While shortness of breath can be caused by several ailments, the most common are a lung issue, a heart problem, anemia (low red blood cell count), or deconditioning. Even if the cause remains unclear, a doctor can create a treatment plan to improve symptoms.
Medication to lower high blood pressure is a proven way to reduce a person’s risk for heart disease. But adopting lifestyle changes may let people maintain healthy readings and perhaps even avoid drug therapy. Six lifestyle changes have the most significant influence on blood pressure: diet, exercise, weight control, limiting sodium and alcohol, and managing stress.
Otherwise healthy men treated with prescription drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction had a lower risk of heart attacks, strokes, or death from heart-related causes.
A wearable sensor no bigger than a postage stamp can capture detailed images of the heart, even when a person is exercising. The technology may one day make high-quality cardiac imaging more widely accessible to a larger population.
A 2022 study found that people with sleep apnea are more likely to have low bone density. Apnea may trigger low oxygen levels and inflammation that impair the body’s continuous bone renewal process.
A 2022 nationally representative poll indicated that nearly one in five older women reported symptoms of addiction to highly processed foods and drinks over the prior year.
A 2023 study found that cannabis-related visits to hospital emergency departments skyrocketed among adults ages 65 and older from 2005 through 2019.
The gallbladder stores bile from the liver and squeezes it into the small intestine to help digest fats. About 15% of American adults have gallbladder disease, most commonly gallstones. Women are more prone to gallstones because estrogen slows the gallbladder’s ability to empty. Serious complications can result from gallbladder disease, including inflammation, infection, and blockages. People can reduce their risk for gallbladder problems by eating more fruits and vegetables, favoring lean proteins, and maintaining a healthy weight.
Prehabilitation, or prehab, involves a wide range of steps to take before surgery to maximize recovery afterward. Prehab components include nutritional support, strength and fitness, blood sugar control, medication management, smoking cessation, pain management, and delirium prevention. Research suggests prehab can increase the odds people will heal faster, experience fewer complications, and recover more smoothly over all.
By age 75, about half of all Americans develop at least one cataract, a cloudy area in the eye’s lens that can make it harder to read, do handiwork, golf, or drive. Stopgap measures—such as using brighter lights, avoiding nighttime driving, or wearing tinted glasses to reduce glare—can delay the need for cataract surgery. Cataract surgery has evolved to offer a variety of artificial lens options to replace the natural lens removed. Most lenses can reduce the need for glasses or contact lenses. People should check their health insurance coverage since most advanced lenses aren’t covered.