| Simple diagnosis, treatment and prescriptions now a click away | 2012-02-15 |
| Consumer access to medical information is also easier than ever. Since the first medical websites emerged in the late 1990s, people have flocked to them in skyrocketing numbers. Today, an estimated 80 percent of Americans go online to search for health information. Still, most health sites, while informative, can't diagnose or treat you. A new breed of "online clinics" connects customers directly with experienced practitioners who can treat them safely - and very conveniently - wherever they are. |
| Prenatal surgery promises brighter future for babies with spina bifida | 2012-02-15 |
| For expectant parents, the 18-week ultrasound marks an exciting milestone. For most, it is the first time they get to see their child, they can learn the sex of the baby and the doctor makes sure development is progressing normally. Mike and Katherine Mulligan of Cincinnati, Ohio, went for their first ultrasound in September 2000, and like most parents-to-be, expected to hear only good news. Instead, their dreams were dashed when they learned their unborn baby had spina bifida. But there was hope. |
| The secret to a successful family vacation? Teamwork | 2012-02-14 |
| When it comes to planning your family's vacation, you can find a lot of value in that old saying "teamwork divides the task and doubles the success." Divvying up planning responsibilities helps ensure that one member of the family is not overwhelmed with tasks, and that everyone is excited about and invested in the trip. |
| Game on! What games should kids play? | 2012-02-10 |
| Kids love video games - they're exciting, fun and engrossing. While games can promote learning and growth, too much video gaming - or playing inappropriate games - can lead to negative consequences. What should parents know to make good game choices for their children? |
| Taking care of yourself can help take care of your loved ones | 2012-02-08 |
| Struggling to keep those New Year's resolutions? Don't worry. Research shows that more than 65 percent of people break their resolutions within three weeks, and that it takes about a month of concerted effort to form a new healthy habit such as routinely working out. |
| Fever facts for parents: What you should know when treating your child | 2012-02-07 |
| With cold and flu season also comes fever season, and across the country, parents will experience anxiety levels that rise in tandem with their children's temperatures. But a child's fever doesn't have to be a scary experience for parents. Here are some things to know about managing a child's fever. |
| National park vacations on the rise | 2012-02-07 |
| Considered "America's best idea," national parks provide travelers undisturbed views of natural wonder as far as the eye can see and provide a unique backyard oasis where postcard views meet real, life-altering experiences. All this unrivaled beauty, when combined with opportunities for exploration and easy accessibility, makes the national park system a popular vacation choice for today's travelers. |
| Four-time gold medalist Janet Evans has the 'heart' for an Olympic Games comeback | 2012-02-01 |
| A four-time gold medalist embarking on her fourth Olympic Games at age 40 - that's the name of the game for Janet Evans. She is committed to following her heart - and also taking care of it - to make sure it's strong enough to take on competitors half her age. Evans offers tips for better heart health. |
| Love and relationships: Setting expectations essential before unmarried couples commit to living together | 2012-02-01 |
| It has become the new norm: Unmarried couples deciding to live together. In fact, the number of unmarried, opposite-sex couples who shared the same living quarters jumped by 13 percent, to 7.5 million, in 2010 over 2009, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The number of same-sex couples living together is about 620,000. |
| Your dog's good looks start from the inside out | 2012-01-30 |
| Let's face it - when it comes to a dog's looks, people often think that theirs is the most gorgeous they've ever seen. They hold their head high on walks around the block, and think no dog at the park stands a chance against their pooch's appearance. But constant grooming and doggie outfits can only go so far - real beauty lies in a dog's overall health. After all, inner health equates to real outer beauty. |
| Get smart on the hottest Hollywood races this season | 2012-01-30 |
| Everyone loves a great competition and this year is packed full of anticipated races. Whether you are interested in celebrities vying for an Oscar, who wins Album of the Year at the Grammys, or the race to the top for the presidential nomination, a good rivalry just can't be beat. According to a recent survey by Bing, while 21 percent of respondents are most interested in the road to the presidential conventions this winter, the hottest ticket this season is the big awards shows, with 68 percent of respondents equally or more invested in the Grammys or Oscars than the race to the political convention nominations. With so many interesting competitions taking place, how can you learn about and keep track of all the nominated films, songs and people? |
