HealthyLife Articles

Category: Uncategorized

Are Your Ears Ringing?

WELL-BEING

Ringing in the ears, known as tinnitus, is not a disease. It’s a symptom of something wrong with your body’s hearing system. And, it may not be “ringing” at all. Some people hear sounds like roaring, hissing, clicking or buzzing.

Experts think that tinnitus happens when certain nerve cells are out of balance. This makes a person hear a sound that isn’t really there.

Why does it happen?

Tinnitus can be caused by many different things. Some possible causes include:

* Certain medicines – see a doctor right away if this happens. Tinnitus can be a serious side effect.

* High blood pressure

* Being around loud noises

* Sinus infections

* Brain injuries

* Injuries to the neck or head

* . Anemia

* Thyroid problems

* Autoimmune diseases

* Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders

Sometimes a person has tinnitus without being able to identify an obvious cause.

Can I make it stop?

There is no cure for all types of tinnitus. But, if your doctor can find out what’s causing it, there may be a treatment to resolve the issue. For instance, you might need treatment for high blood pressure or a sinus or ear infection.

Some people have tinnitus because they also have some hearing loss. That’s why using a hearing aid may be helpful in these cases.

If there’s no obvious cause, other things may help. They include:

* Wearable sound generators. These small devices fit inside the ear. They create a soft, pleasant noise that helps you ignore the sound of tinnitus.

* White noise machines or sound machines. Some people notice tinnitus more at night. This is probably because when you’re lying down in a quiet room, the tinnitus is easier to hear. For these times, you may benefit from a machine that plays noise while you sleep to override the tinnitus sound.

* Antidepressants or anti-anxiety medicines. Some people have severe tinnitus that interferes with their life. Tinnitus can cause anxiety or depression. In these cases, medicine to treat these health conditions can help.

If you notice sounds or ringing in your ears, see your doctor. They may be able to help you find a solution that improves your quality of life.

Sources: American Tinnitus Association, National Institutes of Health

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Healthy Aging

Mature Health: Over Age 50

Physical activity is a cornerstone of healthy aging. Studies show people who exercise regularly live longer and may live better, without pain or disability.

If you exercise on a regular basis, good for you! Keep it up! If not, now is the time to start. Check with a doctor before you begin an exercise program. Choose activities you can do and enjoy. Start out slowly and progress slowly. Some exercise is better than no exercise.

Research shows that eating a Mediterranean-style diet has both physical and mental health benefits that support healthy aging. This eating style includes plenty of vegetables and fruit, whole grains, healthy fats, more fish and less processed foods.

Staying mentally active is linked to physical and mental health and may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Find ways to lower stress and increase emotional well-being.

Exercise your memory and your mind. Continue to learn new things. Read. Join a club.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
10 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Midlife

SELF-CARE CORNER

Are your best years ahead? A national survey of women between the ages of 35 and 49, sponsored in partnership with the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health and Teva Women’s Health shows that more than three-quarters of women in midlife say the best years are ahead, not behind. Yet midlife is notoriously known as a time of crisis. Women’s health expert, Dr. Judith Reichman, tells how women are seizing the midlife moment and making new choices related to their health.

If you have not already joined the ranks of women enjoying midlife, here are 10 ways to get the most out of these years:

1. Don’t obsess about those 8 glasses of water each day. Drink when you are thirsty and when you are exercising briskly. Too much water reduces the impact of electrolytes and strains the bladder.

2. Focus on family bonding. Often midlife crises for women are not an age phenomenon but rather due to the very significant changes that occur in the lives of our growing-up children and our maturing (we hope) partners.

3. Spend more time with your partner. Don’t wait until the nest is already empty. This is the time to rediscover why you fell in love in the first place.

4. Rev up the love life. You are free to go on dates with your partner-real dates!

5. Periodically reevaluate your choice of birth control. The second-highest rates of unplanned pregnancies occur in midlife.

6. Worry more about you. PMS gets worse with age, and work and family responsibilities continue to rise, so it is important to establish de-stressing routines, including setting aside time to exercise and visit with friends.

7. Cut down on salt, reduce your caloric intact by 100-200 calories per day and boost your calcium and vitamin D intake. By midlife, most women are at high risk for high blood pressure and heart disease. Cutting salt can save your life and set up your family for healthy habits as they get older.

