wellness14.655 min read
Cardboard Draws Roaches: Simple Steps to Keep Them Out
2 days ago•Source: HuffPost
Wellness News
The latest wellness stories, summarized by AI
Featured Wellness Stories
View original source
16.665 min•3 days ago
House Shoes: A Simple Habit to Reduce ADHD Task Paralysis
A HuffPost Wellness piece explains how wearing dedicated “house shoes” can help some people with ADHD initiate chores by creating a physical cue that signals the brain to stay in task mode. Experts recommend starting with small tasks, wearing the shoes only during the task, and recognizing that this approach may not work for everyone, while also encouraging professional ADHD assessment and treatment if needed to improve motivation and self-esteem.
More Wellness Stories
Eight Habits Geriatric Doctors Say Boost Health and Longevity
Geriatric medicine experts outline eight lifelong habits to promote healthy aging: prioritize regular physical activity (including tai chi), protect hearing, address vision loss to stay active, follow a Mediterranean-style diet, don’t use tobacco, limit alcohol, and stay mentally and socially engaged after retirement, noting that starting these habits at any age can yield meaningful health benefits.
COVID-19 Cases Edge Up Across All 50 States as Fall Nears
COVID-19 infections are rising across all 50 states as summer ends, with the South and West seeing the biggest increases and fall/winter waves expected; CDC data show nationwide upticks not at last year’s peak, and immunity remains low due to poor vaccination rates (about 17.5% of adults with the last shot). Common symptoms stay upper-respiratory (runny nose, congestion, sore throat, fever), though more severe cases can cause breathing trouble. The piece emphasizes vaccination, air hygiene, and other protections, and notes treatments like Paxlovid and post-exposure Xocova for those at risk.
Winded by Stairs: What Breathlessness Means and When to Worry
Breathlessness after stairs is often a normal response due to increased oxygen demand, but new or prolonged breathlessness—especially with chest pain, vision changes, or worsening symptoms—should prompt a clinician to rule out conditions like heart failure, COPD, obesity, or anemia; you can improve endurance gradually through strength work and cardiovascular training.
Four Simple Ways to Supercharge Your Daily Walk
Daily walks boost heart health and mood; to make them more effective, try (1) keeping a brisk pace that raises your heart rate (you can pace to music around 100–120 BPM), (2) adding short interval bursts of faster walking or light jogging, (3) including light weights or bodyweight exercises during the route, and (4) choosing hills to increase challenge. For best results, aim for 150–300 minutes of moderate activity per week and 5,000–10,000 steps daily, with about 30 minutes most days and listening to your body for rest.
Three dynamic balance drills for adults over 60 to prevent falls
The article presents three dynamic balance exercises—marches on a raised platform, step-ups to balance, and lateral steps to balance—for adults over 60 to improve stability during movement and reduce fall risk. Start with 8–10 reps per exercise, 2–3 times per week, and progress as strength improves (adding weights later if desired). Use a wall or chair for support and consult a physician or trainer to tailor progression.
The One Hip Stretch That Keeps You Moving as You Age
Aging tightens hip flexors, which can cause lower-back pain and reduce daily mobility; experts say the most effective fix is regular hip-flexor stretches, especially hip extensions done in a bridge pose to counter disc-height loss and improve posture and stride. A simple daily routine can include moves like forward crouch, wide crouch, side lunge, forward lunge, seated figure‑four, and butterfly, with yoga or Pilates to boost joint mobility; always check with a doctor if you experience pain.
Iron on the Balance Beam: How Much Is Too Much or Too Little?
Low iron is usually due to inadequate intake, poor absorption, or chronic blood loss (e.g., heavy periods or GI issues); a blood test is the best way to confirm iron deficiency. If your doctor prescribes supplements, doses depend on age, deficiency severity, cause, and pregnancy status (common guidance is about 65 mg of elemental iron daily for deficiency, and around 27 mg daily during pregnancy). Fatigue alone isn’t a reliable sign of iron deficiency, and some conditions (thalassemia, myelodysplastic syndrome) won’t respond to iron. Don’t exceed roughly 120 mg elemental iron per dose, and routine dosing benefits don’t increase with multiple daily doses. Normal iron levels differ by sex (men 70–180 mcg/dL; women 60–170 mcg/dL). Signs of taking too much include constipation, nausea, dark stools, joint pain, weight loss, and reduced libido; long-term overload can lead to heart or liver disease, so monitor hemoglobin and ferritin with a clinician.
Master Sleep: An 11-Step Plan to Fall Asleep Fast and Stay Asleep
GQ outlines an expert-backed 11-step plan to fall asleep quickly, stay asleep, and wake energized, emphasizing a calming pre-sleep ritual, sensory cues, consistent schedule, neutral bedroom, quality bed, white noise, cool room, limited light, tech unplugging, and a brain dump.
Pilates-inspired dumbbells fuse core control with posture-focused strength
Sponsored piece outlining a Pilates-inspired dumbbell routine to boost strength while improving posture and balance. Trainer Rachel Lennon presents two supersets: Superset 1 pairs a dumbbell goblet squat with a slow renegade row; Superset 2 combines a glute bridge with a weighted deadbug, both done with slow, controlled movements and pauses. Beginners are advised to use light weights (around 3–4 kg) and complete about 15 reps per move across four rounds. The article emphasizes form over speed and cites Harvard research showing that varied exercise routines are linked to lower mortality risk, underscoring the value of combining Pilates principles with resistance training.
Garmin Cirqa redefines screen-free wearables as a middle ground between Fitbit Air and Whoop 5.0
Tom’s Guide’s Dan Bracaglia reviews Garmin Cirqa, a screen-free fitness tracker that sits between Fitbit Air and Whoop 5.0 on price and features. Cirqa costs $199 (more than Air’s $99 but cheaper than Whoop’s recurring subscription), weighs about 14.8 g (heavier than Air but lighter than Whoop), and lasts around 10 days per charge. Garmin’s Connect app provides deeper sleep and wellness insights (including Fitness Age and recovery time) and Cirqa supports Natural Cycles, offering more actionable data than Fitbit’s app. A standout design touch is a single side button to control 80+ workout types, reducing reliance on the app. Overall, Cirqa aims to blend the accessibility of Fitbit Air with some of Whoop’s holistic metrics, making it a solid middle-ground option for screen-free wearables.