PHYSICAL WELLNESS ARTICLE SUMMARIES

If you have diabetes, you know it never takes a vacation. You live with it every day. In November, during National Diabetes Month, diabetes organizations take center stage to focus the world’s attention on the disease. One such group, dLife, offers some great ideas on how you can improve your life while living with diabetes.

Research over the past few years has increasingly shown the importance of B vitamins in maintaining a host of physical functions. A September 2008 study in the journal Neurology adds to the evidence. It finds that older individuals with low levels of vitamin B12 seem to be at increased risk of having brain atrophy or shrinkage, which is associated with Alzheimer's disease and impaired cognitive function.

Trout is a rich source of vitamin B12, which plays a key role in maintaining brain health. This recipe, from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, creates a spicy fried flavor with only 2 grams of fat.

If you or a loved one has diabetes, one of the best things you can do to manage the disease is to learn more about it. A study in the journal Diabetes Care found that taking diabetes classes or visiting a nutritionist might help keep you out of the hospital. It could even save you lots of money.

If you’re planning a summer vacation that includes air travel, make sure you add a doctor’s visit to your pre-trip planning, says the American Geriatrics Society. “It's important for seniors to make their physicians aware of upcoming airplane travel,” Dr. Sharon A. Brangman, an AGS member, said. “Meeting with a physician a week or so before any air travel will allow the doctor to address any immediate concerns and provide the traveler with any necessary medications or other advice to help ensure a safe trip.”

To the surprise of absolutely no one, a new study finds that women who are overweight or obese can reduce their risk of heart disease by exercising more. These results, the researchers conclude, “highlight the importance of counseling all women to participate in increasing amounts of regular physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight to reduce the risk of heart disease.”

Hot summer days call for cooling refreshment, but ice cream is loaded with calories and fat. The solution: make your own fruit sorbet. This recipe can be made with or without an ice cream maker. Either way it cools you down with only 100 calories and 1 gram of fat per serving.

The month of June, which already dedicates one day to fathers, also has been declared Men’s Health Month. Why do males need their own month for health? Because they tend to ignore it the rest of the year. Men are 25 percent less likely than women to have visited the doctor within the past year and are 38 percent more likely than women to have neglected their cholesterol tests. Those are big reasons why men are 1.5 times more likely than women to die from heart disease, cancer and chronic lower respiratory diseases. 

Some loss of memory is to be expected as you age. Much of it is caused by the normal wear-and-tear on the brain. But some of it may be caused by your medicine. Several classes of medications are already known to impair memory. New research confirms one of the suspects. Anticholinergic medications –commonly prescribed drugs used to treat ulcers, stomach cramps, motion sickness, Parkinson's disease, and urinary incontinence—may cause older people to lose their cognitive skills more quickly than seniors who don't take the medicines.

Keeping muscles strong as we age is important for maintaining independence and preventing falls. But older women have a harder time than men replacing muscle that's lost naturally as they age, say U.S. and British researchers in the journal Public Library of Science One. Because of this, the findings suggest, older women need to be sure they eat plenty of protein-rich foods such as eggs, fish, chicken and lean red meat and to do resistance training to keep their muscles strong.

We all need to consume plenty of lean protein to keep muscles strong as we age. This heart-healthy, one-dish meal, from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Association’s Stay Young at Heart recipe collection, can help, providing 27 grams of protein per serving with only 4 grams of fat.

The research is in: exercising your mind is just as important as exercising your body. A number of brain fitness programs have come onto the market to help individuals stay sharp. Genworth Financial brings you Vigorous Mind, one of the leading organizations in this rapidly-evolving category, to save you 10 percent on My Vigorous Mind, a web-based brain wellness suite.

Two separate studies released in January 2008 reveal the staggering toll type 2 diabetes is taking on our nation. The number of reported new cases in adults over age 65, the frequency of serious complications, and the financial burden imposed on our nations’ health care bill are all going through the roof.  

You’ve probably seen articles recommending tai chi as a great exercise to help older adults maintain balance and muscle strength. But this ancient Chinese practice is a type of mind-body medicine that also exercises the ways in which emotional, mental, social, spiritual, and behavioral factors can directly affect health, says the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM).

During an intense French heat wave in the summer of 2003, 14,000 people, mostly elderly, died largely because they didn’t drink enough water. Why are older people more likely to suffer from dehydration? Recent research in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences may have the answer.

You can make your daily water consumption livelier—and more nutritious—by adding fruits and flavorings. This sprightly spring concoction is loaded with vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and iron. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, deaths from accidental overdoses rose from 12,186 to 20,950 between 1999 and 2004. They cut across all age and socioeconomic groups. These scary numbers are a reminder for you to tell all of your doctors about every medicine you are taking, including over-the-counter drugs, sleeping aids, vitamins, and herbal supplements, to prevent accidental medication misuse.

