Aging Well

How to make smart Medicare Open Enrollment choices for 2025

For people with Medicare, if ever there was a year to take its Open Enrollment (Oct. 15 to Dec. 7) seriously and choose coverage carefully, this is it. “It’s going to be challenging,” says Philip Moeller, author of the newly revised and updated “Get What’s Yours for Medicare: Maximize Your Coverage, Minimize Your Costs,” coming …

Life

Recruiters, beware: Narcissistic applicants are drawn to this kind of ‘seductive’ language in job postings

Every company wants to hire someone “ambitious” who “thinks outside the box,” right? Who “thinks strategically” and “communicates persuasively”? While recruiters may be tempted to pepper job postings with these keywords, which seemingly describe the ideal employee, a new study suggests such “rule-bender” language is apt to attract narcissistic applicants. What’s more, this type of …

Family

A third of women suffer long-term medical consequences after giving birth. These 9 ‘underreported’ health problems are impacting millions

Nearly 290,000 women around the world die in childbirth each year, and a third of those who survive develop a long-term health issue after pregnancy. That’s according to the series “Maternal health in the perinatal period and beyond,” published Wednesday in The Lancet Global Health.  Some of the most common post-pregnancy conditions, which can last …

Life

Chick-fil-A’s banana pudding milkshake is back. You won’t believe how many carbs it has

After a 13-year hiatus, Chick-fil-A has brought back a beloved treat: the Banana Pudding Milkshake. It’ll remain available (along with the resurrected Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich) for a limited time, starting on Aug. 26. “Every decision we make regarding our menu is extremely intentional,” said Chick-fil-A Director of Menu and Packaging Allison Duncan in a …

Aging Well

What is Medicare tax and who pays it? Experts explain

For the government to provide Medicare to 67.4 million people per month, it has to get the money from somewhere. That funding, totaling $1 trillion in 2023, comes from a combination of government contributions, payroll taxes, and monthly premiums paid by Medicare beneficiaries. Each part of Medicare is financed through different methods, and the funds …

Family

COVID guidelines have changed. Here’s when a sick kid can return to school

As schools reopen for another year, they are focused on improving student attendance. But back-to-school is hitting just as COVID-19 cases are increasing, raising the question: When is a child too sick for school? School absences surged during the pandemic and have yet to recover. Nearly 1 in 4 students remains chronically absent, defined as missing 10% or …

Aging Well

Will you live to 150? Here’s what 5 geneticists and aging researchers say

At the turn of the 20th Century, one could expect to live until 47 in the U.S. Now, medical advancements, like vaccines and antibiotics, and public health initiatives have increased life expectancy in the U.S. to 77 years old and 73 globally.  While health conditions and systemic barriers like socioeconomic inequities and environmental conditions play …

Aging Well

Staying fit as you age isn’t just about exercise. Experts say to prioritize these 4 habits

Dr. Bill Dorfman, a 64-year-old cosmetic dentist in Southern California, prides himself on looking years younger, a characteristic he attributes to good genes and a daily workout regimen.  Three days a week he focuses on abs and cardio; the other days are for lifting light weights at high reps.  Dorfman says he got serious about …

Aging Well

Your flexibility might predict your lifespan. Take this test to find out

In addition to regularly moving, reducing stress, and eating nutritious, whole foods, there’s another essential element to aging well: Flexibility.  A recent long-term study found that being more flexible was associated with living longer, even when factoring in age and health status. The study, published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, …

Aging Well

3 ancient foods are the staple of this blue zone’s longevity diet

Six areas across the globe are known as the blue zones, where a combination of culture, mindset, diet, and environment help their residents live longer and healthier lives than most.  While there isn’t a straightforward rulebook for longevity, there are key lessons from the people who live in blue zones that can help you create …