Be Well

FILE - A dog walker checks a mobile device while guiding dogs in Washington Park in Denver on Feb. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

Dogs bring loads of joy but also perils on a leash

The cuddles. The loyalty. The worshipful eyes. There’s a lot of joy in having a dog, not the least of which is heading out for a brisk walk.

FILE - Sunlight shines into a resident's room at a senior community home in Nottingham, Md., on Dec. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

Talking about death can be tricky. Here’s how to start the conversation

FILE - Teacher Abi Hawker leads preschoolers in learning activities at Hillcrest Developmental Preschool in American Falls, Idaho, Sept. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Kyle Green, File)

How to pick a preschool without becoming overwhelmed

Mourners pray during a candlelight vigil for the slain students and teachers at Apalachee High School, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, in Winder, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

How to talk with kids about school shootings and other traumatic events

Lindsey Kee poses with her dog Teddy Ruffsavel at her home in Portland, Oregon, on Aug. 3, 2024. Kee created an exercise routine around walking her dog, (Lindsey Kee via AP)

Doing lunges while brushing your teeth, and other ways to stack healthy habits

What to know about delta-8 and other common vape shop drugs

Products with delta-8 THC, so-called “magic mushrooms,” and other legal but less-regulated compounds are easy for consumers to get their hands on. But just because it’s on a store shelf doesn’t mean it’s safe — or that the ingredients are clear. Many states have banned or tried to ban delta-8. Experts say its important to do careful research and talk to a doctor before taking any substances. The best option is to only take drugs from a legal and licensed source to avoid getting sick or worse. (AP video by Lekan Oyekanmi)

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Microplastics are everywhere, but are they harming us?

Piglet yoga inspires newcomers and regulars to the ancient Indian wellness practice

Can pink noise enhance sleep and memory? Early research drives a color noise buzz

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FILE - Products advertised as containing synthetically derived delta-8 THC are offered for sale at a smoke shop in north Seattle on Feb. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Gene Johnson, File)

What to know about delta-8 and other common vape shop drugs

Products with delta-8 THC, so-called “magic mushrooms,” and other legal but less-regulated compounds are easy for consumers to get their hands on.

Scarlett Goddard Strahan, 11, displays her Nivea moisturizer at her home on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in Sacramento, Calif. AP Photo/Juliana Yamada)

Which skin care products should young girls use? Dermatologists recommend this simple routine

Girls are bombarded on social media with advice from influencers touting elaborate skin care routines with high-priced serums, mists and creams.

Scarlett Goddard Strahan, 11, poses for a portrait at her home on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Juliana Yamada)

Young girls are using anti-aging products they see on social media. The harm is more than skin deep

Young girls are buying up anti-aging products they see promoted on social media, with harmful effects for their skin — and their mental health.

FILE - Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez watch an NBA basketball game between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers in Los Angeles, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck may not have had a prenuptial agreement, but you should consider one

One surprising thing about Jennifer Lopez’s split from Ben Affleck is that her divorce petition did not include any mention of a prenuptial agreement.

FILE - A customer makes a purchase at a convenience store in Boston in this July 12, 2005 file photo. (AP Photo/Lisa Poole, file)

Ultraprocessed foods are everywhere. How bad are they?

Ultraprocessed foods make up the bulk of the U.S. food supply and most Americans don’t go a day without eating some.

A SlateSafety armband is worn by Wyatt Fischer, a furnace mason employee at Cardinal Glass, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, in Menomonie, Wis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Sensors can read your sweat and predict overheating. Here’s why privacy advocates care

As global temperatures rise and summer months bring record high temperatures, employers are exploring wearable technologies to keep workers safe.

Kendra King sits on her sofa in her home in Philadelphia on July 26, 2024. (Deena J. Leh via AP)

Feeling groggy in the afternoon? Here’s how to nap the right way

An afternoon nap can be refreshing, but experts say it also can help you at work or with other activities.

FILE - Dr. Susan Gorman displays the Skyla IUD, left, and the Mirena IUD, at High Lakes Gynecology in Redmond, Ore., Jan. 14, 2015. (Andy Tullis/The Bulletin via AP)

It’s not just IUDs. Gynecologists and patients are focused on making procedures less painful

Federal officials affirmed this month that the pain people might feel when getting an IUD can be more than doctors’ promises of “just a pinch.”

