Tips for a Successful Quit Smoking Day Tips for a Successful Quit Smoking Day You've done your homework, made your plan, tossed out all your cigarettes and now the big day is here: Day One of your plan to quit smoking. You've probably hea...
Adopting a Pet--Cats and Dogs Adopting a Pet – Cats and Dogs Nothing beats the love and companionship that a dog or cat can bring into your life. If you've been thinking about adding a cuddly new cat or dog to your household, tak...
Alcohol and Older Adults Alcohol and Older Adults Many older adults enjoy a glass of wine with dinner or a beer while watching the game on TV. Having a drink now and then is fine—as long as you don’t overdo it. When you’re o...
Alcohol and Your Heart Alcohol and Your Heart Over the last three decades a number of studies have shown an association between moderate drinking and a lowered risk for heart attack, heart and circulatory diseases, stroke,...
Alcohol Use Among Teens Is Epidemic Alcohol Use Among Teens Is Epidemic The leading substance-abuse threat to children may be as close as your refrigerator. Millions of adolescents drink alcohol. Many binge drink, having five or more d...
All About LSD All About LSD LSD (d-lysergic acid diethylamide), also called acid , is one of the most commonly used hallucinogens or psychedelic drugs. It affects a person's perceptions, sensations, thinking, self...
Alternatives to Alcoholics Anonymous Alternatives to Alcoholics Anonymous Although Alcoholics Anonymous and other abstinence-based 12-step programs are the primary form of treatment for alcoholism in the United States, many people are u...
An Rx for RV Living A Rx for RV Living Nearly 8 million people own recreational vehicles (RVs), according to surveys from the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association. If you're thinking of joining them, be sure to consi...
Anger Can Raise Cholesterol Levels Anger Can Raise Cholesterol Levels When someone cuts you off on a busy highway, do you pound the steering wheel in fury and shout at the driver? Or do you swallow your anger and dwell on it later? Ei...
Answers to Your Questions About Codependency Answers to Your Questions About Codependency People who have close relationships with substance abusers or others with mental illnesses can become codependent. Codependency can also occur in those wh...
Anxiety Disorder: When the Worrying Is Constant Anxiety Disorder: When the Worrying Is Constant Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or fear. It's a normal feeling when a loved one is ill or a project you are working on is late. When that a...
Are You a Compulsive Shopper? Are You a Compulsive Shopper? These days, shopping is as much a form of entertainment as going to the movies or playing video games. Between mall culture and convenient credit, it's easy to spend you...
Baby Blues: Mood Swings or More Serious? Baby Blues: Mood Swings or More Serious? Are mood swings after giving birth merely a passing case of the blues? Or are they a sign of something more serious, such as postpartum depression? For many wo...
Balancing Work and Home Balancing Work and Home Getting organized in your work, family, and personal lives can help you create balance in each of these important areas. To keep the scales of work and life balanced, you must...
Binge Drinking Dangers for Young People Binge Drinking Dangers for Young People For millions of young adults in this country, the weekend will pass in an alcoholic blur. They'll toss down drink after drink as fast as they can, throw up, pa...
Break the Cycle of Repeated Accidents Break the Cycle of Repeated Accidents Sandy sprained her ankle on the job Tuesday. A week later, she threw her back out. Two months later, she was on sick leave for neck problems. Co-workers easily c...
Break Through the Alcoholic's Psychological Defenses Break Through the Alcoholic's Psychological Defenses For the millions of Americans who must watch their loved ones struggle with a dependence on alcohol, they wonder: How can family and friends break...
Breaking the Habit: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Breaking the Habit: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder If you've ever caught an episode of the TV series Monk, you know about the strange behavior of Adrian Monk, the Defective Detective. The title charac...
Breaking Yourself Out of a Rut Breaking Yourself Out of a Rut You've eaten the same things for breakfast every day for three years, then taken the same car pool to the same job. Your life is more of the same after work. It's time ...
Bullies Go High-Tech Bullies Go High-Tech You can now add bullying to the list of things made easier by technology. Teens today live much of their lives on the Internet. Online bullying, also called cyberbullying, can in...
