health-letter
Foot and ankle health are key to maintaining mobility. Steps to prevent problems include weight-bearing exercise, stretching the muscles and tendons, quitting smoking, losing weight, and wearing comfortable shoes.
Vitamins and minerals in food may help prevent cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. These include vitamins A, C, and E; the mineral zinc; the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin; and the omega-3 fatty acid DHA (docosahexaenoic acid).
Diuretics are usually a first-line treatment for high blood pressure. The three main types are loop diuretics, thiazide diuretics, and potassium-sparing diuretics. Sometimes a combination of the drugs is prescribed.
While there’s good evidence that omega-3s in the diet offer protection against heart disease and stroke, omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil supplements may not reduce the risk of stroke or heart attack among people with a high heart disease risk.
Some simple tricks to improve memory include avoiding multitasking and keeping focus, seeking clarification when something is confusing, repeating new information out loud after learning it, and writing things down.
Rosacea is a skin condition characterized by flare-ups of reddened and sometimes bumpy facial skin. Treatments include topical medication, very low doses of antibiotics, laser therapy, and avoiding triggers, such as hot food.
Regular exercise can reduce the risk of falling and slow the deterioration of physical functioning in people with Alzheimer’s disease. To be effective, it takes one hour of supervised exercise twice a week, for at least one year.
A growing amount of research suggests that exposure to pesticides may increase the risk for Parkinson’s disease. If you use pesticides, wear protective clothing, including rubber gloves, and wash well afterward to minimize exposure, especially ingestion.
Heart health is key to thinking health. If the heart isn’t pumping effectively, the brain may not receive enough blood flow to function properly. Therefore, to protect thinking skills, it’s best to also protect heart health.
It appears that men with more visceral fat also have less bone strength. Researchers speculate that it’s because visceral obesity is associated with reduced secretion of growth hormone, which is essential for bone health.