Energy and Fatigue Archive

This caregiver role has mental and physical health challenges.

You're not alone if you've suddenly found yourself raising your grandchildren. In the United States, three million older adults are primary caregivers to kids of all ages. Like any caregiver role, raising kids (especially young children) comes with many challenges, not the least of which is maintaining your health.

Physical challenges

The care of little kids — feeding, bathing, dressing, soothing, entertaining, lifting, carrying, and chasing after them — requires youthful energy and strength. As a grandparent you may be at a disadvantage, and not just because of age. "You may be slower from chronic conditions — like arthritis, heart problems, or diabetes — and from taking the medications needed to treat them," says Dr. Suzanne Salamon, associate chief of gerontology at Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

Research we're watching

Hot cocoa may be just what the doctor ordered… for leg pain. A small study published February 14 by Circulation Research found that adults with peripheral artery disease (PAD) who drank a specially designed hot cocoa had less PAD-related leg pain when walking than those who didn't drink the cocoa.

PAD is a condition in which fatty deposits collect and reduce blood flow in arteries outside the heart — most commonly in the legs. People with PAD commonly experience pain when walking. For this study, researchers gave 44 people with PAD a specially designed cocoa-containing beverage three times a day for six months. The cocoa drinkers were able to walk on average almost 140 feet farther in a timed walking test than people who drank the same amount of the same beverage that didn't contain the cocoa. The cocoa drinkers also had some improved muscle function and blood flow into the calves. While the drinks were specially designed for the trial, the researchers speculated that cocoa may contain an ingredient that helps muscle cells using oxygen more efficiently.

A simple exercise called the deadlift helps make everyday actions easier and safer.

Research shows that weight lifting is good medicine for healthy older adults. While there are many weight-lifting exercises, one move you should always include with your workouts is the deadlift.

The deadlift is a simple-looking movement. From a squatting position, you grab a weighted barbell and then stand while you lift the bar with straight arms. The barbell rises to about mid-thigh level. You hold for a second and return to the starting position.

Strength training may be just as good as aerobic activity for reducing cardiovascular risk.

Any type of movement that makes your heart work harder than usual — brisk walking, dancing, or cycling — will benefit your heart health. But many people don't realize that targeted exercises to strengthen muscles throughout your body may also help stave off heart disease.

"In the past, strong muscles were considered beneficial mainly from a functional standpoint — that is, they make tasks such as carrying groceries and doing laundry easier," says Dr. I-Min Lee, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School who studies the role of physical activity in disease prevention. Those perks are particularly important as people age.

Building the strength of the central muscles in your torso can help improve your balance and mobility.

You probably don't give a lot of thought to your core muscles, but they play a starring role in your daily life.

"The core is critical for stability and functional motion day to day," says Dr. Beth Frates, clinical assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School. "For example, standing, bending, twisting, and sitting all require the core muscles. With a strong core, people can reach for glasses on high shelves and stay balanced while walking with heavy grocery bags."

During the COVID-19 pandemic, getting yourself and your children outside helps with both physical and mental health. Be smart and do it safely by following these tips.

You can't go to the gym, but needing to stay home makes exercise even more important to boost your immune system, relieve anxiety, and boost your mood. Working out in a small space isn't a hardship, and it can even be a challenge.

Even the healthiest people can find it hard to stick with an exercise regimen — and if you suffer from the joint pain of arthritis, moving your body may be the last thing you want to think about. But regular exercise not only helps maintain joint function, it also relieves stiffness and reduces pain and fatigue.

If you have arthritis, you want to be sure your exercise routine has these goals in mind:

You’ve probably heard more about self-care lately than usual. Because our current situation is so abnormal and stressful, looking after yourself is even more important, and no one is more aware of this than doctors and other medical personnel.