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When severe storms or hurricanes like Dorian sweep through communities with high winds and flooding, they can leave more than physical damage in their wake. New research suggests that dealing with the aftermath — which can include a damaged home and property — puts people at high risk for depression, anxiety and other mental health problems. “This study shows that exposure to extreme or even moderate weather events may result in ‘psychological casualties,’ with significant impacts on mental health,” said study author Hilary Graham, a professor in the Department of Health Sciences at the University of York in England. “This is reflective of the huge impact storms and flooding have on people’s lives as alongside the physical damage to homes and businesses, there is the emotional damage to the sense of security that many people derive from their home,” Graham explained in a university news release. “With extreme weather events on the rise due to climate change, environmental and health policies need to be brought much more closely together. This means recognizing that flood protection policies are also health protection policies,” Graham said. The level of risk to mental health is similar to that associated with living in a bad neighborhood, and even people whose homes suffer relatively minor damage are at risk for mental health problems, the researchers noted. In the study, they analyzed… read on >

Marriage has been said to deflect depression, stave off stress, even help people live longer. Now a new study says it may also decrease your chance of developing dementia. Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. Married people have a far lower chance of being diagnosed with this dreaded disorder than those who are divorced or separated, widowed, or never married, according to the study. And marriage is more protective than cohabitation, the study revealed. Divorced people have more than twice the odds for mental decline compared to married folks, the 14-year study found. And divorced men have it worse: They have a 2.6 times higher chance of developing dementia than married men, while divorced women have a 30% increased risk versus married women. “There are a lot of theories about why marriage might be good for general health,” says Hui Liu, lead investigator and professor of sociology at Michigan State University. “Married people, of course, are financially better off than those who do not have a spouse,” she said. “But there are factors other than economics that play just as strongly into this. There’s the social psychology benefit.” While the study only found an association rather than a cause-and-effect link, it noted that divorce can lead to financial and emotional stress, which may… read on >

Few ingredients span the range of international cuisines as much as garlic. Garlic has a rich and interesting history as both a flavoring and a medicinal food. The bulb of a plant in the allium family (along with onions and chives), garlic contains potent antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, and is immensely flavorful while being extremely low in calories. There are well over 30 varieties of garlic, from Elephant to Kettle River Giant and Transylvanian, all with a savory flavor. Though most recipes that call for garlic involve mincing raw cloves and adding as is to no-cook dishes or sauteeing it as part of a recipe, roasting garlic brings out its natural sweetness, reduces its pungency and turns each clove into a spreadable paste. Roasted garlic is great for salad dressings and dips, because it won’t overpower the other ingredients and it blends in smoothly. For cooked dishes, simply replace raw garlic with the equivalent amount of roasted garlic and reduce cooking time accordingly. For a quick snack, squeeze the garlic from a roasted clove onto a cracker and spread it like butter. Roasting one or more bulbs at once means you’ll have cooked garlic anytime you need it during the week ahead. Roasted Garlic 1 or more garlic heads 1/4 teaspoon salt for each head 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil for each head Preheat your… read on >

Driving while high on marijuana can be as dangerous and illegal as driving drunk, but unlike alcohol, there’s no way to detect pot on your breath. That could change, however, as University of Pittsburgh scientists are working hard to develop a breathalyzer that can measure the psychoactive ingredient in pot. Although the technology may work, many questions must be answered before police start checking drivers. “We envision that this sensor can be produced as a breathalyzer like an alcohol breathalyzer,” said lead researcher Alexander Star, a professor of chemistry and bioengineering. As more states legalize pot, it’s likely more drivers will get behind the wheel stoned. Since Washington state legalized marijuana in 2012, the number of drivers involved in fatal crashes who tested positive for marijuana rose from 8% in 2013 to 17% in 2014, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Since current testing relies on blood, urine or hair samples, it can’t be done in the field when a driver suspected of being high is pulled over. Using carbon nanotubes, however, Star’s team has found a way of detecting tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the ingredient in marijuana that creates a high, in a user’s breath. These hollow nanotubes are 100,000 times thinner than a human hair. The electrical components of molecules in the breath bind to the tubes. Since different molecules bind at different… read on >

It can happen when you’re stuck in traffic, or hunched over for hours at your desk, or even sitting in the stands watching your child’s lacrosse game — that painful twinge in the back of your neck. These fast and easy stretches can help, and you can do them anywhere. Repeat each one up to three times unless otherwise indicated, and rest for 10 seconds between each exercise. Stretch No. 1: Lower your chin to your chest as far as you can go without causing any pain. Hold for 20 seconds. Return to start, rest and repeat. Stretch No. 2: Without moving your shoulders, turn your head to the right as far as you can go. Hold for 20 seconds. Slowly bring your head all the way to the left and hold for 20 seconds. Return to center, rest and repeat. Stretch No. 3: Tilt your head to bring your right ear to right shoulder without moving the shoulder. Hold for 20 seconds. Switch to the left side and hold for 20 seconds. Return to center, rest and repeat the sequence. Stretch No. 4: Turn your head to the right and look behind you. From this position, raise your chin toward the ceiling. Hold for 20 seconds. Slowly return to start and repeat. Then switch to the other side and repeat. Stretch No. 5: Gently… read on >

