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Do Hair Dyes Cause Cancer?

If your hair is going gray, you may be one of the estimated one-third of adult women – and one-tenth of adult men – who decide to cover it up with chemical color. The treatments range from an occasional set of reverse highlights that put darker color back into hair, all the way to coloring roots to eliminate gray every three weeks. Some research data have suggested a higher incidence of certain cancers among hairdressers and barbers who use these preparations in their workplace, and among people who use them at home. Other studies have shown no link.

Look Great as You Age
Longevity Spotlight10

When Counting Sheep Doesn't Work

Friday January 27, 2012

Counting Sheep

(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.

Regardless of the cause, fractured sleep can often be improved through progressive relaxation techniques.  Counting sheep might work, possibly because it's just boring enough to help you doze off.  As someone with a busy mind that sometimes just won't shut off, I've discovered something that really does help, though it sounds a bit eccentric.

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Winter Help for Hands and Nails

Friday January 20, 2012

Woman Filing Nails

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.

I've interviewed dermatologists who say this is a common complaint among patients.  Apparently, petroleum jelly is a popular remedy for skin cracks on hands, as is Krazy Glue!

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Cybercycling May Save Cognitive Ability in Seniors

Wednesday January 18, 2012

Cybercycling Woman Union College

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.

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World Leaders Age, Too

Friday January 13, 2012

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.

In a radio interview with the BBC, the current Conservative prime minister, David Cameron, applauds Streep's "staggering piece of acting," but questions the timing of the film's release.

"It's a fantastic piece of acting by Meryl Streep," Cameron said in the interview. "But you can't help wondering why do we have to have this film right now?  It is a film much more about aging and elements of dementia rather than about an amazing prime minister."

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