Bullies: Helping Your Child Cope Bullies: Helping Your Child Cope Bullying can happen in school, on the playground—and now even on the Internet through social networking sites. Bullying is intentional tormenting that can be physical...
Can Optimism Make a Difference in Your Life? Can Optimism Make a Difference in Your Life? If you’re a person who always has a rosy outlook and sees the glass as half-full rather than half-empty, your positive attitude may have even more benefit...
Caregivers Need to Care for Themselves Caregivers Need to Care for Themselves According to the Administration on Aging (AoA), millions of Americans are involved in some form of helping elderly family members or friends with their daily ro...
Caring for the Caregiver Caring for the Caregiver Caregivers come in all shapes and sizes. They can be adult children, spouses, siblings, friends or neighbors, who help with daily activities such as bathing, feeding and clot...
Close the Door on Intimate Partner Violence Close the Door on Intimate Partner Violence Many people believe that intimate partner violence—also called domestic violence—is a concern, yet they still do not understand the full scope of the probl...
Cool Tools to Keep Your Kids From Smoking Cool Tools to Keep Your Kids From Smoking Many teenagers think smoking is cool. This belief is supported in recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tobacco statistics. The CDC states ...
Coping with Miscarriage Coping with Miscarriage Miscarriage is common, but that knowledge may be cold comfort if you’re coping with a recent loss. In fact, many women are surprised by the intensity of their emotions after a...
Could Your Child Have a Drug Problem? Could Your Child Have a Drug Problem? Many parents blame themselves when faced with the possibility that their child may be using drugs. But most experts recommend that parents worry more about helpi...
Creating a Positive Body-Image Creating a Positive Body-Image Does something about your body bug you? Maybe you believe you'd be happier if only you were thinner, taller, shorter, more muscular -- whatever. If so, you may be creat...
Depression Not a Normal Part of Aging Depression Not a Normal Part of Aging Depression is not a natural part of growing old but rather a medical condition that should be treated aggressively. Depression in older adults, or in anyone, sho...
Doing Your Part to Help Prevent Drunken Driving Doing Your Part to Help Prevent Drunken Driving Just about everybody loves a party. But if your party menu includes alcohol, be a smart host and insist that your guests play it safe at your party and...
Don't Swallow Your Emotions Don't Swallow Your Emotions Do you ever find yourself in the middle of a bag of chips and wonder how you got there? Does a clash with a coworker mean a knee-jerk trip to the candy dish in reception? ...
Easy Ways to Remember to Take Your Medications Easy Ways to Remember to Take Your Medications A significant number of the 3.9 billion prescriptions filled each year aren't taken correctly. As a result, many Americans are putting their health and ...
Emotional Eating: How to Cope Emotional Eating: How to Cope If you raid the fridge when you’re stressed or upset, that’s called emotional eating. Emotional eating affects most everyone from time to time, but regularly letting you...
End-of-Life Concerns for Cancer Patients End-of-Life Concerns for Cancer Patients In the course of cancer treatment, some cancer patients and their families will face difficult, end-of-life decisions. Many thoughts may race though your mind...
End-of-Life Planning End-of-Life Planning Planning now for the end of life—no matter what your health status may be—helps ensure that your wishes are followed. For many, this brings peace of mind and a sense of control. ...
Everyday Ways to Activate Your Life Everyday Ways to Activate Your Life Moderately intense activities are good for your health. These are activities that make you feel some exertion but are mild enough that you can comfortably carry on...
Figure on These Factors When Drinking Alcohol Figure on These Factors When Drinking Alcohol If you drink, you most likely want to drink reasonably and responsibly. But what are the factors that can help you keep a confident check on your blood-a...
Finding Support for Emotional Issues Finding Support for Emotional Issues Everyone has ups and downs, or feels anger and profound sadness at times. But how do you know when your emotions are of the everyday sort that are likely to resol...
