Tag

Prevention

All articles tagged with #prevention

health11 days ago•42 min saved

Hydration and diet fix urged as U.S. kidney stone surge grows younger

A kidney-stone surge is hitting the U.S., with roughly 11% of men and 9% of women affected and more than 500,000 emergency visits annually; stones are rising fastest among those aged 12–30 due to high-salt, ultra-processed diets, dehydration, obesity and inactivity. Doctors say the fix is simple: drink more water to dilute urine, cut salt and sugary drinks, eat more potassium- and citrate-rich fruits/vegetables, and limit oxalate-rich foods if calcium oxalate stones are a risk, plus regular activity. The article cites a patient story of Bill who passed a stone after weeks and improved by increasing water intake and reducing tea, underscoring the prevention message.

via dailymail.co.uk|

#diet #health #hydration

health14 days ago•265 min saved

New Cholesterol Guidelines Emphasize Early Screening and Clear LDL Goals

The 2026 cholesterol guidelines from the ACC and AHA expand risk assessment to ages 30–79, emphasize lifetime risk, restore explicit LDL targets (<100 mg/dL for low risk, <70 mg/dL for higher risk, <55 mg/dL for very high risk), add one-time Lp(a) testing to uncover genetic risk, and encourage earlier lifestyle changes and targeted therapies to prevent heart disease.

via AOL.com|

#cholesterol #health #ldl

health15 days ago•6 min saved

Mental engagement during sitting linked to lower dementia risk

A Swedish study of over 20,000 adults aged 35–64 found that mentally active sedentary activities (such as reading, solving puzzles, or learning a new skill) were associated with a lower risk of developing dementia, while mentally passive sitting (e.g., watching TV) showed no protective effect and may increase risk. Replacing passive sitting with mentally engaging activities or light physical activity could modestly reduce dementia risk, though the study is observational and cannot prove causation; replication is needed before guiding guidelines.

via Medical News Today|

#brain-health #cognitive-activity #dementia

health18 days ago•3 min saved

Tiny daily tweaks could curb heart attack risk, study finds

A UK Biobank study of more than 53,000 middle‑aged adults found that small daily changes—about 11 extra minutes of sleep, 4.5 minutes of brisk walking and roughly 50g more vegetables—could reduce major cardiovascular events by around 10% over eight years. When combined with eight to nine hours of sleep and about 42 minutes of moderate‑to‑vigorous activity daily, the risk of heart attacks and strokes drops by up to 57%.

via The Guardian|

#diet #health #heart-health

health19 days ago•43 min saved

Premature Menopause Linked to 40% Higher Lifetime Heart Disease Risk

A Northwestern-led study of more than 10,000 postmenopausal women finds natural menopause before age 40 is tied to a 40% higher lifetime risk of coronary heart disease, with Black women experiencing premature menopause at higher rates. The findings suggest the menopausal transition is a critical window for early cardiovascular prevention, including monitoring blood pressure and cholesterol, prioritizing strength training, managing stress, and ensuring menopause history informs heart-disease risk assessments to protect long-term health.

via Healthline|

#cardiovascular-disease #health #note-only-five-needed

health22 days ago•3 min saved

Longer Pollen Seasons Signal a Tougher Spring for Allergies—and How to Prepare

Climate change is lengthening pollen seasons, potentially worsening allergy symptoms for millions of Americans as tree, grass and weed pollen rise earlier and higher; experts recommend checking local pollen counts, starting treatment before peak pollen, using high-efficiency air filters, and keeping windows closed to reduce indoor pollen exposure.

via USA Today|

#allergies #climatechange #health

health22 days ago•3 min saved

Allergy Season Arrives Earlier in 2026, Prompting Early Prep

Allergy seasons in 2026 are starting earlier and lasting longer across the U.S. due to rising temperatures from climate change, with the Southeast already reporting symptoms. Experts urge proactive management: start allergy meds early (24-hour antihistamines often work best), choose appropriate options (nasal or steroid sprays if needed), keep windows closed at night to avoid morning pollen, change clothes and shower after outdoor exposure to prevent spreading pollen indoors, and address dust mites and pet dander with regular cleaning and HEPA filtration.

via CNBC|

#2026 #allergies #climate-change

cardiovascular-health23 days ago•36 min saved

Cholesterol guidelines tighten focus on early prevention and personalized risk

The American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology have updated dyslipidemia guidelines, prioritizing earlier lifestyle-based prevention, a modern cardiovascular risk calculator (PREVENT) to guide treatment, and additional tests (CAC, Lp(a), ApoB) to refine risk and LDL-C lowering decisions; the updates also address hypertriglyceridemia therapies and recommend cholesterol screening for kids aged 9–11 to identify familial hypercholesterolemia early and reduce lifetime cardiovascular risk.

