GAITHERSBURG, Md. — They call him “Jumping Jack” — an apt name for a boxer.

But Jack Lewis is no ordinary fighter. Watch him as he quickly and gracefully jumps rope, and it’s hard to believe this 62-year-old from Silver Spring, Maryland, was diagnosed with two years ago.

Lewis is one of about two dozen fighters with Parkinson’s who show up each week for classes at . On Wednesdays and Saturdays, these fighters brave traffic and gather at a Gaithersburg gym for a workout that Lewis calls “transformational.”

He sits near the gym entrance, pointing to others wrapping their wrists and moving through a warm-up. As they do, the telltale signs of Parkinson’s disappear.

“It kind of leaves you. The tremors leave you and the rigidity leaves you,” Lewis said.

The physical workout is tough, but it’s designed to accommodate various levels of the disease. When 77-year-old Stan Goldman, of Potomac, started the program in January, he was considered a high risk for falls. His coordination and balance were impaired and he shuffled when he walked.

Now, he hits the punching bag with ease, and spars with his coaches so well that they refer to him as “Stan the Man.” Goldman takes the compliment with a shy grin, saying he just didn’t want to see himself “disintegrate.”

That is a common sentiment in the group — every time they step into the gym to box, they are also fighting back at Parkinson’s disease.

Joe Loftus, a 58-year-old Kensington resident who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s a decade ago, says boxing helps him both physically and mentally.

“Fighting the disease is better than giving up and letting it win,” he explained.

Gesturing toward the punching bag he added: “You have got the power and you have got the balance and you kind of forget about the disease itself.”

The boxers of Rock Steady are young and old, male and female, including the “tag team” of Amalia Slater and Andrea Boyarsky-Meisel.

Slater is a 72-year-old from Potomac who spent most of her adult life making sculptures out of stone.  She gave up her art and all the physical activity it entailed when Parkinson’s began to limit her movement and strength.

Her friend, Boyarsky-Meisel, of Chevy Chase, told Slater about the boxing class, and volunteered to go with her to offer help and moral support.

Both are now fixtures of the group. Slater, who admits she prefers dancing, has mastered some of the footwork of boxing.

“I can do things I could not do,” she said.

When she hears those words, Boyarsky-Meisel just smiles. She is now a program volunteer and assists the two female founders of Rock Steady Boxing’s Montgomery County program.

The fighters say these coaches, and , are the heart of the program.

“Angel and Makeda are the motivators,” said 66-year-old Gary Kohn of Greenbelt. “They are both loving and accepting people.”

began in Indianapolis in 2006. When McNamara, a former pro boxer and fitness trainer, learned about the program from a client, she called Richardson, who immediately suggested they buy plane tickets to Indiana.

By the time they completed the certification process and negotiated a gym contract, they already had a waiting list of Parkinson’s patients from Maryland who were eager to participate.

“To be able to help the folks in the Parkinson’s community to gain a better quality of life — it’s just an awesome opportunity. It is a gift of God,” McNamara said.

Research has shown the skills honed in boxing training — like agility, balance and hand-eye coordination — can help combat the symptoms of the disease that rob people of their motor skills, McNamara explains.

The two guide their fighters through each workout. McNamara quietly watches every move while Richardson acts more like a cheerleader, her voice rising above the beat of a James Brown tune designed to pump-up the class.

Richardson says they are building a community, where the focus is on the positive.

“We often tell our fighters when you come through this door, we are not moping around, we are not talking about woe is me, and you definitely cannot turn to the fighter next to you and say, ‘You don’t know what I am going through,’ because, in fact, they do.”

There is a certain bond between these coaches and their fighters, and a special camaraderie among all those participating in the program. Walk into the gym and one thing immediately becomes apparent: This is a family.

Ask McNamara what she has learned from the class and her answer is simple:  “Never give up and never back down.”

Pose the same question to 62-years-young boxer Lew Morris of Takoma Park and he’ll speak about internal strength in the face of a potentially debilitating illness.

“I have learned that every one of us is going down the road differently,” he said. “Everyone here has a certain grace.”

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A new study suggests that people who read a lot of books tend to live longer.  And it doesn’t matter whether it is Harry Potter or “War and Peace”— it is the time spent reading that counts.

