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2 weeks ago | 
webmd.com | Melinda Ratini |Natalie Slivinski
In 1957, just six years before a vaccine was released, Sarah R. and her cousin were infected with measles at the same time. Sarah, who now lives in Oakland, California, eventually recovered without major lasting effects. But her cousin, whom the family affectionately referred to as “Cotton” because of his platinum blond hair, lost both his hearing and eyesight. They were 6 years old. The two cousins started feeling ill during one of their family’s frequent visits together.
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Apr 24, 2024 | 
webmd.com | Melinda Ratini |Jessica Migala
When LJ Ingram was taking care of her aging parents, she thought about what she and her wife wanted for their future. “We prefer to enjoy our senior years with less worry” and with fewer concerns for their children to shoulder, says Ingram, 69. Millions of American families can relate. By 2030, all baby boomers will be over age 65 and 1 in 5 Americans will be considered an older adult, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Not far behind them, the oldest Gen Xers turn 59 this year.
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Apr 19, 2024 | 
webmd.com | Melinda Ratini |Alicia Gallegos
Ernest House needed a liver transplant. But a heart condition was keeping him off the transplant list. “I would have died,” he says. “There's no doubt about that. My body was failing.”A former college football quarterback, House had always strived to stay active. That didn’t change when he reached his golden years.
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Apr 8, 2024 | 
webmd.com | Alexa Federico |Melinda Ratini
By Alexa Federico, as told to Skylar HarrisonBefore I became an advocate for those with Crohn’s and IBD, my mom was mine. “Her nails are blue. She’s lost weight. She’s really cold,” she’d tell doctors again and again about her 12-year-old daughter’s alarming symptoms, but they never seemed to take us seriously. “She’s just a skinny girl,” one doctor told us. But my mother, a nurse, knew we needed answers. Something was wrong.
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Apr 5, 2024 | 
webmd.com | Melinda Ratini |Annie Stuart
Mood problems, including depression and bipolar disorder, are no laughing matter. More than 20 million American adults have a mood disorder and 40 million an anxiety disorder. And these numbers don’t include the average worrywart or person who suffers an occasional bout of the blues. For depression alone, the annual cost for treatment and lost wages may be as high as $52 billion.
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Apr 5, 2024 | 
webmd.com | Melinda Ratini |Stephanie Watson
You work hard all week, so when the weekend finally rolls around, you want to play just as hard. There's nothing like a few rounds of golf, a hike in the mountains, or an intense workout at the gym to help you feel recharged. But all of that exercise can cause soreness and stiffness that shows up a day or two later. Don't get sidelined by muscle pain. Find out the causes and treatments so you can stay on your game. What's Causing My Sore Muscles?
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Mar 27, 2024 | 
webmd.com | Melinda Ratini |Sharon Liao
If your child is overweight or obese, helping them get to a healthy weight is one of the best things you can do for them now and in the future. But what’s the right way to do it? That usually depends on your child’s age. There’s no single number on the scale that all kids must reach to be healthy. The right range depends on how tall they are, their gender, and their age.
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Mar 19, 2024 | 
webmd.com | Melinda Ratini |Amy Capetta
We all snack. But some snacks are better than others, especially if you’re managing type 2 diabetes or obesity. An ideal snack gives you protein or fiber -- or both -- to help you feel full, says Gillian Culbertson, RD, certified diabetes educator at the Cleveland Clinic. It should give you plenty of energy without too many calories. Aim for between 100 and 150 calories for women, and about 200 calories for men, with 15 to 20 grams of protein.
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Mar 15, 2024 | 
webmd.com | R. Balfour Sartor |Melinda Ratini
By R. Balfour Sartor, MD., as told to Stacia FriedmanMy Crohn’s disease symptoms started in sixth grade when my abdominal pain was misdiagnosed as appendicitis. Inflammatory bowel diseases, which include Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, are frequently misdiagnosed. Patients often mistake IBD symptoms -- diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss -- for a GI bug. Rather than seeking medical attention, they self-medicate with over-the-counter remedies such as Pepto Bismol, probiotics, and Imodium.
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Mar 14, 2024 | 
webmd.com | Alison Feller |Melinda Ratini
By Alison Feller, as told to Candy SchulmanWhen I was 7, I was on a family vacation, living my best life. Or so I thought. I wasn’t sick – until I was. There were no symptoms that indicated Crohn’s was coming. I was losing weight, but I was a super active kid. Suddenly I started throwing up a lot. I had a fever. Back home, my dad took me to the hospital for all sorts of tests. A specialist did an endoscopy and saw all the inflammation in my digestive tract.
