Prevention April 2021

THE OTHER DAY I said to my dog, “This has got to be a quick walk, Penny. I am so busy.” She didn’t argue—she never does!—but outside, she did start pulling toward the Hudson River, her favorite place. “Fine,” I said (I’m a pushover), and our walk morphed from a fiveminute “business trip” to a 45-minute meditative stroll. My work was still waiting for me, and yet—I bet you know where this is going—I was so much less stressed by it. Thanks for the nudge, Penny! Walking is so powerful, and that’s why we hope you’ll join our spring Virtual Walk on May 1 (walk wherever you are and know that thousands of others are doing the same!). Here are a few highlights for this year: OUR FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: Prevention…

This is no April Fools’ Day joke: Laughter is a health booster! We could all use a little more of it these days. You know laughing is good for your mood and can tame stress, and studies back that up—but other research shows that it may also have a positive effect on memory, cognitive function, cardiovascular health, and even immunity. Make it your mission to find excuses to chuckle, whether through looking at cute cat memes or having regular check-ins with your funniest friend. 45 OF ADULTS SAY SHOWERING HELPED THEM RELIEVE STRESS DURING THE PANDEMIC; WOMEN IN PARTICULAR SAID THEY VIEWED IT AS A FORM OF SELF-CARE, according to a recent survey conducted by Kelton Global on behalf of GROHE.…

Sniffling, sneezing, and red, watery eyes? Yep, it’s allergy season. “Allergies are an immune reaction to a foreign substance—for the seasonal kind, think pollen, dust, grass. The immune system misidentifies an allergen as a threatening invader and kicks into overdrive, producing antibodies to attack it,” says Jake Deutsch, M.D., a board-certified emergency room doctor and founder of Cure Urgent Care in New York City. “This is what triggers your symptoms.” Here’s how to find relief. PROTECT YOUR SNIFFER Keep your nasal cavity clean to help keep symptoms at bay. “A product like Zicam Nasal AllClear swabs can help ease nasal dryness or irritation from congestion by cleansing with menthol and moisturizing,” says Dr. Deutsch. “Using a neti pot to rinse out irritants and excess mucus can also be helpful.” TRACK…

There’s a real need for opioid-free pain relief, and a team of Duke scientists have created what they hope will be one option: a polymer patch that releases a nonopioid painkiller directly into the wound, then dissolves after three to four days. The drug blocks an enzyme that drives pain and inflammation, and the patch’s slow erosion allows the med to be released in a controlled manner that helps patients avoid the potential side effects of opioids (such as becoming dependent on them). The scientists say they hope this patch will one day be used in clinical practice, and that it would be particularly useful for endoscopic procedures, pediatric surgery, and C-sections.…

Often preventing acid reflux involves eliminating a laundry list of foods or taking meds to avoid symptom flares. But new findings from the Nurses’ Health Study in JAMA Internal Medicine pinpoint five lifestyle habits that can help keep the condition under control. Data from 43,000 women showed that those who maintained a healthy weight, never smoked, got at least 30 minutes of daily exercise, followed a balanced diet, and limited their coffee/tea/soda consumption to two cups a day were able to reduce GERD symptoms by 37%.…

If you have a loved one suffering from cognitive issues, talk to their doctor about integrative therapy. “It’s just as important to consider as conventional care for patients with dementia,” explains Christine Y. Chen, M.D., a geriatrician at Mayo Clinic. Studies show that therapies like music, massage, and acupuncture reduce frustration and preserve movement. They introduce new options for self-fulfillment in life too, says Dr. Chen, which keeps patients resilient. They may also improve general well-being of cognitive function, so there’s no downside to trying them.…