Can COVID bring on a case of shingles?
Dear Savvy Senior: How effective is the shingles vaccine, and what is the CDC’s recommendation for getting it? My older brother and sister, both in their 50s, got COVID a few months back, followed by shingles. Do you know if there is a connection between these viruses, and would the shingles vaccine have protected them? —Scared of Shingles Dear Scared: Great question!... READ MORE
Stiff muscles? Don’t stretch; strengthen
Dear Mayo Clinic: online pharmacy buy amitriptyline no prescription online pharmacy order ventolin without prescription with best prices today in the USA I am a very active person. I visit the gym and run regularly. Although I have been able to avoid any major injuries, I find myself constantly stretching my hamstrings. It seems no matter how flexible I get, they still feel tight.... READ MORE
Say what? Study helps focus on hearing
If you have trouble keeping up with a conversation in a noisy restaurant, you’re not alone. After all, as we age, our ears and brains age, too. Now researchers at the University of Maryland’s Hearing Lab are launching a study to teach older adults how to listen better. They’re seeking 100 volunteers between the ages of 65 and 85. “For someone who has trouble understanding... READ MORE
Gene therapy: evidence of a cancer cure
In 2010, doctors treated Doug Olson’s leukemia with an experimental gene therapy that transformed some of his blood cells into cancer killers. More than a decade later, there’s no sign of cancer in his body. The treatment cured Olson and a second patient, according to the University of Pennsylvania doctors, who said it was the first time the therapy had been studied for such a long... READ MORE
Common questions about aging bodies
Throughout life, there are some surprising changes that can occur within our body and mind. As we age, some of those changes become more obvious, like wrinkles or forgetfulness. Learning what to expect as you get older can help alleviate some anxiety over aging. Below are some common questions from patients about aging: Q: I used to be 6 feet tall. Now I am 5 feet, 11 inches tall.... READ MORE
Andalusian garbanzo beans with spinach
Espinacas con garbanzos is a hyper-regional dish native to Seville, Spain, with strong Moorish influence. It’s substantive and full of flavor. Briefly simmering canned chickpeas (uniformly tender, well-seasoned and convenient) in a combination of chicken broth and chickpea canning liquid tenderizes them and infuses them with savory flavor. A picada (a paste of garlic and bread... READ MORE
Four health benefits from dark chocolate
You’ve seen the chocolate-is-healthy headlines — and who wouldn’t want to buy into them? Looking for license to eat decadent goodness? Here are some facts on the health benefits of dark chocolate backed by research: nothing here funded by chocolate companies and no small, one-off studies without a larger body of research backing them up. Take a look. Improves heart... READ MORE
Dealing with stress urinary incontinence
Q: I notice that sometimes when I sneeze or laugh, I may urinate a little. Is there anything I can do, or is this just a part of getting older? online pharmacy fluoxetine for sale no prescription online pharmacy buy pepcid no prescription with best prices today in the USA A: You’re not alone! What you are experiencing sounds like stress urinary incontinence. This can affect almost a... READ MORE
How to treat sudden low blood pressure
When I was a practicing pharmacist at a large retail chain, I’d get this type of phone call a lot: “What do I do? My husband took his blood pressure pill, and now he feels faint! Is that normal?” Almost every pharmacist has received a similar call after dispensing any one of the popular anti-hypertensives like losartan, lisinopril, nifedipine, atenolol and others. The answer... READ MORE
Virtual reality makes therapy like a game
Joe O’Connor, 62, who lives near Worcester, Massachusetts, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease six years ago. Exercise is one of the only things that slows the progress of the chronic disease, so he works out avidly — often in a virtual reality (VR) world. He dances. He plays tennis. He enjoys games that help him work on his short-term memory and hand-eye coordination. “VR ... READ MORE