Safely using over-the-counter pain meds
Q: Are over-the-counter acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications safe for older adults? A: Yes, non-prescription over-the-counter (OTC) medications are generally safe for older adults, but should still be used cautiously in some individuals. Options for OTC pain management can be broken down into two categories: acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory... READ MORE
Facing violence and guilt in relationships
Dear Solutions: I’m very concerned about my granddaughter, who is considering marrying her boyfriend. She is confiding in me and asked me, “Can someone love you and still hit you at the same time?” She says she knows her boyfriend loves her and wants to marry her, but when he gets very angry he lashes out at her physically. They’re making wedding plans, but she says that... READ MORE
Why tall = small, and other conundrums
Sometimes, dear friends, we are plunged into modern-day situations that are so absurd, so illogical, so incomprehensible, so inexplicable, that all we can do is throw up our hands. So it went with me one recent morning at my neighborhood Starbucks. I had agreed to meet a friend there to give her some career advice. I was early. She wasn’t there yet. So I decided to buy a cup of... READ MORE
Putting presidents in historical perspective
This month, we celebrate Presidents’ Day. Reading about our nation’s chief executives never becomes old. Historians (both professional and amateur) as well as politicians and reporters sift through the archives, interpret documents, and find lesser known materials to expose to a wider audience. Friends Divided: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, by Gordon S. Wood, 512 pages, Penguin... READ MORE
Comforting lentil soup doesn’t need meat
Rich bean soups are classic winter comfort food. They are filling, healthy and inexpensive, making them a worthy addition to the menu rotation. The downside to dried bean cookery is the time it takes to soak and then cook beans. Canned beans are a reasonable substitute, although they cost more than three times the price of their dried, bagged counterparts. An easy, money-saving... READ MORE
When carpal tunnel pain requires surgery
Dear Mayo Clinic: I have carpal tunnel syndrome that used to bother me only at night. Wearing a splint helped, but now my symptoms are noticeable throughout the day as well. Does this mean surgery is inevitable, or are there other things I can do to help lessen the tingling and numbness it’s causing? Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by pressure on the median nerve that’s in... READ MORE
Laurie Metcalf gets her first Oscar shot
Laurie Metcalf has won three Emmys and a Tony Award in her nearly 40-year year career, but the veteran stage and screen actress still feels uncomfortable in front of a camera. “Even after all those years on ‘Roseanne,’ I have a real fear of cameras. They make me inhibited,” Metcalf, 62, said on a recent afternoon in Los Angeles. “I think ‘Why don’t I know where to put my ... READ MORE
A little alcohol OK with most antibiotics
Q: My doctor prescribed a 10-day course of antibiotics for a persistent sinus infection. I usually have wine with the dinner. Do I need to stop drinking? A: I’d heard the warning to avoid mixing alcohol and antibiotics from friends and family while growing up. But during medical school, I only heard it in reference to a specific antibiotic, metronidazole (Flagyl). People who take... READ MORE
Try bargain vacations for smaller crowds
Hordes of tourists swarming the world’s most popular destinations can make travel unpleasant. For example, Barcelona and Venice are so crowded that disgruntled residents have staged protests over the influx of visitors. Governments looking for ways to reduce the crowds in Barcelona and Dubrovnik are considering limiting hotel construction or capping the number of cruise ships that... READ MORE
Mural artist makes the city his canvas
When he sees a nondescript wall or side of a building, “Sir” James Thornhill sees art. To him, it’s like a blank canvas waiting for artistic reinvention. Thornhill literally “paints the town,” with colorful murals that honor heroes and heroines — especially local notables associated with the historic district of Jackson Ward, a section of Richmond known as the “Birthplace... READ MORE
