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This message has been deleted. Restore message   |  | | RESPOND NOW and SAVE 30% on Harvard’s breakthrough wellness guideDear Reader, Welcome to Self-Care: A Step-by-Step Wellness Plan for Body, Mind, and Spirit! If you long for a happier, more confident spirit... more energy to help you be happily productive each day... more resilience to overcome stressful obstacles... greater strength and flexibility, a sharper mind, and more protection from disease... Then I encourage you to order this Harvard Special Report today. Self-Care isn’t about temporary pick-me-ups. Rather, it’s a nine-part holistic approach — supported by practical how-to advice from Harvard health experts — that helps you enhance every part of your life. Step-by-step, you’ll discover how to: Build a stronger body with the easy-to-live-with tips for better nutrition, physical activity, and sleep. Enjoy a sharper, calmer mind with evidence-based ways to enhance your attitude, fortify your resilience, and recharge when you feel “stuck.” Relish a satisfying spirit with tips to boost your energy, cultivate quality relationships and discover and live out your life’s purpose.
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and lock in your 30% Discount | Think of this Self-Care Special Health Report as your guide to “lifestyle medicine” — an evidence-based approach to disease prevention and treatment that helps you focus on adopting and sticking with healthy habits you can live with. And perhaps the best part of the Self-Care plan is that it’s easy to personalize to meet your specific needs and lifestyle. For example, an enlightening “Wellness Wheel” quiz will help you assess your level of fitness in nine key health areas. Penetrating questions help you set health-enhancing goals that meet your specific needs. Proven-in-practice advice shows you how to enhance each key area of your health. Creative tips help you over overcome obstacles and motivate you for success. And more. CLICK HERE to discover the wealth of practical advice in this breakthrough wellness plan from the experts at Harvard Medical School...and see for yourself all the ways you can help build total health, body, mind, and spirit! |
| | Harvard Medical School offers special reports on over 60 health topics.
Visit our website at http://www.health.harvard.edu to find reports of interest to you and your family.
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| | Copyright © 2024 by Harvard University.
Harvard Health Publications, 4 Blackfan Circle, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02115, USA
* Please note, we do not provide responses to personal medical concerns, nor can we supply related medical information other than what is available in our print products or website. For specific, personalized medical advice we encourage you to contact your physician.
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| The power of self-compassionWe usually think of compassion as it applies to others. But we can— and should— also show compassion to ourselves. Self-compassion means showing compassion towards ourselves when we suffer, fail, or feel inadequate. Get your copy of Positive Psychology | Positive emotions have been linked with better health, longer life, and greater well-being in numerous scientific studies. On the other hand, chronic anger, worry, and hostility increase the risk of developing heart disease, as people react to these feelings with raised blood pressure and stiffening of blood vessels. But it isn’t easy to maintain a healthy, positive emotional state. Positive Psychology: Harnessing the power of happiness, mindfulness, and inner strength is a guide to the concepts that can help you find well-being and happiness, based on the latest research. |
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Self-compassion offers several benefits to mental and physical health. Self-compassionate people recognize when they are suffering and are kind to themselves at these times, which reduces their anxiety and related depression. While some people come by self-compassion naturally, others must learn it. Luckily, it is a learnable skill. In his book, The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion, Harvard psychologist Christopher Germer suggests that there are five ways to bring self-compassion into your life: via physical, mental, emotional, relational, and spiritual methods. Germer and other experts have proposed a variety of ways to foster self-compassion. Here are a few: - Comfort your body. Eat something healthy. Lie down and rest your body. Massage your own neck, feet, or hands. Take a walk. Anything you can do to improve how you feel physically gives you a dose of self-compassion.
- Write a letter to yourself. Describe a situation that caused you to feel pain (a breakup with a lover, a job loss, a poorly received presentation). Don't blame anyone but acknowledge your feelings.
- Give yourself encouragement. If something bad or painful happens to you, think of what you would say to a good friend if the same thing happened to him or her. Direct these compassionate responses toward yourself.
- Practice mindfulness. This is the nonjudgmental observation of your own thoughts, feelings, and actions, without trying to suppress or deny them. When you look in the mirror and don't like what you see, accept the bad with the good with a compassionate attitude.