8. Embrace your desire to sleep. Now is the time to develop good sleep habits to prepare you for the next stage of life as hormonal changes during menopause increase sleep troubles.

9. Do something you thought you would never have time for. Take up a new hobby or go back to an activity you love-knitting, dancing, learning, or volunteering. Do something that makes you feel good about yourself.

10. See your doctor. You have always made sure everyone else in the family gets a yearly check-up, but what about you? Schedule those yearly health screenings and don’t neglect your own health.

Judith Reichman, MD, is an attending physician in gynecology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and author of Slow Your Clock Down: The Complete Guide to a Healthy, Younger You.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Avoid The Aches And Pains Of Technology

SELF-CARE CORNER

You can prevent BlackBerry thumb and text neck-new ailments that came with devices such as smartphones and BlackBerries and their small keyboards, advises the American Chiropractic Association.

* Avoid typing for more than 3 minutes without a break.

* Keep messages short and simple; abbreviate.

* Practice using other fingers for typing, especially when thumbs hurt.

* Don’t slouch when texting.

* Keep wrists upright, straight and close to the body when holding a device.

* Don’t bend your neck excessively when texting; tuck your chin in instead and look down.

* Turn your devices off on the weekends (or at least on Sunday).

* Get outside, exercise and enjoy nature too. Balance is key to staying healthy.

For more tips on proper use of technology and good health, visitwww.TechnoHealthy.com.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Cold, Flu, Or Allergy?

SELF-CARE CORNER

You’re feeling pretty lousy. You’ve got sniffles, sneezing, and a sore throat. Is it a cold, flu, or allergies? It can be hard to tell them apart because they share so many symptoms. But understanding the differences will help you choose the best treatment, advises the NIH News in Health.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Hey, Want To Improve Your Balance?

SELF-CARE CORNER

Everyone wants to prevent falls and improve balance, at any age. NIH in Health offers these daily exercises to steady your balance (and you could do these while talking on the phone or at work too):

* Stand on one leg at a time for a minute. Slowly increase the time. Try to balance with your eyes closed or without holding on to anything.

* Stand on your toes for a count of 10, and then rock back on your heels for a count of 10.

* Move your hips in a big circle to the left, and then to the right. Do not move your shoulders or feet. Repeat 5 times.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Non-Drug Options For Chronic Pain

SELF-CARE CORNER

Pain that lasts a long time or is ongoing is called chronic pain. A variety of conditions may lead to chronic pain, including arthritis, fibromyalgia, past injuries, or migraine headaches.

Always speak to your doctor about any natural remedies you wish to try and any herbs or supplements you take. Not all natural treatments are safe for everyone, including if you are pregnant. Some can interact with medicines. Your doctor can help you find options that will be best for you. The following options are alternative, non-drug treatments that may be helpful.

Acupuncture

This Chinese medicine practice involves the placement of thin, small needles into the surface of the skin at various points on the body called meridians. Acupuncturists should be certified or licensed and should use sterile needles. Some studies suggest acupuncture may help with osteoarthritis pain, lower back pain and headaches.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a type of meditation in which you focus on the present moment only. You calmly acknowledge feelings and thoughts that arise and go back to thinking about the present moment. This treatment may be helpful for people with chronic pain.

Herbs and dietary supplements

Various natural supplements may be helpful for chronic pain.

* Omega-3 fatty acids, gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and the herb thunder god vine may help with rheumatoid arthritis pain.

* Butterbur, feverfew, magnesium, riboflavin and coenzyme Q10 may help prevent migraines.

* Vitamin D supplements may reduce pain in people with fibromyalgia who have low vitamin D levels.

* Devil’s claw and white willow bark taken by mouth may be helpful for back pain.

* Cayenne, comfrey, Brazilian arnica and lavender essential oil may help back pain when used on the skin (do not take these by mouth).

Massage

Massage therapists use their hands to rub or knead the muscles and joints of the body. Some studies show that massage therapy can help with neck pain. Massage may also help reduce pain from osteoarthritis.

Source: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Simple Ways To Lower Cholesterol

SELF-CARE CORNER

You can’t feel or see high cholesterol, but it’s nothing to brush aside. People with high cholesterol have twice the risk of heart disease as those who have normal levels. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 1 out of 3 American adults has high cholesterol – and less than half of them get the treatment they need.

