The Department of Health and Human Services offers the following guidelines for driving safely with a child in the car: make sure the child is in an age-appropriate car seat or booster seat (and always wear a seatbelt yourself); never drive while impaired (alcohol, drugs, medication, or drowsy); don’t text and drive; keep your eyes…

To reduce the risk for a potentially dangerous rise in blood glucose levels in the morning, the American Diabetes Association recommends the following for diabetics: eat your dinner earlier in the evening; go for a walk or engage in another form of physical activity after dinner; and if your fasting blood glucose remains high after…

As the warmer months approach, the American Podiatric Medical Association notes the risk of injury can increase with the following footwear choices: sprained or twisted ankles from wedges or espadrilles; bunions and hammertoes from peep toe sandals; poor support, heel pain, and arch pain from flats and slides; and calluses, poor support, and irritation between…

A review of records of patient with a history of basal or squamous cell cancer found that those treated with a laser were nearly 50% less likely to develop new skin cancers in the area, and for those who did experience recurrence, it took longer than in patients treated by other means. Dermatologic Surgery, January…

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers the following tips to avoid potentially harmful food and drug interactions: read medication labels before using and ask the pharmacist or your healthcare provider about anything you do not understand; read interaction precautions, instructions, and warnings on medication labels; unless instructed otherwise, drink a full glass of water…

The American Academy of Dermatology offers the following tips for healthy skin: apply sunscreen before heading outdoors; don’t smoke; find ways to manage stress; perform regular self-exams for cancer; wash your face when you wake, before you go to bed, and whenever you sweat; and avoid scrubbing your skin. American Academy of Dermatology, January 2023

As temperatures drop, the more obvious signs of dehydration may be less apparent. The Baylor College of Medicine notes the following are signs of dehydration in cold weather: headache; cracked lips; dry skin and mouth; fatigue; dizziness and/or light headedness; difficulty concentrating; and less frequent urination and darker urine color. Baylor College of Medicine, December…

To improve road safety, Safe Kids Worldwide recommends that teen drivers avoid the following dangerous driving habits: not wearing seat belts, texting while driving, riding with two or more teenage passengers, drinking and driving, driving at night, and speeding. Safe Kids Worldwide, November 2022

Due to the adverse effects on health— especially those related to sleep disruption—caused by time changes, the American Medical Association recommends eliminating daylight savings time and making standard time permanent in the United States. American Medical Association, November 2022

To reduce the risk of infection when using contact lenses, the American Optometric Association recommends the following: don’t wash your hands with a creamy soap that can leave a film on lenses; never make your own saline solution, which can damage lenses; don’t put lenses in your mouth to moisten them; don’t store or wash…