A healthy diet shouldn’t be confusingThere are a lot of fad diets out there, and even more nutritional supplements being marketed to improve health.
It can be confusing to know what to eat, what to avoid, and whether supplements are good for us or not.
A new study, however, suggests that the best diet is relatively simple: Eat everything, but aim for a lower-than-average salt intake. And skip … read on
An ugly problem with an ugly name—hallux valgusLast summer I noticed I had the beginning of a small bunion.
Horrified, I wanted to find out if there was anything I could do to keep it from becoming bigger, uglier and more painful.
Anything except surgery. The last thing I want is foot surgery.
I also wanted to know how to prevent a bunion from developing in my other … read on
What’s the difference?Several people have asked me about CBD, or cannabidiol, a compound found in cannabis plants.
What is it good for? Does it work? Is it legal?
CBD oil has become a billion-dollar a year industry, and the marketing of these products is fierce.
As I started to do some research, first I had to figure out the difference between some commonly used terms: CBD oil, hemp extract, … read on
Stay safe this 4th of July!My state’s Fire Marshall recently reported a drop in fireworks-related injuries and fires in 2018.
That’s good news, but 209 injuries is still too many.
As a nurse I’ve seen what both legal and illegal fireworks can do to hands and faces. It’s not pretty.
It’s especially tragic when small children are burned or disfigured.
I ran across this young girl’s PSA about fireworks … read on
Infections can be expensive!When my son was about 10 years old, he developed a nasty blister on his foot after a long hike in poorly-fitting shoes. I wasn’t aware of the blister until several days later when he came to me with what was obviously a badly infected sore between two of his toes.
I had to take him to the pediatrician to have the wound lanced (opened) and … read on
Here’s another post in honor of June being Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month.
We know that the cholesterol-lowering drugs, statins, can help prevent heart attacks and strokes in people with known cardiovascular disease, such as someone who has already had a heart attack, or who smokes and has high blood pressure.
(It’s less clear if statins are helpful in healthy individuals with no risk factors for heart disease other … read on
Spring is here and summer is around the corner.
That means bugs.
And unfortunately, many of these insects and arachnids bite or burrow and cause intense itchiness. At worse, they spread disease.
So here are a few tips on treating some of the more common bug bites.
It’s easier to prevent and treat bites if you know what type of insect (six legs) or arachnid (eight legs) you’re dealing with.… read on
Polypharmacy is the rather uniquely Western medicine epidemic of popping too many prescription drugs.
There’s an old healthcare joke with the punchline “There’s a drug for that!” Sadly, that’s true.
It’s ironic, but too much health care is killing us, especially our seniors. A recent report by the Lown Institute shows the scope of the problem:
June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month.
For years I’ve heard that blueberries are good for brain health. Which is great, because I love blueberries and try to work them into my diet several times a week.
And there is some evidence to support the connection between blueberries and the human brain.
Most blueberry studies to date have been performed on animals, but more recent studies—funded in part by … read on
A recent study
out of my alma mater, the University of Washington, says that as global temperatures continue to rise, so will the number of heat-related deaths.
“Older adults, children and outdoor workers are among those populations particularly susceptible to higher temperatures,” [Professor Kristie L.] Ebi said.
That’s true.
But there are heat-related deaths every summer, and it’s always been important to be informed about how to prevent heat exhaustion … read on