December 30, 2016

If you haven’t been vaccinated yet, it’s not too late to get that flu shot. The CDC says most of the flu season is still ahead of us but you need to get the shot soon because it can take several weeks to give you maximum protection. Flu activity will increase in most parts of the country after holiday get-togethers and traveling. Source Link
 
This week, millions of people are starting new conversations with someone named Alexa. Amazon says its Alexa wireless voice control speakers were top sellers for the holiday season. Amazon says it shipped one billion items worldwide and three out of four orders came from a mobile device. Source Link
 
No offense but, if there are some phrases that people really hate, well ya know, I can’t even. Whatever. That covers the top vote getters in an annual survey of the most hated words and phrases. “No offense but,” “whatever,” “well, ya know” and “I can’t even” were tops but perennial favorites such as “like” and “no worries” didn’t make the most-hated list in 2016. Source Link

December 29, 2016

Are you an iPhone rebel or an agreeable Android? A study found that iPhone users were often more extroverted and see their phones as a status object and not just a useful instrument. Android users were more likely to get along and less likely to break the rules for personal purposes. Source Link
 
Could long-term use of a non-prescription pain reliever make it harder to hear? Researchers found that some women were more likely to suffer hearing loss after six years of regular use of over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen and ibuprofen. There was no connection between hearing loss and the use of aspirin. Source Link
 
A comedic take on swashbuckling films and the movie that introduced us to the phrase “Hakuna Matata” will be preserved for future generations by The Library of Congress. “The Princess Bride” and “The Lion King” are among the 25 latest additions to the National Film Registry. This year’s list also includes “The Breakfast Club” and “Thelma and Louise.” Source Link

December 28, 2016

If you found a new laptop under the tree this year, what should you do with the old one? You can sell it on eBay, Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, but be sure to remove the hard drive to safeguard any of your files. And the National Cristina Foundation can show you how to donate your old computer to a family in need. Source Link
 
Staying safe in winter weather means keeping yourself warm and dry in several ways. Experts say insulated clothing worn in layers can help prevent hypothermia that happens when body temperature drops dangerously low and frostbite that can damage the skin. And bringing along a change of dry socks can help you avoid trench foot that can happen when feet are wet and cold for too long. Source Link
 
It’s round and holds your food, and it could be key to keeping you from overeating. Nutritionists say using a plate for everything you eat including snacks can help prevent mindless eating and extra calories. Using smaller plates can also help you eat less because it takes less food to make the plate look full. Source Link

December 27, 2016

Letting your anger rise behind the wheel makes it more likely you’ll get into an accident. A study of drivers and their records showed that even a habit of minor aggression, such as swearing, yelling or making rude gestures, can increase the risk of a collision. Highly aggressive drivers had the same risk of an accident as those who smoked marijuana behind the wheel. Source Link
 
Parents of college-bound children can get started on securing financial aid for the next school year. The FAFSA Free Application for Federal Student Aid can be filed now for the 2017-2018 term. For the first time, families can use older tax information to complete the form that helps determine who gets financial aid. Source Link
 
What’s worse for your health -- “love handles” or a “spare tire?” A long-term study found that people with a pot belly had a greater risk for heart disease than those with visible fat elsewhere under the skin. Even with a body mass index in the normal range, people with a pot belly may be at increased cardiovascular risk. Source Link

December 22, 2016

Need a strategy to beat the holiday meal food coma? Nutrition experts say avoid snacking before you eat and take a walk after you finish cooking or after dinner. Go ahead and enjoy your special holiday dishes but try using the “My Plate” method to have the right mix of all five food groups on your dinner plate. Source Link

If a gift card is your go-to choice for that last-minute purchase be sure you’re buying carefully. Always check the packaging and any security seals to be sure they’re intact and that no one has tampered with the card. And make sure the gift card can be used in the store or online if that’s how the recipient shops. Source Link

When a long-distance trip is in your holiday plans, take care to avoid deadly blood clots that can happen when you sit for more than two hours at a time. Try to get up and walk or stretch your legs in your seat and move your feet in a circular motion to improve blood flow. Source Link

December 21, 2016

It  might describe the feeling for many people after this year’s presidential election. The Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary word of the year for 2016 is “surreal” which means, “intense irrational reality.” Some runner-ups also came from the political world, like the slang word “bigly” attributed to Donald Trump and “deplorable” used by Hillary Clinton to describe some Trump supporters. Source Link
 