Researchers at the Yale University School of Public Health crunched data on 3,635 people older than 60 who took part in a health survey that included questions on reading.

They were split into three groups: those who read up to three and a half hours a week; those who read more; and those who never picked up a book at all.

After controlling for factors such as age, gender, education and income, the researchers found that, in general, those who read books lived up to two years longer than those who did not.

The benefit rose with the amount of time spent reading.  The researchers also found that reading newspapers and magazines helped, too, but not as much as books.

The study was published in the journal Social Science and Medicine.

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These are not vitamins and minerals — the kind of things doctors might recommend to counter a deficient diet. These supplements are pitched to consumers as concoctions of enzymes that can help the body break down gluten, a mix of proteins found in wheat and related grains.

The marketing approach is similar to the one used to sell over-the-counter supplements for people with lactose intolerance, which is caused by the lack of specific enzymes needed to digest dairy products.

But gluten problems are not typically caused by missing digestive enzymes, so taking these kinds of supplements is not going to help, experts say.

Dr. Jennifer Lee, , is one of the skeptics.

“There is no evidence that we have at this time to support taking these enzymes as a treatment for gluten intolerance,” she said.

Because they are sold as supplements instead of drugs, they do not come under strict government regulation. And while they have been deemed safe, there is no proof they work.

Lee is most concerned that people with symptoms such as diarrhea, unexplained anemia and bone loss will take the supplements instead of going to a doctor to get tested for celiac disease.

Celiac is a digestive autoimmune disorder that causes the body to rebel after eating gluten to the point where inflammation damages the lining of the small intestine. Gluten sensitivity has some of the same symptoms — most notably stomach upset — but is less dangerous and doesn’t damage the intestinal lining.

For both, the treatment is the same: giving up the foods that create the trouble. But some find a gluten-free diet difficult to maintain and are attracted to the idea that a supplement could restore the ability to eat their favorite gluten-laden food — from muffins to pizza.

Lee stresses that would be a waste of money. Her advice: Skip the supplements and go for a gluten-free diet.

“There is no magic pill. What works is avoiding gluten,” she said.

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He is part of a growing trend in medicine where more hospitals, treatment centers and nursing homes are bringing in resident therapy dogs to help patients.

Yogi lives and works with Gregory Jones, a psychologist in D.C. who shares his home and office with the 4-month-old corgi.

As a small puppy, Yogi was the official “greeter” at Jones’ practice, . But as he grew and progressed through obedience training, he spent more time in sessions with patients.

“Oftentimes, he is very grounding for people that need to talk about things that are traumatic, difficult, anxiety provoking,” Jones said.

In a way, Yogi is Jones’ warm-up act, taking away some of the initial anxiety surrounding psychotherapy, and enabling clients to lower their defenses and become more open.

“He’ll sit in the chair next to me and lay down, and he will look at the clients and the clients will just make eye contact with him,” Jones said.

He added: “I can literally see them just get calmer and relax and smile.”

Once used primarily as highly-trained service animals for those with physical disabilities, dogs now fill a variety of roles in the mental health sphere.

are chosen primarily for their demeanor and their ability to bring cheer.

Emotional support and service dogs, however, are highly trained and need certification in order to get complete access to public places, including airports and planes.

“They can be trained to sense your mood changes, when to bark to tell you to take your medication, when to notice that you are about to have seizure so you can lay down on the ground and be ready for it,” Jones explained.

Numerous studies have been conducted on the power of these incredible animals to help people with mental health concerns, ranging from depression to post-traumatic stress disorder to anxiety.

Information on where to find the right dog and how to obtain the proper certification is available through various sources, although Jones favors the .

Jones is now advising others who want a therapy dog like Yogi, and those who feel they would benefit from an emotional support or service dog with specific skills. Jones says he is sold on their value, adding “they are phenomenal creatures.”

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, an allergist in Rockville, Maryland, says it’s not too early to prepare for going back to classes. She says that for kids with severe allergies — especially to specific foods — medical forms must be signed, including those that authorize the school to administer an emergency in the event of a life-threatening attack.