In the nursing home industry, it's long been known that caring for a pet can improve residents' quality of life. A recent article in the online edition of Newsweek reinforced this, reporting, "Research shows that caring for an animal can improve your mental and physical well-being." This can increase longevity in those who've had heart attacks, and even relax and improve the appetites of Alzheimer's patients, the article states. But are there benefits for those in healthier middle age?

Breakfast, the old saying goes, is the most important meal of the day. But why? One of the most important reasons, new research in the American Journal of Epidemiology finds, is that eating a morning meal can help limit weight gain among those over age 40.

Looking for something new for breakfast? You'll flip for these pancakes, which are an excellent source of vitamin C and a good source of Folic Acid and fiber.

MedicAlert is the original emergency medical information service, founded in 1956. When you join MedicAlert, your medical information—including medications and dosages, physicians, emergency contacts, and allergies—can be entered into a secure database. Through the Genworth Momentum Wellness Program, we have established a special relationship with MedicAlert that means you can receive a first-year membership absolutely free.

Let’s be clear—staying at a healthy weight is one of the best ways to help avoid many life-threatening diseases, including diabetes, heart disease and some forms of cancer. But if you are overweight, being physically fit can still help you live longer. Longer, even, than your thin but unfit friends. 

When you were young, you never forgot your best friend’s name or where you put your glasses. Now, it seems to happen every day. What causes these “senior moments”? And do they signal the beginnings of a more serious brain illness, such as Alzheimer’s disease? New research may have the answer.

According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), there are 20.8 million people in the U.S. with diabetes, but nearly one-third of them (or 6.2 million Americans) don’t know it. In order to alert all Americans to their potential risk for diabetes, the ADA is sponsoring American Diabetes Alert® Day on March 25, 2008. They have even posted a short, easy on-line Risk Test to calculate your personal risk for the disease.

Has your doctor talked to you about blood pressure control? Specifically, has the doctor stressed how important diet and exercise are in bringing your BP numbers down? If not, you’re not alone. Doctors are less likely to counsel older Americans with high blood pressure on how lifestyle changes can lower their blood pressure than their younger patients.

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s DASH diet (for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) has been proven to help lower blood pressure. And the food isn’t bad either. Heck, you can even have lasagna.

Concerned about an older family member who lives alone? The QuietCare system lets you watch over your loved one without intruding on his or her privacy. And as a Momentum Wellness participant, you're entitled to a 15 percent discount on QuietCare installation and 10 percent off monthly monitoring.

Fish, particularly rainbow trout and salmon, is a great source of vitamin B12. This recipe, from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, gives trout a Spanish kick.

B vitamins come in eight varieties. You may know them by numbers, such as B1, B2, and so on, or by names, such as niacin, thiamin, and folic acid (or folate). However you refer to them, they all add up to support many of the body’s functions, including metabolism, cell growth, and immunity. A new study finds that one of the B’s may affect mental performance.

So you’re not a spring chicken anymore. That doesn’t mean you have to slow down. “We can teach older adults to get rid of those old beliefs that becoming sedentary is just a normal part of growing older,” said Dr. Catherine Sarkisian, an assistant professor of geriatrics at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine. A pilot program she recently created proves it.

Alzheimer’s disease often starts out as a condition called mild cognitive impairment, or MCI. About 10 percent of adults with MCI progress to Alzheimer’s, compared to about 1 percent of the general population. Preventing MCI may be an important step in preventing Alzheimer’s. New research shows that a good way to prevent MCI is to control blood pressure.

February is National Heart Month, set aside to remind all of us to learn more about our risk factors for heart disease. A recent study in the Archives of Internal Medicine shows just how important that simple step can be. In that study, adults who talked to a doctor about their coronary risk showed greater improvement in cholesterol levels than those who didn’t have that discussion.

If one of your New Year’s goals is to get fitter, have we got a deal for you! Make 2008 your year for change with GlobalFit’s Commit Membership, and you’ll save 50 percent off the one-time affiliation fee at more than 10,000 fitness clubs nationwide.*

Most people know that exercise can help beat type 2 diabetes, the type that develops primarily from being overweight. But which type of exercise is best? A new study shows that combining both aerobic activity and resistance training is better at controlling blood sugar than either type of activity done alone. Together, they can cut your risk of some diabetes-related complications by up to 37 percent.

Winter’s cold, dry weather isn’t the only thing that can take a toll on skin and hair. Stress also can lead to dermatologic problems such as acne, eczema, brittle nails or even hair loss. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) has some tips to help soothe stress-related symptoms.

Science may have finally answered an age-old question: Why we are grumpy after a bad night’s sleep. It appears that a lack of ZZZZ’s causes our brains to overreact to negative emotional experiences.

If you’re not taking a calcium supplement, you may be missing out on a critical tool in the fight against osteoporosis. An analysis of 17 research studies involving more than 52,000 people proves it. For those over 50, calcium supplementation may cut the overall risk of bone fractures by as much as 24 percent and slow bone loss by 54 percent.

The dark green veggies in this warming winter soup start you off with a healthy dose of calcium. And a dollop of yogurt on top adds even more.

