Category: harvardhealth_news_UNDEFINED

A test called a coronary artery calcium (CAC) scan uses a special type of x-ray to look for plaque in the arteries of the heart, which raises the risk of heart-related problems. While CAC scans can be valuable for detecting people at higher risk of heart problems from plaque buildup, this test isn’t right for everyone. It’s typically most useful for people who don’t yet have symptoms of heart disease, but who do have some risk factors. Determining how much plaque is in the arteries can help guide decision making about preventive strategies. The test is less useful for people at very low or very high risk for heart disease.

Men are less likely than women to get regular exams and tests, especially when they are younger. But as they age, routine screenings are essential. There are certain tests most men should have at some point, including ones for colon cancer, high blood pressure, hepatitis C, diabetes, and HIV. Other tests men should consider if they are at high risk for specific ailments, such as abdominal aortic aneurysm, hepatitis B, and lung cancer.

Yawning remains a mysterious and complex action that serves an uncertain purpose. While yawning is associated with sleepiness, scientists haven’t found that it indicates a need for sleep, however, it could lead to an increased level of alertness.

Many cancers might be avoided if people did at least five hours of moderate-intensity exercise per week like brisk walking, biking riding, and water aerobics.

Getting adequate sleep may help improve a person’s gait, and catching up on short sleep may help people avoid walking problems usually caused by fatigue.

A recent analysis found evidence mixed on whether zinc can help prevent or treat a cold. However, there appears to be no significant harm from taking over-the-counter zinc products in safe amounts per the label’s instructions.

Beta blockers can slow one’s heart rate, which can make gauging intensity during exercise difficult. Monitoring your breathing is a good way to ensure you work out at an intensity that is sufficient and not too high.

Dietary fat can both help and hurt heart health, depending on the source. Eating adequate amounts of the “good” fats—monounsaturated and polyunsaturated—can help reduce cholesterol levels and lower blood pressure. “Bad” saturated fat found in many processed foods can have the opposite effect. Following heart-healthy diets like the Mediterranean and DASH diets and making small substitutions in daily eating habits can ensure people get the proper amounts of good fats.

Men tend to lose as much as 3% to 5% of their muscle mass per decade after age 30, and the muscle-building hormone testosterone gradually declines after age 40. This makes it harder for men to build and maintain muscle as they age. One solution is a well-designed weight training program. Workouts should focus on all major muscles, but men should pay extra attention to leg muscles, which they rely on more for everyday movements as they age.

The American Psychiatric Association has recently added prolonged grief disorder to its official list of classified mental disorders. Someone may develop this disorder when someone close has died within the past 12 months. The person may experience intense longing for the deceased or preoccupation with thoughts about him or her. These feelings occur most of the day and nearly every day for at least a month. Recognizing the signs and seeking out help with talk therapy are the best approaches to help prevent it from evolving to depression.