Health Tips Line

The number of people who've developed a severe form of lung disease potentially tied to vaping has now risen to 215 cases across 25 states, and federal health officials are recommending that Americans not use e-cigarettes. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/34eE0Ys The number of people who've developed a severe form of lung disease potentially tied to vaping has now risen to 215 cases across 25 states, and federal health officials are recommending that Americans not use e-cigarettes.

Taking the hepatitis C drugs Mavyret, Zepatier or Vosevi can trigger rare cases of severe liver problems or liver failure in patients who already have moderate-to-severe liver impairment, the FDA warned Wednesday. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/34cYaSC Taking the hepatitis C drugs Mavyret, Zepatier or Vosevi can trigger rare cases of severe liver problems or liver failure in patients who already have moderate-to-severe liver impairment, the FDA warned Wednesday.

A new study found that men in their 70s and 80s who had never followed an exercise regimen could build muscle mass as well as "master athletes" -- those of the same age who had worked out throughout their lives and still competed at the top levels of their sports. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2MN9m35 A new study found that men in their 70s and 80s who had never followed an exercise regimen could build muscle mass as well as "master athletes" -- those of the same age who had worked out throughout their lives and still competed at the top levels of their sports.

More than one in 10 transgender people say they've been pressured by a professional counselor to accept their birth sex. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2ZnLIAN More than one in 10 transgender people say they've been pressured by a professional counselor to accept their birth sex.

Did you know each insect is a host to 10 bacterial species? There are around 2 billion species on Earth—with 6.8 million likely to be species of insects. In each of these insects, up to 10 types of bacteria lives inside of them! The post 59 Amazing “Did You Know” Facts Most People Actually Don’t Know appeared first on Reader's Digest . from Reader's Digest https://ift.tt/2Lew154

The U.S. Constitution put in writing how the government of the United States should operate. Read on to find out who signed it. How many people signed the Constitution? You probably think this number would be much higher, considering the magnitude of the Constitution then and now, but the answer to the question “how many people signed the Constitution” is 39. That’s right, only 39 men (and they were all white men and property owners at that) actually signed the most famous legal document in the world. Most people believe there were more signers and most Americans probably also believe these 10 myths about the Constitution . Why did only 39 people sign the Constitution? Seventy men, many of whom had fought in the American Revolution and about three-fourths of whom had served in Congress, chosen by their states attended the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. “The initial purpose of the convention was to amend the Articles of Confederation,” according to ConstitutionFacts.com

Sweet Potato Crostini Consider this the modern version of your grandma’s classic sweet potato casserole. Top toasted slices of baguette with mashed sweet potatoes, chopped pecans, and mini marshmallow to give everyone a taste of what’s to come with the main meal (don’t worry, Grandma!). The post 55 Best Thanksgiving Recipes of All Time appeared first on Reader's Digest . from Reader's Digest https://ift.tt/2Li7ADP

Popeye has ________ nephews. a. 2 b. 5 c. 3 d. 4 The post 13 Tricky Questions That Test Your Cartoon Trivia Knowledge appeared first on Reader's Digest . from Reader's Digest https://ift.tt/2J5tzvY

A new government report finds more than 900 cases of dangerous and highly contagious mumps have occurred at 57 U.S. migrant detention facilities over the past year, with nearly half of cases occurring in Texas. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2Lg490x A new government report finds more than 900 cases of dangerous and highly contagious mumps have occurred at 57 U.S. migrant detention facilities over the past year, with nearly half of cases occurring in Texas.

Long-time "Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek has finished chemotherapy -- aimed at beating back pancreatic cancer -- and is returning to host the popular game show. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2HCMuz8 Long-time "Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek has finished chemotherapy -- aimed at beating back pancreatic cancer -- and is returning to host the popular game show.

“I’m here for you to lean on. I have an open heart and time to listen.” It’s hard to know  what people going through a loss really need , and even harder to know what to say to someone who lost a loved one. But according to the  American Psychological Association , research shows most people can recover from loss if they have social support—so how can you give that to them? “I work with people in trauma, and grieving is a process that takes time,” says psychologist Deborah Serani, PsyD, award-winning author of  Depression in Later Life . “The goal when talking to someone who has experienced an enormous loss is to express your heartfelt concerns in a way that doesn’t minimize, invalidate, or cause an emotional blunder.” Simply letting the grieving person know you’re there for them is most helpful. “Phrases like, ‘I’m here for you’ help grieving individuals feel comforted instead of directed,” Dr. Serani says. The post 10 Things You Should Say to Someone Who Is Grieving appeared firs

