Prevention February 2017

HELLO, READERS! It’s midwinter; how’s everything? Me, I’m feeling a little bit sun deprived and energy compromised. Maybe you are, too. For those who dread the winter doldrums, this time of year is a challenge, sending some of us to the sun lamp—see “Happy News for SAD People” (p. 8) for this and other coping tips—and some of us under the covers. We can do better than that, with 67 fixes for strength and stamina in “Give Yourself an Energy Makeover” (p. 44), which lays out an easy plan for jump-starting yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally. My personal energy source? Lush images of nature, like the photo on this month’s cover: a brilliant echinacea flower with an intense orange-red seed cone that’s practically throwing off sparks—just what the doctor ordered.…

Last month, we invited you to join our #SpreadTheHealth Healthy Habits Challenge by committing to simple changes for 1 week. Now we welcome the hosts of the CBS series The Talk, who will take on their own weekly challenges and share their experiences. Tune in to the show (weekdays at 2 PM ET, 1 PM CT/PT) throughout the rest of January and visit prevention.com/spreadthehealth to see their results, and share yours with us socially using #SpreadTheHealth! SPREAD THE HEALTH “I want to grow and change in multiple areas of my life in 2017, so I’m planning to take on all the challenges of my fellow hosts.” Sheryl Underwood “My mom has always been a constant in my life. I’m going to call and talk to her every day.” Julie Chen…

AMERICA’S MOST AMAZING NURSE As a nurse for 25 years, I would like to nominate my entire profession for your contest. The health care system would collapse without us. Jessica Lewis / New Britain, CT Don’t forget that men can be very good nurses in any area. I’m an OR nurse, but I’ve known great men in pediatrics and obstetrics, too. Ted Walker / San Antonio RECIPE REVISION I appreciate the nutrition information you provide with your recipes, but I’m frustrated by the saturated fat amounts. Since my husband’s heart attack, we’ve revised our diet. It would be nice to read recipes that are truly heart healthy. Chris Pergolizzi / Webster, NY THANKS, READERS I would have thought, since I’m a holistic health advocate, that there was nothing…

IN HOT WATER Want to reap health benefits while you luxuriate? Take a hot bath. Sedentary adults were immersed up to their necks in a tub of 104°F water (a few degrees hotter than a typical bath) for 15 to 20 minutes. Then they sat with water up to their ribs for another 50 minutes. Results after 8 weeks showed significantly improved cardiovascular health. Benefits for the bathers included lower blood pressure and less stiffness in the blood vessels. “For people who are unable or unwilling to exercise, heat therapy is very important,” says study coauthor Christopher Minson, a University of Oregon physiologist. Regular exercisers can receive these heat benefits, too, plus some relief from muscle and joint pain after workouts.…

1lb How much more seafood the average American ate in 2015 than the year before Happy News for SAD People DOCTORS GENERALLY treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD)—a type of depression that typically strikes in winter when levels of natural light are low—with antidepressant drugs or light boxes that mimic sunlight. Now research suggests that a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy called CBT-SAD may be just as helpful. The treatment helps patients restructure their thoughts about winter. Instead of fixating on hating cold weather, for example, they’re directed to imagine fun wintertime activities. University of Vermont researchers found that light therapy and CBT-SAD are equally effective during an acute episode of depression, but people treated with CBT-SAD were coping better after 1 year. For more information, visit adaa.org/finding-help/treatment/therapy.…

1 Floaters and Flashes Phantom spots are normal, but new floaters— or flashes of light or multiple black spots—can be sign of a torn or detached retina. 2 Moles Have your doctor check out freckles, moles, or other lesions around your eyes that, like these spots elsewhere on the body, can signal skin cancer. 3 Redness or Dryness Occasional red or dry eyes are common, but if symptoms last more than 24 hours without a clear reason, they could signal a problem. 4 Vision Changes While it’s normal to start having trouble seeing close up in middle age, any other type of declining vision should be checked out. 5 Pupil Changes If you notice that one or both of your pupils have changed size or that they no longer match…