Healthy Living

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.

Did you know that hearing loss and brain health are interconnected? Research shows that hearing loss has been linked to a greater risk of cognitive decline, depression and falls. Get more details from this blog, which also discusses whether wearing hearing aids may delay cognitive decline. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

You may already know that walking is good for your heart and builds up bone strength. But are you aware that it may also help your brain block out distractions and keep you focused? Read what researchers say are the benefits that even a 10 minute stroll can have on your health. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

For decades, scientists have linked practices such as prayer and meditation to better health, but they haven’t understood exactly why. Recent research has begun to unravel how such practices might have a positive impact on the brain. Learn more in this article. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

Help is out there! Even as vaccine restrictions loosen and supplies ramp up around the country, appointments for a vaccination remain difficult to get, and many older Americans still need help to schedule one. A good place to start is with a vaccine-locating website such as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) VaccineFinder.org.   State and county government websites, national and local pharmacy websites, and aggregating websites such as VaccineFinder are also designed to help those who want the shot find available vaccines in their area.   Learn more: Online Resources to Schedule a COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment   Another helpful resource I've found is VaccineFairy.org. They will help you schedule an appointment, and I know people that have received appointments this way.   Have you successfully scheduled your vaccine appointment? What was the experience like? Do you know of additional helpful resources? If so, please share them here!

I have witnessed my wife go from an active, busy woman to a fearful, unmotivated, person. Now it is progressed to her not even caring for herself and experiencing weight loss, which she cannot afford to lose. She has had numerous (4) eye surgeries this past year and blames them for her anxiety. I cannot get her to do anything and I have tried walking, music, talking  and encouraging her to see a therapist. Her primary care doctor just wants to give her prescriptions for drugs and we don't want to do that. Any recommendations on sparking her ambition? 

My first round with Pfizer affected me with two or three mild symptoms for a few days without even a hint of fever, but my second one provided no discernible symptoms, other than a slightly sore knot at the injection site for about 2 days. I noticed the soreness only when I rubbed it. Otherwise, it was just business as usual. I have heard of everything from no symptoms up to being "a real doozy." So, just get the vaccinations when you can and don't worry about it. I worried that my second one might kick my butt, but I ended up riding my bike just about every day. That's how serious it was. I only know what I've read and heard and how that news compares to my experience. I'd gladly get the shots again with the hopes that it would keep me from even a mild case of the real COVID-19. Stay well,Lynn

Did you know that there is research that shows the most physically active people have less brain atrophy and more gray matter? If you want to protect your brain against the effects of aging, a brisk daily walk may do more for you than brain teaser puzzles or social activities. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

I get regular e-mails from Reader's Digest.This morning, I saw an article that talked about whether or not a person needs the vaccination, even if he or she has already tested positive for COVID-19. “If You’ve Had COVID-19, Do You Still Need the Vaccine?”By Tina Donvito, Updated: Mar. 10, 2021 My takeaway:The vaccines trigger more immune response than the virus infection does. So, even if you have had COVID, the vaccine can still help protect you better than natural immunity from the disease. Stay well,Lynn

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