HARVARD interesting newsletters....

 

Discover this KEY fitness trend that can help you easily carry out daily activities like the younger you! Dear Reader, This may be some of the best news to come along in a long time if you’re 50, 60, 70, or older. Aging no longer means your back, hips, knees, feet, shoulders, or hands have to hurt when you bend over, twist, rotate, reach up, or get up or down! And it no longer means you can’t carry out everyday activities like you used to do. Even if you noticed that you can’t carry that big jug of detergent anymore... Even if you can’t walk with the steadiness and balance you once had... Even if getting out of bed or reaching up into your closet is more challenging... It doesn’t have to be that way. You can reverse the weaknesses in muscles that develop with age thanks to a new trend in exercise called functional fitness. Everything you need to know is inside Harvard’s report, Discovering Functional Fitness: Exercise to keep you active as you age, make everyday tasks easier, and even improve your game. You’ll discover workouts that specifically target your body’s practical, everyday needs as you age. With this report you can build strength and power to easily Bend over and pick something off the floor Turn in your car seat to put on your seatbelt Get off the floor or out of a chair Lift heavy packages or bags Wash your hair or button your shirt Functional fitness helps you build strength, power, and endurance. What makes it different from other forms of exercise is that the exercises target specific body parts — the ones you use to carry out everyday activities. You become more flexible, and improve your balance, coordination, and more. LEARN MORE

This is exactly what you need to live independently longer!

Being functionally fit means you can do all the things you love to do in life — play golf or pickleball, hike, walk, play with your grandkids, do yoga or Pilates, or simply go grocery shopping. When you do the simple functional fitness workouts in this Harvard report, you’ll Strengthen your oblique muscles to make it easier to golf or rake leaves without a single sit-up... Improve spinal mobility and flexibility in your back and abdomen to help get out of bed easier or change lanes while driving Maintain mobility in your hands so you can button your shirt or shuffle cards with ease... Improve your posture so you don’t experience back pain when walking... And much more. LEARN MORE

A word about why functional fitness is so important as you age...

Even if you’re in good health, aging brings changes. You lose muscle starting at age 30 at a rate of 1% to 2% a year. Fast forward to your 60s and 70s and muscle loss accelerates to 3% a year. Next thing you know you’re not as strong and steady as you were. In fact, one in four adults age 65 and over report having trouble lifting or carrying 10 pounds. But that’s not all... Your power plummets at more than twice the rate of strength. At the same time your aerobic capacity decreases, joints get stiff, and balance becomes less reliable. In fact, 51% of older adults find it a challenge to bend down and pick something up when they drop it — that’s one in two adults. Sound familiar? Your flexibility declines dramatically, too. Even the scale starts to move in the wrong direction as body fat increases. That means moving around gets tougher and you get more sedentary. Now you have the power to change — even reverse all that — thanks to functional fitness. Every one of the workouts and each of the exercises in the Discovering Functional Fitness report is designed to help you build strength, flexibility, and range of motion to combat the changes that come with aging. You can look forward to better carrying out movements like squatting, lunging, reaching, and bending — and that means you can enjoy the best quality of life. These workouts are so good and so precisely targeted... Even your dexterity and grip strength improve so typing on your computer, picking up a heavy pot, opening a jar, or peeling an apple isn’t painful or difficult. You might be surprised to learn how important grip strength is — as you’ll discover on page 9 of this report — as a marker for disease risk and longevity along with walking speed and balance. Wait until you see what the studies have to say about these markers — it’s eye-opening and gives you even more reasons to get started on functional fitness exercises. There is so much more to discover inside this report...including more than 60 simple, fun, and effective functional fitness exercises. LEARN MORE & GET STARTED TODAY!

Harvard Medical School offers special reports on over 60 health topics. Visit our website at http://www.health.harvard.edu to find reports of interest to you and your family. PHONE ORDERS - please call our toll-free number: 1-877-649-9457.

Men Age 50+: Stay healthy and strong as you grow older It’s not just about living longer, it’s living with more energy and less pain.

Dear Reader, If you’re a man over 50, chances are something’s weighing on your mind — especially when it comes to your health. The truth is, most of us need to understand how best to take care of ourselves as we age. Worse yet, the tsunami of inaccurate, outdated advice, and medical myths only make things more confusing. That’s why I want to personally invite you to try unlimited RISK-FREE access to Harvard Men’s Health Watch — the straight-talking monthly guide designed to help men stay strong, sharp, and in control of their health. In just 15 minutes a month, you’ll discover easy, practical ways to feel better, sleep better, and live better — without drowning in jargon or relying on random Google searches. You’ll get access to the very latest medical research from Harvard Medical School experts. And you’ll find clear answers to the questions you may be too embarrassed (or too busy) to ask, like: Can I safely have sex after a heart attack? Are there effective erectile dysfunction medications without all the side effects? What’s the best way to manage an overactive bladder How can I relieve joint pain? Is there a real way to reduce my risk of Alzheimer’s disease? The good news? Yes! And that’s just the beginning. Every issue brings you evidence-based facts...pros and cons...prevention strategies and treatment protocols...and proven advice you can use right away. It’s where guys who are too busy but who want to stay healthy get the answers they need. For example: Slash your risk of heart disease with one 20-minute weekly habit Lower blood pressure naturally with one mineral most men don’t get enough of Discover two simple habits that may help prevent macular degeneration Reduce your dementia risk with hearing aids (research proves it!) Learn about foods, supplements, and exercises that can add years to your life There’s no fluff — just trusted advice from 12,000+ doctors and experts at Harvard Medical School. Everything is carefully researched, clearly explained, and focused on helping you make the smartest possible decisions about your health. In addition to your RISK-FREE ISSUE, you’ll get unlimited access to our full archive of back issues, including EVERY issue of Harvard Men’s Health Watch ever published. That instantly puts THOUSANDS of proven, life-prolonging tips and solutions at your fingertips! There’s no risk at all. If you love it, do nothing and get 11 more issues (12 total) at our lowest price — a nearly 60% savings. If it’s not for you, simply cancel within 30 days for a full refund. To your strength and longevity, Howard LeWine, M.D. Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing Harvard Medical School P.S. Harvard Men’s Health Watch is the go-to health resource for thousands of men 50+. It’s fast to read, easy to follow, and filled with actionable advice that works. Try it RISK-FREE — and if it’s not everything we promise, you haven’t risked a cent!

Better Living Brief Featured content for a healthier life TODAY'S FEATURED ARTICLE HPV testing at home: A new option for women In January 2026, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued cervical cancer screening guidelines that, for the first time, include an option for women to perform an at-home human papillomavirus (HPV) test. HPV causes about 95% of cervical cancers. READ MORE → MORE FEATURED CONTENT You can play sports safely with a heart condition Most people with heart conditions can safely play sports if their condition is well managed. Exercise should be reintroduced gradually, and the intensity should be tailored to the individual. Monitoring for warning signs can reduce the risk while preserving the heart health benefits. READ MORE → The best stretching routines for men Men may be less flexible than women, but stretching offers important benefits for everyone, especially as they age. Stretching may help keep muscles limber, improve balance and posture, prevent injuries, and even benefit sports performance. READ MORE → Ask the Doc: Eye care in an emergency For many eye emergencies, it's best to call an ophthalmologist for an initial assessment and instructions about next steps. It is better to go to an emergency department for significant eye injuries or sudden vision loss. READ MORE →