What to do when elective surgery is postponed

Each time a wave of COVID-19 engulfs a community, overwhelmed hospitals wind up postponing elective surgeries. The schedule changes are needed to make room for COVID patients, allow all hands on deck for crisis care, and shield people in the community from unnecessary COVID exposure. This scenario may grow worse if the flu season isn’t… Continue reading What to do when elective surgery is postponed

Caring for an aging parent? Tips for enjoying holiday meals

The holidays are supposed to be a time of joy and celebration, and the meal is a centerpiece of the occasion. But when you’re a caregiver for an aging parent, the joy can be overshadowed by stress. Whether you’re observing winter holidays — such as Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, or New Year’s Eve — or holidays… Continue reading Caring for an aging parent? Tips for enjoying holiday meals

Preparing for the holidays? Don’t forget rapid tests for COVID-19

As the holiday season approaches, there’s a lot to keep in mind. Let’s just start with the easy questions: Who’s hosting Thanksgiving? Who’s making the turkey? The stuffing? Dessert? But as we embark on our second round of holidays during the COVID-19 pandemic, we all have additional questions and decisions to make about how to… Continue reading Preparing for the holidays? Don’t forget rapid tests for COVID-19

Icy fingers and toes: Poor circulation or Raynaud’s phenomenon?

If your fingers or toes ever turn pale (or even ghostly white) and go numb when exposed to cold, you might assume you just have poor circulation. That’s what I used to think when I first started noticing this problem with my own hands many years ago. It usually happened near the end of a… Continue reading Icy fingers and toes: Poor circulation or Raynaud’s phenomenon?

Thinking about COVID booster shots? Here’s what to know

Vaccination against the virus that causes COVID-19 is the most important lifesaving tool we have in this pandemic. Fortunately, the vaccines authorized in the US have proven remarkably safe and effective. And we’ve known from the start that the strong protection they provide would likely wane over time. But has protection declined enough to warrant… Continue reading Thinking about COVID booster shots? Here’s what to know

Cancer survivors’ sleep is affected long after treatment

Once the stress of a cancer diagnosis and its intensive treatments have passed, the hope is that life can return to normal. But we know that this is not true for many people who have had treatments for cancer, and sleep is often impacted for a long time after treatment. Researchers at the American Cancer… Continue reading Cancer survivors’ sleep is affected long after treatment

Skills children need to succeed in life — and getting youngsters started

All parents want their children to be successful in life — and by successful, we mean not just having a good job and a good income, but also being happy. And all parents wonder how they can make that happen. According to Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child, it’s less about grades and extracurricular activities,… Continue reading Skills children need to succeed in life — and getting youngsters started

Do I have to yell so much?

You’ve been trying to get your point across, but it’s not getting through. It’s getting you frustrated, maybe a little offended, so you go for a different approach. You yell. Now, concert-level volume has its place, like for saying, “There’s a bear behind you” or “Power line down.” But the big question is, how often… Continue reading Do I have to yell so much?