Health

There is plenty of research that exercise benefits the brain, but could having a healthy brain also push us to exercise? Read this article and learn what you need to know about how stimulating your brain may help you get off the couch. Find more health tips at AARP® Staying Sharp®, an AARP member benefit, today.

I have a long and painful story about my mother, now deceased as of 4/22/2023, who was financially exploited (qualifying as elder abuse) by AARP's United Health Care plans - both supplemental insurance and prescription insurance.  To whom in the system should I address my complaint?   Thank you, Dr. Shelley P. Caswell-Moore

I am reticent to bring this up because I noticed that the last thread on the topic of sex was permanently deleted.I don't know what happened there; maybe peeps were venturing out of the realm of what is mature conversation about a real subject in our lives. But, to be clear, what I want to talk about is sex, sexuality, intimacy, etc.  I don't want to share and I certainly don't want to hear about the personal sexual exploits of others'. I was thinking more along the lines of how the younger generation seem to be so comfortable with gender fluidity, almost like it's part of their culture.Or that I am Poly-amorous, what that means and, importantly, what it doesn't.  A lot of people carry understandable misconceptions about Polyamory and I am happy to answer respectful, non-intrusive questions to help clear that up.  For example: Polyamory means, literally, "many loves" not sex with anyone anytime, etc.  See swinging for that, I think.  Not sure. If

Head over to the Rewards forum for our April Ask the Fitness Enthusiast series, taking place now! Week 1 with Pahla Bowers is happening now. Pahla is answering your questions about How to Get Started and Stay Motivated. She will be here Monday, April 5 - Friday, April 16, 2021.   Learn and Earn! Ask our fitness enthusiasts about ways you can start new fitness routines and/or how to stay motivated! Earn 50 points awarded via code emailed to you after you participate by asking our fitness enthusiast a question (one entry per week given points).

Kicking off Fitness Friday a day early this week since tomorrow is the observation of 7/4. This week, all you need is a sturdy chair for this energizing stretching session in your home, guided by fitness expert Kathy Smith 💪   With AARP Rewards, you’ll also score points for your workout! Get started today.   Let me know what you thought of this energizing stretch session by hitting reply below and leaving a comment!  

I've been using the AARP Virtual Community Center for some good exercise and Zumba classes. They go at a good pace and are free.  What other options do y'all use?

Whole health includes mind, body and spirit. Each contributes to overall health and wellness. June is Brain Awareness Month, a perfect time to explore our Mental Well-Being challenges. It’s an assortment of interactive activities that focus on emotional health and well-being, building resilience and pursuing happiness. Find more health tips at AARP® Staying Sharp®, an AARP member benefit, today.

Five myths about nutrition Modern nutrition is a relatively new science and one that can feel uniquely personal. Each of us makes multiple food choices daily, and our beliefs about nourishment are often shaped more by popular culture than by science. We are especially vulnerable to food evangelists — particularly at the beginning of a new year, when we’re bombarded with messages about health and diet goals. Americans spend billions of dollars annually in search of the next weight loss miracle. The following are common nutrition myths that form the cornerstones of this lucrative market. Myth No. 1Sugar is addictive. Though people have used terms like “chocoholic” since the 1960s, language about food addiction has intensified in recent decades. Food Addicts Anonymous lists sugar, along with flour and wheat, as addictive in nature. People have written in the New York Times, Fast Company and elsewhere to raise the alarm about sugar as

You don’t need to read the popular book Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus to know that men and women sometimes have different approaches to life. What are those differences based on? Learn more about what research has shown in the “true or false” article “Do Men’s and Women’s Brains Really Differ?” Find more health tips at AARP® Staying Sharp®, an AARP member benefit, today.

While more than half of adults take dietary supplements, most people can get vital nutrients and minerals by eating a balanced and nutritious diet. However, some supplements may be recommended to support specific conditions. For example, Vitamin D plays many roles in keeping your body healthy, and it can be found in a variety of foods, yet doctors often recommend vitamin D supplements to prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Learn more about supplements in the Staying Sharp Guide to Brain Health Supplements. Find more health tips at AARP® Staying Sharp®, an AARP member benefit, today.

Whether you sit quietly or dance up a storm when listening to music, it can have a tremendous impact on how you feel. Check out this short video, 7 Truths About Music and turn up the volume up the next time you hear your favorite song! Find more health tips at AARP Staying Sharp today, an AARP member benefit.

Even the small things add up when you’re trying to meet your weight-loss goals. Watch this video to learn about five tasty, nutritional swaps that can cut hundreds of calories from your diet per day while adding nutrients. Find more health tips at AARP® Staying Sharp®, an AARP member benefit, today.

