Health Tips Line

A cosmetic surgeon had invited me to her practice for a treatment—not for my face, but for my mind: a newly FDA-approved electromagnetic brain stimulation procedure to fight depression. Her team told me I’d likely experience the greatest impact after six sessions, but on my way home from that first appointment, I swore I was already feeling transformed. It happened to be a Friday, and downtown San Francisco was buzzing. I grabbed a cookie from a corner bakery and headed to the train, taking in the Bay and the cliffside neighborhoods between downtown San Fran and the suburb where I still felt like a newbie after relocating a few years ago. The way the sun hovered behind the pine trees, just over the hill— Wow, did that device ever perk up my neurons! Then it hit me: This was the first afternoon in months that I’d given myself a break from my desk, and it was my first time exploring a part of San Francisco on my own. It wasn’t the brain stimulation trea...

Breathing is one of those things you never have to think about. In, out, repeat—nothing to it. Heck, even infants can rock those inhales and exhales. It’s the easiest thing … until one day, your breathing gets thrown completely out of whack. If you’ve ever struggled with shortness of breath after a virus or suddenly found yourself panting hard every time you set out for a run, you know the feeling (and probably wish you didn’t). Officially known as dysfunctional breathing, this maddening issue is actually much more common than you might think: Nearly one in ten adults have it, according to a 2019 study of adults in the U.K. To find out more about dysfunctional breathing, I consulted Michael Marsh, MD, an interventional pulmonologist at Jupiter Medical Center, and Zachary Rubin, MD, a pediatric allergist and immunologist and the author of the new book All About Allergies . Read on to find out how this respiratory glitch happens, whether stress plays a role...

Known for its sweeping, varied landscapes, massive influence on popular culture, elite professional sports and cultural diversity, the United States of America is undeniably iconic in so many ways. From the Statue of Liberty to Fenway Park, the Hollywood Walk of Fame to the Great Plains, America is bursting with noteworthy hallmarks. Not the least of those are dozens, if not hundreds, of iconic brands that have slowly but surely become household names. But which of those brands reigns supreme? In a recent study, GOBankingRates sought out the most iconic brand in every state, from sea to shining sea. Headquartered all across the country, these brands provide jobs for millions of Americans and impact millions more with their products and services. Keep reading to find out the most iconic brand in each of America’s 50 states, and see which one earned the title in your home state, your current state, even your favorite day trip or vacation state. The results might surprise you! Get...

If you’re not eying one of the best retirement cities or beach towns, look at small towns, many of which make sense for retirees. Small towns often have a lower cost of living, lower crime and much less traffic than bigger cities. On top of that, small towns generally offer a strong sense of community, which is great for the stage of life when you actually have time to meet your neighbors for a leisurely visit over a cup of coffee. Many small towns are also close to major metropolitan areas, offering seniors access to culture and health care, and they also tend to have good public transportation options. GOBankingRates recently researched the 44 best small towns to retire in the U.S. for 2025. Keep reading to find out more about the best town and what makes it terrific for seniors. Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter  for more news, humor, travel, tech and fun facts all week long. How were the best small towns for retirement determined? GOBankingRates start...

Spirit Airlines has a reputation for many things: affordable airfare, an excellent safety record and a no-frills approach to your in-flight experience. Spirit was even ranked the best airline in the United States earlier this year, placing higher than airlines known for offering a more premium product, like Delta, American and United. Despite Spirit’s continued success (and its increasingly strict dress code ), the budget-friendly airline is still striving to give its loyal fliers the best possible value. That’s why the airline is introducing some brand-new changes that will make flying Spirit Airlines even better than before. Keep reading to find out which changes are headed to Spirit Airlines and when you’ll see them roll out across flights nationwide. Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter  for more travel, tech, cleaning, humor and fun facts all week long. What are the changes? Spirit Airlines is introducing two major changes, with the goal of bettering the...

Surely you’ve seen them. They’re big, scratchy and stare you in the eye as you try to fall asleep. Pillow tags are anything but subdued—and certainly counterproductive to all that rest you’re hoping to get. But the message printed on them is even more jolting: Do Not Remove Under Penalty of Law. That can’t be true … er, can it? Will snipping off a pillow tag be the rebel move that sends you into a life of crime? Who are these pillow police, and why are they telling you how to take a catnap? Read on for the answer. Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter  for more humor, cleaning, travel, tech and fun facts all week long. What is it about a pillow tag that makes people want to rip it off? These paper tags aren’t pretty, and even when covered by a pillowcase , they might stick out and be an eyesore. Often, however, it all comes down to comfort. “The tags might bunch up or rub on your neck, and that’s not fun,” says Dan Caffrey, a certified sleep science coach at Sl...

Costco has its own way of doing things, from how it keeps its rotisserie chicken priced at $4.99 to how it operates its checkout lines . But one surprising fact about Costco is that they keep your receipts on file for two years. Yes, 730 days (or 731 if a leap year is involved). That’s a pretty long time, but there’s a good reason for it. After all, if the IRS suggests consumers keep receipts for three years, then you’ve got to figure businesses should work similarly. Still, when you factor in how many members Costco has, that’s a whole lot of receipts to keep stored in their system. So let’s dig in to the why behind this policy, and how it matches up with Costco’s reputation for stellar customer service. Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter  for more news, travel, fun facts, humor, cleaning and tech all week long. Why does Costco keep your receipts on file? Simply put—it’s to simplify the lives of Costco members. Keeping receipts on file for two years withi...