Social engagement and relationships Archive

Healthy aging and longevity

Movember: Stashing prostate and testicular cancer awareness into the limelight

Published November 22, 2016

Srini Pillay, MD

Brain science suggests “mind wandering” can help manage anxiety

Published November 17, 2016

The wandering mind can get stuck on negative thoughts and start to “react” to a perceived threat that feels very real–and makes you feel anxious. Naming the negative feeling associated with that thought and then helping your mind wander in a more positive direction can help.

Mind & Mood

Writing to ease grief and loss

Updated November 15, 2016

Some research suggests that disclosing deep emotions through writing can boost immune function as well as mood and well-being. Conversely, the stress of holding in strong feelings can ratchet up blood pressure and heart rate, and increase muscle tension.

Deeply troubling situations, such as suicide or a violent death, are best explored with the help of an experienced therapist. You might want to seek professional support to help you start to deal with your grief before trying journal writing. If you'd like to try keeping a journal to help you process feelings of grief, keep these things in mind:

Healthy aging and longevity

Surviving the flu season

Updated November 14, 2016

The odds of beating the bug are increasing as another new vaccine for seniors debuts.

Image: Bigstock

The flu season is upon us. Like that other season—winter—it can be unpredictable. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is doing its best to see that we're informed and as prepared as possible for whatever is in store. For updates throughout the flu season, check the CDC website, www.cdc.gov/flu.

How well does the flu shot work?

Why the flu shot is worthwhile

Flu vaccination may make your illness milder if you do get sick. A 2016 study indicated that people 50 or older who got a flu vaccination had a 57% lower risk of hospitalization for the flu than their contemporaries who weren't vaccinated. Flu vaccination has been associated with lower rates of heart attacks and related problems among people with heart disease and with reduced hospitalizations among people with diabetes and chronic lung disease.

Getting vaccinated yourself also protects people around you, including those who are more vulnerable to serious flu illness, like babies and people with certain chronic health conditions.

Vaccines for seniors

Healthy aging and longevity

Ask the doctor: Are activity trackers worthwhile for weight loss?

Updated November 14, 2016

If wearing an activity tracker results in more daily exercise but not a significant weight loss, it still provides health benefits.

Healthy aging and longevity

Two options for replacing lost teeth

Updated November 14, 2016

Missing teeth can lead to additional dental woes, but implants and bridges can restore your smile and improve your dental—and overall—health.

Few of us will make it through life with a full set of 32 teeth. By age 50, the average American has lost 12 permanent teeth to decay, gum disease, or injury. Losing teeth not only affects your smile, but can also alter your bite and weaken your jawbone as well.

There is little reason to let that happen. Advances in prosthetic dentistry have made it possible to fill the spaces with bridges and implants that are more functional and attractive than the teeth they have replaced. "Your mouth is the first organ of your digestive system. Missing teeth affect not just your appearance but your overall health," says Dr. German Gallucci, executive director of the Harvard Dental Center. "We view dentistry as an integral part of comprehensive health care."

Mind & Mood

Getting through grief

Updated November 14, 2016

At a time of loss, it's important to focus on maintaining your health and getting the support you need.

Image: natalie_broad/iStock

Losing a family member, a close friend, or even a beloved pet can be devastating. All the small details of daily life—getting out of bed, making meals, going to appointments, taking care of children, handling responsibilities at work—may seem monumentally hard or inconsequential. Yet, even as you grieve, you've probably been reminded that life must go on. But working through the emotional pain can be difficult, particularly during the holidays, when you may feel you are supposed to be celebrating.

The normal process of grieving

Help with coping

If you're grieving, it may help to do the following:

Take care of yourself. This means eating well, exercising, and getting enough sleep. It also means asking yourself, "What would help me most today?" and taking care of the need, be it having a good cry, talking to a friend, or going to the movies.

Let people know what helps. Often, people aren't sure how to act around you when you are grieving. They will be relieved if you tell them how they can help you, whether you want someone to pitch in with the laundry, sit quietly by, or share stories about your loved one. It's also fine to let people know if you'd like to be left alone.

Accept mixed feelings. It is entirely normal to have mixed emotions about the loss and about your loved one. It helps to express these so that other people understand what you are going through. Chances are, they've been there themselves.

Find others who understand. People who have also lost a loved one are likely to be more understanding. Many hospitals, religious organizations, and community groups have support groups for mourners, in which participants offer comfort and share coping strategies. When friends and family can't help in these ways, support groups often can.

Seek professional help. Grief and depression are hard to tell apart. The symptoms are similar, and so are the therapies. If you are finding yourself overwhelmed by grief, you may want to seek help from a professional. Psychiatrists, psychologists, and spiritual leaders are trained to help people through the grieving process. "We all want to help you to feel better and move through the world more easily," Dr. Miller says.