Staying Healthy Archive

Research we're watching

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Good news for urban dwellers: the heart benefits of your workout aren't canceled out by health risks caused by car exhaust fumes in the city air you breathe. A study in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that regular workouts still reduce the risk of heart attack even when people are regularly exposed to moderate to high levels of air pollution caused by traffic. Air pollution is known to raise risk for heart attacks as well as respiratory problems, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Researchers studied data on more than 51,000 people ages 50 to 65, looking at how often the people exercised and other lifestyle factors, as well as their exposure to the traffic pollutant nitrogen dioxide. Over a period of nearly 18 years, nearly 3,000 of these people had a first heart attack, and 324 had a recurrent heart attack.

People who lived in areas with higher nitrogen dioxide levels had a 17% higher risk of having a first heart attack and a 39% higher risk of a recurrent heart attack, compared with those who had low exposure to traffic pollution. But regular exercise appeared to reduce that risk. Active participants had a 15% lower rate of initial heart attacks, regardless of air quality. So, even if the air you are breathing is less than ideal, regular workouts help protect your heart.

Lost your spark and gusto? These strategies can help you recharge.

Everyone has the occasional low-energy day when you are easily fatigued. Often the feeling passes, and you bounce back to your regular robust self. But if you struggle with a constant lack of energy, you may have a problem deep within your cells.

Mitochondria are the power source inside all your body's cells. These tiny structures fuel the body by producing molecules called adenosine triphosphate or ATP. However, as you grow older, your body has fewer mitochondria.

Being more social is linked with greater health benefits, but what if you're not comfortable in the company of others?

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Research continues to stress the relationship between social connection and long-term health. Interacting regularly with other people appears to lower your risk for heart disease, depression, and early death.

But what if being social is not who you are? People who are introverts — that is, they prefer time alone over group outings — are often at a disadvantage when it comes to social engagement.

Here is why you should invest in this fitness technology.

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There is a lot of technology that tracks your health, from counting steps to counting burned calories. One of the most valuable fitness tools though is a heart rate monitor, which tells you how many beats your heart takes per minute.

"Whether you're just getting started with an exercise routine or are a committed fitness enthusiast, tracking your heart rate can help you maintain the necessary moderate level of intensity for optimal benefits without worrying about doing too much or too little," says Dr. Aaron L. Baggish, associate director of the Cardiovascular Performance Program at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.

In the journals

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More reasons to take good care of your eyes: it may protect against cognitive decline and keep you safe behind the wheel, according to two studies published online June 28, 2018, by JAMA Ophthalmology.

In the first study, researchers looked at almost 560,000 adults ages 65 and older and found they had 9% fewer serious car crashes in the year following cataract surgery. Besides causing blurry vision, cataracts can intensify the glare from headlights and sunlight, which can make driving dangerous, according to the researchers.

In the journals

People who feel younger than their actual age also may have brains that age more slowly, suggests a small study published online June 7, 2018, by Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience.

Scientists took brain scans of 68 healthy older adults, ages 59 to 84, to measure the volume of gray matter in various regions. The participants then answered surveys to determine if they felt older or younger than their age and to measure their cognitive abilities and perceptions of overall health.

News briefs

If your doctor offers a way to monitor your chronic health condition via computer, consider giving it a try. A Harvard study that was published online April 23, 2018, by the Journal of General Internal Medicine found that people who had "virtual" office visits over the Internet were able to control their blood pressure just as well as people who had in-person follow-up office visits — and they used fewer health care services over all. Researchers compared the health outcomes of two groups. One group included about 900 people with high blood pressure who had in-office follow-up visits. The other group included about 900 people who had "virtual" follow-up visits, which meant they used a website to enter blood pressure readings, track their medications and side effects, and ask questions; their doctors determined whether to follow up by computer or phone or to schedule in an in-office visit. Over the course of six months, blood pressures improved for people in both groups. But people in the virtual care group averaged about one fewer office visit than people in the other group, and they had fewer emergency room visits and hospitalizations over all. The authors say the results support using virtual follow-up visits for other chronic diseases. Indeed, many health care providers already are doing so, including one group in the study — Massachusetts General Hospital, which uses virtual care to follow 65 different kinds of chronic disease.

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News briefs

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Not getting enough exercise? You're not alone, suggests a report published online June 28, 2018, by the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics. Researchers looked at health survey information collected from all 50 states and the District of Columbia from 2010 to 2015. The results: Among adults ages 18 to 64 years old, just 27% of men and 19% of women met the guidelines for both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities. The numbers were a little higher for men and women who worked, and lower if they were unemployed. The level of activity also varied by state, with 32% of men and women in Colorado meeting both activity goals, compared with just 13.5% in Mississippi. The takeaway: We all need at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity exercise (like brisk walking), and muscle-strengthening exercise twice a week. If you're not meeting these goals, consider ways to increase your exercise activity. Even a few extra minutes per day will get you closer to your goals and better health.

These strategies keep you healthy and safe through your 60s, 70, and 80s.

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After age 60, men tend to get thrown together — the so-called 60-and-older group — even though most are quite different in terms of their health.

"While many men are still very fit well into their 60s, 70s, and 80s, others face health challenges and chronic diseases that make daily living difficult," says Dr. Howard LeWine, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

On call

Q. I am 65 and have noticed a decline in the quality of my fingernails. Should I worry about some underlying medical condition?

A. For the most part, changes in fingernail shape and appearance are simple signs of normal aging and are nothing to worry about. Fingernails naturally grow slower as we age, and their appearance may change, too. Nails can become yellowed, dull, and brittle. They may develop tiny longitudinal ridges and become thinner and more fragile. You can't do anything about these kinds of fingernail changes, but you can reduce the risk of splitting and breaking that often accompanies them. For example: