By Stacy Colino, AARP Fibbed about your drinking? Forgot to mention a certain herbal supplement? Why it's important to your health to come clean. You’re filling out forms at the doctor’s office, and you check the box indicating that you’ve never smoked or that you don’t suffer from depression — neglecting to mention your pack-a-day habit of 30 years ago or the antidepressant you took this morning. Or your physician asks about daily alcohol intake, and you subtract a goblet or

By Rachel Nania, AARP, April 2022 It’s not just salt and stress — foods, drinks, drugs and other factors can affect your numbers. People who watch their blood pressure are generally familiar with the more common factors that can cause their numbers to spike — salt and stress, for example. But a handful of unsuspected foods, habits and health issues can play a role, too, and sabotage well-intentioned efforts to lower high blood pressure, or hypertension, a condition that affec

By Kimberly Goad, AARP March 2022 While it’s true that your age or a family history of diabetes can affect your chances of developing the disease, your lifestyle plays a critical role, too. In fact, you may be surprised by how much a small number of daily habits can significantly raise your risk. Keep reading to see which matter most — and how to stay out of the danger zone. 1. Skipping breakfast There’s been a lot of back-and-forth over the value of breakfast to your health.

By Donna Fuscaldo, AARP, February 2022 Sun exposure is a major reason, but other factors are harder to control. Repetitive muscle movements, smoking and too much sun are leading causes of wrinkles. But even if you use sunblock religiously and steer clear of cigarettes, you’ll still get those lines and creases as you age. Wrinkles aren’t a serious medical condition, but the quest to get rid of them can cost you a fortune. That’s why sales of anti-wrinkle cosmetic products alon