Prevention November 2024

Being grateful is good for you. Research shows that appreciating blessings both big (say, a promotion at work) and small (like spotting a pretty blue bird in the park) can boost happiness, and people who regularly practice gratitude tend to sleep better and have a lower risk of depression and anxiety. Plus, writing down what you feel grateful for may help you dial back stress, studies suggest—jotting down those moments prompts you to both remember and reexperience positive emotions. What better time than Thanksgiving to start or nurture a gratitude ritual? WHAT ARE THREE THINGS YOU’RE GRATEFUL FOR TODAY?…

CHECK OFF THE ONES YOU GET DONE! ENCOURAGE GUYS TO GROW A ’ STACHE Ask a man in your life to give his razor a break this month for “Mo”-vember, an annual campaign in which men forgo shaving to raise awareness of men’s health issues such as prostate and testicular cancers and mental health. See more info and fundraising opportunities at movember.com. GET TO STEPPIN’ After the big meal, resist the temptation to settle in for a long winter’s nap. Instead, lace up your sneakers, recruit relatives, and head outside for a walk. Getting some steps in will help stimulate digestion and may provide relief from gas or bloating. Bonus: Exercise makes us feel more alert and energized. TRY ATOP-NOTCH TURKEY If you’re searching for an idealThanksgiving bird, consider one…

CIRCLE THE BEST OPTION. 1 What helps with tinnitus (ringing in the ears)? A Earplugs B Mindfulness C Surgery D Nothing—you’re stuck with it. 2 Which of these foods are good for your hearing? A Coconuts B Walnuts C Wild rice D All of the above 3 If you regularly wear headphones, what level should you keep your volume below to protect hearing? A 120 dB B 100 dB C 85 dB 4 Using hearing aids may cut dementia risk. A I don’t think that’s true. B Yes, I’ve heard that before. 5 Hearing loss is something that happens only in your senior years. A True B False ANSWERS 1 MORE THAN 50 MILLION ADULTS IN THE U.S. SUFFER FROM TINNITUS—a constant buzzing, ringing, or rushing in the ear. It’s like how you feel after a loud concert, except all the time. While there’s…

CHOOSE “TRUE” OR “FALSE” FOR EACH. #1 PETS DON’T NEED REGULAR CHECKUPS BEYOND ROUTINE VACCINATIONS. #2 ANIMALS CAN DEVELOP MANY OF THE SAME CONDITIONS HUMANS DO. #3 OLDER PETS GET SICK, AND THERE’S NOT MUCH YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT. #4 MUSCLE LOSS MAY BE A WARNING SIGN OF A SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUE. ANSWERS 1 FALSE. As pets age, it’s smart to start doing more preventive checkups. Dogs and cats don’t live as long as people do, so diseases can advance more quickly in them, says Lauren Harris, D.V.M., vice president of medicine at BluePearl Pet Hospital. Vet visits once to twice yearly are recommended for older pets. 2 TRUE. One of the most common age-related illnesses in pets is cancer, says Harris. Other common conditions include kidney and liver diseases, osteoarthritis, diabetes,…

FOLLOW ALONG TO INCREASE YOUR PEACE. ■ With so much hustle and bustle packed into just a couple of short months, this time of year can feel overwhelming—but you can tame the pandemonium and focus on joy with a little bit of quiet “me time” spent meditating. “Taking a few moments to ground yourself, find your center, and reconnect with the present can make all the difference in calming the chaos,” says Lindsey Benoit O’Connell, a certified meditation teacher and founder of The LAB Wellness. We asked her to write a quick guided meditation just for you. Find a comfortable position, either sitting or lying down. Eyes closed, take a few deep breaths, inhaling slowly through your nose, filling your lungs completely. Hold for a moment, then exhale softly through your…

■ Occasional forgetfulness is normal, especially as we get older or during times of stress. This memory quiz from the Alzheimer’s Research & Prevention Foundation can help you figure out whether your experience is par for the course. ANSWER YES OR NO TO EACH STATEMENT. From time to time I forget what day it is. YES NO Sometimes when I’m looking for something, I forget what it is that I’m looking for. YES NO My friends and family think I’m more forgetful than I used to be. YES NO I frequently misplace my keys or can’t recall putting them where I find them. YES NO I may forget my friends’ names at times. YES NO Sometimes I get lost, even when driving somewhere familiar. YES NO I often forget about…