The Enemy Within: Autoimmune Disease is on the Rise

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A condition that is thought to have tripled in prevalence over the last 50 years, impacting over 23 million people, could justifiably be seen as an epidemic, or at least, a growing health concern. Autoimmune diseases, though, are not often thought of in that way because they manifest as 80+ different illnesses that nevertheless share the same root cause: a …

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20,000 and You: Unlocking the Genetic Code

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In just the past few years, there has been a significant shift in the practical uses of genetic testing, which examines changes, or variants, in your genes that may lead to illness or disease. Once considered more of an investment in the future and less applicable to individual patient care, opportunities to guide health and lifestyle decisions in the here …

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Step Up to the Plate: Nutritionists Weigh in on Healthy Eating

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Picturing a healthy meal has never been more accessible, thanks to the ubiquity of visual aids such as MyPlate, successor to the well-known Food Pyramid of the ‘90s. A quick scan of the plate’s quadrants enables users to see at a glance proportions of vegetables, proteins and other foods recommended for a nutritionally balanced day of eating. Hailed as a …

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Got Milk? Or Calcium Supplements? Or Neither?

HealthWise_Winter2016_Hasson-1-300x248 - Got Milk? Or Calcium Supplements? Or Neither?

Calcium, so essential to strong bones and teeth, as well as nerve transmission, muscle contraction and blood clotting, can be in short supply as we age. Exactly how much is needed of this important mineral, and Vitamin D, its companion to ensure optimal absorption, has been the subject of intense scrutiny over several decades. However, a clear cut consensus has …

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Aging Well, Aging Healthy…a continuing series

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As almost 10,000 Baby Boomers officially become senior citizens each day, the focus on preventing and treating age-related ailments becomes distinctly more urgent. HealthWise presents an ongoing look at research that provides valuable insights to help today’s seniors – and the generations set to follow – create a vibrant next chapter. We began with strategies to keep the aging brain …

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Salt Shake Down: Sodium Reduction is on the Table

Turkey sandwiches…soups…deli meats. Are these the building blocks of a healthy meal or stealthy contributors of excess sodium? Both, according to experts, but improved versions are in the works, thanks to June 2016 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended guidelines and commitments from food manufacturers and restaurant operators to shake down the salt. Implicated in a litany of ills from …

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Bring It Down: Healthy Blood Pressure Numbers May Go Even Lower

HealthWise_Summer2016_Hasson-FINAL-1-300x153 - Bring It Down: Healthy Blood Pressure Numbers May Go Even Lower

If you’ve ever wondered why a blood pressure check is part of almost every visit to a doctor’s office, consider what is communicated through the familiar black cuff in just a few seconds. The force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps is a critical measure of how well your heart muscle works – …

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The Painful New Reality of Opioid Prescriptions

HealthWise_Summer2016_Hasson-FINAL-300x291 - The Painful New Reality of Opioid Prescriptions

Nothing erodes the quality of life faster than pain and unfortunately more than half of American adults report they live with it on a chronic, recurring basis. That makes it easy to understand why, when seemingly safe, effective opioid drugs became widely available in the 1990s, they were quickly embraced by physicians and patients. Considered one of the most promising …

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Is What You’re Reading What You’re Eating?

HealthWise_Spring2016_Hasson-2-300x119 - Is What You’re Reading What You’re Eating?

While the evidence is not yet in on the enhanced nutritional value of organic or natural foods, consumers appear to have made their own decision.  The latest research shows more than 62 percent of Americans now regularly shop for these types of products and pay premium prices for ‘farm to table’ dishes when dining out. Many questions remain, however, chief among …

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