Health

We know a healthy lifestyle includes exercise as one of the six pillars of brain health, but what role does stretching play? Taking regular stretch breaks is one of the easiest ways to get your body moving. Check out this short video showing an upper-body stretch routine and give yourself some love. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

As I get older, I'm keeping my body active, but how can I stay young at heart? Well, it's all in the attitude, baby! No need to let gray hair and wrinkles keep you from feeling young and enjoying all the things that make you happy. Surround yourself with friends and count your blessings every day. Why? Check out this study that reports how feeling younger than your real age may translate to a longer life. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

Most people have their own way to go about solving a problem. Some like to write down potential solutions, others will take a walk and let the issue noodle around in their brain. Read this article that describes a deceptively simple problem-solving strategy called the Five Whys. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

Sometimes, we forget that a healthy state of mind is just as important as having a healthy body. Now, you can take advantage of Staying Sharp's month-long series of brain health challenges that focuses on building the foundations of mental wellness, with four distinct challenges to explore and take at your own pace. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

Even small changes to the foods you eat can add up to help you meet your weight-loss goals. Here are five tasty, nutritional swaps that will cut hundreds of calories from your diet per meal, without leaving you hungry for more food. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

If you’re like most people, you turn to your friends for support during emotionally painful times in your life. Those close relationships might help you tolerate more than just breakups and bad bosses. Check out what this blog says about new research that suggests that your network of friends can help you tolerate physical pain, as well. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

Well, one way is to start using these must-have food spices including ginger and saffron that not only add flavor to your favorite dish but can also help to stimulate those feel-good chemicals in the brain too. What's your 'go to' spice in life? Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

Summer is a great time to explore new foods, fresh from the farm. Skip the bagged lettuce and explore how you can turn tomatoes, onions and cucumbers into a fresh, garden salad. There are plenty of recipes waiting for you on Staying Sharp®, an award winning brain health program  and an AARP member benefit. Learn more today!

I remember listening to my grandparents complain about being cold in the house, so is it true that aging makes us feel colder? This article explains that the part of the brain that coordinates heat regulation in the body is the hypothalamus, but scientists are still working out the specifics of how, why and what role it plays in our changing perception of cold. Until then, the best way to beat the cold is to bundle up, turn up the thermostat, or perhaps book a flight to a warmer climate. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

We can all look back at moments in our lives when we needed to stay strong in the face of uncertainty. Now you can take advantage of a refresher in how to become more resilient in life. Listen to this audio interview with mental health counselor and AARP expert, Rachel Noble, as she shares how to become more resilient and why happiness is a choice.

You know health goals are worth the effort, but doing the work to achieve those goals might take some perseverance. That’s where pairing up with a buddy can help, so check out these 'How To' tips to get started. Why? Results from the study in this article suggest that with social support, people were 95 percent more likely to complete their workout programs. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

While staying safe at a gym took on a whole new meaning during the pandemic, if you're thinking about getting back to a fitness regimen this summer, you'll be wise to consider the more pedestrian dangers involving treadmills and bench presses — especially if you're over 50.   Check out these smart ways to avoid common mistakes that can lead to injuries.   How do you avoid injury while exercising? Share your tips with others now.   Strength training is also a great way to build muscle and bone density to avoid injuries. Learn more and get started today!

Onions, a staple in many cultures, are a nutrition powerhouse. This blog reports on a Harvard study that suggests that onions may help protect our brains as we age. They’re loaded with vitamin C, flavonoids, potassium and B vitamins. And it’s those B vitamins that may be beneficial for your brain. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

JohnB won with this tip in our AARP Rewards Healthy Plate contest during Week 2, with a great tip worth sharing for all!  "Fresh foods only no more pre-packaged frozen meals loaded with chemicals and preservatives. Replaced with whole wheat pasta, faro, lentils and couscous. Goodbye to sugar and sweet desserts with every meal. We have replaced with fresh fruits and berries!"   Although our contest is over, you can still share your tip on what foods are good to eliminate for a healthy plate!   Check out The Right Way to Freeze Fresh Foods for Later to learn more about prolonging the life of your fresh foods and earn AARP Rewards points.

