Indholdsfortegnelse for May 2024 i Prevention

Dear Readers, WOULD YOU BELIEVE I’ve essentially had the same job since I was a teenager? In high school I’d stand in front of the rest of the newspaper staff every morning and lead a meeting about the next three issues. In college I sat in an ugly armchair on the third floor of the student center and did the same. I loved it all so much that I couldn’t quite believe it when I got my first magazine job. They were paying me! To do what I used to do in my free time! This work has defined my life. The important stories on things like foster care and cancer, and the fun ones that required taste-testing. The meetings to choose photographs, the hours spent on cover lines and fact-checking…

1 Stress is bad for your health. A True B False 2 What was the top reason for not seeking mental health treatment, according to the American Psychological Association’s Stress in America 2023 survey? A Not enough time B Lack of insurance C Belief that therapy doesn’t work 3 Which is a symptom of chronic stress? A Menstrual changes  B Low libido  C Insomnia  D All of the above 4 Which hormone is released first when you encounter something stressful? A Cortisol  B Adrenaline 5 Your stress response can be genetic. A True  B False ANSWERS 1 WHILE IT’S TRUE THAT CHRONIC STRESS can be detrimental to your health, stress in and of itself is a natural physiological reaction to perceived threats—so in small doses, it is just par for the course and helps you deal with and overcome a tough situation such…

Your pup should snooze as cozily as you do! Answer these questions from Dana Varble, D.V.M., chief veterinary officer of the North American Veterinary Community, to figure out which type of bed is right for your doggie. FOR EACH QUESTION, CHECK THE ANSWER THAT APPLIES TO YOUR PUP 1 Do you have an older or a special-needs dog? ☐ YES ☐ NO 2 Does your dog chew everything? ☐ YES ☐ NO 3 Does your dog love their crate? ☐ YES ☐ NO 4 Does your dog run hot, or do you live in a hot climate? ☐ YES ☐ NO KEY 1 Pups with bone or joint issues require extra support, and there are orthopedic beds for that. Always read the packaging to make sure it’ll meet your pet’s…

Do you ever lie down in bed and feel as if you need to move your legs? Or maybe your lower limbs keep you up till all hours with what feels like itching, burning, throbbing, or the sensation of something crawling all over them. These are all common signs of restless legs syndrome (RLS), a neurological movement disorder that can really mess with your well-being if you’re not sure how to fix it. “RLS can occur at any time of day but is usually worse at night or when a person is at rest for a while—say, on a long flight or car ride,” says Alon Y. Avidan, M.D., a neurologist and director of the UCLA Sleep Disorders Center in California. The reason RLS ramps up in the evening may…

ACTIVE 25 MIN. TOTAL 25 MIN. SERVES 2 ⅓ cup oat flour¼ cup unflavored whey protein powder1 tsp baking powder¼ tsp ground cinnamon Pinch of kosher salt1 small ripe banana½ cup low-fat cottage cheese1 large egg½ tsp pure vanilla extract Maple syrup and fresh berries, for serving 1. In medium bowl, whisk oat flour, protein powder, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. 2. In second bowl, mash banana with fork. Whisk in cottage cheese, egg, and vanilla to combine. Gradually add wet ingredients to dry ones, whisking until just combined. Let batter rest 5 min. 3. Heat large nonstick skillet on medium. Add 4 scant ¼-cupfuls of batter and flatten into 3½- to 4-in. rounds using side or bottom of measuring cup. Cook until edges are set and bottom is golden…

GET OUT YOUR PENCIL! If there’s one thing we know about you (we mean you, reader!), it’s that you love walking. We do too, because it’s so good for you—putting one foot in front of the other is a powerful means of catering to your overall health, and studies say it may even help you live longer. Finding ways to boost your walks can help you rack up even more motivation and steps. With summer knocking at the door, it’s time to put on your thinking cap. Will you add a mile to your route once a week? Bring a friend? WRITE DOWN THREE BOOSTERS YOU WANT TO ADD TO YOUR WALKING ROUTINE BY THE END OF THE SEASON.…

Bicycle leg lifts work out your midsection, particularly your lower abdominal muscles, as well as your inner thighs, making this a great lower-body move to have in your rotation. 1 Lie flat on the ground. Place your hands behind your head and engage your core as you curl your upper body up and lift your knees into tabletop position (your shins should be parallel to the floor). 2 Inhale as you pull your left elbow and rib toward your right knee while extending your left leg out straight. Exhale and lift that straightened leg toward the ceiling; inhale as you lower the leg, stopping when it hovers slightly above the ground. 3 That’s one rep. Do 10 reps, then switch sides and repeat. Check me off when you’ve tried the…

THESE ARE THE ISSUES for which you are going to need a doctor and might even require surgery—but don’t stress, just get your eye exams and learn what to look for. Cataracts WHAT’S GOING ON HERE: “The lens in the eye is clear when we’re young, but over time it becomes cloudy and stiff,” notes Dr. Schehlein. Both of these changes can decrease the quality of your vision; you may also experience glare, trouble reading or seeing into the distance, or difficulty driving at night. COULD THIS HAPPEN TO YOU? Getting older is the biggest contributing factor, but other risk factors include having an eye injury, a family history of cataracts, lots of exposure to UV light, or a chronic medical condition like diabetes; frequently using medications such as corticosteroids; and smoking.…