Finding the Right Rehab Program for Substance Abuse Finding the Right Rehab Program for Substance Abuse The biggest myth about drug and alcohol rehabilitation is that treatment doesn’t work. And believing that myth may be one reason that finding the r...
Five Steps to Better Memory Five Steps to Better Memory You've met her before. You can even remember where. But her name? It eludes you, taunting you, just out of reach. Has this happened to you? Do you accept it as part of gro...
Focus on Keeping Your Spirits Up Focus on Keeping Your Spirits Up You know that you should eat healthy foods and get some exercise to feel good and live longer. Another key part to living longer is your mental health. Good mental he...
For Men: Doctors Are Good for Your Health For Men: Doctors Are Good for Your Health When it comes to managing personal health, men are missing the mark. Consequently, men are missing opportunities to detect and address medical problems in th...
For Seniors: How to Prevent Falls For Seniors: How to Prevent Falls As you age, your risk for falling increases. According to the CDC, more than one-third of people ages 65 and older and half of those ages 75 and older fall each year...
For Seniors: Is It More Than the Blues? For Seniors: Is It More Than the Blues? Everyone has feelings of sadness or unhappiness now and then. When feelings of sadness or despair don't go away and interfere with daily life, depression may b...
For Seniors: Welcome to the World of the Web For Seniors: Welcome to the World of the Web If you could meet people anytime you wanted, would you do it? What if you could get help solving problems by clicking a button? Well, there's a tool that'...
Getting the Most from a Mental Health Support Group Getting the Most from a Mental Health Support Group If you’re suffering from depression, anxiety, or another mental health problem, you can find support by visiting an online support group. Mental he...
Goal Setting for Everyday Success Goal Setting for Everyday Success In a garden, you plant seeds, nurture them with water and fertilizer, work at keeping the weeds out, and trust the plants will accomplish your goal of growing strong...
Health Myths and Facts Health Myths and Facts Have you heard the one about antiperspirants causing breast cancer? It's not true, but at least believing that widespread health myth can't hurt you, although it might keep you...
Health Risks of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Health Risks of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Many Americans abuse alcohol and illegal drugs without thinking about the possible risk to their health and well-being. Alcohol Traffic accidents are the number...
Help for the Holiday Blues Help for the Holiday Blues The holidays can be a stressful time. The festivities can lead to anxiety related to excessive shopping for friends and family, finding time for social obligations, worryin...
Help Your Kids Quit Smoking Help Your Kids Quit Smoking Every day, about 4,000 U.S. teenagers start smoking, then around 1000 become regular smokers. If you're a parent of a young smoker, you can take steps to help the child qu...
Helping a Friend With an Addiction Helping a Friend with an Addiction When a friend shows signs of abusing alcohol or other drugs, it is hard to know what to do or say. What is scary is that drug abuse can lead to addiction. Drug abus...
Helping an Unwilling Alcoholic Helping an Unwilling Alcoholic It's not unusual for an alcoholic to refuse to stop drinking or get help from a substance abuse professional or treatment center. The person can't be forced to get help...
Hospices Offer Comfort at Life's End Hospices Offer Comfort at Life's End It's a subject no one wants to think about, but for each of us, our lives must come to an end. As medical progress prolongs our lives, the end can linger, drainin...
How Hobbies Help Your Health How Hobbies Help Your Health What better way to stay busy than by doing something you love? That hobby you've been toying with could be your prescription for a healthier, more satisfying life. Hobbie...
How to Control Your Temper How to Control Your Temper We’ve all been angry at times. Whether it’s a fight with a friend, an annoyance at work, or something else altogether, it’s never a pleasant experience. But it’s comforting...
How to Cut Down on Drinking How to Cut Down on Drinking You might want to cut down on your drinking for many reasons. Unfortunately, the best of intentions don't necessarily make the effort any easier. If you are going to drink...
How to Develop a 'Can-do' Personality How to Develop a Can-do Personality Some people handle tough jobs without breaking a sweat. Others seem to give up before they even get going. What's the difference between a can-do and a won't-try p...