FILE - A holiday traveler looks out at a airplane at Salt Lake City International Airport, in Salt Lake City, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

How to avoid the worst of jet lag and maximize your travel time

Jet lag is a problem for many travelers but there are some easy ways to adjust your body clock. It might take planning ahead and getting exposure to sunlight after you land.

FILE - Fifth graders wearing face masks are seated at proper social distancing during a music class at the Milton Elementary School in Rye, N.Y., May 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

Got cold symptoms? Here’s when kids should take a sick day from school

School attendance tanked during the pandemic and has only started to recover. One reason? Parents are struggling to decide when it’s ok to send a child to school while sick.

This undated image shows ophthalmologist Megan Collins at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore. (Christopher Myers via AP)

Make eye exams part of the back-to-school checklist. Your kids and their teachers will thank you

Now that it’s back-to-school season, parents should add one more crucial item to the checklist. An eye exam.

FILE - People buy groceries at a Walmart Superstore in Secaucus, New Jersey, July 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

Groceries are expensive, but they don’t have to break the bank. Here are some tips to save

If you’ve noticed that you’re paying more than before for the same amount of groceries, you’re not the only one. Inflation is easing, but grocery prices are still high.

Entrepreneur Becky Litvintchouk works on her computer at a co-working space on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

People with ADHD are turning to AI apps to help with tasks. Experts say try it cautiously

People who have ADHD are starting to turn to AI to help them break down once-insurmountable tasks like emails, business plans and proofreading.

FILE - Medical bills are seen in Temple Hills, Md., on June 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

How to get relief from unexpectedly high medical bills

Unexpectedly high medical bills are common in the United States, but there are ways to get relief. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, one in five Americans are affected by outstanding medical debt.

Rachel Chalik climbs a boulder problem at Philadelphia Rock Gym in Wyncote, Pa., on Wednesday, July 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Jonathan Elderfield)

Looking for an activity that’s social and will give you a workout? Give sport climbing a try

Watching climbing at the Paris Olympics makes it seem as if it’s a sport that would be completely out of the question for a weekend athlete.

This photo shows day beds at The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach in Miami Beach, Fla. The hotel is among resorts, spas, waterparks and other properties to offer day passes. (ResortPass via AP)

Day passes at hotels and resorts offer downtime, relaxation on the cheap

Day passes to resorts and hotels really took off during the pandemic and have remained popular. The passes are a win-win-win. Locals soak up some rest time on the cheap.

FILE - A blue rectangular piece of microplastic sits on the finger of a researcher with the University of Washington-Tacoma environmental science program, after it was found in debris collected from the Thea Foss Waterway, in Tacoma, Wash., on May 19, 2010. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

Microplastics are everywhere, but are they harming us?

Some recent studies seem to suggest taking a new and more cautious look at plastic water bottles and frozen meal containers.

Aniyah Woods meditates during a mindfulness session in her classroom at Roberta T. Smith Elementary School, May 14, 2024, in Rex, Georgia. School districts across the U.S. have been introducing yoga, meditation and mindfulness exercises to help students manage stress and emotions. (AP Photo/Sharon Johnson)

More US schools are taking breaks for meditation. Teachers say it helps students’ mental health

School districts across the U.S. are adopting mental health practices as a part of their daily schedules and curriculums.

This Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, image shows some of Lauren Bell's videos on the TikTok social media website. Bell, who takes over-the-counter medications occasionally to treat her symptoms, first started posting on Instagram about her struggle with IBS – how isolating it was and how she felt like she was having to rearrange her life and diet around her food sensitivities – and sharing her diagnosis with her friends (AP Photo)

IBS and digestive trouble are in the spotlight on social media. Here’s what you should know

Spend some time on TikTok and you’ll see loads of people talking about digestive troubles like irritable bowel syndrome.

