Preventive care Archive

Nuts are a good source of plant fats and protein, but they are high in calories. It’s a good idea to limit nut consumption to 1 ounce per day.

The benefits of flossing haven’t been verified in randomized clinical trials. However, health authorities still recommend it for preventing disease-causing plaque.

 If you are taking care of a loved one, you need to take special care of yourself, too. There are resources to help you.

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More than 65 million Americans—two-thirds of whom are women—are taking care of a disabled or ailing family member. If you're among them, you're well aware that caring for a loved one can be one of the most rewarding experiences in life, but it can also be one of the most challenging, especially to your own health.

"We know family caregivers are under a particular amount of stress. And stress over time can cause them to become ill," says Dr. Diane Mahoney, Jacque Mohr Professor of Geriatric Nursing Research at MGH Institute of Health Professions, an academic affiliate of Massachusetts General Hospital. In fact, more than 20% of caregivers report that their health has suffered as a result of their responsibilities.

A few simple measures can help minimize the sleep disturbances and malaise that can occur when you cross several time zones.

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This month we perform the annual ritual of turning back our clocks as Daylight Savings Time ends. Most of us can handle the one-hour time change easily. However, when we travel long distances across several time zones, few of us can survive the trip without feeling a little out of whack. For holiday travelers flying from coast to coast or overseas, recovering from the symptoms of jet lag—fatigue, insomnia, digestive upsets, and headaches—can consume a day or two of precious vacation time. According to Dr. Charles A. Czeisler, director of the Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School, jet lag is due to a misalignment between the external environment and the internal clock in the brain that drives our daily performance, alertness, and the ability to sleep.

What happens during jet lag

Degree and duration of overweight were linked with an increased risk of several cancers among 74,000 participants in the Women’s Health Initiative.

An analysis of records of 5,635 participants in the Health and Retirement Study linked regular book reading with a 20% reduced risk of dying over a 12-year period. 

Don't be intimidated about screening tests. The latest guidelines suggest you can choose from multiple strategies.

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Colon cancer continues to be the country's second leading cause of cancer-related deaths and the third most common cancer in men, according to the CDC.

It almost always develops from precancerous polyps (abnormal growths). Screening tests, which are recommended for men ages 50 to 75, help find and sometimes aid removal of polyps before they become cancer. (Men older than 75 may still benefit, depending on their health.)

Here's how to keep your daily salt intake in check.

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Most men probably consume too much sodium, and new federal guidelines are aimed at helping them curb their habit.

The FDA advises no more than 2,300 milligrams (mg) of sodium daily—the amount in about 1 teaspoon of salt. (People with prehypertension and hypertension should limit their intake to 1,500 mg, roughly the amount in 3/4 tea-spoon of salt.)

Keep your feet strong and you'll stay more active.

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Socrates may have been the first to equate healthy feet with quality of life when he famously said, "When one's feet hurt, one hurts all over." His observation rings true even millennia later.

"As you age, healthy feet become even more important for staying mobile, active, and safe," says Dr. Kevin Reimer, a podiatrist with Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. "When it hurts to walk, you cut back on activities that you enjoy and that keep you healthy."

A common tooth infection often caused by cavities and usually found by chance on dental x-rays is associated with a higher risk of acute coronary syndrome, an umbrella term for a sudden blockage in the blood supply to the heart.