Yes, we know this sounds like we’ve got our heads screwed on backward, but it’s true (not the heads bit). You can buy happiness, if you know what boosts your pleasure. Read More

You don’t have to be a boxing champ or a concert cellist to need strong hands. Just imagine trying to get through a day without using your grip. How could Mehmet come to the rescue when Lisa Oz says, “Honey, can you open this?” How could Dr. Mike lift his weights or write his daily thank-yous? How long could you massage your lover’s back? And there’s this: Building hand strength in midlife protects you from disabilities later on and keeps you active longer. Read More

Message for men: If your go-to cargo carrier (gym bag, laptop case, toss-it-all-in tote) goes everywhere you do, you have joined the male fashion forefront. Also, the bad-back crowd. Women (whose purses now often tip the scales at seven to 15 pounds!) are not the only ones hauling too much stuff around by a set of skinny, shoulder-punishing straps. Guys are catching up. And Dr. Mike’s suffering, too. Read More

Ever been scanned, screened, poked or prodded in your own war against cancer? If the answer’s yes, here’s a fact worth celebrating: You’ve earned a place in medical history. Turns out that more screenings are one reason overall cancer rates are dropping. That’s the really good news in the latest 15-year cancer report. Read More

Got your heart set on a salmon dinner tonight? Eating as little as one serving a week of your favorite finned food can cut the risk of losing your sight by a darn important 42 percent, compared with folks who eat fish only once a month. This simple menu change could keep you from joining the 9 million U.S. adults over 40 who already have some vision loss from age-related macular degeneration. Nothing else (except quitting smoking) does more to prevent or slow the onset of this sight-stealer. So go fish! Even if it’s just in your grocery’s seafood department. Read More

Q: I constantly have to clear my throat, sometimes a few times in a row. What can I do about it? — Judith, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada A: Our first, not-so-wild guess is that you have post-nasal drip, most likely triggered by allergies. An antihistamine may prevent the lava flow of mucus from your sinuses that’s making you sound like you constantly want someone’s attention (ahem!). To be sure, let your doc shine a light on your problem, accompanied by a tongue depressor and the instructions, “Say ‘ahhhh.’” Read More

Polar bears do it. So do Nobel Prize winners, romantic couples and fun-lovers in London, Beijing and Lapland. We’re talking about play … swapping your endless to-do list for some spontaneous, giggly downtime. We’ve been watching a flurry of new research that underscores something we both believe in: Serious fun isn’t just for kids. It packs big benefits for your health, mood, mind, job and — most important — relationships. Read More