Vision and hearing Archive

Most people are able to lose weight in the short term, but will probably regain that weight as time passes. By studying people who lose weight and are able to maintain the loss for several years, insight into their approach can help others understand the strategies that are most likely to lead to long-term success.

A study published online Jan. 24, 2022, by JAMA Internal Medicine estimated that increasing physical activity by 10, 20, or 30 minutes a day would decrease the number of annual deaths by 7%, 13%, or 17%, respectively.

A study published online Feb. 16, 2022, by the European Heart Journal suggests that the prevalence of statin intolerance is much lower than commonly cited. Instead of 50%, the study found that prevalence is 6% to 10%.

A study published online Jan. 15, 2022, by Appetite suggested that people's expectations of how full they will feel after eating can influence their actual food intake.

The fear of falling can lead to a heightened sense of caution and less physical activity—which can actually increase the risk of falling. To reduce the fear of falling, a person must address underlying conditions, such as poor eyesight or joint problems. It also helps to work with a physical therapist to improve balance, gait (walking pattern), muscle strength, flexibility, and range of motion. When physical therapy ends, one must continue doing strength, stretching, and balance exercises at home in order to keep fear at bay and reduce fall risk.

Gut bacteria may influence our emotions and cognitive capabilities. For example, some bacteria make oxytocin, a hormone the body produces that encourages increased social behavior. Other bacteria make substances that cause symptoms of depression and anxiety. Still others make substances that help people to be calmer under stress. Gut bacteria also have been shown to influence people's vulnerability to certain brain diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and autism. For example, a substance found in the brains of people with Parkinson's disease (synuclein) is made by gut bacteria and can travel via nerves from the gut to the brain.

People who work the night shift might benefit from eating their meals during daytime hours. A 2021 study found a rise in blood sugar in people following night shift hours who ate some meals at night, but not in those who ate all meals during the day.

Olive oil, when consumed as a regular part of the diet, may help protect against an early death and specifically against deaths related to cardiovascular disease, cancer, neurogenerative conditions, and respiratory conditions.

Frequent handwashing may lead to dry, cracked skin. Strategies such as lowering the water temperature and moisturizing with a heavy hand cream after washing can allow the skin to heal. Also try wearing cotton gloves over a thick moisturizer at night.

The number of people taking large amounts of melatonin (more than 5 milligrams per day) is at an all-time high. However, the amount in a supplement can be significantly higher than what the label shows. This can cause people to take too much, especially since many use melatonin regularly.