Opill: Is this new birth control pill right for you?
tpskwg
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…
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…
Want to reduce your risk of dementia? Get your hearing checked today
Are you having a little trouble hearing conversations? If so, you're not alone. An estimated 23% of Americans ages 12 and older have hearing loss. Although most of those people…
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…
A tough question: When should an older driver stop driving?
Part 1 of a two-part series on making decisions about driving as we age. Read Part 2 here. When my grandmother repeatedly clipped the mailbox backing out of her driveway,…
Does running cause arthritis?
When I took up running in college, a friend of mine scoffed at the idea. He hated running and was convinced runners were "wearing out" their joints. He liked to…
Holiday arguments brewing? Here’s how to defuse them
The holidays, as painted by idealists, are hardly the time for disagreements. They're supposed to be filled with love, laughter, good cheer, and those tiny sparkly lights that make the…
Lead poisoning: What parents should know and do
You may have heard recent news reports about a company that knowingly sold defective lead testing machines that tested tens of thousands of children between 2013 and 2017. Or wondered…
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…
3 ways to create community and counter loneliness
Loneliness is complicated. You can feel lonely when you lack friends and miss companionship, or when you're surrounded by people — even friends and family. Either way, loneliness can have…