Stay on top of your meds with some apps

By Yasser Ali
Posted on August 15, 2018

Q: How can technology help me keep track of my medications? A: Nearly half of Americans over the age of 55 take at least one prescription medication, with 12 percent of those over the age of 65 taking four or more. That is a lot to keep track of on a daily basis. No wonder about half of the 2 billion prescriptions filled each year are not taken correctly, according to Pharmacy Times.... READ MORE

Cracking knuckles, fighting forgetfulness

By Howard LeWine, M.D. and Robert H. Shmerling, M.D.
Posted on August 15, 2018

Questions and answers from Harvard Medical School Q: People keep telling me to stop cracking my knuckles. Does it cause arthritis? A: Knuckle cracking is a common behavior enjoyed by many. It can become a habit or a way to deal with nervous energy; some describe it as a way to “release tension.” For some, it’s simply an annoying thing that other people do. Despite how common... READ MORE

Some challenges of second marriages

By Helen Oxenberg
Posted on August 14, 2018

Dear Solutions: I’m about to marry a widower (I’m divorced) who has a very large beautiful house. My fiancé lived there with his wife and children all through the years and even has an office there. He wants me to move into the house, but I’m very nervous about it. I want him to sell it, and we’re beginning to argue about it. His wife’s furnishings are... READ MORE

Aloe vera plant has many impressive uses

By Suzy Cohen
Posted on August 13, 2018

Aloe vera made a couple of headlines recently. The first was when the actress Drew Barrymore dabbed some on a facial sore and it instantly took out the redness. The second was when Prop 65 regulations in California called out a known carcinogen in aloe vera called “aloin.” But don’t worry, aloe will never get banned! Not to be morbid from the get-go, but extracted compounds from ... READ MORE

Fresh corn shines in salmon corn chowder

By Katie Workman
Posted on August 10, 2018

Certain foods just need to be made and eaten at least once a summer. Corn chowder (or chowdah, as my in-laws would say) is one. And if you are in a place where the ears of fresh sweet corn are piled high at the market (often for pennies an ear), then you must make it more than once. There are lots of ways to go — simple, seafood, creamy, chunky. This recipe is loaded with nuggets of ... READ MORE

Vaccine study focuses on C. diff bacteria

By Barbara Ruben
Posted on August 09, 2018

The bacteria Clostridium difficile (C. diff for short) exists throughout the environment, and can often be found inside people’s intestines. While it frequently causes no or few symptoms, it can cause a range of intestinal woes, including frequent diarrhea, inflammation of the colon, fever, nausea and abdominal pain. In severe cases, it can be life-threatening. Those most at risk of ... READ MORE

Viruses may play a role in Alzheimer’s

By Lauran Neergaard
Posted on August 09, 2018

Viruses that sneak into the brain just might play a role in Alzheimer’s, scientists reported in a provocative study that promises to reignite some long-debated theories about what triggers the mind-robbing disease. The findings don’t prove viruses cause Alzheimer’s, nor do they suggest it’s contagious. But a team led by researchers at New York’s Mount Sinai Health System found... READ MORE

Beware dangers of multiple medications

By Eleanor Laise
Posted on August 08, 2018

As many aging patients develop multiple chronic conditions, the problem of drug interactions is growing worse. A 2016 study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that 36 percent of people age 62 to 85 were taking five or more prescription drugs in 2011, up from 31 percent five years earlier. About 15 percent of older adults are at risk of major drug interactions, up from 8 percent in ... READ MORE

Creative shoe lacing helps ease foot pain

By Howard LeWine, M.D.
Posted on August 08, 2018

Q: I just bought my third pair of gym shoes, and none of them seem to be comfortable. Could I be tying them wrong? online pharmacy buy bactroban no prescription A: Today’s mass-produced shoes often don’t accommodate the quirks of individual feet, which may be wide or narrow, or have arches that are high or low. Retying your shoes can make adjustments for those differences, and in ... READ MORE

How to know if you have food sensitivities

By Esther L. Ellis., R.D.
Posted on August 06, 2018

Food intolerances are on the rise. Today more than nine million adults suffer from food allergies. The Internet is rife with ads for “food sensitivity” testing kits, and some healthcare providers offer quick testing to find the foods that ail you. However, many tests can give false results, which may do more harm than good. Food sensitivities defined online pharmacy buy augmentin no ... READ MORE