Healthy aging and longevity Archive

There are many normal reasons people's joints make clicking, popping, cracking, or other noises. Joints are also more likely to make noise when people stay still for long periods. Pain or swelling with joint noise should prompt people to see a doctor.

Eating a plant-based diet may help people lower their risk for chronic constipation, according to a 2025 study. This effect may be due, at least in part, to the high fiber content of plant-based diets.

People with prediabetes may be able to reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes with 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week, says a 2025 study. Exercise can help lower blood sugar and excess weight, the main risk factors for progression of prediabetes to type 2 diabetes.

Research suggests that exercise is beneficial in managing insomnia, but current guidelines don't specify which types may be most effective. A 2025 study found that yoga, tai chi, walking, and running were associated with reduced symptoms of insomnia.

The bear crawl is a body-weight exercise that consists of moving along the ground using only the hands and feet. The move is a fun way to strengthen core muscles and improve mobility, coordination, and balance.

Aging often leads to a loss of shoulder strength and motion, especially the ability to reach up and lift objects overhead. The best way to protect the shoulders is to stretch them daily and strengthen them every other day. Exercises can be done consecutively in a single workout or individually throughout the day. It's best to do a warm-up before engaging in any shoulder exercises. A warm-up can be as simple as marching in place for a few minutes while gently moving the arms up and down.

A 2025 study found that people who had received a shingles vaccination had lower risks for stroke and various types of heart disease, including heart failure and heart attacks, compared with people who didn't receive a shingles vaccine.

A 2025 Harvard study found that people who most closely adhered to a Mediterranean or a plant-based diet had up to a 20% lower risk for chronic constipation, compared with people who followed other eating patterns.

Influencers, news headlines, and well-meaning friends and family offer conflicting advice on wellness. Quick fixes and fads may do little for our health, and some even prove harmful. Try to work these five simple habits that can boost health and wellness into your everyday life.

After common heart procedures or surgeries, medications to help prevent heart attacks and strokes are essential. These include a combination of drugs to prevent blood clots (which is known as dual antiplatelet therapy and usually taken for just one year); drugs to lower LDL cholesterol down to 70 milligrams per deciliter or lower; and drugs to keep blood pressure and blood sugar in a healthy range.