Safety/injury prevention Archive

A transient ischemic attack (TIA), or ministroke, is a serious warning sign for future stroke, especially in the first 48 hours. Medications plus lifestyle changes-healthy eating, regular exercise, and blood pressure control-can significantly lower that risk.

People may believe that rest and sleep are synonymous, but sleep is only one form of rest. People need seven different types of rest to feel recharged. These are physical, mental, spiritual, sensory, creative, emotional, and social rest.

Physical activity improves physical and mental health, and walking is the simplest way to stay active. Walking for more than 10 minutes at a time may offer extra benefits, but all movement counts. For people over 60, 6,000 to 8,000 steps a day are optimal, regardless of walking speed.

Simple mistakes can undermine an exercise regimen. Some errors can lead to muscle injury, such as skipping a warm-up before a workout, slouching while exercising, cramming too much into a single exercise session, lifting too much weight, and working the same muscle groups every day without allowing them to rest properly. Another big mistake is not staying properly hydrated, which can be tough on the heart and muscles. To avoid mistakes, it might help to work with a physical therapist or personal trainer.

Leg strength becomes even more vital as people age, as the legs are essential for routine movements such as going up and down stairs, sitting and rising from chairs, bending over and standing up, and protecting against falls. The main leg muscles are gluteals, quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves. Some exercises that can help strengthen these muscles are bridges, step-ups, and heel raises.

As the number of pickleball players has grown, so has the number of eye injuries in people ages 50 or older, according to a 2025 study. Such injuries include damage to the eye surface, retinal detach­ment, or fractures near the eye socket.

A 2025 study suggested that people with diabetes who exercise regularly or in a "weekend warrior" pattern are significantly less likely to die earlier than peers who are inactive.

A form of strength training called time under tension (TUT)focuses on the amount of time muscles are activated during an exercise rather than the number of repetitions or amount of weight. TUT forces people to use a slower tempo and controlled movements when exercising, which keeps the muscles engaged longer, helping to stimulate muscle growth. TUT can be applied to practically any type of strength training exercise, including free weights and gym machines.

Research suggests that people can exercise in the evening without it affecting their sleep if they avoid physical activity several hours before bedtime.