Category: THE-BEAUTY

  • What to do when driving skills decline

    What to do when driving skills decline

    Part 2 of a two-part series on making decisions about driving as we age. Read Part 1 here.  It’s a simple but unfortunate fact: driving skills can wane over time. Eventually, driving can become unsafe for an older driver, their passengers, and others on the road. If you notice a decline in driving abilities in…

  • Long-lasting C. diff infections: A threat to the gut

    Long-lasting C. diff infections: A threat to the gut

    If you’ve ever dealt with diarrhea, you know how quickly it leaves you feeling depleted. Now imagine a case that rages on and on — or comes back again and again. This is the reality for nearly 500,000 Americans each year who have the bacterial infection known as Clostridioides difficile, or C. diff. Virulent diarrhea…

  • Do toddler formulas deliver on nutrition claims?

    Do toddler formulas deliver on nutrition claims?

    Once babies are a year old, those who have been drinking infant formula don’t need it anymore. By that age, they can and should get most of their nutritional needs met by solid foods. Drinking cow’s milk, or a fortified plant milk such as soy milk, is perfectly fine. And honestly, they don’t even need…

  • When should you hire in-home help or health aides?

    When should you hire in-home help or health aides?

    Most people want to age in place and live at home for as long as possible: according to an AARP survey, three-quarters of people 50 and older are hoping to do so. But managing this successfully may mean hiring outside help, such as health aides who can assist you with daily activities that have become…

  • Does running cause arthritis?

    Does running cause arthritis?

    When I took up running in college, a friend of mine scoffed at the idea. He hated running and was convinced runners were “wearing out” their joints. He liked to say he was saving his knees for his old age. So, was he onto something? Does running really ruin your joints, as many people believe?…

  • Opill: Is this new birth control pill right for you?

    Opill: Is this new birth control pill right for you?

    Birth control pills have been safely used in the US (and sold only by prescription) for more than half a century. Just this past summer, the FDA approved Opill, the first daily contraceptive pill intended for sale over the counter. This offers many more people access to a new nonprescription option for preventing pregnancy. Opill…

  • What to do if you think your child has the flu

    What to do if you think your child has the flu

    Once influenza season is underway, it’s natural that if you hear your child start coughing, you wonder: could this be the flu or another virus? And if you think it is the flu, what should you do? Is it the flu, RSV, COVID –– or just a cold? It’s not always easy to tell these…

  • No-cost, low-cost, and bigger splurges for climate-conscious gifts

    No-cost, low-cost, and bigger splurges for climate-conscious gifts

    Looking for gifts to give or donate this year? Climate-conscious gifts come in many guises. They may directly support our environment, for example, or aim to reduce fossil fuel use and electronic, textile, and food waste. Or they might offer enjoyable, creative ways to connect, reuse, and recycle — and possibly even regift. “Our purchases…

  • What does a birth doula do?

    What does a birth doula do?

    Childbirth — painful, messy, unpredictable — has been part of humankind for time immemorial. And in the US, which has surprisingly high rates of avoidable complications and maternal deaths, more people seem to be seeking out doulas for additional care during pregnancy and birth, says Natalia Richey, interim chief midwife in the Department of Obstetrics…

  • Small pets are delightful, but some carry dangerous bacteria

    Small pets are delightful, but some carry dangerous bacteria

    Small animals like turtles, iguanas, and frogs are often chosen as first-time pets for children because they are easy to interact with and low maintenance for busy households. While they can be fun, it may be best to avoid them. The reason? “Reptiles and amphibians can carry germs that make people sick, the most common…