Labor Day weekend may not be everyone’s favorite time of the year. It signals the end of summer vacation, the beginning of the school year, and the lead-up to several months of cold weather. But there are some upsides to the holiday weekend. For instance, if you’re of the opinion that fall is the best of all the seasons , Labor Day is something to celebrate. And then there are the sales—in addition to these things that go on super sale over Labor Day , the weekend is also a great time to buy a car. Car buyers have a few different things going for them should they choose to buy a car over Labor Day. For one thing, most car sales experts agree that car prices drop at the end of the month, period. The car salespeople need to hit sales quotas, so they might be more willing than usual to sell cars for lower prices. Since Labor Day weekend coincides with the end of August, that’s one thumbs-up for car buyers. Another is pretty self-explanatory: the sales. Just like Memorial Day, Presidents

Meghan Markle continues to set fashion trends and give people style inspiration all over the world. But sadly, the majority of us don’t have a royal income to create a wardrobe exactly like the Duchess of Sussex. Luckily, we’ve found a more affordable option that looks almost identical. Coming from the world of acting, Meghan has always had an excellent wardrobe, but check out her stunning transformation since becoming a royal . Markle’s outfit at the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto made headlines. She kept it casual with a white button-down, distressed jeans, a pair of flats, and a neutral-colored tote. The Everlane Day Market Tote in the color Cognac caught the attention of many and quickly sold out. It is now back in stock and available in multiple other colors such as Blush, Navy, or Black, but it’s going to set you back $175. If you need a new purse but your budget isn’t quite that big, try this faux leather tote that is only $15.59. It comes in an even wider variety of colors,

Was it even the Titanic? Everyone agrees that a luxury liner set sail on April 10, 1912, and sank five days later, taking the lives of around 1,500 of the 2,223 aboard. But that’s pretty much where the consensus ends. Some insist the ship that sank wasn’t the Titanic, but rather, the nearly identical R.M.S. Olympic. As the story goes, the Olympic had been damaged in an accident the year before, but in order to score a bigger insurance payoff, the ships’ common owners passed off the Olympic as the Titanic and then deliberately sank it. While there are lots of holes in this Titanic theory , serial numbers found on parts of the ship that didn’t sink support it . Here’s why we remain fascinated by the Titanic after more than a century . The post 13 Titanic Mysteries That May Never Be Solved appeared first on Reader's Digest . from Reader's Digest https://ift.tt/2MFvTi9

More than 20 years later, there are still many conspiracy theories surrounding Princess Diana’s death. One persistent theory is that the late princess was pregnant with her then-boyfriend Dodi Fayed’s baby. Conspiracy theorists have fixated on the idea of her pregnancy partially because of an ambiguous comment she gave to newspapers a few weeks before her death about “ a big surprise .” After the infamous car crash in Paris that killed both Princess Diana and Fayed in 1997, the Egyptian millionaire’s father, Mohamed Al-Fayed, fueled the pregnancy idea , adding that the couple was about to get engaged soon as well. Part of his theory was that the royal family and British secret services were plotting against the marriage because they disapproved of the match. But forensic scientist Professor Angela Gallop put the pregnancy rumors to rest with her investigation documented in her book When The Dogs Don’t Bark: A Forensic Scientist’s Search for the Truth . Here are other conspiracy theor

  Half past midnight on August 31, 1997, a black Mercedes crashed into a concrete pillar outside the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris. The world mourned the loss of Princess Diana in the wake of the crash, but it’s easy to forget that she wasn’t the only victim. Driver Henri Paul and Diana’s boyfriend, Dodi Fayed, also lost their lives that night. Only one passenger came out alive: Trevor Rees-Jones, Fayed’s bodyguard. In the front passenger seat of the car, Rees (who later dropped Jones from his name) had the protection of an airbag, though like the other passengers, he wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. Still, he didn’t come out unscathed. His face was crushed beyond recognition, the bones turned to powder. It took 150 pieces of titanium to reconstruct his face, and he was put into a coma for ten days as doctors worked on that surgery, plus a broken wrist and chest injuries. It was a miracle he survived. Don’t miss these moving photos of Kensington Palace after Princess Diana’s death . In

Cinderella Once there was a hardworking girl with a heart of gold and a wicked stepmother. She got a makeover from a fairy godmother and scored a dream date at the ball with a prince who tracked her down by her single lost glass slipper… and this story crossed the globe for thousands of years, winning hearts wherever it went. Although our version of “Cinderella” was recorded by 17th-century French writer Charles Perrault, according to the well-respected scholarly website Sur La Lune Fairy Tales, there may be as many as 1,500 traditional variants of the tale around the world, including “The Girl with the Rose Red Slippers” from ancient Egypt, and a ninth-century A.D. Chinese version that just might explain the story’s fascination with small feet. This is the fantasy that just won’t quit. Apparently “the Cinderella area of [Sur La Lune] receives over twice as many visitors as any other tale” every day, and the story has inspired countless modern retellings including Walt Disney’s icon