There's a great deal of conflicting dietary information floating around these days. Wouldn't it be good to have a Web source that was both authoritative and trustworthy? One that fits the bill is The Nutrition Source from the Harvard School of Public Health.

Quick, answer this: What’s your best defense against communicable diseases? If you said “hand washing,” you get a gold star for being right. But do you actually do it?

No matter the season, fruits and vegetables are a delicious dietary necessity. Any time of the year, there are tasty ways to get your five to nine servings a day. In winter, though, there's nothing better than getting them from a bowl of hot soup.

Most of us have heard of some seemingly fit, perfectly healthy fellow suddenly struck down by a heart attack. The news is always tragic, but not so very surprising. After all, it passes as “common knowledge” that only half of heart attacks are connected to known risk factors.

With so much focus on our weight, our diet, and our exercise habits, it's easy to forget about something like our breast health. That's why National Breast Cancer Awareness Month was created. It takes place every October, and its goal is to encourage women to take advantage of breast cancer screenings. That means now is a great time to learn how to protect yourself from breast cancer.

The flu is no fun for anyone, but it can be downright dangerous, even fatal, for some. Complications from the flu—pneumonia, bronchitis, and dehydration—send 100,000 people to the hospital and result in nearly 20,000 deaths each year. Children, the elderly, and people with chronic health conditions are most at risk for potentially life-threatening complications.

Taking a daily calcium supplement has become a good habit adopted by many women serious about staving off osteoporosis. New research suggests that the supplement may provide double-barreled protection.

There's a great deal of information to get a handle on once you start receiving treatment for a cardiovascular disease. A new Web site from the FDA, Heart Health Online, aims to help you get the gist. There are full descriptions and patient instructions cover many of the medications, medical devices, and diagnostic tests you'll come across in the treatment of your condition.

You probably know someone who is "watching" his or her blood pressure. After all, nearly 50 million Americans have high blood pressure (HBP), also known as hypertension. Though many of them are over 60 years old, HBP can develop at any age, even in childhood.

For a disease that affects 221,000 American men a year, prostate cancer still holds many mysteries. Which treatment is best? What does the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening test really tell us? Such questions continue.

Does being overweight increase your risk for prostate cancer? The evidence isn't clear. But two teams of researchers, whose work was published recently in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, have found that being obese can increase your risk of more aggressive forms of the cancer. It may also increase the chances that you will have a recurrence. And if you're obese, you are more likely to die from prostate cancer.

Almost half of all women with cancer use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in treating their disease, says a recent study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Another large study of CAM use in cancer patients found that 69 percent had used at least one CAM therapy as part of their cancer treatment. While some CAM treatments may help cancer patients, others could be making things worse.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers these helpful tips to immediately improve the healthfulness of your diet.

Stroke, sometimes called a brain attack, is the third leading killer in the United States. You can reduce your risks of a stroke by following these ten simple guidelines.

The title of Dr. Kushner's Personality Type Diet may make the book sound like just another superficial diet book. But this recent publication has received high marks from nutrition experts. Dr. Robert F. Kushner, medical director of the Wellness Institute at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, tells us what makes his book different.

There are many things in life you can't run from, but it appears that you can run from cancer. If running isn't your thing, you can bike, swim, walk or try some other form of exercise. The fact is that physical activity is a great way to lower your risk of many types of cancer.

A growing number of Americans are turning to strict vegetarian diets in an effort to improve their health. They might be shortchanging themselves, at least as far as calcium is concerned. A study of the diets of vegans (vegetarians who don’t use dairy products) has discovered that they rarely get enough calcium to prevent osteoporosis.

You call it a suntan. Your doctor calls it damaged skin. After all, that's what a tan really is. And damaged skin is more likely to develop skin cancer.

The guidelines came out a full four years ago, yet many people still haven't taken them to heart. So they are worth repeating. The American Heart Association (AHA) (http://www.americanheart.org) says, in no uncertain terms, "Healthy people should eat omega-3 fatty acids from fish and plant sources to protect their hearts."

Want to live to a healthy old age? Of course. We all do. Exercise has long been known to be a leading factor in reaching that goal. Many people get their aerobic component of exercise through walking, running, or biking. But not enough of us are also getting another important exercise component: strength training.

Every 53 seconds, someone in America suffers a stroke. Every year, about 160,000 Americans die from stroke. Thousands more suffer paralysis, speech impairment, vision problems, and other disabilities. You can help fight back by knowing the signs of a stroke and getting fast treatment.

For many families, summer is the time for travel to distant climes. Adventures and the stuff of memory await them. Unfortunately, for about 30 percent of summer travelers, diarrhea is also on the horizon.

When it comes to fitness routines, aerobic exercise usually gets the most attention. Most people know that walking, jogging, swimming, cycling and other endurance sports are vital for good health. What's less well known is that two other fitness components, strength training and flexibility exercises, are also critical for a well-rounded exercise routine.

