Why (and how) to change Medicare plans
Medicare’s open enrollment period runs from October 15 to December 7, but 7 in 10 Medicare beneficiaries say they don’t compare Medicare plans during this period, according to a 2021 analysis by KFF, a health policy nonprofit. That’s not great, since Medicare Advantage plans — which operate much like the private insurance you may have had through an employer — change from year... READ MORE
With Covid in decline, telemedicine is too
Telemedicine exploded in popularity after Covid hit, but limits are returning for care delivered across state lines. That complicates follow-up treatments for some cancer patients. It also can affect other types of care, including mental health therapy and routine doctor check-ins. Over the past year, nearly 40 states and Washington, D.C., have ended emergency declarations that made... READ MORE
A scratch-and-sniff test for Parkinson’s
A seasonal cold or case of Covid can cause people to lose their sense of smell temporarily. But people whose sense of smell has disappeared for good may be at risk for brain disease. In fact, people with enduring smell loss have a 30% chance of having brain changes associated with Parkinson’s disease. Now, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research is using a screening... READ MORE
Recipes for raw vegan meals and snacks
The raw food diet traces back to the late 1800s, when Maximilian Bircher-Benner, a doctor, discovered he could cure his own jaundice by eating raw apples. Thus began a series of experiments testing the effects of raw food on human health, and the diet has continued to evolve. We here at Bereisheet have also discovered many of its qualities, from less prepping and cooking time, to more... READ MORE
Five foods to eat to improve your sleep
Shortchanging your sleep makes you feel pretty crummy (as you likely know!), but the impact is even worse than you may think. Poor sleep can weaken your immune system, leaving you more susceptible to viruses. It also ups your risk of injury during intense workouts, and it can alter your appetite-regulating hormones, making you feel hungrier while simultaneously intensifying... READ MORE
Taming natural cell death for longer life
In his basement, 95-year-old Richard Soller zips around a makeshift track encircling boxes full of medals he’s won for track and field and long-distance running. Without a hint of breathlessness, he says, “I can put in miles down here.” Steps away is an expensive leather recliner he bought when he retired from Procter & Gamble with visions of relaxing into old age. He... READ MORE
How to get fast, safe relief for heartburn
Q: I get heartburn about once or twice a week. What’s the best approach to get fast relief? A: Heartburn is caused by stomach acid moving up out of the stomach into the lower part of the esophagus. Reducing the overall acidity protects the esophagus from burning or irritation when the stomach contents back up or “reflux.” The fastest treatment is to neutralize the acid already... READ MORE
Non-drug therapies needed for dementia
The human and financial cost of Alzheimer’s disease is devastating. More than 55 million people are living with Alzheimer’s disease and other causes of dementia, rising to 78 million by 2030 and 139 million by 2050. In the United States alone, the Alzheimer’s Association estimated that in 2020, more than 11 million unpaid caregivers provided 15.3 billion hours of assistance (valued ... READ MORE
Legislating drug prices
Those of us on Medicare may feel like rejoicing at the recent passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, which, among many other provisions, took some unprecedented steps to reduce Medicare’s drug costs as well as costs for the 50 million people who purchase optional Medicare Part D prescription drug insurance. While I can’t cover all the provisions in this column, here is a summary of... READ MORE
New snack line designed to reduce cholesterol
A Johns Hopkins-trained cardiologist who recognized that diet was responsible for much of the high cholesterol, high blood pressure and high blood sugar she saw in her patients has designed a line of snack foods intended to help. Called Step One Foods, the products contain omega-3 oils, plant sterols, fiber and antioxidants that come from dried fruit, nuts and seeds as well as oat fiber... READ MORE