Chances are, you’ve already heard that  the menu is the dirtiest item in a restaurant —harboring about 185,000 bacteria, which is just one of the many everyday items that are dirtier than a toilet seat . Surprisingly, the second dirtiest item in a restaurant isn’t in the bathroom. In fact, it’s right on your table. Before you reach for the pepper shaker, think about how many people have touched it before you. Does it look clean? Is it sticky? Unfortunately, it’s not unusual for restaurants to overlook the cleanliness—or lack thereof—of each individual shaker. (This goes for salt, sugar, cheese, and other shakers, too—pepper just happens to beat them in the germ-harboring surface contest.) According to a study conducted by ABC News , on average, a pepper shaker’s bacteria count is 11,600. “Most salt and pepper shakers are only wiped down if they appear dirty, and even then, only with a damp cloth that bussers keep in their pockets,” Jonas Sickler, Director of Operations at  ConsumerSa

The dollar store is a handy destination to get a quick bargain. That said, there are some products you’re better off getting someplace else. Case in point? Batteries. Sure, that huge econo-pack is tempting. How many times have your batteries died at exactly the wrong time, like the middle of a blackout? Having a ready supply on hand is a good idea. Check out these  11 items you should always get from the dollar store. But experts say that the batteries you can buy at dollar stores are lower quality, Kiplinger reports . The carbon-zinc batteries that dollar stores typically sell don’t last as long as the alkaline name brands. In a comparison , Wired found AA batteries from the dollar store had less stored energy than those from Energizer and Duracell: Dollar General: 2,983 joules Energizer: 10,798 joules Duracell: 9,398 joules Even worse, dollar store batteries are likely to leak. For example, the “heavy-duty” packages of batteries you might find at the dollar store from bra

Vatican Museums: Vatican City The Vatican draws more than five million people each year, and queues can reach four hours during peak season. Christie Hudson, senior communications manager at Expedia , recommends choosing a skip-the-line tour . “This not only lets you avoid the ticket counter but also includes the use of a private partner entrance.” Extra time to gawk at the majesty of the Sistine Chapel? Yes, please! Book Now The post How to Beat the Crowds at 15 Popular Tourist Attractions appeared first on Reader's Digest . from Reader's Digest https://ift.tt/2MHDs7W

Mistake 1: Not using seasoning You may be afraid of making steak too salty or overpowering it with spices, but trust us: Caution doesn’t pay when it comes to seasoning. Since you can’t season the steak’s interior, playing it too safe will deprive you of rich flavors and a bold crust. What to do instead:  Season the meat heartily on both sides about 35 to 40 minutes before cooking. Another mistake? Not knowing how to grill each specific cut of meat. Here’s how to grill (almost) every single cut of meat . The post 10 Mistakes (Almost) Everyone Makes When Cooking Steak appeared first on Reader's Digest . from Reader's Digest https://ift.tt/2lST9tO

For two countries whose histories are so intertwined, America and England have some pretty notable distinctions. They use a different currency. Their citizens drive on different sides of the road . And American presidents got nothing on Queen Elizabeth’s ability to accessorize . But one of the more puzzling differences is the way people in each country talk. Americans and Brits both speak English, so why don’t they sound the same when they talk? First, let’s go over a lesson in Linguistics 101. An accent is a varied pronunciation of a language. A dialect is a variety of a language that includes different vocabulary and grammar, in addition to pronunciation. Two important factors in the formation of a dialect are isolation from the source of the original language and exposure to other languages. The “American English” we know and use today in an American accent first started out as an “England English” accent. According to a linguist at the Smithsonian , Americans began putting their

Alabama: Old Baker Farm in Harpersville This is fall fun with a side of history: The Old Baker Farm was homesteaded more than 200 years ago and has been worked by the Baker family for a century! In addition to regular daily pumpkin-patch fun in October, the farm hosts a huge annual “Cotton Pickin’ Celebration” weekend. It’s a living history and arts and crafts festival with a Civil War reenactment, live bluegrass and gospel music, and a Native American dance performance. Once you get your pumpkin home, try one of these 20 no-carve pumpkin decorating ideas. The post The Best Pumpkin Patch in Every State appeared first on Reader's Digest . from Reader's Digest https://ift.tt/2NrdNxg