For more on drawing on your strengths and finding the positive meaning in your life, buy Positive Psychology, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School. Image: © Iryna Imago/Getty Images |
| | FEATURED CONTENT
| • | Studying satisfaction | | • | Happiness: What is it? | | • | How do you “get happy”? | | • | Gratitude | | • | Savoring pleasure | | • | Flow: Getting engaged and absorbed | | • | Special bonus section: Mindfulness: A path to well-being |
Click here to learn more » |
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| | Copyright © 2024 by Harvard University.
Harvard Health Publishing, 4 Blackfan Circle, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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 | Has addiction come between you and a loved one?Overcoming Addiction reveals 30 proven strategies for conquering addiction and sustaining recovery!Learn how to effectively address — and end — dependence on alcohol, stimulants, nicotine, opioids, and more. |  | In Overcoming Addiction, you'll read about... | ✓ | the 11 warning signs of a substance use disorder | | ✓ | 5 tried-and-true tips for conquering any addiction | | ✓ | the single most important determinant of success in therapy | | ✓ | the most effective approach to help you stop smoking for good! | | ✓ | the substance women abuse far more often than men do | | ✓ | a breakthrough therapy that's changing opioid treatment | | ✓ | Bonus! "Faces of Recovery" 3 personal stories from people who've overcome addictions |
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Addiction can test the strongest family. It can cost friendships. It can strain patience. It can drain finances. It can bring irretrievable loss. But freedom from addiction is possible. New approaches are providing motivation, easing withdrawal, and renewing purpose. Overcoming Addiction shares those strategies that can end a dependency and restore well-being. Overcoming Addiction brings focus to those addictions that too often intrude upon our lives. You will learn how to deal constructively and successfully with issues of opioids, alcohol, stimulants, sedative-hypnotics, cannabis, nicotine, gambling, and other behavioral addictions. ORDER NOW for a 30% savings...and a 100% satisfaction guarantee! In this encompassing and empowering guide, Harvard doctors present the most useful advances in treating addiction. You'll discover... ...the best strategies for lasting change. Recovery involves resolve. This Special Health Report offers tips to strengthen your will power and smooth your pathway. You'll learn the importance of a safe — and satisfying — substitute. You'll be briefed on effective psychotherapies...and why a relapse isn't always bad. ...targeted treatments for the most wide-reaching addictions. The report shares the latest findings on specific techniques and medications that can lessen withdrawal symptoms and help you achieve independence from today's most common substance use and behavioral addictions. ...what to do when a friend or family member needs help. Finding a middle ground of giving support without enabling is a delicate balance. You'll find nine steps that may spur action...why interventions rarely work...and how to care for yourself in such a stress-filled time. Please, don't wait! Order your copy of Overcoming Addiction now!  Harvard Medical School was again ranked as the country's #1 Medical School for Research by US News & World Report. |
| Harvard Medical School offers special reports on over 70 health topics.
Visit our website to find reports of interest to you and your family.
PHONE ORDERS - please call our toll-free number: 1-877-649-9457.
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| | Copyright © 2024 by Harvard University.
Harvard Health Publishing, 4 Blackfan Circle, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02115, USA
* Please note, we do not provide responses to personal medical concerns, nor can we supply related medical information other than what is available in our print products or website. For specific, personalized medical advice we encourage you to contact your physician.
