Staying Healthy Archive

Research we're watching

If you tried smoking at a young age, your chances of being an adult smoker go up, says a study published in April 2020 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

The study authors looked at data from more than 6,500 children and adolescents between the ages of six and 19 who were then followed into their 40s. Study authors found that the earlier people tried smoking, the more likely they were to have a daily habit as they aged. For example, of the people who first tried smoking between the ages of 6 and 12, 50% were daily smokers by the time they reached their 20s, compared with 8% of people who started smoking at 18 or 19.

Stretching becomes crucial as you age. Here is a quick routine that addresses the major tight spots.

Stretching is much like flossing. You know it's good for your health, but for whatever reason, you may not always make time for it.

"Most people know they need to stretch more, but find it burdensome or are not sure what to do," says Urvashi Chogle, a physical therapist at Harvard-affiliated Spaulding Rehabilitation Network.

In the journals

Don't be discouraged if you're not a quick walker. A new study suggests that total daily steps — and not how many steps you take per minute — are related to a lower risk of death. The results were published in the March 24/31, 2020, issue of JAMA.

Researchers examined data from 4,840 people, average age 57, who were involved in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The participants wore an accelerometer — a device that measures movement, including the number of steps taken per minute — for about 14 hours a day for an average of 5.7 days. The people were then followed for 10 years.

Resources to teach you new skills are more accessible than ever, and the experience could lead to sharper thinking.

The world is full of ordinary people who've learned to do extraordinary things without entering a classroom. For example, British fashion designer Nadine Merabi taught herself to sew watching how-to videos on YouTube. Video game developer Lual Mayen learned to write computer programs using a laptop tutorial, as he grew up in a Ugandan refugee camp.

But learning new things doesn't have to lead to fame or fortune; learning also brings invaluable health benefits, such as more purpose in life, sharper thinking, and maybe even better brain health. "Engaging in mentally stimulating activities has not only been linked with a lower risk of full-blown dementia, but also a lower risk that the mild cognitive lapses we can have as we get older will get worse," says Dr. Joel Salinas, a neurologist who specializes in behavioral neurology and neuropsychiatry at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.

Ask the doctors

Q. I'm considering using a telemedicine provider. Is there anything I should be aware of before I make my appointment?

A. The good news is that insurance coverage has expanded recently, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has allowed many people to access telehealth services who weren't able to in the past. Telehealth services can take many forms, from live video consultations to remote patient monitoring. But you should use some caution when taking advantage of these services to ensure that your privacy is protected.

There are plenty of ways to exercise when you're indoors.

When your gym is closed and exercising outdoors isn't an option, it's tempting to focus on a couch routine, working out your thumb on the TV remote. But exercising is a crucial way to keep your immune system healthy, boost your mood, and stave off chronic illness. And there are many options to keep exercising, even when you're stuck indoors.

Aerobic workouts

Aerobic activity often requires lots of space, but it doesn't have to. "Just stepping in place is a simple and effective workout," notes Harvard fitness expert and certified fitness instructor Michele Stanten.

Moving more doesn't have to be a drag.

Many people don't look forward to their daily workout so much as they look forward to getting through it. "Exercise is often a very negative term," says Dr. Edward Phillips, assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School. "People hear it as something they have to do. It becomes another thing on the list, and when they don't do it, they feel even worse."

If this sounds like you, it may be time to reframe your workouts. Exercise should feel like a gift, not a chore, says Dr. Phillips. Sound like a lofty goal? The first step toward achieving it is to change your thinking. Stop calling it exercise, he suggests; start referring to it as physical activity, and a whole new world of options will open up.

News briefs

Drinking coffee is linked to many health benefits, such as less weight gain, lower average daily blood pressure, and a reduced risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. But which brewing method will help you get the most from your cup? A study published online April 22, 2020, by the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology found that filtering coffee (for example, with a paper filter) — not just boiling ground coffee beans and drinking the water — was better for health, particularly for older people. Researchers analyzed the survey responses of more than 500,000 healthy coffee drinkers (ages 20 to 79) who were followed for about 20 years. People younger than 60 who drank one to four cups of coffee, particularly filtered coffee, had lower rates of artery disease and death. The lower rate of death with filtered coffee drinkers persisted in people ages 60 or older, but was lost in people who drank five or more cups per day. The study is observational and doesn't prove that filtered coffee is healthier than unfiltered coffee, but it makes sense. Unfiltered coffee contains diterpenes, compounds that can raise cholesterol, and researchers say a cup of unfiltered coffee contains 30 times more diterpenes than a cup of filtered coffee. So use that coffee filter, save the French press or Turkish unfiltered coffee for rare occasions, and consider limiting your coffee intake to less than five cups per day, on average.

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