U.S. public health: A look back at 2024

An end-of-year comprehensive report by the John Hopkins School of Public Health reviewed 10 major public health news events of 2024 and concluded with this headline describing the past year: “A rollercoaster for public health, with historic firsts, unwelcome comebacks, and rays of hope.”

Don’t sleep on it

With the holidays here, many Americans experience escalating stress, crowded calendars, and increased demands–leading to decreased hours of sleep and less opportunity to get that coveted “long winter’s nap” mentioned in The Night Before Christmas. Is that a problem?

Sit tight

Really? Any activity is better for your heart than sitting — even sleeping.

The headline above was the title of a Nov. 2023 research study on the relationship between health and exercise which has since been collaborated by other studies this year. The study provided some surprising, but reassuring, news about heart health and exercise. It turns out that indeed replacing sitting with as little as a few minutes of moderate exercise can definitely improve heart health — and it doesn’t take much!

What’s New on the KNEE front?

Knee deep in treatments. But which ones work?

Nearly half of adults over the age of 50 report knee pain in a one-year period with osteoarthritis (OA) being the most common cause. OA happens when the cushioning (cartilage-lining of joints) breaks down faster than your body can build it back up. Outside of knee replacement, medical treatment has focused on methods to relieve pain and stimulate the cushioning that the body’s cartilage naturally provides.

Here are just some of those headlines you may have seen or heard recently, that some doctors are saying are part of “the medical epidemic of health misinformation.”

Diving into Blue Zones

The Blue Zones — they’ve been in the news lately, especially with the recent 4-part Netflix airing of “Live To Be 100 – Secrets of the Blue Zones.” Magazine articles, podcasts, and videos have been popping up discussing virtues of the Blue Zone diet and healthy habits from PBS to Forbes and Newsweek.

So what are the Blue Zones?

A reminder to check in on your heart

Since February is National Heart Health Month, it seems fitting to focus on what’s new for our hard-working, blood-pumping muscle and one common condition that makes those hearts work even harder: hypertension (high blood pressure). That is why the announcement about a drug that could treat high blood pressure with a twice-a-year injection is big news.

In fact, the American Heart Association (AHA) listed research on this drug, Zilebesirin, as number one on its annual list of top advances in cardiovascular disease research for 2023. The announcement, though, is somewhat of the good news/bad news variety.

New weight-loss drugs hit market with concerns

For the past several months the headlines have heralded the news about weight loss drugs containing semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy). Their popularity has skyrocketed being featured on tv and the internet with endorsements by doctors and celebrities. As one local pharmacist I spoke with said Wegovy is “flying off the shelves.”

Shoot for the stars in 2024

3…2…1…Happy New Year! After all the bottles pop and the ball drops, the new year is already underway. But what if by the time you read this, a New Year’s resolution has not yet been made. It is not too late, so do not give up!

Should older residents worry about getting the Covid and flu vaccines at the same time?

In a January public communication from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it was explained that one of their real-time vaccine safety monitoring studies — referred to as the Vaccine Safety Datalink — had picked up a small and uncertain risk of stroke for older adults who received a dose of Pfizer’s bivalent Covid-19 vaccine and a high-dose or adjuvanted flu shot on the same day.

At-home broken-bone fall prevention

To my Faithful Readers during the past two decades, due in large part to my personal family problems and to my fairly recent traumatic multi broken femur fall, I now conclude the writing of my last H & W Column. At this time, however, I do find it pertinent to advise all of you about some very important tips (from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center) on how to avoid these damaging and unnecessary falls.

Skin cancer problems: Detecting them before it’s too late

Remember that tanning is the result of skin damage caused by earlier mutations to the skin! In continuation of Part 1 on Skin Cancers, it is critical to know what the three kinds of skin cancers are in their order of severity and popularity.

Skin cancer: The misconceptions of belief in tanning the skin

If you grew up in the 50s and 60s, you might have enjoyed the challenge of developing an intense dark-tan look added to your skin. You probably even thought that this “healthy tan” made you look like Annette Funicello or Sandra Dee from the Beach Boys’ movies. Unfortunately, like the unhealthy aspect of smoking during those same years, there was “no warning sign” posted anywhere informing you otherwise.

The 8 best superfoods to help seniors live long lives

The National Council on Aging (NCOA), in its April article on older adults’ unique nutritional needs for health excellence, sites their choice of 8 superfoods.

