Alcohol and Cancer Risk Our year was off to a sobering start with the advisory on alcohol and cancer risk issued by the Surgeon General in January. The key points, which were concerning, and for at least half of Americans, seemingly unknown until now, included: A direct link was reported between alcohol consumption and higher risk for cancers of the …
Heart Health Update: All Roads Lead to Prevention
Whether you’re a healthy 40-something with a family history of premature cardiac events, a 50-year-old mother who experienced a complicated pregnancy decades ago, or a 65-year-old man whose statin treatment has failed to lower high cholesterol levels, take heart in the growing arsenal of tests and therapies aimed at preventing disease. A long-time advocate for proactive, preventive cardiac care, Dara …
Truth or Dare: Staying Informed in an Age of Misinformation
“A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting its boots on.” * It’s not easy to cut through the clutter in our world of often viral misinformation and find irrefutable facts. Healthcare is especially prone to misinterpretation because the scientific method—developing, testing, experimenting and refining hypotheses—can seem imperfect but is fundamental to reaching a …
The New Holiday Plate: Healthy, Wholesome, and Welcoming For All
As dietary restrictions become more commonplace (an estimated 10% of Americans have a food allergy, another 5% are vegetarian or vegan), serving a holiday meal that satisfies a diversity of diners may seem intimidating. Below we show some easy ways to deconstruct or reconstruct your dishes to give everyone – whether they’re heart-healthy, diabetic, gluten-sensitive, lactose-intolerant, nut-free or plant-forward – …
The Gratitude Attitude
If your parents repeatedly exhorted you to count your blessings, it may well prove to be one of the best pieces of medical advice they shared. In this season of giving and thankfulness, we share a brief synopsis of how gratitude – defined as appreciation of what is valuable and meaningful to oneself – is associated with a host of …
Unpacking the Mysteries of the Microbiome
In the past decade it has become well recognized that the millions of bacteria in the gut, collectively known as the microbiome, can influence the health of the brain, lung, heart, metabolism and the immune system. Thousands of studies have been conducted since the term was first introduced in 2001, with research shifting from an early focus on cataloging microorganisms …
Ageism, the Last Unacceptable Bias
“I’m having a senior moment. I’m too old to try that. I look good for my age. It’s time to put her/him out to pasture. These are just aches and pains from old age. Sweetie, you don’t look a day over 29. Ok boomer. There will be a tsunami of aging dependents in the coming decade.” These oft-used phrases may …
Testosterone Therapy for Midlife Males: More Questions Than Answers
At around the same time as females enter menopause in their late 40s or early 50s, males are experiencing their own hormonal decline, called andropause. As part of the normal aging process, a man’s testosterone levels decrease by about 1% a year after age 40. Low testosterone by itself is not concerning, but with symptoms, may indicate a more serious …
A New Look at Moving through Menopause
Defined simply as the final menstrual period, when it is no longer possible for a woman to get pregnant, the current approach to menopause has become increasingly nuanced, recognizing that each individual’s experience varies widely. Many women transition into this stage smoothly with minimal discomfort, but others experience severe vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disruption, vaginal …
Midlife Crisis or Midlife Reassessment?
Like so many popular 20th century concepts, the image of a man in an existential crisis at age 50 who trades in his long-time wife and car for newer models is on the wane – and may never have been correct. Psychoanalyst Elliott Jaques coined the term in 1965 to describe his midlife client’s sudden change in lifestyle and productivity, …