Health Tips Line

Every spring starts the same way: one tiny sniffle, followed by a sneeze attack so aggressive, it feels like your body is trying to launch the pollen you’ve inhaled back into the atmosphere. Then come the itchy eyes, the inability to suck air through one and then both nostrils, and the tissues stuffed into every pocket and bag you own. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. More than 80 million Americans suffer from seasonal allergies , also known as allergic rhinitis or hay fever. “This time of year, the biggest culprits are usually tree and grass pollens,” says An Huynh, MD, an allergist and clinical immunologist at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire. They trigger inflammation in the eyes and nose and activate allergic antibodies in the immune system. “The next time these antibodies come in contact with pollen,” he adds, “they can cause allergic cells to break open and release chemicals that can cause sneezing, sniffles an...

When it comes to celebrity weddings, it doesn’t get much bigger than Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s . Between the chart-topping fame, NFL superstardom and their combined A-list friend groups, fans are already imagining what the guest list could look like. But there’s one possible RSVP that has people especially intrigued: Will Prince William and Princess Kate attend the wedding of one of America’s favorite power couples? Turns out, that idea may not be as far-fetched as it sounds. Add in Princess Charlotte’s very relatable Swiftie obsession, and suddenly this potential royal wedding crossover feels oddly perfect. So what’s the connection between the Wales family and Taylor Swift, and could we really see them celebrating the big day together? Read on to find out. Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter for more royals, entertainment, fun facts, humor, cleaning, travel and tech all week long. Will Prince William and Princess ...

Next to the $1.50 hot dog combo and bargains that are too good to pass up, the free samples are one of the best reasons to spring for a Costco membership. On recent trips, I’ve enjoyed tasty chicken wings, mac and cheese and dumplings—practically enough treats to make a meal. I’m always grateful for the gratis snack and am always sure to say thank you (as my mom ingrained in me since childhood). But it turns out that not all Costco shoppers live by the same set of rules. Recently, a worker took to Reddit to air their grievances about a particular request that rubs them the wrong way. Read on to find out what the request is—and if you might unknowingly be guilty of it. Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter for more Costco news, cleaning, travel, tech and fun facts all week long. What request will get you in trouble with the workers giving out free samples? Trying to modify your freebie will not go over well . Redditor Osh_Kosh_Bigosh...

Even in Alabama, late March is early in the year for fishing, but this was 31-year-old Caleb Bennett’s third outing of the season. It was midmorning on Good Friday, March 29, 2024, when he loaded his 10-foot kayak into his pickup and drove, fittingly enough, to where Easter Ferry Road crosses the Elk River, about 25 minutes from his home in Athens, Alabama. His was the only vehicle parked at the out-of-the-way boat launch, a simple clearing surrounded by empty woods. From the concrete boat ramp jutting out of the steep riverbank downstream from the parking area, it was a clear view 100 feet upstream to the bridge over the river. Bennett had the day off work from his job as a warehouse manager and distribution dispatcher for an industrial supply company. His plan was to cruise upstream past the bridge until he found a creek mouth, fish it for bass, catfish or crappie for a couple of hours, then hurry home to catch his 4-year-old daughter’s T-ball game that afternoon. The wate...

If you get freaked out imagining what’s lurking in the water when you swim, you may want to sit down before reading this: A dangerous “flesh-eating” bacteria is on the rise in waterways along the East Coast— just in time for summer . It is a growing menace in marine waters from the Gulf Coast all the way to the Hamptons and south of Boston. What exactly is this troublemaker—and just how much of a risk is it? To get the story on this new health scare, I reached out to two marine ecology experts and one infectious disease doctor. Read on to find out how this microbe can harm your health, what to watch out for and whether it’s still safe to swim this summer. (Fingers crossed!) Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter for more news, travel, tech, cleaning, humor and fun facts all week long. What bacterium is washing up on U.S. shores? The bad-news bug is Vibrio vulnificus , a bacterium that causes life-threatening skin and gastr...