Whether you’re the cook or a guest, you can keep your holiday dinner from busting the scales. If you’re the host, limit the number of food choices to seven or less; try steamed green beans instead of that green bean casserole and swap applesauce for oils in recipes. And guests should remember how uncomfortable it feels to overeat and choose alcohol or dessert, but not both. Source Link
 
Your nose knows a way to breathe that’s good for your brain. Researchers say test subjects who took a deep breath through their nose and exhaled through their mouth improved their skills in a memory test. But mouth breathers saw no such brain benefits. Source Link

December 20, 2016

So what does it cost when we don’t get enough sleep? How about half a trillion dollars. A study found that the productivity Americans lose from too little sleep amounts to 1.2 million working days per year or over $400 billion dollars in productivity. So how can you get more shut-eye? Get moving because even moderate exercise can help you sleep better. Source Link
 
If you have visions of holiday leftovers dancing in your head, here’s how to make sure your fridge is ready to handle it.  Food safety experts say set the temperature between 33 and 40 degrees and move any raw meat to the bottom shelf to avoid contaminating other foods. And any food left out for more than two hours should go in the garbage and not into your refrigerator. Source Link
 
Maybe you’re among the one billion users whose Yahoo account information was stolen. If so, you’ll want to ignore any password-reset emails that claim to be coming from Yahoo because it could be a fraud. Reset your password at the Yahoo website and turn on two-factor authentication so you'll need a text message from your phone to get into your account. Source Link

December 19, 2016

You may not see the “freshman 15” on your college student who’s home for winter break, but weight gain is an issue over the college years. A study found that young adults typically gain about 10 pounds over four years of higher education. Experts say that kind of steady weight gain may set the stage for being overweight or obese in adulthood. Source Link
 
Holiday travel is back in a big way. The annual AAA report estimates that 103 million people will be hitting the road between Christmas and New Year’s Day. That’s the eighth consecutive year of growth in year-end holiday travelers. Nine out of ten will be driving and they’ll appreciate a national average gas price of $2 a gallon. Source Link
 
If you’re looking for a trendy last-minute gift for an iPhone owner, there’s some good news. Those wireless earbuds announced at the iPhone 7 reveal back in September are now available in Apple stores. The $159 Air Pods can detect whether one or both are being used to send the right audio to your ears. Source Link

December 16, 2016

The federal government wants our cars talking to each other to make your ride safer. Proposed rules would require new cars to be equipped with technology to broadcast data to one another about speed, location and direction of travel to help avoid a collision. The information might trigger automatic braking or simply send an alert to the car’s dashboard. Source Link
 
Does where you live in America help determine how you’ll die? Researchers looking at records of over 80 million deaths found that more obesity and smoking in the Southeast lead to more heart disease deaths and heavier drinking in states like Texas and Arizona caused more chronic liver disease. The healthiest place to live was northern and central Colorado. Source Link
 
You want to feel better, but faking a happy face may backfire.  A study found that people who forced a smile all day were more tense and less productive. On the other hand, a genuine smile that’s prompted by a funny thought or an amusing video can trigger those “feel good” brain chemicals to ease tension. Source Link

December 15, 2016

Women who are ready to conceive again after a miscarriage may not need to wait that long. A new study found no more risk to the mother or the fetus if a pregnancy occurred less than six months after a miscarriage. The findings showed that some risks may actually be lower with shorter intervals between pregnancies. Source Link
 
So how do you raise kids who are smart about money? Experts say you can build their awareness by pointing out prices on a menu or comparing prices at the supermarket and educating them about the costs of living like paying for a house, car, and utilities. And use that magic word “no” to teach budgeting and demonstrate the difference between wants and needs. Source Link
 
Touring those elaborate holiday window displays at some of New York’s finest stores is as easy as uploading an app. Winter Wonderland from Google features many storefronts and includes interviews with the designers. The free Winter Wonderland app is available for smartphones, tablets and computers and a version offering a 360-degree virtual experience.  Source Link

December 14, 2016

You can have a say in whether air travelers will be able to make phone calls during flights. The Department of Transportation wants public comment on a new rule that could ban all in-flight calls. Right now there’s a loophole that could allow calls from your phone if you’re using WiFi with a service like Skype or FaceTime. Source Link
 
