Prevention October 2017

RECENTLY, MY eldest daughter, Charlotte, a new college graduate, and I flew south to spend a couple of days with my 91-year-old aunt, Vera, whom I hadn’t seen in a while. She’d always been in tip-top health, and when we arrived, I saw that not much had changed: She still cuts a stylish figure and has the same gift of gab and cheekbones to die for that she had when I was a new college graduate. A “career woman” in the ’40s, Vera started at an advertising firm and ended a few decades later as a vice president of education at the nation’s leading company for feminine hygiene products. She was a renegade, traveling the country in the ’70s as one of the first sex educators in public schools. She…

THE ULTIMATE GIFT While reading this article, I found myself asking, “Did I tell my kids how proud I am of them? have I said ‘I love you’ enough? have I called my mom enough?” It made me realize that life is short, and you never know when you will see your last day. Shawna Walsh / Carver, MA ADVICE FOR THE AGES Since I just turned 58, I appreciate that Prevention is a magazine that speaks to me. My husband and I are a fit and healthy example of what staying active, informed, and committed looks like. Pam Ritmiller / frederick, MD I am 84 years old and in fairly good health. I walk every day and go to exercise class three times a week. A large percentage of…

Brain Booster Compounds in cocoa may improve cognition by increasing blood flow to the brain. CHOCOLATE CAN MAKE YOU SMARTER A new report analyzing 14 studies on chocolate, published in Frontiers of Nutrition, found that brain function may get a jump from the flavanols, or antioxidant compounds, in cocoa. In one study, participants showed an uptick in working memory 2 hours after consuming 773 mg of cocoa flavanols; in another, the antioxidant compounds appeared to counteract cognitive impairment from a poor night’s sleep. Samantha Heller, a registered dietitian and senior clinical nutritionist at NYU Langone Health, says that more studies are needed to determine what dose of flavanols will maximize the benefits. For now, opt for 1.5 oz of dark chocolate that’s at least 70% cocoa (avoid bars labeled “cocoa…

Atenolol (Tenormin), metoprolol (Lopressor) What They Are: beta-blockers to treat high blood pressure Possible Switches: ace inhibitors like enalapril (vasotec) or lisinopril (Zestril), calcium channel blockers like diltiazem (cardizem) or amlodipine (norvasc) Chlorpropamide (Diabinese, Insulase) What It Is: prescribed to control high blood sugar in type 2 diabetes patients Possible Switches: Metformin (glucophage, Fortamet) or sitagliptin (Januvia) Paroxetine (Paxil), fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft) What They Are: ssris prescribed for depression, panic disorder, or anxiety Possible Switch: bupropion (Wellbutrin) Prednisone (Deltasone, Prednicot) What It Is: corticosteroid for long-term treatment of asthma, lupus, or ulcerative colitis Possible Switch: reduce steroid use to every other day Valproic acid (Depakote, Depakene) What It Is: prescribed for seizure disorders, bipolar disorder, or migraine prevention Possible Switch: topiramate (topamax)…

IT’S A good idea for every adult to create an advance directive—a set of legal documents that typically has two components: a health care power of attorney, in which you appoint someone called a health care proxy to make decisions for you if you’re unable to, and a living will, in which you lay out your end-of-life treatment preferences. You might specify, for example, that you’ll consent to antibiotics and pain medications but not CPR, which can cause internal injuries. You can also state that you prefer to die at home. In fact, according to the New England Journal of Medicine, people with advance directives are more likely to avoid dying in a hospital. Assembling the documents is easy. You fill out paperwork available online through your state’s Department of…

IF ONLY our body parts were like lightbulbs and could be quickly swapped out when they malfunction. Of course, we don’t work that way, but Josie Znidarsic, a family medicine physician at Cleveland Clinic’s Wellness Institute, offers solutions to annoying everyday health concerns. (If symptoms persist after 2 weeks, check with your doctor.) Twitching eye Step away from all forms of reading for 20 minutes. in particular, computer screens and devices can cause eye fatigue, which is why eyes tend to twitch toward the end of the day. Clicking jaw Use a bite guard from the drugstore or your dentist, and avoid gum or extra-chewy foods. Clicking can be caused by inflammation around the jaw from overuse or clenching in your sleep, so a massage therapist may also be able…