The Truth About Pet Allergies

Photo: © Shutterstock Confusion reigns when it comes to how and why our furry friends make us sneeze and wheeze. Sakina S. Bajowala, MD, a member of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, sets us straight. It's not the hair. The allergen is a protein that's found in saliva, urine, oil glands and dead skin cells, so a short-haired dog or hairless cat...

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The U.S. at a Glance

Photo: © courtesy of Coca-Cola Need a few talking points for this year's Fourth of July bash? You're in luck. Below, find six interesting facts about the "the land of the free"—like how many bald eagles are nesting on U.S. soil and when the final star was added to the American flag—to help you kick off conversation throughout the weekend. • 10,000 pairs of nesting bald...

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Understanding Chronic Fatigue

Photo: © iStockphoto You're always exhausted and sometimes need to spend days in bed. You feel achy, constantly have a headache, and can't concentrate. Your doctor has tested you for mono, thyroid problems and a slew of other health conditions, but nothing seems to be wrong. So are you just depressed? A complainer? Or are you physically ill? This quandary is all too familiar...

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Checkup: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Photo: © iStockphotos Learn about this common condition that causes pain, numbness and weakness in the hand Only people who work on computers all day get it, right? Wrong. Anyone can get carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), a condition in which the tendons passing through the carpal tunnel—a narrow channel of ligament that leads from your wrist to your hand— become thickened and...

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The Facts About Deep-Vein Thrombosis

Photo: © iStockphoto I'm a worrier, especially when it comes to my health, but until recently, deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) wasn't even on my top 10 list of concerns. Turns out it's time to reprioritize. I'd heard that DVT—a blood clot in the deep veins (usually the thighs or legs)—could be fatal if it travels to your lungs, and I knew that NBC's David Bloom died from it while...

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Checkup: Lyme Disease

Photo: © Shutterstock When spending time outdoors, many of us worry about Lyme disease, and for good reason: Cases reported to the CDC have more than doubled in the past 15 years. Don't let these myths get in the way of protecting yourself. Myth #1: A bull's-eye rash is the telltale sign Reality: Only half of the people who get Lyme disease—transmitted by infected...

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5 Biggest Allergy Myths

Photo: © Shutterstock If you feel like just about everyone you know has allergies, you're not imagining it: The number of people with hay fever has gone up dramatically in the past 10 years, and it now affects about 60 million people in the U.S. Why? One theory is that we're leading a "cleaner" existence—few of us live on farms where we'd regularly be exposed to a variety...

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5 All-Natural Holiday Stain Removers

Photo: © iStockphoto Q: My husband and I get a kick out of entertaining, whether it's intimate gatherings or large dinner parties. The period from Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve is particularly active when it comes to inviting others —some being sloppy and spill-prone — into our home. I wouldn't give up my hostess-with-the-mostess duties for anything nor would I...

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How to Prevent Bathroom Mold

Q: I was recently taking a shower in my bathroom when I looked up and noticed what I think was black fuzz and dots growing on my ceiling! I realized it was actually mold. Why does mold seem to like the bathroom the most and what can I do to prevent it from growing there? A: You've got a problem there. First off, you should probably get that black stuff looked at and...

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WD’s Guide to Making Clothes Last

If your favorite jeans could talk, they might cry. Their existence is, frankly, harrowing: endless days spent absorbing sweat from one side and dirt from the other before a week or two crumpled in the laundry basket, then sudden submersion in a water-filled machine that hurls and spins. And then there's the dryer—extreme heat combined with flying through the air. (Lint is clothing...

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