Daily Health News Blog

As winter closes in, it is important for seniors and those who care for them to be aware of some simple precautions. Seniors are at risk during the winter months for several reasons. Winter weather and storms may isolate the elderly more than usual. Diseases such as the common cold and the flu are more prevalent and present a particular risk to those who are older or already in weakened health. There are also the dangers that the cold weather itself presents to those who are vulnerable. In response to these circumstances, the American Red Cross has issued its annual winter-preparedness tips for senior citizens. Be sure to arrange to have someone check on older persons regularly. It is also a good idea to have a plan to signal the need for help. For example, a daily phone call to check in might be appropriate. Post emergency numbers near the phone as well. We never know when severe weather might hit. If specialized care, medical supplies, or equipment is needed, plan ahea

Three years ago,   Women's Health was among the first to expose sitting disease . The gist: Too much inactivity can leave you prone to such deadly ailments as heart disease and obesity. The advice: Get moving. But Americans haven't budged much. The only real momentum has been in the lab, where research has found that inactivity can also damage your mind, sleep cycle, and organs. It could even shorten your life: Women who sit for more than six hours a day have a roughly 40 percent higher risk of dying from any cause, regardless of their fitness level, versus those who sit for fewer than three hours.   "The human body evolved to move around," says James Levine, M.D., Ph.D., a professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic. "Yes, there are times to sit, but we put our feet up now more than ever. It's unnatural and hazardous to our health." Young women are especially prone: Research shows they spend more time on their bums than others. Devastating news,

There are two kinds of good news about brain power: First, you aren't stuck with the number of brain cells you were born with. And second, it isn't true that brain cells will inevitably die off as you age and can never be replaced. Pumping up your body and mind with extra oxygen from exercise is the magic that gives birth to more brain cells and keeps the ones you already have in top shape. It turns out that aerobic exercise is one key to "getting smart" and staying that way. Neurologist Fred H. Gage was the first to challenge the "no new brain cells" doctrine. A professor at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, Calif., Gage discovered newborn cells in the brains of terminally ill cancer patients. The new cells appeared in the part of the brain associated with learning and memory. In further experiments, Gage shows that the number of brain cells in mice will increase too, but only when the mice run. In 1999, he demonstrated that exercising mice had twic

Being a woman does not make you powerless against breast cancer. There are steps you can take that can reduce your chances of becoming one of the tens of thousands of North Americans who contract the disease. 1. Live a healthy lifestyle. Choose more foods from plant sources. Eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables. Choose foods from plant sources, such as breads, cereals, grain products, rice, pasta, or beans. Limit intake of high-fat foods, particularly from animal sources. Be physically active. Be at least moderately active for 30 minutes or more each day. And stay within your healthy weight range. 2. Be aware of inherited risk factors. Women with a family history of breast cancer are more likely to develop it themselves. While only seven percent of all breast tumors are considered to be hereditary, breast cancer in a close relative should increase your efforts toward prevention. 3. Self-examination. All women over age 20 should perform breast self-

By Saeed Sikiru  It's easier to keep track of the amount of fats you eat if you understand which foods are naturally high in fat. It's also easier to figure out pleasant and acceptable changes in your eating habits when you know something about how fats function in your favorite foods. Below is some background information that will help you in planning meals and adapting your favorite recipes so they have a lower fat content. Your ultimate aim is to balance your intake of higher-fat foods with those that are lower in fat. Creamy soups, meat, and dessert can still be part of your life. You'll just learn how to trade off a high-fat food for a low-fat one. 1. Fats in cooking - Fats give food flavor and texture, and are especially important in baked products. Eating would be depressing without fats, but they can be reduced; it only takes some experimentation. Start by reducing the amount called for in a recipe by one third; if that works, you might want to c

Autumn is the favorite time of the year for many of us. Colorful foliage abounds. Humidity drops. We open our windows to let in the breeze and spend long hours outdoors hiking or raking up the falling leaves. Unfortunately, unseen allergens lurk in the crisp, dry air and in all those leaves. Pollen allergies affect nearly 10 percent of our population, approximately 62 million people. They are the fifth ranking chronic disease and cost U.S. businesses and our health care system nearly $8 billion annually. There's no reason to dread the arrival of autumn, however, if we reduce exposure to pollens and molds, thus lessening our symptoms of sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, dry throat, congestion and runny noses, all of which can impair our ability to perform well at school or work. Ragweed pollen is one of the most common reasons for fall allergies. But pollen from other plants, trees, and grass can also trigger symptoms, as can mold. Tips for managing fall allerg

If you like sugar snap peas but planted your garden too late for them, you can start a fall crop now. Vegetables like snap peas, lettuce and kale like the cool weather of early spring and fall. Right now, you could still be enjoying fresh peppers in what's left of your garden, but it's time to clean up the rest of it and get ready for winter. You know the first drill. Pull out the dead plants and stray weeds. Decaying plants attract insects that will still be around in spring. Wait until the ground freezes before you mulch. There should be at least one hard freeze. If you mulch sooner, you could attract mice and other rodents looking for a winter home. Because soil left exposed to the elements erodes, compacts and loses moisture, it's wise to cover it. But you don't have to buy new mulch at the garden store. Clean compost or straw make a good topping. If not, rake up your dead leaves and put a thick layer over the top of the vegetable garden.