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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.
Many people still struggle with healthy eating, even though they know the basic guidelines to follow. This often is due to misperceptions that following a healthy diet is too difficult and too expensive. Making small changes in one’s diet can help many people change their attitude about healthier eating and make it easier to embrace.
A good option for a simple but special Valentine’s day dinner is baked salmon (or another fish variety), along with a whole grain such as farro, two types of roasted vegetables, and chocolate-dipped strawberries for dessert.