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SUBSCRIBE | SHOP THE BOOKSTORE Want a stronger core? Skip the sit-ups Many people are surprised to learn that a strong core does more than just improve your shape-it also supports better posture, balance, and stability. A sturdy core acts as the central link between your upper and lower body, making everyday movements like bending to tie a shoe, reaching for something on a high shelf, or simply standing upright much easier and less tiring. Strengthening these muscles can help prevent falls and injuries, especially as we grow older. Get your copy of Core Exercises Want to bring more power to athletic pursuits? Build up your balance and stability? Or are you simply hoping to make everyday acts like bending, turning, and reaching easier? A strong, flexible core underpins all these goals. Core muscles need to be strong, yet flexible, and core fitness, like that found in the Special Health Report Core Exercises: 6 workouts to tighten your abs, strengthen your back, and improve balance, should be part of every exercise program.   SHOW ME MORE → Sit-ups once ruled as the way to tighter abs and a slimmer waistline. Now plank exercises, in which you assume a position and hold it, are the gold standard for working your core, while classic sit-ups and crunches have fallen out of favor. Why planks over sit-ups? One reason is that sit-ups are hard on your back. They push your curved spine against the floor and work your hip flexors, the muscles that run from the thighs to the lumbar vertebrae in the lower back. When the hip flexors are too strong or too tight, they tug on the lower spine, which can create lower back discomfort. In addition, plank exercises recruit a better balance of muscles on the front, sides, and back of the body than sit-ups, which target just a few muscles. Finally, activities of daily living such as bathing, getting out of bed, or walking, as well as sports and recreational activities, call on your muscles to work together, not in isolation. Planks recruit a better balance of muscles on the front, sides, and back of the body than sit-ups, which target just a few muscles. Through dynamic patterns of movement, a good core workout like plank exercises can help strengthen the entire set of core muscles you use every day, leaving you with a stronger and more balanced body. Here are some Plank Tips and Techniques to help you get started: Do form a straight line from head to heels. Don't bend at your hips. Don't let your belly drop toward the floor. No matter your age or fitness level, prioritizing core exercises like planks is a smart investment in your long-term health and well-being. By making core-strengthening a regular part of your routine, you can improve your posture, enhance your mobility, and lay the foundation for a more active, independent lifestyle. For more strategies on how to build up your core strength, read Core Exercises, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School. Image: © JohnnyGrieg/Getty Images Share this story: FEATURED CONTENT Core Exercises • The importance of your core • Before you start: Safety first • Posture, alignment, and angles: Striking the right pose • Getting started • Measuring gains • Standing core workout • Floor core workout Click here to learn more »

Take Control of Your Health with Online Courses from Harvard Medical School Experts Act now to experience Harvard-led learning

Dear Reader, When it comes to your health, why not learn from the same experts who train the nation's top doctors? With Harvard Health Online Learning All-Access, you'll get direct guidance from Harvard Medical School physicians—trusted, evidence-based insights you can use to live longer and healthier—all at your own pace, in your own home. Whether you want to manage joint pain, improve heart health, boost your brainpower, or simply stay well, you deserve information that's clear, credible, and easy to apply in your daily life. These courses are developed by Harvard Medical School doctors specifically for people who aren't in the medical field, but want to understand and manage their health with confidence. A rare opportunity from the top minds in medicine! What you'll get: Unlimited access to dozens of doctor-developed online courses Short videos, interactive tools, and practical tips from Harvard experts  and doctors—all in plain English Expert guidance that helps you ask smarter questions and make more informed choices about your health Certificates of Completion from Harvard Health Publishing Multiple-choice quizzes to help you retain what you have learned Charts, worksheets, lists of websites, programs, organizations and more to help you stay on track Plus...New content is added every week at no extra cost! Discover our extensive catalog — only $6.99 monthly! Full-length courses normally cost $29.95. But once you subscribe to Harvard's Online Learning All-Access, you can engage with 150+ (and growing) pieces of content for less than your monthly Netflix subscription. Return to any lesson, anytime, to refresh your skills, revisit strategies, or download your tip sheet again! It's like having the advice of Harvard Medical School at your fingertips to expand your knowledge and answer your questions! Single Course Purchase: All-Access Subscription: Single Course Access Unlimited Access to Full Courses  Mini-Courses Quizzes At-a-Glance Charts and Features Video Briefs Microlearning Features Helping you stay healthy and fit at any age! Here is just a sampling of the topics you'll find in our extensive catalog of courses on Harvard's All-Access: Anxiety and Stress Disorders: Discover the keys to managing panic attacks, phobias, and other related conditions Fighting Inflammation: How to effectively combat "bad" inflammation with diet and lifestyle changes Improving Memory: Learn dozens of proven strategies to combat memory loss and boost cognitive fitness as you age Managing Your Cholesterol: Learn how to successfully lower bad cholesterol and triglycerides, and achieve strong, enduring heart health Joint Pain Relief Workout: Relieve ankle, knee, hip, or shoulder pain, and become more active again  And dozens more timely and important courses! Remember, new quizzes, video briefs, and mini-courses are added every week. So, there’s always something new to learn to help you stay healthy and vital well into your later years. Courses range from less than 30 minutes to 3 hours long and can be taken at your own pace. Learn more, worry less! When you learn from Harvard doctors, you're learning from the best. Doctors everywhere look to Harvard Medical School for guidance on the latest advances in medicine.  With Harvard Health Online Learning All-Access,  you won't waste time on questionable information. You'll get actionable, clinically validated advice you can trust to help you live longer and healthier no matter your age. See how good it feels to hone your knowledge and enrich your life with hands-on help from Harvard Medical School doctors. Join Harvard Health Online Learning All-Access today! You have total flexibility with your unlimited All-Access account to Harvard Health Online Learning. Take as many (or as few) courses each month. There are no minimums, no commitment, no contract... and no hassle. You can easily cancel your account at any time with no cancellation fees. So why not start a subscription today? And see if it’s right for you. If you’re aiming for a healthy lifespan, then Harvard Health All-Access can help you get there with vitality and gusto.

