The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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Here's what social media is doing to your finances and mental health In the beginning, social media was a place to people-watch, interact, and reconnect. But that initial premise was soon inundated with product placements — and now more than one-third of U.S. adults say they’ve purchased an item directly through a social media app. That means that using social media is no longer just a way to burn time and relax. And if you’re an active user, that means you’re at risk of being influen...
What does it feel like to take GLP-1s? New survey documents patients’ experiences It has now been several years since GLP-1 medications were widely introduced for weight loss, transforming both clinical care and public awareness. But as adoption has surged, a new set of questions has emerged: What does it feel like to take these medications? What challenges do patients face beyond weight loss itself? And as demand continues to grow, what factors will determine whether patients can start — and...
Understanding life expectancy trends in the United States Life expectancy is a measure of how long, on average, a person is expected to live. In the United States, life expectancy has undergone significant changes over the past century. While it increased dramatically during the 20th century, recent years have seen some fluctuations, largely due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Doctronic reports. Key Takeaways - American longevity increased 58% over 119 years—from 50 years in 1900 to n...
7 things to know about Foundayo, a next-generation weight-loss pill There’s always a media buzz when a new weight-loss drug hits the market. Or when new data shows that a medication can effectively lower body weight. If you've been exploring medication options to help you manage your weight, you may have stumbled across injections, such as Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide). For some, the thought of regularly giving yourself injections may seem overwhelming or uncomfortable. New w...
May 6, 2026 - MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) is urging residents to ensure their pets are vaccinated against rabies after two wild animals - a raccoon in Lee County and a fox in Elmore County - tested positive for the virus. According to ADPH, the raccoon was reported acting abnormally near Auburn on May 1. In Tallassee, a fox emerged from a wooded area and attacked a person, who has since sought medical treatment. Both incidents underscore the ongoing risk of...
How ADHD can affect your mental health The challenges that come with ADHD go way beyond trouble paying attention or staying organized. ADHD symptoms, like impulsivity, being late or forgetful, or having trouble managing emotions can cause serious life challenges. People with ADHD report consistently lower levels of self-esteem. And they’re more likely to have a negative self-concept than their neurotypical peers. It’s not hard to see why. The fallout from ADHD can make it feel like you’re alway...
Life after cancer treatment is different. So are the health needs. Nearly 10 years after Kara Kenan of North Carolina finished treatment for advanced breast cancer, her routine bloodwork revealed an increased level of an enzyme called alkaline phosphatase. Kenan’s primary care doctor didn’t think that was important, so he ordered no further tests. But Kenan, who directs marketing for the advocacy group Cancer Nation, knew better: That anomalous blood test could have been a sign that her can...
This biomarker is a better predictor of heart disease than cholesterol: What to know about C-reactive protein. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Since researchers first established the link between diet, cholesterol and heart disease in the 1950s, risk for heart disease has been partly assessed based on a patient’s cholesterol levels, which can be routinely measured via blood work at the doctor’s office. However, accumulating evidence over the past two dec...
The mental health strategy everyone needs but no one talks about While many conversations about mental health focus on crisis response, experts say some of the most effective strategies are the everyday habits that support emotional well-being before problems escalate. Most people don't think about their mental health until something forces them to. The therapy appointment gets made after things become overwhelming, and the conversation about stress comes only after anxiety has become too heavy...
GLP-1 side effects: What 400,000 patient reports reveal GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) have become some of the most prescribed medications in the country. Millions of people take them for Type 2 diabetes and weight management, and for good reason — the clinical results are striking. But new research suggests that what patients are actually experiencing day to day may go beyond what the official trial data captures. A study p...
1 small hypoallergenic dog breeds that barely shed You love dogs. Your immune system? Not so much. Maybe you’ve spent years admiring other people’s pups from a safe distance, or maybe you already know the exact aisle where your pharmacy keeps the antihistamines. Either way, you’ve probably wondered: Is there a dog out there that won’t leave you reaching for tissues every five minutes? Small hypoallergenic dogs produce less dander and shed minimally, which means fewer allergens circulating throu...
What to know about pain and suffering after an auto accident The term “pain and suffering” sounds pretty straightforward, but as a legal term, it is strict and complex. You can only receive money for pain and suffering in specific circumstances, and it takes an attorney who understands the law to prove that your car accident case qualifies. Physical impairment, loss of limb, physical pain, disfigurement, loss of quality of life, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium, and emotional dis...
5 ways to sleep better when anxiety takes hold For many, the simple act of falling asleep becomes a battle when anxiety takes hold. Our minds race, our bodies tense, and the quiet peace needed for rest feels miles away. There’s a simple motto to navigate this challenge: “Mind, Body, Buffer Zone.” These are the three crucial pathways to focus on when anxiety interferes with sleep. Think of them as three distinct doorways. To fall asleep while anxious, you can choose a skill from any of these...