How often do you walk, stretch, run, jog or play a sport? I try to walk every day and play tennis at least once a week. Our bodies need exercise year round, so when it’s cold or wet outside, try these exercises while you’re watching TV. Find more health tips at AARP® Staying Sharp® today, an AARP member benefit.

I hate to ask as I realize some feel driving is their freedom, but in the wake of 2 fatality car accidents this week in Las Vegas, in "regular" neighborhoods, and multiple so far this year, I have to ask when anyone will realize they shouldn't drive? I donated my car during the pandemic following hospitalization for fall injury; I felt I couldn't rely on my senses to drive clearly and defensively. Please, anyone who is our age, consider giving up driving if there are any cognitive or physical health issues? This has been discussed here before: Retirees, When Are You Giving Up Driving?  We have an obligation, don't we? We led the anti-war, anti-racisim, recycling-forward generation. Can't we lead the safe driving movement?  

Trying to shift to a healthier lifestyle? Read this article and learn about habits that may have a negative effect on brain health. Find more health tips at AARP® Staying Sharp®, an AARP member benefit, today.

A healthy Earth is a prerequisite for a healthy life. Earth Day: 10 Best Shows and Films to Watch  (AARP) Additional Suggestion: Nova - Earth From Space Full HD 

For those that want deeper insights, take the AARP® Staying Sharp Cognitive Assessment to see how you’re performing today on certain aspects of cognition, including reasoning, memory and attention. Find more health tips at AARP® Staying Sharp® an AARP member benefit, today.

Daily exercise, what you eat and even the amount of sleep you get all play an important role in your health. The good news is that there may be things you’re already doing that are benefitting your brain. Find more health tips at AARP® Staying Sharp® today, an AARP member benefit.

I want to be able to post my experience for comparison with other older seniors. Also, to help document my vaccine side effects for others to know about.  I received the Pfizer Booster two weeks ago. I have had all the prior suggested Prizer shots with almost no reaction. I confidently went to my doctor's office to get the latest (Fall, 2022) one. My facial rash appeared right away and still persists.A evening after the shot I had a serious bout of nausea and uncontrollable bowels.  I felt very sick.My arm had a huge red blotch at shot site. I contacted my doctor. I felt as if I had contracted covid symptoms though I have never had covid.  It was so debilitating I was in bed for several days. My doctor put me on prednisone for 5 days. That did cause the red blotch to go away.  Additionally,my other arm, where I had received a flu shot on the same day, also had a red blotch though not nearly as large. There is still a hard lump at the flu shot site which is possibly

 What Did You Say?Much to my dismay when I am listening on my cell phone to various doctor office staff informing me about my medical concerns, I have trouble understanding exactly what these health professionals are saying. All too often their advice is mumbled, garbled, mangled, and exceedingly incoherent. How can I follow medical directives if I can’t accurately interpret the details concerning, for example, how to prepare for a procedure or where will it take place? I become so frustrated with this miscommunication that I insist that all of the data that I need to know is transcribed on My Chart, a much more accurate accounting than the trip wire of a phone conversation or a raspy, jumbled voice mail. But yesterday was blissfully different: I got an easy-to- understand call from a health-care worker regarding my upcoming hernia operation. She asked me an abundance of routine questions, all of which she distinctly and effortlessly enunciated in steadily paced mellow tones.

Stress can get us down, whether it’s from an unexpected bill or a serious health issue. Explore our Find Your Calm guide and learn how an attitude of gratitude can be a powerful tool for responding to stress. Find more health tips at AARP® Staying Sharp® an AARP member benefit, today.

If dieting and weight loss are a constant struggle, try the AARP® Staying Sharp® Weight Loss After 50 challenge based on the latest research. Visit AARP Staying Sharp to learn more about the benefits of weight loss.

Have you been doing any new or fun workouts from your home? Let us know what you're up to!   AARP has a great selection of at-home workout videos. Check them out and get moving!  

Here's a great article about Seniors taking action on a Health issue.  The Club of Climate Seniors is suing the Swiss Government in the European Court of Human Rights over the dangers rising temperatures cause Seniors.It will probably be most constructive if the conversation maintains a 'Joe Friday', Just The Facts quality.  The links include a news report about the legal action and data from CDC and EPA about heat related health issues in the U.S. Swiss seniors sue government in rights court over climate  CDC’s Tracking Network in Action: Extreme Heat  Climate Change Indicators: Heat-Related Deaths (EPA) 

Eating Healthy is important to a healthy lifestyle.