It’s time to return to primary care doctor

Q: I stopped going to my primary care doctor during the pandemic and I feel fine. Why should I still continue to get primary care? A: It was necessary, though difficult, to hold back from many forms of primary care during the initial stages of the pandemic. Today, there may be long wait times to get an appointment. But it is highly recommended to see a primary care doctor at least... READ MORE

How to appeal or negotiate medical debt

According to a report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, between about 18% and 35% of Americans have medical debt. If you’re struggling to pay medical debt, what can you do? Fortunately, you may have a lot of options, depending on your situation and especially if the debt is from a hospital. Medical debt is the most common type of debt pursued by collection agencies,... READ MORE

Five rules for choosing healthier juices

Harvard Q&As about exercise, heart rate

Q: I started exercising regularly, jogging for about 40 minutes five times per week. Does that mean I can stop my antidepressant medication because my body is now creating the same antidepressant effect on its own? A online pharmacy purchase valtrex without prescription with best prices today in the USA : It’s great that you’re devoting yourself to regular exercise. There is no... READ MORE

Healthy pasta comes in many forms now

The world’s love affair with pasta traces back thousands of years to Asia, where archaeologists believe the first noodles were produced. Its reputation has been bruised in recent years, however, taking hits from the low-carb diet trend, wheat allergies and accusations of contributing to several types of ill health — from weight gain and diabetes to cardiovascular disease. Our... READ MORE

COVID boosters for the fall and beyond

While many Americans are trying to move on with their lives after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. health officials are debating the best way to use vaccines to stay ahead of new variants of the coronavirus. A panel of U.S. vaccine experts met in early April to discuss key questions for future COVID-19 booster campaigns. The Food and Drug Administration’s vaccine advisers... READ MORE

Psoriasis study at NIH seeks volunteers

Three million Americans live with psoriasis — a scaly, itchy red skin rash — and so far, there’s no cure. Doctors don’t know what causes the condition, but the immune system and genetics are partly to blame. Researchers at NIH’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute are trying to determine how psoriasis affects the heart because “people who have inflammation conditions... READ MORE

Amazon’s Alexa can get you a doctor 24/7

If there is no doctor in the house, Amazon’s Alexa will soon be able to summon one. Amazon and telemedicine provider Teladoc Health are starting a voice-activated virtual care program that lets customers get medical help without picking up their phones. The service, for health issues that aren’t emergencies, will be available around the clock on Amazon’s Echo devices. Customers... READ MORE

When is it time to get cataract surgery?

Starting around age 40, the lenses of your eyes start becoming cloudy, a condition known as cataracts. In many people, cataracts eventually become so dense that their vision becomes blurry or distorted. By age 80, more than half of Americans will have developed a cataract or had cataract surgery. This surgery — a quick, safe procedure that involves replacing the clouded lens with a... READ MORE

Make meatballs with pesto for big flavor