Harvard Health Content API

The Mediterranean diet is touted for its health benefits, which include a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and potentially even improvements to the gut bacteria, which may reduce harmful inflammation inside the body. Making some simple changes to your current diet can help improve your health. These include switching to olive oil as the primary fat, eating more whole grains and less processed food and sugar and reducing red meat consumption. Whenever possible, base your daily diet on a base of vegetables, fruits and plant-based options.

Prehabilitation is increasingly being used to ready older or frail adults for surgery, in hopes of hastening the recovery process. This approach uses a combination of strategies including exercise, nutrition, and lifestyle support to help people improve their health before a physically stressful event. Physicians typically tailor these programs to the needs of the individual.

Widespread screening for the abnormal heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation isn’t recommended, but people at high risk should ask their doctors about getting checked.

Women with pelvic organ prolapse can exercise, but should avoid lifting heavy weights and high-impact activities, such as jumping.

Many factors, including hot flashes, mood disorders, and sleep apnea, can disrupt sleep in women who are going through menopause. Getting treatment for chronic sleep problems is crucial to long-term health. Women who don’t get enough sleep may be at higher risk for a number of medical conditions, including obesity, heart disease, and dementia.

Bleeding is a common side effect of anticoagulants. However, people with atrial fibrillation (afib) who take the drug for stroke prevention should not ignore any bleeding from their lower gastrointestinal tract as it may signal possible colon cancer.

The shingles vaccine was associated with a 10% to 20% lower risk of stroke among adults ages 66 and older, according to a recent study.

Cholesterol-lowering statins and blood pressure drugs can help improve heart health, but a recent study that found many people forgo healthy habits after they begin taking these medications.

People who are diligent about sun protection can still develop skin spots, growths, or other abnormalities. While most spots and growths are benign, people should monitor anything new for two weeks to a month. If it’s still there, or has evolved in any way, like changes in size or colors, then get it checked by a dermatologist.

Testosterone, the hormone that gives men their many masculine qualities, naturally declines with age. While increasing levels with testosterone replacement therapy may improve sex drive and performance, it is not for everyone and even may increase certain health risks.