Lifestyle

A study conducted at two retirement homes in Nebraska suggests that “happiness training” can have a significant impact on quality of life for seniors. Professors and students from the University of Nebraska -- Kearney implemented a program called the Wonderful Life Project at one senior home, Riverside Lodge, while another home, Northridge Senior Living, was used as a control. The researchers announced March 2 that after a year of happiness coaching, seniors at Riverside Lodge had maintained their activity levels, while seniors at Northridge had dropped their activity levels by two points on a 20-point scale. This is significant, they said, because activity levels correlate to happiness as well as self-care ability. “If we can help to manage a decline in activities of daily living, then...

This season’s premiere of The Voice introduced yet another inspiring contestant to fans when Treeva Gibson, a 16-year-old Maryland native, was put through to the top 48 despite contending with hearing loss. Though one in four people in the U.S. above the age of 65 struggle with disabling hearing loss, it's extremely difficult for teenagers to cope with this problem -- especially while trying to perform. The singing show works by having contestants audition for famous musicians, who then act as coaches and choose singers to compete against each other. A combination of the judges’ opinions and public voting determines who stays on the show and who is kicked off after the initial auditions. The show started its eighth season Feb. 23, and will conclude in May. Gibson’s hearing loss prevents ...

Need a way to turn up the heat and burn more calories? Consider adding more hot chili peppers to your diet. University of Wyoming researchers believe that capsaicin -- the fiery component that gives peppers their heat -- can potentially override a high-fat diet. As Medical Daily reports, the researchers added 0.01% of capsaicin to lab mice that were on high-fat diets, and found that the weight of the mice plateaued in those carrying the TRPV1 protein, despite the fatty diet. The researchers believe that capsaicin converts fat-storing white cells into fat-burning brown cells through the process of thermogenics, which is what happens during exercise. Once it's been activated, brown fat can burn up to 300 calories in 24 hours. Studies have also shown that brown fat can also help the body c...

It's common knowledge that law enforcement officials sometimes set up DUI checkpoints, particularly on popular party holidays like New Year's Eve and St. Patrick's Day. Usually located on major routes, these checkpoints allow officers to stop each car that goes by and check for any suspicious behavior that could indicate DUI. What many drivers don't know, however, is that there is a loophole that could keep them from being charged. Driving under the influence in most of the United States means operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of 0.08% or higher. At a DUI checkpoint, officers generally check for the smell of alcohol, slurred speech, or any other obvious indicator that a person may be driving drunk. A new campaign by Fair DUI Flyer seeks to educate drivers...

As housing costs and rents in cities like New York and San Francisco continue their upward trend, more people are looking to downsize and reduce spending. The growing movement of people building and living in tiny houses has influenced developers in larger cities to consider building tiny apartments for single tenants. In New York, the city had to waive current zoning laws that require apartments to be at least 400 square feet to allow the construction of My Micro NY, the first apartment complex of its kind. Featuring studio apartments between 260 and 360 square feet, My Micro NY offers amenities such as large windows, storage units, and common living spaces. Units will have nine foot ceilings, kitchenettes, and wheelchair-accessible bathrooms. Rents will be set between $2,000 and $3,00...

Xeriscaping, also known as drought tolerant landscaping, is gaining ground in states such as California and Arizona, especially as water bills have residents looking for relief. Landscapers in those areas are working hard to demonstrate that xeriscaping, while focusing on less thirsty plants, needn’t be dull or dry itself. When some people think of desert landscaping, “they picture in their minds rock, gravel and cactus,” Melanie Mackenzie, a landscape designer, told a reporter for the Visalia Times-Delta at the recent Spring Fest Home and Patio Show. “And that’s just not it.” Mackenzie, along with numerous other exhibitors at the California show, are part of the growing movement demonstrating that xeriscaping can include lush vegetation and flowers, as well as prickly cacti. The messag...

Low testosterone, or "low T," is gaining more awareness as the controversy over its exact nature and proper treatment gains traction as well. According to U.S. News and World Report, low testosterone is a serious medical condition that affects 6% of adult men. However, patients should be wary of certain purported "treatments" that some claim are harmful. Low testosterone is simply defined as having an unusually low level of the hormone, which would be considered lower than 250 to 300 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dl). Such levels indicate the patient is at risk for serious medical ailments such as lowered libido, decreased strength and energy, increased body fat levels, sleep problems, depression, and osteoporosis. There are also reports of a causal correlation between low T and lowere...

Many people who seek a cosmetic surgery procedure ask for the most-envied features of today's most famous celebrities. From Angelina Jolie's signature pout to Beyoncé's radiant glow, it's certainly not uncommon for someone to want to look like his or her favorite modern-day stars. But the fact that one woman recently spent $30,000 on plastic surgery procedures to look just like 90s Baywatch babe Pamela Anderson might have you thinking it's 1995, not 2015. According to In Touch Weekly, 28-year-old Carolyn Anderson, a native of Liverpool, England, said she has dedicated two decades to transforming her look through various procedures, inspired by her dad pointing out her resemblance to Anderson when she was just 10. Anderson -- who isn't related to her idol, despite their shared last...

In recent years, anti aging hormone therapy has become one of the newest treatments for patients looking to unveil healthier, younger-looking skin and bodies. However, many medical professionals have speculated that the use of even naturally occurring hormones could have unintended consequences on a person's overall health -- particularly testosterone as it affects cardiovascular health. Now, a new study reports that not only is there no convincing evidence linking cardiovascular risk with testosterone treatments, but there may be a beneficial relationship between the hormone therapy and cardiovascular health. Testosterone therapy has been used as a medical treatment for conditions for centuries. To disprove claims of its risk level, a team of researchers from various institutions and fi...

Electronic cigarette users on San Francisco's Bay Area Rapid Transit system are out of luck if they're hoping to vape during their commutes. On Thursday, Feb. 12, the BART directors voted unanimously to ban the devices on all of their trains and in all BART stations. The measure was backed by the American Lung Association and other health groups on the grounds that the secondhand vapors and particle pollution from the e-cigs can harm other passengers. BART directors made the decision to ban use of the devices after getting many complaints from other riders about secondhand vapors, according to BART spokesman Taylor Huckaby. Vaping, or using an Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS), has caught on in recent years as a smokeless alternative to tobacco cigarettes. Devices range from s...