Category: harvardhealth_news_UNDEFINED

Certain strategies can help people avoid trips to the emergency room during the winter. For example, to avoid slipping and breaking a bone, spread salt on sidewalks and driveways; to avoid hypothermia, wear a coat and layers of athletic clothing that wicks away moisture; to avoid a heart attack from overexertion, use caution when starting a new exercise routine or shoveling snow. It’s also important to build an emergency kit that includes several days’ worth of food and drinking water, and two weeks of medication.

The FDA has approved three GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs for weight loss. The drugs not only lower blood sugar and weight, but also quiet inflammation, stimulate the production of antioxidants, help repair damaged DNA, and slow the aging of the body’s cells. Evidence suggests that among people who use the drugs for diabetes and obesity, the drugs reduce the risks of kidney disease progression, heart attack, death from heart disease, death from COVID-19, and death from all causes by 15% to 35%.

Almost anyone who’s bothered by the function or appearance of falling upper eyelids is a candidate for a surgery called upper blepharoplasty. It takes place in an outpatient surgery center. During the procedure, a surgeon makes incisions along the upper eyelid’s natural folds, removes excess skin (and sometimes underlying fat) from the upper eyelids, and then closes the incisions with stitches. Recovery lasts two to four weeks. The procedure might be covered by insurance if sagging eyelids interfere with vision.

A 2024 study of more than 200,000 adults, combined with findings from 19 other studies (for a total of 1.25 million people), tied eating ultra-processed foods—particularly sugary drinks and processed meats—to an increased risk for heart disease.

A small randomized trial in 2024 found that both self-adjustment and in-situ audiometry were effective strategies to match self-fitting hearing aids to personal hearing needs. However, self-adjustment devices had the best satisfaction rates and consistent use.

A 2024 study of 10,000 people (average age 67) who answered questions about resilience every other year for 12 years found that people with more resilience were much less likely to die in the next decade, compared with people with less resilience.

Some scientists believe that microbes might play a part in Alzheimer’s disease development. They say it could be that certain viruses or bacteria that infect the brain aren’t completely eradicated by the immune system, which leads to neuroinflammation and brain cell death. It could also be that microbes trigger the release of protein deposits—amyloid-beta plaques and tau tangles—which kill neurons, further increase neuroinflammation, and lead to more neuron death.

Sometimes asking certain questions at the doctor’s office can be embarrassing, especially if the question involves gut problems or sexual dysfunction. To cope, it might help to speak with a doctor privately in person; to communicate with the doctor on the phone or via a patient portal; to see a specialist; to write down questions and hand them to the doctor; or to describe a problem in a professional, matter-of-fact way, using medical terms (such as “stool” or “bowel movement” instead of “poop”).

Treatments for severe carotid stenosis include a catheter-based procedure to insert a stent inside the carotid (carotid artery stenting) or surgery to remove the plaque inside the artery (carotid endarterectomy).

Having a home workout area can make it easier to meet daily exercise goals, especially during the winter months, when weather conditions may make outdoor exercise impractical. If space allows, people may want a treadmill or other machine that’s suitable for any health issues they may have. For example, people with hip or knee arthritis often find that a stationary bike is more comfortable for arthritic joints. For strength training, resistance bands or tubes are ideal for beginners because they’re affordable, versatile, and easy to use. Scheduling a few sessions with either a physical therapist or certified personal trainer can help people learn and practice proper form.