Feeling a little less steady on your feet can be unsettling.

For many older adults, changes in balance develop gradually. You may notice yourself reaching for furniture, feeling less confident on stairs, or becoming more cautious while walking.

While some changes can be related to medical conditions or medications, everyday habits and surroundings can also influence the risk of losing balance and falling.

The encouraging news is that many fall risk factors can be modified. The CDC and National Institute on Aging recommend measures including staying physically active, reviewing medications, checking vision, choosing appropriate footwear, and making the home safer.

Here are 5 common mistakes worth paying attention to.

1. Becoming Too Sedentary

When people begin feeling unsteady, their natural reaction may be to move less.

It sounds logical: if you don't move as much, perhaps you're less likely to fall.

But excessive inactivity can have the opposite effect over time.

Muscle weakness — particularly in the lower body — is an established risk factor for falls. Regular physical activity can help maintain strength, mobility and balance.

The National Institute on Aging recommends activities that develop both strength and balance. Depending on a person's abilities, examples can include walking, tai chi, yoga and appropriate strengthening exercises.

What Can Help?

Start at a level appropriate for your health and mobility.

Even simple, consistent movement can be useful.

If you already experience significant balance problems or have a history of falls, speak with a healthcare professional or physical therapist before beginning unfamiliar exercises.

And when practicing balance exercises, keep a stable chair, wall, or another source of support nearby.

2. Wearing the Wrong Shoes

That thick, sticky feeling in your throat or chest can be frustrating — especially when it makes you cough, clear your throat repeatedly, or struggle to get comfortable at night.

Mucus itself isn't necessarily a bad thing. Your respiratory system naturally produces it to trap particles and help protect your airways. When you're dealing with a cold, respiratory infection, allergies, or irritation, however, your body may produce more mucus than usual.

Fortunately, several simple home measures may help loosen mucus, soothe your throat, and make phlegm easier to clear.

Here are 7 options worth trying.

1. Drink Plenty of Water

One of the simplest things you can do is stay well hydrated.

Fluids can help keep mucus thinner, which may make it easier to cough up and clear from your airways. Both the NHS and Mayo Clinic recommend drinking plenty of fluids when dealing with respiratory infections or congestion.

Water is an obvious choice, but warm liquids can be particularly soothing.

Try:

• Warm water
• Herbal tea
• Clear broth
• Warm lemon water

If your throat feels irritated, sipping rather than drinking quickly may feel more comfortable.

2. Try Warm Lemon Water With Honey

Honey is one of the better-supported traditional remedies for coughing.

Adding honey to warm water or tea may soothe an irritated throat and help reduce coughing. Mayo Clinic notes that research suggests honey may lessen coughing associated with upper respiratory infections.

Simple Honey-Lemon Drink

Add:

8 Warning Signs of Stroke That May Appear Before a Major Event — and 9 Ways to Lower Your Risk

Stroke symptoms usually appear suddenly, not according to a predictable countdown. However, some people experience a transient ischemic attack (TIA) before a major stroke. A TIA can cause brief stroke-like symptoms that disappear within minutes or hours, but it still requires urgent medical evaluation.

The safest approach is to recognize sudden neurological changes quickly and also manage the major risk factors that make stroke more likely.

1. Sudden Weakness or Numbness on One Side

One of the most important warning signs is sudden weakness, numbness, or heaviness affecting one side of the face, one arm, one leg, or several areas on the same side.

A person may suddenly struggle to raise one arm or feel that one side of the body is not responding normally. Even if the symptom disappears, it should not be ignored.

2. Facial Drooping

Ask the person to smile.

If one side of the face droops, looks uneven, or feels numb, this can be a sign of stroke or TIA. Brief facial weakness that later returns to normal can still represent a serious warning event.

3. Sudden Trouble Speaking

Stroke can affect areas of the brain involved in language.

A person may suddenly:

• Slur words

• Use the wrong words

• Struggle to form sentences

• Speak in a way that does not make sense

• Be unable to repeat a simple phrase

Any sudden change in speech deserves emergency assessment.

4. Difficulty Understanding Speech

Place a Tablespoon on Any Plant at Home? Here’s What You Should Expect

10 Warning Signs You May Be Eating Too Much Sugar

Eating something sweet from time to time is not a problem for most people. The concern is when added sugar becomes a large part of the daily diet, especially through sugary drinks, desserts, packaged snacks, sweetened cereals, and processed foods.

Too much added sugar over time can contribute to weight gain, tooth decay, blood sugar problems, and a higher risk of conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Here are 10 signs that your sugar intake may be higher than your body handles well.

1. You Feel Tired After Eating

A meal or snack high in refined sugar can cause blood glucose to rise quickly.

That rise may be followed by a drop that leaves you feeling:

• Sleepy

• Sluggish

• Unfocused

• Low in energy

This does not happen to everyone, but repeated energy crashes after sugary foods can be a clue that your meals need more protein, fiber, or healthy fats.

2. You Crave Sweets Constantly

The more often you eat highly sweetened foods, the more normal intense sweetness can start to feel.

You may notice cravings for:

• Candy

• Cookies

• Pastries

• Soda

• Sweet coffee drinks

Cravings can also be influenced by sleep, stress, habit, and restrictive dieting, so they are not caused by sugar alone.

3. You’re Hungry Again Soon After Eating

Clear Your Throat and Lungs of Mucus With This 2-Ingredient Recipe

Mucus is a normal part of the body’s defense system. It helps trap dust, germs, and other particles before they travel deeper into the respiratory tract.

During a cold, allergies, sinus drainage, or another respiratory illness, the body may produce more mucus than usual. That can lead to coughing, throat clearing, congestion, and the feeling that mucus is “stuck.”

A simple mixture of honey and lemon is often used as a home remedy. It will not literally “clean” the lungs, but it may help soothe the throat and make coughing more comfortable.

Why Mucus Builds Up

Extra mucus can appear because of:

• Colds

• Flu

• Allergies

• Sinus infections

• Smoke

• Dry air

• Acid reflux

• Other respiratory irritation

Coughing is one of the body’s natural ways of moving mucus out of the airways.

The 2-Ingredient Recipe

Ingredients

• Juice of 1/2 to 1 fresh lemon

• 1 tablespoon of honey

• Optional: warm water

Preparation

1. Squeeze the lemon juice into a cup.

2. Add the honey.

3. Stir well.

4. Add a little warm water if desired.

5. Sip slowly.

1. Honey May Soothe the Throat