Another holiday season is here, and this year we need to contend with other viruses besides COVID-19. Three Harvard experts share their thoughts on the best ways to keep ourselves and our family members healthy as we celebrate holidays together.
Having a dog or another pet appears to lower the risk of high blood pressure and improve blood pressure control. Pet ownership may foster positive feelings (such as decreased stress) and habits (such as daily walks) that may improve heart health. People who own dogs walk about 20 minutes more per day on average than those without dogs. Pets can help combat loneliness and social isolation, which have been linked to a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, or death from these causes.
Vegetable “steaks” made from sliced eggplant, cauliflower, squash, or other vegetables can provide a vegetarian option at holiday dinners. Top roasted vegetables with cheese, nuts, herbs, or sauce.
Dry-roasted assorted nuts are a heart-healthy alternative to traditional holiday sweets. They contain unsaturated fats that help lower harmful LDL cholesterol and inflammation—two key culprits in cardiovascular disease. Nuts are also a decent source of protein, which helps people feel full and may prevent overeating. They contain fiber (which may also reduce cholesterol and increase satiety) as well as several vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds that help counteract inflammation and oxidation, another artery-damaging process implicated in heart disease.
Could identifying early warning signs of psychosis and providing appropriate support change the course of the illness? Early-intervention programs aim to do this with at-risk teens and young adults, and those experiencing a first episode of psychosis.
A recent Harvard-led survey found that nearly 80% of midlife women use cannabis to ease certain symptoms, such as mood issues and trouble sleeping. But does cannabis help menopause symptoms and what are the long-term effects? Here’s what you should know.
Dry eye disease can redden eyes and make them sting, burn, or hurt. Relief may require a combination of strategies.
While period products are often single-use items like tampons and pads, reusable products are gaining in popularity. Deciding which products to use depends on how a person feels about cost, comfort, safety, and environmental impact.
Ragweed pollen and mold spores are common causes of allergies during the fall months. Breathing them into the lungs may cause the body to overreact, leading to classic allergy symptoms of a runny nose, watery eyes, and sneezing.