Category: harvardhealth_news_UNDEFINED

In aortic stenosis, the heart’s aortic valve narrows and can’t open fully. In aortic regurgitation, the valve doesn’t close properly. The cause may be present at birth (congenital) or acquired later in life, and the problems can occur alone or together.

Strong core muscles—those in the abdomen, back, sides, pelvis, hips, and buttocks—support cardiovascular health by helping people stay active. Easy core exercises include chair stands, standing leg lifts, and walk-and-carry exercises. The latter are especially helpful because they strengthen many muscles at the same time and simulate real-life activities such as carrying groceries or a laundry basket.

A large study published online Aug. 29, 2021, by The New England Journal of Medicine found that people who used a salt substitute on their food had a lower risk of stroke, heart attack, and early death, compared with people who used regular salt.

In October 2021, the FDA proposed rules to create a new category of over-the-counter hearing aids that would require special regulations and FDA approval. Approval of the rules is expected sometime in 2022.

A review published Oct. 22, 2021, in JAMDA: The Journal of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine found that people with more tooth loss had, on average, a 48% greater risk for developing cognitive impairment, compared with people who had less tooth loss.

Many people who start a cholesterol drug wind up discontinuing its use. That’s because statins, a common type of medication that lowers cholesterol, have both real and perceived side effects, such as muscle aches. To stay on a statin, one can ease into use with a low-dose or an alternate-day dose strategy, consider if other medications or circumstances are to blame for discomfort, try gentle stretching, take coenzyme Q₁₀, or replenish low vitamin D levels. Another strategy is to take a non-statin drug that lowers cholesterol.

People who have diverticular disease have tiny pouches (diverticula) in the lining of the colon that can bleed or perforate and develop infection (called diverticulitis). People with diverticular disease should eat a healthy diet rich in fiber, drink lots of water, exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight, not smoke, avoid straining in the bathroom, and report bleeding or pain to a doctor. However, it’s not necessary to avoid eating nuts, seeds, or popcorn, which were once believed to lodge in diverticula and cause problems. That old advice turned out to be wrong.

Older adults must pay special attention to their intakes of calcium, vitamin D, and protein. These important nutrients are crucial for maintaining bone health. Doctors say it’s probably best to take a supplement to get enough vitamin D. Calcium and protein are best when they come from foods, such as canned salmon with bones, sardines, beans, dairy products (cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, milk), leafy greens, or nuts. Other important nutrients for bone health, such as magnesium, phosphorous, and potassium, can be obtained by simply eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, and lean proteins.

Many factors can impair balance and lead to falls, such as vision, hearing, or joint problems; medication side effects; and environmental hazards. To improve balance and reduce the risk for falls, one can remove fall hazards from the home, treat underlying conditions that increase fall risk, consider adjusting medications that affect balance, get physical therapy, use an assistive walking device, wear supportive shoes that hold the feet in place, and frequently challenge balance with balance exercises.

A study published online Aug. 20, 2021, by Nature Metabolism suggests that the hormone irisin, produced during exercise, might have something to do with the beneficial effects of exercise on the brain. Scientists suspect that irisin plays a role protecting the brain against changes characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease, possibly by reducing brain inflammation. Irisin has also been shown to turn white fat cells (which store fat) into brown fat cells (which burn fat), and also to improve insulin resistance. Such changes reduce body weight and protect against both diabetes and heart disease.