A simple blood test, done at least every five years, can tell you if you have high cholesterol. If your levels are high, your doctor may put you on a cholesterol-lowering program. This may include medicine, but often includes changes you can make at home to be healthier.

Lifestyle changes are an important way to lower high cholesterol and cut your risk of heart disease. Even if your cholesterol isn’t high, these changes can help you keep it at a healthy level. The American Academy of Family Physicians says people should:

*Avoid smoking or quit if you do smoke.Smoking lowers your good cholesterol. Talk to your doctor if you need help quitting tobacco.

*Work toward a healthy weight.Losing just a few pounds can lower bad cholesterol and triglycerides.

*Get active.Exercise can raise HDL (good) cholesterol and lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides. Try for 30 minutes of activity, 5 days per week.

*Get more fiber in your diet.Soluble fiber, found in oats, legumes, and fruits and vegetables, may help lower cholesterol.

*Eat healthy fats.Avoid saturated and trans fats found in many processed, fried and animal foods. Focus on healthy fats found in olive oil, fish, avocados, seeds and nuts.

*Eat more vegetarian proteins.Beans, nuts, peas, soy and lentils are healthy proteins that don’t have the saturated fats found in most meat.

*Limit foods with cholesterol.Healthy people should eat less than 300 milligrams of cholesterol per day. People with heart disease may need to eat less than 200 milligrams a day.

*Ask about supplements.Some natural supplements can help lower cholesterol in addition to making healthy diet and exercise changes. These include:

– Plant sterols and stanols

– Omega-3 fatty acids (usually found in fish oil supplements)

– Red yeast rice

Always ask your doctor before taking any natural supplements, especially if you have health conditions or take any medicines.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Too Loud

SELF-CARE CORNER

Noise-induced hearing loss is the only type of hearing loss you can prevent. If you understand the hazards of noise and how to practice good hearing health, you can protect your hearing for life. Here’s how:

* Know which noises can cause damage (those at or above 85 decibels, such as a motorcycle).

* If you can’t reduce the noise or protect yourself from it, move away from the source.

* Wear earplugs or other protective devices when involved in a loud activity, even Zumba class (activity-specific earplugs and earmuffs are available at hardware and sporting goods stores).

* Be alert to hazardous noises in the environment.

* Protect the ears of children who are too young to protect their own.

* Have your hearing tested if you think you might have hearing loss.

About sound

Sound is measured in units called decibels. Sounds of less than 75 decibels, even after long exposure, are unlikely to cause hearing loss. But long or repeated exposure to sounds at or above 85 decibels can cause hearing loss. The louder the sound, the shorter the amount of time it takes for hearing loss to happen.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Allergies Annoying You?

SELF-CARE CORNER

A runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes… allergy symptoms can be miserable and common. More than 50 million Americans have allergies.

People can get allergies at different times of the year. This is because different allergy triggers come and go as the seasons change:

* If you have allergies in the spring, you may be allergic to tree pollen.

* People who notice allergy symptoms in the summer are usually allergic to grass or weed pollen.

* Those who notice their allergies getting worse in late summer to fall are probably reacting to ragweed pollen.

* Allergy symptoms related to wet, rainy weather are often due to mold.

* If you have allergies year-round, you may be allergic to something indoors like dust mites or pet dander.

What does allergy medicine do?

There are many medicines available today that treat allergies. Each one works in a different way and can help people with different types of allergies. With the help of your doctor, you can find a solution that helps control your allergy symptoms. This can include:

* Antihistamines. They stop histamine, which is a chemical that the body releases when it is exposed to an allergen. These can help tackle all types of allergy symptoms, from runny nose to itching. Some antihistamines are pills, and others are nose sprays.

* Nasal (nose) sprays. Some allergy nose sprays contain an antihistamine ingredient. Others may contain a steroid to help stop swelling and inflammation, which causes a runny nose and sneezing. Nose sprays can help shut down the allergic reaction that starts in the nose.

* Eye drops. Eye drops for allergies are helpful for people who notice itchy or watery eyes. They don’t usually help with sneezing or other allergy symptoms.

* Immunotherapy. Includes allergy shots or small tablets placed under the tongue. These treatments expose the body to a small amount of the allergen over time. Your healthcare provider will have to give these to you.

With all the treatments available today, you don’t have to live with miserable allergy symptoms. But talk with your healthcare provider before you try any new medicines.

Sources: American Academy of Family Physicians, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026