25, Apr 2024
What color is your tongue? What’s healthy, what’s not?

If the eyes are the windows to the soul, then consider the tongue a sort of check-engine light for the body. The tongue’s appearance gives doctors an idea about certain aspects of your health, and its color is an important clue. What should your tongue look like? The tongue should…

25, Apr 2024
Your amazing parathyroid glands

You probably know that you have a thyroid gland. Perhaps you or someone you know has had thyroid tests or a thyroid disorder such as hypothyroidism. But did you know you also have a parathyroid gland? It’s true — in fact, most people have four of them, even though one…

25, Apr 2024
When — and how — should you be screened for colon cancer?

Colon cancer is the second-deadliest form of cancer after lung cancer. If recent messages about colon cancer screening have left you a little confused, that's understandable. In August, the American College of Physicians (ACP) released updated guidance for colon cancer screening that differs from other major organizations, including recommendations from…

25, Apr 2024
Co-regulation: Helping children and teens navigate big emotions

When preschoolers are melting down or teens are slamming doors, parents face two difficult tasks: keeping themselves composed and supporting their kids’ ability to self-soothe while building skills to handle future challenges. These abilities are at the heart of co-regulation, a parenting tool that requires patience and practice. But what…

25, Apr 2024
Dog bites: How to prevent or treat them

Each year, more than 4.5 million dog bites occur in the United States. Despite what you might assume, most of these incidents don’t happen when an unfamiliar dog attacks someone in a park or another outdoor location. Instead, most dog bites are inflicted by a pet dog in a home.…

25, Apr 2024
Will miscarriage care remain available?

When you first learned the facts about pregnancy — from a parent, perhaps, or a friend — you probably didn’t learn that up to one in three ends in a miscarriage. What causes miscarriage? How is it treated? And why is appropriate health care for miscarriage under scrutiny — and…

25, Apr 2024
Can AI answer medical questions better than your doctor?

Last year, headlines describing a study about artificial intelligence (AI) were eye-catching, to say the least: ChatGPT Rated as Better Than Real Doctors for Empathy, Advice The AI will see you now: ChatGPT provides higher quality answers and is more empathetic than a real doctor, study finds Is AI Better…

25, Apr 2024
How to stay healthy during a drought

What is a drought? A drought is a prolonged dry period without rain. In the last few decades, droughts are occurring more frequently worldwide. With climate change, rising temperatures are making many regions dry within the US and beyond. Here’s how to recognize potential harms if drought has a grip…

25, Apr 2024
Opill: Is this new birth control pill right for you?

Birth control pills have been safely used in the US (and sold only by prescription) for more than half a century. In 2023 the FDA approved Opill, the first daily contraceptive pill intended for sale over the counter with no prescription needed. This offers many more people access to a…

25, Apr 2024
How well do you worry about your health?

Don’t worry. It’s good advice if you can take it. Of course that’s not always easy, especially for health concerns. The truth is: it’s impossible (and ill-advised) to never worry about your health. But are you worrying about the right things? Let’s compare a sampling of common worries to the…