Health Tips Line

Toilet paper, hand sanitizer, protective masks, Tylenol, flour and so many other items have suddenly become hot commodities as most Americans hunker down at home during the coronavirus pandemic. This has left many people shopping in bulk as they attempt to be prepared not just for a possible two-week quarantine but for months—just in case. You’ve seen the empty shelves at the stores across the country. You’ve also likely seen the pictures of people’s garages stuffed with supplies, so if you find it, you’re going to buy it. After all, if you don’t, someone else will, you’ll be left with nothing and then what will happen? Stop right there…and breathe. You’re panicking, and that’s causing you to engage in some aptly termed “panic buying.” While it might not seem like a big deal since you’re just one person, you’re adding to a larger problem and causing serious harm in ways you don’t realize. “Panic buying is an act of selfish madness,” says Paul Hong , professor of global supply chain ma

Dealing with an abrupt, damaging financial event like a cut in your working hours is difficult enough. Doing so in the middle of a global pandemic, as new cases of COVID-19 emerge daily and major U.S. cities essentially shut down, can be overwhelming. But if that’s where you are now, or fear you soon could be, using your credit cards strategically could help you get through. To be sure, credit cards come with their own costs, risks, and limitations. It’s possible to rack up high-interest debt, which can put you in a more precarious financial situation. If you’re already feeling the squeeze from credit card debt, adding more might not be an option. Seeing if you qualify for a  credit card hardship program  instead could be a good move. Find out these other financial changes you need to know about with coronavirus . Credit cards can keep someone afloat for only so long. The debt eventually has to be repaid, so they’re not a solution to a permanent loss of income. But when you’re faced

The economic impact of the  coronavirus outbreak  may have you thinking about—and let’s be real, losing sleep over—your finances now more than ever. With bills, investments, and mortgage payments to consider, as well as looming fears about a  recession , you may need an expert opinion to cut through the noise and calm your anxieties. At a recent NerdWallet companywide discussion, four of our experts weighed in on what consumers can do during this time. Holden Lewis, Sara Rathner, Arielle O’Shea, and Kimberly Palmer—NerdWallet writers and spokespeople across mortgages, credit cards and travel, investing, and personal finance, respectively—shared tips on the financial topics that are currently on everyone’s minds. We’re sharing their responses to ten of the biggest financial questions being asked right now. The answers have been lightly edited for clarity and length. What should I do as a long-term investor? Arielle O’Shea:  The stock market is inciting a lot of fear right now. If

Have you ever opened up the water case at a convenience store and noticed how differently all of the brands are priced while pondering which one to choose? Do you settle of a cheap bottle of Aquafina or spring for the Smartwater? If water is just water then why do different brands charge such different amounts for essentially the same product? Well, it turns out, it’s a little more complicated than “water just being water” and the main reason the prices vary so much doesn’t even have to do with the liquid inside the container. This is the safest bottled water you can buy . Bottled water versus tap water Compared to your monthly tap water bill, bottled water is insanely more expensive. According to The Atlantic , if a family used bottled water instead of tap water to drink, shower with, wash dishes with, and flush down the toilet, their monthly water bill could be as much as $9,000. So what’s the main difference between tap water and bottled water? The bottle. Here’s more on the diffe

Coronavirus has altered day-to-day life for most Americans. Kids are out of school, many stores and businesses are closed, and some cities and states are telling people to stay home. It’s hard on all of us. But community organizations are stepping up to provide much-needed support in these challenging times. Take libraries — in the age of smartphones, e-books and Netflix, these halls of knowledge have refashioned themselves as community institutions. Some libraries are going above and beyond to provide critical services, life-saving resources and family-friendly entertainment as we all struggle together to get through the next few months. Here are 25 things you can do while stuck inside.  Taking inventory When Ohio ordered people to stay home and many businesses and organizations to close their doors, Jason Kucsma, executive director of the Toledo Lucas County Public Library, took it seriously. The library system that serves 500,000 people in Northern Ohio shut its doors on March 14

