June 15, 2020

Pets: Big Pandemic Stress Reducers

FRIDAY, June 5, 2020 -- June is time for people to bond with their pets, the American Heart Association says.

Throughout the month, the AHA encourages people to make pets part of their workday as routines shift during the coronavirus pandemic.

June 15, 2020

Tai Chi Could Be Good Medicine for Heart Patients

TUESDAY, June 9, 2020 -- Tai chi might be just what doctors should order for their heart patients, new research suggests.

Many of these folks experience anxiety, stress and depression. For example, depression affects about 20% of people with heart disease or heart failure, 27% of those with high blood pressure, and 35% of stroke survivors.

May 11, 2020

Gentle Yoga May Deliver Migraine Relief

WEDNESDAY, May 6, 2020 -- People suffering from regular migraines despite medication might consider investing in a yoga mat.

That's according to a new trial that tested the effects of a gentle yoga practice -- with slow-paced physical postures, breathing exercises and relaxation. Researchers found that people who added the practice to their usual migraine medication suffered about half as many headache attacks as they normally did.

May 11, 2020

Healthy Vitamin D Levels Could Be Linked to COVID-19 Survival

FRIDAY, May 8, 2020 -- There's been much speculation about whether vitamin D might prevent or help survival with COVID-19, and two new studies appear to underscore the link.

In the first study -- published in the journal Aging Clinical and Experimental Research -- British researchers found that COVID-19 infections and deaths were higher in countries where people had low vitamin D levels, such as Italy and Spain, compared to northern European countries where average vitamin D levels were higher.

May 5, 2020

Mindfulness a Powerful Tool for Aging

THURSDAY, April 2, 2020 -- Mindfulness may explain why many older people feel their life has gotten better with age, a new study suggests.

Mindfulness is being aware of your experiences and paying attention to the present moment in a purposeful, receptive and non-judgmental way, and it can help reduce stress and promote good mental health, according to the Flinders University researchers.