“The term (superfoods) refers to whole, minimally processed foods that are nutrient dense. Most superfoods are plant-based, but not all.” The NCOA continues, “What’s one of the secrets to aging well? It starts with the foods we put on our plate every day. A balanced diet, filled with superfoods, can help older adults maintain healthy cognitive (thinking process) function and strong bones, and even prevent chronic (long-lasting) disease.” These foods contain healthy vitamins, fats, minerals, antioxidants and other compounds that have been found to promote good health and prevent illness and disease.

Ten of the most valuable fruits you should eat weekly

According to EatingWell, here are 10 fruits packed with a huge amount of health benefits! Backed by researchers and other experts in the dietary field, the following fruits are known to increase your fiber count, as they boost your body with crucial antioxidants and vitamins.

Stress relief & laughter

These days, most of us are suffering from an enormous amount of stress. Let’s, therefore, take a look at one enormous relief treatment for this uncontrolled anxiety. Mayo Clinic, in its Healthy Lifestyle/Stress Management article, states the following mostly unknown information about the benefits of laughter. While a good sense of humor can’t cure all health issues, the positive effects of laughter appear to be increasing in number!

Self-care

Amidst all of the turmoil being felt in the world today, seniors have to be ready to encounter any physical and emotional difficulties that might arise for them. Everyday Health and Dr. Travis Westbrook, PhD, a Wexner Medical Center, Ohio State University Clinical Psychologist gives us advice.

He states “Sometimes we really have to ‘lay our foot on the gas pedal’ when it comes to taking care of ourselves.” The following are 11 tips from Dr. Westbrook and other experts to help us all weather changes in the spring climate and our health.

The value of HOPE, part II

We can all HOPE for outdoor temperatures to indicate an early Spring this year. This is the meaning of HOPE that something will happen, as we usually have a good reason to think that it might. Sometimes, however, the HOPEFUL situation may seem more unlikely to occur.

Beating the winter blahs

With our remaining daily fewer hours of sunlight, comes the chilly and windy gray weather that can bring on “winter blues.” While we appear to have conquered half of our seasonal Midwest winter climate, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) remind us of the usual sad and less energized feelings, accompanied by less interest in activities, that can alter a person’s mood at this time.

The value of personal relationships and the dangers of loneliness

Wall Street Journal’s (WSJ) January article on “The Real Secret to Lifelong Fulfillment” explains the following historic findings. Begun in 1938, the Harvard Study of Adult Development has tracked its original group number of 724 men and more than 1300 male and female descendants over three generations. During that period of time, thousands of questions and hundreds of measurements have been asked to find out, as individuals age “What really keeps people healthy and happy?”

How to make new year’s resolutions that stick

So just how successful are New Year’s resolutions? According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, the tradition dates back more than 4,000 years. However, the Society for Personality and Social Psychology states: One report of as few as 9 percent of U.S. people achieve their goals by year’s end. Though a few researchers, who in recent times conducted studies on the subject, have discovered more optimistic outcomes.

Trying to lose weight? Break these bad habits

For those of you who have committed to the New Year’s Resolution of losing eeight in 2023, here are suggestions to make the arduous weeks ahead, a little less stressful and more successful.

Lainey Younkin, M.S., RD, LDN with a review by Victoria Seaver, M.S., RD have recommended ditching drastic diets and switching to 6 more successful habits to see your scale’s numbers move.

Five healthy eating habits for the holidays

Here is The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recipe for helping all of us to stay on track for eating healthy during December, especially for those of us who have diabetes. Here then are 5 tips to meet the challenge of keeping your diabetes meal plan safe from seasonal interference.

How to control arthritis and its pain as we age

Healthline.com explains that there are more than 100 different types of arthritis. The three main ones being osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Each type may develop differently, but all can cause pain and joint deformity and movement loss. Age, family genes, sex (women have larger numbers of these diseases) often do not allow the prevention of arthritis.

Joints and 5 common types of arthritis, part 1

Having just recently discussed this column’s Two-Part Autoimmune Diseases (AD), I thought it crucial to discuss one particular body location affected by this (AD) nemesis: JOINTS. A total of five forms of widespread arthritis are listed below, including 3 forms of non-autoimmune arthritis and 2 forms of auto-immune arthritis or AD.

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