 HARVARD HEALTH EXPERTS REVEAL THE SIMPLE STEPS TO HELP YOUHalt bone-thinning osteoporosis, strengthen your bones, and protect your mobility |
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|  | Your must-know UPDATE to help keep your bones strong: | ✓ | What causes osteoporosis | | ✓ | Risk factors you can control | | ✓ | The consequences of osteoporosis | | ✓ | Detecting osteoporosis | | ✓ | Developing a plan of action | | ✓ | Bone-protecting foods and supplements | | ✓ | Exercises for bone strength and mobility | | ✓ | Choosing a bone-strengthening medication | | ✓ | How to cope with fractures | | ✓ | And more from the experts at Harvard Medical School, America’s #1 medical school for research as ranked by U.S. News and World Report. |
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Sadly, many people have no idea that they have been losing bone mass for years until — suddenly and without warning — a twist, a bend, or an unexpected jolt or fall leads to a painful fracture in the hip, spine or wrist. You probably know someone who has experienced a bone fracture and you know how drastically it can turn your life upside down. A hip fracture, for example, can severely limit mobility, making it difficult to drive, cook or even get out of bed. A spinal fracture — the most common type of fracture — can result in ongoing pain, stooped posture and even digestive problems. The older we get, the more likely we are to have our bones weakened by osteoporosis (literally “porous bone”) — making us more susceptible to potentially devastating fractures. The good news is that osteoporosis is not inevitable! And it’s treatable. That’s why the health experts at Harvard Medical School have published Osteoporosis: A Guide to Prevention and Treatment, a Special Health Report filled with evidence-based practical steps to help you strengthen your bones and prevent life-altering fractures. For example: Simple bone-protecting exercises You may know that exercise can help strengthen your bones and improve your coordination and balance, but you may not know how quick and EASY these exercises can be! Your Special Report reveals the exercises that work best to prevent and treat osteoporosis — including 10 simple, clearly-illustrated exercises you can do in your living room. Smart bone-building nutrition tips Do you know that too much supplemental calcium might be dangerous — and what dosage experts recommend? The simple food swaps that may have a significant bone-protecting impact? The surprising vitamin that research has proven is “instrumental in bone formation?” Or the little-known nutritional dangers to your bone health? Find out all this and more in your Harvard Special Report! Which bone-strengthening medication is best for you If you’ve been diagnosed with osteoporosis or its less serious cousin osteopenia, your doctor will likely prescribe a medication to curb bone loss. But before you say “yes”, get the facts you need to help you decide between bisphosphonates like Fosamax…monoclonal antibodies like Prolia…hormones — a variety of estrogen products…and other options. PLUS: You’ll get a fascinating close-up look at your bone’s structure — how it grows and heals itself when injured. Discover the osteoporosis risk factors and why it’s not just a “woman’s disease.” Find out how to diagnose osteoporosis and develop your action plan to fight back. See how to recover well from hip fracture and cope with the pain of a vertebral fracture — including two surgical options. And more! If you want to help guard yourself from potentially devastating bone fractures and protect your mobility and independence as you grow older, get the facts you need in Osteoporosis: A Guide to Prevention and Treatment. Order now and save 30% off our regular price!  |
| Harvard Medical School offers special reports on over 50 health topics.
Visit our website at http://www.health.harvard.edu to find reports of interest to you and your family.
PHONE ORDERS - please call our toll-free number: 1-877-649-9457.
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| | Copyright © 2024 by Harvard University.
Harvard Health Publishing, 4 Blackfan Circle, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02115, USA
* Please note, we do not provide responses to personal medical concerns, nor can we supply related medical information other than what is available in our print products or website. For specific, personalized medical advice we encourage you to contact your physician.
| Foods you should eat to help fight inflammation
We typically think of inflammation as a result of an injury or disease. But diet also plays an important role in chronic inflammation.
This is in part because the foods we eat influence the types of bacteria that populate our gut and their chemical byproducts. While some foods encourage the growth of bacteria that stimulate inflammation, others promote the growth of bacteria that help suppress it. That's why it's important to know which foods have anti-inflammatory properties and which can cause inflammation. Take Harvard's Fighting Inflammation Online Course | In this Online Course, Harvard experts reveals how and why “good” inflammation can go terribly wrong. The surprising causes of “bad” inflammation and the specific threats it poses to your health and well-being. And best of all, how you can effectively combat the effects of harmful inflammation and lower your risk. This fascinating course is overflowing with lively interactive pages, photo features, detailed illustrations, videos, charts, and additional features to help you understand the perils of “bad” inflammation and how to proactively protect your health. |
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Foods that fight inflammation- Fruits and vegetables. Most fruits and brightly colored vegetables naturally contain high levels of antioxidants and polyphenols. Polyphenols are potentially protective compounds found in plants. Studies have shown that polyphenols have multiple anti-inflammatory properties and may improve the function of cells that line blood vessels. Foods high in polyphenols include onions, turmeric, red grapes, cherries, and plums, as well as dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, and collard greens.