17 strategies (and secrets) to end the distress and aggravation of eczema, seborrhea and psoriasis. Let Harvard doctors show you how to quell and control inflammatory skin conditions effectively and with greater speed and success.

Expert help is just 5 minutes away! ✓ Making peace with your skin ✓ More than just a covering ✓ Eczema (atopic dermatitis) ✓ Seborrheic dermatitis ✓ Psoriasis ✓ Working with your dermatologist ✓ And more from the experts at Harvard Medical School, America’s #1 medical school for research as ranked by U.S. News and World Report. Dear Reader, There’s no good time for a skin problem to flare up. But why does it always seem to happen at the worst possible moment? With skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, it’s not just the physical irritation; it can be the psychological intimidation as well. It can make you self-conscious and skip even those things you enjoy most. You can halt the discomfort and end the frustration! There is much you can do to tame the inflammation that underlies today’s most common inflammatory skin diseases. As never before, there are welcome ways to calm and control these conditions. In this Harvard Medical School guide, Inflammatory Skin Conditions, you’ll learn what causes eczema, seborrhea, and psoriasis...the distinct symptoms...how they are diagnosed...and what you can do on your own and with your doctor to manage each. You can be stressless — and sleeveless! You can be more comfortable in your skin. You can replace anxiety with assurance and worry with security. This downloadable guide offers clear direction and instruction to isolate the triggers of your skin condition, to initiate a healing skin care regimen, and to get the greatest benefit from today’s expanding treatment options and emerging new medications. Discover the steps that can make a visible difference! In this guide, a leading Harvard dermatologist shares techniques and tricks for symptom-easing skin care. You’ll find the best soaps to manage eczema (and two to avoid). You’ll learn which emollients and moisturizers are recommended for psoriasis sufferers...a portable home appliance definitely worth the investment...and the first step to take when you spot the telltale signs of seborrhea. Enjoy relief with proven tools and tips to soothe and smooth troubled skin You’ll read about two efficient topical treatments for eczema that sidestep the risks of steroids. You’ll find two recommended inexpensive over-the-counter creams to control seborrhea. You’ll learn about an enduring “underground” treatment for plaque psoriasis...how UVB phototherapy can ease severe eczema ...and three measures to prevent a future flare-up of chronic seborrhea. You’ll take full advantage of today’s breakthroughs against breakouts! The report explains the mechanics of the latest immunomodulating medications and the logic behind the new targeted biologic drugs so that, with your physician, you can select an appropriate treatment option. With expert commentary on over 20 drugs including Otezla, Soriatane, Taltz, and Cosentyx, the Report offers information on when to expect results, side effects, and more. Plus, in the guide you’ll find sound treatment protocols for psoriatic arthritis...a common but over-looked cause of eczema...and the one type of psoriasis that demands immediate medical attention. Don’t wait. Order your copy of this informative guide today! To your good health, Timothy Cole Editorial Director, Harvard Health Publishing How to know if your bones are thinning We often think of broken bones as something kids get from playground adventures, but as we grow older, our bones face a different challenge. Over time, they can lose density and strength, making them more vulnerable to fractures - a condition known as osteoporosis. This silent disease develops gradually, often without symptoms, until a sudden fall or fracture brings it to light. The good news? Diagnostic tools now make it easier than ever to detect osteoporosis early and take action to protect your bone health. Get your copy of Osteoporosis Each year, osteoporosis contributes to more than two million bone fractures in the United States. This Special Health Report, Osteoporosis: A guide to prevention and treatment, can help you keep your bones strong and healthy, and avoid fractures. It describes how you can prevent and treat osteoporosis through diet, exercise, and medications. You'll also find advice on the right amount of calcium and vitamin D, tips on fall-proofing your home, and help with putting together a personalized plan to preserve or boost your bone strength.   SHOW ME MORE → Several technologies can assess bone density. The most common bone density test is known as dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). For this procedure, a machine sends x-rays through bones in order to calculate bone density. The process is quick, taking only five minutes. And it's simple: you lie on a table while a scanner passes over your body. While DEXA can measure bone density at any spot in the body, it is usually used to measure bone density at the lumbar spine (in the lower back), hip (a specific site in the hip near the hip joint), and femoral neck (the top of the thighbone, or femur). The test accomplishes this with only one-tenth of the radiation exposure of a standard chest x-ray. While DEXA is considered the gold standard for osteoporosis screening, another bone density test is ultrasound. In ultrasound, sound waves measure bone mineral density at the heel, shin, or finger. The test is sometimes used at health fairs and in some medical offices. The DEXA scan or ultrasound will give you a number called a T-score, which represents how close you are to average peak bone density. The World Health Organization has established the following classification system for bone density: If your T-score is -1 or greater: your bone density is considered normal. If your T-score is between -1 and -2.5: you have low bone density, known as osteopenia, but not osteoporosis. If your T-score is -2.5 or less: you have osteoporosis, even if you haven't yet broken a bone. To learn more, buy the Harvard Special Health Report Osteoporosis: A guide to prevention and treatment. Image: © izusek/Getty Images Share this story: FEATURED CONTENT Osteoporosis • The basics of bone • What causes osteoporosis? • Know your risk factors • The consequences of osteoporosis • Detecting osteoporosis • Developing a plan of action • Protecting your bone: Nutrition Click here to learn more »