Fatty liver disease: Should you be tested?
Weight-loss drug may lower risk of heart attacks and infections
Testosterone therapy without evidence of deficiency may boost heart risk
Even a little exercise linked with lower stroke risk in people with afib
Antihistamines may not offer meaningful relief from eczema symptoms
What to eat on the DASH diet
Tricep workouts you can do at home
FDA approves first mRNA-based flu vaccine
Migraine: How it's diagnosed and what that means
Mindfulness practices to reduce stress and improve focus
Healthy eating for older adults Archive
Articles
Prolong your life with plant-based protein?
Research we're watching
Eating more plant-based protein may help you live longer, a new study suggests.
The study included 70,000 Japanese men and women ages 45 to 74 with no history of cancer, heart disease, or stroke. They filled out detailed diet questionnaires at the start of the study and again every five years.
Why you need an annual wellness visit
The once-a-year appointment can reveal vital health information for both you and your doctor.
It's usually covered by your health insurance, it doesn't take much time, and it's a great way to learn about your present and future health.
While men often call it the yearly physical, the annual ritual is better named a wellness visit or preventive health appointment. Whatever you call it, men should still have one every year as it remains an important part of primary care, according to Dr. Asaf Bitton, executive director of Ariadne Labs and primary care physician at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital.
How can I protect myself from getting the common cold?
On call
Q. How does a cold virus spread from one person to the next? And what can I do to protect myself?
A. The common cold is most often spread by direct contact with the respiratory secretions of someone who is infected, typically through hand-to-hand contact. Here is how it happens: The person with a cold touches his or her mouth or nose (we do this all day without thinking). The cold viruses are now on the person's hands. The person then touches you, such as by shaking hands. You rub your eyes, nose, or mouth, and the viruses enter your body, and so it goes.
The act of balancing
Maintaining proper balance as you age requires attention, strength, and flexibility.
One skill that can sharply decline with age, and often with little warning, is your sense of balance.
"As people age, changes in flexibility, muscle strength and power, body sensation, reflexes, and even mental function all contribute to declining balance," says Dr. Brad Manor, associate director of the Mobility and Falls Translational Research Center with Harvard-affiliated Hebrew SeniorLife. "You need to work on all these factors to maintain a strong sense of balance."
Be ready for emergencies
Here are 10 ways to safeguard your life (and health) when an emergency or disaster strikes.
Natural disasters and other kinds of emergencies can strike anywhere and often with little warning. Yet, new data from the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging show that most adults ages 50 to 80 are ill-prepared for severe weather, long-term power outages, or other emergency situations.
"Older adults should take the time to focus on how they will cope and manage with an emergency," says Dr. Howard LeWine, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and editor-in-chief of this newsletter. "A small effort now can protect their health and well-being when an emergency does occur."
Omega-3 supplements may improve heart health
In the journals
Research continues to explore the possible benefits of omega-3 fish oil supplements, especially for heart health, and a recent review of existing data suggests they may protect against heart attack and coronary artery disease.
Researchers from Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Brigham and Women's Hospital examined 13 trials, involving almost 128,000 people, to look for any association between omega-3 supplements and the risk of heart attacks, strokes, coronary artery disease, and death from cardiovascular disease. Their results were published online Sept. 30, 2019, by the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Mushrooms may protect against prostate cancer
In the journals
A study published online Sept. 4, 2019, by the International Journal of Cancer showed a possible connection between regular mushroom consumption and a lower risk of prostate cancer.
The researchers recruited more than 36,000 men ages 40 to 79. They recorded various health information, such as physical activity, family and medical history, and diet. Information on diet included 39 foods and beverages. The men were then followed for a period ranging from 13 to almost 25 years.
Can I do anything to prevent osteoporosis?
Ask the doctors
Q. I know that osteoporosis is linked to hereditary factors that I can't change. But are there things I can do to reduce my risk?
A. It's true that many risk factors for osteoporosis, such as your sex, age, and genes, are not things you can change. But there are things you can do to improve your bone health. This includes adopting a healthy diet that is rich in calcium and getting enough vitamin D, which can help maintain and improve bone health. Regular exercise can also help strengthen your bones or prevent bone loss. In particular, activities that put stress on your bones, such as jumping, running, and weight-bearing exercises, can stimulate bone cells to produce proteins that bolster bone strength. In children, these activities can actually increase bone density. While adults don't gain the same degree of benefit that kids do, exercise can still have moderate effects on bone, helping to maintain strength that might otherwise be lost. To further protect bone health, cut down on unhealthy habits, such as smoking or drinking excess amounts of alcohol. If you have risk factors for osteoporosis, you might also want to talk to your doctor about whether any of your medications might be harming your bone health.
Can supplements help boost your immune system?
Your money might be better spent on something else.
During the winter months, you've likely seen ads for products that claim to give your immune system a boost to help you ward off colds and the flu. But can something in a bottle, whether a vitamin formulation or probiotic, really rev up your immune system to help you stay healthy?
"Unfortunately, the reality is that those kinds of products aren't really offering you any benefit," says Michael Starnbach, a professor of microbiology at Harvard Medical School. "There's no evidence that they help in fighting disease."
4 ways to boost your energy naturally with breakfast
Healthful protein, slowly digested carbohydrates, fruit or vegetables serve up best morning mix
As you sleep, your body is hard at work digesting yesterday's dinner. By the time you wake up, your body and brain are demanding fresh fuel. "Breaking the fast" is a key way to power up in the morning. Do it right and the benefits can last all day.
If you miss the day's first meal, notes Dr. David S. Ludwig, a nutrition expert at Harvard-affiliated Children's Hospital Boston, you may start off with an energy deficit and have to tap into your energy reserves.
Fatty liver disease: Should you be tested?
Weight-loss drug may lower risk of heart attacks and infections
Testosterone therapy without evidence of deficiency may boost heart risk
Even a little exercise linked with lower stroke risk in people with afib
Antihistamines may not offer meaningful relief from eczema symptoms
What to eat on the DASH diet
Tricep workouts you can do at home
FDA approves first mRNA-based flu vaccine
Migraine: How it's diagnosed and what that means
Mindfulness practices to reduce stress and improve focus
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