- Nuts and seeds. Studies have found that consuming nuts and seeds is associated with reduced markers of inflammation and a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
- Some oils and fatty fish. Olive oil, flaxseed oil, and fatty fish such as salmon, sardines, and mackerel offer healthy doses of omega-3 fatty acids, which have long been shown to reduce inflammation.
- Coffee, cocoa and green tea. The polyphenols in coffee and the flavanols in cocoa are thought to have anti-inflammatory properties. Green tea is also rich in both polyphenols and antioxidants.
Foods that can fuel inflammationThe foods that contribute to inflammation are the same ones generally considered bad for other aspects of health. These include: - Sugary sodas
- Refined carbohydrates (like white bread and pasta)
- Red meat and processed meats
- Processed foods. Certain components or ingredients used in processed foods such as the emulsifiers added to ice cream, may have effects on inflammation.
Such foods are also likely to contribute to weight gain, which is itself a risk factor for inflammation.. The key to reducing inflammation with dietTo practice anti-inflammatory eating, it's best to focus on an overall healthy diet rather than singling out individual "good" and "bad" foods. In general, a healthy diet means one that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, fish, and healthy oils, and limits food loaded with simple sugars (like soda and candy), beverages that contain high-fructose corn syrup (like juice drinks and sports drinks), and refined carbohydrates. For additional advice about ways to reduce inflammation, check out Fighting Inflammation, an Online Course from Harvard Medical School. Image: © lacaosa /Getty Images |
| | FEATURED CONTENT
1. Inflammation Explained
2. Your Immune System Explained
3. Allergies and Inflammation
4. Eczema and Asthma
5. Treatment
6. When Your Body Fights Itself
7. Fighting Off Inflammation
8. The Heart
9. The Brain
10. Metabolic Diseases
11. Cancer
12. Healthy Lifestyle Habits
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Harvard Health Publishing, 4 Blackfan Circle, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02115, USA
* Please note, we do not provide responses to personal medical concerns, nor can we supply related medical information other than what is available in our print products or website. For specific, personalized medical advice we encourage you to contact your physician.
| WEEK IN REVIEWAs one of the most popular exercise trends for more than a decade, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) clearly provides some perks. These workouts aren't just a time-efficient way to boost your fitness. Research shows that HIIT can improve key measures of cardiovascular health for all sorts of people, including those recovering from heart attacks or heart surgery. Another advantage: high-intensity effort, even for just brief bursts, may trigger the release of mood-boosting brain chemicals. As its name implies, HIIT features high-intensity (vigorous) activity done in intervals (short time periods) with brief periods of either rest or lower-intensity activity in between. Continue reading » |
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| • | Interval training: The fast track to fitness | | • | Types of interval training | | • | The benefits of interval training | | • | Safety first | | • | Getting started |
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Harvard Health Publishing, 4 Blackfan Circle, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02115, USA
* Please note, we do not provide responses to personal medical concerns, nor can we supply related medical information other than what is available in our print products or website. For specific, personalized medical advice we encourage you to contact your physician.
|  | | Step up and discover the secrets to healthy feet — heels, arches, and toes alike! Learn in comfort and privacy!
