Creaky and achy knee, or other joint, may be weather dependent. Learn more about this common issue and how to handle that.

Watch 6-minute video of hand exercises that you can incorporate at any time of your day when hands feel stiff and tired.

Car meditation? Well, perhaps not, especially with eyes closed. However there are many ways to make a car ride more relaxing and enjoyable. Try poetry. Part one poetry reading is here. Book selection is Caroline Kennedy’s “She Walks in Beauty”, eclectic mix not only about love and not only for women.

Celebrate end of the year with positive attitude and reflect on service to others. This 5 minute reflective audio may help you visualize and develop attitude of gratefulness for good things that happen in your life through caring and caring profession. This audio can be played anytime you need positive lift and re-direction.

Look and Feel Your Best No Matter What Life Throws at You. During the past year with COVID-19, physical and mental health for many people has taken a hit. But no matter the obstacles in your life, you can look and feel your best by taking care of yourself. Even though you may not always have much energy, taking care of yourself now will make you healthier and happier in the long term.

What to do to have healthy and happy feet, to enjoy walk, run, ballet class? I explore that in Feet Series. This episode deals with Plantar Fasciitis. I talk about it with foot expert, podiatrist Dr. DeHaven.

I sat down for few minutes (six to be exact) with my colleague and podiatrist Dr. Jordan DeHaven to talk about foot arthritis, especially in big toe. We also chatted about foot-gear choices we make. Dr. DeHaven is also an educator and that is why when he talks I listen.

Probability of foot issues increases with age and is related to a multitude of factors, like loss of cartilage, previous injuries, weak muscles and tendons among others. And while foot pain is a common complaint to musculoskeletal doctors and their clinics staff, that being rheumatologists, orthopedists who specialize in foot and ankle disorders, and of course podiatrist, it is not the subject that has been thoroughly studied and understood.

Podcast on balance with Libby Lykins, author, clinician and creator.

Healthy bowel movement is a topic of this post. Whether you find it elegant or too embarrassing to talk about I bet my money that you sit on toilet at least a few times a week. We all do. So do not be shy, but learn more how to be gut happy.

One conversation I had recently with a patient was an inspiration to write this post. I was asking them what they are drinking to stay hydrated throughout the day, and they told me that after they are done with one morning coffee, then another cup of coffee, that's pretty much it, then they have to push themselves to stay hydrated at all because they do not like the taste of plain water.

If you have been following what’s going on in the wellness or preventive health measures movement, you most likely noticed the popularity and momentum gained by any type of mindfulness practices. Many of the practices moved totally in the virtual and app space. I have been exploring them for some time now.

When I think about nutrition for the brain it would be so simplistic to write: eat dark chocolate, blueberries, concentrate on reducing saturated fats, eat frequent nutritious meals, but allow 8 hour fast (if your health allows that)and make sure not to skip meals for longer than needed. 

However I think it is very crucial here that we think about how we live, where we live and what season of the year we are observing to choose the healthiest brain recipes. 

Elizabeth Goldberg, MD agreed to talk to me about very interesting aspect of aging and brain/sensory related changes in nervous system that may cause falls. As a rheumatologist I vividly see how drastic life of my patients changes after falls. Aging skeleton is one of factors that predisposes to falls, but it really is multitude cognitive and other components that we have power to change, or at least understand and adjust, to prevent the unfortunate events of falls.

In part one and two I introduced and expanded on the concept of brain health, the importance of stress reduction and weapons we all can use to prevent brain decay - exercise and its biology. Today I will keep explaining additional brain benefits of exercise. I will also tackle a few ideas how stress hormones can contribute to brain damage and what to do to prevent that.

This weekend I tuned into Rhode Island’s BrainWeek Conference that just came to the end, but is available on the website. There is even virtual theater performance with topic, brain of course. The YouTube videos of events will be available as well.

One of the most potent weapons we have against aging of our brains and improving its function comes from exercise and the most compelling evidence about it comes from animal research, and few human-based studies.

I think of a brain as I think of a grain (even the shape of it is provokingly similar to the shape of the brain). In order for that grain to grow you have to cultivate it, prevent from too much sun, under or overwatering or insect infestation. You may need to add special nutrition to the mix for the grain to grow into your desired plant. And then finally you put some effort into growing the grain and you see how it branches out and shows as talented leaves, petals, nectars that attract pollinators like honey-bees. In the next few months I want to concentrate on ideas on how to age gracefully or rather - how to grow older gracefully and I start with command center, the brain.

I want to celebrate love, dedication and trust that comes with those feelings by getting rid of one day love holiday or 3-day expiration date on Valentine’s Day flowers.

I however could not call myself a New Englander if I did not take to this and other winter exercises with at least a healthy degree of curiosity. I love brisk walk, snowshoe walk, cross-country hike on trails.