Category: harvardhealth_news_UNDEFINED

Dry-roasted assorted nuts are a heart-healthy alternative to traditional holiday sweets. They contain unsaturated fats that help lower harmful LDL cholesterol and inflammation—two key culprits in cardiovascular disease. Nuts are also a decent source of protein, which helps people feel full and may prevent overeating. They contain fiber (which may also reduce cholesterol and increase satiety) as well as several vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds that help counteract inflammation and oxidation, another artery-damaging process implicated in heart disease.

Palpitations, which are defined as an awareness of an abnormal heartbeat, can feel as though the heart is skipping, flip-flopping, or racing. These heart “hiccups” are usually harmless, such as those that result from a small surge of adrenalin that causes the heart to beat faster or more forcefully than usual. But some unusual heart rhythms warrant closer attention, especially if they occur in tandem with symptoms such as feeling lightheaded, dizzy, or faint.

Many people have misconceptions about avoiding heart disease. One involves the use of over-the-counter fish oil capsules, which do not prevent heart disease in healthy people. Another relates to confusion about the ideal blood pressure targets in older adults. Some people are misinformed about the implications of a family history of heart disease, while others may be confused about the differences in heart attack symptoms between men and women.

A 2022 study found that older adults who visited more places each day, such as when shopping or doing errands, logged higher step counts. The results suggest the number of places we visit daily may contribute to healthier habits, researchers said.

A 2022 study found that people with chronic kidney disease were less likely than similar adults without the condition to eat fruits and vegetables. Researchers said more studies are needed to determine if this dietary pattern is a cause or a result of the disease.

A 2022 study found that high blood pressure more than doubled the risk of being hospitalized from an Omicron-variant COVID-19 infection regardless of full vaccination, including a booster dose of an mRNA vaccine.

Many people say they feel joint pain that arrives with cold or damp weather. While research hasn’t confirmed why, changes in barometric pressure can place pressure on joints that may lead to aches.

Mindfulness is the act of paying attention and focusing on the moment. Research has long shown mindfulness can help lower anxiety, but new studies suggest additional benefits. These include feeling less pain, making fewer mistakes, and being more resilient. Many people confuse meditation with mindfulness. Although there is some overlap, meditation is a practice that leads to being more mindful. Both meditation and mindfulness aim to help people stay present and nonjudgmental.

An estimated 30 million Americans experience some level of hearing loss, but only about 20% of them seek hearing aids. Many people can’t accept they can’t hear well, or won’t act on symptoms. People should seek help if they have trouble hearing conversations, TV, and other sounds, and should see a doctor quickly if they have hearing loss in only one ear, pain, ear drainage, or vertigo. Visits with an audiologist and otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat doctor) are typically needed to get prescription hearing aids. Over-the-counter hearing aids are expected to be available online and in stores starting in late 2022.

Each year, millions of couples face one partner’s serious diagnosis with a condition such as cancer, heart or kidney failure, or neurological illness, among others. People can support their partners through a difficult diagnosis and treatment by keeping communication open, maintaining daily routines, becoming informed about the medical condition, attending doctor visits, adding assistive devices in their home, getting wills and other legal documents in order, and seeking and accepting help from others.