Rutgers School of Dental Medicine is proposing a new precedent: for dentists to screen their patients for diabetes. Each year, according to Dean Cecile A. Feldman, 27 million Americans see their dentist but not their primary physician. “Many patients seeking care here are either diabetic or prediabetic but haven’t been
Most of us would prefer to stay healthy and injury-free throughout our retirement. Life, however, doesn’t always cooperate. Suddenly we’re housebound like Paul Sheldon in the Stephen King novel, Misery, with no choice but to surrender to medical professionals, caretakers and our body’s natural response to treatment and rest. For
While humans have gazed lovingly into each other’s eyes for centuries, rarely do we realize how remarkable our eyes actually are. Here are a few facts to inspire awe and appreciation: • The eye’s complexity as an organ is second only to the brain. • Your eyes can distinguish about 10 million
While many of us are good at giving help, asking for it is another story. We think it’s uncool. We’re afraid we’ll appear weak, give up control, or be a burden. None of these assumptions, of course, is true. Here’s the reality: • Asking for help is an act of
In The Four Agreements, the popular book by Don Miguel Ruiz, the third agreement is: Don’t make assumptions. “Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want,” he writes. “Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this
“Let me ask you, Mr. Bunker. Are you the excitable type?” This question, asked by Archie’s doctor in a scene from the popular 1970s sitcom, All in the Family, has no doubt crossed the minds of countless physicians with patients at risk for high blood pressure. Yes, excitability can certainly
While they make great pets, Border Collies are, first and foremost, workers. They’ll look for jobs to do around the house. Bred to herd sheep, they’ll herd children and other pets. They love solving problems. In other words, they’re happiest when they have a purpose. Sound like someone you know?
Recently in Boston, an Uber passenger who appeared a bit drowsy asked the driver if the nearest emergency room was at Mass General Hospital. The man said he’d been passing out over the past few days. “I was a little nervous,” the driver recalls. “I didn’t know what was going
When it comes to longevity, genetics, diet and exercise are the factors we usually think of. But according to a recent study by Boston University School of Medicine and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, our attitude about all of that—and life in general—can have an even greater
After seeing endless toothpaste ads and dentistry office posters of patients flashing their pearly whites, we tend to associate great-looking teeth with a healthy mouth. However, according to Ben Aktins of the Oral Health Foundation, straight, white teeth aren’t necessarily healthy. “The natural color of teeth is actually more of