Staying Healthy Archive

ARCHIVED CONTENT: As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date each article was posted or last reviewed. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. 

Q. I have started noticing more coconut oil at the grocery store and have heard it is better for you than a lot of other oils. Is that true?

Of course, observing safe driving habits is a common-sense practice that can help you avoid injury, but these driving guidelines can help protect your brain as well.

News briefs

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What's the secret to living longer? A Harvard study published online April 30, 2018, by Circulation suggests that it may come down to five healthy habits: eating a healthy diet, exercising daily, keeping a healthy body weight, drinking alcohol only in moderation, and not smoking. Researchers combed through information from two large studies that tracked more than 123,000 men and women for about three decades. Scientists estimated that life expectancy for study participants (at age 50) was 79 for women and 75 for men, if they didn't maintain healthy habits. But if they adopted all five habits, life expectancy at age 50 jumped to 93 for women and 87 for men. And following even one healthy habit was associated with a lower risk for dying young. The study is only observational and doesn't prove that healthy habits extend your life. But the findings build on similar research. "It's never too late to make positive lifestyle changes. Even for those who are 70 or older, following a healthy lifestyle such as eating a healthy diet and being physically active can add more years to life," says Dr. Frank Hu, senior author of the study and chair of the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Eating five servings of fruits and vegetables can go a long way to protecting against heart disease and cancer.

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We've been told the importance of eating fruits and vegetables ever since childhood, and yet we still tend to ignore this nutritional advice. In fact, a CDC survey found that only 18% of adults eat the recommended five daily servings of fruits and vegetables.

"The main reason older men have trouble reaching this amount is lack of awareness," says Vasanti Malik, a research scientist in the Department of Nutrition of Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health. "They are not always engaged in their nutrition or aware of the impact fruits and vegetables can have on their health."

On call

Q. I am 65 years old and in good health, and I see my doctor once a year for an annual exam. Should I request a stress test at my next physical?

A. Although heart disease is common in men, routine cardiac stress testing is not recommended for otherwise healthy men. It may seem counterintuitive not to look for heart disease in healthy men, especially when many people know someone who unexpectedly had a heart attack or even died suddenly from a heart problem. Yet, stress testing does not accurately identify men at risk for sudden cardiac death.

Ask the doctors

Q. Should pregnant or breastfeeding women and their children use sunscreen?

A. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that people avoid applying sunscreen to the skin of babies younger than 6 months of age, and instead shield them from the sun, keeping them in the shade as much as possible. It's also a good idea to protect them from the sun using clothing, hats, and sunglasses.

Simple everyday objects can result in cuts, bruises, and broken bones.

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Everyday objects from pet supplies to kitchen appliances may seem innocuous, but they can cause injuries, including bone breaks, cuts, and burns. Doctors who treat these injuries often see some common themes. We asked Dr. Tamara Rozental, an associate professor of orthopedic surgery at Harvard Medical School, about what injuries she frequently sees from common items — and ways to stay safe.

Dog leashes

"I see many injuries from dog leashes. People often get tangled and pulled over," Dr. Rozental says. In other instances, fingers get bent, broken, or crushed when people get their hand stuck in the leash and the dog pulls.

Research we're watching

The FDA is warning consumers not to buy in to the idea that a pill can protect your skin from the sun.

In a statement issued May 22, FDA officials said they've found companies selling pills that are labeled as dietary supplements and that claim to protect skin from the sun.