Staying Healthy Archive

Ask the doctors

Q. I have mild cataracts. Is it important for me to get surgery now to correct the problem?

A. Not necessarily. Cataracts, a condition marked by clouding of the eye's lens, are not a threat to your health. If they're not bothering you or affecting your vision during important tasks, such as driving, you don't need to get surgery if you don't want to. Typically, the vision changes associated with cataracts slowly worsen over time. These may include problems such as cloudy, blurred, or dim vision; sensitivity to the glare from lights; faded colors; or seeing halos around lights. Initially, cataracts might not affect your life too much. You can often successfully manage the vision problems they cause by getting new glasses or contact lenses.

Make sure it's tailored to your needs and has the elements that are essential for health and safety.

You've resolved to exercise more, and you're looking for an online exercise video that will help you achieve your fitness goals. That's a great start, but there's more to choosing an exercise video than simply finding workouts that appeal to you. "Online exercise videos aren't regulated. And trying to keep up with a workout that isn't designed for older adults could lead to injury," says Dr. Edward Phillips, assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School and Whole Health medical director at VA Boston Healthcare System.

Where to start

YouTube is a rich resource for effective exercise videos. You can find workouts designed for older adults from hospitals, government health agencies, academic centers (including Harvard Medical School), personal trainers, and senior centers. However, YouTube also contains scores of workout videos that could be risky for older adults. So it takes work to find a workout tailored to your needs.

While playing video games can be a fun pastime, and there are some potential benefits, there are health risks associated with too much gaming. They include repetitive stress injuries, vision problems, sleep deprivation, depression, and possibly addiction to playing.

A few adjustments may be all it takes to help you keep your mask on and your COVID guard up.

We all have to wear face masks these days to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. But wearing a mask can be uncomfortable. The fix may just be a matter of trying a different type of mask (see "What to look for in a cloth mask").

Here are some common mask complaints and ways to resolve them.

The benefits of tub baths are more than skin deep. Bathing regularly can help ease pain and potentially benefit your heart.

You know that sinking into a warm bath at the end of a long day can help you relax and unwind, but did you know it might also be good for your health? Research shows that using baths as a form of medical therapy, sometimes referred to as balneotherapy (see "Balneotherapy, or bath therapy"), can bring health benefits — among them, easing certain types of chronic pain, helping your skin, and potentially even improving heart health.

Ask the doctor

Q. How many hours of sleep do I need each night, and how do I improve the quality of my sleep?

A. Adults need to average between seven and nine hours of sleep per night. If you're over 65, eight hours might be enough. The occasional short night of sleep won't hurt you.

Certain drugs or treatments may affect the skin, causing side effects like excessive dryness or blue spots.

Having problems with your skin? You may want to look in your medicine cabinet. Numerous prescription drugs and even over-the-counter treatments may bring unexpected skin changes, says Dr. Suzanne Olbricht, an associate professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School. Medications to look out for include the following.

Blood-thinning medications

Spontaneous bruising that occurs even without bumping into something becomes more common as you get older. Doctors call it senile or actinic purpura and it happens often in people who take medication to prevent blood clots, such as warfarin (Coumadin) or even a baby aspirin. "As you age, the dermis, the thick middle layer of the skin, begins to thin and doesn't support the blood vessels inside as well as it used to," says Dr. Olbricht. This can make the blood vessels more likely to break. Even the tiniest injury can release blood under the skin, leading to the discoloration and dark purple bruises that characterize this condition.

Research we're watching

American adults are gaining weight, according to data from the CDC. Twelve U.S. states now have obesity rates of 35% or higher, compared with just six states in 2017 and nine states in 2018. Experts say the trend is particularly concerning because adults with obesity are more prone to severe outcomes from COVID-19.

According to the CDC report, racial and ethnic minority groups are disproportionately affected by obesity. Prevalence rates nationwide were

Early stages of vision-robbing diseases often have no symptoms.

Once you reach age 65, you need comprehensive, dilated eye exams every one or two years — more often if you have eye problems. But doctors say the pandemic is keeping some people from getting eye care.

"Some people are delaying treatment, trying to avoid crowds or health facilities like hospitals. They're not getting their eye pressure checked, and they're not using their eye medications," says Dr. Roberto Pineda, an ophthalmologist and eye surgeon at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts Eye and Ear.

Try over-the-counter medications, water flossers, and rinses.

Gum pain is hard to ignore. The aching, stinging sensation can linger for days and make eating uncomfortable. If the pain is new, you may worry it signals an undiagnosed condition. As you search for answers, you can relieve pain with a number of home remedies and over-the-counter options.

Sore gum causes

Sore gums have many potential causes. One of the most common is an early (often reversible) stage of gum disease called gingivitis. It happens when buildup of plaque (a sticky film containing bacteria) irritates the gums, making them red, swollen, and prone to bleeding easily.