Category: harvardhealth_news_UNDEFINED

Warm-ups prepare the body for the physical demands of a workout or sports. They should be tailored to the types of activities that are about to be performed. For a strengthening routine or moderate-intensity activity (such as brisk walking), marching in place for a few minutes makes an effective warm-up. For vigorous physical activity, such as swimming or playing tennis, or for activity involving strenuous physical movements, such as golf, a more extensive warm-up is necessary. For example, a golf warm-up should include marching in place and movements that gently swing the arms and trunk.

Several types of programs can make driving safer for older drivers. A Car-Fit evaluation helps improve the way a driver fits in a vehicle. A driving refresher course helps drivers stay up to date on driving techniques, laws, and vehicle safety technology. A formal driving assessment evaluates a person’s physical and mental health and driving ability on the road. Driver rehabilitation provides training for people to use adaptive driving equipment, practice driving in challenging conditions, and develop safe driving habits.

Plant-based meat alternatives (PBMAs) might be safe to eat — in moderation — as a replacement for red meat in the diet. The best options are PBMAs that have the fewest ingredients and lowest levels of salt and saturated fat. PBMAs shouldn’t be paired with unhealthy foods, such as French fries, soda, or refined grains (white bread or buns). Other substitutes for red meat include vegetables and legumes, such as a large portabella mushroom cap, homemade bean burger, or thick slice of eggplant or cauliflower.

People who do two to four times the amount of exercise recommended by the U.S. physical activity guidelines may reduce their mortality (especially from heart disease) more than people who meet the exercise guidelines, according to a 2022 study.

Eating red meat has long been linked to a higher risk of heart disease. Breakdown products created by gut bacteria when people eat meat may contribute to this heightened risk, according to a 2022 study.

People who take naps on a regular basis may be more likely to have high blood pressure, according to a 2022 study. Poor or insufficient sleep at night — a common cause of daytime naps — may be the underlying cause.

There are many misconceptions about dementia. One is that it’s a disease. In fact, dementia is a general term describing thinking and memory skills that have deteriorated to the point of experiencing problems with daily activities. Another myth is that dementia is part of normal aging. It isn’t; dementia is simply more common as people get older — just like heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Other common myths about dementia include the notions that it always appears as memory loss, it’s always genetic, it causes the loss of all memories, and it’s never reversible.

Catheter ablation destroys spots in the heart responsible for atrial fibrillation. Although traditionally used as a second-line treatment after medications fail, undergoing ablation earlier in the course of the disease may be a good option. The overall success rate for catheter ablation is around 75%. People sometimes undergo a second procedure if the first one isn’t effective; this boosts the success rate to nearly 90%. Many factors, such as age, other health problems, and duration of afib can affect a person’s outcome after catheter ablation.

Cervical artery dissection, a rare but potentially devastating cause of stroke, is a tear in the lining of one of the main arteries that carry blood to the brain. Any sudden, jerky neck movements, including chiropractic neck adjustments and whiplash from a car accident, can cause such a tear. Cervical artery dissections also have been reported after strenuous weight lifting, tennis, head-flinging dance moves, yoga, and roller coaster rides. The dissections occur in only about three in 100,000 people per year, but they are one of the most common causes of stroke in younger people.

Prices for six common heart tests and procedures at top-ranked U.S. hospitals showed surprisingly wide variations, according to a 2022 Harvard study. There was a 10-fold difference in the median prices patients pay for a heart ultrasound, and even larger disparities for procedures such as implanting a pacemaker. The differences may reflect power dynamics between hospitals and insurance companies. For both entities, factors such as location, size, and popularity influence that dynamic — which, in turn, affects the market dynamics that dictate costs.