Staying Healthy Archive

Climate change has made summers hotter, and the struggle to stay cool has led to more cases of heat-related illness. Don't wait until you're overheated to figure out how to cool down; use these ideas to get you started.

The medication Suboxone has helped many people who are addicted to opiates, but even within the addiction treatment community there are misunderstandings about this drug and its effects on the brain.

By now, you've probably run into a product containing cannabidiol, also known as CBD. It is in everything from drinks and pet products to lotions and chewable gummies. But many people still don't really know what CBD is, what it does and doesn't do, and how it works. Below, we sort through the confusion by answering some of the most common questions about CBD.

Just because you can get a particular test or treatment or take a supplement doesn't mean you should. One study suggests as much as 20% of all health care in the US is unneeded. Skipping unnecessary care might actually improve your health, while saving time and money.

A 2024 Harvard study of more than 14,000 women found that counting steps was just as effective as counting exercise minutes as a means of tracking whether a person is getting enough activity to reduce disease risk and boost longevity.

Age-related changes to the vocal cords can make the voice sound thin, reedy, raspy, breathy, lower, or higher. Certain strategies can help protect the voice. Examples include avoiding overuse, such as trying to speak over loud noise all day; staying hydrated, which keeps the vocal cords working well; avoiding spicy foods and irritants in the air such as smoke, which can inflame the vocal cords; and avoiding frequent throat clearing.

Caring for a person with dementia is physically, emotionally, logistically, and financially demanding. Caregivers can benefit from numerous services, such as caregiver support groups; respite care; and dementia care navigators, such as the local Area Agency on Aging (which can provide a long list of resources) or a local hospital dementia care program. It can also help to speak to doctors about consolidating appointments for the person with dementia and to reach out to family and friends to ask for assistance.