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recent blog posts
- Top 10 Tips for Safe Cycling
- How to Keep a Healthy Closet
- Empty Nest Redux: Saying Good-bye to the Family Home
- Military Service and Life Insurance
- Tidy Up Your Kitchen Pantry
- Olympic Medalist Faces New Opponent: Spring Allergies
- Genetic Testing and Breast Cancer: What You Need to Know
- Mushrooms and Your Health: You Either Love Them or Hate Them, but Here Are Reasons to Try to Love Them
- Don't Let Food Allergies Keep You Away From Summer Cookouts
- Helping Patients Navigate Social Security Disability Issues
quick links
Thursday, Jun 06th 2013
Top 10 Tips for Safe Cycling
If I could, I'd trade my car in for my bicycle, at least this time of year.
Riding a bike gives me so many pleasures: it takes me back to the joys of my childhood; it allows me to feel the fresh air on my face; it puts me more in touch with nature, giving me time to slow down and notice things I'd otherwise not notice from the inside of a car.
Wednesday, May 29th 2013
Empty Nest Redux: Saying Good-bye to the Family Home
I always thought that baby birds migrated with their families, living happily ever after in a flock of friendship and closeness. Alas, that was a mere fantasy of mine. Most birds separate after the nesting season is over. Once the young birds leave the nest, they are completely on their own. How do the baby birds know what to do, where to go and how to get there once they've been released into the world? No one really knows for sure.
Thursday, May 16th 2013
Genetic Testing and Breast Cancer: What You Need to Know
If you found out you were at high risk for breast cancer, what would you do?
Angelina Jolie made a very brave decision when she recently opted for, and announced, she had undergone a prophylactic double mastectomy after finding out she carried a genetic mutation.
More: Prophylactic Mastectomy: Why This Woman Chose It
Tuesday, May 14th 2013
Mushrooms and Your Health: You Either Love Them or Hate Them, but Here Are Reasons to Try to Love Them
Many years ago, after I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I visited an herbalist. At the time—this was more than 20 years ago—herbs were something I thought of as growing in your garden and being used to enhance the flavor of foods, not something you ingested in liquid, capsule or pill form.
But this herbalist was extremely well-respected, knowledgeable and progressive, and I was anxious for advice to keep myself healthy.
Tuesday, May 07th 2013
Is Yoga on Your To-Don't List?
About 10 years ago, I decided I needed to add some variety to my workout routine. I also craved something a bit slower-paced and meditative. So I took up yoga.
I loved the way it stretched out my body. I loved the way it forced me to slow down and relax. I loved the way I felt when I took that special time out from my busy life.
Monday, Apr 29th 2013
Health Headlines in the News
If you're like me (and lots of other people out there), these recent weeks have been tough ones in the news due to the Boston Marathon bombings and other tragedies around the world. However, there's also been some encouraging news on the health front.
Perhaps you'll find something here that is important to you or to share with someone you love.
Kidney Stones and Calcium
Monday, Apr 22nd 2013
What You Need to Know About Colon Cancer
I'm a little late to announce that March was colon cancer awareness month. I guess I'm guilty of what a lot of us do when it comes to colon cancer awareness: ignore it or procrastinate thinking about it.
But what's important to realize is that colorectal cancer is an "equal opportunity employer," striking both men and women. It is responsible for 150,000 diagnoses (that's about 16 people every hour!) and 50,000 deaths annually in the United States.
Tuesday, Apr 16th 2013
The Rise of Emergency Room Use
Yesterday morning, concerned about a problem I was having after having some injections weeks before for varicose veins in my legs, I called my doctor. I'll be taking a five-hour flight later this week and wanted to make sure there would be no problem. Ever since writing about deep vein thrombosis, I've had it on my mind.
Tuesday, Apr 09th 2013
Remember Your Calcium—But How?
We'd like to think that staying healthy is as easy as swallowing a handful of pills. And many of us have been doing that—taking our recommended amount of calcium to ward off osteoporosis.
Tuesday, Apr 02nd 2013
Is Menopause Playing Havoc With Your Sleep?
My husband loves to recount this story: When we were first married, he came down with the flu. One night, he was having a particularly tough time sleeping.
"Honey, wake up. I don't feel well."
I barely moved.
"Honey, please. Wake up. I can't sleep."
Grunt.
The pleading got a bit more insistent until I managed to register that someone was talking to me, and I wasn't dreaming.
