Harvard Health Content API

It appears that hearing impairment is associated with a 21% increased risk of death, and moderate-to-severe hearing impairment is associated with a 39% increased risk of death, compared with people who don’t have hearing loss.

Early results of the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial suggest that aiming for a systolic (top) blood pressure reading of less than 120 mm Hg may significantly reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure.

Mapping out strategies before the holidays helps to avoid health risks such as loneliness and depression, overeating, weight gain, falls in icy weather, foodborne illness, and heart problems brought on by eating and drinking too much.

Many tools can assist people with everyday activities, such as bathing, dressing, eating, and cooking. These tools are found in drugstores, at medical supply stores, and online.

Significant developments in the medical field in 2015 included the results of lifestyle studies, the approval of drugs for sexual function and for cholesterol lowering, and the FDA decision to ban trans fats in food.

Downloadable health applications (apps) may be helpful to boost heart health. They act as sources of information or as electronic journals that chart and graph a person’s progress.