Understanding food noise - and how to turn down the volume
Remedies for motion sickness: What works?
4 keys to a heart-healthy diet
Understanding exercise heart rate zones
Resistant starch: Can you make the carbs you eat a little healthier?
Harvard study: A couple of daily cups of coffee or tea linked to lower dementia risk
Does everyone benefit from cutting saturated fat in their diet?
How to treat shoulder impingement
Beyond protein: 6 other nutrients that help prevent muscle loss
Advancements in knee replacement: More precise and personalized
Healthy aging and longevity Archive
Articles
Beverage temperature tied to cancer risk
Beverages consumed at temperatures above 150° F may contribute to esophageal cancer.
Are your medications causing nutrient deficiency?
Long-term doses of certain medications may rob you of calcium, folic acid, and crucial B vitamins.
Short-term medication use will not lead to nutrient deficiency. But long-term use may interfere with your body's ability to absorb nutrients or produce them.
Image: Gruzdaitis Andrius/Thinkstock
Medications are well known for causing side effects such as nausea or drowsiness. These are the kinds of side effects you notice and can do something about. But sometimes a lesser known side effect happens without giving you any warning: nutrient deficiency.
The top 5 benefits of cycling
Going for a ride is good for your heart and muscles, and it may improve how you walk, balance, and climb stairs.
Image: DTStockPhotos
They say you never forget how to ride a bike, so maybe it's time to climb aboard a two- or three-wheeler and enjoy the health benefits of cycling. "It's socially oriented, it's fun, and it gets you outside and exercising," says Dr. Clare Safran-Norton, a physical therapist at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital.
Check out the main physical benefits.
Safety considerations
Get the okay from your doctor before you climb aboard a bike, especially if you have heart disease, arthritis, or thinning bones. "If you have osteoporosis, consider riding a tricycle, which is more stable than a two-wheeler, posing less of a fall risk," says Dr. Safran-Norton. "Don't ride a bike at all if you've had a recent fracture. Another fall could make it worse."
When riding, remember that the seat height should allow a slight bend at your knee. "You don't want a straight knee at the bottom of the pedal stroke, because the bike could be too tall and you could fall off," says Dr. Safran-Norton.
Other tips: Wear a helmet to protect your head; don't use clips to keep your feet on the pedals, which can make injuries worse if you fall; don't ride alone; stick to bike paths instead of riding in the street; stay hydrated before, during, and after your ride; and use sunscreen and sunglasses.
Tips to choose equipmentYou probably know that a helmet is a must for safety. The right type of clothes and bike will also make cycling safer and more comfortable. Cycling clothes. These have high-tech fibers that wick away moisture. They are usually neon-colored, with reflective material so you'll be visible to drivers. Bike shorts have a thick pad or chamois to prevent chafing and provide cushioning. Bikes. Look for one that puts less stress on your body, such as a beach cruiser or comfort bike. They have high-rise handlebars that enable you to sit upright, wide tires for a smooth ride, shock-absorbing seat posts, and low top tubes so you don't have to swing your leg too high to mount the bike (allow at least an inch or two of clearance between you and the tube). If mounting a bike is difficult, there are even "step through" bicycles that feature top tubes just six inches off the ground (see photo). Other bike types include tricycles, which are helpful if you are less stable on your feet, and recumbent bikes that allow you to lean back and ride. "If you have spinal stenosis, a recumbent bike puts your spine in a flexed position and gives you pain relief. But if you have a herniated disk, the bike can make the disk bulge more," says Dr. Clare Safran-Norton, a physical therapist at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital. Saddle. Get one with extra padding that's wide enough to support the pair of bones you sit on. Go even further with a saddle that relieves pressure on the perineum, the area between those bones, behind the genitals. It's home to nerves and arteries that supply the lower body, and too much pressure here may cause numbness and tingling in the legs. Pressure-relieving saddles may have a "noseless" or horseshoe design. |
Eat more whole grains to stay healthy, suggests Harvard study
Boosting intake of whole grains, such as wheat or oats, may reduce the risk of an early death.
A warning about heartburn medications that contain aspirin
The FDA is warning that over-the-counter antacids with aspirin in them can cause stomach bleeding in rare cases.
Don’t skip your next comprehensive, dilated eye exam
It appears that vision impairment and blindness among U.S. adults ages 40 or older will double in the next 35 years, mostly because of an aging population.
The perks of group fitness classes
Fellow exercisers may keep you motivated, and learning proper form can help you avoid injuries.
 Image: Purestock/Thinkstock
Is your solo walking or cycling routine getting a little humdrum? Maybe it's time to try a group fitness class at your local gym or community center. Working out with others in a class led by a trained instructor may help you stick to an exercise routine, which is a vital part of keeping your heart healthy.
"We know that in a broad sense, the more fit you are, the longer you live," says Dr. Meagan Wasfy, a cardiologist at the Cardiovascular Performance Program at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. Exactly how you achieve that fitness doesn't seem to matter—the main thing is making it happen. Group fitness classes, which come in a wide range of styles and intensities, may offer certain advantages toward that goal.
Should you join a research study?
Like legions of earlier volunteers, you could contribute to the quest to improve care for people with heart disease.
 Image: Wavebreakmedia/Thinkstock
Imagine getting a letter from a physician based at a nearby academic medical center, telling you about research under way at the institution. It says you might be eligible to participate in a clinical trial designed to test a new blood pressure drug. Or maybe it's a study on the exercise habits of people ages 65 and older.
You're curious, so you check the box indicating that you're interested in learning more and mail it back.
Weight-loss surgery: Moving into new dimensions?
Bariatric surgery can dramatically improve type 2 diabetes and other risks for heart disease.
The latest statistics on obesity suggest that this disease remains a huge problem in the United States: nearly one in three American adults meet the criteria for obesity. What's more, about one in 10 women and one in 20 men are considered extremely obese (see "Obesity in the extreme").
People with extreme obesity face a high risk of cardiovascular disease and myriad other health problems, as well as a shortened life span. Most have struggled with excess weight since childhood or early adulthood, and many have undergone multiple, frustrating attempts to shed pounds. For some, weight-loss surgery (also known as bariatric surgery) may be the best—perhaps only—option for lasting weight loss.
Understanding food noise - and how to turn down the volume
Remedies for motion sickness: What works?
4 keys to a heart-healthy diet
Understanding exercise heart rate zones
Resistant starch: Can you make the carbs you eat a little healthier?
Harvard study: A couple of daily cups of coffee or tea linked to lower dementia risk
Does everyone benefit from cutting saturated fat in their diet?
How to treat shoulder impingement
Beyond protein: 6 other nutrients that help prevent muscle loss
Advancements in knee replacement: More precise and personalized
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