SEARCH

There's no better time than during Heart Month to get to know your heart a little better (and learn a few ways to keep it healthy)! After all, it's the only one you have. The most important step you can take to protect your heart is understanding your own individual risks for heart disease. 

Take a free heart health risk assessment.

Why is it more difficult for women to lose weight, and easier for us to gain weight, as we hit midlife? Let's figure it out. 

While changing hormone levels play a role, a major culprit in midlife weight gain is the loss of muscle mass that naturally comes with aging, a condition called sarcopenia. If you're physically inactive, you can lose as much as three to five percent of your muscle mass each decade after age 30. 

While getting older may be unavoidable, there are still many things we can do to ensure the healthiest possible journey into our golden years. Read on for some important advice women should take.

Screenings: Early Detection Saves Lives

It's true. Certain cancers are more easily cured, even prevented, when found early. Other conditions or risk factors are more easily managed when we get them under control sooner rather than later. These are important screenings to undergo:

Who are we, exactly? 

For a long time, this age-old question has been holding a special place in the realms of philosophy and religion. However, science also has come up with an answer, though it may not be what you're expecting. 

If you start sneezing or coughing at the first signs of spring, you may have seasonal allergies. Depending on where you live, spring allergies can begin as early as February and last until the start of summer. Learn about over-the-counter treatments that can help you combat these allergies and make it through the season.  

Pop quiz: Fill the blank with the best answer: Food is_________.

1. Nutrition
2. Fuel
3. Comfort
4. Celebration
5. A link to our culture and roots
6. All the above

You're probably thinking, if it's a dietician asking the question, the answer should be numbers one or two, but you know in your heart, the answer is number six, and you're right! There are many reasons we make the food choices that we do, and nutrition is only one of them. 

If you're looking to lower your risk of heart disease as you age, there is great news ahead! Research indicates you can lower your risk by improving your cardiovascular fitness, even as you age. Cardiovascular fitness is a powerful predictor of health and longevity, so powerful it can reduce the risks from having other risk factors. That is powerful stuff! 

Could your aches predict the weather? You may have heard that when it rains or is cold out, arthritis pain worsens. Is this true? 

The truth is that little factual evidence exists to support this. In fact, when patients with rheumatoid arthritis were placed into a barometrically-controlled chamber, which simulates the change in air pressure, they didn't notice a difference in joint pain.

"A glass of wine will help me relax." All too often people say this as a way to cope with the stress of everyday life. Phrases like, "It takes the edge off," and "Just one beer" shouldn't become your mantra when trying to unwind after a tough day at the office or a long night with the kids. Anxiety and alcohol use are often connected. Many times, people drink to relax and reduce anxiety, and in some instances, chronic alcohol abuse can lead to anxiety. 

So what can you do without reaching for the bottle of wine?