Toilet paper’s been enjoying special attention these days. Although it has always been an essential bathroom item, everyone’s trying to stock up on as much toilet paper as possible since they know they’ll be stuck inside for a while. But while you’ve been buying rolls and rolls of toilet paper, have you ever wondered why toilet paper is just plain white? Maybe these creative toilet paper holders were an inspiration. How is toilet paper made? First, it’s important to understand how to make toilet paper. Toilet paper is made from cellulose fibers that come either directly from trees or recycled paper, according to Jessica Carette, a chemist and Innovation Manager of Research and Development for the Cascades Tissue Group . The fibers mix with water to make pulp. Toilet paper creation comes in two basic parts: making the raw paper, and converting it to the end product you buy in the store, explains  David Altemir , a consultant who works with toilet paper manufacturing plants in the Uni

To freeze or not to freeze? The freezer is a great place to store food you want to save for later, especially in times like right now, when COVID-19 and the resulting uncertainty are causing people to take fewer grocery trips and buy lots of food at once. But not everything can be safely frozen, and in some cases, freezing something could ruin it rather than conveniently preserving it. Here are some things you shouldn’t be sticking in your freezer—even during a pandemic. Plus, find out if your freezer is even set to the right temperature ! The post 16 Foods You Shouldn’t Keep in the Freezer appeared first on Reader's Digest . from Reader's Digest https://ift.tt/2HPBWLd

Germs, germs, germs No matter how hard you’re trying to keep your home clean, germs can still find a way to sneak in. While some of the dirtiest places in your home, like the toilet seat, are easy to guess, others can be things you haven’t been cleaning diligently enough. If you’re wondering what items and places deserve special attention during your next cleaning spree, here are the 22 germiest things you will find in your home. Make sure you check out the  15 best-reviewed cleaning products on Amazon  before you start cleaning. The post 22 Germiest Things You’ll Find in Your Home appeared first on Reader's Digest . from Reader's Digest https://ift.tt/2LuLsVU

To flush or not to flush? During this global COVID-19 pandemic, one thing that people seem to be talking about a whole lot is toilet paper. People buying up enormous amounts of it, stores running out of it, people using up the last of theirs and not knowing what to do. Toilet paper is having something of a moment as people realize that they took the use of it for granted. Find out  how to avoid falling victim to the coronavirus shopping frenzy . Households with little or no toilet paper left are turning to other options.  Bidet sales are seeing massive spikes . More concerningly, some are using wipes, other paper goods, or other toilet paper “alternatives” and flushing them down the toilet as they would with TP. But they’re  not  TP, and sewage systems are not handling them well. People are sharing warnings not to do this, including nightmarish photos of sewers packed with trash and toilets overflowing. So…what can  you do—and what items should you absolutely not use? Of course, t

You’ve probably been told to “bite the bullet” at least once in your life. It’s common knowledge that this saying doesn’t actually mean to bite down on a hard bullet but instead, to have courage and force yourself through a difficult or uncomfortable situation. For example, around the holidays you might find yourself saying, “I really don’t like having the in-laws over for more than a few days, but I’ll just have to bite the bullet.” Read up on these everyday phrases with surprisingly dark origins . The origin of “bite the bullet” So where did this idiom originate? There are actually a few different theories about where the saying comes from. The most well known is that before there were anesthetics and soldiers had to endure painful procedures during the war, they would bite a bullet to distract them from the pain and keep them from biting their tongue or screaming. Francis Grose describes this in his 1796 book ,  A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue . “A soldier who, as th

You probably always have some water bottles on hand, and now, as the COVID-19 quarantine continues with no end in sight, many people are stocking up on big packs of bottled water to make sure that they don’t run out. But it turns out that bottled water actually won’t last forever. When’s the last time you checked the expiration date on your bottled water? Plus, here are our tips for stocking up smart—whether or not there’s a global crisis . That’s right! Bottled water DOES expire. And while the reason why meat or dairy products have a sell-by date is pretty self-explanatory, you might be surprised that bottled water comes with a time stamp, too. As it turns out, it isn’t the water quality you should be worried about. It’s the plastic that the water comes packaged in: usually polyethylene terephthalate (PET) for retail bottles and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) for water cooler jugs. These plastics “will leach into the liquid the bottle once expired or especially when exposed to hea