You can access your password-protected Healthy Feet course from your smartphone, laptop, tablet, or desktop computer. Designed with your time constraints in mind, our interactive online course lets you review your progress, revisit specific topics, and return and resume whenever it’s most convenient for you. |
Dear Reader, Just think of where your feet have taken you: you may have hiked countless trails, toured far-off cities, and chased endlessly after children and grandchildren. Just walking puts about 600 miles of wear and tear on the average American’s feet every year — and the mileage can add up to a host of foot problems over time. Don’t stand idly by and accept foot pain as an inevitable part of life. Enroll in the all-new Harvard Health Publishing interactive course Healthy Feet. Start today and you’ll learn from our experts how to keep your feet fit for the long haul. Our richly illustrated course explains common foot problems... what symptoms can crop up... how doctors diagnose problems... and how to relieve and prevent pain. In Healthy Feet, you’ll discover simple secrets for keeping your feet flexible, strong, and resilient. |
| | Is foot pain keeping you from the things you enjoy? Harvard’s all-new course Healthy Feet will help put the spring back in your step. | “My feet really hurt . . .” Our course to the rescue! We’ve organized our 90-plus lessons into seven easy-to-follow sections: Getting Started Your Heels, Arches, and Toes Foot Injuries Toenail and Skin Troubles Health Conditions That Affect Your Feet Pain Treatment and Surgery Next Steps
Within each section, you can expect to: find specifics on painful symptoms — and what they mean to your heels, arches, and toes. discover lifestyle changes that can help you stave off foot injuries and ailments. realize the critical importance of wearing proper-fitting footwear (learn key factors in making the right choices!). explore proven treatments that ease pain — from do-it-yourself strategies to medical procedures to surgery. learn about solutions for irritating conditions like ingrown toenails, blisters, athlete’s foot, and toenail fungus.
Each section ends with a short quiz — a perfect tool for reviewing the material. And... it’s your course to keep! Check back as often as you want at any time of day or night! |
| | Be foot-focused and find pain relief! Our interactive Harvard course shows how. | You can suffer foot pain at any age. From heels to toes, from arches to toenails, there’s a lot that that can go wrong. The human foot contains 26 bones... 33 joints... 29 muscles... and 30 ligaments. The intricately interconnected parts of your feet absorb punishment day in and day out... week after week... month upon month. The mileage adds up: By the time you reach your 50th birthday, you probably will have also reached another milestone: 75,000 miles on your feet. You might reach this milestone even earlier if you lead a foot-active lifestyle. You may already know the consequences: Achilles tendinitis... bursitis... plantar fasciitis... heel spurs... flat feet... bunions... hammertoe... Morton’s neuroma... bone fractures... tendon ruptures... But you can protect the health of your feet and know what to do when problems arise: By enrolling in Harvard’s latest online course, you’ll take a giant step toward better foot health. |
| | Harvard Medical School offers special reports on over 60 health topics.
Visit our website at http://www.health.harvard.edu to find reports of interest to you and your family.
PHONE ORDERS - please call our toll-free number: 1-877-649-9457.
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| | Copyright © 2024 by Harvard University.
Harvard Health Publications, 4 Blackfan Circle, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02115, USA
* Please note, we do not provide responses to personal medical concerns, nor can we supply related medical information other than what is available in our print products or website. For specific, personalized medical advice we encourage you to contact your physician.
  | 17 strategies (and secrets) to end the distress and aggravation of eczema, seborrhea and psoriasis.Let Harvard doctors show you how to quell and control inflammatory skin conditions effectively and with greater speed and success. | | Expert help is just 5 minutes away! | ✓ | Making peace with your skin | | ✓ | More than just a covering | | ✓ | Eczema (atopic dermatitis) | | ✓ | Seborrheic dermatitis | | ✓ | Psoriasis | | ✓ | Working with your dermatologist | | ✓ | And more from the experts at Harvard Medical School, America’s #1 medical school for research as ranked by U.S. News and World Report. |
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Dear Reader, There’s no good time for a skin problem to flare up. But why does it always seem to happen at the worst possible moment? With skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, it’s not just the physical irritation; it can be the psychological intimidation as well. It can make you self-conscious and skip even those things you enjoy most. You can halt the discomfort and end the frustration! There is much you can do to tame the inflammation that underlies today’s most common inflammatory skin diseases. As never before, there are welcome ways to calm and control these conditions. In this Harvard Medical School guide you’ll learn what causes eczema, seborrhea, and psoriasis...the distinct symptoms...how they are diagnosed...and what you can do on your own and with your doctor to manage each. You can be stressless — and sleeveless! You can be more comfortable in your skin. You can replace anxiety