| Medication safety for children: important advice for caregivers | 2012-01-13 |
| Each year, an estimated 71,000 children are treated in emergency rooms for accidental medication poisonings, many of which are caused by dosing mistakes. Thankfully, while most issues are resolved by health care professionals or poison control resources, extreme cases that go untreated can result in complications, particularly in very young children. Experts provide tips on how to avoid common medicine mistakes. |
| What's in store at your supermarket: Top 10 food trends for 2012 | 2012-01-11 |
| Last year's high grocery prices had many Americans looking for ways to save at the supermarket. The upswing in prices over the past 12 months may have you wondering what will happen this year at your local grocery store. Here are 10 trends to watch in 2012. |
| Germ hotspots to look out for during cough and cold season | 2012-01-03 |
| We're reminded time and again of the good health habits we should practice during the winter germ season - wash your hands, cover your cough and stay home when you're sick. While you likely know these basics, you might not be aware some of the most common places germs tend to congregate and spread. Taking proper care to kill germs after you come into contact with these germ hotspots can be one of the keys to staying healthy this season. |
| Talking to your kids about war, conflict and tragedy | 2012-01-02 |
| From the deaths of dictators, terrorists and world-changing CEOs, to the devastation of earthquakes, Middle East revolts and global economic crisis, 2011 was a year wrought with war, conflict and tragedy. And while we as adults struggle to find meaning and understanding in such events, as parents, we are sometimes left struggling to answer those same questions for our children. The key is to listen to your children's concerns and to provide realistic assurance. |
| Fixing your credit is doable | 2011-12-29 |
| If you find yourself with less-than-good credit, you are not alone. Business Insider, an online business news website, reports that one in 50 households owes more than $20,000 in credit card debt. Coinciding with this alarming figure, the site further states that more than 2 million Americans look to credit counselors each year to avoid bankruptcy. |
| Escape boredom and add some fun to holiday break | 2011-12-22 |
| Holiday break is upon us and students of all ages have cast aside their textbooks, pencils and laptops for several weeks of homework and classroom-free fun. Though the break is a welcome change from the routine of classes and exams, it is all too easy to waste away the precious time off glued to the couch watching "Family Guy" reruns. Here are some fun and active ways to add some adventure to this year's holiday break. |
| Collaborative online children's storybook starts conversations about little-understood disease | 2011-12-22 |
| "Wednesday was a long day. We went to the hospital for a special checkup. The nurse showed us the giant, cool-looking tunnel called an MRI machine. They told Scott he was going to slide in there so they could take a picture of his brain. He's done this before." For many families with children living with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), a serious genetic disorder, this scene may be all too familiar. Scott's story is a part of an online children's storybook about a young boy with TSC as seen through the eyes of his favorite toy, a stuffed dog named Turbo. |
| Planning tips for multi-generational family travel | 2011-12-22 |
| Adults traveling with children or grandchildren make up 30 percent of all adult leisure travelers, according to the U.S. Travel Association. Traveling with multiple generations can be a rewarding experience. Keep these tips in mind to help ensure your multi-generational family travel is fun, safe and rewarding for everyone in the group. |
| Tips to prevent the spread of cold and flu germs | 2011-12-15 |
| Each year, millions of people suffer from a cold or flu and this year is likely to be no different. Between 15 and 61 million people in the United States will get the flu this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Here are some nurse-approved tips to help you prepare and cope throughout the cold and flu season. |
| Simplify your life with gadgets for the home | 2011-12-15 |
| Nowadays, our lives are more hectic than ever. But you can pare back your to-do list with some innovative products that make household tasks a little bit easier. |
| Simple ways to make dinner at home a special night | 2011-12-14 |
| Dining at home has many advantages, from saving money to affording family members more time together. But it's easy for those at-home meals to become routine and boring - unless you take some simple steps to make dinner time a special time for everyone. |
