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Strategies to manage and tame stress

METRO — Stress is a part of life. In small doses, stress can have a positive effect. But when stress is chronic, it can take its toll on the body and mind. Stress can make people irritable and cause them to lash out at others. Stress also can contribute to high blood pressure and adversely affect sleep. When confronting chronic stress, individuals may have to take action to find relief. These stress-busting strategies can help. — Engage in physical activity. The Mayo Clinic says any form of exercise can help relieve stress. Physical activity boosts chemicals in the brain and ...

Surprise finding sheds light on what causes Huntington’s disease, a devastating fatal brain disorder

Scientists are unraveling the mystery of what triggers Huntington’s disease, a devastating and fatal hereditary disorder that strikes in the prime of life, causing nerve cells in parts of the brain to break down and die. The genetic mutation linked to Huntington’s has long been known, but scientists haven’t understood how people could have the mutation from birth, but not develop any problems until later in life. New research shows that the mutation is, surprisingly, harmless for decades. But it quietly grows into a larger mutation — until it eventually crosses a threshold, ...

Haven Place nurse amongst those recognized with DAISY awards

LOCK HAVEN — Sue Packer, RN, senior assessment coordinator, Haven Place, part of UPMC Senior Communities; Lindsay Derrick, RN, UPMC Home Healthcare of Central Pennsylvania and Family Hospice; and Nick Hults, LPN, Emergency Department, UPMC Wellsboro, were recently recognized as recipients ...

Wireless technology update and hearing aids

I last wrote on this topic five years ago and wanted to update some new information. The hearing aid industry, like all other electronic industries, took the step from transistors to digital circuitry in the late 1990s. This new electronic capability started the march towards smaller hearing aids. Making hearing aids smaller was the research and development direction for the past 20 years. Now the focus is on hearing aids that have wireless ability. Wireless technology means “a broad term that encompasses all sorts of technologies and devices that transmit data over the air rather ...

HPV vaccine: Get your questions answered

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection, and most people will have exposure at some time in their lives. HPV is the virus that causes genital warts, but some strains can lead to various types of cancer later in life, including cervical, vaginal, ...