How to Help Teenagers With Addicted Parents How to Help Teenagers with Addicted Parents Growing up can be a tough challenge for most adolescents, but when their parents are abusing alcohol or drugs, the obstacles can seem overwhelming. Nearly ...
How to Juggle Home Life and Work Life How to Juggle Home Life and Work Life For many of us, life seems to have two speeds: fast and faster. The pressures at work are followed by the needs and demands at home. If your typical day tends to...
How to Lower Your Financial Stress How to Lower Your Financial Stress Money worries are among the most common sources of personal and family stress. Living with too much of any kind of pressure on a daily basis can take an emotional a...
How to Make Love Last Forever How to Make Love Last Forever Keeping your primary relationship healthy, positive, supportive and together isn’t easy. But it can be done. “We expect a lot from our relationships, and the fact is, lo...
How to Quit Smoking, Again How to Quit Smoking, Again If you're like most smokers who have tried to quit, you may have tried unsuccessfully several times. But you can try again and succeed. The following suggestions can help y...
How You Can Avoid Aggressive Drivers How You Can Avoid Aggressive Drivers Incidents of road rage—those times when drivers act out their anger behind the wheel by trying to hurt another driver or a pedestrian—are becoming more frequent. ...
Hypothyroidism and Depression Hypothyroidism and Depression Chances are you know the difference between occasional sadness and depression. But here's a fact you may not know: Hypothyroidism, a common thyroid disorder, can cause s...
Important Facts About Amphetamine and Methamphetamine Abuse Important Facts About Amphetamine and Methamphetamine Abuse Amphetamine and methamphetamine abuse is a growing problem in the United States. These stimulants are often termed "amphetamines." Each yea...
In Support Groups, You Get (and Give) Help In Support Groups, You Get (and Give) Help What if you were diagnosed with cancer? What if your spouse died and you suddenly found yourself a single parent? What if you were living with an alcoholic ...
Is Your Teen Abusing Drugs or Alcohol? Is Your Teen Abusing Drugs or Alcohol? Suddenly, your teenager is having trouble in school. Relationships with teachers, friends, siblings—and you—are falling apart. Your child has a new set of frien...
It’s Never Too Late It's Never Too Late Your life will be happier and healthier if you take control It's never too late to take control of your choices to improve your overall health and your quality of life. Make small...
It's Time for Boomers to Face the Facts It's Time for Boomers to Face the Facts Sorry to have to tell you this, baby boomers, but you're not kids anymore. And even though the 80 million boomers are rewriting the script for aging by staying...
Journaling for Mental Health Journaling for Mental Health When you were a teenager, you might have kept a diary hidden beneath your mattress. It became your confidant and a place to confess your struggles and fears without judgm...
Keep Anxiety from Controlling Your Life Keep Anxiety from Controlling Your Life Everyone worries and feels anxious at times. But if you suffer from severe anxiety, it can threaten to take over your life. The sleepless nights that precede m...
Keep Your Brain Functioning Keep Your Brain Functioning You take good care of your body to stay in good physical shape. Likewise, for good mental health, you need to keep your brain in top condition. If your brain gets too much...
Keep Your Noggin Fit with Brain Exercise Keep Your Noggin Fit with Brain Exercise The dog ran. The dog barked. The dog raced. What else did the dog do? That many seem like a silly question. But the act of thinking up verbs to go with nouns ...
Keeping Envy and Jealousy Under Control Keeping Envy and Jealousy Under Control When someone gets a raise or a special perk, can you say congratulations and mean it? Or do you seethe inside and think, "That really should have been mine?" F...
Keeping Party Drinking Under Control Keeping Party Drinking Under Control It can be a holiday get-together, an invitation party, or a formal Christmas affair. It's fun. So what harm can a little drinking do? Drinking too much alcohol im...
Keeping Your Anger Under Control Keeping Your Anger Under Control Anger is a natural, and sometimes healthy, emotion. Unfortunately, if anger is handled the wrong way, it can damage relationships and affect professional and social g...
