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A study published Aug. 27, 2021, in Circulation suggests that reducing sugar from packaged foods and sweetened drinks would prevent about 2.5 million heart attacks, strokes, and cardiac arrests, and prevent half a million cardiovascular deaths.
A study published online Aug. 16, 2021, by JAMA Network Open suggests that older adults with good listeners in their lives have better thinking skills—despite decreases in brain volume—compared with people who don’t have good listeners in their lives.
An international study published online June 1, 2021, by JAMA Network Open found that middle-aged and older adults had an increased risk of being obese or having a big belly if they went to sleep late, compared with a bedtime between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Pushing or pulling heavy objects requires strong core and leg muscles as well as the proper stance and technique. Pushing an object is generally safer than pulling an object. To push an object properly, one should stand close to it; keep the knees slightly bent, with one leg slightly behind the other; brace the elbows against one’s sides; tighten the abdominal muscles; and then push the object forward. People who have significant balance issues or use an assistive walking device should not attempt pushing or pulling heavy objects.
Many medications can cause lightheadedness, such as drugs to treat depression, high blood pressure, or bladder problems. It’s important to learn about a medication’s potential side effects and be on high alert if lightheadedness is a possibility. A person can jot down the day and time a drug is taken as well as any side effects that follow; those details can help a doctor determine if changes in medicines are required. Someone who continues to feel lightheaded after about a week should report it to the doctor.
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory condition in which the immune system attacks the skin. It causes painful skin lesions and may also lead to psoriatic arthritis, hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or coronary artery disease. Psoriasis treatments include topical steroids, gentle exfoliant lotions, emollients that keep the skin hydrated, ultraviolet light (phototherapy), laser therapies, vitamin A (retinoid creams), and medications (for moderate-to-severe psoriasis). People with psoriasis are encouraged to get vaccinated against COVID-19 with an mRNA vaccine (from either Pfizer or Moderna) as soon as possible, if they haven’t already done so.
Body mass index (BMI) is determined by a combination of one’s weight and height. A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 represents a healthy weight, 25 to 29.9 is overweight, and 30 or greater is obese. BMI is a better measure of health than just weight, but it still has its flaws. It doesn’t assess body fat as well in older folks as it does in younger adults. And it doesn’t distinguish between fat that’s in the belly from fat in other places, like the hips. For this reason, measurements comparing waist to hip size are also used.
There are lots of reasons for numbness or tingling in the limbs. Constant or recurrent symptoms point to a potentially serious cause. One possibility is peripheral neuropathy, which damages nerves throughout the body. Another is peripheral artery disease—a narrowing of the arteries in the limbs that reduces blood flow. Another is nerve compression, which might be caused by sciatica (irritation of the sciatic nerve in the legs) or spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal). When numbness or tingling persists, one should report the symptoms to a doctor right away.
Lots of people feel embarrassed during a doctor visit. They may be uncomfortable talking about certain conditions, disrobing, or admitting that they didn’t follow the doctor’s orders. To combat those feelings, it helps to mentally prepare for an appointment. One can question whether certain fears are realistic, chat with a friend for outside perspective, or practice relaxation techniques. During an appointment, it helps to speak up, share concerns, and advocate for oneself and ask for accommodations to deal with embarrassing issues or awkward situations.
The results of a small trial published online in July 2021 by the journal Menopause found that both vaginal estrogen and fractional CO2 laser therapy are effective for postmenopausal symptoms related to skin problems of the vulva and vagina.