Healthy Aging: Body, Mind & Spirit

New reviews for “Find Your Reason to Be Here”

“In 100 pages, with an intriguing bibliography, this is a quick but comprehensive overview of our generation at this moment in the 21st century.  Carter’s telling is at once realistic and optimistic—and her own story is living proof. 

‘Why did I write this book?’ she asks in her prologue, and then answers with a quote from Joan Baez:  ‘Action is the greatest antidote to despair.’ 

Carter never looks at our generation through rosy glasses.  Her even-handed reporting and clear and compassionate writing help me understand the challenges and opportunities we all face.  Thank you.”               – Carrie Tuhy

Find Your Reason to Be Here: The Search For Meaning in Midlife is where I share what I have learned from years of research into the psychological legacy of boomers, where the idea of ‘midlife’ came from, and how boomers can make the most of this unique new stage of emotional development. I feel it is the best I have ever produced.

Here I summarize most of what I have learned in studying the experience of midlife from the inside out.  I explain what happens to our hearts and minds in combination with being raised in the time of the boomers, and then show how to combat emotional challenges, and succeed in becoming your best self in spite of the many factors which may work against you.

Benefits of sun exposure may outweigh risks

The health benefits of exposing skin to sunlight may far outweigh the risk of developing skin cancer, according to scientists.  New research suggests sunlight helps reduce blood pressure, cutting heart attack and stroke risks and even prolonging life.

UV rays were found to release a compound that lowers blood pressure.  Researchers said more studies would be carried out to determine if it is time to reconsider advice on skin exposure.

Learn more from this BBC article.

New treatment for severe asthma

Bronchial thermoplasty is a new treatment for severe asthma approved by the FDA in 2010 involving the delivery of controlled, therapeutic radiofrequency energy to the airway wall, thus heating the tissue and reducing the amount of smooth muscle present in the airway wall.

Do performers and celebrities die at a younger age?

Having a glittering career in the public eye may come at the cost of a shorter life, an analysis of obituaries in a US newspaper suggests.  It showed performers and sports stars tended to die a few years younger than people successful in other careers.

Go to the BBC for the full story.

Ten Steps to Avoid Alzheimer’s Disease

Go read this excellent article to avoid the BIG A!

Dystextia an essential new way of diagnosing stroke!

Harvard scientists are reporting that a case of “dystextia” clued them in that a 25-year-old pregnant woman had suffered a stroke, and was in need of urgent medical care.

Apparently, the inability to text correctly can be your very first sign of stroke.

BIG NEWS about going lactose-free!

My husband Mike suffers from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), and various other major health concerns, but we solved one of them this week!

He has had stomach problems for the past few years and no doc could figure it out.  He basically had NO APPETITE EVER and general gut uncomfortableness.  Last week he stopped drinking milk and switched to lactose-free products.

Voila!  No more stomach problems, a lot better mental state, and his hunger is slowly coming back.  He cannot even believe the positive difference!

So, for those of you with CFS symptoms, try taking away the dairy products for a few days and see if it helps!

Coffee is so GOOD for you!

In case you were wondering whether to have some coffee this morning, go ahead!  The case FOR coffee just keep getting better and better.

And besides, who wants to go without it anyway?

Here’s the case for COFFEE!

Why so stressed?

Speaking of mental health issues, have you heard the recent data on job stress?  A full 43% of U.S. adults today suffer adverse health effects from stress, according to an American Psychological Association (APA) study.

According to The American Institute of Stress (AIS), “Job stress is far and away the major source of stress for American adults, and it has escalated progressively over the past few decades.”

Consider the following statistics from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health:

• 40% of workers say their job is very or extremely stressful

• 25% view their jobs as the number one stressor in their lives

• 75% of employees believe the worker has more on-the-job stress than a generation ago

• 29% of workers say they feel “quite a bit or extremely stressed at work”

• Problems at work are more strongly associated with health problems than any other life stressor, including financial or family problems

Job stress can result from any number of things, but often it has to do with fears of getting laid off, unrealistic expectations, or an emotionally or physically hazardous work environment.

Of course, there are many other causes of stress like relationships, health problems, finances, personal safety, keeping up with household chores and maintenance.  Just about anything can cause chronic stress and anxiety.

Try these tips to reduce your daily stress:

1. Exercise:  Exercise can strengthen your heart and lungs, increases brain plasticity, and is also great for your mental health.  Taking a brisk walk increases your level of endorphins, stimulates your immune system, reduces stress and put you in a much better mood.  And don’t forget to stretch. Stretching increases your energy level and your sense of well-being in just minutes per day.

2. Take Time to Relax:  Schedule time into your day to relax and enjoy life. Think positive thoughts and tell your body and mind that everything is OK.  Give yourself permission to feel good.

3. Get Plenty of Sleep: Sleep lowers cortisol levels in your brain.  Sleep deprivation leads to lower energy levels making you less able to cope with any setbacks during your day.

4. Proper Nutrition:  Stress robs your body of nutrients so fortify it with small healthy meals.  This means eating plenty of fruit, vegetables and other whole foods while avoiding junk foods.

5. Build Strong Friendships: Stress can lead to feelings of depression, isolation and lowered self-esteem.  Close relationships help to reduce negative feelings and boost your mood.

New corrolations found between salt intake and autoimmune disease

The amount of salt in our diet could be involved in driving our own immune system to rebel against itself, leading to diseases such as multiple sclerosis, arthritis and Type 1 diabetes, early laboratory findings suggest.  Several teams of scientists have simultaneously published data in the journal Nature suggesting a link.

Salt may activate a part of the immune system that can target the body.  Experts said the findings were very interesting and plausible, but were not a cure for people with MS.

The body’s defense against infection can go horribly wrong turning on the body itself, leading to various autoimmune diseases.

Learn more in this BBC article!