with assurance and worry with security. This downloadable guide offers clear direction and instruction to isolate the triggers of your skin condition, to initiate a healing skin care regimen, and to get the greatest benefit from today’s expanding treatment options and emerging new medications. Discover the steps that can make a visible difference! In this guide, a leading Harvard dermatologist shares techniques and tricks for symptom-easing skin care. You’ll find the best soaps to manage eczema (and two to avoid). You’ll learn which emollients and moisturizers are recommended for psoriasis sufferers...a portable home appliance definitely worth the investment...and the first step to take when you spot the telltale signs of seborrhea. Enjoy relief with proven tools and tips to soothe and smooth troubled skin You’ll read about two efficient topical treatments for eczema that sidestep the risks of steroids. You’ll find two recommended inexpensive over-the-counter creams to control seborrhea. You’ll learn about an enduring “underground” treatment for plaque psoriasis...how UVB phototherapy can ease severe eczema ...and three measures to prevent a future flare-up of chronic seborrhea. You’ll take full advantage of today’s breakthroughs against breakouts! The report explains the mechanics of the latest immunomodulating medications and the logic behind the new targeted biologic drugs so that, with your physician, you can select an appropriate treatment option. With expert commentary on over 20 drugs including Otezla, Soriatane, Taltz, and Cosentyx, the Report offers information on when to expect results, side effects, and more. Plus, in the guide you’ll find sound treatment protocols for psoriatic arthritis...a common but over-looked cause of eczema...and the one type of psoriasis that demands immediate medical attention. Don’t wait. Order your copy of this informative guide today! To your good health, Timothy Cole
Editorial Director, Harvard Health Publishing
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| Harvard Medical School offers special reports on over 50 health topics.
Visit our website at http://www.health.harvard.edu to find reports of interest to you and your family.
PHONE ORDERS - please call our toll-free number: 1-877-649-9457.
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| | Copyright © 2024 by Harvard University.
Harvard Health Publishing, 4 Blackfan Circle, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02115, USA
* Please note, we do not provide responses to personal medical concerns, nor can we supply related medical information other than what is available in our print products or website. For specific, personalized medical advice we encourage you to contact your physician.
 | Advantages of water-based exerciseJust like land-based exercise, water aerobics and swimming can be effective strategies for improving cardio fitness, building strength, boosting your mood, easing joint pain, sleeping better, and reducing your risk for diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer. Get your copy of Aqua Fitness | Aqua Fitness, a new report from Harvard Medical School, explains how water exercise works your whole body, lessens impact, is an ideal environment for resistance training, elimin-ates the risk of a fall, and helps keep bones strong. Plus, you’ll get six stellar workouts to get the most from your pool time. |
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In addition, water-based exercise offers some advantages you can't get on land: Gentler on your jointsYour body becomes buoyant in water. When in the water, your joints experience less impact, making the pool a welcoming environment for anyone with arthritis or joint injuries. Squats that may aggravate arthritic knees on land are often doable in water. The resistance of the water also slows down movements that can be quick and jerky on land, creating more smoothly flowing motions that are less likely to aggravate injuries. Combo workout: Cardio plus strength Because it is denser than air, water provides 12% to 14%. Even when you're doing cardio exercises like jogging in water, you're working against more resistance than if you were on land. Because of the resistance factor, water exercise is a double-duty workout—cardio and strength training. This may be why many studies have found increases in lean body mass in people participating in an aqua exercise program. Burns more calories The resistance you encounter in water also means that you burn more calories than you would on land. Works more musclesWhen you do strength training on land, you're working against gravity. So, if you're doing a biceps curl—the classic strength exercise—you're contracting your biceps as you bend your arm to lift a dumbbell, and you're continuing to work the muscle as you lower the weight again in a controlled manner, without simply dropping it. During this bicep curl, the opposing muscle in the back of your arm, the tricep, goes along for the ride, lengthening and then shortening, but it's not working against resistance. The work is all being done by the bicep. In the water, however, resistance comes into play, providing more of a challenge to the opposing muscle. Learn more about how to stay healthy with Aqua Fitness, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School. Image: wundervisuals/Getty Images |
| | FEATURED CONTENT
| • | A brief history of water-based exercise | | • | Basic types of water-based exercise | | • | The power of water |
Click here to learn more » |
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| | Copyright © 2024 by Harvard University.
