Category: harvardhealth_news_UNDEFINED

The body’s second largest organ, the liver is responsible for more than 500 bodily functions. One of the liver’s greatest threats is nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), an umbrella term that includes several forms of liver disease. Most people with NAFLD have a type known as simple fatty liver. However, up to 20% of people with NAFLD develop inflammation in the liver known as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Left unchecked, this more dangerous form can progress into fibrosis (scarring) and potentially cirrhosis (severe scarring and liver damage). Lifestyle changes, such as weight loss, increasing exercise, and adopting a plant-based diet are the best means to manage and prevent NAFLD.

Regular meditation can lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and improve concentration. Practicing a simple 10-minute mantra-based meditation and observing mindfulness during everyday moments are ideal ways begin a meditation practice.

Adding 15 minutes of yoga to regular exercise sessions can help people lower their high blood pressure more than just doing exercise and basic muscle stretching.

When it comes to managing high blood pressure, the average American consumes too much sodium and too little potassium. Reversing this imbalance could help control high blood pressure which could, in turn, lead to fewer heart attacks, strokes, and deaths from heart disease.

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.