Try making immunity-boosting ice cubes
As the weather warms, I find myself craving ice cubes in my water. But I make what you might call “weird” ice cubes. Sometimes they’re green. Sometimes they are the normal whitish color, but they’ve been laced with herbs like astragalus or echinacea, all intended to boost immunity. When my children were young, they didn’t notice what was going on, but they got “immune... READ MORE
Ways to lower stress, boost whole grains
Q: The coronavirus outbreak has raised my stress level. I am worried that anxiety is making me more susceptible to infection. What can I do now to feel calmer? A: The stress response is also known as “the fight or flight” reaction. It’s what the body does as it prepares to confront or avoid danger. When appropriately invoked, the stress response helps us rise to many... READ MORE
Can you cocoon with friends or family?
Q. Is it safe to form a COVID-19 “support bubble” with friends? A. Yes, if done correctly. Support bubbles, also known as quarantine pods, may help fend off loneliness and anxiety after months of social distancing. The idea, which originated in New Zealand, calls for two people or households to agree to socialize in person only with each other in order to limit the risk of... READ MORE
Ending rebound headaches from meds
Rebound headaches, also known as medication overuse headaches, are caused by the frequent or excessive use of pain-relieving and/or anti-migraine drugs to treat headache attacks that are already in progress. (Note that these are not the same as oral prophylactic or preventive headache medicines, which should be taken daily.) In other words, the same medications that initially... READ MORE
Low-risk technique for prostate biopsies
Dear Mayo Clinic: My husband had an MRI that showed an abnormal spot on his prostate. The last time he had a prostate biopsy, he got a severe urinary tract infection, which led to him being hospitalized. It took him weeks to recover. Is he at risk of another serious infection after this prostate biopsy? Is there anything we can do to reduce that risk? A: Although it’s... READ MORE
Gardeners: help yourself and others, too
Gardening’s popularity has surged during the coronavirus pandemic. It provides exercise, outdoor time, emotional well-being and wholesome produce. Home gardeners can also provide some hunger relief to others during a time of rising food insecurity. Many home gardeners are donating portions of their freshly picked harvests to food banks, meal programs and shelters. Some are... READ MORE
Digital registry tracks COVID symptoms
For some of us, the worst aspect of the coronavirus pandemic is the fear of the unknown. How long will it last? When will a vaccine be available? Will we contract the virus, and if so, how bad will it be? Since late March, a digital study called Behavioral, Environmental and Treatments for COVID-19 (Beat19) has been gathering real-world information about the novel virus’ symptoms and ... READ MORE
Coronavirus news shorts
Virus kept ER patients home Emergency room visits in the U.S. for chest pain and heart attacks fell early this spring, according to a June study that supports fears that the coronavirus outbreak scared away people from going to the hospital. ER visits were up for respiratory illnesses and pneumonia, but were down for nearly every other kind of injury or ailment, according to the... READ MORE
Take steps to avoid heat-related illnesses
Q: Temperatures exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit for much of the summer season in Virginia. How do I keep myself safe during these summer months? A: Climbing temperatures coupled with high humidity can pose health risks to many people. Older adults in the community are at an increased risk for heat-related illness due to age-related changes in skin thickness, a decrease in sweat... READ MORE
Finding new benefits for ancient walnuts
Walnuts are prized for their delicious flavor as well as their health-promoting nutrients and unique supply of plant compounds. Walnuts are the oldest tree food known to man, dating back to 7,000 BCE. Native to ancient Persia, walnuts were so coveted that only royalty were allowed to eat them. Ancient Greeks then used walnuts for food, medicine and dye for wool and cloth. They... READ MORE
Health 2024
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