If you’re like many people and weight loss will be part of your post-holiday plans here are a few diets that experts say you should avoid. The juice cleanse or juice fast will help you drop some pounds but you’re almost guaranteed to gain it back quickly. And the classic cabbage diet gives you too few calories and can slow your metabolism to make weight loss harder. Source Link
 
Picking the perfect live Christmas tree is about more than shape and size. Be sure it’s fresh; that means no falling needles or branches and a trunk that’s sticky. And speaking of the trunk, be sure to trim a few inches off the bottom before you put it your tree stand. That will help the tree take in the water it needs to keep from drying out. Source Link

December 13, 2016

How do you beat the battle of the bulge as a host or a guest at a holiday party? Experts suggest offering healthy fruit and vegetable dishes if you’re the host or bringing a vegetable dish if you’re a guest. Remember that a holiday meal shouldn’t be an “all you can eat” challenge, so take smaller first portions and go back for seconds only if you’re still hungry. Source Link
 
Sharing a cold with your child is a common as the common cold but you can take some steps to limit the damage. Besides practicing good habits like regular hand washing and sneezing into your arm, keep sick kids out of the kitchen where cold germs can spread to the family’s food. And eat well and get plenty of rest so your immunity is at it’s best to battle those pint-sized cold bugs. Source Link
 
If you’re a fan of online shopping with Amazon, there are ways to get a better deal. Look in the Amazon Warehouse listings where like-new items can sell for much less. Go to the Coupons section for instant savings on some products and use tracking sites like CamelCamelCamel to get notifications when Amazon prices drop. Source Link

December 12, 2016

A new survey shows that most parents spend enough time with screen entertainment each day to make it a full-time job. The average parent logged nearly eight hours a day aside from work glued to TVs, phones, tablets and computers. Experts say parents who want their kids to reduce their screen time might need to set a good example and cut back themselves. Source Link
 
Now hear this -- there could be a more-affordable way to improve your hearing coming soon. The FDA says it will consider creating a category of over-the-counter hearing aids that could provide innovative and lower-cost devices to millions of people. A typical set of hearing aids can cost $4,000 or more and that’s unaffordable for many older Americans. Source Link
 
A little less sleep could put you in much more danger of a car crash. A study by AAA found that trimming just one or two hours of sleep doubles the odds of you getting in an accident the next day. And with only four or five hours of sleep you’re driving with the same impairment as someone who’s legally drunk. Source Link

December 9, 2016

So what will or won’t improve your credit score? Experts say carrying a credit card balance won’t help but having more available credit will. Closing an unused credit account may hurt if it’s one that’s been part of your credit history for years. And paying your phone bill on-time won’t help your credit score because those accounts aren’t reported to credit agencies. Source Link
 
The scourge of heroin addiction sweeping America might be avoided with a pain reliever we already use. A study found that prescription opioid painkillers didn’t work any better than ibuprofen for injuries suffered in a car crash. Use of opioid painkillers can lead to heroin abuse when users get hooked and then prescriptions run out. Source Link
 
The  future of grocery shopping may already be here. Amazon Go is a new food market at the company's Seattle headquarters that allows you to log-in with your smartphone and pay for purchases without checkouts or cashiers. The “just walk out” shopping uses microchips embedded in packaging to keep track of what you’re taking with you. Source Link

December 8, 2016

Remember this when you’re ready to make exercise a regular habit. Lifting weights won't add pounds from big bulky muscles but it will build muscle mass to help you burn more fat. You don’t need long workouts -- about 30 minutes five times a week is plenty. And you can skip the gym membership by working more activity into your day. Source Link
 
Downsizing may be bad news in the workplace but it can be a good idea in your personal life. Experts suggest thinking about realistic needs versus wants in the size of home you’ll buy. Look for the best way to meet your transportation needs rather than using a car as a status symbol. And avoid impulse buying by adding a seven-day waiting period before any major purchases. Source Link
 
You’re laptop remembers your WiFi passwords so you do have to, but what happens when you need to know it, like when you’re setting up another computer? Windows PCs save your WiFi passwords and you can see that list using a free downloadable program called WirelessKeyView. It works for passwords you’ve saved but it won’t get you into a private WiFi network. Source Link

