Health

Guidelines for the fully vaccinated from the CDC: It's OK to visit indoors with other fully vaccinated people without wearing masks or staying 6 feet apart. It's OK to visit indoors with unvaccinated people from a single household who are at low risk for severe COVID-19 disease without wearing masks or staying 6 feet apart. It's not necessary to quarantine or get tested following exposure to someone infected with the coronavirus as long as you don't develop symptoms. According to the CDC, someone is considered “fully vaccinated” if it has been at least two weeks since they've gotten the second dose of the two-shot Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine or a single dose of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.   Learn more: Fully Vaccinated? What the CDC Says You Should and Shouldn't Do Now

An initial allotment of 1 million doses of coronavirus vaccine is being distributed to about 6,500 pharmacy locations across the U.S., including many familiar retail chains. Vaccinations will be administered per the state eligibility guidelines where the pharmacies are located. More pharmacies will join the program as more doses become available.   For the full list of retailers and pharmacies as well as for state-specific vaccination info, visit Which Major Retailers are Giving Coronavirus Vaccines?   Have you gotten your vaccine? What was the experience like? If you are still waiting on your vaccine, we understand any frustration you are feeling and are here for you! AARP continues to advocate for the availability of the coronavirus vaccine to anyone 50+.  

Get your exercise while doing housework--yes, it sounds too good to be true! Check out these simple tips and get a good workout without leaving the house. Even better, with this activity, you can get the workout in while taking care of things around the house that need to be done. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

In a bad mood? Try petting a dog or cat for a few minutes. It doesn’t matter if it’s yours or someone else’s. What’s important is that you like animals and that Fido’s friendly. Studies show petting perks run the gamut from physical to psychological and emotional. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

Making a 'To-Do' list helps me stay organized, and it also gives me a sense of accomplishment. But what about making a list for routine tasks like meeting friends for coffee every Sunday at 10? For that I use my smart phone's calendar app and set reminders so I don't forget. Learn more about keeping your mind focused on tasks by reading this article. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp®  for more brain health information.

Some of us have been chomping at the bit to get the vaccines. If you're like me, you even missed announcements they were available for age 70+ until it was almost time for 65+ to be included.Luckily, after being told by my local health department that February was all filled up and we couldn't do anything about it until March, or so, an opening came up for last week and I signed up for Pfizer and got my first shot on Sunday (2-21), after a snow day made them postpone from last Wednesday (2-17). Since my wife is a teacher, she already had her second Moderna shot through her school district a week and a half ago.My wife's first dose gave her a sore arm near the vaccination site and little else. The second one gave her more of a rash on the arm and soreness, along with slight body aches and not much else.My first dose of Pfizer this weekend gave me some overall discomfort and tenderness in the muscle where I received the shot, but I've had worse experiences with my first half-day of a col

Have you been feeling grouchy and out of sorts lately? You may have the "winter blues." The short days of winter and lack of light can bring fatigue, trouble concentrating and an uncontrollable yearning for carbohydrate-rich foods. Learn what you can do to chase those blues away, including including eating more vitamin D-rich foods, in this engaging article. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp®  for more brain health information.

The AARP Virtual Community Center offers a wide variety of free, interactive, online events and classes designed for learning, self-improvement and fun!   Some of the class offerings include: AARP Fitness Friday - Aerobic Dance classes Yoga Timeout Tuesday classes There's a wide selection of classes to attend, and you're bound to find something new, interesting and enjoyable. Check out the Healthy Living classes now. Let us know what you signed up for and how your class was afterward!

Research says sleep temperature affects how easily we fall asleep, whether we sleep calmly, how much we sleep and how satisfied we are with our sleep quality. And when it comes to finding the right thermostat setting, experts agree that cooler seems to be better. Read this engaging article to learn about finding the right temperature for your best sleep. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp for more brain health information.

Where to start--literally! Too many items in the closet, attic, basement, or just in a pile on the table can undermining your sense of home and well-being. Read this article to learn what psychologists say can happen to people when their living space becomes too cluttered. You can also consider my favorite rule--when you buy something for your home, you have to let something else go! Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

Pasta is a staple in most Italian dishes, but if you're looking to cuts carbs and boosts your veggie intake without sacrificing flavor, try this gluten-free recipe that uses slices of roasted eggplant and zucchini instead of noodles. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp for more brain health information.