TAKING OFF YOUR SHOES when you walk into a friend’s house—or even your own—can be awkward if you have chronically malodorous feet. We asked experts to break down why smelly feet happen and advise on how to banish the funk for good. WHAT CAUSES THE STINK? As you might have guessed, it starts with sweat. Sweat is usually odorless, but when an excessive amount (sometimes caused by overactive sweat glands, or hyperhidrosis) mixes with bacteria on the skin, it can create a powerful smell, says Nicholas R. Butler, D.P.M., an assistant professor at Kent State University’s College of Podiatric Medicine. When this becomes chronic and embarrassing in a way that impacts everyday life, it is diagnosed as localized bromhidrosis. “This can affect someone’s self-esteem, social interactions, and quality of life,” says…

FIRST, HACK YOUR LIFESTYLE ➳ Our daily habits and our health are intertwined. Try moving more in general—studies suggest that regular exercise in the evening, which promotes dopamine production, may lower RLS risk. Cutting back on caffeine, not smoking, and avoiding alcohol at night may also help prevent symptoms or make them less frequent. MORE RELIEF Low iron storage is associated with RLS, so ask your doctor about testing and load up on foods rich in iron (e.g., beans, spinach, nuts). Eating vitamin C–rich picks like bell peppers and citrus is smart too, as the antioxidant may decrease RLS intensity and frequency. NEXT, MAKE OVER BEDTIME ➳ Poor sleep and RLS go hand in hand, so improving your sleep hygiene can boost the quality and length of your snoozing. For more…

A Bond repair product A trim is the only way to truly reverse damage (say, from heat), but certain bond-repair products can help add strength to your hair to prevent future breakage. Try a product like K18 or Olaplex No. 3. B Ketoconazole shampoo When the scalp’s natural oil production is disrupted, Malassezia, a type of yeast, can grow. OTC shampoo with ketoconazole, zinc pyrithione, or sulfur will reduce Malassezia and help rebalance things. C Hair mask Hair masks usually contain oils (such as coconut oil and argan oil) to condition and restore moisture along with water to hydrate. Try a nourishing hair mask once a week in place of regular conditioner. D Smoothing cream This works well for most hair types, but one exception is very fine hair, for…

1 MYTH : Eating disorders are all about food and weight. MYTHBUSTER It may look that way on the surface, but behaviors such as bingeing, purging, and restricting food are coping mechanisms “to control or manage difficult feelings and to experience some relief from them,” says Elizabet Altunkara, L.M.S.W., director of education for the National Eating Disorders Association. People with these biopsychosocial illnesses—which include binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, and anorexia nervosa—develop preoccupations with food2 and weight in response to past or present risk factors such as low self-esteem, bullying or trauma, and a family background of eating disorders, she adds. Many of those with an eating disorder also have another mental health issue such as anxiety, depression, OCD, or substance use disorder. All this means that addressing disordered eating behavior is…

I was cast in my first Broadway show soon after grad school, as the understudy to the lead in a new comedy called Venus in Fur. The character I played had to wear five-inch heels throughout the show, and as an understudy I rehearsed in those heels twice a week. I knew I was a little more fragile than other people, but until then I had been a very able-bodied person. As soon as I put those heels on, however, my body was like, Oh, I don’t think so. My feet were completely destroyed. I developed plantar fasciitis, three neuromas, and bursitis. Still, there is no such thing as “I can’t” in the theater world, so I rehearsed in those shoes twice a week for the five-month run of the…

ITCHY, WATERY EYES and sneezes galore—it’s springtime, a.k.a. the start of misery season for the nearly one in three U.S. adults with seasonal allergies. “When your body views relatively harmless substances like pollen and other allergens as intruders, much as it does germs and bacteria, your immune system springs into action creating histamines, or chemicals to fight them—and this is what triggers those hallmark allergy symptoms,” explains Annessa Chumbley, R.D. Remembering to take your allergy meds and using an air purifier certified by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America are smart moves to get relief. You can also try consuming 1 tsp of raw local honey daily. “Over time, this may allow your body to build up an immune tolerance to your local pollen,” says Chumbley. “Research is mixed,…

BASIL “Polyphenols give basil antioxidant properties that help combat oxidative stress—I think of them as support for longevity and healthy aging,” explains BreAnna Guan, N.D., a licensed naturopathic physician. MINT Menthol is one of the main compounds responsible for mint’s signature taste as well as its benefits. “Mint has been used to help with nausea and other digestive issues,” says Annessa Chumbley, R.D. CILANTRO This distinctly flavored herb is a source of folate and vitamin C. “People tend to either love cilantro or absolutely hate it. For those who detect a soapy taste rather than a citrusy, peppery one, it’s because of genetics,” says Chumbley. OREGANO This herb’s anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties are a good reason to load up when you’re fighting a bacterial or fungal infection, says Guan. THYME…