Hello, dear readers! Welcome to a bonus letters column. We hope you had a peaceful and enjoyable holiday season and that this new year (how did that happen so soon?) will treat you well. We have some interesting mail, so on to your letters.

-- We have written several times about the benefits of music for people living with dementia. We have received a number of letters on this topic, including one from a reader in Virginia:

“I was happy to see your article about Alzheimer’s and music. My husband, an emeritus professor at Old Dominion University here in Virginia and an alumnus of UCLA, was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia about 10 years ago,” she wrote. “A brilliant man who knew what was happening to him, he and I watched this destroy his brain. A fellow professor came every week to play guitar with him. To the very end, my husband was able to play his guitar and enjoy music.” Thank you for sharing a tender memory. Music can stimulate neural pathways that often remain intact well after other cognitive functions have been lost. Music allows the person to hold on to a piece of their core self. It also creates a pathway for the shared emotional experiences that are so important to the person’s loved ones.

-- Most recently, we examined new research that suggests listening to music can have a protective effect on cognition. A study from researchers in Australia found that people who made music part of daily life had a 40% lower risk of getting dementia. This protective effect also extended to general cognitive decline. When the music lovers were tested on memory and cognitive function, their results were measurably better than those of the non-music group. Another reader had a follow-up question on this topic.

“I saw your response to a reader about the connection between music and memory, which also tied to a neuropsychiatric/dementia study in Australia,” he wrote. “It was very interesting and it made me wonder: Is there any connection between certain types of music and a lowered risk of dementia?” We were curious about the same thing. At this time, existing research does not suggest that specific genres of music have a more protective effect on cognition. The current consensus is that music in general can have a beneficial effect on the brain, mood and memory. Some studies suggest that up-tempo music, which is more rousing, may engage the mind more directly. But as for whether the classical elegance of Bach may be better than the explosive sounds of Black Sabbath, that research has yet to be done.

Thank you, as always, for taking the time to write. We love hearing from you, and we love to know where you are writing from. For readers whose publications don't include an address, you can reach us at askthedoctors@mednet.ucla.edu. You can also write to us at:

Ask the Doctors

c/o UCLA Health Sciences Media Relations

10960 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1955

Los Angeles, CA 90024

(Send your questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla.edu, or write: Ask the Doctors, c/o UCLA Health Sciences Media Relations, 10960 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1955, Los Angeles, CA, 90024. Owing to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.)

Dear Doctors: My brother says the hangover foods that people swear by don't really help. I have to disagree. When I've had too much to drink and am paying the price the next day, a few tacos always make me feel better. Is there any science behind either of our views on this?

Dear Reader: Would it surprise you to learn that you are both right? To understand why, we need to begin with the dreaded hangover. For anyone fortunate enough never to have had one, a hangover is a unique set of symptoms that result from drinking too much alcohol. It usually involves nausea, headache, dry mouth, dizziness and fatigue. Rapid heartbeat, anxiety, low mood, disturbed sleep and increased sensitivity to sound and light are also possible.

For some people, just a glass of wine can lead to a rough morning after. Others only feel the effects after a night of heavy drinking. Regardless of the amount of alcohol consumed, the underlying culprits are the same. Chief among them is acetaldehyde, a toxic by-product made by the liver as it metabolizes alcohol for removal from the body. Although the liver converts acetaldehyde into harmless acetate in the end, that process takes time. When we drink alcohol faster than the liver can complete that conversion -- about one drink per hour -- acetaldehyde builds up. This contributes to inflammation in the liver, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract and brain, the biological basis of hangover symptoms. Alcohol is also a diuretic, adding to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. These lead to headache, fatigue and dizziness the next day.

Which brings us to the food question. Your brother is correct that nothing you eat, whether before, during or after drinking, can speed up how fast the liver processes alcohol. But you are also correct that the right food and fluids can help ease the discomfort that follows. The tacos you crave hit the hangover food trifecta: salt, fat and protein. Salt helps retain fluids and replenish electrolytes. Fat slows stomach emptying. Protein helps blood sugar levels stay stable, which can dip after drinking alcohol.

Other foods people have found to be helpful include eggs, which contain cysteine, an amino acid. Researchers have found this amino acid helps the liver process alcohol. Broth-based soups offer a superfood boost of fluids, salt, minerals and other nutrients in a way the body can absorb easily. Fruits, which are already high in needed water, are also rich in antioxidants. These can help with the inflammation that comes with a hangover. Berries are particularly high in antioxidants, and bananas will give you a potassium boost. And speaking of water, staying hydrated before, during and after drinking alcohol is also key.

Despite a quest that dates back millennia, there is still no cure for a hangover. There remains only one way to prevent one, which is not to drink. The food you eat and beverages you drink can't change how fast alcohol leaves your system. But they may help ease the landing.

(Send your questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla.edu, or write: Ask the Doctors, c/o UCLA Health Sciences Media Relations, 10960 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1955, Los Angeles, CA, 90024. Owing to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.)

Kansas City, MO 64106; 816-581-7500

Dear Doctors: I’m 65 and healthy. I actually like shoveling snow because it keeps me active. My grandson and my wife say I’m asking for a heart attack and are after me to get a snowblower. I would like to know how serious a risk shoveling really is. Surely there's a way to shovel snow and stay safe.

Dear Reader: Shoveling snow is a vigorous activity. It uses large muscle groups and involves trunk rotation. Because it involves so much of the body engaged in lifting weight, it also becomes aerobic. Just as quickly, it can outpace the heart’s capacity. This is particularly true for people who are more sedentary. Both of us -- Dr. Glazier as a medical student in New York and Dr. Ko as a resident in Rhode Island -- have seen our fair share of snow-induced cardiac issues. Your question opens up a discussion we suspect can benefit many readers who ride out the winters in snow country.

Physical exertion is measured in metabolic equivalents. Also known as METs, it's a sliding scale that indicates how much energy you’re using during a particular activity. The scale starts at one MET, which is sitting quietly. From there, it increases exponentially, with 18 or 20 METs representing a sustained flat-out, hair-on-fire sprint. Shoveling snow clocks in around 5 to 7 METs. This is about the same as a vigorous game of doubles tennis. It also marks an important transition zone, where you progress from moderate to vigorous exertion. Cardiovascular demand spikes at this point, often without people realizing it.

By the time danger signs appear, the heart may already be under significant strain. These signs include shortness of breath; weakness; dizziness; chest pressure or pain; a racing, pounding or irregular heartbeat; nausea; or sudden fatigue. Another factor to consider, unique to winter weather exertion, is something known as cold-induced peripheral vasoconstriction. In cold weather, the blood vessels closest to the surface of the skin tighten up. This sends warming blood deeper into the body to protect vital organs. However, this can cause a spike in blood pressure that, for some people, can be dangerous.

Exercise physiologists have found that in just two minutes of shoveling snow, your heart rate can exceed 85% of maximum. That's on par with a stress test. To stay safe, work at a slow to moderate pace and be sure to take frequent breaks. Sweep or push away what you can and keep the heavy lifting to a minimum. When you lift, don't fill the shovel all the way. And don't forget to breathe. Because the core is engaged, it can be easy to unconsciously hold your breath as you work, which causes blood pressure and heart rate to rise. If you experience any of the symptoms we noted above, stop immediately. And one final note: Anyone living with heart disease or who has the risk factors for heart disease should not shovel snow.

(Send your questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla.edu, or write: Ask the Doctors, c/o UCLA Health Sciences Media Relations, 10960 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1955, Los Angeles, CA, 90024. Owing to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.)