Indholdsfortegnelse for April 2021 i Prevention

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.…

Like your gut, your skin has a microbiome, home to billions of beneficial bacteria known as probiotics. As probiotics work to reduce inflammation, skincare brands are getting in on the action, and their products may be helpful if you struggle with eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, or acne, says Rhonda Klein, M.D., a boardcertified dermatologist at Modern Dermatology in Westport, CT. The efficacy of these products is still being studied, so they should be used to supplement (not replace!) a guthealthy diet. Look for probioticpacked serums or lotions that are oilfree, fragrancefree, and noncomedogenic. And load up on foods like kefir and kimchi, which are rich in live active cultures, or pop a supplement that packs 30 billion CFU of lactobacillus and bifidobacterium strains to support your health, including that of your…

SWAP OUT YOUR CHAIR Sitting on a stability ball forces you to sit up straight, which gives your core muscles a constant workout and helps improve posture. You can also gently bounce up and down throughout the day to burn a few extra calories. KEEP EQUIPMENT NEARBY If you have room, consider a cardio-based contraption like the Prevention High Performance Under Desk Exercise Bike and pedal away the day. Or keep light dumbbells, loop resistance bands, a Pilates ring, or a jump rope at your desk to do arm, leg, or butt exercises or light cardio between (or—shhh—during) meetings. DO A FEW REPS DURING BREAKS Pauses throughout the day give your brain a rest and, if you work in front of a computer, give your eyes a break. Why not…

A year after the coronavirus first hit, doctors are discovering that dealing with it has unexpected side effects. One of them is hair loss—in particular, a form called telogen effluvium, a temporary period of shedding that happens after a stressful event. It’s affecting people who had the virus, but also those who lost their jobs, cared for an ill family member, or were thrown into the world of homeschooling on top of working from home, says Yolanda Lenzy, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and the author of Getting to the Root. A bit of strand science: You shed up to 10% of your hairs (roughly 100 strands) a day—that’s totally normal. During telogen effluvium, however, that amount can shift up to as much as 30% and lead to daily loss of…

If you’re like a lot of people, you go to the pharmacy as much as 10 times as often as you go to your primary care doc—but have never actually talked to your pharmacist. That’s too bad, because the person filling your prescriptions can do a lot more than dole out meds. “Pharmacists have doctorate-level education and specialize in medications the way doctors specialize in diagnosing,” says Ashley Garling, Pharm.D., a clinical assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy. “That means we can help you decide the best course of action when it comes to most health conditions,” whether that’s recommending that you see your doctor or go to urgent care or assuring you that an over-the-counter treatment should do the trick. Knowing all your…

Ask what the price would be if you paid for it on your own. Sometimes going through insurance means shelling out more for meds—and pharmacists can’t really suggest not going through insurance, says Brianne L. Porter, Pharm.D., a pharmacist and an assistant professor at The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy. “The best way we can get around this is if you ask what the price would be if you paid without insurance.” Consider filling your Rx at a mom-and-pop shop. Independently owned pharmacies tend to have more negotiating power than chains whose larger parent companies dictate pricing. “A smaller business will have more control over what prices they can offer, even coming down close to what the drug costs them, because they’re in the business to make health care…

When it comes to strengthening your brain, here’s a no-brainer: Get a full, uninterrupted seven to eight hours of sleep per night. Research showed that the effects of a lost night of sleep were similar to that of being drunk when study subjects had to perform tasks. Over seven or eight hours, your body goes through a brain-care cycle. “Deep sleep happens early in the night and allows your brain to flush out toxins, including Alzheimer’scausing beta-amyloid plaques,” says All. “REM sleep happens between hours four and eight and consolidates long-term memories into really long-term memories. If you’re awake for more than 30 minutes during the night, the whole process starts over, meaning you may not get all the REM you need.” But pause before reaching for sleep meds. “Benzodiazepines…

Feeling bloated or struggling to go regularly? These are two signs that you need a gut check. Billions of bacteria call our GI tracts home, and when the balance of good bugs versus bad ones gets out of whack, it can cause problems. “A healthy gut is key to good digestion as well as a strong heart, a robust immune system, and an even mood, and it can impact your risk for serious diseases and infection,” says Torey Armul, M.S., R.D.N., a registered dietitian in Columbus, OH. What you eat helps those beneficial bugs thrive, and we’re talking about more than just yogurt. Fill up on these other gut-friendly picks. SOURDOUGH Though sourdough bread isn’t gluten-free, people with mild gluten sensitivity or irritable bowel syndrome often find it tolerable, likely…

