Category: harvardhealth_news_UNDEFINED

To get an idea where COVID-19 risks are highest, one should consider if an environment has poor airflow, crowds, and low use of face masks. The amount of time spent somewhere and the ability to sanitize the hands should also be considered. The more risk factors that are present, the higher the risk. For example, spending an hour in a crowded, stuffy gym with low face mask use is a bad idea; it’s better to go for a walk and lift dumbbells at home.

There are many health-related requirements for living independently in older age. For example, one needs sharp thinking skills in order to manage medications, pay bills, choose clothes for the day, and select and buy groceries; and one needs strength, balance, and flexibility in order to get up from a chair, cook, or clean. People with weakening aspects of health should talk to a doctor for potential solutions to improve or cope with health challenges in order to continue living independently.

Two findings published in 2020 suggest that longevity is associated with either increasing plant protein consumption or replacing animal proteins, especially red meat and eggs, with plant protein (such as legumes).

A new guideline, published online Aug. 17, 2020, by Annals of Internal Medicine, recommends using topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to treat short-term pain from injuries in places other than the lower back, such as the ankle, neck, or knee.

A review of studies published Aug. 18, 2020, by BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine suggests that consuming honey appears to improve upper respiratory tract infection symptoms and in some cases shorten the duration of symptoms by a day or two.

Over the past decade, nutrition experts have shifted away from recommending a low-fat diet to focusing more on an overall healthy dietary pattern. This eating style, which includes lots of plant-based foods, is naturally low in saturated fats. Found mainly in meat and dairy products, saturated fat can boost levels of harmful LDL cholesterol, a key contributor to heart disease. Cutting back on all types of fat does not necessarily translate into a diet that lowers cardiovascular risk. The plant-centric Mediterranean eating pattern, which is rich in healthy unsaturated fats found in nuts, seeds, and olives, has the best evidence for lowering heart disease risk.

Most strokes are caused by a clot that blocks a blood vessel in the brain. Those that damage small areas of brain tissue that don’t control any vital functions are known as silent strokes because they don’t cause any noticeable symptoms.

People who sit for long, uninterrupted periods of time may increase their risk of cardiovascular disease, even if they get the recommended 30 minutes of daily exercise. Sedentary behavior appears to make people more prone to developing insulin resistance and inflammation, which are key players in the buildup of fatty plaque inside arteries. Experts say people should add short bursts of movement to their daily routine to break up long periods of sitting.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD), which occurs when fatty deposits clog arteries outside the heart, is underrecognized and potentially dangerous. The hallmark symptom is leg pain that occurs with exercise, called intermittent claudication. PAD is more common among people who are older, who smoke, and who have diabetes. The recommended treatment involves short periods of walking interspersed with rest periods when pain occurs. Walking increases blood flow in the leg’s smaller arteries and helps create new channels to move blood around the blockages; it also helps discourage new blockages.

For assessing heart disease risk, a standard cholesterol test doesn’t always tell the whole story. Some people with “normal” LDL cholesterol levels might benefit from a test that measures apolipoprotein B (apoB). This test, which measures the number of LDL particles as well as other particles that can contribute to clogged arteries, may be a better indicator of heart disease risk than just an LDL cholesterol value.