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A 2022 study found that coffee drinkers were less likely to develop irregular heartbeats, cardiovascular disease, heart-related deaths, and deaths from any cause over a 12-year period, compared with people who did not drink coffee.
A 2022 study found that eating later in the day increases hunger, decreases the number of calories a person burns, and promotes fat storage. Over time, those effects could lead to weight gain.
A 2022 study found that people who did at least two sessions of strength training as well as 2.5 hours of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic activity each week were 30% less likely to die during an eight-year study period, compared with people who did less strength training.
Several problems can block the passages on one or both sides of the nose. For example, allergies can inflame sensitive tissue inside the nose, reducing the space left for air to flow through nasal passages; a crooked wall (septum) separating the passages of the nose can block airflow, making it hard to breathe; and aging can cause tissues in the nose to sag, which can narrow nasal passages. Strategies to open nasal passages depend on the cause of obstruction. Treatments range from using nasal sprays to widening nasal passages with surgery.
Treatment for hair loss depends on the type of hair loss a person is experiencing. Sudden hair loss often gets better on its own once an underlying condition is treated. Gradual hair thinning caused by aging or genetics may stop or start to reverse with topical medications, oral medications, supplements, laser light treatments, or injections of platelet-rich plasma. And for any of these approaches, the key is starting them as soon as hair loss is detected. Once hair follicles stop working, the only option to restore hair is hair transplant surgery.
Listening to health-focused podcasts can help boost a person’s knowledge about the latest medical treatments and trends, and how to live a healthy lifestyle or cope with chronic disease. Just make sure the podcasts come from reliable sources. When choosing a health podcast, it’s important to seek out credible hosts, such as well-credentialed health professionals or health journalists who present scientific data in a balanced rather than biased manner. People should avoid programs that promote poorly researched or scientifically unfounded diets or treatments.
Many people have become deconditioned and lost some physical function as a result of inactivity during the pandemic. This may be causing them to change their habits, patterns, and activities because they don’t think they can do them or don’t feel like doing them anymore. People who’ve lost physical function as a result of inactivity can take several steps to get function back. Examples include setting goals, tracking activity, getting help from a physical therapist, adding weight training to an exercise regimen, exercising with a friend, and not giving up.
Renal denervation is a minimally invasive procedure that destroys some of the nerves inside the renal arteries, which supply the kidneys. The procedure lowers blood pressure by disrupting communication between the brain and the kidneys that leads to elevated blood pressure. People with stubbornly high blood pressure may be candidates for the procedure, which is currently approved for use in Europe but not in the United States.
About one in eight adults over age 45 has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD refers to several lung-damaging conditions, particularly emphysema and chronic bronchitis, that cause coughing and breathlessness. But many people don’t know much about COPD, which is largely caused by cigarette smoking and may be mistaken for heart disease. Anyone with symptoms of COPD should be evaluated by a physician. People who have heart disease who have ever smoked or lived with a smoker should be tested for COPD.
The new year is a good time for people to take a good look at their medication regimens and consider if they need to make any changes. That could mean talking to a doctor or pharmacist to see if all the drugs in a regimen are still necessary. Or it could mean looking for ways to save money on prescriptions — perhaps using an online pharmacy (which might have cheaper prices) or applying for a drug manufacturer’s patient assistance program. Other things to consider are ways to become more organized about taking medications reliably, such as using an automatic pill dispenser.