Results of a recent study suggest a link between frequent and persistent hot flashes and a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. However, even among women who had more hot flashes, the overall odds of having a heart-related event was still low. Since most women experience hot flashes around the time of menopause, more research is needed to better define the frequency and severity of hot flashes that would warrant extra attention to cardiovascular risk.
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Eating a plant-based diet may help prevent heart disease. For most people, this means focusing more on adding more whole grains, nuts, legumes (beans, peas, and lentils) vegetables, and fruits to their daily fare. The fiber and other nutrients in these foods help people lose weight, lower their cholesterol and blood pressure, and perhaps even reverse their diabetes. Although avoiding meat, eggs, and other animal-based foods may help, not everyone is willing to give up those foods completely. But even small dietary shifts can help.
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When trying to avoid surgery for knee osteoarthritis, one must be wary of certain treatments to relieve pain. Some treatments are ineffective or potentially dangerous, such as prolotherapy or ozone injections, stem cell treatments, and implanted shock absorbers. Other treatments—such as acupuncture or platelet-rich plasma injections—might work, but the evidence is mixed. Steroid or hyaluronic injections can provide pain relief. But the safest and most proven approaches for treating knee osteoarthritis are weight loss and muscle strengthening.
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Researchers found that men who consumed mushrooms at least once a week had lower risk of prostate cancer compared with those who ate no mushrooms. Scientists speculate that mushrooms’ high levels of ergothioneine, a potential cancer preventive, may explain the connection.
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Drinking three or more servings of caffeinated beverages might be a headache trigger for some people with migraines. A serving consisted of 6 to 8 ounces for coffee and tea, 12 ounces for soda, and 2 ounces for energy drinks.
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Common treatments and management of prostate cancer, such as active surveillance, radical prostatectomy, radiation therapy, and androgen deprivation therapy, also can affect a man’s sex life. Side effects may include poor sexual function, low libido, and erectile dysfunction. Understanding how these changes occur can help men in their choice of treatment.
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Older adults who have trouble recalling past events often chalk it up to “senior moments,” but the problem is a breakdown in their episodic memory. While people can’t reverse the effect of aging on this type of memory loss, certain strategies can help a person learn and retain new information, better access past details, and use that knowledge in the future.
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Blood in the semen can occur after a medical procedure, like a prostate biopsy, an enlarged prostate, or injury to the testicles or prostate, such as from horseback riding or bicycling. The condition often goes away on its own, but if it continues for more than three weeks, men should see their doctor.
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The common cold is most often spread by direct contact with the respiratory secretions of someone who is infected, usually through hand-to-hand contact or touching contaminated surfaces. Washing hands frequently and avoiding people who are sick are the best ways to prevent catching or spreading a cold.
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Eating more plant-based protein (especially when it replaces red or processed meat) may lower the risk of death from heart disease and cancer.
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