Healthy aging and longevity Archive

Reduce your dependence on medications with these strategies.

More than a third of all adults in the United States have high blood pressure—a systolic pressure (the top number in a reading) of at least 140 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), or a diastolic pressure (the bottom number) of at least 90 mm Hg, or both. The condition injures blood vessel walls and forces the heart to work harder, increasing the risk for heart disease and stroke.

Taking medication to treat high blood pressure is just part of the solution.

November is National Family Caregivers Month. Being a caregiver is an act of love and responsibility, but it comes at a cost. There are currently 40 million caregivers in the United States. These individuals devote time to take care of a loved one, endure stress that carries health risks, and often bear a financial burden as well. It is hard work and it’s worth taking a moment to appreciate those who are caregivers. Ideally, doctors and the health care system will find ways to help caregivers integrate their responsibilities into the workflow of their lives in the interest of better outcomes for everyone.

Chronic pain and insomnia are an unhealthy combination. According to the National Sleep Foundation, chronic pain disturbs the slumber of one in five Americans at least a few nights a week. Whether it's from a bad back, arthritis, or headaches, chronic pain puts you in double jeopardy: the pain robs you of restful sleep and makes you more fatigued, and thus more sensitive to pain.

But you can start to break this vicious cycle.

The odds of beating the bug are increasing as another new vaccine for seniors debuts.

 Image: Bigstock

The flu season is upon us. Like that other season—winter—it can be unpredictable. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is doing its best to see that we're informed and as prepared as possible for whatever is in store. For updates throughout the flu season, check the CDC website, www.cdc.gov/flu.

How well does the flu shot work?

Vaccines for seniors

If wearing an activity tracker results in more daily exercise but not a significant weight loss, it still provides health benefits.

Missing teeth can lead to additional dental woes, but implants and bridges can restore your smile and improve your dental—and overall—health.

Few of us will make it through life with a full set of 32 teeth. By age 50, the average American has lost 12 permanent teeth to decay, gum disease, or injury. Losing teeth not only affects your smile, but can also alter your bite and weaken your jawbone as well.

There is little reason to let that happen. Advances in prosthetic dentistry have made it possible to fill the spaces with bridges and implants that are more functional and attractive than the teeth they have replaced. "Your mouth is the first organ of your digestive system. Missing teeth affect not just your appearance but your overall health," says Dr. German Gallucci, executive director of the Harvard Dental Center. "We view dentistry as an integral part of comprehensive health care."

A study of people in the United States, Germany, and Japan found that holiday weight gain was common.