14% of Americans worry about sunscreen chemicals. Only 32% understand how sunscreen works. Many Americans think of sunscreen at the beach. Fewer consider wearing it for the drive there. And many are questioning if they should wear sunscreen at all. These trends, uncovered in a new national survey from the nonprofit Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA), highlight a central challenge in skin cancer prevention. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, according to the CDC....
The mental health impact of financial stress A sharp rise in the costs of groceries, everyday products, and housing — paired with growing unemployment and worries about the economy — can keep anyone up at night. If you’re frequently concerned about money, it can affect your health, mood, and ability to focus. Sometimes financial stress is temporary, like when you need to pay for an unexpected car or home repair. Other times, it can be caused by ongoing challenges like rising prices, debt, or no...
Why ‘normal’ labs aren’t enough: Closing the nutrition and lifestyle gap in prenatal care Ana was five months pregnant with her second child, and from the moment she sat down, she was visibly exhausted — not just physically but in that bone-deep way that comes from trying hard and still not feeling like yourself. She was struggling with fatigue, mood swings, and anxiety that hadn't lifted since the first trimester. Her labs were normal, and ultrasounds were right on track. When asked a few more...
Skinny isn’t the same as strong Weight loss has become easier to achieve, but the tradeoffs aren’t always apparent right away. For many patients starting GLP-1 medications, the early results can feel drastic, even disorienting, NutraBio reports. Taryn J. Mitchell, a 54-year-old banker from Greensboro, North Carolina, began losing weight rapidly after starting Wegovy, without the strict diet and exercise routine she had relied on for years. But alongside that progress came something less exp...
What should you do if your medication isn’t covered by insurance? 4 tips and tactics, plus how to file an appeal It’s frustrating when your health insurance doesn’t cover your medication. A drug that appears on a formulary — the list of medications covered by a health insurance plan — can get dropped anytime. This can happen if a medication is seldom used, there is a generic or biosimilar available, or a more affordable option exists. Whatever the reason, you’re stuck with the full cost even t...
Allergies are a common concern, especially during the spring when pollen levels rise and outdoor exposure increases. For many people, symptoms such as sneezing, nasal congestion, itchy eyes, and throat irritation can interfere with daily life. Understanding how to manage these symptoms with over-the-counter treatments (and knowing when to seek specialized care) can make a significant difference in comfort and overall health. Seasonal allergies, also known as allergic rhinitis, are typically...
The deadly combination of pregnancy and rural living in the United States Aisha didn’t know it yet, but by the time she reached the hospital, it was too late. After more than a week of struggling to access maternal care—long drives to a distant clinic, confusing insurance forms, and even longer drives to the hospital—she miscarried the pregnancy she had longed for. Aisha, who is using only her first name for safety reasons, made the long drive home alone. Many other rural women in Texas never...
The truth about gut health The "cast iron stomach" myth persists in gastroenterology offices. When patients say they can eat “anything,” they’re saying they believe they should be able to tolerate all foods under all circumstances. Yet this is a fundamental misunderstanding of the gut’s complexity. The gut is not a passive tube but a complex system that houses the digestive tract and is the body’s largest immune organ. It contains about 70% of all immune cells and even has its own nervous s...
Michigan measles outbreak shows high cost of stopping even a small number of infections from spreading The small measles outbreak that health officials are combating in Michigan began last month with an unvaccinated young woman returning home from visiting Florida, a state where there have been more than 140 cases this year. Her first symptoms around March 7 seemed like a cold. By the time the telltale measles rash appeared a few days later, she had exposed her family and scores of other people...
How telehealth is reshaping access to mental health care in America As telehealth becomes a normalized part of healthcare, digital therapy platforms are helping expand access to mental health support by reducing traditional barriers such as geography, cost, and stigma. For generations, the greatest obstacle to mental health care was the courage it took to ask for help at all. That stigma has softened considerably over the past decade, but what took its place was something most people did not...
How to maintain weight loss after using a GLP-1 Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are now widely used for weight loss. If you’re one of the millions of people in the U.S. taking one, you may be wondering what happens next. Do you need to keep taking it? What happens if you stop? Here’s what experts say about maintaining weight after GLP-1 treatment, reported by GoodRx, a platform for medication savings. Key takeaways: - Most people need to keep taking GLP-1 medications to pre...
No test can confirm perimenopause. Doctors say you should get one anyway If you’re in your mid-40s or older and having symptoms like hot flashes, brain fog, weight gain, sleep issues, and more, you might be wondering if a blood test can tell you whether you’re in perimenopause. It can’t. Hormone levels fluctuate too widely during this transition for any single test to tell you where you are on your menopause journey. But doctors strongly encourage getting a blood test during perimenopause to ru...
