Health Tips Line

“Mom? My throat feels like I swallowed razor blades, doused them in gasoline and lit them on fire.” Then my dramatic child did what children do and coughed right in my face. It was one week before we were set to fly for a much-anticipated vacation in another state to visit family members we hadn’t seen in forever. As soon as I felt the droplets hit my face, I knew we were all doomed—her, me, the rest of the family, the folks we were visiting and maybe some of the general public.  I probably should have seen it coming. It was the first week of school, and back-to-school might as well be called back-to-flu. And sure enough, two days later, my throat also felt like I swallowed razor blades, doused them in gasoline and set them on fire. (She may have been dramatic, but she wasn’t wrong.) I did, however, manage to refrain from coughing in anyone’s face.  What should we do?  Cold and flu season creates an etiquette dilemma because getting si...

Were you a Barbie fan growing up? What am I even saying—if you’re reading this, the answer’s probably yes. Barbie’s been around since 1959 , and kids have played with thousands of versions of her ever since. We’ve had doctor Barbies and astronaut Barbies and even president Barbies, and all of them speak to the moment in a way that other toys just can’t match. Well, there’s a new Barbie in town, and it’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen. Scratch that—it is like someone you’ve seen before, and the likeness is uncanny. People are going absolutely nuts for it too, and when I say “people,” I mostly mean women of a certain age , like me. Ahead, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about this buzzy new Barbie doll that will have you singing Mattel’s praises and jumping for joy if you manage to snag one. Read on to discover why this Barbie is so cool and where you can get your hands on one. Get ...

You know the feeling: One second, you’re walking through your house, minding your own business. The next, WHACK —your elbow connects with a doorway, countertop or other inanimate object that has suddenly become your mortal enemy. Then comes the pain. Not ordinary pain either. A strange electric shock shoots down your arm, your fingers start tingling, and you’re left clutching your elbow and wondering why this injury hurts so much . You’re also wondering, perhaps more importantly, why on earth anyone decided to call it the funny bone . To get to the bottom of both mysteries, we turned to two experts. Madeline Tadley, MD, a hand and upper-extremity surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery, explains the science behind that jolt of pain. And language expert Martha Barnette, the longtime co-host of A Way with Words , helps unravel the surprisingly colorful history behind the phrase itself. Read on for the unfunny details. Get Reader’s Digest ’s Read Up...

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