An MRI study indicates that the pumping chambers of men’s hearts increase with age-which raises health risks-while those of women shrink slightly as they get older.
A study found that 23,000 Americans visit the emergency room every year with bad reactions to dietary supplements, and that older people frequently report choking or difficulty swallowing vitamin and mineral supplements, especially those with calcium.
To prevent stroke, start by keeping your blood pressure under control. Although blood pressure is critical, other steps are important too, such as exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight by eating a varied, plant-based diet.
Many studies link higher meat consumption to increased health problems. It is reasonable to eat a limited amount of meat or try having several meat-free days per week. Meat has dietary value, but other foods provide similar nutrients.
Exercise can lower resting heart rate and raise maximum heart rate to reduce the risk of heart attack and death.
Inexpensive magnifying reading glasses are fine for some people, but only after a professional eye examination indicates that they are appropriate.
Chamomile tea may relieve anxiety, but it can also increase the anticoagulant effects of blood thinners.
Exercise has a greater beneficial effect on body composition in postmenopausal women than in premenopausal women.
Adding muscle relaxers or narcotic pain relievers to the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) naproxen (Aleve) did not improve pain or function for people who went to emergency rooms seeking help for severe low back pain.
A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease raises concerns for multiple people in a family. An individual with a close relative with Alzheimer’s is at slightly higher risk for the disease. Genetic testing for Alzheimer’s risk genes is not generally helpful.