Looking for an elegant dessert that’s healthy, too? Poached pears are ideal because they’re sweet and hold their shape well during cooking. They can also be topped with a sweet finish or a surprisingly tangy one. Either way, you can wow guests at your next dinner party. Pears are a filling fruit, high in fiber and a long list of antioxidants. They’re in season in the fall, but can often be found year-round. Bartlett, Bosc or any other variety will work well for this recipe. Just be sure to choose firmer pears so they don’t get soggy after poaching. Peeled pears can be poached in red or white wine, depending on the color you’d like them to have when cooked, but will be just as delicious using water and spices. Sweet or Savory Poached Pears 4 firm pears, such as Bosc or Bartlett 1 tablespoon honey 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon 2 ounces dark chocolate, melted 2 tablespoons slivered almonds 2 tablespoons crumbled blue cheese 2 tablespoons honey Peel pears and core them from the bottom so that the stems remain intact. Place in a large saucepan and cover with water. Add one tablespoon of honey and the cinnamon. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes until fork tender. Carefully remove with slotted spoon and chill… read on >

Decades spent on couches, chairs and otherwise not exercising could mean much shorter lives, new research shows. A Norwegian team who tracked health outcomes for more than 23,000 adults over 20 years found that those who were inactive over that time had twice the risk of a premature death, compared to those who were physically active. The take-home message from the study: “To get the maximum health benefits of physical activity in terms of protection against premature all-cause and cardiovascular death, you need to continue being physically active,” said study author Dr. Trine Moholdt of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. And it’s never too late to get off the sofa. “You can also reduce your risk by taking up physical activity later in life, even if you have not been active before,” Moholdt stressed. Her team was scheduled to present the findings Saturday at the annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), in Paris. The study involved Norwegians aged 20 and older who were grouped according to their activity levels, and assessed in two time periods (1984-1986 and 2006-2008). People were placed into one of three categories: inactive; moderately active (less than two hours of physical activity a week); or highly active (two or more hours per week). By the end of 2013, those who were inactive in both time periods… read on >

If you have high blood pressure, getting a flu shot could save your life, researchers say. A new study found that patients with high blood pressure who got a flu shot had a nearly 18% lower risk of dying during flu season. Previous research has found that the stress flu puts on the body may trigger heart attacks and strokes. Patients with high blood pressure already are at increased risk for both. For the study, researchers analyzed data from Denmark on more than 608,000 people, aged 18 to 100, with high blood pressure during nine flu seasons, from 2007 to 2016. The investigators looked at how many patients got a flu shot before each flu season and how many died. After adjusting for patient characteristics — such as age, health problems and medications — in a given flu season, flu vaccination was associated with an 18% lower risk of death from any cause; a 16% lower risk of death from any cardiovascular cause; and a 10% lower risk of death from heart attack or stroke. The findings were to be presented Sunday at the annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), in Paris. Research presented at meetings is typically considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal. “Given these results, it is my belief that all patients with high blood pressure should have… read on >

Men who are on the blood-thinning drug warfarin have more difficulty taking the medication if they live alone, but the same is not true for women, a new study finds. Warfarin (brand-name Coumadin) is a common anti-clotting treatment to prevent stroke in people with atrial fibrillation, the most common type of heart rhythm disorder. Continuous blood-monitoring is required for warfarin to be safe and effective. Too little of the drug may allow a blood clot to form and cause a stroke. Too much causes bleeding. Having ideal warfarin concentrations in the blood to prevent stroke and avoid bleeding is called time in therapeutic range (TTR). European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines say patients should be in TTR at least 70% of the time. In this study, researchers assessed nearly 4,800 patients in Denmark with six months of continuous warfarin use and monitoring. Median TTR in men living alone was 57% — 3.6% lower than in men who lived with partners. (Median means half had longer times, half shorter.) Women who lived alone had a 0.2% lower TTR than those who lived with partners, but the difference wasn’t significant, according to the study authors. The findings were presented Monday at the annual meeting of the ESC in Paris. Research presented at meetings is typically considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal. “Men living alone had… read on >

About half of all Americans take steps to limit or avoid saturated fats, the kind found in foods like fatty red meat and cream. But fewer than one-third stick to the limit set by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans to keep saturated fat intake under 10% of daily calories. You might be surprised to learn that the single biggest source of saturated fats — 35% — comes from mixed dishes, especially those with both cheese and meat. Think lasagna, burritos and pizza. A gram of fat has twice the calories of a gram of protein or carbohydrate, so if you’re trying to lose weight, cutting back on fat frees up calories for foods with greater volume. One way to scale back is by limiting prepared foods. Fat is often added to make them taste better, rather than to add any nutritional value. Home cooking lets you control fat content, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Rather than preparing complicated recipes, simplify by broiling or baking chicken or fish to serve with sides. Meat can be on the menu once or twice a week, but choose lean cuts of beef and pork, and trim away all the white fat you can. When you do make recipes that call for meat and cheese, replace half the meat with vegetables or beans. Use grated parmesan, which goes… read on >

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All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

Hurricanes Like Dorian Take Heavy Toll on Mental Health

Getting Hitched Might Lower Your Odds for Dementia

A Tasty, Good-for-You Treat: Roasted Garlic

Coming Soon: A ‘Pot Breathalyzer’?

Easy Neck Stretches for Tension Relief

Poached Pears, Two Ways

Long-Term ‘Couch Potatoes’ May Face Double the Odds for Early Death

Got High Blood Pressure? Get Your Flu Shot

For Men, Living Alone May Mean Poorer Control of Blood-Thinning Meds

5 Ways to Cut the Fat From Your Diet