Life After Loss: Walking the Path to Wholeness Life After Loss: Walking the Path to Wholeness You expect to grieve when a loved one dies, but grief also can occur following a divorce, a move from a beloved family home, being downsized from your j...
Maintaining Weight Once You've Quit Smoking Maintaining Weight Once You've Quit Smoking Although people generally gain weight when they stop smoking, you can reduce your chances of adding extra pounds by taking steps to prevent it. Being aware...
Make a Scrapbook for Your Grandkids Make a Scrapbook for Your Grandkids Gifts from the heart matter the most, especially when they come from Grandma or Grandpa. If a grandchild is special to you, put your heart into showing it by creat...
Many Seniors Go Back to the Books Many Seniors Go Back to the Books Imagine immersing yourself in the poetry of Robert Frost, the works of Michelangelo or the wonders of astronomy. Or perhaps learning how to use a computer or play th...
Medications to Treat ADHD in Children Medications to Treat ADHD in Children Children who have ADHD are often given medication as part of their treatment plan. The type of medication most often chosen is a psychostimulant, such as methylp...
Men and Mental Illness Men and Mental Illness Mental illness is a difficult challenge for anyone to face, and it can affect men and women of any age. But because mental illness can cause different symptoms in men than in w...
Moving Beyond All-or-Nothing Thinking Moving Beyond All-or-Nothing Thinking One of the first mistakes people make when they fall short of a goal to start exercising, lose weight, or stop smoking is to think, "That's it; I've blown it. I'...
Nicotine Substitutes Can Help You Quit Nicotine Substitutes Can Help You Quit If you're ready to stop smoking, then you must be ready for the challenge when your quit date arrives. Clean out your ashtrays, and throw away any lighters and ...
Now Is the Time to Get Moving Now Is the Time to Get Moving As cold weather settles in and the days grow shorter, it's tempting to put off any thoughts of becoming active. The bustle of the holidays also makes it harder to follow...
Older Adults and the Importance of Social Interaction Older Adults and the Importance of Social Interaction As you get older and retire or move to a new community, you may not have quite as many opportunities to socialize as you did when you were younge...
On the Road in Retirement On the Road in Retirement Now that you're retired, you have time to travel. So you choose a destination, develop an itinerary, order the passport, and pack the bags. But wait, you forgot one importan...
Oppositional Defiant Disorder Oppositional Defiant Disorder As most parents know, children can be emotional or strong-willed. But a child who has frequent temper tantrums and consistently refuses to follow requests may have a dee...
Overcoming Anti-Gay Harassment Overcoming Anti-Gay Harassment For far too many people, being gay or lesbian means having to deal with prejudice and harassment from childhood onward. Gay and lesbian teens are often targets of bully...
Performance Anxiety Can Choke Up Athletes Performance Anxiety Can Choke Up Athletes An athlete often faces competition in the same way that another kind of performer does: He or she gets butterflies before going on the field or on the court....
Phobias Are Common, But Treatable Phobias Are Common, But Treatable Maybe you’ve had sweaty palms before a first date. Or, you’ve stayed awake worrying all night before a big meeting. Most of us worry or get nervous every now and the...
Prescription Drug Addiction Prescription Drug Addiction Most people take their prescription medications properly—to relieve pain, anxiety, or attention deficit. Increasingly, however, that’s not always the case. Some people cho...
Prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome Shaken Baby Syndrome is a form of child abuse and is the most common cause for inflicted brain injury in the first two years of life. But many of these injuries can be av...
Primer: Smokeless Tobacco Primer: Smokeless Tobacco Many people think using smokeless tobacco is safer than smoking. Just because there's no smoke, doesn't mean it's safe, the American Cancer Society (ACS) says. A person who ...
Primer: What You Need to Know About Ecstasy Primer: What You Need to Know About Ecstasy Many young people abuse a so-called club drug known as Ecstasy. Learning about the drug can help you explain its dangers to your children and help them avo...
Putting Disease Risk into Perspective Putting Disease Risk into Perspective Are you terrified you might get mad cow disease? Does news of E. coli outbreaks make you swear off spinach salads for life? True, a few people will get those ill...
