People can get sunburned even with sunscreen on, particularly if they use old sunscreen or certain drugs and skin care products that leave skin vulnerable. People should stay out of the sun at midday, wear a hat and sunglasses, and frequently apply sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.
Women have long been told to watch for “atypical” signs of heart attack, but new guidance reveals that heart symptoms are not as different in men and women as once believed. Women are also more likely to have a less-common subtype of heart failure, and reproductive history should be considered when assessing women’s heart risks. Anyone experiencing chest pain should call 911, mention chest pain before other symptoms, and bear in mind that other chest sensations may signal heart attack.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is often recommended for pain relief in people with high blood pressure because most other options can raise blood pressure. A 2022 study suggests acetaminophen might sometimes have a similar effect.
In January 2022, the CDC published updated recommendations for vaccinating adults against pneumococcal disease and approved two new pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs).
A new study suggests a high-fiber diet may protect against dementia. In a group of about 3,700 older adults, those who consumed the most fiber (about 20 grams daily) had the lowest rates of dementia, and those who ate the least fiber (8 grams daily) had the highest rates.
Knuckle cracking doesn’t “crack” a joint. The sound comes from gas bubbles bursting in the fluid inside the joint. While knuckle cracking is mostly harmless, other types of noises or the presence of pain can indicate a more serious joint problem.
Hiking continues to be one of the safest activities people can enjoy during COVID because it is done outside and away from confined group settings. The outdoor adventure also is one of the best exercises for both body and mind, as it can improve lower-body strength and endurance, increase balancing skills that can protect against falls, lower levels of stress and anxiety, and reduce the risk of depression.
People who struggle to remember names, details, or words during conversation are dealing with a phenomenon called “blocking,” which is related to diminished memory recall. Addressing issues like stress, depression, an unhealthy diet, insomnia, lack of exercise, and prolonged isolation can improve recall. Otherwise, when blocking situations arise, people can try to incorporate cueing, a method that uses “hints” to help the brain better retrieve information.
While there is no cure for tinnitus—the mysterious condition that causes a sound in the head with no external source—many people can manage symptoms and control their reaction by practicing sound therapy, masking, counseling or cognitive behavioral therapy. Sound therapy helps to change your brain’s perception of tinnitus so it learns to ignore the noise, while masking works to cover up the sounds with background noise like white noise, ambient sounds, and nature music.
Everyone feels bloated at times after eating. Bloating is a feeling of tightness, fullness, or pressure in the belly that comes along with abdominal swelling and mild to intense pain. Excessive gas buildup from a sluggish digestive system and problems digesting certain foods are the leading causes. While most bloating goes away after a while, for regular occurrences, people should examine their diet for trigger foods and use over-the-counter anti-gas remedies as needed. In cases of frequent or extended bloating, a doctor should see if other problems are present.