Blog Posts by ThirdAge.com

When tennis great Venus Williams pulled out of the second-round match at the U.S. Open on Wednesday, August 31 after revealing that she has Sjogren's (SHOW-grins) syndrome, people everywhere were scratching their heads and wondering just exactly what this disease is. Turns out it's an autoimmune condition that most often strikes women over 40 - and it's far from the only obscure medical condition that most of us don't even know exists. We don't mean to give you "medical student's disease" - the feeling that, yikes, you have all the symptoms of a disorder you're reading about for the first time - but we thought it would be interesting to highlight some unsung maladies that are more common than you'd think. Let's start with Venus's health issue.

Sjogren's Syndrome.
Typical symptoms are pain, fatigue, dry eyes and a dry mouth because of decreased production of tears and saliva. Other symptoms may include joint pain, swelling, and stiffness, skin rashes and dry skin, vaginal

When you're new to online dating, there are many things that seem confusing. You may feel surprised, even overwhelmed when overnight you get 40 winks (and I don't mean sleep.) after you've first posted your pic and profile. Or you may feel wildly giddy when men come out of the woodwork to give you the rush. Then you make a connection with a person you think you'd like to date. You begin emailing and texting with him. It's fun, it's light, you're giving and getting good banter. This goes on for a few days. You thought things were going great and then, suddenly, nada. You never hear from him again.

What gives?

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A man friend of mine who is a seasoned, successful online dater was kind enough to share a wealth of info he's collected from his two-year online dating experience. Ladies, listen up. It's real stuff, so definitely take heed.

"Sometimes after several exchanges, I stop

By drinking green tea, you may be able to limit how much fat is absorbed into your body, a new study says. According to the Daily Mail, scientists at Pennsylvania State University have found a compound in the herbal drink that slowed weight gain in mice.

And the mice used in the study were already obese, said research author Joshua Lambert. Two groups of the mice were fed on a high-fat diet, with one group also consuming EGCG, a compound found in most green teas. Throughout the experiment, the mice who were on the compound gained weight 45 percent more slowly than the other mice.

"Our results suggest that if you supplement with EGCG or green tea, you gain weight more slowly," Lambert said.

He explained that the compound in green tea seemed to increase fecal lipids, which limited fat absorption.

"There seems to be two prongs to this," he said. "First, EGCG reduces the ability to absorb fat and, second, it enhances the ability to use fat."

In order for humans to

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George Clooney Gets Grumpy

At this stage in life, many women, due to divorce or widowhood, find themselves alone. Most would prefer to be part of a couple. Its often hard to meet someone new, and even more difficult to know whether the person you get involved with will be the right one.

No one is perfect, but there are certain signs that can help you make a sound decision. Though relationships are emotionally driven, thinking clearly will help you assess if a guy is right for you.

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1. Do the two of you share the same beliefs? Your values will determine how your lives and time are shared. Though you dont have to agree on everything, the more theres alignment in your core beliefs, the easier life will be.

See Also: 5 Tips to Healthy Arguments

2. How does he handle disagreements? Couples have conflicts. Whats important is how he manages the dispute. Is he respectful vs. shutting down or not addressing

George Clooney has been on the campaign trail lately, but he's not running for political office. Not in this lifetime, anyway.

"I have a really good job. I get to hang out with very seductive people," the actor-director of the new political thriller "The Ides of March" told reporters during a press conference at the Venice Film Festival recently. Clooney plays a politician in pursuit of his party's presidential nomination. But responding to a question about his own aspirations when it comes to American politics, Clooney shivered, then replied, "Me, running for president? Look, there's a guy in office right now who's smarter than almost anyone you know, who's nicer and has more compassion than anyone you know and he's having an almost impossible time governing. Why would anyone really volunteer for that job? I have no interest in that."

See Also: The Men Of Our Lives

What the 50-year-old Hollywood superstar is fascinated by is the opportunity to control his own destiny,

Listen up, ladies. This article is for the man you love but it's also for you. Study after study has shown that men are less likely to take good care of their health than women are and that they are also less likely to heed symptoms and get annual check-ups. A corollary of those trends is that women are typically the family watchdogs when it comes to making sure that not only the kids but also the man of the house stay healthy.

Hint: Print out this article and leave it on the nightstand on his side of the bed. He just might sneak a read and get smarter about wellness. And even if he doesn't start taking charge, you'll know how to nudge him. Oh, and our expert for the advice you're about to read, Marie Savard, M.D., is not only Medical Contributor to "Good Morning America" and the author most recently of "Ask Dr. Marie," but she also had a private practice for many years that included male patients. "When I was in medical school, I decided to become an internist-a family doctor

More often than not, life is full of frustrating hassles, deadlines and demands that lead to stress on a daily basis. Many people experience stress on a daily basis. While stress can be a motivating force that helps you perform under pressure, too much of it is bad for you. Stress has been shown to play a role in digestive problems like irritable bowel syndrome and even cardiovascular disease and stroke. Additionally, women are especially prone to stress during menopause, which causes hormone levels to fluctuate.

If you often feel overwhelmed, your stress level is probably unreasonably high. Educating yourself about the signs and symptoms of stress is the first step towards reducing its negative mind/body effects. Here are five signs that you're too stressed out:

See Also: Symptoms of Depression in Men

Pain In Your Jaw. If you're experiencing jaw pain, it could be because you've been clenching your jaw muscles. This is something people tend to do when they are feeling