| Planning for the inevitable: Start young and be prepared | 2011-12-14 |
| Few people younger than 40 think about planning for dying, but preparing for the end of life can help take care of loved ones when the time comes. Here's what you should know about the process. |
| Tips for smooth and successful holiday travel | 2011-12-13 |
| Planning a surprise visit to Grandma and Grandpa for the holidays or a family trip to celebrate the new year? Holiday travel can be stressful, but with some careful planning, it can be full of joy, instead of headaches. Check out these holiday travel tips to help you get through this busy time with ease. |
| Your legacy of giving: Review your beneficiary lists during the holiday season | 2011-12-08 |
| The holiday season is in full swing, and amid the flurry of preparations, your will and legacy may be the last things on your mind. However, when you're surrounded by loved ones this season, it may be the best time to evaluate the gifts you plan to leave them. Consider these tips to help get you started on a beneficiary review. |
| The power of resilience: overcoming the hurdles of a medical mystery | 2011-12-08 |
| Imagine you're a parent with a sick child; her symptoms are mysterious and you know something is wrong. You've gone to doctor after doctor, seeking the advice of specialists and multiple opinions, and somehow 12 years have gone by and you still have no answers. In the meantime, you and your child have been in and out of hospitals, being diagnosed with everything from leukemia to appendicitis to bad luck. That nightmare was a reality for Sandy Welsh. |
| Planning for your tax bill? How it can affect your credit score | 2011-12-08 |
| Your resolutions are made and you even have a game plan to make sure 2012 is the year you stick to them. But before you can really get going on achieving your personal goals in the new year, you'll need to wrap up some unfinished business from 2011 - your taxes. |
| Open communication is key to managing schizophrenia | 2011-12-05 |
| We all know the importance of talking openly with our loved ones - being able to clearly communicate helps everyone understand each other better. It's sensible that those principles of clear communication should extend to someone who might hold your life in their hands - your doctors and other healthcare professionals. For people who are caregivers, it becomes even more important to act as the eyes and ears of loved ones who may not be able to communicate effectively. |
| Ten tips to manage your money through unexpected life changes | 2011-12-05 |
| One of the many benefits of marriage is having a partner to share in the day-to-day tasks. One person might handle the laundry while the other takes over yard work. But, when it comes to money management, while you may end up delegating most of the responsibility to one person, it's in every couple's best interest to be mutually involved in the family finances. |
| Easing the stress of hosting guests during the holiday season | 2011-12-02 |
| Whether it's for the holidays or another big occasion, hosting people in your home can be both gratifying and stressful. It can be especially tricky when you're entertaining out of town guests for days at a time. By planning ahead, you can avoid some of the common pitfalls that can cause a gathering to go south in a hurry and ensure that both you and your guests have such a great time that everyone will be looking forward to the next get-together once it's all over. |
| Resolve to get the family to snack smarter | 2011-11-30 |
| The new year is a great time for families to make a fresh start. Families can now reflect on eating habits and resolve to start the year with a smarter plate. |
| Welcome a new pet into your home with these tips | 2011-11-29 |
| Bringing a new pet home is an exciting experience but requires some preparation. That adorable, ball of energy covered in fur will interact with just about every inch of living space and your life is about to be enriched in ways you've never dreamed possible. |
| Buying online? How to find reliable product reviews | 2011-11-23 |
| More of us than ever before will do at least part of our holiday shopping online this year, foregoing the hassles of in-store purchasing. In fact, in 2010, online shoppers spent more than $1 billion on Cyber Monday (the Monday immediately following Thanksgiving), according to one study. |
| Shopping for your child without spending a bundle | 2011-11-22 |
| Decorating a nursery or toddler's room is part of the nesting process but can be expensive and overwhelming with all the choices these days. There are so many home decor options, gadgets and deal sites that the entire process can seem daunting and costly. Moms who are "in the know" have some secrets for getting the luxury items they want, but at deep discounts. |
| Create a tablescape to remember | 2011-11-22 |
