Staying Healthy Archive

In a 2025 study, researchers estimated that fewer than four emergency department visits attributed to semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) occurred for every 1,000 patients taking the drug in 2022 and 2023. Most of the visits were related to gastrointestinal problems.

In the summertime, one of the chief contributors to symptom flares of lung problems is hot air, especially if it’s also humid, stagnant, or very dry. Such weather might narrow the airways, making it much harder to breathe normally. This might occur because hot air irritates the nerves, widens blood vessels near the lungs, or causes people to breathe faster. To avoid breathing difficulty, doctors advise people with lung disease to follow strategies such as keeping their inhalers handy and staying in air-conditioned spaces.

Older men can get “flat” or weak buttocks from spending too much time sitting, which can weaken gluteal muscles and create tight hip flexors. This weakness can place excess demand on other parts of the body, which can lead to pain in the lower back, hips, and knees and increase risk for lower-body injuries. The best way to strengthen a weak backside is to break up prolonged periods of sitting with regular movement and perform exercises that build up gluteal muscles, such as deadlifts, bridges, and step-ups.

High blood pressure means that blood pushes against artery walls more forcefully than normal. Women’s blood pressure is typically lower than men’s until around age 60. An estimated 41% of women develop high blood pressure after menopause. High blood pressure increases people’s risks of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, and other problems. Factors that increase women’s risk of high blood pressure at midlife include menopause, elevated sympathetic nerve activity, weight gain and redistribution, stress, and genetics.

Wildfire smoke contributes greatly to poor air quality, and as wildfires become more frequent due to climate change and drier conditions, more of us and more of our communities are at risk for health harms. Here are ways to cope.

In a 2025 study of more than 221,000 people followed for more than 30 years, scientists calculated that swapping about a tablespoon of butter per day for about two teaspoons of olive, soybean, or canola oil was tied to a 17% reduction in premature death.

Taking a daily multivitamin helps fill in nutritional gaps and some studies have found a link to better cognitive fitness. Adding a vitamin D supplement may help maintain bone health and a B₁₂ supplement is suitable for people who might have difficulty getting this vitamin from food.

When blood pressure remains high despite treatment, making certain lifestyle changes can help. Examples include reducing dietary sodium and increasing dietary potassium, losing weight, limiting alcohol intake to no more than one drink per day, exercising (doing aerobics and strength training), using tools that improve medication adherence (such as an automatic pill dispenser, a medication diary, a smartphone alarm, or a reminder app), quitting smoking, getting more sleep, managing stress, and reducing caffeine intake.