Ì첩ÌåÓý

News briefs

ÌýImage: © AlexRaths/Getty Images

Urgent care clinics are convenient when you don't feel well and can't see your doctor right away. But a study published online July 16, 2018, by JAMA Internal Medicine found that people who go to such clinics may be more likely to be given prescriptions for unnecessary antibiotics. Researchers analyzed 156 million insurance claims from 2014 and found that 46% of people treated at urgent care centers for viral conditions � like a bad cold, the flu, or viral bronchitis � were prescribed antibiotics. The problem: antibiotics kill only bacteria, not viruses. The study underscores the need to ask health care workers if you have a viral or a bacterial condition before you take antibiotics.

News briefs

ÌýImage: © DNY59/Getty Images

If you've tried to buy medications by phone or on the Internet but received an FDA warning letter instead, beware. The FDA warns that criminals are forging these notes, possibly with the goal of later getting your money. The letters look official, like they're from the FDA or the Federal Trade Commission, and they claim that the FDA has identified drug violations based on a review of your parcel and social media accounts. Don't be fooled. The FDA doesn't send letters to consumers. So why are you getting one? The FDA says it may be because you're contacting an illegal online pharmacy. "Many of these illegal websites appear legitimate, and it can be hard to tell the difference," notes FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb. They may try to sell your personal information or charge you for products you never ordered. And scams aren't the only risks. Illegal pharmacies typically sell counterfeit â€� and unsafe â€� medicines. If you believe you've received a fake warning letter, email the FDA at [email protected]. Send information about the letter or a scan or photo of the document.

Research we're watching

ÌýImage: © RoBeDeRo/Getty Images

Good news for urban dwellers: the heart benefits of your workout aren't canceled out by health risks caused by car exhaust fumes in the city air you breathe. A study in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that regular workouts still reduce the risk of heart attack even when people are regularly exposed to moderate to high levels of air pollution caused by traffic. Air pollution is known to raise risk for heart attacks as well as respiratory problems, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Researchers studied data on more than 51,000 people ages 50 to 65, looking at how often the people exercised and other lifestyle factors, as well as their exposure to the traffic pollutant nitrogen dioxide. Over a period of nearly 18 years, nearly 3,000 of these people had a first heart attack, and 324 had a recurrent heart attack.

People who lived in areas with higher nitrogen dioxide levels had a 17% higher risk of having a first heart attack and a 39% higher risk of a recurrent heart attack, compared with those who had low exposure to traffic pollution. But regular exercise appeared to reduce that risk. Active participants had a 15% lower rate of initial heart attacks, regardless of air quality. So, even if the air you are breathing is less than ideal, regular workouts help protect your heart.

Lost your spark and gusto? These strategies can help you recharge.

Everyone has the occasional low-energy day when you are easily fatigued. Often the feeling passes, and you bounce back to your regular robust self. But if you struggle with a constant lack of energy, you may have a problem deep within your cells.

Mitochondria are the power source inside all your body's cells. These tiny structures fuel the body by producing molecules called adenosine triphosphate or ATP. However, as you grow older, your body has fewer mitochondria.

Being more social is linked with greater health benefits, but what if you're not comfortable in the company of others?

ÌýImage: © Robert Kirk/Getty Images

Research continues to stress the relationship between social connection and long-term health. Interacting regularly with other people appears to lower your risk for heart disease, depression, and early death.

But what if being social is not who you are? People who are introverts � that is, they prefer time alone over group outings � are often at a disadvantage when it comes to social engagement.

Here is why you should invest in this fitness technology.

ÌýImage: © Nastasic/Getty Images

There is a lot of technology that tracks your health, from counting steps to counting burned calories. One of the most valuable fitness tools though is a heart rate monitor, which tells you how many beats your heart takes per minute.

"Whether you're just getting started with an exercise routine or are a committed fitness enthusiast, tracking your heart rate can help you maintain the necessary moderate level of intensity for optimal benefits without worrying about doing too much or too little," says Dr. Aaron L. Baggish, associate director of the Cardiovascular Performance Program at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.

In the journals

ÌýImage: © Martin Barraud/Getty Images

More reasons to take good care of your eyes: it may protect against cognitive decline and keep you safe behind the wheel, according to two studies published online June 28, 2018, by JAMA Ophthalmology.

In the first study, researchers looked at almost 560,000 adults ages 65 and older and found they had 9% fewer serious car crashes in the year following cataract surgery. Besides causing blurry vision, cataracts can intensify the glare from headlights and sunlight, which can make driving dangerous, according to the researchers.

In the journals

People who feel younger than their actual age also may have brains that age more slowly, suggests a small study published online June 7, 2018, by Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience.

Scientists took brain scans of 68 healthy older adults, ages 59 to 84, to measure the volume of gray matter in various regions. The participants then answered surveys to determine if they felt older or younger than their age and to measure their cognitive abilities and perceptions of overall health.

News briefs

If your doctor offers a way to monitor your chronic health condition via computer, consider giving it a try. A Harvard study that was published online April 23, 2018, by the Journal of General Internal Medicine found that people who had "virtual" office visits over the Internet were able to control their blood pressure just as well as people who had in-person follow-up office visits � and they used fewer health care services over all. Researchers compared the health outcomes of two groups. One group included about 900 people with high blood pressure who had in-office follow-up visits. The other group included about 900 people who had "virtual" follow-up visits, which meant they used a website to enter blood pressure readings, track their medications and side effects, and ask questions; their doctors determined whether to follow up by computer or phone or to schedule in an in-office visit. Over the course of six months, blood pressures improved for people in both groups. But people in the virtual care group averaged about one fewer office visit than people in the other group, and they had fewer emergency room visits and hospitalizations over all. The authors say the results support using virtual follow-up visits for other chronic diseases. Indeed, many health care providers already are doing so, including one group in the study � Massachusetts General Hospital, which uses virtual care to follow 65 different kinds of chronic disease.

Image:Ìý© AndreyPopov | GettyImages

News briefs

ÌýImage: © mheim3011/Getty Images

Not getting enough exercise? You're not alone, suggests a report published online June 28, 2018, by the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics. Researchers looked at health survey information collected from all 50 states and the District of Columbia from 2010 to 2015. The results: Among adults ages 18 to 64 years old, just 27% of men and 19% of women met the guidelines for both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities. The numbers were a little higher for men and women who worked, and lower if they were unemployed. The level of activity also varied by state, with 32% of men and women in Colorado meeting both activity goals, compared with just 13.5% in Mississippi. The takeaway: We all need at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity exercise (like brisk walking), and muscle-strengthening exercise twice a week. If you're not meeting these goals, consider ways to increase your exercise activity. Even a few extra minutes per day will get you closer to your goals and better health.