February is American Heart Month, as good a time as any to start taking these steps to promote heart health. Make a pact with yourself (and family members) to cross these things off your list as soon as possible.
A cold, sterile room with blinding lights. Squealing drills and long, sharp needles. A large man with hairy knuckles, smiling sinisterly as he says, “Open wide!”
Q: What does it mean to be double jointed? A: “Double jointed” is a colloquialism for hypermobile joints, meaning joints that are more flexible than normal.
Q: A psychiatrist has diagnosed my elderly mother with bipolar disorder or bipolar depression. Can you explain what that is?
I have been thrust into an international monetary caper. Faced with such a situation when I was younger, I would have told her I was sorry and replaced the remaining quarters with a dollar bill. But not so today!
You can’t cure a cold, but you can relieve cold symptoms. So if you’re sick of being sick, try these suggestions from the Mayo Clinic.
From growing concerns about obesity and chronic illnesses to rising gasoline prices, the reasons to walk more and ride less are becoming too clear to ignore, says Dr. Bob Sallis, a family physician and sports medicine expert at Kaiser Permanente Fontana Medical Center in Fontana, Calif.
Unfortunately, for every youth who is overweight, there are at least two who are not fit. With less emphasis on physical education, and even the elimination of recess in elementary schools, this sad situation is becoming more prevalent.
I had a weekend of almost normal activity, thanks to the steroids given to me with chemo. It felt so incredible to be out of the house talking to people, animated and energetic enough to stand up. Through my 5-year-old grandson’s birthday party, to having weekend company and even cooking a little, life became so much more again. I am grateful for those good days and will hang on to the memories to propel me to enjoy even more. So when the chemo cloud hovers over me again, I’ll remember that those clouds do break away to let the sun shine in. I’ll also remember to keep turning my care over to God and I’ll take comfort in an outcome that is for my highest and best – whatever that may be.
The newest volunteers at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, Ill, share some interesting backgrounds. There’s Zeke, a 4-year-old greyhound racing rescue dog who had a leg amputated as a puppy.
Coconut water is being hyped as better than water because of its electrolyte content, but these nutrients are helpful, supplied quickly in a beverage, only for very active people and athletes who rapidly lose them through excessive sweating.
Q: I read about this choking game some kids play, and it scares me. Should I talk to my kids about this? There are other names for strangulation activities, such as “the choking game,” “the fainting game” or “space monkey,” as well as many others.
We have all experienced being dizzy, off balance, spinning or feeling lightheaded. Often people categorize these symptoms as vertigo when, in fact, there are several reasons one may be experiencing these symptoms.
To me, a meaningful measure of a good parent is the parent who successfully overcomes the stress and adversities associated with not having a “utopia” baby.
The pursuit of happiness. Everybody is doing it, but many do not know where to find it. It remains elusive. We may not even agree about the definition. Is it having success and recognition on your job? Or is it having expensive things such as expensive cars and homes?
My bed is looking too good, and I see myself slipping into chemo mode where inactivity becomes my activity. What kind of life is that? I’ve written about this chemo lethargy way too often, and here I am again. If I give up on chemo now, I’m trading my limited time without energy for limited time with more energy. If only I had a crystal ball to know how much time I would have with either choice. Having stage 4 lung cancer doesn’t make this easy, so I have to remember that miracles can happen.
It is true that allergies are not only diagnosed because of better awareness, but they also have become more common in the population over time.
Most families will have more than one kit available, usually one at home and one at school, and perhaps one more for an additional caregiver if appropriate.
Q: My doctor asked me if I would participate in a research trial. How do I know this is on the up and up, and she is not just trying to make money off me?
If you are in reasonable good health with no serious diseases, feel good, have minimal aches and pains, and can go from here to there without too much difficulty, this is something to celebrate.
