Mandy Oaklander | October 20, 2026

I used to have a weird misconception about working out: that it had to feel fairly brutal to be worthwhile. The more exhausted your body felt by the end of it, I thought, the better it was for you. That kind of attitude sometimes led me to skip out on walks, deep breathing practices, and other gentle approaches that support health.

I'm glad I know better now. Even mild workouts can do a lot for your health. And they feel nice!

I asked TIME contributor Jennifer Heimlich to look into one gentle exercise: chair yoga, an accessible form of the mind-body practice you can do your whole life long. What can you get out of it? Quite a bit, Jennifer found out. Read on to find out why you shouldn’t underestimate chair yoga.

TODAY’S TOPICS

Treating burning mouth syndrome
A predicted surge in hepatitis B
The quote that stuck
Don’t underestimate chair yoga
The warning signs of negative drug interactions

PLEASE ADVISE

Here’s a great question we received from a reader:

I have burning mouth syndrome, and eliminating citrus, tomatoes, and high-histamine foods hasn’t helped. What else can I do to relieve the constant discomfort?

Dmytro Bosnak—Getty Images

If you’ve given those dietary changes a fair try and they haven’t helped, you don’t need to keep making the list of forbidden foods longer. Burning mouth syndrome can feel like you’ve scalded your tongue or another part of your mouth, even when everything looks normal. Dr. Marcela Romero-Reyes, who directs the Brotman Facial Pain Clinic at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, suggests asking a different question: What was ruled out before you were diagnosed?

Dry mouth, thrush, certain medications, nutritional deficiencies, and other conditions can also make your mouth burn. If one is responsible, treating it may help. Ask your dentist or doctor to review what’s already been checked and whether you need an oral exam, medication review, or blood tests. It’s also worth discussing which foods you can add back.

If that evaluation finds no underlying cause, ask for a referral to an oral medicine or orofacial pain specialist. Romero-Reyes says treatments for primary burning mouth syndrome include prescription medications that act on pain signaling, as well as approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy.

Finding relief may take some trial and error, but another round of food restrictions doesn’t necessarily have to be your next move. –Angela Haupt

Got a health question of your own? Send it our way to healthmatters@time.com, and we might tackle it in a future edition.

BIG NUMBER

225%

That’s how much chronic hepatitis B infections increased in a simulation of the effects of the CDC’s updated vaccine recommendations, according to a new study I wrote about for TIME.

The study modeled the infection status of 3.6 million people born in a single year in the U.S. over the first 20 years of their lives. Researchers estimated that delaying the first hepatitis B vaccine babies receive—and relying on shared decision-making instead—resulted in a sharp rise of the incurable illness. —Veronique Greenwood

Read the full story here.

_{SOURCE: Annals of Internal Medicine}

THE QUOTE THAT STUCK

❝

“It is not our job to become the feelings detective.

Melissa Gluck

When someone insists they’re fine but keeps making little digs at you, it’s easy to start examining every word for clues. In an interview, psychologist Melissa Gluck said that you can ask a friend what’s wrong without taking on the job of figuring it out for them. —A.H.

Read the full story here.

A GOOD READ

Chair yoga can give anyone a workout

At first glance, chair yoga might seem like a workout just for older adults with mobility issues. The gentle, accessible workout offers a modified take on the ancient movement and meditation practice, usually from a seated position. No one’s asked to climb down onto the floor or independently hold themselves upright in tricky standing postures—which makes it ideal for those with limited strength or balance.

But experts say chair yoga shouldn’t be pigeonholed, because anyone can benefit. “It is a practice that meets you where you are,” says Divya Balakrishnan, a yoga instructor in New York City. “You’re still using your strength and flexibility, just in other ways.” —Jennifer Heimlich

Read the full story here.

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WHAT WE’RE READING

A puppy who nearly died from tetanus made an extraordinary recovery and became a guide dog. The Guardian shares Orlando's remarkable story.
More than 4,000 cases of measles have been reported in the U.S. this year, but guidance from federal health leaders has been lacking, The Hill reports.
Could your medications be doing more harm than good? KFF Health News explains how to recognize potential drug interactions.
All three major fall viruses—flu, RSV, and COVID—are starting to stir across the U.S., Katelyn Jetelina of Your Local Epidemiologist writes.