Even a little exercise linked with lower stroke risk in people with afib
Testosterone therapy without evidence of deficiency may boost heart risk
Weight-loss drug may lower risk of heart attacks and infections
What to eat on the DASH diet
Migraine: How it's diagnosed and what that means
Tricep workouts you can do at home
Mindfulness practices to reduce stress and improve focus
Antihistamines may not offer meaningful relief from eczema symptoms
Overweight and taking blood pressure medications: Study finds it's a trend that's working
FDA approves first mRNA-based flu vaccine
Sleep Archive
Articles
5 ways to give the gift of health
Look for gadgets or services that get people moving.
Image: DeathToStockPhotos
During the holidays, or at any time of year, a gift that benefits health can have a lasting impact. It may be especially helpful to someone who wouldn't normally purchase such an item or doesn't know about available options. A few guidelines to keep in mind: "The gift should be easy to use. Consider the receiver's interests, and accommodate previous injuries, surgeries, medical conditions, or functional limitations," says Dr. Clare Safran-Norton, a physical therapist at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital.
1. Services
2. Gadgets
A wearable fitness monitor is helpful to track everything from heart rate to the number of steps walked per day. The majority cost between $50 and $200, and you'll find them at big box stores and sports retailers. An automatic pill dispenser makes sticking to a medication regimen easier for someone who takes several pills daily. The devices are available in drugstores and online. Prices start at about $50.
3. Workout equipment
4. Classes
An exercise class makes a good gift, especially if you offer to come along. "Sometimes people are more inclined to exercise with company. Plus, having someone with you adds an element of safety, and you can share a common goal," says Dr. Safran-Norton. Consider tai chi, ballroom dance, or yoga. Classes are usually sold in packages. You'll find them in exercise studios, hospitals, and community centers. Prices vary.
5. Information
Stay alert! Don’t “drowse” and drive
Driving while very sleepy or drowsy impairs a driver’s reaction time, attention, and judgment.
Move more and sit less, urges the American Heart Association
A scientific advisory published online in Circulation Aug. 15, 2016, suggests that sedentary behavior may be putting people at risk for chronic disease and early death.
Higher BMI linked to early death
A large international study published Aug. 20, 2016, in The Lancet suggests that an unhealthy body mass index increases the risk of early death.
Planning ahead for your future medical care
Talking with loved ones about your values and wishes can help ensure you'll receive the type of treatment you want.
Image: moodboard /Thinkstock
If you're like most people, you've avoided talking about what would happen in the event that you become unable to make your own health care decisions. But as your family and friends gather together during the upcoming holidays, consider carving out some time for an important conversation with a person you trust.
Everyone should have a health care proxy—a person who can speak on your behalf if you lack the capacity to do so. "You don't want to burden your health care proxy with difficult decisions. That's why you need to discuss the choices that you'd make for yourself," says Dr. Lynne W. Stevenson, professor at Harvard Medical School and director of the cardiomyopathy and heart failure program at Brigham and Women's Hospital.
Working with a geriatric-care manager
Image: Bigstock
When you're exploring a foreign country, a guide who knows the terrain well can help immensely. That's just as true when entering the foreign territory of caregiving. Here, a geriatric-care manager can provide invaluable assistance for individuals and families facing challenging care decisions.
Geriatric-care managers come from diverse backgrounds, from nursing and social work to gerontology. These professionals can help navigate the tangles of family dynamics, round up medical care and necessary services, keep medical personnel on the same page, and cut through the baffling red tape of private businesses and government bureaucracies.
Want healthy feet? Keep a healthy weight
Image: ASIFE/ iStock
Being overweight can lead to a host of health problems, from high blood pressure and heart disease to arthritis, gallstones, and sleep apnea. It can also contribute to foot problems in two ways.
First, excess weight contributes to the misery of common structural problems such as heel pain and arthritis. Any foot ailment is more painful the more weight you put on it. Second, excess pounds increase your chances of developing atherosclerosis, poor circulation, and diabetes — all of which can damage your feet.
Even a little exercise linked with lower stroke risk in people with afib
Testosterone therapy without evidence of deficiency may boost heart risk
Weight-loss drug may lower risk of heart attacks and infections
What to eat on the DASH diet
Migraine: How it's diagnosed and what that means
Tricep workouts you can do at home
Mindfulness practices to reduce stress and improve focus
Antihistamines may not offer meaningful relief from eczema symptoms
Overweight and taking blood pressure medications: Study finds it's a trend that's working
FDA approves first mRNA-based flu vaccine
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