Preventive care Archive

Climate change has made life-threatening heat waves increasingly common across the globe. Anyone with health issues will have a more difficult time in extreme heat, including older people and people with diabetes, heart disease, asthma, and other conditions. Be prepared by knowing how to identify and treat heat-related illness, and how to plan for hot days.

A 77-year-old man with a brother who died of prostate cancer weighs the pros and cons of PSA screening with age, health, and risk in mind.

Using an AI algorithm on a coronary computed tomography angiogram can quantify the type and amount of plaque in the heart’s arteries. But whether that information can help prevent more heart attacks remains to be seen.

A small, short-term 2026 study suggests that people who schedule their exercise to align with their chronotype—the body’s natural sleep and wake cycle—may lower their heart risk factors more than those who exercise at times that don’t align with their chronotype.

A MRSA infection may be treatable, yet the bacteria can sometimes remain on the body and return. Find out what recovery and prevention involve.

A major Harvard study adds more evidence that a healthy diet may protect your brain. Older adults who ate the most ultra-processed foods were found to have substantially higher risks of dementia and cognitive decline, while those eating more minimally processed foods had lower risks.

The DASH diet is a flexible, science-backed eating plan proven to lower blood pressure, while also reducing risks of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and cognitive decline. Emphasizing vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products, it’s a healthy way to eat that suits almost everyone.

Calcium deposits in the lungs can follow infections, bleeding, high calcium levels, or past exposures. Doctors will review imaging test results and medical history to help clarify their significance.

Aging is the single biggest risk factor for developing cancer. As people get older, DNA damage accumulates in cells, and chronic inflammation and imbalances in gut bacteria become more common. All of these factors may contribute to the age-related increase in cancer cases.

Pregnancy can change the balance of risks and benefits around flu vaccination. Key safety considerations may help guide a discussion with your obstetrician.