Category: harvardhealth_news_UNDEFINED

Over-the-counter hearing aids are now available in stores and online. They’re regulated by the FDA, they don’t require a prescription from a doctor, and they’re cheaper than prescription hearing aids. But over-the-counter devices are not right for everyone. They’re meant only for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. Before buying a pair, a person should do some homework to find devices with the right fit and features, including a trial period that allows the buyer to return them if they aren’t working out.

COVID-19 can damage the brain in many ways. Initially, it can cause brain inflammation that causes confusion, difficulty concentrating, and memory problems. COVID also can cause new psychological disorders such as depression or anxiety. It can even cause people to see and hear things that aren’t there and to believe things that aren’t true. COVID often damages the brain’s autonomic nervous system, leading to abnormalities in heart rate and blood pressure. Additionally, the virus that causes COVID can infect and injure the lining of blood vessels and make blood clot more easily, which can lead to strokes and heart attacks.

Sometimes people miss the symptoms of life-threatening conditions such as a heart attack, a stroke, atrial fibrillation, or a pulmonary embolism. To detect the warning signs, people should pay attention to sudden, new symptoms, especially if they include shortness of breath, chest pain, heart palpitations, lightheadedness, confusion, weakness, fatigue, fainting, or a terrible headache. Someone experiencing any of these symptoms should call 911. If symptoms aren’t sudden or intense, and people aren’t sure if they warrant emergency help, they should call their doctor.

Popular brands of dark chocolate (which is often touted as heart-healthy) may contain potentially worrisome levels of lead and cadmium. Consistent, long-term exposure to these heavy metals has been linked to cardiovascular disease.

Some people who take the anti-clotting drug warfarin (Coumadin) may not need to take low-dose aspirin. Stopping unneeded aspirin use may prevent dangerous bleeding.

A majority of people in the United States need a large or extra-large blood pressure cuff. To ensure an accurate reading, people should check their arm circumference to make sure they’re using the correct cuff size.

Stroke is the most common cause of aphasia, a language-based brain disorder that can affect speaking, understanding, reading, and writing. But the brain has the ability to rewire brain cells and recover lost function through a process known as neuroplasticity. Therapy with a speech-language pathologist facilitates this recovery, which is greatest in the first several months after a stroke. Stroke survivors who keep working on their language processing problems can continue to improve for years.

Video visits and other forms of telehealth, which were commonplace during the COVD-19 surge, can be good options for treating people with heart disease. Telehealth delivery options can be synchronous or asynchronous, and they may also include remote monitoring or measurements such as weight and blood pressure. Blended care that combines in-person appointments with virtual visits may be the wave of the future.

The core muscles include those of the abdomen, lower back, front of hips, and spine. Many popular sports such as cycling, golf, tennis, and swimming depend on a stable, flexible core.

A 2022 study found that a statin drug lowers LDL cholesterol better than six popular dietary supplements. While not everyone with high LDL needs a statin, these drugs are proven to lower heart attack risk in people who have or are at high risk of heart disease based on a common risk calculator. Dietary supplements such as cinnamon, garlic, and turmeric aren’t helpful for addressing heart-related risks, and product labels often offer false promises regarding cardiovascular benefits.