PSAPs: affordable hearing aid alternative?

By David M. Vernick, M.D.
Posted on December 12, 2019

Growing up, I had to wear glasses. Back then, glasses were considered socially unacceptable, but necessary to be able to see. Sixty years later, everyone wears glasses and they are even a fashion statement. Now as an aging adult, I need to wear hearing aids. This was, and still is in many age groups, considered socially unacceptable — a sign of being old and maybe a little... READ MORE

Possible shortage of sterile surgical tools

By Matthew Perrone
Posted on December 11, 2019

Hospitals could soon face shortages of critical surgical tools because several plants that sterilize the equipment have been shut down, government health officials said last month. The Food and Drug Administration flagged the issue in an online statement to medical professionals, saying the result could be years of shortages of supplies used in heart surgery, knee replacements,... READ MORE

The evidence for using CBD for anxiety

By Brent Bauer
Posted on December 10, 2019

Dear Mayo Clinic: Is there any harm in trying CBD for anxiety? It seems to have helped my co-worker, but I am hesitant to try it without knowing more about it. A: Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat anxiety. Although some research appears to indicate that CBD might help treat anxiety-related disorders, more study is... READ MORE

Bitter melon appears to fight oral cancer

By Suzy Cohen
Posted on December 10, 2019

There’s a famous quote by Hippocrates that underpins today’s article: Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food. Bitter melon is a gourd that belongs to the pumpkin and zucchini family. It’s also a food that has a new potential use for an unusual cancer. You’ll likely be told by your doctor that this is just a folk remedy and not “approved” for anything important.... READ MORE

Back pain? Acupuncture study may help

By Margaret Foster
Posted on December 02, 2019

If you wake up every day with an achy back, you’re not alone. About a third of people over 65 have chronic lower back pain. To manage the pain, some people get cortisone injections, which wear off in several months, or go on opioid medication, which can be dangerously addictive. Now, the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing is studying the effects of acupressure — a... READ MORE

A daily aspirin isn’t right for everyone

By Christian Hambrick
Posted on November 21, 2019

Q: Should I be taking a low-dose aspirin to prevent heart attacks and strokes? A: Maybe not. Recent research has shown that low-dose aspirin may not be necessary and may even introduce additional unnecessary risks in certain people. Strokes and heart attacks, also called myocardial infarctions, can occur due to buildup of plaque in the arterial walls causing narrowing of the blood... READ MORE

He brings orchids back from the brink

By Glenda C. Booth
Posted on November 20, 2019

If your orchid looks sickly and droopy, swallow your pride. Extinguish your guilt. Don’t give up. There’s hope — and it’s found through Art Chadwick Jr., of Richmond’s Chadwick & Son Orchids. Orchids have a reputation for being finicky plants, even for experienced gardeners, but Chadwick believes otherwise. People just need to understand these beautiful plants and when they ... READ MORE

Take time to find the right antidepressant

By Suzy Cohen
Posted on November 19, 2019

First, let me say I am not a fan of medicating normal, regular sadness that we encounter in our lives, such as the melancholy associated with losing a job, or when a friend leaves town, or for hormonal cycles. But there are people who are truly depressed and experiencing the urge to harm themselves. We need to be loving and gentle with them, and if they need medicine, so be it. So... READ MORE

Happy retirees share socializing secrets

By Janet Bodnar
Posted on November 18, 2019

When I asked readers to share their experiences with being single in retirement, you didn’t let me down. Not only did you offer useful advice, but you also came up with out-of-the-box ideas. And all of your stories are just as valuable for retirees who have a spouse or partner. Not surprisingly, a number of you recommended volunteering as a way to socialize. For example, Ed... READ MORE

So many different benefits of gardening

By  Emma Patch
Posted on November 18, 2019

Each autumn, the fruits of the harvest fill the shelves of local groceries and farmers markets, a colorful reminder of the many nutritional benefits of fresh produce. But growing your own produce offers equally sustaining, though perhaps less visible, benefits. Beyond reduced grocery expenses, gardening offers many positive effects financially. A garden may be a good way to improve... READ MORE