Health and Fitness

One of the biggest innovations came in the late 1990s and early 2000s — just in time for the marathon-running, tennis-playing boomers to start showing signs of wear and tear.

If I’ve learned anything during nearly six decades of reporting on medical science, it’s that the longer you wait, the better the methods of prevention, diagnosis and treatment are likely to become. That’s true for almost every field of medicine — cardiology, gastroenterology, oncology, etc. And it may be particularly relevant for orthopedic surgery, a specialty facing ever-increasing demands from an aging population with bones, joints, ligaments, tendons and muscles that break down after decades of wear and tear.

Days after a new report showing that fatal overdoses have skyrocketed to record highs during the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal Department of Health and Human Services has relaxed a regulation around prescribing addiction medication in an effort to combat the rising death toll.

A recent Boston University study found that the rate of depression has tripled in the U.S. during the pandemic. Dr. Bright says these feelings of anxiety or depression are a normal response to abnormal circumstances in life.

Most Americans who are due for a colon cancer screening will receive a postcard or a call — or prompting during a doctor’s visit — to remind them that it is time to schedule a colonoscopy.

2020 was a difficult year for mental health. Feelings of anxiety, sadness and loss were common for many, as lockdown measures were implemented around the country leading to job loss and social isolation, among other concerns. Mental health symptoms, such as depression or increased use of substances to cope, spiked, according to data from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.

Among the many measures my local Y is using to prevent the spread of COVID-19, instant temperatures are taken with a forehead scanner before people can enter the building. Curious to know how “hot” I was one cold, rainy day, I asked the attendant what it registered: 96.2.

You are certainly well on your way to a warding off midlife weight gain with your healthy lifestyle. Weight gain is often an issue as women move into menopause, even for those who eat well and exercise regularly. Over the next several years, you may find it more difficult to stay at your current weight, and that you’ll need to increase your activity level and be more diligent about your eating habits.

If you have signs or symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), it’s important that you contact your health care provider right away for medical advice. But COVID-19, the common cold, seasonal allergies and the flu (influenza) cause many similar symptoms.

Exercise in almost any form can act as a stress reliever. Being active can boost your feel-good endorphins and distract you from daily worries.

In many cases, the workouts, and the equipment that goes with at-home fitness, have sent fitness bills skyward.

It’s a hibernation season like no other: It’s colder and darker, and you’re still inside. Which makes it all the more important (and all the harder) to keep yourself moving. As 2021 begins, here are some ideas to get you out of the house, or at least off the couch for a bit.

Coconut oil continues to be widely touted as a miracle food. Proponents, including a slew of celebrities, claim it promotes weight loss, lowers blood pressure and blood glucose, protects against heart disease, increases energy, reduces inflammation, erases wrinkles and even counters Alzheimer’s disease. Plus it tastes great, so what could be bad? And if you believe all that, I’ll offer to sell you the Brooklyn Bridge.

Philadelphia poet laureate Trapeta B. Mayson on Monday launched the Healing Verse Philly Poetry Line (1-855-763-6792), a toll-free telephone line that offers callers a 90-second poem by a Philadelphia-connected poet. A new poem will be featured each Monday throughout 2021.

Hiring a personal trainer may not be for everyone, but experts say most people can maintain an adequate workout routine at home with minimal cost.

The pandemic has been difficult for health care workers who have spent more than nine months battling the deadly virus, only to see hospitalizations soar in recent weeks.

Even after adjusting for socioeconomic factors, Black women are far more at risk for serious heart issues like stroke or heart attack.

This year has created a lot of reluctant converts. Months ago, in less dire circumstances, we swore we’d never do any number of strange-sounding things: attend Zoom weddings, embrace ring lights, feed a sourdough starter. And yet here we are, making do.

When the COVID-19 pandemic first struck Ohio, Miriam Looker’s top concern was keeping her children safe.

Being proactive to achieve long-term health and wellness is important, and you should be proud of your efforts to set fitness goals and develop routines. However, among research, personal opinion and stereotypes, a lot of misinformation can make it hard to know what is accurate.