News & Press
Americans spend more than $1.4 billion a year on over the counter teeth whitening products, says the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry - in an effort to look younger, and more attractive. According to news reports like this one from ABC News, dentists have coined the term 'bleachorexia", for the obsessive pursuit of white teeth. This, despite growing evidence that over-whitening can thin enamel, which, ironically, will make teeth appear more yellow.
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A little goes a long way (Sharon Basaraba ©)
Attention all chocolate lovers (and that's a club with a lot of members): when it comes to choosing which chocolate is the healthiest, quantity, and frequency, may be more important than quality. A couple of fairly recent research reviews looking at the effect of chocolate consumption and cardiovascular disease, analysed how often, and how much, chocolate people ate, without distinguishing between milk or dark chocolate. For example, in a British Medical Journal review of seven studies involving about 114,000 subjects, University of Cambridge researchers concluded those who ate chocolate more than twice a week had a 37 per cent lower chance of developing heart disease, and a 29 per cent lower risk of stroke - whether they ate their chocolate dark, in drinks, baking or as nutritional supplements.
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(Digital Zoo/Getty Images)
Whether it's a rare bout of insomnia, or a chronic pattern of sleeplessness, getting the zzzz's you need can be tougher as you age. Chronic pain, the effects of certain medications, and anxiety, can all affect how soundly you sleep, or the duration of your sleep.
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If you're like me, winter is a time of barely-recognizable hands. Granted, I live in Calgary, home of 20% relative humidity and this week, -40 degree temperatures with the windchill (whether you use Fahrenheit or Celsius scales, it's the same number). But even if you are in a more moderate climate, forced-air heating and cold weather can wreak havoc on aging nails and hands, not to mention hair. Not surprisingly, pharmaceutical companies sometimes do research in these extreme climates to find out what works.
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A new study suggests that watching virtual reality tours on-screen while riding your stationary bike, will ward off more than boredom - it could help you avoid dementia.
Published in the February issue of the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, the research examined whether exercising on a 'cybercycle' would offer greater protection against cognitive decline when compared with exercise alone.
...An aging Margaret Thatcher is revealed in theaters this week, with the release of the new film "Iron Lady". Meryl Streep portrays the now-86 year old former British prime minister - from her years as the first female leader of England (1979-1990), to today, as she struggles with dementia and frailty.
...One in three American adults is obese; in Canada, it's almost one in four. This epidemic of obesity is now starting in childhood, shortening the lives of citizens in both countries.
...When it comes to behavior changes to enhance your longevity - quit smoking, eat well, exercise regularly, reduce stress - motivation remains one of the toughest nuts to crack. You may know exactly what you need to do, but getting off the couch and doing it is something else altogether.
...The short answer is yes. Though the best time to get vaccinated for the seasonal flu is before the viruses have a chance to take hold (usually between October and December), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control have an ongoing public relations campaign to promote flu vaccination in the weeks following the Christmas holidays, trying to convince people it's not too late.
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(Compassionate Eye Foundation/Siri Stafford)
If you toast 'to long life' over the holidays, you've got research on your side. There's much scientific data suggesting that moderate drinkers who consume 1 - 2 alcoholic beverages a day, live longer than those who drink more than that - or even those who don't consume alcohol at all. The results are likely due to a reduction in cardiovascular events, like heart attack and stroke.
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Scan Procedures
Body ScansThe body scan, performed in a matter of minutes, screens for the presence of heart disease, certain cancers, as well as other abnormalities.
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