Lauren Bell stands for a portrait at Crescent Park in New Orleans, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. Bell, who takes over-the-counter medications occasionally to treat her symptoms, first started posting on Instagram about her struggle with IBS – how isolating it was and how she felt like she was having to rearrange her life and diet around her food sensitivities – and sharing her diagnosis with her friends. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Younger adults are going public with their digestive problems. Experts say it’s mostly a good thing

More people are talking about digestive problems online and experts say that’s mostly a good thing. It’s not clear whether there actually is an uptick in the number of people having digestive issues or if the online conversation is leading to more appointments and diagnoses, according to doctors.

FILE - A couple kisses while on the Seine in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. Can kissing for six seconds a day lead to a more intimate relationship? That’s what couples therapists John and Julie Gottman say. They have taught thousands of couples therapists that an elongated kiss can help their clients. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)

Can a 6-second kiss each day lead to a more intimate relationship?

Can a six-second kiss each day lead to a more intimate relationship? That’s what couples therapists John and Julie Gottman say.

FILE - A doctor points to PET scan results that are part of a study on Alzheimer's disease at Georgetown University Hospital, on Tuesday, May 19, 2015, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

Blood tests for Alzheimer’s may be coming to your doctor’s office. Here’s what to know

New research suggests certain blood tests could help doctors diagnose Alzheimer’s disease faster and more accurately.

FILE - Panamanian gymnast Hillary Heron stretches as she trains for the Olympics at the No Limits Gymnastics Center in Panama City, Saturday, June 15, 2024, ahead of the Games in Paris. Stretching can help make you more flexible, improve range of motion in your joints — and feel good. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix, File)

Should you stretch before exercise? After? Never? Here’s what to know

Should you stretch before exercising or after? And what’s the best way to do it? Stretching guidance has changed over the years.

"Teddy," a 7-year-old chow mix, dons a doggie cap at a park, Monday, July 15, 2024, in Phoenix. As sweltering temperatures drag on around the U.S., it's not just people who need help with the dog days of summer. Pet owners have to consider how to both shield and cool down furry family members as intense — and at times deadly — heat waves become more common occurrences. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Booties. Indoor dog parks. And following the vet’s orders. How to keep pets cool this summer

As much of the world swelters, it’s not just people who need help with the dog days of summer. Pet owners have to consider how to both shield and cool down furry family members as intense heat waves become more common.

New to volunteering? A how-to guide to find the right fit

Volunteering helps others out, but it also helps the volunteer. Research has shown a variety of health benefits including more positive feelings and social connections.

Jeff Kellert stands in his garden at his home in Albany, N.Y. on June 20, 2024. Kellert began volunteering as a tutor and helped with monthly dinners at his synagogue. The experience keeps him active, but just as important, he said, it has led to new friendships and a sense of purpose he never expected in retirement. (Robert Piechota via AP)

Volunteering would feel good even if it didn’t have health benefits. But it does

When helping others, volunteers also help themselves. They might even live longer. Jacquelyn Stephens is a psychologist at the nonprofit Mather Institute who researches how to age well.

FILE - Prescription drugs are seen in a glass flask at a state laboratory in Taylorsville, Utah, on July 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

Too many pills? How to talk to your doctor about reviewing what’s needed

Swallowing a handful of pills is a daily ritual for many people, but taking too many meds can cause problems.

FILE - Children cool off at the Hamilton Fish pool, July 18, 2017, in the Lower East Side neighborhood of Manhattan. In most cases, there’s no need to wait at least 30 minutes after eating to go for a swim, doctors say. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

Do you really have to wait to go swimming after eating?

No, you don’t really have to wait 30 minutes after eating to go swimming. Doctors say there’s no need in most cases to wait.

Transit Workers take part in a guided relaxation class Friday, May 17, 2024, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. The class, held at a union hall for New York City transit employees, has emerged as one of several ways in which transportation workers around the country are trying to manage their fear and anxiety over a rise in violent crime on subways and buses. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Yoga, meditation and prayer: Urban transit workers cope with violence and fear on the job

Transit workers around the country are managing their fear and anxiety over a rise in violent crime on subways and buses.

This image provided by California Closets shows a room with a bed built into a cabinet. A horizontal tilt wall bed with built-in cabinets for TV and more helps organize a studio apartment and keeps the sleeping area in its own space. (California Closets via AP)

Don’t work in bed, and other tips for creating a peaceful sleep zone in a studio apartment

There’s a lot to be said for the work/play energy of a nice studio or other small apartment during the day.