Preventive care Archive

If knee pain and swelling are severe an are not getting better, see your primary care doctor for a thorough evalucation. Image: Thinkstock

Arthritis is not the only possible cause of knee pain, swelling, and disability.

Image: iStock

The wearable electronic devices may motivate you to stick to a diet or exercise plan.

If you've resolved to get more exercise, lose weight, or get more sleep in 2016, then a host of wearable electronic devices and apps are available to help you succeed. They will gently prod you to work toward your goal, encourage you along the way, and praise you when you get there. The gadgets record your activity, while the apps interpret the results and send you frequent messages to let you know how well you're progressing.

In our older years, it is normal to have difficulty seeing something close up. But pay attention if you have other vision changes.
Image: Thinkstock

The top 7 age-related physical changes that may mask other conditions.

Image: Thinkstock

Ask the doctor

Q. My doctor says the Mediterranean diet is not only good for my health in general, but that it is particularly good for my brain. That got my attention. Anything to it?

A. I think there is. The Mediterranean diet is rich in whole-grain bread, root vegetables, green vegetables, fish, poultry, fruit, and olive oil. It includes relatively little red meat, butter, and other foods rich in saturated fats and trans fats. As is often the case with research into a medical question, not all studies come to the same conclusion. But many studies have found that people who regularly adhere to the Mediterranean diet are less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease. And many studies also find that people with diets rich in saturated fats (including from red meat and processed meat) and trans fats are more likely to develop dementia of some type, along with other brain disease, particularly strokes.

Learning a new dance step involves exercise, socialization, and a challenge, all of which can help boost thinking skills.
Image: iStock

Challenging your brain, staying physically active, and being socially engaged may help keep our thinking skills sharp.

Yes, you can find convenient fast-cook meals, but you'll have to do your homework.

Image: Thinkstock

Ever notice how nutrition takes a back seat when you're hungry? Packaged and prepared foods somehow don't seem unhealthy when you need a meal in a hurry. But is there such a thing as a nutritious convenience food? "Yes, there are some healthy options out there, but you really have to look for them," says registered dietitian Kathy McManus, director of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Typical convenience foods

Packaged, prepared foods come in several forms: boxed, dry goods such as quick-cook pasta and rice mixes; canned foods, such as soup or ravioli; or frozen foods, such as a single frozen dinner or a "family-sized" lasagna.

Make sure you get your blood pressure measured at least once a year.
Image: Thinkstock

Screenings for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer aren't always routine.

Flu season still has a few months left, and it is not too late to get a flu shot if you have not done so already. 
Image: Thinkstock

They may help reduce symptoms of the flu, but they're not for everyone.

Image: iStock

With a focus on whole grains, berries, and fish, Northern European cuisine has some heart-friendly features.

If you've never heard of the Nordic diet, you might imagine a plate of those Swedish meatballs sold at Ikea. In fact, this eating style focuses on healthier fare, including an abundance of the plant-based foods nutritionists always encourage us to eat. And while the data are limited so far, some studies suggest that following a Nordic eating pattern may foster weight loss and lower blood pressure—both of which are good for the heart.

Image: Thinkstock

Short bursts of intense exercise may help build heart fitness. But run the idea by your doctor before you begin.

Want to add some variety to your exercise routine and finish your workout a little faster? Consider interval training, which alternates short, intense bouts of exercise with longer periods of lighter, less vigorous activity. The potential payoff may be enhanced cardiovascular fitness in less time.