Harvard Health Content API

Family history of breast cancer may up the risk of benign breast conditions.

A decade or more of high exposure to traffic noise may increase dementia risk.

Uncertainty and feeling less in control, which has occurred for many during the pandemic, can heighten stress. The human brain has more difficulty assessing risk when elements outside its control are introduced. To make the situation more manageable, pare down, simplify what you can to avoid unnecessary decision making, prioritize your mental health, and don’t get stuck in gathering and analyzing information.

Short-term (acute) and chronic back pain can be managed through a variety of strategies. For short-term pain, over-the-counter pain relievers, heat, and moving as much as possible can help. Chronic back pain may require assistance from a doctor, which could include medication, physical therapy, and rarely surgery. People considering surgery for back pain should consider getting a second opinion. Surgery sometimes is not successful at relieving pain.

Perimenopause often brings menstrual changes, including longer cycles and episodes of heavier bleeding. These are most often due to hormone fluctuations that occur during this time. But there are changes that are not typical, such as very heavy bleeding that lasts for seven days or more, and breakthrough bleeding or spotting midcycle. If these occur, a woman should let her doctor know. They may be caused by treatable problems, such as fibroids (a type of uterine growth) or uterine polyps.

Rapid COVID tests aren’t foolproof, but can provide an added layer of assurance if people take them before a planned gathering, in addition to following other preventive strategies.

Collecting a medical history from relatives can help people understand what diseases they may be more susceptible to in the future. These might include certain cancers or chronic conditions. Gathering a history can be challenging. When doing so, it’s important to respect people’s privacy and to approach the subject with sensitivity. Holiday gatherings can present an opportunity to get started. Using an online tool can help the process.