Hello, dear readers! We hope this new year is finding you happy and healthy, and that the expectations of the holiday season didn’t take their toll. Whether it’s a moment of meditation, a quiet cup of tea, or a romp with the family dog, always remember to take some time for yourselves. And now, onward to your letters.

-- In response to a column about an inflammatory condition known as polymyalgia rheumatica, or PMR, several of you wondered if changes to diet may be helpful. This condition causes pain and stiffness in the muscles and joints, most often in the neck and shoulders, but also the hips, thighs and lower back. Treatment includes corticosteroids, such as such as prednisone, and pain meds, such as ibuprofen and aspirin.

Research shows that lifestyle changes, including a diet to lower inflammation, can also help ease symptoms. One of the goals in this type of eating is to stabilize insulin levels. That translates to a diet low in added sugars and simple carbohydrates and rich in a variety of colorful, nonstarchy vegetables. Steer clear of alcohol, processed foods, fried foods and processed meats. Harness the anti-inflammatory properties of omega-3 fatty acids with fish such as mackerel, sardines and salmon, and flax seeds, chia seeds and leafy greens.

The good news is that this condition is usually temporary. Most people see relief in about a year, although in some cases, it can take longer to resolve.

-- We heard from several of you regarding the column about frozen shoulder. This is a condition in which pain and stiffness in the shoulder joint gradually makes movement difficult or even impossible.

One reader found relief after seeing a chiropractor. “I had one session, and it fixed my frozen shoulder for good,” she wrote. “That was eight years ago, and my shoulder is still fine. Really works!”

Another reader, whose doctor proposed a surgical fix, sought acupuncture instead. “After one treatment, I could lift (my arm) straight up as high as ever with no pain,” he wrote. “It would save a lot of people a lot of pain if everyone knew about acupuncture.”

-- A recent column in which we discussed the benefits of breathing through the nose rather than the mouth prompted this question from a reader: “What about people who sleep with their mouths wide open?” she asked. “They don’t have any control over how they are breathing.” Many people breathe through their mouths at night due to mild sinus blockage. Blowing one’s nose before bed, using a neti pot or saline nasal spray, adjusting sleep position, elevating the head, and using over-the-counter nasal or mouth strips can each be helpful. In some cases, mouth breathing can be a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea. This is a serious sleep disorder, and it requires medical care.

As always, thank you for your letters. We’re so glad you enjoy the column and find it useful. We love that you keep our mailboxes -- both snail mail and email -- full, and we look forward to hearing from you next month.

(Send your questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla.edu, or write: Ask the Doctors, c/o UCLA Health Sciences Media Relations, 10880 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1450, Los Angeles, CA, 90024. Owing to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.)

Dear Doctor: I just heard about a study that says if you own a dog, you’ll do better after having a heart attack. Is that real, or is it an urban legend?

Dear Reader: We understand your skepticism, but, yes, it’s true that researchers recently had some good health news for dog owners. It arrived in a pair of studies published last October in Circulation, the American Heart Association’s journal.

According to the findings, people who kept a dog as a pet had measurably better health outcomes following a heart attack or a stroke than those who didn’t live with a canine companion. The studies also found that the dog owners in the study lived longer than nonowners. And though we hate to rain on the puppy parade, it turns out there’s an important caveat. The researchers made statistical adjustments for a number of factors, including income, age and geographic location. However, smoking, which is a serious risk factor in both heart disease and stroke, was not among them.

Even without that particular variable, the researchers concluded that dog owners fare better after a heart attack or a stroke. This means a smoother recovery with fewer complications and fewer additional hospitalizations. These benefits were more pronounced for people who lived alone -- that is, without other humans -- and for those whose heart attack or stroke was a repeat event. The study found that dog ownership decreased the risk of death by 15% for people recovering from a heart attack who shared a home with a partner or a child. That number rose to 33% for heart attack survivors who lived alone.

This association between dog ownership and improved health outcomes continued in the second study, which evaluated the general health data of 3.8 million people. The risk of death from any cause was 24% lower among dog owners, and their risk of developing cardiovascular disease dropped by 65%, the study found.

Why do dogs help us in this way? Studies have long shown that interacting with an animal lowers levels of the stress hormone cortisol, improves blood pressure and boosts mood. If you’ve ever been in a hospital when a therapy dog is present, you’ve seen the beneficial effects firsthand. And it’s not just the patients who line up for a moment of patting and paw-holding, but the nurses, doctors and support staff as well.

It’s also a fact that people with dogs stay more active. A Canadian study found that dog owners walked an average of 300 minutes per week, almost double the 168 minutes per week logged by nonowners. Social interaction is an important factor in good health, and dogs are great catalysts in that regard. It’s the rare dog owner who can complete a walk without at least a smile or hello from fellow pedestrians. The researchers mentioned all these benefits and said they look forward to future research on the subject. As dog lovers, so do we.

(Send your questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla.edu, or write: Ask the Doctors, c/o UCLA Health Sciences Media Relations, 10880 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1450, Los Angeles, CA, 90024. Owing to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.)

Dear Doctor: My company provides perks for involvement in its wellness program, and I’ve decided to start biking the 4 miles (with a few hills!) to work. Do you think it’s a good choice? Any advice for getting started?

Dear Reader: First, congratulations for making this positive change in your life. Cycling is a terrific activity with multiple health benefits. Exercise, in general, has been shown to help boost energy; improve mood; reduce the risk of a range of diseases, including heart disease and certain cancers; maintain a healthy weight; add to strength, agility and flexibility; and aid in sleep.

As you cycle the 4 miles to and from work, you’ll use an impressive range of muscle groups. These include the hamstrings and quadriceps, which are the two major muscles in the legs; the calf muscles; the gluteals, which are the trio of muscles that make up the buttocks; the core muscles of the abdomen; and to a lesser degree, the muscles of the upper body. Conquering those hills will get your heart and lungs working and help build strength, stamina and endurance.

Cycling is an excellent resistance activity, which means it’s good for bones and bone density. It’s also a low-impact activity, so it’s kind to the joints. And the hundreds of tiny decisions needed to navigate a route and negotiate traffic help keep you mentally sharp. By the time you wheel into work after 30 to 45 minutes on the bike, you’ll have a nice endorphin glow with which to start your day.

The two main things to consider are conditioning and safety. If you haven’t been cycling on a regular basis, start by making sure your bike fits you properly and is in good repair. Your local bike shop can help you with that. Start training with short rides, gradually building up until you’re comfortable with your daily commute. The goal is to improve physical conditioning and also to become comfortable on the bike and out on the roads. Age plays a role as well. Once we hit our 40s, our muscles don’t perform at the same level as in our younger days. For older riders, this means more time to build strength, and longer to recover.

The main risks of cycling come from run-ins with motor vehicles, so you want to focus on safety. Always obey the rules of the road; for instance, be sure to ride with traffic, not against, and signal your turns. A common refrain from drivers is that they didn’t see the cyclist until it was too late. So make yourself as visible as possible with bright colors and reflective gear. In low light or darkness, make yourself known with reflectors, a white front light and red rear light on your bike, and again, reflective gear. And always -- this is non-negotiable no matter how short a distance you plan to ride -- wear a good helmet. It can save your life.

(Send your questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla.edu, or write: Ask the Doctors, c/o UCLA Health Sciences Media Relations, 10880 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1450, Los Angeles, CA, 90024. Owing to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.)