What’s your core, and why strengthen it?

By Lauren Elson, M.D.
Posted on March 18, 2019

When most people think about core strength, they think about an abdominal six-pack. While it looks good, this toned outer layer of abdominal musculature is not the same as a strong core. What is your “core” and why is core strength so important? The core is a group of muscles that stabilizes and controls the pelvis and spine (and therefore influences the legs and upper... READ MORE

Tired? Four simple ways to boost energy

By Matthew Solan
Posted on March 15, 2019

When I’m dragging and feeling tired during the occasional low-energy day, my go-to elixir is an extra cup (or two or three) of black French press coffee. It gives my body and brain a needed jolt, but it may not help where I need it the most: my cells. What we call “energy” is actually a molecule called adenosine triphosphate (ATP), produced by tiny cellular structures called... READ MORE

Study will try to teach old ears new tricks

By Margaret Foster
Posted on March 14, 2019

You meet an old friend for dinner, and she chooses a lively but loud new restaurant. Although you have a lot to catch up on, you can’t hear a word over the din of your neighbors. Or maybe you’re a BBC fan but can’t always decipher the actors’ accents. Hearing aids aren’t much help in those challenging situations, but a new study that involves training has the potential to... READ MORE

FDA to better police dietary supplements

By Candice Choi
Posted on March 13, 2019

The Food and Drug Administration announced plans last month to step up its policing of dietary supplements, which it said has mushroomed into a $40 billion industry with more than 50,000 products. At the same time, the agency warned 17 companies they were illegally making claims about their products’ ability to treat diseases. Here’s a look at what the FDA’s announcement... READ MORE

Palliative care services can help relieve pain

By Jim Miller
Posted on March 13, 2019

Dear Savvy Senior: online pharmacy purchase albenza online with best prices today in the USA online pharmacy buy periactin no prescription What can you tell me about palliative care? My husband suffers from lung disease and is receiving radiation for prostate cancer but is not terminally ill. I’ve heard that palliative care can help him with his pain and discomfort. What can you tell... READ MORE

Body makes trade-off in fighting viruses

By A Wellness Update
Posted on March 12, 2019

A Yale research team has revealed how cells in different parts of the human airway vary in their response to the common cold virus. Their finding could help solve the mystery of why some people exposed to the cold virus get ill while others don’t, said the researchers. Rhinovirus is a leading cause of the common cold, asthma attacks and other respiratory illnesses. When the cold virus... READ MORE

Protein powder can be useful supplement

By Matthew Kadey, M.D.
Posted on March 12, 2019

Among muscle men, protein powders have been held in high regard for several decades. But now, protein powders are being marketed to more than bodybuilders and frat boys, turning it into a multibillion-dollar industry. The products are popular for a wide variety of reasons: Many users like that they are a convenient, dependable and portable source of protein to fit into busy... READ MORE

Celebrating 170 years of caring

By Glenda C. Booth
Posted on March 11, 2019

Every day, the telephone rings at the home of Richard, a Richmond widower (who asked that his real name not be used). Since his wife’s death several years ago, he’s had trouble coping, he said, and the daily call makes his day. “Every morning I get to talk to people who actually care about how I am doing,” Richard said. “They make me feel like somebody.” Those phone calls... READ MORE

The most sedentary: Teens and those 60+

By Alexis Bentz
Posted on March 11, 2019

In a study conducted as part of the 2003-2004 and 2005-2006 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 12,529 Americans ages 6 to 85 wore devices designed to measure their movement — movement of all types, not just exercise — during the course of one week. The study’s goal was to determine how one’s level of physical activity changes over time. The results... READ MORE

Q&A: Joints and weather; heartburn diet

By Howard LeWine, M.D. and Robert H. Shmerling, M.D.
Posted on March 08, 2019

Q: My friend swears that changes in the weather cause her joints to ache more than usual. Is this real or just a myth? A: The belief that weather affects aches and pains in the joints is longstanding. But there is no convincing science to back that up. The question has been studied extensively. While a definitive answer is nearly impossible to provide — because it’s hard to prove... READ MORE