There’s a lot of worry that comes with parenting after a divorce, but here’s the truth: “Divorce doesn’t damage children, but it involves enormous change and loss,” says Karen Bonnell, a co-parenting coach and author of The Co-Parenting Handbook. “Unskilled parenting during and after a divorce, like putting kids in the middle of conflict, damages children.” So, go ahead and take a deep breath. The kids will be OK. To get to OK faster, follow these simple co-parenting rules. 1 Emphasize the co in co-parenting When kids hear a parent continue to refer to their ex as an important member of their “parent team,” that means a lot, says Bonnell. “When your children know that you two communicate about them, it really helps them feel like they have one childhood…

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.…

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%.…

SERVES 4 1 Heat oven to 425°F. On rimmed baking sheet, toss 1½ lbs broccoli (cut into florets) and 2 cloves garlic (thinly sliced) with 1 Tbsp olive oil and ¼ tsp each salt and pepper; roast 10 min. $2.68 2 Meanwhile, pound four 6-oz boneless, skinless chicken breasts to even thickness and season with ¼ tsp each salt and pepper, then dredge in ¼ cup flour. Heat 1 Tbsp oil in large skillet on medium-high and cook chicken until golden brown, 3 to 5 min. per side. Nestle chicken amid broccoli and roast until chicken is cooked through and broccoli is golden brown and tender, about 6 min. $3.88 3 Return skillet to medium heat; add 1 Tbsp oil, then 1 lemon (cut into thin ½-in. pieces), and cook,…

1 | CLEANSER: The size of a cranberry or a dime. No need to go overboard with that pump! “This amount should be enough to clean the surface area of your face,” Dr. Gohara says. 2 | SERUM: The size of a pea. Because serums are highly concentrated with active ingredients, like brightening vitamin C or exfoliating alpha hydroxy acids, “they’re meant to be used in a small amount that’s easy to layer,” says Dr. Gohara. 3 | MOISTURIZER: The size of an almond. Using enough of your daily lotion or cream wards off dryness by hydrating the delicate skin barrier. But slathering on too much can lead to oily skin and clogged pores. 4 | RETINOL: The size of a pea. Like other active ingredients, retinol is powerful. “You…

By the time I reached my 60s, I’d seen a world of pain: first fused spinal discs, then a fractured skull after a dolly whacked me in the face during a shift as a UPS worker. (That took me a year and a half of rehab to recover from.) Later I had a hysterectomy and other operations related to my skull. But none of that was as bad as the pain in my leg. It started about 10 years ago, an ungodly pressure in my lower back that ran down my right leg into my foot. And it never shut off. I saw doctors all over New Jersey, where I live, and specialists in other states. All they could offer me were painkillers. By 2019, I was taking four Percocets…

Say yes to a chat with the pharmacist. People often hurriedly decline the offer to talk to the pharmacist, but it’s smart to accept every time. “You can catch a lot of errors before you walk out,” says Michael Gaunt, Pharm.D., a medication safety analyst and an editor for the Institute for Safe Medication Practices. “The pharmacist should ask questions to ensure that you’re on the same page about the med. You can also ask things like, ‘Does this medication have any special storage instructions or side effects?’” They can tell you the best time to take it too. Say the name of the drug out loud. Before you leave a doctor’s appointment, know whether new meds were prescribed and, if so, why. When you pick up an Rx, verify…

☑ The website lists a street address in the U.S. Drugs have different names and uses in other countries, so there’s no guarantee that you’ll get the drug your doc prescribed if you order from a pharmacy outside the U.S., says Michael Swanoski, Pharm.D., an associate professor at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy. ☑ The pharmacy is licensed by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). You can find a list of accredited digital pharmacies at nabp.pharmacy. You’ll also want to make sure the pharmacy has a dispensing license for the state in which you live, says Swanoski. ☑ You’re required to provide an Rx from your doc. There are no exceptions, says Swanoski. “If you’re able to get a prescription med without an Rx from a…

There’s a lot of buzz about urgent steps environmental experts are advocating to rescue the planet for future generations. Perhaps less talked about is how these initiatives will affect human health right now and in the coming years. Here’s what three much-discussed moves designed to create a greener future mean for your wellbeing and that of your family. THE CLIMATE SOLUTION SWITCHING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES The cars, trucks, buses, ships, trains, and planes we use to get from Point A to Point B generate the most greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. Significant changes in this area will help drive huge improvements in the quality of our atmosphere. GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT: The nitrogen dioxide (NO2) that flows from the tailpipes of our vehicles reacts with other chemicals in the air…