December 7, 2016

An internet-connected gadget might seem like a great Christmas gift but be sure it doesn’t open your home to a hacker attack. High-tech dolls, internet-connected baby monitors and even refrigerators or crock pots that use WiFi can be infected. Experts say before you buy check to see if you can set your own password for these devices. Source Link
 
Food safety isn’t just important for your meals - it also matters when you serve your dog or cat. Pet food can harbor bacteria and you should always wash your hands after handling it. Keep pet food in the original bag and sealed in a plastic container and gather it with a clean scoop and not the bowl. And throw away food that’s been left out if your pet doesn’t eat it. Source Link
 
More people donate to charities during the holiday season so now’s the time to consider the best way to give. Go beyond the name and use a website like CharityNavigator.org for information or go to the charity’s own web site to be sure their mission fits your interests. And use a website like GiveWell.org that ranks the most effective charities. Source Link

December 6, 2016

You might be more likely to spend less on kid’s eyeglasses if you send them outside to play. A study found that children who played outdoors were less likely to be nearsighted. Researchers think the exposure to natural light might trigger the release of natural chemicals in the body that can moderate growth of the eyes to help prevent nearsightedness. Source Link
 
Requiring calorie counts on fast food restaurant menus to encourage people to eat less may not be a winning strategy. A study of diners in one major city with a menu law showed only 8-percent of them made healthy choices because of seeing the calories. Most fast food restaurants in America will be required to list calories on their menus beginning next year. Source Link
 
You'll need to open your wallet a bit wider this year if you really want to splurge on the ultimate holiday gift list. The annual look at the cost of buying everything mentioned  in “The 12 Days of Christmas” shows the $34,000 price tag is about $200 higher thanks to higher wages for pipers and drummers and a price hike on those turtle doves. Source Link

December 5, 2016

If you want to learn a trade, head for your local public college. A Department of Education survey found that graduates of certificate programs from public colleges earn more than those who went to a private for-profit school. And the for-profit schools may charge tuition that’s twice the cost of attending a public college. Source Link
 
Taking steps to guard against dementia might start with stepping onto a treadmill. A study found that older adults with mild impairment who did aerobic exercise four times a week with a treadmill, stationary bike or elliptical machine had significant improvement in thinking and memory. A control group that did stretching exercises did not see the same benefits. Source Link
 
Hosting a holiday party can be easier on your wallet with these tips. Make a budget and determine how much you’ll spend on food for each person before you create a guest list. Consider a potluck and have those who don’t cook help with invitations or clean-up. Or try an appetizer or dessert party that will cost less than a get-together with a full meal. Source Link

December 2, 2016

Those pint-sized black belts may be a dangerous fit for children. The American Academy of Pediatrics says for safety's sake, kids should only engage in non-contact forms of martial arts. Popular mixed martial arts can carry a higher risk of concussion, suffocation, spine damage, and other head and neck injury. Source Link
 
Women who think they're too old to worry about mammograms may want to think again. A study of 7 million mammograms found that the benefit continues with increasing age up until 90. Experts say women who expect to live at least 10 more years should consider having an annual mammogram. Source Link
 
If you don’t want to get tangled up trimming the tree with Christmas lights there’s a new way to easily put some sparkle in your holiday. Tree Dazzler is a curtain of lights that hangs vertically over your Christmas tree. The makers claim you can hang your Tree Dazzler lights in about three minutes and never have to untangle a cord. Source Link

December 1, 2016

Cooking shows are a great way to learn the kitchen craft, but following their lead could be dangerous in one way. A study found that 70 percent of programs didn’t show proper food safety guidelines like protection from contamination, temperature control and the proper use of knives and utensils. Experts say cooking shows can do more to promote food safety. Source Link
 
Don’t let a popular holiday shopping deal trap you in high-interest credit. Many store credit cards offer no interest on purchases paid within a certain time, but those charges will be added in full if you miss the deadline by one day or just a few dollars. And many store cards charge interest rates that double those of regular credit cards. Source Link
 
Could a beer a day keep a stroke at bay? Researchers found that people who enjoyed one or two alcoholic drinks per day had a lower incidence of the type of stroke when blood flow is blocked to the brain. On the other hand, those who downed four drinks or more per day had a higher risk of both types of strokes. Source Link