Independent Living Archive

Here's how to tell if you may have a drinking problem.

Alcoholic beverages are a "social lubricant." At holiday and other parties, bouts of excessive drinking can seem like part of the celebration. But here's something to think about as you raise your glass: drinking too much alcohol at a party — or at any time — can be a sign of alcohol use disorder (AUD).

What is AUD?

AUD is the umbrella term for problem drinking that stems from alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence. While both are marked by problems stopping or controlling alcohol use, they're not the same.

News briefs

Last month we told you about new medications to treat migraine headaches. Now a small Harvard study published Aug. 8, 2019, in The American Journal of Medicine offers a reminder about the importance of limiting migraine triggers. For six weeks, 100 adults with frequent migraines were asked to record daily intake of caffeinated coffee, tea, soda, and energy drinks; alcohol intake; activity levels; stress; and sleep times. They also recorded their headache episodes. Researchers looked at each study participant's risk of having a headache on a given day in relation to his or her consumption of caffeinated beverages. Having three or more servings of caffeinated drinks in a day was associated with higher odds of having a migraine on that day or the following day. However, having one to two servings of caffeinated beverages was not associated with migraines. Does that mean people prone to migraines can safely enjoy up to two caffeinated drinks per day? Not quite. The study is only observational and doesn't prove that any amount of caffeine will or won't cause migraines. But if you are prone to migraines, watch your headache triggers, and perhaps keep a journal of daily activity (including caffeine intake) to help discover your trigger limits.

Image: Mike Watson Images/Getty Images

Cardio not your exercise of choice? Weight training for an hour per week might appeal to you.

Cardio (aerobic) exercise is often touted as the exercise of choice for improving heart health. After all, a body of research supports how it can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, reduce plaque buildup to improve blood flow, and help maintain a healthy weight.

Guidelines recommend that older adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week. But what if you can't do regular cardio because of health reasons or limitations — or you simply don't like cardio exercise?

Your blood pressure is one of the best ways to measure overall health and possible risk factors. Do you know your numbers?

There are many important health markers: cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels, weight — to name but a few. But men often fail to use one of the most important: blood pressure.

"Your blood pressure is one of the easiest and simplest measurements and can tell you so much about your current and possible future health," says Dr. Randall Zusman, director of the division of hypertension for Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital's Corrigan Minehan Heart Center. "Yet most people don't know their number or check it on a regular basis, so they may not be doing everything they need to lower their risk of a heart attack or stroke."

In the journals

Even if obesity runs in your family, certain activities may help you lose the weight and keep it off, according to a study published online Aug. 1, 2019, by PLOS Genetics.

Researchers recruited more than 18,000 adults ages 30 to 70 and examined their individual genes and exercise routines. Genetic profiles were created from blood samples that looked for certain gene variants related to obesity. Exercise was defined as at least 30 minutes of activity performed three times a week.

A new study says you might not have to walk far to see benefits.

If you've invested in a fitness tracker, chances are you've heard that you should take 10,000 steps a day for better health. If that sounds daunting, there's good news: a study published online May 29 by JAMA Internal Medicine found that you may able to reap health benefits by taking half that number of steps each day.

Researchers found that in older women, taking as few as 4,400 steps per day was associated with a 41% lower risk of dying during the study period when compared with women who walked 2,500 steps a day or fewer. In addition, it didn't seem to matter if the women took those steps power walking or just moving around the house.

Ask the doctors

Q. I have terrible dandruff that just doesn't seem to ever clear up. What can I do to treat it?

A. For most people, using a dandruff shampoo once or twice a week can control this annoying condition, in which the skin on the scalp becomes dry and flakes off. But in some cases, the condition doesn't clear up and actually requires medical attention.

Put the focus on friends, family, and fun, instead of food.

It's November, time for Thanksgiving and the start of the holiday season, which is also known as the time of year when healthy habits slide off track and waistbands get tighter.

"The truth is, people do tend to abandon healthy habits during the winter," says Dr. Beth Frates, clinical assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School. Blame the cold weather that keeps you inside and makes you feel sluggish, or the parade of holiday parties. Who wants to stick to a diet or trudge to the gym?

Simple organization and communication strategies can help you manage your medications and reduce health risks.

If your pillbox is overflowing, you're not alone. Some 60% of Americans have at least one chronic condition, and 40% have two or more, according to the CDC. Doctors often prescribe multiple drugs to manage them.

"Some studies have found that a large number of people are taking as many as 12 to 15 drugs at a time," says Dr. David Bates, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

People who identify as bisexual represent a substantial part of the population, yet research focusing on their health lags. Which health problems are more likely to occur in people who are bisexual and what might help to counter them?