Health

Some days, stress doesn’t feel like a big dramatic breakdown—it’s the slow build-up. The inbox that never empties. The toddler who won’t nap. The simmering what-if thoughts that play in the background while you're trying to remember if you already added garlic to the pasta sauce.

For something that’s supposed to make life easier, Medicare Open Enrollment often feels like stepping into a bureaucratic maze—full of fine print, shifting plan options, and fast-approaching deadlines that can sneak up on even the most organized among us. Whether you’re a first-timer or someone who’s been enrolled for years, figuring out what coverage actually suits your needs can feel more complicated than it needs to be.

The first time I saw someone walking backward at the track, I’ll admit I thought it looked odd. My instinct was to assume they were stretching or maybe just being playful. Then I noticed it again—at a park, in a gym hallway, and finally in a research article that made me pause: backward walking wasn’t just quirky, it was evidence-backed and surprisingly beneficial for joints, balance, and even cognitive function.

What is sleep apnea? It is a disease that can be potentially serious, one which is characterized by repeated episodes where you stop breathing during sleep. If you live alone, you may not realize that you have the disease, at least not as quickly as those who live with others. Clearly, another person may notice that you're not breathing during sleep and attempt to wake you.

As the world dons a snowy blanket and temperatures dip to chilly lows, it's easy to want to curl up under a warm quilt with a cup of hot cocoa. With its frost-kissed mornings and cozy evenings, winter often tempts us to sideline our fitness regime and indulge in comfort foods. However, this season of cold weather and shorter days doesn't have to signal an end to your wellness journey.

People from all walks of life are affected by mental illness. Unfortunately, there is still a stigma associated with mental illness. The truth is, many more people struggle than most people realize. Mental illness is no different than a physical illness such as cancer or heart disease. It is a very real diagnosis and it isn't something that a person can simply “get over.” People don't choose to have mental illness. Fortunately, there are effective treatments available for many of these disorders. For example, more than three million people are affected by the disease called bipolar disorder (1).

Picture this: you've worked hard all your life, and now the golden years of retirement are just around the corner. It's time to slow down, enjoy your passions, and reap the rewards of your lifelong labor. But there's one last hurdle to cross—Medicare enrollment.

Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative neurologic condition that causes the brain to shrink and the brain cells' death. It leads to a decline in thinking, social and behavioral skills, and eventually loss of cognitive function in its early stages. According to the National Institute on Aging, it is the sixth leading cause of death in the US.[1]

I still remember the first time I learned that not all sweet foods are created equal. I was sitting across from a friend—someone who’d been managing type 2 diabetes for years—watching her drizzle almond butter over a sliced pear. It looked delicious, but I asked the obvious: “Wait, doesn’t fruit spike your blood sugar?”

Arthritis is a condition that’s been around for awhile. In fact, recently discovered fossils indicate that dinosaurs exhibited similar symptoms of arthritis. (1) Even the Egyptians, Neanderthals, and Native American tribes have historically shown signs of various forms of arthritis.

Type 2 diabetes has been around for thousands of years. In the 1930s, Sir Harold Percival Himsworth provided research proving the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. (1) According to his studies, both types of diabetes deal with problems with insulin. However, type 1 deals with deficiency while type 2 addresses resistance.

When your skin raises questions you can't ignore, finding clear answers becomes essential for both comfort and confidence.