What to do when driving skills decline
admin 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.…
Health News
A tough question: When should an older driver stop driving?
When my grandmother repeatedly clipped the mailbox backing out of her driveway, she always had a ready explanation: “the sun was in my eyes” or “your grandfather distracted me.” Our…
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…
Do children get migraine headaches? What parents need to know
Headaches are very common in children and teens. In fact, more than half will suffer from headaches at some point, and by 18 years the majority of adolescents have had…
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…
How much sleep do you actually need?
On average, how many hours do you sleep each night? For most healthy adults, guidelines suggest at least seven hours of slumber. But these are general recommendations and not strict…
FDA approves new surgical treatment for enlarged prostates
Nearly a century ago, surgeons developed what is still considered the gold-standard treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), an age-related affliction that occurs when an enlarged prostate obstructs the flow…
Kidneys, eyes, ears, and more: Why do we have a spare?
One of the many underappreciated things about the human body is that it has a lot of excess capacity. That is, our organs have more reserve than most of us…
Talking to children about tragedies and scary headlines in the news
The news these days is overwhelming in its awfulness. Acts of terrorism, wars, and heated conflicts constantly erupt throughout the world. Climate change looms, contributing to wildfires and flooding. Incomprehensible…
Produce prescriptions may promote better heart health
It’s no secret that the typical American diet isn’t very healthy. Only about one in 10 American adults eats the recommended daily amount of fruit (1-1/2 to 2 cups) or…