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Hypertension, commonly called high blood pressure, is one of the most widespread chronic conditions worldwide. It often develops without noticeable symptoms, yet it significantly increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, and heart failure when left untreated. The good news is that hypertension is highly manageable with the right combination of lifestyle changes and prescription medications.

Understanding hypertension and treatment goals

Blood pressure measures the force of blood against artery walls. Hypertension occurs when this pressure remains elevated over time. Even modest increases can damage blood vessels and organs.

Treatment goals usually include:

1. Lowering systolic and diastolic blood pressure
2. Reducing the risk of cardiovascular events
3. Protecting kidney and vascular health
4. Improving long-term quality of life

Many people require more than one medication to achieve control, SaveHealth, a prescription discount card website, reports. Doctors tailor therapy based on age, race, underlying conditions, and response to treatment.

Main types of blood pressure medications

Hypertension medications fall into several well-established categories. Each class lowers blood pressure in a different way, which is why combination therapy is common.

Major antihypertensive drug classes include:

1. ACE inhibitors
2. Angiotensin II receptor blockers, also called ARBs
3. Calcium channel blockers
4. Beta blockers
5. Diuretics
6. Alpha blockers
7. Central acting agents
8. Vasodilators
9. Combination medications

Understanding these categories helps explain why certain drugs are chosen.

ACE inhibitors for high blood pressure

ACE inhibitors relax blood vessels by blocking the enzyme that produces angiotensin II, a hormone that narrows arteries.

Common ACE inhibitors include:

• Lisinopril, sold as Zestril and Qbrelis.
• Enalapril, sold as Vasotec and Epaned.
• Quinapril, sold as Accupril.
• Ramipril, sold as Altace.
• Benazepril, sold as Lotensin.
• Captopril, sold as Capoten.
• Fosinopril, sold as Monopril.
• Moexipril, sold as Univasc.
• Perindopril, sold as Aceon.
• Trandolapril, sold as Mavik.

Combination products such as Accuretic (quinapril and hydrochlorothiazide), Vaseretic (enalapril and hydrochlorothiazide), and Zestoretic (lisinopril and hydrochlorothiazide) combine an ACE inhibitor with a diuretic for stronger blood pressure control.

ACE inhibitors are often first-line therapy, particularly for people with d

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Drivers shopping for car insurance in 2026 are facing a wide spread in both price and experience. Insure.com’s latest Best Auto Insurance Companies analysis — built from nearly 2,000 customer surveys plus rate, complaint, and financial strength data — shows a clear divide: A handful of national brands dominate on scale, but regional carriers and membership-based insurers often deliver better value.

Travelers takes the top spot among national insurers, earning 4.55 out of 5 stars based on a combined score of customer experience, price, financial strength, and complaint data.

At the same time, high-satisfaction regional players like Auto-Owners and Erie, as well as membership-only USAA, set the bar for price, loyalty, and claims performance.

Across all 19 companies with rate data, full-coverage premiums average about $209 a month. However, the cheapest and most expensive insurers are separated by more than $100 monthly, underscoring the importance of comparing quotes and looking beyond the biggest household names.

Here are the top three car insurance companies for 2026:

1. Travelers
2. GEICO
3. Nationwide

There were some notable changes in the rankings of national insurance companies for 2026:

• State Farm dropped two spots from No. 4 to No. 6
• Nationwide dropped from No. 2 to No. 3
• GEICO and Progressive each moved up one spot
• Farmers (No. 8) and Allstate (No. 7) switched spots this year

Each of the top companies on this list is a reputable auto insurer with its own strengths and weaknesses. However, when comparing factors like customer satisfaction and complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), some providers performed better than others.

Here are Insure.com’s Best Auto Insurance Companies for 2026 with their rankings.

Insure.com

Note: An insurer needs to do business in at least 40 states to rank as a national company.
*USAA is only available to members of the military community and their families.

Regional carriers were rated but not ranked against national companies to ensure equitable comparisons. This year, Insure.com was able to rate six regional carriers, with the addition of:

• Auto Club Enterprises
• Auto Club Group
• CSAA Insurance Group
• Mercury

Here’s how the rankings would have looked with regional carriers included.

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As we enter 2026, many Americans turn to resolutions, according to a YouGov survey.

And the most popular resolutions mostly have to do with being healthier, whether it’s physical or mental.

If you’ve embarked on your 2026 resolutions, it’s important to remember that genuine, lasting impact stems from making small, consistent changes. Crucially, these shifts must be achievable to become sustainable. This includes prioritizing sleep, adopting improved eating habits, and incorporating more exercise.

Northwell Health gives a closer look at how to achieve these goals.

Elevate Your Sleep

Quality sleep forms the bedrock of overall well-being, granting the body and mind the vital opportunity to restore and rejuvenate. Cultivating robust sleep hygiene is fundamentally about embracing incremental changes, and it can profoundly enhance overall health. Strive to establish a calming, predictable, and stress-free evening ritual. This can include limiting or eliminating screen time before you close your eyes, reading, breathing exercises, or gentle stretching. Some people whose minds race at bedtime turn to strategies like cognitive shuffling, which can help interrupt the thinking and planning many people experience at night. Most people sleep well in rooms that are cool, dark, and quiet.

