February 27, 2024
When should your teen or tween start using skin products?

Social media and stores are full of products that promise perfect skin. Increasingly, these products are being marketed not just to adults but to teens and tweens. Many are benign, but some can cause skin irritation — and can be costly. And even if these products are benign, does buying them support unhealthy notions about […]

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February 20, 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 exactly is involved, and how […]

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February 19, 2024
Ever worry about your gambling?

Are online gambling and sports betting new to your area? Are gambling advertisements catching your eye? Have you noticed sports and news shows covering the spread? Recent changes in laws have made gambling widely accessible, and its popularity has soared. Occasional bets are rarely an issue. But uncontrolled gambling can lead to financial, psychological, physical, […]

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February 15, 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 the American Cancer Society (ACS) […]

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December 22, 2023
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 Than A Doctor? ChatGPT Outperforms […]

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November 27, 2023
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 in some parts of the […]

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November 23, 2023
Ready to give up the lead vest?

At a dental appointment last month, I spotted a lead vest hanging unassumingly on the wall of the exam room as soon as I walked in. “Still there, but now obsolete,” I thought. I’d just learned about new guidelines from the American Dental Association (ADA) saying lead vests and thyroid collars that cover the neck […]

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November 18, 2023
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 would suffice. Where are the […]

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September 3, 2023
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. Here’s advice for avoiding these […]

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August 14, 2023
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 most common conditions that actually […]

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