Social engagement and relationships Archive

Three strategies can help decrease the number of days one must devote to medical appointments. The first is eliminating unneeded care, such as screening tests for people at low risk for certain conditions. The second strategy is coordinating various doctor visits, tests, or imaging for the same day. The third strategy is using telemedicine in place of appointments that would normally happen in person, such as mental health care visits or routine appointments for diabetes or high blood pressure.

In 2024, the FDA advised against using smart watches or smart rings that claim to monitor blood sugar without piercing the skin. Using them, the FDA warned, could result in inaccurate blood sugar measurements, which is dangerous for people with diabetes.

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a time-efficient way for people to improve their fitness and cardiovascular health. Even short bursts of high-intensity activity may trigger the release of mood-boosting brain chemicals. Traditionally, HIIT features 30 to 90 seconds of high-intensity effort followed by an equal or longer period of lower-intensity activity or rest. HIIT variations include fartlek (Swedish for "speed play"), which uses environmental cues to set intervals, and Tabata, which features 20-second intervals of intensity followed by 10-second recovery intervals.

The loss of muscle mass begins in one's 30s and accelerates after age 60. A loss of upper-body strength can make it more difficult to complete daily activities, and it may also increase the risk for muscle injury during an activity that involves reaching. A physical therapy program can help increase muscle mass in older age. Such a program typically involves gentle stretching to keep muscles supple, plus strengthening exercises like triceps curls, with low amounts of weight (just a few pounds) and a high number of repetitions.

Exfoliation - the process of removing dead cells from the skin's outer layer - can make skin glow, help even out coloring, and offer other benefits, but it can also irritate or inflame. Which products should you choose and how often can you exfoliate?

Many of us experience social anxiety from time to time. But when this social anxiousness causes intense distress and starts to impact daily life, it could be indicative of a common condition called social anxiety disorder.

PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is a potentially debilitating mental health condition marked by recurrent, frightening episodes during which a person relives a traumatic event. Newly released guidelines can help guide treatment; they recommend which therapies are most effective, and which are not recommended.

Virtual mental health care visits have become more popular in recent years. Here's what to know about finding and scheduling care, tech requirements, and making these visits work well for you.

Because metabolic syndrome boosts the risk of developing several serious health problems, a troubling rise in rates of occurrence of metabolic syndrome among certain segments of the US population is of great concern.