Staying Healthy Archive

News briefs

Bisphenol A (BPA), used to make some plastics and epoxy resins, has made headlines for years because of its association with an increased risk for obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease in humans. Now high levels of BPA exposure have been linked to an increased risk for premature death from any cause, according to a study published online Aug. 17, 2020, by JAMA Network Open. Scientists analyzed the survival rates of about 3,900 people who provided health information and urine samples and were then followed for 10 years. People with the highest levels of BPA in their urine had a 51% higher risk of dying during that period, primarily from heart disease, compared with people who had the lowest levels of BPA. The findings don't prove that BPA caused premature death, but they add to concerns about BPA's potential toxicity. BPA and related chemicals are found in many products, such as water bottles, cups, dental sealants, paper receipts, and the linings of food and beverage cans and pipes, so it's hard to avoid them. Simple precautions include relying less on canned foods and more on fresh foods; avoiding plastics with a 3 or 7 recycling label; microwaving food in glass or ceramic containers, not plastic; and looking for BPA-free products.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted a surge in telemedicine visits. Here's what you need to know about virtual health care.

Telemedicine — interactions with your doctor by video — has been slowly growing for years. But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States earlier this year and forced people into isolation, this emerging form of virtual health care took off.

"In 2020, we've seen a sharp hockey stick–like movement in the number of telemedicine visits," says Dr. Joseph Kvedar, a dermatologist with Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital and president of the American Telemedicine Association. "The experience has shown both patients and doctors the many ways telemedicine can improve health care in the current environment and beyond. It appears to be here to stay."

Ask the doctors

Q. I'm trying to eat less sugar. Can you offer any tips that can help?

A. First, congratulations. Cutting down your consumption of sugar can help protect your health in the long term. Sugar-heavy diets have been linked to health conditions, including obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Most Americans eat far too much sugar. A U.S. government health and diet survey from 2015–16 found that the average American eats about 17 teaspoons of sugar a day. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend eating no more than the equivalent of 12 teaspoons of sugar a day, and the American Heart Association suggests no more than the equivalent of six teaspoons per day. To cut down on your sugar consumption, your first goal should be to focus on incorporating more whole, unprocessed foods into your daily diet. Eating more of these foods can crowd out processed sources of added sugars in your diet.

Ask the doctors

Q. My partner says I've been snoring lately. Are there any home remedies I can use to help me stop?

A. Snoring occurs when muscles in your airway relax during sleep, narrowing the airway and making your breath sounds louder as the air forces its way through. There are a number of strategies that can help. Try sleeping on your side instead of your back, which pushes your tongue to the back of your mouth. Clear nasal congestion resulting from allergies or a stuffy nose. Avoid alcohol (which may act as a sedative) and sleep medications known as benzodiazepines, which may cause your airway tissues to relax, making snoring worse. Losing weight can also help, because surplus tissue, caused by weight gain, can put pressure on and compress the airway, making snoring worse. However, if your snoring does not improve, your partner notices that you have periods during the night where your breathing ­appears to stop, or you regularly feel drowsy during the day, it may be time to pay a visit to your doctor. You could have a condition called obstructive sleep apnea, which may require treatment.

In the journals

Scientists continue to explore the right balance of carbohydrates and fat in people's diets. But for overweight or obese older adults, a recent study found that a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet might offer special health benefits. The results were published online Aug. 12, 2020, by Nutrition and Metabolism.

Researchers asked 40 obese adults, ages 60 to 75, to follow an eight-week diet in which 10% of calories came from carbs, 25% from protein, and 65% from fat. Carb sources included leafy greens, non-starchy vegetables, some fruit, and high-fiber grains. Protein intake consisted of eggs, fish, pork, and poultry. Fat-containing foods included olive oil, coconut oil, nut oils, nut butter, cheese, coconut milk, and avocados.

Maybe you plan to ring in 2021 with a new resolve to quit smoking, lose weight, exercise more, not sweat the small stuff. And maybe these resolutions sound familiar — maybe just like the ones you made a year ago!

So how can you ensure that your determination to get healthier in 2021 sticks around past Valentine's Day?  By creating new habits.

When do you need to get screened, and how often?

One of the deadliest cancers can be prevented or detected at a curable stage if you follow recommended screening guidelines.

Colon cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). The good news is that the death rate has steadily dropped over the past several decades among older adults. (However, among people under 55, death rates from colon cancer have grown slowly, but steadily, since 2008.)

Ask the doctors

Q. I'm debating whether I need to get a flu shot this year. Do you think it's worthwhile?

A. The answer to this question is an emphatic yes. It's more important than ever to get a flu shot this year for a number of reasons. First, it will reduce your likelihood of contracting, being hospitalized for, or dying from influenza, which should be reason enough to roll up your sleeve. In addition, if you do get sick with the flu after being vaccinated, the vaccine can reduce the severity of your illness.

You can get a good workout anyway.

The winter months present numerous challenges to maintaining your fitness in a typical year. This year, with the COVID-19 pandemic, it may be harder than ever to get to the gym or your usual exercise class.

What can you do to keep your body in motion and not lose ground as the weather turns colder? The answer, luckily, is plenty, says Dr. Beth Frates, an assistant professor physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School. There are many effective workouts that don't require a large space, a gym, expensive equipment, or even a live instructor.