We’re still early enough in 2019 that if you felt you didn’t resolve in enough excellent ways to improve your health and well-being, there are a few more solid strategies to check out. You could, for example: Get your hearing checked and ensure you’re protecting and enhancing it in every appropriate way. Dive deeper into the….
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Staying healthy, safe and thankful during the holidays
As we all race to groaning tables for one of the traditional and happier holidays of the year, here’s hoping the turkeys stay brown, tasty, and on the table. Sadly, food poisoning is a real issue, and not just for worry-warts. Cooks preparing this major feast may want to keep watch on growing reports from….
Continue ReadingThe downside of crowd-funding medical treatments for desperate patients
Although the sky-high cost of providing medical care to sick or injured friends and loved ones might seem good reason to encourage community altruism to the nth degree, new technologies that have made it easy, fast, and convenient to “crowd source” online donations also may be sending well-intentioned gifts to dubious and dangerous types of….
Continue ReadingOfficials around the globe take steps to battle public health menace of suicide
They may seem small and may be symbolic, but Britain and Japan both are taking steps to deal with suicide, a public health menace by which 45,000 Americans age 10 or older took their lives by their own hand in 2016 alone. In Britain, the New York Times reported that Prime Minister Theresa May appointed….
Continue ReadingExperts issue new cautions as hospitals and ERs treat a spike in teen suicides
Moms, dads, grandparents, teachers, and coaches all may need to increase even more the attention and concern they devote to teen-agers, especially young women, as hospitals and emergency rooms report dramatic increases in their treatment of youthful suicides. Multiple news organizations reported that, as the New York Times noted, “the proportion of emergency room and….
Continue ReadingPresident O? Let’s first look hard at her role in hyping health humbug
Oprah Winfrey’s recent rousing broadcast speech — both in accepting an entertainment industry group’s lifetime achievement award and denouncing sexism and sexual harassment in Hollywood — also opened the door to a reconsideration of how this talented, smart, accomplished, powerful, and wealthy celebrity icon long has helped to foster a barrage of health and medical….
Continue ReadingAs flu season rages, please get vaccinated and take other precautions
The flu season’s roaring across the country. It’s a bad one, with the H3N2 strain afflicting millions with a severe form of illness — which also has been deadly, notably for the old and young. If you haven’t done so, consider getting a flu shot, asap. The flu shot this year may be less than….
Continue ReadingSafety and injury prevention should be part of our new year exercise plans
Millions of Americans may be hitting the gym as part of their new year resolve to get fitter. They also need to exercise caution and common sense to avoid injuries that could leave them in worse shape. As the Washington Post reported, the 2018 health club crush will result in “hundreds of thousands of [exercisers]….
Continue ReadingIt’s clear to see: Cataract surgery can extend and improve women’s lives (and men’s too)
Cataract operations, performed on more than 3 million Americans each year, not only may be the most common surgeries in the nation—they also may be life prolonging, especially for older women. A 20-year study—published in JAMA Ophthalmology— of more than 74,000 women who were 65 and older and who had the all too common clouding….
Continue ReadingFor holidays, consider helping others and yourself with gifts of life and health
Looking for a gift with more meaning for a holiday season of higher purpose and lasting impact? Here are some ideas: Protect yourself and your loved ones. Pronto. If you qualify for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare, sign up, immediately. Go to healthcare.gov to learn more and to launch the process. The….
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