| Holiday traditions may vary from home to home, but one of the most cherished sites each year is universal. The holiday tablescape: the place where all the luscious treats of the season await all the special people in your lives. |
| Tips for passing down family photos in the digital age | 2011-11-17 |
| For many years, photography meant developing a roll of film at the local store, sliding your glossy prints into a photo album and then placing them on your bookshelf. Digital photography changed all that, and now your photos live on computers, hard drives, CDs, USB drives and even your phone. But just because photos rarely go into leather-bound albums doesn't mean that they're any less precious. The evolution of photography has changed the ways in which we use photos - and it makes sense to think differently about how to preserve and pass on your treasured memories. |
| Tips on drawing up a will | 2011-11-17 |
| It's difficult thinking about death and dying and about wills and estate planning, when you're young and starting a family or when you feel in perfectly good health. Here are some tips on how to write a will and create an estate plan. |
| Seasonal sense: Using scent, sight and sound to stimulate holiday spirits | 2011-11-16 |
| From baking cookies with loved ones to caroling through the neighborhood or celebrating with family and friends, fond memories of holiday traditions abound. Each year, scents, sights and sounds promote the season's spirit - continuing long-standing traditions and creating new memories. |
| National Caregiver Month recognizes and supports those helping care for loved ones | 2011-11-09 |
| There are more than 65 million caregivers who are an essential part of a patient's health care team in the United States. They not only provide emotional strength and support but also often help a patient with their daily needs, such as filling prescriptions or helping schedule doctors' appointments. But while being a caregiver to someone in need can be a significant help, it can also be a daunting responsibility. Greg Stephens, Founder and Director of the National CML Society, can relate.
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| Life insurance for kids: Long term benefits come from early investment | 2011-11-07 |
| Being protective goes hand-in-hand with being a parent. From hand sanitizer gel to bike helmets to high-tech car seats, moms and dads will go to the ends of the earth to keep their little ones safe, sound and happy. But eventually, the scrapes and bruises no longer need a healing kiss, the training wheels come off the bike and the day comes when they're driving to school - not just high school, but college. You might be surprised, but there are actions you can take now that will protect them then - and even beyond. |
| Fight the 'Are we there yet?' blues | 2011-11-07 |
| Whether you're flying across the country or driving to grandma's house, traveling with kids - of any age - can be stressful, especially during the holidays. There is a 33.4 percent chance that a flight will be late, cancelled or diverted nationwide during the winter holiday period, according to a USA Today survey. How do you entertain your digitally savvy kids during hours spent in cars, busses, trains or planes? |
| Five ways to make holiday entertaining easy | 2011-11-07 |
| Whether hosting a holiday meal for the family or an open house for the neighborhood, entertaining can be stressful - especially during the holidays when there's so much pressure to make everything perfect. Here are some simple tips on how to make entertaining more enjoyable for all involved. |
| Getting a dog? Consider these factors to make sure you're a match | 2011-11-03 |
| There are plenty of cliche things that people say about dogs: that they're man's best friend, that they love you unconditionally and that behind those cold noses, there are warm hearts. But while dog owners might feel a bit silly about repeating those old chestnuts, they'll also admit they're absolutely true. |
| Tips to prevent illness this winter | 2011-11-02 |
| The colder winter months are notorious for sniffling noses, deep coughs, achy bodies and fevers. It's cold and flu season, which means it's a good time to reduce your exposure to germs and stock up on supplies that will help you escape any illnesses, or at least help you tolerate any symptoms. |
| Five no-tech, imagination-boosting toys every child should have | 2011-11-02 |
| Every year, lists fly around the Internet and airwaves, parents line up in stores and everyone talks about what the season's hottest toys will be. All the chatter can make it seem like everyone's forgotten the single most enduring "toy" at the disposal of every child - imagination. |
| What's the best floor for your high-traffic home? | 2011-10-28 |
| Savvy shoppers should keep in mind that not all laminates are created equal, especially when it comes to long-term performance. To find the best floor for your high-traffic home, consider these tips. |
