Innehållsförteckning för December 2025 från Prevention

WE’RE ALSO BIG ON HISTORY. When I was melting down about getting my shots as a kid, my mother painted a picture for me of her circumscribed childhood before the polio vaccine became available in 1955. To my mom as a teen, the transcendent miracle of the vaccine (aside from its sparing countless children from paralysis) was that it meant my grandma Pauline could stop being a hypervigilant, panicked Jewish mother and go back to being merely an overprotective, catastrophizing Jewish mother. As we know, though, catastrophes do happen. COVID-19 was one. Few of us in New York City will forget the freezer trucks that served as overflow morgues. When the vaccine became available, I swear we could physically feel our neighbors’ gratitude for all the genius, money, effort, and love…

Pulling a beanie over your head isn’t the only way to deal with dull or damaged hair—your strands may just need some TLC. Follow these steps to achieve a stronger and healthier head of hair. Get a trim You don’t have to lop it all off, but this will eliminate split ends that could break and cause your hair to lose length, shine, volume, and smoothness. Wash it less often It depends on hair type, but unless your scalp is super greasy, washing your hair only two to three times a week is a good rule; this allows natural oils to penetrate your hair so it can hydrate and repair itself. Coating strands regularly with a silky deep conditioner or hair mask can also help prevent damage. Detangle right Hair…

MOST OF US HAVE COUGHED a little after we’ve eaten because of allergies, reflux, or simply having chowed down too quickly. But having a big “Achoo!” moment after you finish a meal seems more mysterious. Actually, this phenomenon is so common that there’s a name for it: “snatiation.” WHY THE NOSE MAY EXPLODE AFTER EATING Snatiation (a mash-up of “sneeze” and “satiation”) was coined to describe post-meal sneezing, “particularly after consuming a large meal,” explains Arturo Bravo, M.D., a gastroenterologist with Houston Methodist Willowbrook and Cypress hospitals. The exact reason you sneeze is unknown, but some theorize that it’s linked to the stretching of the stomach when you’re full, which might trigger the nerve responsible for the sneezing reflex, he notes. Snatiation is believed to be an autosomal dominant trait, “meaning…

This winter, seek out your inner kid and have some fun. Make snow angels, build a snowman, or have a snowball fight with your little or not-so-little pals. Don’t live where it snows? Make a festive sandcastle (or a sand “snowman”), or break out a board game or a Twister set for some indoor silliness. The key is to be playful—adult playtime can be a boon for well-being, research shows, as it triggers the release of feel-good endorphins, fosters relaxation, and works the brain in a way that promotes cognitive flexibility, problem-solving, creativity, and more. WRITE DOWN THREE PLAYFUL ACTIVITIES YOU HAVE ENGAGED IN (OR WANT TO DO) THIS MONTH.…

1 MYTH: Autism is a mental disorder. MYTHBUSTER Autism spectrum disorder (or disability), or ASD, is actually a developmental and neurological condition, not a mental illness or disease. People with autism have brain differences that cause them to experience and interact with the world in atypical ways, which is why it is called a “neurodivergent” condition (as opposed to being “neurotypical”). A person may have some of its traits and not others, but many of the differences it leads to are communication-related (for example, being less able to interpret facial gestures than others are), atypical behaviors (such as repetitive movements, sensitivity to light and sound, and intensive focus on particular interests), and challenges mastering social skills. Though it is not a mental disorder, people with it have higher rates of depression, anxiety,…

So many women spend their 20s, 30s, and 40s trying to please everyone, afraid of making waves, worried that if they don’t say yes to every meeting, work project, and dinner invitation they’ll disappoint their friends, families, or bosses. But there comes a moment midway through life when we begin to ask the glorious question, Hey, what about me? “In your late 40s or 50s you realize, I don’t have to say yes to everything!” says Emmy-winning television journalist Tamsen Fadal, author of How to Menopause. “When I was younger, friends would always want to come stay at my apartment in NewYork City, and I would always accommodate them, even if it meant I couldn’t go to the gym or eat what I wanted or keep my own schedule,” she…

It’s one of those conditions that sneak up on you—more than half of U.S. adults with uncontrolled high blood pressure don’t know they have it, recent research shows. When left untreated, high BP (also called hypertension) can raise the risk of cardiac events such as heart attack and stroke and other health problems like kidney damage, early cognitive decline, and dementia. “High blood pressure, in most cases, is asymptomatic,” says Lawrence Phillips, M.D., a cardiologist and an assistant professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health. “People don’t feel that they have it, which is why regular screening is so important.” Doctors check your blood pressure as a matter of course during most routine medical exams and urgent care visits because it’s a critical indicator of your overall health. Blood pressure…

BRING THE BLING. Decorating does more than fill your home with holiday cheer. Engaging in nostalgic activities like making homemade ornaments and lighting candles can increase optimism and self-esteem and foster social connections—all of which can give you a health boost. Adding festive outdoor touches like string lights and a pretty wreath can strengthen bonds with neighbors because it signals that you’re social and approachable. SIP SOME BLISS. Hot cocoa isn’t just a seasonal way to warm up. The flavanols in cocoa may improve blood flow, aid in cognitive function, and help lower blood pressure. To wield control over the sugar and maximize the goodness, skip premade packets and DIY a mug: Mix sweetener, unsweetened cocoa, and hot milk using a frother. SLEEP WITH THE SHEEPIES. A good night’s rest…

The Goal Cycle through each position once; that’s one rep. Aim for five to 10 reps two to four days a week. Y POSITION 1 Stand up straight, arms at your sides, then bend your knees slightly and hinge at your hips. 2 Slowly lift your arms to create a Y shape, squeezing your shoulder blades together as you do this, raising your arms as high as they’ll go. 3 Hold for a few seconds; return to start. T POSITION 1 Stand up straight with arms at your sides, then bend your knees slightly and hinge at your hips. 2 Slowly lift your arms out to each side to create a T shape, again squeezing your shoulder blades together. 3 Hold for a few seconds; return to start. W POSITION…

When I was in my early 30s, I decided I needed a change in my life. I had gotten out of a toxic relationship and moved across the country, from New Jersey to California, but in many ways I still felt like the version of myself I had wanted to leave behind. I was fearful of everything—of my ex, of starting over with two young children. I had no confidence, was 80 pounds overweight, and felt as if it was too late, like I’d been cheated out of the life I could have had. The generation of relatives who had come before me had struggled with their weight and their physical health, and I thought that was my destiny in life. But in California I decided to start going to…

It’s officially food coma season, and there is a nonzero chance that one of the people you share the holiday with will poke the napper on the couch and claim that they should power through the rest of the day. Why? Because napping is a destroyer of nighttime sleep, leading to health problems connected with not getting enough shut-eye including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, depression, and many other issues. Also, daytime napping itself, some studies have suggested, could be associated with problems like high blood pressure, though the science isn’t conclusive—these studies had limitations involving comorbidities and often unreliable data. Napping in fact has proven benefits, as research points to a connection between taking naps and having better overall brain health whether or not one gets adequate sleep at night—and…