Q and A: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Q and A: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder People with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) suffer from recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) or repetitive behaviors (compulsions), which they feel the...
Quit One Step at a Time Quit One Step at a Time Saying goodbye to cigarettes for good can be difficult. To succeed, you need to make changes to your daily life. But, like the many others who have quit, you too can triumph. ...
Quit-Smoking Tools: Help for Kicking Your Habit Quit-Smoking Tools: Help for Kicking Your Habit If you're a smoker and you need some more reasons to quit, take a look at what the U.S. Surgeon General has to say: If you stop now, you'll have a bett...
Recognizing Domestic Violence Recognizing Domestic Violence Domestic violence is behavior someone uses to control a spouse, partner, date, or elderly relative through fear and intimidation. It can involve emotional, sexual, and p...
Remember This: Many Have Memory Lapses Remember This: Many Have Memory Lapses Unpredictable, frustrating and, at times, embarrassing memory lapses are moments many of us would rather forget. Yet if frequent bouts of forgetfulness are caus...
Retired? It's Time to Join the Club Retired? It's Time to Join the Club Congratulations! You're retired, the kids are grown and at last you can do what you want. So what are you going to do with all that spare time? "We encourage peopl...
Seniors Can Maximize Happiness by Minimizing Clutter Seniors Can Maximize Happiness by Minimizing Clutter A place for everything ... and everything all over the place. If this statement could replace the "Home Sweet Home" sign over your door--that is, ...
Sexual Harassment's Emotional Toll Sexual Harassment's Emotional Toll According to researchers at the American Psychological Association (APA), nearly 50 percent of American working women will experience on-the-job sexual harassment a...
Should Tattoos Be Taboo? Should Tattoos Be Taboo? Approximately 40 million Americans have some type of tattoo, and the popularity is increasing. But people who are thinking about getting a tattoo should slow down and think t...
Smart Shopping for Women Smart Shopping for Women Imagine that the next time you go to the grocery store, you get a magical cart. The cart leads you up and down the aisles, selecting foods that are good for you. The cart rej...
Smoking Adds Another Wrinkle to Aging Smoking Adds Another Wrinkle to Aging Everybody knows smoking is bad for your health. Now here's something you may not know: Smoking is bad for your looks. It's true. From your rosy cheeks to your pe...
Smoking: Truth and Consequences Smoking: Truth and Consequences Thinking about giving up cigarettes? If you’ve tried before without success, you may feel unsure about whether you can quit for good. You may also wonder how to prepar...
Social Drinking vs. Problem Drinking Social Drinking vs. Problem Drinking Some people can drink liquor for hours on end and appear to stay sober, while others become tipsy after just one drink. So how can you tell if you or someone else...
Some New Information on Alcoholism (Alcohol Dependence) Some New Information on Alcoholism (Alcohol Dependence) Like cancer or heart disease, alcoholism or alcohol dependence is a chronic disease with its own symptoms and causes. The disease is progressiv...
Sports and Music: Both Good for Kids Sports and Music: Both Good for Kids Organized sports for children offer obvious benefits such as physical fitness and sportsmanship, but did you know that a musical education program has many of the...
Stages of Substance Abuse Stages of Substance Abuse People who become addicted to drugs or alcohol typically go through predictable stages of abuse. Understanding these stages can help you recognize a problem and seek help be...
Start Some Healthful Holiday Traditions Start Some Healthful Holiday Traditions The month of December can produce extra stress, a breakdown in healthy eating habits, even depression. But you and your family can adopt some new traditions th...
Stress and Older Adults Stress and Older Adults Stress is an unavoidable part of life. The quickening of your heartbeat and the heightening of your senses that you experience with normal stress is just your body preparing f...
Sunny Self-Talk: Seeing Through the Storm Sunny Self-Talk: Seeing Through the Storm How much control do you have over your negative feelings? According to research, a lot more than you might think. In fact, there is always more than one way ...
