Sunday, August 18, 2019

How to stick to healthy habits

Plus: Healing from tragedy
Michael Driver for NPR

Pro Tips For Sticking To Good Habits

For most of us mortals, it’s not easy to start -- and stick to -- healthy habits like exercise and eating well. But what about the social scientists and economists who study human behavior -- how do these experts keep to their own good intentions? Seems they’ve found a way to make human weaknesses -- like our love of trash novels -- into strengths. And tricks like these can make a difference between keeping up or slacking off. 

Read on for advice from researchers for sticking to good habits.

Juanmonino/Getty Images

Too Many Prescriptions? How To Talk To Your Doctor About Cutting Back

As people get older, they get more sensitive to the side effects of medications -- yet often get prescribed more and more of them. Being on multiple meds can cause real problems for older adults, including unexplained symptoms such as diarrhea, lightheadedness, confusion, difficulty sleeping and more. And some of these symptoms increase the risk of dangerous falls.

Some clinicians who work with the elderly suggest a process known as deprescribing — carefully reducing the dose of medications that might be causing harm or stopping them altogether under the guidance of a doctor.

Read more on how to assess and manage medication use for yourself or an older parent.

Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Image

How To Heal After Violence

In the wake of a traumatic event, like the recent tragic shootings in El Paso and Dayton, many of us -- even those not directly connected -- feel bruised in our spirits, sorrowful and afraid. And we wonder, could it happen where we live? But psychologists and those who have survived trauma in their life say there are ways to turn our pain into purpose.

"What happens in trauma is we feel helpless," says family therapist Jonathan Vickburg, of Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles. "But if we can find purpose again ... we have a path forward and a path to help others."

Read on for five way to start to heal and move forward.

More of this week's health stories from NPR


A new use for psychedelics: treating PTSD

Running shorts that run for you? Robotics meets athletics

If tobacco in TV and movies nudges kids to smoke, what about weed?
 
We hope you enjoyed these stories. Find more of NPR's health journalism on Shots and follow us on Twitter at @NPRHealth.

Your Shots editor,

Carmel Wroth
 

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