Harvard Health Publishing, 4 Blackfan Circle, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02115, USA
* Please note, we do not provide responses to personal medical concerns, nor can we supply related medical information other than what is available in our print products or website. For specific, personalized medical advice we encourage you to contact your physician.
| Testing for hearing lossOne of our most important senses, hearing connects us to other people and the world around us. The loss of hearing can make some situations frustrating, or even lead to isolation and withdrawal from many pleasurable activities. Get your copy of Hearing Loss | If you think you might need a hearing checkup, you probably do. This Special Health Report, Coping with Hearing Loss: A guide to prevention and treatment, contains in-depth information on the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of hearing loss. You'll learn how to prevent hearing loss and preserve the hearing you have now. You'll also learn about the latest advances in hearing aid technology and find out which kind of hearing device may be best for you. |
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Nearly everyone experiences trouble hearing from time to time. Common causes include a buildup of earwax or fluid in the ear, ear infections, or the change in air pressure when taking off in an airplane. A mild degree of permanent hearing loss is an inevitable part of the aging process. Testing — 1, 2, 3 If you suspect that you're losing your hearing, you should see a doctor who specializes in hearing disorders. If you answer yes to any of the questions below, you might need to have your hearing tested: - Are you always turning up the volume on your TV or radio?
- Do you shy away from social situations or meeting new people because you're worried about understanding them?
- Do you get confused or feel "out of it" at restaurants or dinner parties?
- Do you ask people to repeat themselves?
- Do you miss telephone calls — or have trouble hearing on the phone when you do pick up the receiver?
- Do the people in your world complain that you never listen to them (even when you're really trying)?
What are the tests for hearing loss? Having your hearing "checked" is actually a multistep process that can involve two health practitioners: a doctor and an audiologist Your doctor will start with a medical history, examination of your ears, nose, and throat, followed by a few simple office hearing tests. These tests take just a few minutes and aren't uncomfortable at all. They involve using a tuning fork that sends vibrations into the ear to help assess your hearing loss. If the doctor's preliminary testing confirms your suspicion that your hearing is impaired, then you'll be referred for an audiological evaluation, an extensive battery of tests performed by an audiologist. The series of hearing tests performed by an audiologist usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes. This round of tests is done in a specially constructed, soundproof booth in order to shut out unwanted noise and ensure accurate results. You'll listen to sounds through each ear separately while wearing earphones. The audiologist will do more than one kind of test to evaluate if you can hear in low, mid-range, and high frequencies. Additional testing evaluates how well you hear and understand spoken words.
For more on diagnosing and treating hearing loss, read Hearing Loss: A guide to prevention and treatment, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School.
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| • | How we hear | | • | When hearing loss occurs | | • | Testing for hearing loss | | • | SPECIAL SECTION: Selecting a hearing aid | | • | Surgery for hearing loss | | • | Living with hearing loss | | • | Preventing hearing loss |
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Harvard Health Publishing, 4 Blackfan Circle, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02115, USA
* Please note, we do not provide responses to personal medical concerns, nor can we supply related medical information other than what is available in our print products or website. For specific, personalized medical advice we encourage you to contact your physician.