One of the first questions most people diagnosed with diabetes have is, "What can I eat?" It's a good question to ask. Diabetes causes your blood glucose (sugar) to rise or fall to unhealthy levels. What you eat, how much you eat and when you eat it all affect your glucose levels.

Smoking after menopause is a good way to weaken your bones and increase your risk of fractures. Doctors have long observed the connection, and now researchers have discovered why. Cigarette smoking performs a double whammy on bone structure. It creates proteins that bind up hormones that are needed for bone building, making them unavailable to the body. And it boosts proteins that contribute to bone loss.

Some health problems are easier to talk about than others. That's only natural. A toothache—no problem. Knee pain—not a big deal. Colon cancer—whoa, don't go there.

Want to live longer? Start exercising. Think you're too old? Think again. Even if you've been sedentary for some time, it's never too late to start an exercise program to increase your longevity.

High carbs? Low carbs? All protein? All fruit? What's the perfect diet? All these theories, and the fad diets associated with them, demand center stage in today's diet debates. Yet research from the New England Journal of Medicine shows that the best diet of all may still be the so-called Mediterranean diet.

The flu is such a common ailment—perhaps two in 10 Americans get the flu each year—many people take it lightly. Too lightly, if you ask medical experts. That's why, every fall, the word goes out to encourage people to get a flu shot. The following facts should tell you why.

There's been great success at spreading the word about the importance of mammograms. So most women know that regular mammograms, though not perfect, are the best method available to detect breast cancer early. Early detection allows more treatment options and a better chance to beat the disease.

Most Americans get plenty of vitamin B-12 in their diets. Unfortunately, as we age, the vitamin is less easily absorbed. As a result, older adults frequently have low levels of B-12.

Each year, one person out of three over age 65 has a serious fall. For people over age 75, it's one person out of two. How can you keep your feet? Here are five suggestions:

When it comes to heart disease and cancer, we understand that prevention needs to start early and stay the course. In recent years, it's become clear that osteoporosis, the bone-thinning disease, needs lifelong attention too.

For years, health experts have been trying to educate the general public about the signs of a stroke. The reason: quick action and swift treatment can mean the difference between recovery and lifelong disability or death. Now, researchers have come up with the fastest way yet to determine if someone is having a stroke.

First, the bad news. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is still the nation's number one killer of men and women. About 950,000 people die from this disease every year.

Maintaining healthy bones is not just a concern for the elderly. And it's not just for women. Men and younger women are also at risk for the bone-weakening disease called osteoporosis. Everyone needs to work harder at getting the proper amount of calcium necessary to build and strengthen healthy bones.

In 2003, the American Cancer Society (ACS) released the most potent data yet linking cancer with excess body weight. Research data from a 16-year-long study found beyond doubt that weight reduction could save many thousands of lives a year.

It doesn't get any clearer than this: "Drinking alcohol can cause cancer. The more a person consumes alcohol, the higher his or her risk of getting some kinds of cancer."

Here's a riddle for you: When is a broken bone not a broken bone? 

Millions of people are following "fad" or trendy diet plans such as the Atkins diet these days. Most of these diets have dangerous downsides and should only be used with a doctor's consent. However, if these eating plans have one upside in common, it's getting people to pay attention to what they eat. Counting calories, carbs, protein, fat, sodium, and other nutrients is something everyone would be wise to do.

Every five years, the experts at the American Cancer Society (ACS) take a long, hard look at their cancer screening guidelines. The ACS examines all the latest research, treatment options, and technological developments that have come on the scene over the past five years. Then it decides if the guidelines in place need updating.

As we age, the threat of falls becomes all the more frightening. And with good reason. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that falling is the leading cause of accidental death and disability in people over 65. Falls injure or kill about 400,000 seniors every year.

A moment comes for most of us when we realize it’s time to drop some pounds. If you’ve let your weight creep upward over the years, the prospect can be daunting. All those low-cal weeks and months, those miles and miles on the treadmill.

Here's what you already know: Osteoporosis, or porous bone, causes loss of bone tissue. As bones grow more fragile, they are more prone to fractures.

Men may be good at a lot of things, but taking care of their health usually isn't one of them. Research shows that men see their doctors far less often than women do, and far less often than they should. They wait too long to have problems checked out. And they fail to follow doctors' orders with treatment.

Doctors have known about the protective powers of aspirin for a long time now. Since the late 1980s, aspirin therapy has been regularly prescribed for at-risk patients to help prevent both a first and second heart attack. But aspirin therapy is not without some risk.

Heart disease, the number-one killer of men and women in this country, can take many forms. A heart attack is the most dramatic result of heart disease, but equally dangerous is a subtler condition called congestive heart failure (CHF).

For too many people, colorectal cancer is difficult to talk about. That silence is quietly killing about 57,000 people every year. Colorectal cancer, in fact, is the second leading cancer killer in the United States after lung cancer. With a bit more open discussion, most of these deaths could be prevented with early, timely screening.

If you could find a way to lower your risk of cancer by up to 40 percent, would you be interested? Well, cancer researchers have just such a way. And it's as simple as watching what you eat.