“The doctors need time to see the children; the teachers need time to see the parents. So it really is a wonderful time now to get started in preparing for the new school year,” she said.

Dr. Schreiber says it’s a good idea to visit your kid’s school, meet the teachers and maybe check out the cafeteria and health center, especially if the child will be attending it for the first time.

It’s important to ask questions about what is served in the lunchroom, and what precautions and protocols are in place for children with allergies. And while there are likely district-wide rules concerning food allergies, there might be slight variations at various schools.

“In Montgomery County, as an example, they do not serve peanut products in the cafeteria — however, each school has its own policies as to what you can bring into the classroom,” Dr. Schreiber said.

College-bound students should also do a preliminary check before arriving on campus, so that they are familiar with dining hall policies, the location of medical help and whether they can have a refrigerator in their dorm room for allergy-free foods.

Dr. Schreiber says it is also a good idea to make sure college kids with severe allergies and/or asthma are housed in an air-conditioned dormitory to prevent reactions to pollen.

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It seems people with type two diabetes get more than just protection from the flu.

A new study shows a flu shot can also reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease.

British researchers took a good hard look at data collected over seven years on 125,000 people in England with type two diabetes.

After controlling for things, such as sex, age, smoking and other health issues, they found that those who got their flu shots had a 30 percent lower risk of stroke, a 22 percent lower rate of heart failure, and a 24 percent lower risk of dying from all causes.

The , which was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal did not go into the exact reason for the link. But it has long been known that, in general, people with chronic diseases — such as diabetes — are more prone to complications from the flu.

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The latest study to highlight the dangers of e-cigs comes out of the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, an Energy Department facility on the campus of the University of California at Berkeley.

Researchers there wanted to pinpoint the possible causes of worrisome chemicals in e-cigarette emissions. They tested two solvents commonly used in e-cigarette liquid, heated them and then checked the vapor for signs of toxins.

The solvents — propylene glycol and glycerine — seemed to morph when heated, creating emissions laced with dozens of harmful chemical compounds, such as acrolein and formaldehyde.

But that’s not all they noticed. The research team also reported that many variables affected the intensity of the emissions, such as temperature and the age of the device.

The scientists said their findings could be an important tool for the Food and Drug Administration, which will start regulating e-cigarettes on Aug. 8. The information may also be useful for e-cigarette manufacturers seeking to create a safer product.

Members of the research team say their study shows that e-cigarettes are hardly benign, and while they may be an OK option for longtime cigarette smokers who just can’t quit, they are not good choice for the rest of us.

As one Berkeley Lab researcher put it: “Regular cigarettes are super unhealthy — e-cigarettes are just plain unhealthy.”

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When high heat and humidity prompt many of us to spend more time inside, indoor allergies flare up, with the moist air providing a perfect breeding ground for a wide range of allergens.

Dr. Rachel Schreiber, an , said she is seeing more patients with reactions to dust mites and fungi such as mold.

“It sort of becomes a perfect storm inside your house,” she said, adding these allergens tend to interact and “almost feed off each other.”

Dust mites, in particular, thrive in humid air. They are actually tiny parasites that live on dead skin cells. When we sleep, we shed those cells and the dust mites end up living in mattresses and bed pillows, eventually finding their way into cushions and carpets around the home.

Mold also loves warm, moist conditions, though it can create problems both indoors and out. Cockroaches add to the mix, and are another worrisome allergen in the dog days of summer.

Schreiber says the obvious way to take on these indoor allergens is to be more vigilant about cleaning. Linens should be washed in hot water to kill dust mites, and parasite-resistant covers are available for mattresses and pillows.

And while children may not be happy about it, it’s a good idea to keep the number of stuffed animals on their beds in check — especially those that can’t be washed.

Vacuums and air cleaners with HEPA filters can also help. And don’t forget to change the filters in air conditioning units at least once a month, and to regularly inspect your house for leaks after a storm because any water that manages to infiltrate the structure can spur the growth of mold.

Signs of trouble from these indoor allergens include sneezing, sore eyes and itching. According to the , they may even trigger asthma symptoms.

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Researchers in Japan say people who engage in excessive TV watching are far more likely to die from a blood clot in the lung, and the longer you sit, the higher the risk.

