One factor I really like about enhancing the Ask Well column is the camaraderie of it. Each week we reply a well being query: Why am I so congested on a regular basis? (I’ve puzzled that, too!) Why does my sleep worsen as I age? (I’m proper there with you.) Is my espresso behavior in want of an intervention? (Pour me one other whereas we determine it out.)
After I survey our inbox, I’m amazed at what is available in — questions that cowl the thrill, agonies, confusions and vulnerabilities of being an individual. And fortuitously for us all, we get to hunt out the solutions.
Listed here are 10 of the preferred well being questions of 2023.
1. Is it dangerous to scrub your hair day-after-day?
The reply relies on your hair texture, how oily it’s, whether or not it’s color-treated and extra.
“Whereas it could appear that getting the scalp squeaky clear and with none oils is perfect,” stated Dr. Murad Alam, a dermatologist at Northwestern College, “remember that the scalp is a dwelling a part of your physique, and never a dinner plate in your dishwasher.”
2. Is arthritis avoidable?
Ache, stiffness and swelling of the joints are frequent complaints for older adults — and they are often the primary signal of a dreaded analysis: arthritis. This umbrella time period describes greater than 100 situations that trigger irritation within the joints. However it doesn’t should be an inevitable results of getting old. Listed here are some steps you can take to reduce your risk.
4. Can a nap make up for a nasty night time of sleep?
Possibly you stayed up too late doomscrolling, otherwise you whipped your sheets right into a twister replaying an uncomfortable dialog. Both manner, you’re questioning: Will a noon nap make up for these valuable hours of misplaced shut-eye? The reply is difficult, we discovered. Right here’s what naps can — and can’t — do for your health.
5. Why am I so congested on a regular basis?
So that you get up each morning all stuffed up and also you wish to know what’s occurring. Is it that chilly you (and everyone else) appear to have? The anatomy of your nostril? Allergy symptoms? Continual congestion is difficult to deal with, specialists say, as a result of any variety of issues may very well be inflicting it. However there are some ways to find relief.
6. What ought to I eat or drink when I’ve a chilly?
If that stuffiness is certainly attributable to a chilly, flip to meals and drinks which can be hydrating, nourishing and comforting (hey, hen noodle soup!). Here’s a look at how diet may also help battle your an infection, together with what meals and drinks to keep away from.
7. Why does it turn out to be more durable to sleep as I age?
As a flagrant tosser and turner, I’ve observed that the older I get, the much less possible I’m to get up refreshed. It turns on the market are medical causes for that: An getting old mind, sure well being situations, hormones and life-style modifications may all be the trigger. The excellent news is that sleepless nights are not a fate you have to live with.
8. Why do I get constipated once I journey?
Any exercise that interrupts your common consuming or sleeping schedule dangers backing you up. Dehydration, immobility, altering time zones and an altered food regimen are sometimes in charge. Right here’s how to get things running a little more smoothly if you’re out and about.
9. Do I really want all these skincare merchandise?
Should you spend any time on the personal-care facet of social media, you’ll see video after video of influencers dousing themselves in a complete drugs cupboard’s value of merchandise. However simpler is often better on the subject of taking good care of your face. Right here’s what dermatologists say you really want.
10. How a lot espresso is an excessive amount of espresso?
Elevate your hand for those who’re consuming espresso whereas studying this. Preserve it raised for those who’re in your second (or third or fourth) cup of the day. Espresso incorporates 1000’s of chemical compounds that could be linked to good well being. However it’s additionally a serious supply of caffeine, which in extra may cause points like jitteriness, anxiousness, nausea and hassle sleeping. Whereas specialists say that harmful unintended effects from coffee-drinking are uncommon, it’s nonetheless attainable to overdo it. Right here’s how to know if you’ve poured yourself too much.
Have extra questions for our well being journalists? Ask Well.
