Staying Healthy Archive

Of your five senses, which one are you most afraid of losing? If you're like most people, your answer is your ability to see. Because  our eyesight is so precious, it's no wonder that myths abound about your eye health, what can damage our eyes — , and what can protect them. Here, we debunk five common myths — and tell you how to truly keep your eyes healthy.

Myth: Doing eye exercises will delay the need for glasses.
Fact: Eye exercises will not improve or preserve vision, help your eye health, or reduce the need for glasses. Your vision depends on many factors, including the shape of your eyeball and the health of the eye tissues, neither of which can be significantly altered with eye exercises.

Ask the doctor

Q. I just can't lose weight. A friend says that my problem might be due to the types of bacteria that live in my gut. That sounds crazy to me, but is it true, and can I do something about it?

A. Ten years ago, I also would have thought your friend was crazy. Today, I'd say she could well be right. Here's why. We've known for a century that bacteria live in our intestines, but we've assumed that they did little to affect our health. We thought that they were just mooching off of us — taking advantage of the warmth and nutrients in our gut.

A new study raises questions about whether they're truly equivalent to the brand-name versions.

You've no doubt seen them in the grocery store — typically drab-looking packages on the bottom shelf containing lower-priced generic versions of popular brand-name products. Some shoppers look at them with skepticism: Are they really as good? Or does cheaper just mean lower quality?

Many people have the same questions about generic prescription medications, says Dr. Niteesh K. Choudhry, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and executive director of the Center for Healthcare Delivery Sciences at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Are generic drugs really the same quality, or is it better to spend more for the name-brand version?

Each one can have a different timetable. Find out in advance what you should expect, and then track your symptoms.

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When your doctor prescribes a new medication, you may expect to start feeling the effects right away. But some drugs can take time to make a difference. "It depends on how quickly your body absorbs the medication, how your body distributes it, and how your body breaks down or metabolizes it," says Laura Carr, a pharmacist at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.

Giving it time

Some medications start working on the first day. These include drugs that treat high blood pressure, like the beta blocker metoprolol (Toprol, Lopressor), which slows down the heart and reduces the force of its contractions; or H2 blockers such as famotidine (Pepcid) and ranitidine (Zantac), which treat heartburn by blocking the stomach's acid-secreting cells from making acid.

Most older adults take some kind of over-the-counter dietary supplement. But are these products right for everyone?

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Over-the-counter dietary supplements are big business — more than 90,000 products generate about $30 billion every year in the United States. Older adults make up a big part of these sales, too. A survey of almost 3,500 adults ages 60 and older published Oct. 1, 2017, in The Journal of Nutrition found that 70% use a daily supplement (either a multivitamin or individual vitamin or mineral), 54% take one or two supplements, and 29% take four or more.

But are these pills good medicine, or a waste of money?

Here are the best ways to stop painful cramps — and prevent them from returning.

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A muscle cramp always feels like a surprise. The involuntary contraction strikes without warning, whether it's a charley horse in the middle of night or a back spasm as you reach for an everyday object. But don't let that cramp throw you for a loop. "When it suddenly strikes, don't exercise or tighten the muscle. Just gently stretch it to your tolerance. That helps to relax the muscle and relieve the uncontrolled contraction," says Madhuri Kale, a physical therapist at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital.

What causes cramps?

Exercising without properly warming up the muscles can lead to cramps. Cramps also occur when a muscle is not able to relax properly (such as from a deficiency of magnesium or potassium in your diet) or when it becomes irritated by a buildup of lactic acid (which can happen if you don't rest your muscle after it has exercised a lot). Dehydration can worsen both of these problems. Kale says older adults often don't drink enough water at night because they want to avoid having to go the bathroom, and they end up dehydrated.

The debate in the dairy case may come down to limiting overall fat intake.

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In the 1980s, fat came under fire, and low-fat or fat-free products became a dietary staple. But today, nutrition experts largely agree that dietary fat should have a spot at the table.

Healthy fats, including those found in olive oil, nuts, seeds, and avocados, can help your body absorb crucial nutrients and contribute to overall health. But does the same advice apply when it comes to dairy products? Is it time to trade in your low-fat and skim milk for whole milk and cheese? "Is whole milk better than low-fat milk? The answer is no," says Dr. Frank Hu, The Fredrick J. Stare Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. "The evidence doesn't really support that."

On call

Q. I have heard a lot about how apple cider vinegar can help improve one's health. Is there anything to this?

A. As with so many dietary fads, apple cider vinegar has seen its share of health claims with little medical evidence to support them. The studies exploring its health benefits have focused on reductions in blood sugar levels and weight loss, but these have been small, short-term trials or animal studies.

People with insomnia struggle to get a good night's rest and wonder how to sleep better They may be plagued by trouble falling asleep, unwelcome awakenings during the night, or fitful sleep - alone or in combination. They may feel drowsy during the day and yet be unable to nap. Insomnia can leave a person feeling anxious and irritable or forgetful and unable to concentrate. 

Finding an effective solution requires uncovering the cause. Nearly half of insomnia cases stem from psychological or emotional issues. Stressful events, mild depression, or an anxiety disorder can make falling asleep and staying asleep difficult. Ideally, once the underlying cause is treated, the insomnia improves.

Strength training is good for just about everyone. It's especially beneficial for people with arthritis. When properly done as part of a larger exercise program, strength training helps them support and protect joints, not to mention ease pain, stiffness, and possibly swelling. Yet, the thought of starting a weight training program can be daunting to many arthritis sufferers.

If you have arthritis and want to incorporate strength training into your health routine, these tips can help you get started.