Tai Chi: Exercise for Mind and Body Tai Chi: Exercise for Mind and Body Stroll through a Chinese city early in the morning, and you’re likely to see groups of people exercising in the park. You’ll see them moving through a series of sl...
Teaching Children Good Sportsmanship Teaching Children Good Sportsmanship Parents and kids alike love sports, and it's easy to get caught up in a game and become focused on winning. Yet there is much more to be gained from the sports ex...
Techniques for Taming Tantrums Techniques for Taming Tantrums Your little one is having a kicking, screaming mega-meltdown in the frozen-food aisle. And you're sure everyone in the market is thinking, "Why is that child carrying o...
Teen Suicide: Learning to Recognize the Warning Signs Teen Suicide: Learning to Recognize the Warning Signs Many teen suicides can be prevented if warning signs are detected and appropriate intervention is conducted. The reasons No two teenagers are ali...
Teenagers and After-School Jobs Teenagers and After-School Jobs The teen years are a constant quest for freedom and independence from the watchful eyes of parents. It’s also a time to learn responsibility and how to manage money. A...
Teens and the Self-Esteem Shield Teens and the Self-Esteem Shield It's a powerful weapon in the war against teenage drug and alcohol abuse and it doesn't cost parents a penny. It's called the "self-esteem shield." It's simple. Resea...
The Benefits of Laughter The Benefits of Laughter Laugher really is the best medicine, or at least a good one. Laughter is so much a part of us that even babies can laugh well before they can walk or speak. And mirthful laug...
The Dangers of Binge Drinking The Dangers of Binge Drinking Too many young people are participating in a dangerous practice called binge drinking. It means drinking alcohol to the point of intoxication. It's defined as having fiv...
The Facts About Marijuana The Facts About Marijuana Knowing about marijuana can help you recognize its use in children and others and help a user seek treatment. Marijuana is the most frequently used illegal drug in the Unite...
The High Cost of Smoking The High Cost of Smoking Most people quit smoking because of the damage it does to their health. But if you need an extra reason to kick the habit, consider that smoking could be costing you as much ...
The Menace of Methamphetamine The Menace of Methamphetamine Methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug that remains a major burden on users, their families, communities, and law enforcement agencies in the United States. Accordin...
The Power of Resilience The Power of Resilience When tragedy strikes with the death of a loved one, a serious illness or a job loss, some people fall apart, while others adapt to such life-changing events more easily. Being...
The Truth About Lying The Truth about Lying For your birthday, your aunt knits you a sweater that is, well, downright hideous. You tell her: 1) I'd go out in an army blanket before wearing that; 2) It would look better on...
The Word on Talk Therapy The Word on Talk Therapy We all need someone to talk with now and then. At times, friends and family will do. But, if you’re struggling with strong emotions, a troubled relationship, depression, or o...
Thriving After a Heart Attack Thriving After a Heart Attack If you've had a heart attack, you're probably wondering how your life is going to change. Over the long term, your quality of life is tied to how severe your heart attac...
Understanding Alcohol's Effects Understanding Alcohol's Effects What happens when you drink an alcoholic beverage? Although alcohol affects different people in different ways, in general, it is quickly absorbed from your digestive ...
Understanding Compulsive Overeating Understanding Compulsive Overeating People who chronically overeat may be suffering from a common eating disorder known as compulsive overeating, also known as binge eating. This eating disorder is c...
Understanding Domestic Abuse Understanding Domestic Abuse Through domestic violence, an abuser establishes power and control over another person. Such behavior occurs when the abuser feels entitled to control his or her victim. ...
Understanding Prescription Drug Abuse Understanding Prescription Drug Abuse Although it’s dangerous to take a prescription medication without a prescription, abusing such medications is the fastest growing type of drug abuse in the Unite...
Understanding Teenage Depression Understanding Teenage Depression The medical community once thought depression affected only adults. The risk for the condition can begin in childhood or the early teens, however, and increases stead...
Understanding the Power of Addiction Understanding the Power of Addiction If a loved one suffers from alcoholism or addiction, you may wonder why the person can't or won't stop using a substance that has such negative and dangerous cons...
