As we try to absorb the tragic events at the school shooting in New Town, Connecticut, various sages have come out of the background to tell us what it all means, and what we can do about it. Gun control advocates – long ignored by our political leaders – have told us, reasonably enough, that...
Category: Mental Health
Male Obesity is a Really Big Deal
Unless you’ve been trapped on another planet for the past few years, you probably know that obesity is a big, big problem in this country. And you also (hopefully) know that obesity increases one’s risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers. But what you may not know is that obesity is an especially...Continue reading
Old Men Can Be Grumpy—But at Least They’re Honest…
As men age, our testosterone levels generally fall and everyone around us seems to get so much more annoying. Well, at least it feels that way. Lower testosterone levels have been associated with depression, anger, poor concentration, grouchiness, and irritability. Levels of this male sex hormone levels start slipping naturally—and noticeably—starting at around age 60....Continue reading
Want to Live Long and Prosper? Start Pumping Iron When You’re Young
If you were weak as a teenager, you’re at increased risk of becoming ill and/or dying from a number of factors, including obesity, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden studied more than 1 million Swedish 16-19-year old males and gave them strength tests at the beginning of the...Continue reading
When It Comes to Predicting Heart Disease, How You Look Can Be Pretty Important
Some people say that the eyes are the windows to the soul. That may or may not be true. But researchers have just found that the eyes—specifically fatty deposits around the eyelids—and several other facial characteristics may accurately predict your risk of having a heart attack.
Music: The Healthy Addiction
Music can heal the mind, body and soul by playing or listening or both. While the full benefits are still being studied and explored, enough studies have shown conclusively that music has both positive and negative effects on health and well-being. These same studies have also determined that it doesn’t matter what type of music...Continue reading
Relaaaax. High Blood Pressure May Lead to Alzheimer’s
Do you have high blood pressure? If so–and this applies even if you’re under 40–you really need to do something about it. A new study found that high blood pressure–and by “high blood pressure” researchers mean anything more than 120/80)–may have some serious negative consequences for you brain. Specifically, it may prematurely age your brain.Continue reading
Worried about Dementia? Chew on It
A few years ago, a team of researchers at Baylor College of Medicine made a discovery that undoubtedly irked parents and teachers around the world. They found that students who chewed gum in math class and while doing their homework had higher scores on math tests than those who didn’t chew gum. What does that...Continue reading
Is Coffee the New Broccoli?
Not long ago, if you had a job interview with Starbucks, the interviewer would ask whether you like coffee. Most people said yes. But the right answer was, “I love coffee!” According to a new study, coffee lovers not only have a better chance of getting hired as a barista, but they may reduce their...Continue reading
Is It Nuts to Want to Live to 100?
How many times have you ever said something like, “I’d give my left nut to [fill in the blank with something you really, really want…]”? Of course you didn’t really mean that—and if you were suddenly presented with whatever it was that you wanted, you’d try to find another way to pay for it. So...Continue reading