It's easy to take someone for granted, especially if you live together. While celebrating anniversaries, birthdays and yes, Valentine's Day, we are more inclined to pay special attention to each other, there are some simple ways you can show your loved one that you care about them. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

....Lose weight, exercise — good health can be such a chore. But indulging in guilty pleasures may be good for us. One of my favorite things to do is spending the day in bed--wearing pajamas and reading a good book. It doesn't happen very often, but it's something that gives me pleasure. Looking for ideas on how to treat yourself? Check out this blog to learn how decadence may be good for the brain. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

The next time you're feeling too tired or busy to ask a friend to lunch, attend church or join a new club, go ahead and do it anyway. Why? A recent report, detailed in this article, shows that loneliness can be as much a threat to longevity as obesity — even in people who say they like to be alone. So pick up the phone and call a friend today. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

When I was in school, I used mnemonics to help me study for tests. What I did intuitively was to use this technique to memorize facts. I didn't realize that what I was doing was an age-old tool to help my brain retain information. Check out this article for more tips on exercising your memory muscles. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

LEAVE A HEALTH TIP FORUM 💥Saturday - June 12, 2021💥 Hope it helps someone in pain and/or has blood pressure. Together we can overcome pain! 😁 My dental appointment was canceled for May 11th, rescheduled to June 24th.Broken suction equipment at dental office and their usual overbooking. 🙄 The tooth that only needed a cavity filled now needs a root canal. 😤Today I am battling major pain from the now swollen and infected gum. 😭I have to be careful with over-the-counter Advil and had checked with my nurse practitioner to get her okay. Yes, on a very short-term basis was her response. ⚠️ I also went online to read up on the possible side effects. Yikes, possible liver damage. 😱 To reduce my dosage, I wait until my pain kicks in before I take only 1 Advil. Yes, bottle says 2 is okay. It also says take 4 to 6 hours. And not more than 6 in 24 hours.Lol, I have a notebook to keep track of my dosage as it is already a challenge to remember to take my daily bl

We often talk about physical health, but what about mental well-being? Now that we are able to get out and meet with friends, sign up to attend a Facebook Live Event on Thursday, June 17 @ 7:30 PM with therapist and resilience expert Rachel Noble as she joins The Girlfriend and AARP® Staying Sharp® to discuss tips on creating well-being and joy as we emerge from the pandemic. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

Welcome to our brain health forum! Here we hold discussions, offer resources and tips, and provide advice for the health of it! Our topics range from healthy living, mental health, health conditions, treatment, medication, and more. Political discussions are not permitted unless they directly relate to health.

Is it okay to take a pain reliever before or after your COVID-19 vaccination?   If you're experiencing common side effects such as a headache, fever or chills AFTER receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, it's perfectly fine to take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen to relieve your discomfort, experts say.   But don't take those medications before you get your shot, unless advised to do so by your doctor, because you could dampen the effectiveness of the vaccination, said Gregory Poland, M.D., an infectious disease expert at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and director of Mayo's vaccine research group.   The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also advises against the use of pain relievers before vaccination “for the purpose of preventing post-vaccination symptoms.”   Learn more about common COVID-19 vaccine side effects and ways to safely treat them: Treating Common Vaccine Side Effects

Remember those tests in school to see how well you remembered all the facts they taught you? Well, here's an opportunity to measure aspects of your memory, attention, processing speed and other brain functions. AARP members can take the Staying Sharp Brain Health Assessment, normally $14, for free through June 30, 2021.

When you find yourself unmotivated, don’t beat yourself up. Check out this article on how to build yourself up, by considering and using your strengths. You just might find that you are your own best cheerleader. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

It's no surprise that following your passion is important for both brain health and happiness. Studies suggest that having a good reason for what you do can improve your mood and memory and protect against mental decline. One of my passions is gardening, and I love digging in the soil to plant new flowers. What's yours? Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.