips for Helping Your Parents Plan for Retirement   Are you concerned with your parents and their future? If you are, you should talk to your parents about their retirement plans. In fact, the sooner, the better. Doing so can give you, as a loved one, comfort and peace of mind. You should start discussing retirement with your parents when they reach the age of fifty; however, you can start the conversation sooner if you wish. When talking to your parents about retirement, determine what their retirement wants and needs are. Where do they want to live? What type of property or establishment do they want to live in? What activities or hobbies would they like to enjoy? It is important to know how your parents want to live in their retirement years, as it will have an impact on how much they need to save.   continue reading article here

You've got holes in your head! No offense, you really do. They're your sinuses, one above each eye, one below, and two on each side of the nose.     Sinuses are lined with membranes that produce mucus, the stuff that keeps your breathing apparatus from getting dry. Mucus flows freely in and out of the sinuses, but if you have a cold or allergies, you've got trouble.     Blockage of sinus openings trap bacteria that are normally harmless, but now multiply and cause infection, fever, headache, facial pain and more, according to the Division of Allergy and Immunology at St. Louis University School of Medicine.     To prevent infection, keep sinuses open. Go on the offensive with:     Steam: Inhaling steam thins mucus and helps it drain. Try a hot shower or bath. Applying a warm washcloth to the nasal area can help.     Fluids: Drink at least one glass every few hours to thin mucus. Hot fluids like chicken soup are even better because of the steam.     Add moisture to the air:

Move over chicken, pork is making a big impact on heart-healthy mealtime. According to Duke University researchers, studies show that today's leaner pork fits into a low-fat diet and may even help individuals lower blood cholesterol levels.     Because of misconceptions, some consumers may not choose pork as part of a heart-healthy diet. A survey by Bruskin-Goldring Research reveals that only 15 percent of consumers consider pork to be a heart-healthy food, while 66 percent say chicken is a low-fat food.     Consumers are still learning that pork is lean and flavorful and can be enjoyed any day of the week. Today, it is 31 percent leaner than it was just 10 years ago.     Fresh cuts like pork loin, tenderloin and chops go well with a wide variety of flavors and ethnic seasonings, making great flavor combinations.     International dry rub mixes add great taste and few calories. Look for Caribbean rub, French provincial rub and Cajun rub.     For the leanest cuts of pork, select one

The subtle symptoms of chronic mild depression, called dysthymia, may be so woven into people's lives they will be unaware that they have a mental health problem.       When being irritable, uninterested in life or feeling miserable goes on for years, they begin to think it's just their nature. Often it isn't.       Now a report in the American Journal of Psychiatry adds to the evidence that antidepressants offer some relief, even for people who have had symptoms for 30 years or more.       Doctors at eight university medical centers treated more than 400 patients with either Zoloft or Tofranil. Patients ranged in age from 25 to 65, and their symptoms started about age 12, on average.       After 12 weeks of treatment, about half of the patients achieved complete remission. They saw improvements in family relationships, social and work life, and the overall quality of their lives. Prozac has also been effective.       Often a near life-long pattern of behavior resultin

      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