Seeing shelves emptied of toilet paper and sanitizer quickly shows where people’s first thoughts turn when it comes to a containment. Most households think to stock up on groceries, too, but here are some other goods to think about having on hand during the extra time at home. Plus, check out these funny photos of products no one wants to panic-buy . Outdoor cooking necessities Firing up the grill is a good way to seize some outdoor time and shake up your cooking routine. Make sure you have propane, charcoal, lighter fluid, and any other favorite grilling goods stocked and ready. Chances are you have enough extra time to do a complete grill tune-up, too. Detergents and cleaning supplies Did you remember to stock up on laundry and dishwashing detergents? Don’t forget window and other household cleaners, for regular or deep cleans. Now’s also your chance to finally learn how to make your own homemade cleaners, which also means stocking up on basic pantry supplies like vinegar, baking

The new normal (for now) We’re experiencing a mental health crisis in this country, and you can add that to the long list of crises that have resulted because of the novel coronavirus. The focus is so much on physical health right now (and rightly so), a lot of us are having to figure out how to deal mentally in this whole new world. And when I say “we,” I am definitely including myself! I’m a relationship therapist in New City, New York, about 30 minutes outside of New York City, which is currently experiencing one of the biggest outbreaks of COVID-19 in the world. We are under direction to stay at home. Me, my husband, and our two dogs only leave home to exercise outdoors or go to the grocery store (while still staying six feet away from any other human, of course). Living this way has left me feeling incredibly stressed, anxious, and depressed. I’ve had depression and anxiety since I was ten years old and I’ve learned to manage them well as an adult. However, this pandemic, in p

Fresh berries: Freeze on a cookie sheet To prevent fresh berries from turning to mush in the freezer, wash the fruit thoroughly, pat it dry, and place on a cookie sheet. Place the cookie sheet in the freezer until the berries are frozen, then pack the berries in airtight containers. By freezing pieces of fruit individually, you can take out only what you need for recipes and return the rest to the freezer. Here’s the frozen produce you should always have on hand . The post 11 Frozen Foods You’re Probably Storing Wrong appeared first on Reader's Digest . from Reader's Digest https://ift.tt/2DZ77D1

Let’s be honest, most of us are probably going to be staying home for a while. Amidst rising health concerns, everyone’s trying to limit the time they spend outside for the safety of themselves and others. Lucky for us, a lot of companies are offering free services to make this time more enjoyable. From free movies to workouts to delivery services, here are 20 free things you can do online. And if you had to cancel a major life event,  here’s what event planners would do . The post 20 Free Things You Can Do Online—That Weren’t Free Before appeared first on Reader's Digest . from Reader's Digest https://ift.tt/2zmspsu

Store it in the freezer If you have more food than you know what to do with and won’t be able to eat it before it goes bad, pop it in the freezer. There are a lot more food items you can freeze besides meats and pre-made dinners. Also, make sure to try out these genius non-food ways you can use your freezer . The post 10 Foods You Had No Idea You Could Freeze appeared first on Reader's Digest . from Reader's Digest https://ift.tt/2E6gMFW

If you’re lucky enough to still have hand sanitizer, you’re probably using it constantly. Germs are everywhere, and for those who are particularly concerned about catching the coronavirus, hand sanitizers can seem like the answer. Just a little squirt, many people think, can protect you from the nasty bugs that are everywhere in our daily life. But doctors and scientists have come to realize that hand sanitizers aren’t necessarily the boon we all thought. Here’s why you need to worry about hand sanitizers : Using them too much may have dire consequences to our hand microbiome, the “good” bacteria that keep our skin, and our bodies, healthy. “There’s no question that use of hand sanitizer—not just overuse, probably any use—will ‘disrupt’ the hand microbiome,” says David Coil, PhD, a microbiologist at the UC Davis Genome Center. “The stuff really does kill a lot of microbes.” Hand sanitizer could wipe out the good bugs along with the bad; but as research is still ongoing about what con