health-letter
It’s debated whether sunlight directly causes common eye conditions. But there’s good evidence that sun exposure can cause an eye condition called exfoliation syndrome, which often leads to other problems.
Nutrients are most potent when they come from food. Supplements may be helpful for people who are unable to get enough nutrients from the diet or who have a genuine deficiency in a particular nutrient, such as vitamin D.
It appears that people with high blood pressure who take folate along with the blood pressure medicine enalapril (Vasotec) may be less likely to have a stroke than people who take enalapril alone.
Certain compounds in chocolate, called cocoa flavanols, have been shown to boost health. The best way to get cocoa flavanols is from unsweetened cocoa powder that is as natural as possible and has not been processed using the Dutch method.
The other night I woke up at about 2 a.m., and my heart was pumping hard and my lower jaw ached. It lasted about an hour, even though I took aspirin. Then I fell asleep. In the morning everything was fine. Was that a heart attack?
It’s important to plan now for long-term care that may be needed later in life. Types of long-term care include private-duty care at home, adult day care centers, assisted living, and nursing homes.
It appears that psychological and behavioral changes can begin before people develop mild cognitive impairment or dementia.
There are many ways to try to lower blood pressure without medication, such as exercise, weight loss, and meditation.
There are growing doubts about whether diet sodas really help people lose weight and avoid diabetes.
Too much time spent sitting is linked to an increased risk for developing disease. Experts recommend reducing sedentary time by two or three hours in a day.