Staying Healthy Archive

Contrary to popular belief, stretching probably won't help people avoid sore muscles or injuries, which often result from overuse. However, short but regular stints of stretching can improve flexibility (the ability to move the joints and muscles through their full range of motion) and help people stay active as they age. Improved flexibility can make it easier to do everyday tasks involving walking, climbing stairs, or reaching. And for people who hike, play pickleball, golf, or other sports, a regular stretching program may improve their performance.

Age-related changes to the vocal cords can make the voice sound thin, reedy, raspy, breathy, lower, or higher. Certain strategies can help protect the voice. Examples include avoiding overuse, such as trying to speak over loud noise all day; staying hydrated, which keeps the vocal cords working well; avoiding spicy foods and irritants in the air such as smoke, which can inflame the vocal cords; and avoiding frequent throat clearing.

Adjusting to new surroundings, such as a new or remodeled home, can affect people's hearing ability. Certain home features absorb sound, making it easier to hear. These include carpeting, paneling, curtains, and upholstered furniture. Other features allow sound to reverberate, making hearing more difficult. These include hardwood floors, cathedral ceilings, and minimalist decor. Hearing aids don't necessarily help, since they magnify all sounds.

A 2024 Harvard study of more than 14,000 women found that counting steps was just as effective as counting exercise minutes as a means of tracking whether a person is getting enough activity to reduce disease risk and boost longevity.

Being a night owl might increase the risk of developing many health problems, so it might be worth it for night owls to go to sleep a little earlier. The sleep schedule must be shifted slowly to make a lasting change. Tips to do that include setting a bedtime goal between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m.; going to sleep 20 minutes earlier every five days, until the bedtime goal is reached; possibly using certain sleep aids until the bedtime goal is reached; and setting a consistent wake time no later than 9 a.m.

A 2024 report from the CDC found that stroke rates are rising in middle-aged and even young adults. Scientists say the increase might be due to rising rates of obesity, high blood pressure, and opioid use. Stroke rates in people 65 or older have remained the same.

Rajio taiso is a popular Japanese exercise routine done by people of all ages and backgrounds and consists of performing 13 stretching and bending movements set to music.

The US is seeing an unusual spike in the mosquito-borne illness dengue fever. What is dengue, and where is it occurring in the US? How does it spread? And what steps can you take to protect against this and other mosquito-borne illnesses?