|  | | Discover the in-water workouts that will bring strength and stamina to your body and a smile to your face!Dear Reader, Remember jumping jacks? We all did them as kids. Now the very thought can be painful. Unless you’re in water. Natural buoyancy means your joints won’t experience the same impact. And did you know that when you jog in water, it’s a double-duty workout? Because of water’s resistance, you’re getting both cardio and strength training. Water can be an ideal place to exercise. Water-based activities — from swimming to pool walking — are great forms of full-body exercise. They strengthen your muscles and your heart, take pressure off your joints, and allow for greater range of motion. Water holds you up, so losing your balance is never a worry. Oh, and it burns more calories too. |
| Now Aqua Fitness, a new report from Harvard Medical School will show you how the power of water can energize your exercise! | Water aerobics and swimming offer advantages you can’t get on land. Not only are they gentler on your joints, but they also encourage greater flexibility and work more muscles. You know strength training involves increasing resistance. On land that means adding weights; in water, it just means taking a step deeper. And walking in water for 30 minutes burns 50% more calories than the same pace on land. Plus, water pressure on your body increases cardiac output so more nutrient-rich blood gets to your muscles. If that’s not enough, water-based exercises have the added benefit of safety. You’re not dodging cars and potholes and the weather’s always fine. Exercises have greater effect with less impact. And besides all that, being in the water is relaxing, refreshing, and yes, fun. |
| Plus, Aqua Fitness is brimming with engaging and invigorating water workouts you’ll enjoy and employ. | In this Report you’ll be introduced to six workouts that will tone your muscles, kick up calorie burn, improve cardio capacity, increase range of motion, and build endurance. You’ll discover a no-swim lap workout that will challenge your body in new ways. You’ll find a resistance workout with nine exercises to work all your major muscle groups. There’s a high-intensity interval workout that delivers essential health benefits in less time than a traditional workout. Plus, two swim workouts that let you use any strokes you like as you increase capacity and consistency. So, come on in, the water’s fine! Click here to order your copy of Aqua Fitness. See for yourself the pleasures and possibilities that await you in the pool! P.S. When you act now, you’ll save 30% from the cover price. Don’t miss out. Order today! |
| | Harvard Medical School offers special reports on over 60 health topics.
Visit our website at http://www.health.harvard.edu to find reports of interest to you and your family.
PHONE ORDERS - please call our toll-free number: 1-877-649-9457.
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| | Copyright © 2024 by Harvard University.
Harvard Health Publications, 4 Blackfan Circle, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02115, USA
* Please note, we do not provide responses to personal medical concerns, nor can we supply related medical information other than what is available in our print products or website. For specific, personalized medical advice we encourage you to contact your physician.
| Want a stronger core? Skip the sit-upsSit-ups once ruled as the way to tighter abs and a slimmer waistline. While "planks" were merely flooring. Now plank exercises, in which you assume a position and hold it, are the gold standard for working your core. While classic sit-ups and crunches have fallen out of favor. Take Harvard's Core Exercises Online Course | In this Online Course, Harvard experts bring you all the information you need to help you reverse the nagging signs of aging that can rob you of your mobility and independence. In this fascinating course, you'll learn the surprisingly simple steps to help improve your strength, flexibility, balance, and posture—and even help strengthen your bones and trim your waistline. It’s all possible thanks to a Core Exercises—the new online course from the health experts at Harvard Medical School. Step-by-step, Harvard experts clearly demonstrate the stretches and movements that can have a dramatic impact on your health and well-being—no matter what your current fitness level - and in as little as 20 minutes a day. |
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Why planks over sit-ups?One reason is that sit-ups are hard on your back. They push your curved spine against the floor and work your hip flexors, the muscles that run from the thighs to the lumbar vertebrae in the lower back. When the hip flexors are too strong or too tight, they tug on the lower spine, which can create lower back discomfort. In addition, plank exercises recruit a better balance of muscles on the front, sides, and back of the body than sit-ups, which target just a few muscles. Finally, activities of daily living such as bathing, getting out of bed, or walking, as well as sports and recreational activities, call on your muscles to work together, not in isolation. While sit-ups or crunches strengthen just a few muscle groups. Through dynamic patterns of movement, a good core workout like plank exercises helps strengthen the entire set of core muscles you use every day, leaving you with a stronger and more balanced body.
For more strategies on how to build up your core strength, check out Core Exercises, an Online Course from Harvard Medical School.
Image: JohnnyGrieg/Getty Images |
| | FEATURED CONTENT
1. The Importance of Core
2. Office Stretches
3. Home Workout
4. Standing Core
5. Floor Core
6. Pilates
7. Stability Ball
8. Bosu
9. Stretches
10. Safety Considerations
11. Workout Advice |
Click here to learn more » |
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| | Copyright © 2024 by Harvard University.
Harvard Health Publishing, 4 Blackfan Circle, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02115, USA
* Please note, we do not provide responses to personal medical concerns, nor can we supply related medical information other than what is available in our print products or website. For specific, personalized medical advice we encourage you to contact your physician.
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