Take a moment to assess whether your bedroom might be too bright or has disruptive blinking lights from electronics. Perhaps a white noise app or machine could effectively muffle sounds that could wake you. Adjust your thermostat to discover what temperature works best for you.

Energize Your Body

Adding physical activity to daily routines yields remarkable dividends for one’s body, mind, and mood. Health professionals advise most patients to aim for three to four hours of moderately intense exercise per week—and there’s no need to go to the gym daily or embrace high-impact, high-intensity workouts. Even short bursts of activity throughout the day can steadily build and contribute to your overall fitness. Walking, especially outdoors and on an incline, can deliver significant cardiovascular benefits while keeping your mind engaged and stimulated. Seek out activities you genuinely enjoy, whether it’s dancing, hiking, or simply taking brisk walks. Dedicate time for your workouts by putting them on your calendar and blocking out time, just like you would for any other priority appointment. Bring a friend or create an uplifting playlist for company.

Optimize Your Nutrition

Embrace a balanced diet that includes generous portions of fruits, vegetables, and lean protein, such as fish, beans, and chicken breasts. Integrate foods that contain healthy fats like those found in olive oil, avocados, and various nuts. Consider actively reducing refined sugars and processed foods, as they can worsen inflammation and weight gain. If yo

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The confetti has been swept up, the champagne flutes are back in the cabinet, and — ugh — everyone is circling back. You’ve probably already broken half of your resolutions, but here’s one resolution you can actually keep: booking the travel of your dreams while everyone else is still recovering from their holiday hangover.

Welcome to Planuary — that magical window when smart travelers turn their biggest vacation dreams into a locked-in reality.

The January-February travel surge

In a recent point.me survey, 61% of travelers who haven’t yet booked their 2026 trips plan to do so in January or February. From December 2024 to January 2025, Google searches for “flight deals” skyrocketed by more than 600%.

The January surge is real, and it’s transcending generations, income levels, and travel styles.

When people expect to plan their 2026 trips

point.me

Why everyone’s suddenly a January-February planner

When the survey asked why people book their major trips during Planuary, two reasons rose to the top.

32% said they desperately need something to look forward to. Let’s be honest: January can feel like the Monday of months. The decorations are down, the parties are over, and the weather is often not conducive to doing much other than curling up on a couch with a warm blanket. Booking a summer beach escape or a fall European adventure? That’s the emotional espresso shot you need to power through the rest of winter.

20% said they’re hoping to snag better prices and availability, and another 16% are looking for post-holiday deals. These are the pragmatists, the spreadsheet enthusiasts, the people who know that the early bird doesn’t just get the worm, it also gets the lie-flat business class seat to Tokyo.

Both groups are onto something big.

Why people like to plan early in the year

point.me

4 reasons Planuary is your travel superpower

1. The entire year is open for booking

Read more

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From functional foods to global flavors, the U.S. food and beverage landscape is shifting fast, driven by wellness, cultural exploration and changing consumer expectations. For entrepreneurs, these changes aren’t just trends; they’re opportunities to build businesses and fill a niche.

Across restaurants, packaged goods, catering and specialty retail, small businesses are leading the charge. NEXT compiled a list of the fastest-growing restaurants, food and beverage business types for 2026.

1. Functional foods and personalized nutrition take center stage

Functional foods continue to gain momentum as more people look for everyday meals and snacks that support their health. Gut-healthy kombucha, probiotic chips, adaptogenic drinks and nutrient-dense smoothie kits are now part of many shoppers’ routines — and small food businesses are helping drive that shift.

A subset of this trend is personalized nutrition (also called precision nutrition), which tailors a diet to an individual’s unique health needs or goals. This could be customized meal plans, tailored nutrition supplements, or products for specific conditions like diabetes or low energy.

If you run a restaurant or café, you can tap into the functional food trend with a health-focused menu. For example, create build-your-own bowls and salads let diners tailor meals to their goals, from low-glycemic to gut-friendly. You can even partner with nutritionists to develop dishes aimed at goals like energy boosts, weight management or digestive support.

Recent insights from the Specialty Food Association point to ongoing functional food opportunities in customizable snacks, AI-supported nutrition apps and foods designed around specific wellness benefits — areas where small businesses can innovate quickly.

2. Meal and snack businesses supporting GLP-1 consumers

With roughly one in eight American adults now using GLP-1 medications like Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro, the way people eat is shifting — and fast. As appetite decreases and nutrition needs change, demand is rising for foods that support weight management and blood-sugar control. For small businesses, this is one of the clearest new food opportunities.

Major brands have already moved. Nestlé launched its Vital Pursuit line of high-protein, GLP-1 friendly meals, and Conagra rolled out an “On Track” badge on Healthy Choice meals to signal high-protein options for this audience.

Restaurants feel the impact, too. Read more