Tag Archives: Life and Wellness

Surgery Prevents Migraines

Turns out that fixing a hole in the heart might sometimes help prevent a debilitating pain in the head. In an observational study, 87 percent of migraine sufferers who had minor heart surgery to close an atrial septal defect (see diagram) had significantly fewer attacks than the 21 percent of patients given medical treatment only, ... More

A Quest for Coffee

By: Wendy Braun

I had no idea there are so many types of coffee makers. There are multi-, double-, and single-cup brewers, machines, grinders, carafes, decanters, and press pots, too! What I’m looking for is a good cup of hot coffee that is ready for my husband at 6 a.m. and an equally good cup (or two, or ... More

Five Strategies to Save Your Sight

By: Wendy Braun

By Dr. Marguerite McDonald, a Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at NYU School of Medicine in New York who specializes in caring for the cornea and other structures at the front of the eye. Dr. McDonald practices with the Ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island. Our eyes change over time, and the challenges to our eye health ... More

Won’t You Be My Neighbor? Day

By: Heather Ray

I don’t know about yours, but my calendar is filling up quick with whimsical holidays, ranging from Cheese Day to Merry-Go-Round Day to Fly a Kite Day. And while all those are important for living well, the following one really struck my fancy. To celebrate the birthday of the late Fred Rogers (Mister Rogers), March ... More

New Potatoes by June

By: Ted Kreiter

One of the joys of country living is the harvesting and eating of delectable new potatoes in spring. The tender, succulent tubers only 1¼-inch in diameter, gently boiled and served steaming with a touch of salt, pepper, butter, and fresh dill is one of the rare delicacies that everyone can enjoy. ... More

Running Errands …

By: Adrianne

Note: This is a story about my Grandma Eileen who was entering the late stages of Alzheimer’s. After reflecting on the sadness of the disease, I was finally able to put a positive, light-hearted, and sometimes funny angle on what is such a devastating process. Grandma Eileen and Grandpa Jim were in Indianapolis for the ... More

A Grandma’s Love

By: Wendy Braun

Six hours into the 500-mile trek home from Chippewa Falls where we had expressed our condolences and support to relatives mourning the loss of their beloved grandfather, my cell phone rang. “It’s a boy!” exclaimed our daughter. She was also on her way home—but from an ultrasound exam of the newest member of our family, ... More

Walk Away Leg Pain

By: Wendy Braun

Intermittent claudication (cramping or pain caused by decreased blood flow to the lower leg muscles) is a common symptom in people with peripheral artery disease. Pain usually increases when the person walks, rather than when at rest. A new study from The Netherlands concludes that community-based walking programs offer an effective and cost efficient way ... More

Graphing Grief

By: Wendy Braun

Over time, the emotional pain of losing a loved one typically lessens. Some people, however, suffer a debilitating sense of loss called complicated or long-term grief. Researchers recently utilized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans to gain a better understanding of the grieving process. In the Mayo Clinic study, MRI scans of people with varying ... More

Breast Cancer: Better Test, Better Treatment

By: Wendy Braun

A new test called chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) looks for color changes in cancer cells to help identify — without ultra-expensive microscopes — those that are sensitive to certain therapies. Unlike other tests, it can be used on tissue samples stored in the lab. The Food and Drug Administration approved the CISH test last year, and biopsy test ... More

Are You Allergic to Penicillin?

By: Wendy Braun

Probably not, suggests results of skin tests reported in the Annals of Emergency Medicine. The new study shows that more than 90 percent of patients who report a penicillin allergy in fact test negative for it, a finding which has important implications for how infections are treated in the emergency department and elsewhere. “Penicillin is ... More

I’m in an Eco-State-of-Mind!

By: Heather Ray

Dear St. Patrick: You’ll be happy to know that people around the world are going green—year-round! (Well, most people anyway.) There was a time when it would suffice for a person to be friendly and efficient, but those days are long gone—all part of our polluted past. Today, we must strive to be eco-friendly and ... More

Silly Celebrations

By: Adrianne

Today marks my half-birthday, and I just might indulge in half of a piece of cake and make half of a birthday wish! When I told one of my classmates of my special day, she said: “You can’t celebrate your half-birthday. Today is my full birthday!” I’m sure her party-pooper spirit was purely protecting her ... More

Spring Fever

By: Wendy Braun

It’s 50 degrees today, but here in Indianapolis the winter weather has a way of rearing its dreary head through March and into April. That’s a long ways off, and I’m looking for a fun indoor project to hold back a very bad case of spring fever. I’m up for about anything that comes with good ... More

Increase Your Asparagus Harvest

By: Ted Kreiter

It used to be nobody cared when they bit into a tasty spear of asparagus whether it was a she or a he. In fact, most people didn’t even know there was a difference. Gardeners happily planted popular open-pollinating varieties, such as “Martha Washington” and “Mary Washington,” and were pleased with the results three years ... More

March 8: Spring Forward

By: Wendy Braun

Springing forward to daylight saving time can really pack a punch for some people. University of Michigan experts suggest the following options to help you cope with the lost hour of sleep: Take a brief nap on Saturday, but not too close to bedtime. Gradually adjust your sleep and wake schedules by going to bed ... More

Attract Songbirds to your Garden

By: Ted Kreiter

Summer is the perfect time for entertaining, especially for our feathered friends. So as you plan new landscaping this spring, keep the birds in mind and add some “songbird plants” to your yard. The best choices are native species of trees and bushes. Native plants lure more native insects than do nonnative species, which in ... More