Category: harvardhealth_news_UNDEFINED

Neck pain is often the result of strained neck muscles that become irritated from everyday activities. Examples include watching TV for hours at a time, sleeping without enough neck support, slouching, looking down at a smartphone for long periods, lifting heavy dumbbells, or getting stressed out. Ways to avoid such neck pain include using pillows to better support the neck on a couch or in bed, sitting up straighter, keeping electronic screens at eye level, lifting weights that aren’t too heavy, and practicing stress management.

While there is no agreed-upon normal range for body fat, most men ages 60 to 79 should aim for 13% to 24% body fat. Measuring waist and hip size can provide an estimate of how much dangerous belly fat a person carries.

An estimated 32 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis, and although exercise is often difficult and painful, a regular resistance training program can help them stay active, improve their level of function, reduce pain, and perhaps avoid the condition worsening to the point where they need a joint replacement. Consulting with a physical therapist is recommended to find the right program to meet a person’s needs, fitness level, and limitations.

People are considered to have resistant hypertension if their blood pressure remains at or above 130/80 millimeters of mercury despite taking the highest dosage of at least three different blood pressure medications and following healthy habits. Many times, it helps to explore other factors that could cause blood pressure to rise. These include failure to take medication correctly, white-coat syndrome, sleep apnea, alcohol intake, and use of over-the-counter pain remedies.

In May 2023, the FDA approved fezolinetant (Veozah), a nonhormonal drug specifically designed to reduce the frequency and severity of hot flashes in women. Potential side effects include liver damage, abdominal pain, diarrhea, insomnia, or back pain.

A 2023 study noted a sharp rise in injuries (from 2001 to 2020) among people who walked dogs on leashes. Dog walkers most commonly suffered broken fingers, shoulder sprains, and traumatic brain injuries.

Research into the health benefits of alcohol has not provided a clear answer. Some findings suggest that alcohol helps protect against heart disease and lowers the risk of heart attacks and strokes, and drinkers tend to live longer than nondrinkers. Other studies say these benefits are less clear. If you don’t drink alcohol now, there are no health reasons to start drinking. If you do enjoy it, it’s best to have no more than 2 drinks in the same day.

The vast majority of online pharmacies are rife with risks. They might sell medications that are expired, fake, or contain harmful ingredients. Before ordering from an online pharmacy, one should look it up on the Buy Safely tool from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) to make sure the pharmacy is verified. One can also look for a symbol on a pharmacy website indicating that it’s earned NABP accreditation. The symbol resembles a vertical infinity sign (like the number 8) inside a red circle, and the words “NABP Accredited Digital Pharmacy.”

Home workouts often lead to injuries, such as muscle strains and falls. To reduce injury risks, people should choose a well-ventilated, clutter-free space with a level floor and plenty of room to move; add safety essentials to the space, such as an exercise mat, a mirror to help maintain the proper exercise form, and a smart speaker to call for help if needed; and practice safe exercise habits, such as warming up before a workout and then stretching afterward.

A 2023 study found that when the blood supply of an old mouse was connected to a young mouse, the organs of the young mouse aged dramatically. When they were disconnected, the aging reversed. Similar changes have been observed in humans with certain conditions.