Recent data from the Cleveland Clinic found that men and women who take Viagra have more than a 40% decreased risk of Alzheimer's. (Women use it for pulmonary high blood pressure.) That may le...

Recent data from the Cleveland Clinic found that men and women who take Viagra have more than a 40% decreased risk of Alzheimer's. (Women use it for pulmonary high blood pressure.) That may lead an increasing number of folks to ask their doc about getting a prescription for erectile dysfunction (ED) meds -- and that makes it more important than ever to be aware of potential side effects. Recent research into ED medications called phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors (PDE5Is), including sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil, vardenafil and avanafil, found that they're associated with an increased risk for serious retinal detachment, retinal vascular occlusion and ischemic optic neuropathy.

Researchers looked at data on over 210,000 men, average age 65, who had at least one PDE5I prescription every three months in the past year. Their study, in JAMA Ophthalmology, revealed that the risk for one or more of those vision-damaging conditions was up to 185% greater in men taking the meds than in those who weren't. Guys taking ED meds who had high blood pressure, diabetes, coronary artery disease or sleep apnea had an increased risk.

Since having ED may be related to atherosclerosis and heart disease, a smart way to improve ED is to prevent or reverse elevated LDL cholesterol, obesity and high blood pressure. How? Move it, lose it, and eat a plant-based diet. And if you're taking an ED med, tune into eye problems like multiple floaters, flashes of light in one or both eyes, blurred vision or loss of vision, pain in your temples or when chewing. Report the symptoms to your doctor pronto.

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Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic and author of four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. His next book is "The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow." Do you have a topic Dr. Mike should cover in a future column? If so, please email questions@GreatAgeReboot.com.

(c)2022 Michael Roizen, M.D.

Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

When something is a real turn-off, you might declare, "That's disgusting." But sometimes turn-offs can actually be a good thing.

Take the benefits of turning off the TV. A stu...

When something is a real turn-off, you might declare, "That's disgusting." But sometimes turn-offs can actually be a good thing.

Take the benefits of turning off the TV. A study out of the UK and Hong Kong published in BMC Medicine found that reducing your TV viewing time by even an hour a day can boost heart health.

In fact, the researchers say 11% of all cases of coronary heart disease (CHD) could be prevented if everyone simply adopted that one small act of screen freedom.

Looking at data on 500,000 adults who were followed for about 12 years, they found that people who watched more than four hours of TV a day were at greatest risk of heart disease, while those who watched less than an hour of TV had a relative 16% lower rate of CHD.

Sedentary behavior coupled with excess snacking of heart-harming foods is the double whammy that's at work here.

How to cut your TV time? For that hour, you can take an after-dinner walk, practice yoga or do tai chi -- the choices are endless.

And if you can't turn off the tube, break up your sit-down time. Go up and down your stairs in the house or apartment building for 10 minutes every hour. Walk the dog between shows. Do household chores.

People tend to super-veg in front of the TV, so let every ad break tell you it's time to move.

Here's another clever solution: Put an exercise bike in the TV room and pedal (consistently and intently) while you watch.

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Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic and author of four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. His next book is "The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow." Do you have a topic Dr. Mike should cover in a future column? If so, please email questions@GreatAgeReboot.com.

(c)2022 Michael Roizen, M.D.

Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

An astounding 897,000 results come up on Google when you search for "fruit flambé" (fresh fruit ignited with alcohol). That's kind of ironic, because the truth is that uncharred fre...

An astounding 897,000 results come up on Google when you search for "fruit flambé" (fresh fruit ignited with alcohol). That's kind of ironic, because the truth is that uncharred fresh fruit tamps down fires related to inflammation in your body. Inflammation can be a good response if short-lived; it helps your immune system to heal a wound or fight an infection. When it becomes chronic because of the presence of visceral belly fat and obesity or chronic sedentary behavior, it increases your risk for cardiovascular disease, cancer, arthritis, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorders. Those conditions then fuel inflammation more.

The fruits you eat can go a long way toward preventing chronic inflammation.

1. Berries are loaded with bioactive compounds that help block inflammation. According to Harvard University, it's the chemicals that make them so colorful -- anthocyanins and ellagic acid -- and give them the power to lower the risk of Alzheimer's, heart disease and diabetes. Their experts say to eat one and a half to two cups of various berries daily to fight chronic inflammation.

2. Apples and pears can take a bite out of inflammation, too. According to a meta-review of studies published in Current Developments in Nutrition: In observational studies, apple or pear intake significantly decreased risk of cerebrovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and all-cause mortality.

3. Stone fruits, such as cherries, peaches, apricots and plums, are also loaded with colorful phytochemicals and anthocyanins that tamp down inflammation. Enjoy!

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Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic and author of four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. His next book is "The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow." Do you have a topic Dr. Mike should cover in a future column? If so, please email questions@GreatAgeReboot.com.

(c)2022 Michael Roizen, M.D.

Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.