INSAF

One thing is for certain: Balance can’t be taken for granted past a certain age; it must be maintained — both in mind and body. If you’ve ever seen a friend or family member fall and suffer a major fracture, you know it’s serious business. It seems obvious that general physical fitness and targeted exercises can improve balance and prevent falls. But you might be surprised to learn that staying mentally active to maintain cognitive fitness also plays a big role. A sharp mind helps you to think — and stay — on your feet. “ We need careful planning of our movements, decision making, reaction time, and attention,” says Brad Manor, Ph.D., an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School and director of the Mobility and Falls Program, Hebrew SeniorLife of Boston. “Staying mentally active is very important to avoiding falls.” How do we keep our balance? The inner ear, which senses head motions, is an important part of the intricate system of balance. So is the body’s somatosenso

If you love tennis, golf, running, dancing, or any number of other sports or activities, working on balance buffs your abilities. Not an athlete? Just walking across the room or down the block requires good balance. So does rising from a chair, going up and down stairs, toting packages, and even turning to look behind you. And good balance helps prevent potentially disabling falls. There is a lot you can do to preserve and improve your balance, and it doesn’t take special fitness classes or exercises. Incorporating balance and strength activities into your daily routine could be enough to lower your risk of falling. Researchers in Australia tested a program called Lifestyle Integrated Functional Exercise (LiFE) on a group of 317 people, ages 70 and older, who had fallen in the previous year. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: the LiFE program, a structured exercise and strengthening program, or a control “sham” program of gentle exercises. Those in th

Our brains are hardwired to pay attention to the negative, and for good reason. Our ancestors who were alert, watchful and worried, survived. Those who weren’t got eaten. But today our DNA’s disposition puts us into a state of unnecessary chronic stress – stress that raises our blood pressure, causes anxiety or depression, and hurts our health in many ways. “To survive better in our 21st century lives, it’s important to learn to react less automatically and negatively to the stresses that bombard us. We can do this by practicing skills that increase our capacity for appreciation, and for calming our bodies and minds,” says Renée Burgard, LCSW, a psychotherapist who teaches mindfulness and stress reduction classes at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation and at Silicon Valley companies such as Google and Apple. How? One way is to cultivate an “attitude of gratitude.” Gratitude is about more than saying “thanks,” Burgard says. “Gratitude is paying attention to what we have, and c

By Katherine Kam Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD That new symptom is troubling: the inexplicable swelling in your calf or the blood in your urine. Could it be serious or even life-threatening? "Your body flashes signals -- symptoms and signs -- that warn you of potential problems," say Neil Shulman, MD, Jack Birge, MD, and Joon Ahn, MD. The three Georgia-based doctors are the authors of the book Your Body's Red Light Warning Signals . Fortunately, many symptoms turn out not to be serious. For example, the majority of headaches stem from stress, eyestrain, lack of sleep, dehydration, caffeine withdrawal, and other mundane causes. But a sudden, agonizing "thunderclap" headache -- the worst of your life -- could mean bleeding in the brain. Being able to recognize this serious symptom and calling 911 may save your life. Here are six important flashing signals. 1. Paralysis of the arms or legs, tingling, numbness, confusion, dizziness, double vision,

Anthony Komaroff, M.D., Editor in Chief, Harvard Health Publications Stroll the aisles of any pharmacy or “health food” store and you’ll see a multitude of herbs and other supplements that claim to boost energy. Soft drinks and so-called energy drinks include these products. Yet there is little or no scientific evidence to support the claims for most of these substances. The fact is, the only thing that’ll reliably boost your energy is caffeine or other stimulant—and their effects wear off within hours. Here’s a look at some of the substances that are commonly touted as energy boosters. Chromium picolinate . This trace mineral is widely marketed to build muscle, burn fat, and increase energy and athletic performance, but research has not supported these claims. Coenzyme Q10 . This enzyme is found in mitochondria, the energy factories of our cells. Coenzyme Q10 supplements have been shown to improve exercise capacity in people with heart disease, and may do the same in peo

Posted by Heidi Godman, Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter It’s been a big year for the Mediterranean diet. Convincing evidence published in 2013 has shown that this kind of eating pattern is effective at warding off heart attack, stroke, and premature death. While you probably get the biggest payoff by adopting such a diet early in life, a new study shows that doing it during midlife is good, too. Researchers looked at the dietary habits of more than 10,000 women in their 50s and 60s and compared them to how the women fared health-wise 15 years later. Women who followed a healthy diet during middle age were about 40% more likely to live past the age of 70 without chronic illness and without physical or mental problems than those with less-healthy diets. The healthiest women were those who ate more plant foods, whole grains, and fish; ate less red and processed meats; and had limited alcohol intake. That’s typical of a Mediterranean-type diet, which is also rich in olive

