One factor I like about enhancing the Ask Well column is the camaraderie of it. Every week we reply a well being query: Why am I so congested on a regular basis? (I’ve questioned 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.)

When I survey our inbox, I’m amazed at what is available in — questions that cowl the fun, agonies, confusions and vulnerabilities of being an individual. And fortunately for us all, we get to hunt out the solutions.

Here are 10 of the preferred well being questions of 2023.

1. Is it unhealthy to scrub your hair each day?

The reply is dependent upon your hair texture, how oily it’s, whether or not it’s color-treated and extra.

“While it may seem that getting the scalp squeaky clean and without any oils is optimal,” stated Dr. Murad Alam, a dermatologist at Northwestern University, “keep in mind that the scalp is a living part of your body, and not a dinner plate in your dishwasher.”

2. Is arthritis avoidable?

Pain, stiffness and swelling of the joints are frequent complaints for older adults — and they are often the primary signal of a dreaded prognosis: arthritis. This umbrella time period describes greater than 100 circumstances that trigger irritation within the joints. But it doesn’t should be an inevitable results of ageing. Here are some steps you can take to reduce your risk.

4. Can a nap make up for a nasty evening of sleep?

Maybe you stayed up too late doomscrolling, otherwise you whipped your sheets right into a twister replaying an uncomfortable dialog. Either means, you’re questioning: Will a noon nap make up for these valuable hours of misplaced shut-eye? The reply is sophisticated, we discovered. Here’s what naps can — and can’t — do for your health.

5. Why am I so congested on a regular basis?

So you get up each morning all stuffed up and also you wish to know what’s happening. Is it that chilly you (and everyone else) appear to have? The anatomy of your nostril? Allergies? Chronic congestion is difficult to deal with, specialists say, as a result of any variety of issues may very well be inflicting it. But 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 are hydrating, nourishing and comforting (whats up, hen noodle soup!). Here’s a look at how diet might help combat your an infection, together with what meals and drinks to keep away from.

7. Why does it grow to be tougher to sleep as I age?

As a flagrant tosser and turner, I’ve seen that the older I get, the much less probably I’m to get up refreshed. It turns on the market are medical causes for that: An ageing mind, sure well being circumstances, hormones and life-style adjustments 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 weight loss plan are sometimes in charge. Here’s how to get things running a little more smoothly while you’re out and about.

9. Do I really want all these skincare merchandise?

If you spend any time on the personal-care aspect of social media, you’ll see video after video of influencers dousing themselves in a complete medication cupboard’s value of merchandise. But simpler is often better in terms of taking good care of your face. Here’s what dermatologists say you really need.

10. How a lot espresso is an excessive amount of espresso?

Raise your hand when you’re consuming espresso whereas studying this. Keep it raised when you’re in your second (or third or fourth) cup of the day. Coffee incorporates hundreds of chemical compounds that could be linked to good well being. But it’s additionally a serious supply of caffeine, which in extra may cause points like jitteriness, anxiousness, nausea and hassle sleeping. While specialists say that harmful unwanted side effects from coffee-drinking are uncommon, it’s nonetheless attainable to overdo it. Here’s how to know if you’ve poured yourself too much.

Have extra questions for our well being journalists? Ask Well.