Dilate With only six letters, “dilate” really shouldn’t be one of the hard words to spell, but the way people usually pronounce it can throw spellers for a loop. Many people say “dilate” as three full syllables, “di-a-late,” leading themselves and others to add in an extra “a” while spelling it. But let’s put this easy misunderstanding to rest—there’s no such word as “dialate.” Find out some more words even smart people mispronounce . The post 15 of the Hardest Words to Spell in the English Language appeared first on Reader's Digest . from Reader's Digest https://ift.tt/2MJX9vQ

Iceberg lettuce The iceberg wedge salad is one of the industry’s biggest rip-offs. Take into account that iceberg lettuce is about 98 percent water, and it’s easy to see why. “It’s marked up at least 20 times,” says Peter Chastain, executive chef and owner of California’s Prima Ristorante. Plus, germs can hide inside lettuce’s cracks, corners, and edges. “You think lemons in water are dirty? The salads are filthy,” Cannon says. Even if restaurants do decide to wash their greens, the lettuce is often served soggy, which is big red flag—standing water mixed with lukewarm, mayo-based dressing is a disaster waiting to happen. The salads may be filthy, but they don’t come close to the number one food that causes food poisoning . The post 15 Things You Should Never Eat at a Restaurant appeared first on Reader's Digest . from Reader's Digest https://ift.tt/2NDeYwr

Clean a toilet bowl The picture has circulated around the Internet for some time and it turns out Coca-Cola can clean rust spots on your toilet. The slight acidity of Coca-Cola can remove stains of all kinds . The post 50 Things You Had No Idea You Could Do with Coca-Cola appeared first on Reader's Digest . from Reader's Digest https://ift.tt/2MFvCvD

“You knew this was a package deal” Parenting is the most difficult aspect of stepfamily life , especially if the kids are adolescents, according to the American Psychological Association (APA). Naturally, a stepparent may feel overwhelmed. But if you happen to be on the receiving end of a venting session and feel the urge to say, “Hey, you knew this was a package deal,” you may want to reconsider. Indiana stepmom Kate M. says that a statement like that is “a cute platitude people use to mean: ‘You’re on your own, I don’t know how hard your situation is, and I don’t care to.'” Her advice? Refrain from saying this because it makes stepparents feel isolated. It’s better, she says, to offer words of comfort or encouragement. The post 13 Things to Never Say to a Stepparent appeared first on Reader's Digest . from Reader's Digest https://ift.tt/2Nznexv

The $4.99 chickens really are a great deal There really isn’t a sneaky catch to these low-cost meals. Most supermarkets sell their rotisserie chickens within a range of $5 and $7, reports the Wall Street Journal . But those places might be skimping on the size of their birds. According to the same report, Costco’s chickens weigh at least three pounds cooked, while rivals’ usually weigh one-and-a-half to two pounds. These are the things you should never, ever buy at Costco . The post The Secrets Behind Costco’s Famous $4.99 Rotisserie Chickens appeared first on Reader's Digest . from Reader's Digest https://ift.tt/2EGkHed

We’ve all seen it, perhaps without even registering it—the diamond-shaped patch on backpacks that seems like a holdover from denim’s birth in the Wild West, or at best, someone’s strange idea of a design feature. But it turns out that the patch is actually very useful for staying organized. The slotted patch, which is typically found on the front of backpacks, is called a “lash tab” or “pig snout,” and is made to hold your spare gear on cords, according to TODAY . For hikers and backpackers, that might mean hanging extra items that you reach for often like a flashlight or canteen, and for employees toting a backpack to the office, it might mean stringing headphones or electronic chargers through the slot for easy access. Lash tabs once appeared only on backpacks created for adventures in the great outdoors, but in recent years, it’s become a staple on a variety of backpack styles—like this one . Carryology reports that lash tabs were once a “leather patch that let you pass a bit of

Having someone break into your home is downright scary. Not only could the burglar take valuable and priceless belongings, but the incident could ruin your sense of security. Even your own home stops feeling so safe. Don’t miss these other 21 things burglars don’t want you to know . With nearly 3 million burglaries occurring in the United States each year, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics , the fear of a break-in is nothing to scoff at—but it probably doesn’t match the picture in your head. When you think of someone sneaking around in your home, you likely imagine a burglar sneaking in while you’re asleep. In reality, your biggest risk of a break-in isn’t at night. Research actually suggests that break-ins are most likely to happen during the day. Burglars are most likely to enter homes on weekdays between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. or from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., according to the U.S. Department of Justice . Entering a stranger’s house in the light of day sounds risky, but it’s act