They followed more than 85,000 Japanese adults for decades, starting in the late 1980s. Those who watched five hours or more of television each day were twice as likely to eventually die from a pulmonary embolism than those who spent half the time in front of the TV.

Pulmonary embolisms usually begin in a leg or hip area as a result of inactivity and slowed blood flow. If the clot breaks free, it can eventually clog a blood vessel in the lung.

There are more than 200,000 cases of pulmonary embolism in the United States each year, according to government data. There are far fewer in Japan, but the researchers in this study say they fear the number will rise as the Japanese people become more sedentary.

And, while there have been studies done on the risk of pulmonary embolisms in travelers, they say this is the first to look at a possible connection between the amount of time spent watching television and the risk of death from a blood clot in the lung.

The results were published in the journal Circulation.

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Heavy perspiration can, in essence, push the sunscreen off the skin, cutting the level of protection. And there is an extra problem — especially for those who need sun protection while running, walking or playing sports such as beach volleyball in the heat. Sweat rolling down the face can mix with sunscreen and potentially create some pretty nasty eye irritation.

That is why many dermatologists are such strong fans of sports sunscreens during the dog days of summer. They are designed to stick to the skin better, and many brands are mineral based and less irritating.

But even the best sunscreen is sometimes not enough, according to , an associate professor of dermatology at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

He recommends a sun protection regimen that also includes physical barriers such as hats, sunglasses and even special clothing with protection built right in.

And there is one more thing he might add to the mix — an herbal supplement derived from a South American fern called .

“There is actually a lot of evidence behind its effect as an antioxidant and also as something that can boost the skin’s natural ability to repair damage from ultraviolet radiation,” Friedman said.

This over-the-counter supplement has been the subject of numerous studies and has been shown to have a benefit, but it is not a miracle cure or an end all, be all.

“There is a lot of nice evidence supporting taking the supplement on a daily basis,” said Friedman, adding that it must be part of an overall sun protection routine.

It may be especially helpful for those who exercise or work outdoors in the heat. And while more research is needed — and — those trials conducted so far show polypodium leucotomos to be safe and effective.

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The heat and humidity, for example, can result in little itchy bumps on the skin — a condition technically known as , though most of us refer to it as prickly heat or just heat rash.

It’s a dermatological cousin of acne, which is caused by blocked pores. This time, it is the sweat ducts that get clogged, usually by salts from perspiration, bacteria and dead skin cells.

The sweat gets trapped under the skin’s surface, causing inflammation. And while it can happen to just about anyone, it seems to be more common in children and the elderly. Babies often get it on their necks. For older kids and adults, it is likely the result of friction, either from clothing or parts of the body that rub together, like the inner thighs or armpits.

The good news is there are ways to prevent it, according to , an associate professor of dermatology with the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

“First and foremost, you want to wear lightweight clothing and breathable clothing at that,” Friedman advised, along with making sure to wipe off sweat regularly.

“If you are sweating a lot, try to towel down with a wet washcloth to remove those salts from the skin.”

And if you do happen to get a rash, try using an anti-bacterial wash, like the ones with benzyl peroxide that are designed to help control acne. Friedman says that can help open the pores and clean out the bacteria that could be causing the redness.

Another common rash linked to summer is , what most of us call “bartender’s dermatitis.”

It got its name because it is often spotted on the hands of people who handle limes in the sun — say, the bartenders at your local poolside bar.

This kind of rash happens when chemicals in certain plants or fruits get on your skin and then are exposed to the ultraviolet radiation of the sun. The combination can result in a deep, red rash that over time can turn a brown or purple hue and may even involve blistering. In the summertime, lime juice is usually the culprit, but it can also be caused by celery, figs and parsley.

Friedman says he has already seen a lot of it this summer from people squirting limes in their drinks, or mixing up some cerviche — a seafood dish that is often made on the spot with lots of fresh lime.

His advice: wash your hands well after handling any food that can create a chemical reaction when exposed to sunshine. And if you do get a rash, treat it quickly with a topical steroid, like hydrocortisone.

Friedman says if he isn’t treated promptly, the discoloration associated with bartender’s dermatitis can take a very long time to fade.