If you’re bothered by neck pain, you have plenty of company. Doctors estimate that seven out of 10 people will be troubled by such pain at some point in their lives. But if you were to ask each of these people to describe their neck pain, you would probably get seven different stories. By clearly describing your specific neck symptom — or combination of symptoms — you can help your doctor determine what’s wrong and how to help. Here are the most common types of neck pain. 1. Muscle pain . Aching or sore neck and shoulder muscles may occur in response to overexertion or prolonged physical or emotional stress. The neck muscles may develop hard knots that are tender to the touch, sometimes called trigger points. 2. Muscle spasm . This is a sudden, powerful tightening of neck muscles. Your neck may hurt, feel tight or knotted and it may be impossible to turn your head. When you wake up with a painful stiff neck,

I nfections are a leading cause of death in adults over 65. Learn about the risks and warning signs for the most common infections in seniors. Common infections like UTIs and influenza can happen to anyone, but for adults over the age of 65, these illnesses may be much harder to diagnose—leading to ongoing discomfort, chronic poor health, and a higher risk of hospitalization or even death. In fact, one third of all deaths in seniors over 65 result from infectious diseases, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). Though seniors are more susceptible to infection overall, seniors with dementia or those who are in long-term care may be at even greater risk. For caregivers, it’s critical to learn about the most common infections in the elderly and their often-elusive signs and symptoms: “Nonspecific symptoms, such as loss of appetite, decline in functioning, mental status changes, incontinence, and falls, may be the presenting signs of infection,” according to an

Will a nominee inherit your assets? By Sakina Babwani , ET Bureau | 4 Nov, 2013 Find out about the types of investments that will automatically be passed on to a nominee and those that can only be claimed by legal heirs. If you think appointing nominees for all your investments, from insurance to property, is as good as drafting a will, you may be wrong. Mumbai-based Nalin Shah found this out recently when he approached his lawyer for drafting a will. In 2010, he had appointed his wife as a nominee in an insurance policy, but his lawyer informed him that his wife would not automatically receive the sum insured. Instead, the legal heirs named in his will would inherit it. Experts say that a nominee is merely a trustee, who must distribute the assets to the legal heirs named in a will, or as per succession laws. However, there are some investments, like company shares, where the provisions of the respective Acts override those of succession laws. Here's the legal po

 Testosterone treatments may increase risks for heart attacks, strokes and death in older men with low hormone levels and other health problems, a big Veterans Affairs study suggests. The results raise concerns about the widely used testosterone gels, patches or injections that are heavily marketed for low sex drive, fatigue and purported anti-aging benefits, the authors and other doctors said. Men who used testosterone were 30 percent more likely to have a heart attack or stroke or to die during a three-year period than men with low hormone levels who didn't take the supplements. Hormone users and nonusers were in their early 60s on average, and most had other health problems including high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol and diabetes. The research doesn't prove that testosterone caused the heart attacks, strokes or death, but echoes a previous study in older men and should prompt doctors and patients to discuss potential risks and benefits of using the

Arthritis affects approximately 50 million people in the United States, according to the Arthritis Foundation. It is the second most frequently reported chronic condition in the United States and costs the U.S. economy $128 billion annually. Gain insight on natural ways to help ease the pain of one of the nation’s leading and most costly health ailments. According to the Arthritis Foundation , arthritis strikes 1 in every 5 American adults and is the nation’s leading cause of disability. Within 20 years the numbers of those projected by this debilitating disease are projected to soar as exponential numbers of Americas turn 65 each day. In fact, by 2030, an estimated 67 million Americans will have arthritis —unless the trend is reversed, reports the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Easing Joint Pain and Inflammation Arthritis is classified as a complex family of musculoskeletal disorders with many causes, not yet fully understood—and of which there are currently no cures

Julie Corliss , Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter Ever since the winter of 2003, when my husband came down with nasty case of the flu that led to a three-week bout of walking pneumonia, he’s been religious about getting a flu shot each fall. But the benefits he gains may go beyond warding off respiratory-related problems. A study published in today’s Journal of the American Medical Association finds that getting the influenza vaccine lowers a person’s odds of a having heart attack, stroke, heart failure, or other major cardiac event—including death—by about a third over the following year. What’s the connection between flu and cardiovascular problems? “When you get the flu, your body mounts an impressive immune response, which causes a lot of inflammation. As a result, the plaque inside your blood vessels can become unstable, which can lead to blockage and a pos