Sleep Archive

In 2024, the FDA approved a blood test called Shield as a screening method for colorectal cancer. The test detects 83% of colorectal cancers, but only 13% of precancerous polyps. The FDA approval means that now many insurance plans will pay for the test.

Antidepressants influence the way brain chemicals regulate mood and other body functions and behaviors. Examples include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and citalopram (Celexa); and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, such as venlafaxine (Effexor) and duloxetine (Cymbalta). Although the medications are commonly used to treat depression, sometimes they are used to treat other conditions such as insomnia, headaches, gynecological pain, or nerve pain.

Sometimes mucus secretions in the lungs can persist after someone starts to get better from a chest cold, flu, pneumonia, or COVID. To cope with the problem, experts recommend two approaches. One is doing exercises that clear the lungs, such as a series of breaths and coughs that dislodges mucus. The other approach is doing exercises that strengthen respiratory muscles. An example is diaphragmatic breathing, a type of deep breathing that relies on the diaphragm muscle located below the lungs.

Because falls are a serious risk for people ages 65 and older, it's important to have an emergency plan in place. The plan should include a trusted contact who'll be able to help in the event of a fall, and an understanding of when to call 911 versus the doctor's office. It would also be beneficial to have a medical alert system that summons emergency contacts and 911 at the touch of a button. And it would help to consider which resources would be needed if a fall results in a long recuperation.

Eye drops that claim to change a person's eye color are being promoted online, and the ability to do this may sound tempting. But are these products safe? The answer is a hard no according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

A 2024 study suggests that older women with higher scores on tests to assess gratitude may live longer than those with lower scores. Most of this benefit seems to come from preventing deaths from heart disease.