It's well known that the stress of caring for a loved one with a chronic disease takes a toll on the caregiver. New research shows how that emotional stress can translate into health problems.

A simple fitness program could greatly reduce the risk of falls, and do it fast. A program called PUSH (Project Urging Senior Health) has shown that 10 weeks of mild exercise boosts strength and balance in older adults. The gains are enough to prevent many stumbles and falls. 

Is it the result of changes in lifestyle or improvements in health care? The experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics aren't sure. Whatever the cause, average life expectancy for Americans has lengthened to 77.2 years. 

It's easy to take for granted that the food we eat is safe. In fact, the United States has the safest food supply in the world. Still, 76 million cases of food-borne illness, otherwise known as food poisoning, occur each year. In the summer months, the rate of food poisoning goes way up. Many of these cases of upset stomach—or worse—are simply the result of careless food handling that lets bacteria multiply.  

Graceful, fluid motion, feet rooted to the earth, deliberate whole-body movements that relax and uplift the spirit. That may not sound like exercise, but it is. And if the thought of aerobics and weight machines makes you cringe, this may be the exercise for you.  

Over the years we've come to realize that there's much an individual can do to lower the risk of developing heart disease. It's not that hard to understand how staying in shape keeps the cardiovascular mechanism pumping along. Exercise keeps the heart muscle strong and, along with diet, helps keep the arteries clear. But cancer? Cancer seems more mysterious and less controllable. We can stay away from cigarettes and avoid toxins in the environment, but can we really protect ourselves with lifestyle changes? Yes.  

Wherever you live, there's some kind of insect looking to make a meal out of you. When the weather's warm, you're probably heading outdoors. And that makes the bugs very happy.  

If you watch television long enough, sooner or later you'll see an ad featuring something like this: A group of young, strong, and attractive men and women are working out on some strange-looking piece of exercise equipment. Their bodies are toned and trim. An announcer says it only takes five minutes a day on this machine to get the abs/legs/bottom/whatever of your dreams.  

Congratulations. The fact that you're reading this article means you are a survivor. You have heard the big wake-up call and now you have a second chance.  

While you're undertaking your home improvement projects, don't forget about home safety. One good place to start is in your kitchen, and a good place to search out tips is at www.FoodSafety.gov.

If you are interested in protecting your heart, you should get interested in omega-3. That's the advice of the American Heart Association, which has come out more strongly than ever in favor of the fatty acids found in fish.

Over the last decade, we've gotten used to the idea that 30 minutes of daily physical activity is enough to keep us in the running for good health. The importance of that 30-minute minimum has been championed by the Surgeon General, the American Heart Association, and just about every major medical organization. Millions of health-conscious people have made a point of setting aside that precious time for brisk walking, jogging, or pumping iron.

The cornerstone of good health care is the yearly checkup. Your doctor knows that the best way to prevent or successfully treat any health problem is to catch it early. When doctors get an early crack at even the most serious diseases, they are much more likely to be able to treat them successfully.

Do you believe that growing older inevitably leads to a loss of strength, energy, and fitness? If so, you're at odds with a new report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Proper eating habits are important to everyone. But older Americans have specific issues to watch.

The downside is that more of them are suffering injuries. Over the last decade, sport-related injuries in people over age 65 have increased 54 percent. Active sports, such as biking, skiing, tennis, skating, and weight training took the biggest toll.

Has there ever been a time when people were more aware of the impact of their diets on their health? Public health experts alert us to the danger of the obesity epidemic. A stream of studies close in on the relationship between foods, or the lack of them, and cancer. We know that diet is key to keeping blood pressure in check or cholesterol down. And diet is the starting point for shedding pounds. Confusing? You bet.

Heart disease is a leading cause of death in men in America. The American Heart Association (AHA) offers the following sobering statistics:

Every year about 1.1 million Americans suffer a heart attack. About 460,000 of those are fatal. Age is a primary risk factor. The odds of getting heart disease go up in men older than 45 and in women older than 55.

Fire safety in the home is a year-round concern, but along with the cooler weather come added fire hazards. Follow these common-sense tips to prevent a deadly fire: 

Most women believe that cancer is their number-one health concern. But few are aware that their next greatest risk is heart disease.

Regular exercise has been shown to reduce the risk of a wide variety of diseases, from diabetes to cancer. Of particular interest to many Americans—especially women—is the link between exercise and osteoporosis

Do people get "too old to drive"? Not really, say the traffic safety experts. What defines a good driver is a set of skills, not age.

After your first, you don't want a second. It's time to get aggressive about controlling all your risk factors

Despite great advances in our understanding of heart health, heart disease is still a leading cause of death in the United States. Doctors continue to remind us that being smart about blood pressure and working to prevent heart attacks are always wise paths to follow. Take care of your heart, and it will keep you active for years to come.

There are already a lot of health benefits to exercise. Here's one more. It looks like exercise can cut the risk of erectile dysfunction (ED).

