We all have a friend or two we’ve known for years and still adore. Too often, these gems don’t live near us anymore. We can count on them for support and great conversation, but that happens by phone and text these days. 

As much as we love our dearest friends far away, they can’t fulfill our inherent needs as social creatures. To thrive, we also need social connection closer to home, people in our neighborhoods whom we can count on not just for support, but also to change a lightbulb, or bring over a cup of sugar, or give us a lift to a doctor appointment. 

America has a loneliness problem. 

A report released in 2020 found that more than three in five adults are lonely. Many say they feel left out, poorly understood or short on companionship. 

Loneliness is associated with poor health outcomes including cognitive decline, depression and longer hospital stays. Social isolation coupled with stress has been linked to an increased risk of death from heart attacks. 

COVID-19 is a respiratory disease that can wreak havoc on your health. While most people experience symptoms similar to a strong cold or bout of flu and recover within a few weeks, some people develop serious complications such as lung infections, pneumonia and acute respiratory failure. They may also be saddled with permanent damage to the liver, kidneys, lungs and heart.

Another company says its coronavirus vaccine is more than 90 percent effective. Moderna, which is most of the way through phase 3 testing on a vaccine to prevent COVID-19, says its mRNA vaccine has reached 95 percent efficacy in preventing coronavirus infections. The data is preliminary.
 

Like exercise, nutrition is an important component of maintaining your brain health. Studies show that following the right diet and eating the right foods can help improve your cognitive function. 

While certain foods are commonly associated with a healthier brain, we know that a healthy dietary pattern including lots of fruits, veggies, legumes and whole grains — the kind of foods that are part of a Mediterranean diet — can help keep your brain healthy and dementia at bay.

Chronic inflammation has been linked to chronic diseases, autoimmune disorders, musculoskeletal pain, mental health issues and gut biome-related problems. And while medications are often the treatment of choice in lowering inflammation, psychological and behavioral therapies may be just as effective in controlling disease-casing inflammation, according to a study published in JAMA Psychiatry. 

When you’re stressed out, indulging in your favorite, high-fat comfort foods may hit the spot. But doing so may interfere with your ability to concentrate, according to a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The Ohio State University researchers found that just one meal high in saturated fat can impair your focus. 

In what could be a major leap forward in vaccine development for COVID-19, both Pfizer and Moderna have announced  their vaccines are 95 percent effective in preventing the coronavirus. This efficacy is far and above the 50 percent required by the Food and Drug Administration for approval of a vaccine for the virus that causes COVID-19. 

The companies expect to apply for emergency use authorizations from the FDA in the coming weeks

If successful, the vaccines will be the first of their type approved by the FDA.

If you’re feeling like the virus will never end, you’re not alone. We’re now entering our ninth month since the pandemic officially began —nine months without normalcy.

 Finding a new primary care physician can be a challenge because so many are booked for months in advance and may not be able to see you quickly. Others may not be willing to see you at all. Even finding strong leads presents difficulties.

 These tips on choosing a primary care doctor can help streamline the process and bring you closer to finding the best primary care doctor for you.