Mahjongg for stress reliefFor more than five years, one of my best friends has been battling ovarian cancer. A fierce fighter (and fabulous friend), she has endured surgeries and several rounds of chemotherapy to keep this grim disease at bay. Her oncologist monitors her condition with the blood test CA-125.
Early last summer, her CA-125 began creeping up into the “let’s watch it but not get too excited—yet” territory. … read on
More and more scientists are taking advantage of the power of the internet, or the “crowd,” to help gather and process huge amounts of data.
A Citizen Scientist can be anyone. You just have to have an interest in science (and a computer).
I’m taking part in Cochrane Crowd.
The Cochrane Library has been the go-to … read on
I just read about a recent study by the Endocrine Society that—again—suggests a link between the use of some essential oils and breast development (gynecomastia) in young boys.
Lavender and tea tree oil, especially, are considered endocrine-disrupting chemicals. I wrote about this a few years ago , and wanted to re-post this information. Be informed and use essential oils with caution! FN
This post was originally published … read on
A new drug, but not a new treatment, for peanut allergiesThe media have been reporting on a potential new treatment for severe peanut allergies. The drug, known only as AR101, has not yet been approved by the FDA, but may be by the end of the year.
It’s basically a capsule with a bit of peanut flour, and it works by gradually desensitizing the patient to the protein in … read on
Do brain games lower dementia risk?Yes and no.
Most brain or cognitive training apps divide their “games” into several categories, such as attention, memory, speed and flexibility.
However, a study recently published in an Alzheimer’s journal reports that only the speed games were associated with a lower dementia risk (29% lower!).
I was really interested in this report. My husband and I enjoy playing these games, even though I’ve … read on
Fear-mongering and clickbaitWhile sipping a glass of wine with dinner last night, my ears perked up when I heard a teaser for NBC Nightly News: “New report links even light alcohol intake with increased risk of cancer.”
Oh, boy, I thought. Here we go again.
I don’t like network news because of this kind of lousy health reporting (I just wanted to see local election returns). Again and again, … read on
Carbs vs fats in the news…againA few weeks ago, a study was published that resulted in a lot of dramatic headlines, such as “Your Low-Fat Diet Could Kill You!”
The media always make a big deal out of these nutritional studies because they know we need to eat, we like to eat, and we’re already confused about what we should eat. Or not eat.
Headlines that the one above … read on
I’ve posted a couple of times about my husband’s high LDL level and his attempts to lower it through diet and exercise.
I’ve also said that because he doesn’t have any other risk factors for heart disease, we aren’t too worried about it. But the engineer in him likes the challenge of seeing how low he can get his LDL.
When I saw this recent YouTube … read on
Good evidence for using turmeric to treat arthritis painI’m generally not a fan of supplements or herbal remedies.
There can be a lot of marketing hype behind these products, but not a lot of good science.
However…about a month ago I finally became so tired of living with chronic arthritis pain, mostly in my hands and neck, that I decided to research turmeric to see if there was any … read on
HIIT for better health— and lower doctors’ billsA few months ago my husband and I joined a local gym. We wanted to be a little more serious with our exercise routines.
Aging can be expensive. I believe one way to save money on health care as we age is to exercise. Exercise can help prevent diabetes, heart disease, some cancers and possibly dementia.
I also want to keep my … read on