Strong legs help power summer activities: Hiking, biking, swimming, and more
My favorite summer activities officially kick in when the calendar flips to May. It’s prime time for open water swimming, running, cycling, hiking, and anything else that gets me outside and moving. Yet, my first step is to get my legs in shape. “Legs are the foundation for most activities,” says Vijay Daryanani, a physical […]
Tracking viruses: The best clues may be in the sewer
Wastewater testing has captured rising COVID levels and even evidence of polio. Can it predict new viral outbreaks? Yogi Berra said it well: “It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.” Though he wasn’t talking about viral infections or the current pandemic, he might as well have been. Even the best scientists, infectious disease […]
New Harvard tool helps fact-check cancer claims
The internet is full of warnings about things that cause cancer. Watch out for antiperspirants, scented candles, and bras, dubious web sites or sensational posts on social media warn. Steer clear of disposable chopsticks, microwaves, radon gas, and more. Scary or misleading claims are so plentiful that it’s hard to know which ones to take […]
A refresher on childhood asthma: What families should know and do
Asthma is the most common chronic lung disease in children. In the US, it affects about 6 million children, or about one in every 12 children. Breathing is key to life, obviously, so asthma can make life very hard. It can make going for a walk outside feel very hard. It leads not just to […]
Hand pain from arthritis? This may help
Occupational therapy eases pain and improves function when osteoarthritis occurs in the joint connecting thumb and wrist. When it comes to arthritis, some joints seem to get all the attention. We talk about knees and hips an awful lot. Our knees and hips must work well for walking, and a third or more of adults […]
Polio: What parents need to know now
News reports about polio worry many parents. Here’s what to know and do. If you don’t know very much about polio, that’s understandable. Thanks to vaccination, there have been no cases of wild polio infection originating in the United States since 1979. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t any polio in the US. Travelers […]
Ketamine for treatment-resistant depression: When and where is it safe?
Ketamine is approved for hard-to-treat depression, but how safe are outpatient ketamine clinics? Ketamine is an unusual type of psychedelic drug — called a dissociative — that is undergoing a resurgence in popularity. Originally derived from PCP, or “angel dust,” ketamine has been used in hospitals and veterinary clinics as an anesthetic for decades, and […]
Screening at home for memory loss: Should you try it?
It is estimated that worldwide there are more than 55 million people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other causes of dementia, and this number is estimated to rise to 78 million by 2030 and 139 million by 2050. There are simply not enough neurologists, psychiatrists, geriatricians, neuropsychologists, and other specialists to diagnose these individuals with […]
Waist trainers: What happens when you uncinch?
You may have noticed nipped-in, hourglass waists among women wearing the celebrity trend du jour: so-called waist trainers. This tummy-tucking shapewear evokes images of buttoned-up corsets and too-tight girdles from a dim past. But does it live up to the hype? Splashy advertisements suggest these compression devices can help you selectively sculpt inches off your […]
Millions rely on wheelchairs for mobility, but repair delays are hurting users
More than five million Americans use wheelchairs. Getting one repaired is hard. Wheelchairs restore mobility to people who are unable to walk or have limited ability to do so. Over a lifetime, this may describe many of us due to changes in health, injuries, neurological conditions, or disabling conditions like arthritis. So, when wheelchair technology […]