Category: harvardhealth_news_UNDEFINED

A three-step routine of leg swings, hip circles, and foot rolls can help prepare muscles and joints for running and walking and reduce the risk of soreness.

Power is the ability to generate a large amount of force in a short amount of time. It can help people to properly and safely execute many everyday movements, such as climbing stairs, lifting and carrying heavy objects, twisting, pulling, and throwing. Power also improves movement efficiency and reaction time, helping to prevent injuries from falls. Increasing overall muscle mass with regular strength training and doing plyometric exercises and explosive moves using a medicine ball can help build power.

Eating a variety of flavonoid-rich foods may offer greater protection against cardiovascular disease and cancer than eating only a few high-flavonoid foods, according to a 2025 study.

People commonly experience heart palpitations, which feel like the heart flutters or skips a beat, or beats at a faster rate or in an irregular rhythm. They often last only seconds and can be unsettling. For the most part, palpitations are nothing to worry about. Still, these unusual heart sensations may indicate something more serious, such as atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia, or ventricular tachycardia. Palpitations that persist or cause other symptoms (such as lightheadedness) should be evaluated by a doctor.

Toenail fungus, ingrown toenails, and brittle or cracked fingernails are common nail problems that affect older adults. They can make hands and feet unsightly and sometimes even painful. Treating these problems and preventing them from returning often takes a trial-and-error approach, diligence, and patience. Strategies include a combination of home remedies, over-the-counter medication, and good hygiene and grooming habits.

The Blue Zones are locations in the world where people are regarded as being among the healthiest and longest-lived. They include Okinawa, Japan; Ikaria, Greece; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; and Loma Linda, California. According to some research, most residents of Blue Zones live seven to 10 years longer than the average American and have lower rates of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and dementia. These individuals follow certain healthy behaviors related to diet, exercise, and emotional well-being that people can adopt.

As people get older, they may get clumsier because of multiple factors such as declining hearing and vision, loss of muscle, balance issues, and chronic health conditions. Addressing these issues can help people avoid injury from falls and other accidents.

An inexpensive blood test that checks for a genetic variant of Lp(a)—a fatty particle similar to LDL cholesterol—may help clarify who might benefit from a daily low-dose aspirin, according to a 2025 review of study findings.

For people with diabetes, a modified version of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet can lower their blood pressure. Called DASH4D, it has fewer carbohydrates, more unsaturated fat, and slightly reduced amounts of potassium.

According to a 2025 study, people living near coastlines with high levels of marine microplastics had higher rates of heart disease than those living close to coastlines with less plastic pollution.