By Sam Graceffo, M.D.

The current recommendation regarding exercise calls for at least 30 minutes of moderately intense exercise five times per week. This amount of activity is likely to limit weight gain and reduce the incidence of conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. But very few Americans reach even this minimum level. 

By Sam Graceffo, M.D.

the age-old illusion of youth

By Sam Graceffo, M.D.

Youngsters often wish they could speed up time and enter adulthood. Older folks sometimes wish they could slow down the clock in order to delay reaching geriatric status. But, unless death comes early, we will become older. As Groucho Marx put it, “Anyone can get old. All you have to do is live long enough.”

Paleontologists present new evidence linking birds with their Stone Age relatives

By Sam Graceffo, M.D.

Viewers of the Steven Spielberg adventure flick Jurassic Park saw a variety of prehistoric creatures depicted, most notably a nasty, human-sized velociraptor. Although the movie version of this dinosaur did not show feathers, recent findings indicate it did indeed have them.

A new study reveals that people in longtime relationships still haven’t lost that lovin’ feeling

By Sam Graceffo, M.D.

Boy meets girl, they start dating, fall passionately in love and get married. Alas, these romantic emotions of early affection sometimes begin to fade after time. Most experts in the psychology of relationships believe that amorous feelings all but disappear after one or two years of togetherness.

By Sam Graceffo, M.D.

Although alcoholism occurs in women, it is often thought of as a man’s disorder, since it is so much more common in males. Tara Chaplin and her team at Yale University reported in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research on a possible explanation for the increased incidence in men.

It’s not easy deciding whether to pursue certain

objectives or throw in the towel

By Sam Graceffo, M.D.

development of breast cancer

By Sam Graceffo, M.D.

Michael Leitzmann and his team of researchers at the National Cancer Institute reported a remarkable new finding: The risk of developing breast cancer can be reduced by 30 percent through vigorous exercise.

but also contribute to later health woes

By Sam Graceffo, M.D.

You wouldn’t think that someone who runs every day has much in common with one who regularly frequents a tanning parlor. Recent findings, however, indicate that they both may be habituated to their activity due to the feel-good effects of endorphins.