While not a panacea for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, some research suggests that common pantry foods such as canned pumpkin, nuts and dark chocolate may help protect memory, boost energy and reduce anxiety. Learn about more healthy foods, and how to store them, in this article. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

Revealing sensitive personal data can trigger identity theft. The Better Business Bureau has issued a tip to not post your vaccine card on social media once you've received a COVID-19 shot.   Typically, such cards contain your name, date of birth, patient number and other information that bad actors can use to steal your identity and commit fraud. That's especially true if your privacy settings on Facebook, Instagram or other social platforms are not strict, allowing the image to be widely shared.   Learn more: Don't Flaunt Your COVID-19 Vaccine Card on Facebook

Getting reasonable exercise with as many worn out parts as I have is not an easy task, so I rely on our Personal Trainer - Fritzie the dog. Getting past 75 has been a lot less troublesome with a couple daily dog walks. Dogs are perpetual 3-year-old children - they want to be outside doing stuff, need to stop and examine everything (which slows down the action to a doable level) and leads to pleasant interaction with other dog walkers. Best of all, unless you're in a big city, not even Covid interfers with your daily workout, and in the winter, wearing a mask is both a way to stay safe from the virus AND be kind to your lungs in the northern climes.

If you're like me, you've either eaten too little or too much before a workout with uncomfortable results. But what should you eat before and after exercising? This article helps you learn about pairing workouts with healthy snacks to keep your body properly nourished. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

Research shows that regularly practicing meditation and mindfulness can help you focus more effectively, relieve stress and enhance your happiness. The Staying Sharp Being Present Brain Health Challenge introduces techniques to help you learn about ways to experience and perceive your world with new focus and gratitude. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp for more brain health information.

Music is much more than a pleasant diversion. It also can be a useful tool to spark memories and bond with others. Check out this article to learn how music may help by reducing stress, boosting focus and masking other sounds. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp for more brain health information.

As COVID-19 vaccines become increasingly available in the U.S. over the coming months, older adults who have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic are expected to be prioritized over the general public. But those who are 65 and older will still likely need to wait a few months before they can get vaccines that are in high demand but relatively short supply. Shots are expected to be widely available by mid-2021, but some may get them earlier.   For more information: When Can Older Americans Expect to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine?   The efficacy of the vaccine depends in part on widespread public participation. Will you get the COIVD-19 vaccine when it becomes available to you?

Maintaining social connections is essential for long-term mental and cognitive health, but it's hard to do when you can't meet with friends face-to-face. Watch this short video titled "Your Brain on Social Networks" to learn how to use social networks to connect with others in the digital world. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

You probably didn’t realize that all of that stimulates the brain with the release of endorphins, the body’s “feel-good” chemical. So go ahead and get in some good laughs all week long. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp for more brain health information.

Retiring is great, when I retired I was extremely happy, I had worked all of my life I'd worked. Since I was 12 years, after school and on week-inns, it was great nothing could make me happier making my own money at the age of 12 years. After school I got a job and has worked every sense, now I am enjoying myself to the fullest. I enjoy life and I plan to continue to enjoy my life as long as I can. I have enjoyed singing and traveling while doing so. Now, I would love to travel more but seems as if This coronavirus has put a stop to my travel, I love to travel. There is nothing better than seeing other parts of the world. You don't need to be rich to retire and travel. All you need is love. Have faith in yourself and do the things you love to do. To me, this is what life is all about enjoying yourself even with family and friends. Gettering is great but not so many people around. Still enjoy your self as much as possible. Life is good so be good to life. There is good in traveling, thi

Happiness is something we all want, but it doesn’t just happen. Experts believe there are habits that may increase happiness—from connecting with others to practicing kindness. The Pursuit of Happiness Challenge looks at research that suggests happiness not only feels good but may also help people live longer, enjoy stronger relationships and be more creative and productive. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp for more brain health information.

In its traditional form, fruitcake has fruit and nuts, both of which have shown to have potential health benefits. Check out the pros and cons of fruitcake ingredients in this article, which also has links to ideas for prepping your pantry and fresh ways to cook at home. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp for more brain health information.

Have you danced lately, even if you don't have a partner? Research indicates that dancing has numerous health benefits, including helping focus and improving memory. But I can tell you that for me, dancing is just plan fun! Visit AARP® Staying Sharp®  for more brain health information.

Hi everyone, This health site Ask a Patient might be of use for people about to get or thinking about getting the new 2-dose shingles vaccine called Shingrix, as it has more than 400 comments from patients who have received the vaccine. (a disclosure, I work on this site but thought this information could be of use to people in this forum.) Many of the folks at the site's forum have commented about not being informed about how severe the side effects would (or could) be, while others said they were fully informed and got the shot on a Friday so that they would have a couple days of down time to recover. Often, the reaction is more severe with the second dose. However, many of them said the discomfort is worth it not to get shingles in the future. Check out these patient experiences (442 in all), sortable by age, gender and rating score:https://www.askapatient.com/viewrating.asp?drug=581490&name=SHINGRIX+VACCINE Another interesting thing I learned when researching this is