via Medical News Today|

#cardiovascular #cardiovascular-health #cholesterol

health23 days ago•2 min saved

New AHA Guidelines Push Early Heart-Health Habits for 20s and 30s

The American Heart Association now says adults aged 20–40 should start heart-disease prevention now: monitor blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar; consider a one-time lipoprotein(a) test; eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables with limited saturated fats; aim for 2.5 hours of moderate exercise per week plus strength training, and some higher-risk individuals may need medication earlier to prevent heart disease and stroke.

via WTOP|

#blood-pressure #exercise #health

health23 days ago•3 min saved

Wet Winter Spurs a Brutal Tree Pollen Season on Long Island

Long Island's snowy, wet winter is expected to fuel an intense tree pollen season this spring, with early bloom and rising pollen counts already appearing. Doctors advise preemptive use of nasal steroids or antihistamines and practical steps to minimize exposure (close windows, use AC, air filters, and shower before bed), especially for those with asthma or respiratory conditions.

via Newsday|

#allergies #asthma #health

health24 days ago•11 min saved

Buruli ulcers: mozzies and possums may spread it, but prevention and treatment work

New South Wales cases of Buruli ulcer are linked to the bacterium Mycobacterium ulcerans carried by local mosquitoes (notably Aedes notoscriptus) and possums. Genomic data suggest distinct strains and a pattern of spread from Victoria to NSW, with outbreaks slowly emerging in new areas. There is no vaccine, so prevention focuses on avoiding mosquito bites and eliminating standing water and other breeding sites. Treatment is usually a six-to-eight week course of antibiotics, sometimes with surgery, and early treatment improves outcomes; monitoring possum waste may help track new activity.

via The Conversation|

#buruli-ulcer #health #mosquitoes

health24 days ago•1 min saved

Guidelines push cholesterol screening and treatment to age 30 and up

Major medical groups—including the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology—issued updated guidelines recommending cholesterol screening and lipid-lowering treatment begin as young as age 30 if lifestyle changes aren’t enough. The guidelines call for measuring lipoprotein(a) once in adulthood, set LDL targets of <100 mg/dL for lower/intermediate risk and <70 mg/dL for high risk, and emphasize statins as the foundation with non-statin therapies considered when needed to reduce long-term heart attack and stroke risk.

via USA Today|

#cholesterol #guidelines #health

health25 days ago•7 min saved

Shingles Vaccine Linked to Lower Dementia Risk, Early Studies Hint

New studies suggest the Shingrix shingles vaccine may be associated with a lower risk of dementia in older adults, with some research indicating about a 50% reduction in risk among vaccinated individuals. In addition to preventing shingles and its serious complications like postherpetic neuralgia, the vaccine may also modestly lower risks of heart attack and stroke. The CDC recommends two doses for adults 50+, with dosing intervals of two to six months, and stronger immune responses are reported in older adults. Side effects are usually mild, and vaccination rates for adults over 60 remain around 35%; more research is needed to establish causality between vaccination and dementia protection.

via The Guardian|

#dementia #health #prevention

health28 days ago•10 min saved

New guidelines push earlier statin use to curb lifetime heart disease risk

A updated ACC/AHA guideline advises starting statins earlier for some adults as young as 30 with LDL ≥160 mg/dL or a high 30-year cardiovascular risk, alongside lifestyle changes. It introduces a 30-year risk calculation (PREVENT-ASCVD) to identify millions more who may benefit, with LDL targets of <100 mg/dL for most borderline/intermediate risk and <55 mg/dL for the highest risk. Treatment decisions remain clinician–patient discussions, and the guidance is supported by trial data linking longer LDL exposure reduction to lower lifetime risk.

via CNN|

#cardiovascular-disease #cholesterol #health

health1 month ago•267 min saved

Air Pollution Linked to Higher Alzheimer's and Dementia Risk, Large Study Finds

A large study of nearly 28 million Medicare beneficiaries (2000–2018) finds that higher long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with greater risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, with stronger effects in people who had a stroke. While pollution is not the sole cause of Alzheimer’s, the findings support air-quality interventions and suggest indoor air improvements, such as HEPA-filter purifiers, alongside lifestyle measures like regular exercise, cognitive engagement, and social activity to help reduce risk.

via AOL.com|

#air-pollution #alzheimers-disease #dementia-risk