Social engagement and relationships Archive

The acronym SHIELD sums up the habits that may help ward off cognitive decline. SHIELD stands for sleeping at least seven hours per night, handling stress, interacting with friends, exercising daily, learning new things, and eating a healthy diet. Ideally, one should incorporate all of these healthy lifestyle habits into each day. If that feels overwhelming, doctors advise focusing on a different healthy habit per day, until it's possible to practice all of the habits every day.

Increasingly, tests that measure C-reactive protein are marketed to health-conscious consumers as a way of determining if they have chronic inflammation. However, the test is just one piece of evidence and should be interpreted by one's doctor. Without that expertise, a customer might not understand what the CRP test result means, and as a result might suffer unnecessary anxiety or pursue unnecessary tests. It's best to talk to one's doctor before seeking tests that measure CRP levels.

Protecting the skin from the sun doesn't increase the risk of vitamin D deficiency or bone fracture, according to a recent study.

The Federal Trade Commission called on companies to issue refunds to people who purchased anti-aging products due to unsubstantiated marketing claims.

A large number of apps and computer programs claim to help keep the mind sharp and improve memory. Since there is limited evidence that these programs bring cognitive benefits, be skeptical of these claims and choose the ones that you enjoy. Meanwhile, practice proven brain-protecting strategies such as staying physically active, eating a healthy diet, socializing, and avoiding brain-harming habits such as drinking excess alcohol, getting too little sleep, and using illegal drugs.

Certain devices that use magnetic chargers may interfere with cardiac devices such as pacemakers. A doctor should advise people on which ones to avoid or to use caution when operating.

Most people don't benefit from colonoscopies after age 75, but before stopping they should have a discussion with their doctor.

A test called a coronary artery calcium (CAC) scan uses a special type of x-ray to look for plaque in the arteries of the heart, which raises the risk of heart-related problems. While CAC scans can be valuable for detecting people at higher risk of heart problems from plaque buildup, this test isn't right for everyone. It's typically most useful for people who don't yet have symptoms of heart disease, but who do have some risk factors. Determining how much plaque is in the arteries can help guide decision making about preventive strategies. The test is less useful for people at very low or very high risk for heart disease.

Getting adequate sleep may help improve a person's gait, and catching up on short sleep may help people avoid walking problems usually caused by fatigue.

The American Psychiatric Association has recently added prolonged grief disorder to its official list of classified mental disorders. Someone may develop this disorder when someone close has died within the past 12 months. The person may experience intense longing for the deceased or preoccupation with thoughts about him or her. These feelings occur most of the day and nearly every day for at least a month. Recognizing the signs and seeking out help with talk therapy are the best approaches to help prevent it from evolving to depression.