International tai chi champions
Many recreation centers provide instruction in the ancient martial art of tai chi. But it’s a rare program that sends 17 of its members to China to participate in an international competition, and no doubt even rarer when such a group sweeps the awards in their categories. That’s exactly what happened, however, when a group from the East Columbia 50+ Center’s tai chi class traveled ... READ MORE
Easing agitation in Alzheimer’s patients
Anxiety and agitation are commonly found in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. These behavioral changes may be caused by different medical conditions, medication interactions, or circumstances that continue to worsen the person’s ability to think. As an individual with dementia is biologically experiencing a loss of their ability to negotiate new information and different stimuli,... READ MORE
Help for caregivers of dementia patients
Senior Connections, the Area Agency on Aging for the Richmond metro area, works with the Association of Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) to provide a support group for those providing care for loved ones suffering from FTD. The caregiver support group meets the third Thursday of every month at Covenant Woods Retirement Community at 3 p.m. FTD — also commonly referred to as... READ MORE
Should you get the new shingles vaccine?
Q: At a recent visit, my local pharmacist asked if I was up to date with my vaccinations. He told me there is a new shingles vaccine that was recently approved. Do I need this vaccine? What do I need to know about it? A: In October, the FDA and the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) approved a new adult vaccine called Shingrix. The Shingrix vaccine is given to help prevent shingles and... READ MORE
Lazy, weak men and clueless strangers
Dear Solutions: My husband, who retired recently, is making me more and more angry. Every time I ask him to help with household chores, he refuses and thinks he’s funny when he says he can’t exert himself because he’s protecting me. He says he’s saving me from becoming a widow. I work part time, but because I’m home a lot, he thinks I can do everything myself. I’ve... READ MORE
Foods and games to improve your brain
If you want to know how to grow a bunch of new brain cells, termed “neurons,” and keep them as healthy as possible, let me tell you one quick thing about neurogenesis. Neurogenesis is the science of spurring the growth of neurons in your brain. Without neurogenesis, you’d be dead. In fact, we can grow as many as 700 new neurons a day. Scientists have found that several things... READ MORE
Hearty winter salad with apples, pumpkin
Summer may officially be the season of green salads, but wintertime versions have advantages that make them worth exploring. Greens seasonable in cooler weather are hearty and darker green, which makes them nutrient-rich. And these thicker-leaved greens — such as kale or spinach — can hold up to the addition of warm ingredients, opening up the possibilities for topping your salad... READ MORE
How to cope with ringing in your ears
Dear Savvy Senior: Are there any new treatments you know of that can help with constant ear ringing syndrome known as tinnitus? I’ve had it for years, but it’s gotten worse the older I get. — Ringing Louder at 62 Dear Ringing: Tinnitus is a common condition that affects around 45 million Americans, but is usually more prevalent in the 60-and-older age group. Here’s ... READ MORE
Risks abound in secondhand smoke, too
Dear Mayo Clinic: Is secondhand cigarette smoke dangerous to my health? Answer: The short answer to your question is yes, secondhand smoke is dangerous. Secondhand smoke — also known as environmental tobacco smoke — is a combination of the smoke coming from a burning cigarette and the smoke exhaled by the smoker, which spreads out to the surrounding space. Secondhand smoke... READ MORE
Latest scoop on coffee’s health benefits
What a difference a few years can make. Not long ago, I was learning about the dangers of coffee — how it could raise your blood pressure, make your heart race, impair sleep, and maybe even cause cancer. Now, the World Health Organization (WHO) has taken coffee off the possible carcinogen list. And there’s increasing evidence that coffee might actually be good for you. So good that... READ MORE
Health 2024
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