Just as your body benefits from doing a variety of physical exercises — aerobics, strength training, and stretching — so does your mind benefit from doing various kinds of brain exercises too. On one hand, you’ve heard the old advice that doing the daily crossword puzzle or Sudoku can keep you mentally sharp.

On the other, you’ve been exposed to heavily marketed computerized brain training programs which claim to be the best way by far to achieve maximum brain function. But, in fact, neither of these extremes are the best ways to stay brain fit.

First, let’s take a look at the standards that must be met for an activity to qualify as “brain exercise” and to yield the benefits you want. 

Here are some of the benefits of brain exercise: 

• less stress

• better memory

• more positive mood

• increased focus and concentration

• boost in motivation and productivity

• enhanced fluid intelligence, creativity, and mental flexibility

• faster thinking...

According to studies, an estimated one in five American women will have a stroke, and nearly 60 percent will die from the attack. Stroke is considered to be the third leading cause of death for women.

There are many reasons women face a greater chance of having a stroke: They live longer, experience more stress, and are more likely to have high blood pressure. Pregnancy and birth control also increase a woman’s risk of stroke.

The more you know about the symptoms of stroke in women, the better you’ll be able to get help. Quick treatment can mean the difference between disability and recovery. Women may report symptoms not often associated with strokes in men. These can include:

• nausea or vomiting

• seizures

• hiccups

• trouble breathing

• pain

• fainting or loss of consciousness

• general weakness

Because these symptoms are unique to women, it may be difficult to immediately connect them to stroke. This can delay treatment, which may hinder recovery.

If you’re a wom...

Both a stroke and an aneurysm that bursts can come on suddenly without any warning. The symptoms will vary. The kind of emergency treatment you should receive will also depend on whether it’s a stroke or an aneurysm. Regardless of which one is the cause, a quick response to symptoms is essential.

An aneurysm is a balloon-like bulge in an artery. Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood to your body. Arteries have thick walls to withstand normal blood pressure. However, certain medical problems, genetic conditions, and trauma can damage or injure artery walls. The force of blood pushing against the weakened or injured walls can cause an aneurysm.

An aneurysm can grow large and rupture (burst) or dissect. A rupture causes dangerous bleeding inside the body. A dissection is a split in one or more layers of the artery wall. The split causes bleeding into and along the layers of the artery wall. Doctors often can successfully treat aortic aneurysms with medicines or surger...

According to studies, 1%-2% of teenagers suffer from headaches more than 15 days per month. These are usually different in severity to the headaches an adult might experience so they can often go unnoticed by parents or healthcare professionals. The headache can start off suddenly and can bring with it feelings of nausea and tiredness. This type of headache can easily be mistaken for a stomach upset when it may actually be the headache that is causing vomiting or a nauseous feeling.

The most common headaches for teens are tension-type headaches and migraines.

• Tension-type headaches often feel like a tight squeezing or pressing band is around your head. The pain is dull and achy and is usually felt on both sides of the head, but may be in front and back as well. There is usually no sense of nausea or vomiting with tension-type headaches.

• Migraines are very painful episodes of headache. A migraine often lasts for hours up to 2 days. It may feel like the inside of your head is thro...