In 1997, the American Heart Association (AHA) conducted a nationwide poll of American women's attitudes toward the major threats to their health and their knowledge of heart disease and stroke. At that time, to the AHA's way of thinking, the results were disappointing. Cancer, believed 61 percent of the women surveyed, was the greatest threat to their long-term health. Only 7 percent of respondents were aware that cardiovascular disease (CVD) was the leading killer of both men and women in the United States.

Building the strong bones needed to prevent osteoporosis is a lifelong project. A good, calcium-rich diet, regular weight-bearing exercise, and not smoking will help you achieve peak bone density.

For the last few years, you may have heard about a remarkable eating plan known as the DASH diet. The diet was the product of a government-supported research study called Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. As the name suggests, scientists wanted to test the effect of dietary patterns on blood pressure. The results provided exciting news for the 50 million Americans with high blood pressure (HBP). Now comes DASH 2, and the news is even better.

After last fall’s massive outbreak of E. coli illness, food safety is a hot topic in the news. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 325,000 Americans are hospitalized every year because of contaminated food. To avoid a trip to the hospital, stay away from food prepared anywhere the hygiene is questionable. In your own kitchen, follow these safe-supper tips.

You don't smoke, you keep your weight down, and you exercise regularly. Is there anything else you can do to lower your risk of having a stroke? How about ordering up a couple of slices of whole-wheat toast?

Whether you're climbing that ladder to paint the house or rescue your cat, don't lose your head. Thousands of injuries and deaths are caused by falls from ladders every year, and many could have been prevented with some common sense.

As we age, nutrition takes on an increasingly important role in our health and well-being. Unfortunately, those needs often go unmet. Aging sometimes makes eating difficult, and often the pleasure we once got from food seems to diminish. As a result, many older Americans simply aren't eating a proper diet.

When the bacteria pneumococcus invades the lungs, it makes breathing difficult, reducing the flow of oxygen in the body. This bacteria can also lead to middle ear infections, blood infections and potentially fatal meningitis. That's what makes this form of pneumonia so worrisome.

When you're snuggling inside on a wintry day, it's easy to think about nothing but your hot chocolate and your comfy couch. Before you settle in, make sure you aren't taking your safety and comfort for granted.

It's long been known that a half-hour of daily exercise reduces the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Now we can add stroke to that list. A new study finds that moderate exercise lowers a woman's risk of stroke by as much as 30 percent.

When it comes to heart disease and cancer, we understand that prevention needs to start early and stay the course. In recent years, it's become clear that osteoporosis, the bone-thinning disease, needs lifelong attention too.

We don't mean to be scary, but someone in America has a stroke every 53 seconds. About 600,000 Americans will have a stroke this year—and 160,000 of them will die. In fact, stroke is our nation's number three killer, and one of the leading causes of disability.

When it comes to strokes, one fact stands out: Early recognition and treatment can mean the difference between complete recovery and permanent damage. Recent studies confirm that the severe, long-term damage that some strokes cause can be stopped and reversed, if the proper medications are administered within three hours of the stroke's onset.

When safety experts say "there's no place like home," they're not talking about the comfort and peace of mind that most of us enjoy within our own four walls. They're referring to the surprisingly high rate of injuries and deaths that result from household accidents, especially falls. Falls are the leading cause of death in the home. Adults 65 and older are most likely to seek emergency-room treatment for falls, with youngsters under 15 not far behind.

After a long winter of too much hibernation and too little exercise, many of us are eager to get back outdoors and play a little. Golf is at the top of many of our lists. However, before you tee up that first drive, remember to warm up your body.

It's 5:30 in the morning. As you drag yourself out of bed to put on your exercise clothes, you wonder, "Why am I doing this?" If you find you're getting cranky about your regular workout, it's time to put it back into perspective.

The average American eats roughly 20 pounds of pasta a year. Traditional pasta isn't exactly a nutritional powerhouse. Enter the more perfect pasta, made from whole grains. Whole-grain foods have been shown to provide fantastic health benefits, such as reducing the risk of heart disease, several types of cancer, and diabetes.

Over the past few years, research has found that eating a diet rich in grains, fruits, vegetables, healthy oils such as olive oil, nuts, fish, and moderate amounts of wine—the so-called Mediterranean diet—may be the healthiest eating plan on the planet. The latest large-scale study out of Europe confirms that it even helps the elderly live longer.

The preventive power of aspirin has been known for some time now. It has been found to reduce the risk of a first heart attack by as much as 32 percent. Yet many who would benefit from daily aspirin therapy aren't taking advantage of it. New research adds more reason to ask your doctor if a daily aspirin could help you prevent a stroke.

Flu shots aren't given until fall, but recent news offers an opportunity for this early "teachable moment." According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, only 33 percent of people with cardiovascular disease (CVD) received a flu shot in a recent survey. If you have CVD, don't miss out on a flu shot this October.

Most people need a motivation for exercising. Jim McCommon had three. In his 40s, McCommon, a policyholder, “almost quit exercising for about 10 years.” The former runner from Sammamish, Wash., saw predicable results: His weight ballooned and his energy level dropped.

