Tag Archives: Life and Wellness

Trains Equipped to Save Lives

Trains Equipped to Save Lives

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It is a tragic case of being at the wrong place at the very wrong time. In 2002, Dr. James R. Allen died after suffering a heart attack on a commuter train that lacked an automated portable defibrillator, or AED, a device used to jump-start the heart after cardiac arrest. Today’s riders may avoid a ... More
Gratitude

Gratitude

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Scanning through the movie listings in the newspaper, I never would have put Slumdog Millionaire on my must-see list. Just one of the many lessons I was reminded of during this movie: Don’t judge a film by its title. It was excellent. An inspirational tale about a young boy from the slums of Mumbai who ... More
Perscription to Fall

Perscription to Fall

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Prescription medicines may have unintended effects, including an increased risk of falling. That’s the recent warning from Centers for Disease Control experts who add that falls are the leading cause of injury and death among older adults. Recent data links a class of drugs called benzodiazepines and increased falls. The central nervous system depressants are ... More
Flower Power

Flower Power

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Is it still cold and dreary outside? Brighten your days with an easy-to-make arrangement of fresh flowers. Gather an odd number of old or new glass bottles of varying size and shape. Purchase a pretty bouquet. Then, separate the blossoms and trim stems to desired height. Clean and fill the bottles with water and insert ... More

Get Ready, Get Knitting!

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A couple months ago, we asked Saturday Evening Post magazine readers who knit or crochet for charity to send in a description and photo of their latest projects. And wow! What an inspiring response! So far, we’ve heard from generous souls in 21 states who, for years (sometimes decades), have been comforting babies, cancer survivors, ... More
Brave New World of Vegetables for 2009

Brave New World of Vegetables for 2009

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Don’t be a stick-in-the-mulch with your garden growing habits, planting the same vegetables year after year. This spring, plan on planting at least one new vegetable that you haven’t grown before. New dwarf varieties offer intense flavor and compact sizes that can fit easily into your garden space or even be grown in containers. Here ... More
The Important Role of Recess

The Important Role of Recess

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Sometimes scientific research only confirms what common sense tells us is true. This is one of those times. Data from the following studies, however, will hopefully help restore some physical activity (and fun) to the school day. Taking a daily break in the school day of at least 15 minutes may promote overall health, academic, ... More

Ladies in Red

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Love is in the air this month, and millions of women are trying on red, only it’s not to impress their valentine … not yet anyway. The American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign, www.goredforwomen.org, is sponsoring National Wear Red Day on February 6. Millions of women participate to show their support in wiping out heart ... More
Seatbelts and Air Bags Save Spines, Too

Seatbelts and Air Bags Save Spines, Too

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If you, your friends, or loved ones are not convinced that seat belts and air bags are lifesavers, read on. Research published in the February 2009 issue of Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine provides compelling evidence that the combination of air bags and seat belts affords the best protection against spine fractures sustained in motor vehicle ... More
The Living Well Challenge

The Living Well Challenge

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As the Post medical editor, I enjoy learning and writing about promising medical discoveries and sharing health information that readers can use to care for themselves and their loved ones. And it’s great that my “day job” sometimes even helps my own friends and family, too. But this new blog offers me the chance — the challenge, ... More
My Weekend Getaway

My Weekend Getaway

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Today, I’m thinking about relationships, especially those among women. I spent a recent weekend in a small town about two hours away from the comforts of home. I was among a group of 20 women: 12 total strangers, five acquaintances, and two who may know me better than I know myself. Today, I am grateful. ... More
Winter Gardening Projects

Winter Gardening Projects

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A gardener’s work is never done. Here are some winter projects for gardeners in northern climates: Dormant spray fruit trees, cotoneaster, dogwoods, and other deciduous shrubs and trees. Prune your deciduous trees and shrubs. Save fireplace ashes to use as fertilizer on iris and other alkaline soil plants. If the ground is not frozen or ... More
Exercise Away Joint Pain

Exercise Away Joint Pain

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Strengthening the muscles around knees and shoulders helps increase joint flexibility and ease pain. Easier said than done, you say? Try this tip from Dr. G. Peter Maiers of Methodist Sports Medicine / The Orthopedic Specialists in Indianapolis, Indiana: “About 20 minutes before your workout, put a hot pack on the joints that you will ... More
Colon Cleanser Conundrum

Colon Cleanser Conundrum

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Do popular colon cleansers really promote a healthy colon? Probably not, according to gastrointestinal tract experts who explain that the gut lining is constantly forming new cells and rarely needs our assistance. Common side effects of colon cleansers include headaches, cramping, and diarrhea. Long-term use is linked to anemia and bowel rupture. In general, maintaining ... More
Psoriasis Gene Detectives at Work

Psoriasis Gene Detectives at Work

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Scientists at the University of Michigan and their collaborators have found new DNA “hotspots” that may reveal how genetic differences among individuals result in psoriasis, a potentially disfiguring autoimmune disease of the skin. Published in Nature Genetics, the findings could lead to innovative drug targets and tailored treatments for the disease. In 2006, the UM ... More
Therapeutic Blogging

Therapeutic Blogging

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When one of the Post editors asked me if I would be willing to contribute to the new Living Well blog, I was elated. Healthy living has long been a personal passion and interest of mine. Plus, I’m always looking for new projects to work on. Even so, a list of cons soon began to ... More
Clean Out Your Medical Cabinet

Clean Out Your Medical Cabinet

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Medicine cabinets have a way of filling up. But drugs often expire. Heat and humidity from a year’s worth of showers and baths may cause others to lose potency. And there’s another potential danger: Holding on to old prescriptions increases the risk of taking the wrong pill. After clearing away the clutter, the American College ... More
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