Wellness Advice
I Can Feel My Heart Beat—Why?
Why do I sometimes feel my heart beating when I’m in bed? Should I be concerned?
Noticing your heartbeat when you lie down can be unsettling, but this is not...
Hair Washing: How Often Is Too Often—or Not Enough?
How frequently should you wash your hair? Sometimes I go a week or longer because of the hassle—and the distressing amount of hair I shed during the process.
There’s no...
I Hate My Skin Tags! Can I Remove Them at Home?
I have these growths on my neck and under my arms. Is an at-home skin tag remover a safe way to get rid of them?
Skin tags (acrochordons) are extremely...
Ticked Off: The ‘Meat’ Allergy You Never Saw Coming
In my 50 years as an infectious disease specialist, I’ve more than once been humbled by concrete examples of the adage: The more you know, the more you know...
Stop the Bleed (of Hemorrhoids)
I have hemorrhoids that every so often bleed after a bowel movement. Should I be concerned about this, and what can I do when they act up to ease...
Routine Mammograms May Reveal Hidden Heart Risk
I’ve heard that mammograms can detect breast arterial calcification as a sign of heart disease risk. What should I know about that at my next screening?
While mammograms are primarily...
Preparing Your Home for Your Heirs-to-Be
Many of us feel a sense of accomplishment in acquiring possessions—the furniture, books, music, and art that make our homes inviting and comfortable; wardrobes that keep us well-clothed and...
Don’t Count on Fans in Very Hot Weather
I’ve heard that fans are not necessarily effective for staying cool when temperatures soar. Why is that, and what are other ways to chill out?
While the breeze from a...
Pecan Perks
How healthful are pecans—and are they better for you than other nuts?
Similar to other tree nuts, pecans are rich in heart-healthy fats and phytochemicals and are a good source...
AI at the Drive-Thru
Every so often, some research comes along that makes me pause—not because the finding is necessarily so surprising, but because it shows how subtly our everyday decisions can be...