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That’s because there can be organisms in water — even chlorinated water — that adhere to those lenses. And if there is even a microscopic tear or break in the protective layer of the cornea, those bacteria can take hold and multiply.

In this case, the blinking and tears that normally clear out bacteria wouldn’t be able to help you. Thanks to the contacts, the eyes would be at risk.

These infections are not common but can be very serious, according to , an ophthalmologist in Rockville and Frederick, Maryland, who is also on the staff of the Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center. Symptoms include pain, redness, sensitivity to light and blurred vision. Over time, complications can occur.

Dr. Gross says these infections are tough to diagnose in the initial stages, because they look like routine bacterial infections but don’t respond to typical antibiotics. , which is rare but can worsen quickly and become very dangerous, is a particular concern.

“If it infects the cornea, it can cause severe infections leading to blindness,” she said, adding that acanthamoeba can be difficult to treat and requires medications that are not widely available.

Most people who come down with these types of eye infections end up in a hospital emergency room, although some have shown up at Dr. Gross’s office. She remembers most vividly a teenage girl whose cornea was so damaged by the infection that she ended up getting a corneal transplant.

Gross says it is never a good idea to submerge in water when wearing contact lenses and that includes pools, rivers, hot tubs and lakes. And for those who say they need vision correction constantly, she has a rapid response: Get yourself a pair of prescription swimming goggles.

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Too often headlines are hyped to get the attention of anyone wanting to drop some pounds. And experts say it is important to put all these findings in context.

According to , director of the , everyone needs to approach these stories of the latest and greatest diet discoveries with a good bit of skepticism. Everyone should also stop looking for a magic way to slim down.

“Part of the problem is we are all seeking the magic thing, the one thing that is going to make a difference,” she said.

Rubino said the , for example, is interesting and calls attention to the need for us all to drink enough water. But that does not mean that drinking more water is the cure for the nation’s obesity problem.

The bottom line is that weight management is complex and there are a lot of factors involved. Rubino said if there was one answer — be it drinking water or eating yogurt — the country would not be in the situation it finds itself in today with an ever-expanding national waistline.

She says weight loss involves cutting calories and increasing activity — but just how to do that is different from one person to the next.

There is, however, one weight reduction tool that appears to be universal.

Rubino is a great fan of keeping track of what you eat using a food journal. It can be as simple as a notebook or as high tech as an app that does all kinds of detailed nutritional computations.

The ultimate goal is to become more aware of not just what you eat, but why you eat it.

“If you can be conscious of why you are eating — is it food for fuel or to calm down — that is sort of the next step,” said Rubino.

More and more dieters have been documenting their food choices on social media — particularly Instagram and Twitter.

Rubino said some people thrive and that “having people rally around you can be very helpful.”

But she warns there are pluses and minuses to posting on social media about your weight loss journey.

“I think the dangerous part is if the people with whom you are rallying become competitive or have unrealistic expectations,” she said.

Rubino said anyone intrigued by a diet-related headline — whether it is about water or the benefits of posting food photos — should take the time to dig a little deeper. She said if you lack the training to read a study abstract, turn to trusted resources like or the  and see how they interpret the findings.

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it’s a big problem in private and public housing.

Using data from the 2013–2014 National Adult Tobacco Survey, the CDC found apartment dwellers were more likely to use tobacco products and were far less likely to live smoke-free.

The researchers found that about 20 percent of adults in multi-unit housing communities use combustible tobacco products — cigarettes, cigars and the like — compared with 14 percent in single family homes.

And even though eight in 10 apartments were technically smoke free, about one-third of those living in those units reported dealing with secondhand smoke from elsewhere in the building.

The CDC said it was a worrisome trend because second-hand smoke is dangerous to the health of children, older adults and people with disabilities.

The study was published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

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A new study suggests they are no better than a good pair of sneakers.

Researchers in Australia tested out both kinds of shoes on 164 patients — more than 50 of whom had been diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis.

Half of the study subjects wore special shoes with modified midsoles on a daily basis while the others wore conventional walking shoes.

The researchers found there really wasn’t any difference between the two types of shoes. Both produced similar results, reducing pain and improving knee function in about half of study participants over a six-month period.

The findings were reported in the journal .

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