Harvard Health Content API

Many gadgets claim to promote better sleep. For example, white noise machines or noise-canceling earbuds may help someone fall asleep by masking unwanted sounds in the sleep environment. As another example, a sunrise alarm, which simulates the sun’s morning light, can be helpful for people with disorders of the sleep-wake cycle. Proven methods to improve sleep include cognitive behavioral therapy and good sleep hygiene, such as keeping the room dark and cool and avoiding electronic screens within two hours of bedtime.

Scientists are testing potential vaccines that aim to prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs). Until then, strategies that may help ward off UTIs include drinking lots of water each day, emptying the bladder after sexual intercourse, using vaginal estrogen creams (for women), wiping front to back after gong to the bathroom (for women), taking a daily long-term, low-dose antibiotic, taking a single dose of an antibiotic after sex (if recurrent UTIs often follow sexual intercourse), or taking cranberry supplements.

Evidence suggests that people who recover from COVID-19 have an increased risk for developing new health problems, including heart attacks, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, muscle inflammation, blood clots that travel to the lungs, strokes from clots or hemorrhages, or psychosis. This is in addition to permanent damage that can result from having COVID, including damage to the lungs, heart, kidneys, brain, or other organs; and debilitating fatigue, difficulty thinking, and other symptoms that make it hard to function normally at work or at home.

People who’ve skipped medical check-ups for a while should visit their primary care doctor, dental hygienist, and eye doctor. A primary care doctor will consider a person’s blood pressure, medications, weight, alcohol intake, gait, balance, memory, hearing, mood, and levels of physical activity and socialization. To prepare for the visit, one should write down questions for the doctor and bring a list of all medications. At the appointment, one should take notes and ask any questions needed to understand the doctor’s instructions.