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Massachusetts is facing a growing epidemic of opioid addiction and overdose deaths. Recent statistics from the Worcester DPH show opioid-related death rate increased from 59.6 per 100,000 in 2021 to 81.3 per 100,000 residents in 2022. With proper prevention, treatment and recovery support, this epidemic can be lessened when it's considered a chronic brain disease. 

For generations, too many women have believed that urinary leakage was something they simply had to live with, an inevitable consequence of getting older or having children. And they felt embarrassed about discussing it, so they kept quiet and often ended up isolating themselves socially to avoid accidents. What is a woman to do? 

Sudden cardiac arrest happens quickly and most often without warning. An electrical malfunction causes your heart to beat irregularly. Your brain doesn't get enough blood. Your lungs and other organs don't get enough blood. Within seconds, you have no pulse. Within minutes, you're dead.

Hold on. It's not all doom and gloom. There is good news. 

An object in motion, stays in motion. But what about your body? To keep yourself limber through the year, you must keep your body moving. This doesn't have to mean intense cardio or strength training. It could be as simple as a 30-minute walk every day. Need some help getting started?

The Benefits of Walking

Improve your mood - Exercise can help relieve tension and stress in the body and mind. Walking outside in the fresh air will do more to enhance your mood as you soak in a bit of vitamin D. 

"A glass of wine will help me relax." All too often people say this as a way to cope with the stress of everyday life. Phrases like, "It takes the edge off," and "Just one beer" shouldn't become your mantra when trying to unwind after a tough day at the office or a long night with the kids. Anxiety and alcohol use are often connected. Many times, people drink to relax and reduce anxiety, and in some instances, chronic alcohol abuse can lead to anxiety. 

So what can you do without reaching for the bottle of wine? 

Summer has finally approached, and it's time to travel! If you recently had joint replacement surgery, no need to worry - traveling is still in your future. If the proper actions are taken, it should be safe to travel soon after your surgery. 

Discuss your recovery timeline with your surgeon in advance for proper planning. 

Many people have concerns regarding traveling, but it's quite manageable. 

Below are some helpful tips to guide your travel planning: 

Prevent Blood Clots

When our prehistoric ancestors faced terrifying situations like a hungry wooly mammoth, their endocrine system would flood their bodies with the hormones adrenaline and cortisol. This "fight-or-flight" stress response provided a burst of energy so they could respond to the dangerous predator. 

Picture this: Someone enters a room full of people. He is social butterfly who is smiling, laughing, striking up conversations with anyone and everyone he makes eye contact with. 

Safe to assume everything is good with him, right? 

But what if someone told you that person was fighting a never-ending battle with depression. Would you believe it? 

That's been my life for more than a decade, but for the longest time no one knew it, even my wife, friends and family. 

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. That old saying certainly applies when it comes to staving off the visible signs of aging, such as fine lines, wrinkles, and sunspots. Dermatologists even have a term for it: prejuvenation. Is it true that Father Time's impact on our skin can be slowed down?