Category: harvardhealth_news_UNDEFINED

According to the CDC, about 42% of men ages 60 and older are obese. But fat in itself is not the issue, as the body needs a certain amount of fat to stay healthy. The amount of stored fat, and especially its location in the body, have the greatest impact on health. Consuming too many calories and not getting enough exercise both contribute to stored fat, but people can reduce their amounts by watching calorie intake and increasing exercise, in particular with resistance training for men.

Among US women ages 60 or older, the prevalence of urge incontinence (a sudden, unprovoked need to urinate) and stress incontinence (leaking urine with physical activity or pressure on the bladder) appeared to increase between 2005 and 2018. Treatments for urge incontinence include lifestyle modifications (such as avoiding caffeinated drinks or scheduling bathroom breaks), pelvic floor exercises, medications, and Botox injections. Treatments for stress incontinence include pelvic floor exercises, weight loss, vaginal pessaries, bulking agent injections, and bladder sling surgery.

Many medications are effective for managing (but not preventing) chronic inflammation. The most common medications include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, and biologics. These drugs can have dangerous side effects, so a physician must oversee their use. Other important ways to manage chronic inflammation include treating underlying causes of inflammation and living a healthy lifestyle, such as cutting out processed foods and taking a 10-minute walk each day. A healthy lifestyle may also help prevent chronic inflammation from developing in the first place.

Virtual reality (VR) is being studied as a therapy for people with chronic pain. It immerses people in calming three-dimensional environments and uses principles of mindfulness, meditation, guided imagery, or cognitive behavioral therapy. It’s believed to help reduce chronic pain by decreasing stress, anxiety, depression, and fear, which all contribute to pain. It could also be that VR and its many stimuli simply distract your brain from receiving pain signals. VR for pain reduction isn’t widely available as of 2022.

A study published Jan. 18, 2022, in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that people who consumed the most olive oil had a 19% lower risk of dying during a 28-year study period, compared with those who rarely or never consumed olive oil.

Watching television for four or more hours a day is linked to a higher risk of developing dangerous blood clots.

Staying socially active is associated with cognitive benefits and may play a role in longevity, stress reduction, and controlling mood. If a person has been out of touch with friends for a long time, one way to restart contact is to send a brief message asking how they’re doing or recalling a shared activity. If the person reciprocates, the next step might be to suggest a meeting, ask to get together, or schedule a catch-up phone call or video chat.

Using salt substitutes containing potassium chloride instead of using sodium chloride (table salt) may help reduce heart attack and stroke risk. A Harvard study published online Nov. 13, 2021, by The New England Journal of Medicine found that people who consumed the most sodium chloride had a 60% higher risk of a major cardiovascular event (a heart attack, a stroke, cardiac stent placement, or surgery) compared with those who consumed the least. People who consumed the most potassium chloride had a 31% lower risk of a major cardiovascular event compared with the people who consumed the least.

Many conditions affect the feet and can cause pain. Five common problems are bunions, fallen arches, hammertoes, ingrown toenails, and plantar fasciitis. Fortunately, there’s a wide range of treatments for relief. New approaches include stretching the calf muscles to improve the way feet fit into orthotic insoles; shock-wave treatment for plantar fasciitis; and minimally invasive surgeries for bunions and hammertoes that involve small instruments and incisions. Tried-and-true therapies include soaking feet when an ingrown toenail causes pain, or wearing a splint at night for plantar fascitis.

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) can help diagnose unusual causes of breathlessness, such as pulmonary hypertension or heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. CPET collects information about a person’s heart and lung function to assess how the body responds to exercise. It may also help doctors better understand the lingering fatigue and breathlessness that sometimes occur after a COVID-19 infection.