When considering medical information offered in an online health support group, it’s best to verify it with a doctor or at least compare it with information from a credible source (such as a large national nonprofit health organization). After all, anyone can start or join an online health group; they don’t have to be health experts to share information, which might not be science-based and could be wrong, ineffective, or even harmful. Plus, medical advice might not be appropriate for an individual.
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Same-day bilateral cataract surgery removes cataracts in both eyes in one surgical session, instead of two surgeries that are a few weeks apart. The approach has many benefits, such as convenience, but it has risks, too. Vision clarity might not be as good as it is when the procedures are done separately. Some doctors fear that vision loss (which is a low risk for any cataract surgery) could possibly occur in both eyes at the same time.
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A 2025 study found that people who had received a shingles vaccination had lower risks for stroke and various types of heart disease, including heart failure and heart attacks, compared with people who didn’t receive a shingles vaccine.
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A 2025 analysis of randomized trials found that cardiac rehab—a personalized program of supervised exercise and healthy lifestyle coaching—can also help people with atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat that can cause stroke and heart failure.
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A 2025 Harvard study found that people who most closely adhered to a Mediterranean or a plant-based diet had up to a 20% lower risk for chronic constipation, compared with people who followed other eating patterns.
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A 2025 randomized trial of people with carpal tunnel syndrome found that 57% of those who had surgery as a first-line treatment recovered within 18 months, without additional treatments, compared with 13% of people who received steroid injections instead.
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Hospital discharge instructions about medications can be complicated and confusing. Having a family member or friend along as a second set of ears during the discharge meeting can be helpful.
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The trend toward eating plant-rich diets has led to a number of new dietary terms and buzzwords. Examples include the terms “plant-forward,” which describes the shift toward the gradual incorporation of more plant foods into the diet; “plant-based protein,” used for foods that contain a high amount of protein, even some processed foods; and “sustainable eating,” whichrefers to the big picture of food choices and how they can help sustain the environment, the planet, and health.
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The association between alcohol and cardiovascular disease is both complex and controversial. There’s no evidence of an increased risk for the most common forms of heart disease in people who stay within the limits for moderate drinking. Whether light to moderate drinking can lower a person’s risk is impossible to answer with currently available evidence. But there is clear, consistent evidence that heavier drinking—an average of three or more drinks per day—is linked to worse outcomes for every type of heart disease.
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After common heart procedures or surgeries, medications to help prevent heart attacks and strokes are essential. These include a combination of drugs to prevent blood clots (which is known as dual antiplatelet therapy and usually taken for just one year); drugs to lower LDL cholesterol down to 70 milligrams per deciliter or lower; and drugs to keep blood pressure and blood sugar in a healthy range.
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