Exercise and Fitness Archive

A small, short-term 2026 study suggests that people who schedule their exercise to align with their chronotype—the body’s natural sleep and wake cycle—may lower their heart risk factors more than those who exercise at times that don’t align with their chronotype.

Some prescription and over-the-counter drugs produce side effects that resemble problems tied to aging, such as memory lapses, balance issues, or fatigue. Older adults are more sensitive to medication side effects because their body composition and metabolism change.

Beyond familiar kettlebell exercises such as kettlebell swings, many lesser-known kettlebell moves can create a full-body workout. Examples include around-the-world passes, bottoms-up kettlebell carries, and kettlebell deadlifts.

People’s energy levels typically decrease later in life as a result of aging, illness, or other factors. Fortunately, a healthier lifestyle can boost energy. That involves eating a diet low in added sugars and processed foods, getting seven to nine hours of sleep each night, managing stress, getting lots of aerobic exercise, and strengthening the muscles. Using physical energy frugally is another useful strategy. For example, it helps to perform activities at a slow, steady pace instead of a fast pace; to break activities into small tasks instead of one large job; and to rest between tasks.

Many strategies can help people avoid falls in public places. For example, people can wear shoes with nonslip treads in stores and office buildings, use a rollator for stability in crowded areas such as airports or shopping malls, hold handrails on public staircases (or avoid them), avoid parking too close to vehicles in parking lots, or use the handicap stall in public bathrooms. Another important strategy is regularly strengthening leg and core muscles and practicing balance exercises (such as standing on one leg).

Falls among older adults are on the rise, but most are preventable. To do this, interventions must target the multiple factors that contribute to falls, taking steps to minimize them or prevent them entirely.

In most cases, bee, wasp, or hornet stings can be treated with simple remedies. For example, placing a cold pack on the sting site helps reduce swelling. Applying over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream helps relieve swelling and itching, too. Taking an antihistamine—such as fexofenadine (Allegra) or loratadine (Claritin)—also eases itching. If symptoms persist for a few days, it’s time to call a doctor. If a severe allergic response develops—indicated by difficulty breathing or hives—it’s crucial to call 911 for help and get an injection of epinephrine as soon as possible.

The instinct to stay indoors during winter can start to feel confining after a while. Going for a winter hike is a great way to get out in nature and get exercise, but it’s quite different from warm-weather hiking, and requires preparation and precautions.

Bicycling offers joint-friendly aerobic exercise, builds leg muscles, and aids recovery after knee or ankle surgery. The most appropriate type of bicycle—road, mountain, hybrid, or adaptive (recumbent, tricycle, hand cycle)—depends on where people ride and their abilities.