Stay safe and warm with this winter weather guide Flu activity remains high, but decreased for a second week in a row - Stores limit purchases of children's pain-relief medicine
Conservative Christian couple become outspoken advocates for abortion rights |
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Stay safe and warm with this winter weather guide |
When winter storms force us to brace for freezing rain, wind, sleet and snow, lives can be in danger. Infants and older adults are most at risk for cold-related illnesses or injuries, because babies lose body heat more easily and older adults tend to make less body heat, but there are steps you can take to keep yourself and others safe when extreme cold strikes. When staying indoors during cold temperatures or a winter storm, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers these tips. "Never using generators, gas or charcoal grills, camp stoves, or similar devices inside your home, in basements, in garages, or near windows," the CDC says. "The fumes are deadly." Using the stove for heat is not safe, the CDC warns; instead, use extra blankets, sleeping bags or coats. A well-maintained fireplace or a portable space heater may be a safe alternative. |
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Flu activity remains high, but decreased for a second week in a row |
Seasonal flu activity remains high in the United States, but continues to slow in most parts of the country, according to data published Friday by the CDC. Despite these improvements, it's not clear that the virus has peaked. Respiratory virus activity remains "high" or "very high" in nearly every state, and experts warn that things may tick up again as holiday travel and gatherings continue. And flu is far from the only virus in circulation; a stew of other respiratory viruses has been spreading for weeks, driving an unusually high number of hospitalizations. US health officials have been urging people to get vaccinated against the flu and Covid-19, wear masks in higher risk situations and focus on hand washing. White House Covid-19 response coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha has urged people to stick to one rule of thumb, in particular: "If you are feeling sick, you should stay home." |
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Stores limit purchases of children's pain-relief medicine |
Increased demand has led CVS and Walgreens to limit purchases of children's pain-relief medicine, the companies confirmed to CNN last week. Rite Aid said on it's limiting certain online purchases. Manufacturers of these medications say that they aren't sure when the shortfalls might end and that they're working at full capacity, but some experts say the problem could last into the spring. CVS is restricting both in-person and online purchases to two children's pain relief products. Walgreens has limited online purchases to six over-the-counter fever reducers per transaction, but it does not have an in-store purchase limit. Rite Aid told CNN it does not have in-store purchasing limits, but limits online purchases of 4-ounce grape-flavored Children's Tylenol to five. The Consumer Healthcare Products Association, which represents manufacturers of over-the-counter medicines, says its members "don't have a timeline" for when supply may catch up with demand. In the meantime, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association is asking people to purchase these medicines responsibly rather than stocking up, because hoarding will only further stress limited supplies. |
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This conservative Christian couple in South Carolina have become outspoken advocates for abortion rights |
Jill Hartle might seem an unlikely advocate for abortion rights, but after a devastating pregnancy loss, she's raising her voice. A conservative Christian and former Ms. South Carolina, Jill was a Republican until last summer, when in the wake of new abortion restrictions in her state, she endured the "excruciating" experience of terminating a pregnancy with a baby who had a severe heart defect. Because of South Carolina's abortion laws, Jill and her husband, Matt, had to spend weeks waiting for availability at a clinic out of state, fly there, endure wrenching time away from their family and support system, fly home the day after a painful three-day medical procedure, arrange for their daughter's remains to be shipped back to them and find thousands of dollars to pay for it, "all while grieving the loss of your child," Jill said. The Hartles, who say they've always supported abortion rights, have now formed the Ivy Grace Project, named after their daughter who died, to educate the public and policy makers about fetal anomalies, which are often detected four or five months into a pregnancy – too late in states like South Carolina to terminate a pregnancy. "It's not fair for the government to tell you what you should or should not do," Jill said. The Ivy Grace Project is just a few months old, but Jill says already it has had an impact. |
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At least once a year, we read a sparkling headline about some promising new drug that might help patients with Alzheimer's disease. And at least once a year, we also hear about failed drug trials and reversals of promises that a cure-all is in sight. I wrote a book about how to keep your brain sharp that came out two years ago. Since then, not much has changed in our understanding of how we can preserve our memories, and the lessons remain as relevant as ever. But one thing has become abundantly clearer: Preventing and even treating forms of dementia are largely driven by lifestyle and the choices we make daily. You are not necessarily doomed to whatever fate you think sits stuck in your genes. If there's one fact that's increasingly apparent in scientific circles, it's that our lifestyle choices contribute mightily to our aging process and risk for disease, likely as much – or perhaps even more – than our genetics. Indeed, your everyday experiences – including what you eat, how much you move, with whom you socialize, what challenges you face, what gives you a sense of purpose, how well you sleep, and what you do to reduce stress – factor much more into your brain health and overall wellness than you might imagine. We may never have a drug that everyone can take to avoid, let alone cure, dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases. But we all can access the same toolkit proven to help stack the deck in our favor for a sharp brain for life. The program I outline in my book, and which informed the interactive workbook I have coming out this week – "12 Weeks to a Sharper You: A Guided Program" – features all the practical tools you need to implement in your life today. They can help stave off brain decline, and also help you feel less anxious, sleep better, improve energy, think more clearly, make better decisions, become more resilient to daily stress, and even lose weight and boost immunity – all resolutions most of us aim to make at the transition to a new year filled with hope and high expectations. We all know that change is a challenge, and changing long-established habits takes effort. But it doesn't have to be tortuous, and it is really not that hard to do. Let me give you six things that will help you in 2023 – your keys to the kingdom of mental sharpness. The ultimate goal is to build what's called cognitive reserve, which is what scientists call "brain resiliency." With more cognitive reserve, you support cognitive function and can lower your risk of neurodegenerative issues. It's like having a backup set of networks in your brain when one fails or, worse, dies and is no longer functional. In many aspects of life, the more backup plans we have, the more chances for success, right? Well, the same is true for our brain's hard- and soft-wiring. And perhaps the most important key to establishing that reserve is to do so over time – years or even decades – before your risk for decline increases with advanced age. Always remember this: Cognitive decline is not necessarily inevitable. Research suggests healthy habits you can incorporate into your daily life can help protect your brain health for the long term. Think of health as a "top-down" project. Focus on your brain and everything else will follow. Happy New Year! |
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| Dr. Sanjay Gupta is on a mission to help us approach our new normal mindfully, finding a balance between self-care and productivity, and talking to doctors and researchers about the surprising science behind how we can thrive. It's time to chase life again. |
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