Sleep Archive

Scientists can't say for sure yet if tea is good for health. However, the overall evidence on tea consumption indicates a potential benefit. Drinking tea is linked to reduced risks for heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, dementia, stress, and early death. The health benefits of tea come with drinking two to four daily cups of green, black, or oolong tea. Other types of tea, such as the fermented tea known as pu-erh, might also be good for health, though the supporting evidence is more limited.

When New Year's resolutions aren't working, other strategies can help improve health habits. For example, people can set February goals instead of January goals, focusing on small changes in diet, exercise, or stress management. Another idea is including friends for added motivation and support, or working with an expert such as a personal trainer or dietitian. It might also help to follow eco-friendly habits that improve health, such as driving less and walking or cycling more and adopting a plant-based diet.

Many people need to take multiple medications for health and symptom control, but it requires extra attention to prevent risks for drug interactions, dosage errors, and other problems. Several strategies can help, such as learning the names of pills, what they do, and why they're necessary; writing down the day, time, and dose of each drug; using organization tools such as pillboxes and alarms; and scheduling a medication review with a doctor or pharmacist every 12 months, so that unnecessary pills-such as those no longer needed-can be omitted.

White-coat hypertension refers to blood pressure that's high only when measured in a medical setting. It's defined as a reading in the doctor's office of greater than 130/80 (but less than 160/100) and an average daytime blood pressure reading of less than 130/80. If home monitoring reveals mostly normal readings, treatment may not be needed. But intermittent blood pressure spikes might still damage the heart.

Heart-healthy Valentine's Day gift ideas include products and experiences designed to make it easier and more enjoyable to follow the key tenets of a healthy lifestyle: eating well, getting regular exercise, sleeping soundly, and managing stress. Examples include strawberries dipped in dark chocolate, a cooking class, custom-fit sneakers, luxury sleep products, and a subscription to a meditation app.

For millions of people, alcohol is a regular part of their lives. But there are many downsides to drinking - some familiar, others less well appreciated. And concerns about the risks of even moderate drinking are on the rise.