Caregiving Archive

A 2024 study found that practicing 10 minutes of daily mindfulness can ease depression and anxiety and motivate people to adopt healthier lifestyle habits, such as regular exercise and better sleep.

Strength is not only measured by how much weight a person can lift, but by how well they perform certain movements that are needed to help them stay active, mobile, and injury-free. Three tests that offer a good assessment of strength are grip strength, push-ups, and the sit-and-rise exercise. They can measure strength and highlight areas where people need to improve.

Happiness helps to lower blood pressure and stress, improve the immune system, and motivate people to be more active. Research suggests that, on average, genetics determines 50% of a person's general happiness level. However, a person's happiness is at least somewhat under their control, which suggests that even people who are not naturally happy have the power to increase their happiness. They can do this by practicing regular acts of happiness-activities linked with better mood and increasing optimism.

There are no health benefits to taking a daily calcium supplement in addition to the amount of calcium a person gets from a regular well-balanced diet. Too much calcium from supplements can lead to problems, like a higher risk of kidney stones and poor absorption of micronutrients.

A small 2024 study found that serving a ranch dip with salty snacks led people to consume far more calories and eat faster.

Toxic productivity is an obsessive preoccupation with being productive at all costs. It's not a diagnosable health condition, but can take a toll on people's mental well-being, leading to insomnia, anxiety, and depression. Toxic productivity is marked by a false sense of urgency, an inability to relax, and guilt or shame over not accomplishing "enough." People coping with toxic productivity can combat the impulse by doing deep breathing, journaling, and examining their relationship to downtime.

Osteopenia and osteoporosis both involve a decline in bone density. Osteoporosis is more severe, significantly increasing the risk of fractures. Both conditions can be diagnosed with DEXA scanning, which measures calcium and other minerals in bone.

Lipedema is characterized by an abnormal and uneven buildup of fibrous, fatty tissue, typically in the buttocks and legs. The condition's prevalence is not precisely known, since lipedema is often misunderstood and misdiagnosed. In addition to cosmetic concerns, lipedema can lead to myriad physical effects, including pain, loose joints, easy bruising, and trouble walking. Treatments include compression stockings, use of pneumatic devices, a special type of massage, medications, liposuction, and exercise.