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People with disabilities or physical limitations can still stay active and get the recommended amount of exercise by participating in adaptive sports and activities. These often run parallel to traditional endeavors but are modified to support an individual’s needs. Popular choices include cycling, skiing, archery, kayaking, rowing, tennis, bowling, swimming, basketball, and golf.
Peyronie’s disease, a condition marked by extreme curvature of the penis, affects about 3% to 10% of men, usually between the ages of 45 and 60, but also can occur in men older than 60. There is no cure for Peyronie’s, and the condition often does not improve on its own, but in mild cases men can maintain a regular sex life. If the curvature is severe, making erections or intercourse painful, treatment may help. Options include traction therapy, drug injections, and surgery.
Doctors concentrate on helping men lower their blood levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad” cholesterol, to lower their risk of cardiovascular disease. Lower HDL levels are associated with higher cardiovascular risk. This may be related to HDL’s role in helping to remove excess cholesterol in arteries that can lead to plaque buildup and increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. However, no specific therapies to raise HDL levels have improved outcomes.
In November 2022, the FDA called out seven supplement companies for illegally claiming their products could treat or prevent cardiovascular disease, such as atherosclerosis or heart failure.
A 2022 review of dozens of randomized controlled trials and observational studies found that people who used hearing aids or cochlear implants had a 19% lower risk of cognitive decline, compared with people who didn’t use the devices.
The start of daylight saving time in the spring can have a profound impact on people’s well-being. Moving the clock ahead one hour can cause sleep deprivation, affect focus and concentration, and exacerbate existing problems like depression, anxiety, and seasonal affective disorder. People can lessen the effect by taking steps a week prior to the time change, such as adjusting their sleep schedule, getting more light exposure, and cutting back on caffeine and alcohol.
Making one or more trips to the bathroom every night is the defining characteristic of a medical condition called nocturia. It can be caused by aging, lifestyle habits, or underlying conditions such as an overactive bladder or (in men) an enlarged prostate. Treating nocturia starts with lifestyle changes such as avoiding fluids several hours before bedtime, eliminating caffeinated drinks 10 hours before bedtime, and limiting evening alcohol intake. Medications, pelvic floor exercises, injections of botulinum toxin (Botox), or nerve stimulation treatments may also help.
Some people have anxiety about getting medical tests such as blood work, CT scans, or MRIs. When debating whether to skip a medical test due to fear, a person should get as much information as possible about the test or ask for medication to reduce pain or anxiety associated with the test. During a medical test, it may help to do relaxation exercises or focus on something fun planned for later in the day.
People with knee arthritis who don’t feel ready for joint replacement can take a number of steps as they ponder the possibility. These include getting knee injections or wearing a brace to reduce pain, modifying activities (such as exercise) that aggravate knee pain, losing weight to take pressure off the knee joint, exercising more to help with weight control, seeking physical therapy, getting underlying health conditions under control, doing research about knee replacement, and talking to an orthopedic surgeon.
A 2022 observational study that included more than 200,000 people found that those who’d had shingles at some point had a 30% higher long-term risk for a major cardiovascular event, compared with people who didn’t have shingles.