Whether your dog’s ears hang low or stand at attention, they need more than just the occasional scratch. All dogs can get ear infections, which not only are painful, but also can affect their hearing and sense of balance. Here’s how to keep ear problems at bay. 1 Who gets ear infections Dogs whose ears are long and floppy or especially hairy may be predisposed to getting more ear infections because of decreased air circulation, explains Jerry Klein, D.V.M., chief veterinary officer of the American Kennel Club. That said, any type of ear can get infected. Pets who do a lot of swimming or bathing or have a history of ear trouble or allergies may get them more often, says veterinarian and pet safety advocate Jason Nicholas, BVetMed. Food allergies…

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…

CITRUSY SUPERFOOD Like all types of citrus, lemons are a good source of vitamin C—one lemon contains at least 25% of the daily recommended value. Lemons also contain B vitamins, crucial to cell production and function; potassium, a mineral that acts as an electrolyte to help regulate fluid levels and muscle contractions; calcium, a supporter of strong bones; pectin, a type of fiber that promotes good digestion; and lots of different antioxidants, says Jessica Bippen, R.D.N., founder of @Nourished byNutrition. HOW TO GET THE BENEFITS Many of lemons’ nutrients are found in the juice, so loosen it by rolling them before cutting into them, says Andrea Mathis, R.D.N., creator of beautifuleatsandthings.com. Hang on to the peel and the pulp—lemon peel can be zested to add more flavor to a dish,…

1 Start in a side plank position on your right side; you should be bracing yourself with your right forearm flat on the floor, hips elevated so your body is diagonal to the ground. Hold a dumbbell in your left hand, arm at your side, parallel to the floor. 2 Exhale, pull your abs toward your spine to stabilize your torso, and slowly raise your left arm toward the ceiling. Lower your arm back down to your side. 3 That’s one rep. Do 10 reps, then repeat on the opposite side.…

Some who suffer from arthritis pain might assume that all types of exercise are offlimits, but yoga can help you feel better physically and mentally. Certified yoga therapist Steffany Moonaz, Ph.D., a professor and director of research at Maryland University of Integrative Health and the founder and director of Yoga for Arthritis, explains why it works. How does yoga help with arthritis pain? Pain is probably the biggest reason people with arthritis come to yoga—and pain is incredibly complicated. Physically, strengthening the supporting muscles around a joint may increase stability, which may reduce irritation within it. Or there could be nerve pain associated with degeneration—perhaps the spine is pressing on a nerve, leading to sciatica—and yoga may help alleviate it. Some yoga practices affect the nervous system too. For example,…

If you’re in a long-term relationship, chances are that you feel very different about your partner now than you did at the start. In the beginning, there’s often fairy-tale-like bliss and can’t-keep-my-handsoff-you lust. It’s exciting, it’s romantic, it’s…unsustainable. That’s right: You are not supposed to continue seeing your partner through sex-fogged rose-colored glasses forever. Here’s why: That initial phase of a relationship puts us in a heightened state of arousal all the time. The body interprets this as pleasurable, thanks to a boost of feel-good chemicals—a dopamine-and-serotoninfueled rush—that helps us get attached to our partners. Since we’re always in this heightened state of arousal, every touch feels fantastic, every joke sounds hilarious, and sex feels spontaneous every time. But as a relationship gets more stable, our body chemistry does too.…

The computer: When a prescription comes in, a special software system flags any contraindications (say, an allergy or an interaction of the drug with something else you’re taking). If all looks good, your pharmacist will pull the drug from the shelf and scan the product into the computer to make sure it’s the right one and the correct strength. “This bar code technology will stop them from continuing if something is wrong,” says Garling. The shelves: One in four medication errors comes from confusion over a drug name. That’s why look-alike and sound-alike meds are usually stored on different shelves. “Each pharmacist can organize medications as they like,” says Garling. “If they realize that they or their technician has a tendency to grab the wrong bottle, most pharmacists will put…

ACTIVE 10 MIN. TOTAL 30 MIN. MAKES 12 MUFFINS ¾ cup all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting1 cup almond flour¼ cup white quinoa (raw)1 tsp baking powder1 tsp ground cinnamon½ tsp ground ginger½ tsp baking soda½ tsp kosher salt2 large eggs, beaten1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt¼ cup whole milk⅓ cup honey2 6-oz containerssmall raspberries 1. Heat oven to 325°F. Lightly coat 12-cup muffin pan with cooking spray and dust with flour. 2. In large bowl, whisk together flours, quinoa, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, baking soda, and salt. 3. In medium bowl, whisk together eggs, yogurt, milk, and honey. Fold egg mixture into flour mixture until just combined, then stir in raspberries. 4. Divide batter among muffin-pan cups and bake until toothpick inserted into centers of muffins comes out clean, 15…