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Read More about Creating a family medical history
Creating a family medical history

Creating a family medical history
Collecting a medical history from relatives can help people understand what diseases they may be more susceptible to in the future. These might include certain cancers or chronic conditions. Gathering a history can be challenging. When doing so, it’s important to respect people’s privacy and to approach the subject with sensitivity. Holiday gatherings can present an opportunity to get started. Using an online tool can help the process.
Read More about You don't say? Why does your nose run in cold weather?
You don't say? Why does your nose run in cold weather?

You don't say? Why does your nose run in cold weather?
A runny nose in cold weather is not automatically a sign of sickness, but rather a sign that the nose is doing its job to heat up and moisturize air before it enters the lungs. Your nose runs for an entirely different reason when you catch a cold. Mucus produced during a cold is designed to help flush out cold-causing germs.
Read More about Smarter food shopping
Smarter food shopping

Smarter food shopping
Nutrition does not have to be expensive. Some of the healthiest foods at grocery stores also are some of the least costly. By following some basic shopping strategies and knowing how to properly prepare and store produce, people can keep their refrigerator and pantry stocked with nutritious and inexpensive foods that support their health and their budget.
Read More about Take a breather
Take a breather

Take a breather
Most breathing follows a smooth, steady rhythm, but sometimes normal breathing turns erratic. For example, when people are stressed or panicked, breathing gets shallow, making it feel as if it is hard to take in air. When the fight-or-flight response kicks in to confront perceived danger (real or imagined), breathing pace quickens to prepare the heart and muscles for a quick getaway. One way to manage these types of stressful breathing when they occur is to practice breathing exercises designed to help bring in more oxygen and slow the breathing rhythm.
Read More about Gifts that promote relaxation and resilience
Gifts that promote relaxation and resilience

Gifts that promote relaxation and resilience
An array of products that encourage people to relax can be good holiday gifts for friends and loved ones who need to reduce their stress levels. Suggestions include a year’s subscription to a meditation app; yoga props such as a mat, blocks, and straps; devices that enable self-massage of the upper body; and products that may foster sound sleep, such as a weighted blanket, a noise machine, and scented bath salts.
Read More about Harvard study: Healthy diet associated with lower COVID-19 risk and severity
Harvard study: Healthy diet associated with lower COVID-19 risk and severity

Harvard study: Healthy diet associated with lower COVID-19 risk and severity
A study published online Sept. 6, 2021, by the journal Gut suggests that people who eat the most fruits, vegetables, and legumes have a lower risk of getting COVID and its complications, compared with people who eat the least.
Read More about Breakthrough: AI and better medicines
Breakthrough: AI and better medicines

Breakthrough: AI and better medicines

Many diseases occur because of defects in particular proteins—the workhorses of every cell. But developing a drug that targets a defective protein requires knowing that protein's shape. Protein shapes have always been difficult to predict. Then in July 2021, a company called DeepMind reported that its software predicted the structures for 98% of human proteins. By the end of 2021, DeepMind says it will publish the shape of 50% of the 280 million nonhuman proteins, up from 0.01%. These breakthroughs are expected to lead to new medicines.

Read More about What to do when your blood pressure won’t go down
What to do when your blood pressure won’t go down

What to do when your blood pressure won’t go down
Doctors recommend several strategies to lower resistant hypertension. One strategy is discontinuing medications that may be contributing to high blood pressure, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), decongestants, certain antidepressants, and corticosteroids. Another strategy is treating underlying conditions that can boost blood pressure, such as sleep apnea. Other ways to lower stubbornly high blood pressure include getting lots of aerobic exercise, eating a plant-based diet that’s low in salt, getting at least seven hours of sleep per night, limiting alcohol, avoiding smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight.
Read More about Holiday health hazards
Holiday health hazards

Holiday health hazards
The holidays come with health hazards, such as eating rich food, which can lead to weight gain; drinking too much alcohol and triggering a fast, irregular heartbeat; being stressed, which can weaken the immune system; and being exposed to someone with COVID-19 at a holiday gathering. To stay safe, one should pick only a few days to splurge on holiday foods, and limit quantities; drink only in moderation; ward off stress by exercising regularly, get seven hours of sleep nightly, practice relaxation techniques; and follow the latest guidelines to reduce COVID-19 exposure at holiday gatherings.
Read More about Thinking about COVID booster shots? Here's what to know
Thinking about COVID booster shots? Here's what to know

Thinking about COVID booster shots? Here's what to know

Now that a booster shot is recommended for some people who had COVID-19 vaccines, many of us have questions about the right timing, dose, and type of vaccine to seek.

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