Wellness Readers Digest | Health & Wellness Tips for Everyday Living

Age-related hearing loss, also called presbycusis, is the slow, gradual loss of hearing that happens to many people as they get older. It usually affects both ears, starts with high-pitched sounds and speech in noisy rooms, and is treated mainly with hearing aids, including over-the-counter hearing aids for mild to moderate loss. It cannot be reversed, but treating it early can help you stay connected, safer and more independent. Because the change is so slow, family members often notice it first. This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Key takeaways Roughly one in three people aged 65 to 74 has hearing loss, and nearly half of people over 75 have difficulty hearing. Early signs include asking people to repeat themselves, trouble following group conversations and turning the TV up louder than others like. Adults 18 and older with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss can buy over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids without a prescription or exam. Heari...

Hypothyroidism means your thyroid makes too little hormone, so your body slows down: you may feel tired, cold, constipated and heavier. Hyperthyroidism means it makes too much, so your body speeds up: you may lose weight, feel shaky, sweat and notice a racing heart. A simple blood test for TSH is usually the first step to tell them apart, and both conditions are very treatable. Thyroid problems are among the most common long-term hormone conditions, and they often sit alongside other common chronic diseases that build slowly. This guide compares the two conditions, explains the main causes and tests, and lists the treatments by generic name. Key takeaways Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) slows body functions; hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) speeds them up. Hashimoto's disease is the most common cause of an underactive thyroid, and Graves' disease is the most common cause of an overactive one. A high TSH usually points to hypothyroidism, and a low TSH usually po...

Grief is the normal response to losing someone or something you love, and almost any reaction, from numbness and anger to guilt, exhaustion and waves of sadness, can be part of it. There is no fixed timeline: for most people the pain becomes less intense over months, even though it can return without warning. Grief only becomes a medical concern when it stays intense and disabling for a long time, which doctors call prolonged grief disorder. Key takeaways Shock, numbness, sadness, anger, guilt and tiredness are all common after a loss, and they often come and go in waves. The "five stages" are a description, not a checklist: you may skip some, feel them out of order or cycle back. Prolonged grief disorder is diagnosed only when intense grief lasts at least 12 months in adults under the US diagnostic manual (6 months under the WHO system) and disrupts daily life. In grief, self-esteem is usually intact; in depression, low mood is nearly constant and often comes with fe...

Most adults need somewhere between 1,600 and 3,000 calories a day. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans , estimated needs run from 1,600 to 2,400 calories per day for women and 2,000 to 3,000 for men. Where you land in that range depends on your age, sex, height, weight and how much you move. Any number you get from a chart or calculator is a starting estimate, not a fixed rule. Your real-life results matter more than the math. This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Key takeaways Adult women typically need about 1,600 to 2,400 calories a day and adult men about 2,000 to 3,000, based on federal estimates. Your basal metabolic rate (the energy you burn at rest) makes up roughly 60% to 70% of the calories you use each day. Calorie needs generally drop as you age, mostly because you lose muscle. A deficit of about 500 calories a day is a common starting point for gradual weight loss, but the old "3,500 calories per pound" rule doe...

Rosacea is a long-term inflammatory skin condition that causes flushing, lasting redness, visible blood vessels and sometimes acne-like bumps, mostly on the central face. It has no cure, but you can usually control it by avoiding your triggers, using gentle skin care and following treatment from a doctor or dermatologist. According to Cleveland Clinic , rosacea affects more than 14 million people in the U.S., most often women and people with fair skin, and symptoms usually start after age 30. This guide explains how to spot it, which type you may have, what tends to set it off and what treatment looks like. This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Key takeaways Rosacea is a chronic (long-lasting) skin condition with flare-ups that come and go. Treatment controls symptoms but does not cure it. There are four recognized types: redness with visible vessels, acne-like bumps, thickened skin and eye involvement. Common triggers include sun, heat, cold, stre...