Understanding the Teen Brain Understanding the Teen Brain It doesn’t matter how smart your teen is or how well he or she scored on the SAT or ACT. Good judgment isn’t something he or she can excel in, at least not yet. The ratio...
Up in Smoke: Cigars and Your Health Up in Smoke: Cigars and Your Health Most people realize that cigarettes can cause lung cancer and heart disease. But many people erroneously believe that cigars aren't harmful. If you think cigars ar...
We Can Head Off Teen Tragedies We Can Head Off Teen Tragedies When our schools erupt in violence, we're shocked. Preventing teen turmoil starts at birth. Parents set examples in the way they interact, express anger, and treat subs...
Weighing the Benefits and Risks of Alcohol Weighing the Benefits and Risks of Alcohol Drinking alcohol in moderation may reduce your risk for heart disease and other cardiovascular system illnesses, according to recent studies. On the other h...
Wellness Made Easy: The Real Basics of Better Health Wellness Made Easy: The Real Basics of Better Health Wellness has three basic components: a balanced diet, regular exercise, and wise lifestyle choices. Incorporating all three into your daily routin...
What You Can Do to Prevent Child Abuse What You Can Do to Prevent Child Abuse The National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) estimates that more than 1,700 child fatalities occur each year. NCANDS defines child fatality as the ...
What You Need to Know About Heroin What You Need to Know About Heroin Heroin, horse, smack. By any name, it's a killer drug and, until recently, was not considered a problem among children of middle-class parents. But lately, heroin h...
What's the Meaning of Money? What's the Meaning of Money? You earn it, save it, spend it, and give it. Money changes hands every day of your life. But what exactly does money mean to you? And why is it such a loaded issue for ma...
When a Family Grieves When a Family Grieves After a loss, family members often deal with their grief in different ways. Grief can draw families closer together. Sometimes, it can pull them apart. No one can adequately pre...
When a Spouse Has Cancer: What to Do and How to Cope When a Spouse Has Cancer: What to Do and How to Cope Being a caregiver for a spouse who has cancer may be the toughest job you’ll ever have. It may also be the most vital and the most rewarding. As t...
When Kids Want to Buy, Buy, Buy When Kids Want to Buy, Buy, Buy If you're the parent of a preteen, you've likely heard this line many times: "I have to have it because everyone else does." The "it" can be anything from designer jea...
When Sadness Is Seasonal When Sadness Is Seasonal If you feel depressed during fall and winter months, you may have a form of depression called seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Symptoms of SAD may develop slowly or begin s...
When Your Child Has a Chronic Health Condition When Your Child Has a Chronic Health Condition A chronic, or long-lasting, illness can be difficult for anyone to deal with. But for a young child diagnosed with a chronic health condition, there are...
Where to Turn for Mental Health Where to Turn for Mental Health It's normal to feel stressed or anxious now and then. But it's time to call for help if emotional issues persist for a significant period of time and interfere with yo...
With Help, You Can Break a Bad Habit With Help, You Can Break a Bad Habit Whether it's a minor habit like biting your nails or a more serious one, like habitual drinking, stopping a damaging or bothersome behavior is difficult. With a l...
Women, Alcohol, and Drugs: The Risks Are Higher Women, Alcohol, and Drugs: The Risks Are Higher As a woman, your body is much more sensitive to the effects of alcohol and more easily damaged than a man’s body. Because women have less water in thei...
Working Mom? Aim for Less Stress Working Mom? Aim for Less Stress When Marie gets home from her full-time job as a Seattle nurse administrator, her workday is only half over. Next up is driving her two boys to band practice, soccer,...
You Can Choose to Have a Healthy Life You Can Choose a Healthy Life Each year, two out of every three deaths in the United States are caused by cancer, diabetes, heart disease, or stroke. That figure could be significantly reduced if Ame...
You Can Stay Smoke-Free You Can Stay Smoke-Free It’s hard to stop smoking. And for many people, it’s even harder to keep from starting again. For smokers, however, staying away from cigarettes and tobacco in any form is the...