Some difficult but important advice about planning ahead — now
If you could no longer speak for yourself, would the people who love you know your final wishes? If they did, could you count on them to carry them out?
What Brought You Joy Today?
The sight and scent of lilacs in my backyard last for such a short time but bring me immense joy. We have a lilac bush that we bought years ago as a tiny plant from the McLaughlin Garden in South Paris, Maine. The flowers are pink and this year, they were in abundance. A month ago, [...]
Delicious, healthy strawberries: On the Morning Report
Freshly picked strawberries. Wicked good! Sharon and I talk about their health benefits and share some advice on the Morning Report. I also ask viewers for a little help with the Catching Health list of where you can pick strawberries in Maine. […]
Why composting will make you feel good about yourself and the world
When Saco Middle School started composting this past March, it went from 10 garbage bags a lunch period to just one. Students in the school’s ecology club feel pretty pleased with the accomplishment because they understand why composting is a good thing to do. […]
Harvard Pilgrim offers employees a quick and easy way to EatRight
When Carolyn Preston goes grocery shopping, she tries to make healthy choices for her family. A handy little app on her smartphone makes it a whole lot easier.
Men and skin cancer: On the Morning Report
According to a recent survey by the Skin Cancer Foundation, men over age 50 are twice as likely as women to die from malignant melanoma. On the Morning Report, Sharon Vaznis and I share some important information about protection and prevention — for men and women. […]
Do ticks make you paranoid? You’re not the only one
Ticks — tiny creatures that barely tickle when they crawl over your skin. If one is making a meal of you, determining if it's a deer tick is important.
Every day Vanessa Child battles a deadly monster that is never satisfied
The monster Vanessa fights every day lives inside her brain. It tells her that she’s hungry — starving even — whether she just ate a snack or a three-course meal. […]
Men, follow this simple advice. It could save your life
Source: Pond5 Guest post by retired dermatologist J. Michael Taylor, MD, MPH According to a recent survey by the Skin Cancer Foundation, men over age 50 are twice as likely as women to die from malignant melanoma. This difference increases with age. Men are also much more likely to develop [...]
Out of the mouths of babes. What it’s like to have a disability
For what seemed like an eternity, but was barely a minute, third graders at Small School in South Portland had to pair up and stare at each other. Find out why.
Strokes kill people we love. You need to know the risks
Thirty years ago, my beloved grandmother — her name was Joanna Tenney, but we called her Nanny — had a massive stroke and died a few days later.
Want a good excuse to nap? Here’s all you need to know
Taking a break When the snow melts for good and the sun comes out, so does my hammock. Fortunately, my boss (me) thinks taking a nap is ok — healthy even. A 20-minute power nap swinging under a blue sky between the birch trees. Doesn't that sound heavenly? Check out this infographic from Patio Productions (they [...]
Want to be wicked healthy? Consider these nutty ideas
Adding nuts to your diet is a smart move for your health. We have some nutty ideas to get you started.
Understanding the cost of your healthcare: On the Morning Report
I recently wrote a blog post encouraging you to ask your doctor how much tests and procedures will cost. Sharon Rose Vaznis and I continued the conversation on the Morning Report with a look at the often confusing pricing structure. Retail price versus negotiated price. What’s that all about? Watch the video. [...]
How to be a champion like Julia Clukey (No need to ride a luge)
Imagine that you have trudged to the top of your favorite sliding hill. A deep breath and down you fly — sitting or stretched out on your belly. Your choice.
How to ask your doctor how much it will cost. Why it’s important
Last year, my family had some unexpected medical expenses. The bills began to add up after I had my annual mammogram. Because there were some suspicious looking calcifications, I was called back for additional views. Next, I had a stereotactic biopsy, which was positive for DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ or stage zero breast cancer). [...]
Protect your pets against Lyme Disease: On the Morning Report
Happily, little Wiper is doing better. His brush with Lyme Disease serves as reminder to protect our pets against deer ticks. Sharon and I pass along some important Lyme Disease prevention tips on the Morning Report. […]
Alzheimer’s: Amazingly, it can be something to sing about
Source: Choral Art Society You wouldn’t think that Alzheimer’s or any form of dementia was something to sing about. I’m not talking about the effect music can have on someone with dementia, which I happened to witness just the other day at the memory care facility where my mother lives. (I [...]
Thanks to his vet back home in Maine, a sweet little dog is on the mend
A few weeks ago sweet little Wiper was so sick his humans thought he might be dying. Terrified, they rushed him to the nearest veterinary clinic.
How to handle an ache in your hip that becomes a pain in the neck
Hip joints are pretty amazing. At the top of their game, they allow us to move in all directions. It takes a lot to hurt a healthy hip, but age brings risks.
You don’t want to miss the Cabin Fever Art Show at the Maine Jewish Museum
Achievement can be significant for anyone, but especially someone with a mental illness. That's why the Cabin Fever Art Show at the Maine Jewish Museum is important.
Sprout Film Festival: Celebrate Every Person’s Unique Possibility
Source: Spurwink Guest post by Sue Murphy, BS, Adult Program Senior Program Director, Spurwink Films by, for and about people with developmental and intellectual disabilities — including autism — increase knowledge and understanding. […]
7 Easy Ways to Honor the Earth Every Day
Source: Pond5 When I was growing up, my father was always trying to save energy and money. We were a big family and used a lot of electricity, heat and water. He would constantly scold me and my siblings for leaving on the lights, taking too long in the shower [...]
Wise advice on how to craft a new life after a brain injury
A split second. That’s all it took for life to change for every single person in this picture. Carole Starr, for instance. She’s smack dab in the middle, wearing a blue top. Carole suffered a traumatic brain injury when she was in a car accident 15 years ago. At the time, she was a teacher [...]
Adolescence: Not just about hormones. Blame it on the brain
© Kengmerry | Dreamstime.com Did you know? It takes a minimum of 25 years to build a basic brain. And we all play a role in shaping the adolescent brain. […]
Cancer diagnosis? 12 bold questions you need to be asking
Deb Nelson When you first hear the news that you have cancer, it’s like being punched in the gut. Your brain is instantaneously filled with a million questions, but you’re so dumbfounded that, even if they made sense, you couldn’t get them out. The best you can do is ask, [...]
How to get a good night’s sleep and why it’s important
Do you find that the older you get, the more trouble you have sleeping? You’re not alone. Insomnia is a fairly common problem at any age, but even more so once you hit 60. It’s estimated that half the people in the United States who are 60 and older either have trouble getting to sleep or [...]
How to relieve that killer hangover
Source: Pond5 I’m guessing that a few people are hung over today after celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. Do you have a tried and true hangover cure? […]
Brain Injury: Seeing a Different View
In a split second, Martha Davoli's view of the world shifted, literally and figuratively, when she slipped on the ice and hit the back of her head.
For the first time: Cholesterol, yes. Juicy steak, no.
The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee released a new report that has big implications for the health status of Americans.
Dealing with cancer? You need to watch this
If you’re dealing with cancer, your primary focus should be on getting better. It’s not always easy, especially if you’re worrying about things like how you’ll get to and from treatments, pay your bills or take care of your house and family. Today on the Morning Report, we talk about how Karen Page and the [...]