The national 5 A Day for Better Health program is jointly sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and the Produce for Better Health Foundation. Begun in 1991, the program has a simple goal: Get all Americans to eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables every day for better health.

Looking for a way to lower your health care costs? Consider what’s on your plate. Eating a healthy diet that includes a lot of fruits and vegetables can lower health care costs when you’re older.

Pesticides cause cancer, right? So do food additives, stress, breast implants, beef hormones, genetically modified foods, power lines, artificial sweeteners, fluoride in the water, antiperspirants, proximity to nuclear facilities, electric blankets, computer terminals, and household appliances. Right?

Studies have shown that low-dose aspirin reduces the risk of a first heart attack in men, but there have been few such studies in women. Until now. Researchers have found—surprisingly—that although aspirin does not appear to help prevent heart attacks in women, it does help prevent stroke.

The higher your body mass index (BMI), the greater your risk for dementia. That’s the conclusion of a Swedish study of 7,402 men between ages 47 and 55.

America's favorite "junk food" actually can fit quite nicely into a heart-smart eating plan. The trick is in the toppings.

What should Americans eat? Every five years, the federal government tells us. Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005, released this past January, spells out the very latest on “how good dietary habits can promote health and reduce risk for major chronic diseases.”

“Aspirin conclusively reduces the risk of a first heart attack by 32 percent.”

If you’ve been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, one of the best things you can do to improve your prognosis is lose weight. A recent study in the American Heart Journal finds that obesity, especially abdominal obesity, is associated with a poor outlook for patients with established cardiovascular disease.

Fish containing omega-3 fatty acid, such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel, have been shown to lower heart disease risk. The evidence is so strong that the American Heart Association recommends at least two servings of fish per week. Here’s your first serving.

Ask most women what their biggest health risk is, and you’ll likely hear breast cancer or ovarian cancer. What you won’t hear is the correct answer: heart disease. Yes, heart disease kills more women than breast and ovarian cancer combined.

The facts about heart disease are as clear as can be. It is the second leading cause of death in the United States. And it doesn’t have to be, because, in most cases, it can be prevented.

The link between nutrition and cognitive health keeps growing stronger. Past research has shown that consuming more vegetables, soy, fish, and the vitamin niacin all appear to offer protection against Alzheimer’s disease. And the latest study adds tea to this list of brain-friendly foods.

Osteoporosis weakens bone tissue and makes bones less dense. As bones grow brittle, they are more likely to fracture. But bone, like muscle, is living tissue. It grows stronger with exercise, specifically weight-bearing exercise like walking, stair climbing, and weight training.

It probably comes as no surprise to you that you can’t eat like you did when you were younger. And the simple truth is, you shouldn’t. The secret to a long and healthy life is, in part, dietary adaptation.

People with a long-term, chronic condition, such as heart disease, diabetes, or arthritis, face a daily challenge. They need to manage their condition medically and, at the same time, build up their physical and emotional strength so they can fully enjoy life.

Most women know that calcium plays a crucial role in building strong bones and preventing osteoporosis. What they may not realize, though, is that calcium needs an important partner: vitamin D.

That money you’re spending on daily multivitamins? It might be better spent on individual supplements, says the National Institutes of Health.

Yes, you're older. And yes, as you age, your health care concerns change. However, most issues don’t just go away.

Outside, the air is clear and the sun is shining. Inside, you start noticing those dust bunnies and smudges that winter’s shorter days didn’t let you see so easily. So you throw open the windows, don your grubby clothes, crank up your favorite CD, and tackle your cleaning.

MedicAlert is the original emergency medical information service, founded in 1956. When you join MedicAlert, your medical information—including medications and dosages, physicians, emergency contacts, and allergies—can be entered into a secure database. Through the Genworth Momentum Wellness Program, we have established a special relationship with MedicAlert that means you can receive a first-year membership absolutely free.

Falls are the leading cause of fractures, hospital admissions, deaths from injury, and loss of independence among senior Americans. Reduce the risk of falls at home — where half of them happen — by taking these steps.

The subject of bird flu currently raises plenty of questions. Is a global epidemic just around the corner? Are we safe? Can you still eat chicken salad? While we don’t have all the answers, we do have enough of them to calm many of your fears.

We want you to enjoy a healthier life. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Jenny Craig to help you create a personalized weight loss plan at a fraction of the price.

If one of your New Year’s goals is to get fitter, have we got a deal for you! Make 2008 your year for change with GlobalFit’s Commit Membership, and you’ll save 50 percent off the one-time affiliation fee at more than 10,000 fitness clubs nationwide.*

What hidden health problems are you living with? Life Line Screening makes it simple to find out by bringing tests for a range of diseases—including stroke, diabetes, heart disease, and osteoporosis—to local neighborhoods, places of worship, and community and senior centers around the country.

