When a patient goes under hospice care, their well being and comfort is the priority. But in this stressful time, families are often unable to care for the patient’s pet. But sometimes a pet's unequivocal love is exactly what the hospice patient needs. Now, a national organization is trying to help fix this problem. This week on WRVO's health and wellness show "Take Care," hosts Lorraine Rapp and Linda Lowen speak with the president and founder of Pet Peace of Mind, Dianne McGill. More of this

Hypnosis is often demonstrated in the entertainment world as someone dangling a stopwatch in front of another’s face telling them they’re “getting very sleepy,” and then when the person awakes, engaging in some bizarre behavior. But there’s more value to hypnosis than just entertainment. Hypnosis can be used to medically treat disorders that involve the brain -- such as anxiety, stress, pain, and bad habits. This week on “Take Care,” Dr. David Spiegel of Stanford University explains the medical

An estimated 20 to 30 percent of the population has trended toward gluten-free products in an attempt to avoid whole grains these days. According to Dr. Donald Hensrud of the Mayo Clinic, people who are not gluten intolerant should eat those whole grains for their many different health advantages. This week on “Take Care,” Hensrud , the medical director of the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program and editor of the No. 1 New York Times bestseller, “ The Mayo Clinic Diet ,” talks about what whole

The idea of cancer can make many of us uncomfortable, and with that discomfort can come uncertainty, and fears about our own mortality. But when a friend or relative is facing a diagnosis of cancer, that's when they need the most understanding and support. This week on “Take Care,” Dr. Mindy Greenstein , a cancer survivor herself, gives some advice on how to talk to someone who has cancer. Greenstein is a clinical psychologist, psycho-oncologist, and a consultant in the Department of Psychiatry

There are good bacteria and there are bad bacteria. No matter which kind gets on food, many people get grossed out by the thought. Scientists are not certain how these germs are transferred from one place to the next, but research has helped offer some tips to protect from contaminating food. This week on Take Care, Don Schaffner , a food microbiologist and professor at Rutgers University, shares what he has discovered on the subject as well as a few tips he uses within his own home.

The so-called “five-second rule” is something many of us cited when we drop a piece of food on the floor and then eat it anyway. But how does cross contamination of food really happen? This week on WRVO's health and wellness show "Take Care," hosts Lorraine Rapp and Linda Lowen speak with Don Schaffner, a Rutgers University food microbiologist and food safety expert about how bacteria transfers onto food. More of this interview can be heard on "Take Care," WRVO's health and wellness show

Recent research has suggested sitting all day is bad for a person’s health. According to U.S. News and World Report’s Anna Medaris Miller , standing desks have come in vogue due to companies using the research in marketing campaigns. But, she says solely standing is not the answer. This week on Take Care, Medaris talks about the benefits and harms of standing at work she learned while reporting her story “ 5 Ways Your Standing Desk Is Doing More Harm Than Good .”

Imagine you’re in an enclosed space that you feel you can’t escape easily, like a crowded elevator or a room with no windows. For some, this can automatically trigger their response to get out of there, or cause avoidance of these situations altogether. Claustrophobia can cause these feelings, and is something many people can suffer from. This week on “Take Care,” Dr. Robin Zasio , a psychologist who specializes in treating OCD, anxiety disorders, and related conditions, helps define

Many Americans spend a good portion of the day sitting. Between a 40-hour work week and a commute, time spent sitting adds up, as do the associated health problems. Enter the standing desk. A popular option, the standing desk may be an effective way to combat risk factors associated with sitting. But it's not just sitting that gets a bad rap. Standing for long periods of time can also take a toll on the body. Nurses, teachers and other professionals often complain of back pain and other stress

We can all be a bit forgetful sometimes, but when it becomes a life concerning issue, like dementia, there isn’t much that can be done in terms of treatment. However, new research suggests there may be action that can be taken in terms of prevention. This week on “Take Care,” science and medical journalist Dan Hurley tells us how brain training games may lead to a significant reduction in risk for dementia. Hurley wrote the article, “ Could Brain Training Prevent Dementia? ” for the New Yorker