Up to now, ovarian cancer has been called a “silent killer” because symptoms were thought to occur only when the cancer had progressed too far to effectively treat. But that thinking changed recently. Three health organizations have identified a set of symptoms that may indicate early-stage ovarian cancer. They are urging women who have these symptoms for more than a few weeks to see their doctors.

Top this tasty spinach salad with almonds to make it E(xtra) healthy..

No one on Earth lives longer, healthier lives than the people of Okinawa, and much of their longevity can be traced to their remarkable eating habits. For nearly 30 years, a team of internationally recognized medical experts has studied the Okinawa diet. Their research led them to create the Okinawa Diet program, a scientifically proven approach to living long and well by eating smart and staying lean. And now, Momentum Wellness Program participants can sign up for the Okinawa Diet program and receive up to 75 percent off membership fees.

We’ve got two words for you: wheat germ. Not because it tastes particularly good, but because of what it contains. One tablespoon of wheat germ oil a day gives you your daily requirements for vitamin E. And that may help you help reduce the risk of heart disease, Alzheimer's disease and other common ailments.

You’re not a big fan of exercise. You never visit the salad bar. And you can’t imagine squeezing into your wedding gown or tux. Now that you’re middle-aged, why change? Because doing so—even at this late date—could cut your risk of dying by 40 percent.

Last month, we told you how vitamin E helps you fight heart disease and other common age-related illnesses. This month, vitamin D takes center stage. Too little of this valuable vitamin may encourage disability, two new studies suggest.

Be sure to use fortified orange juice to up the vitamin D quotient in this delicious concoction. Smoothies are great for breakfast, after a workout or even as a low-fat dessert.

With more young mothers now in the workforce, more grandparents are stepping up to help care for their grandchildren. Past research has suggested that such caregiving can exact a toll on grandma’s or grandpa’s overall health. But a new study of almost 13,000 grandparents shows otherwise.

Most of us think of osteoporosis as a woman’s disease. Not so. While it’s true that about 80 percent of cases involve women, one in four Caucasian men will suffer an osteoporosis-related fracture at some point in his lifetime. Would bone-density tests, the kind that are routinely recommended for older women, be worthwhile for men too? New research says yes.

Sure, it’s embarrassing to talk about. But the fact is, older Americans are prone to constipation. There can be many causes and many treatments. The first choice for relief is often nutritional changes, including increased fiber and water consumption.

Pumpkin isn’t just for carving your Halloween jack o’lantern. This golden gourd packs a solid nutritional punch as well. Among its many other health benefits, a serving of this soup provides 44 percent of your daily fiber.

As you age, it’s natural for your blood sugar levels to rise. That’s usually caused by the simple fact that you’re a bit thicker in the middle and a few – or more than a few – pounds north of your optimal weight. You don’t have diabetes yet. But you might have a condition called pre-diabetes. Now is the time to do something about it.

November is a time for football, family and friends, and the rush into the holiday season. It’s also a great time to quit smoking. Every third Thursday in November, the American Cancer Society sponsors its Great American Smokeout. And if you’re over 55 years old and still smoke, quitting now could cut your risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, by more than 50 percent.

As every self-made man or woman knows, there’s a big difference between intelligence and education. That’s certainly true when it comes to understanding health care. Those with a poor understanding of disease management—called health literacy—are at a greater risk of dying, a new study suggests. And the number of years you went to school has little impact on how health literate you really are.

Loss of muscle mass and strength can be a factor in falls, injuries, and some illnesses affecting older Americans. But why do muscles weaken as we age? One reason may be related to a mineral called selenium. A recent study reports that older adults with the lowest levels of this trace element in their blood were twice as likely to have muscle weakness around the hands, hips, and knees as those with the most selenium. .

Tuna, one of the better sources of selenium, can also be one of the more boring sandwich fixin’s. Mix it up with some fresh fall apples, yogurt, and other surprising additions to give your tuna sandwich a new kick.

Tai chi, the ancient Chinese exercise that helps build strength, balance, and flexibility, has been shown time and again to help older Americans stay on their feet and avoid debilitating falls. New research finds that you don’t have to be all that “old” to enjoy the benefits of better balance through tai chi.

All couples fight. But two recent studies have shown that fighting between spouses–both how they fight and how often they fight–may have a profound impact on their health.

Looking for a good online source for nutrition information? There are many, of course, but here’s one you might have overlooked. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health, has a terrific consumer-focused Web site that contains, among lots of other things, some great information to help you eat a more heart-healthy diet.

The holidays aren’t the holidays without pie. This recipe, from the NHLBI’s Stay Young at Heart collection, uses vegetable oil and skim milk so you can have your pie and eat it too.

What hidden health problems are you living with? Many diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease and osteoporosis, begin without any noticeable symptoms. Yet, the early detection of risk factors of these illnesses could mean the difference between dealing with a major, life-threatening disease or effectively treating the condition before it ever becomes a problem. Life Line Screening, the nation’s leading provider of preventive health screenings, makes it simple to test for the risk of vascular diseases and osteoporosis, and Momentum Wellness participants are eligible for discounts on combination screening packages.