Your Gadget is Watching You – and Your Health

I loved researching my feature article “Wearable Technologies,” which appears in the new summer issue of the Canadian Journal of Medical Laboratory Science. Tens of millions of wearable gadgets, including Fitbits and Apple Watches, were sold just last year alone. The sensors and software in these devices are now sophisticated enough to track your medical status  – they know what your heart rate’s doing, how well you’re sleeping or what your insulin levels are dipping to. It was fascinating to write about what the future holds for these kinds of technologies, and how the roles of medical professionals will adapt in response.

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Live Long and Prosper

I contributed several pieces to Zoomer magazine’s special new June issue on living longer. My round-up of new tips for quitting old bad habits – and consequently adding years to your life – starts on page 66 (“Habit (Un)Forming”). These special strategies can have you drinking less, eating better, exercising more and quitting smoking at last. If, on the other hand, you’re wondering about your own, er, expiration date, flip to page 63 and read about several new scientific ways to test your life span (“How Long Have You Got?). On page 26 of the same issue, and just in time for bikini season, you can read my article about the latest in lifesaving skin cancer treatments.

Helping Reefs Recover and Toenails Look Lovelier

Coral reefs take up less than one percent of our oceans, yet provide a home for a quarter of all ocean life. Unfortunately, the continued existence of these reefs, including the Great Barrier Reef, is in peril from overfishing, pollution and climate change. In the new May issue of OWL magazine, I tell kids how they can help protect the world’s coral reefs.

Also on newsstands is the May issue of Reader’s Digest. This month, my tips for toenail fungus appear on page 30. Enough said!

Not the Thrilling Kind of Zombies

I heard many disturbing personal stories as I researched my newest Zoomer magazine article, “Welcome to Zombieland.” For years, antipsychotic medications have been routinely and liberally used off-label in nursing homes to try to control the disruptive behaviours of residents with dementia. Problem is, the drugs carry serious risks for this population, and they aren’t even that good at eliminating many of the so-called problem behaviours. Side effects can include falling, infections, even stroke and death. Not to mention an unsettling sedating effect. Happily, initiatives are spreading across Canada to reduce the unnecessary use of these medications, replacing them with strategies that are less dangerous – and work better. Find out more, starting on page 56 of this month’s Zoomer.

The Moment of Tooth

You’ll find the April issue of Reader’s Digest magazine at your favourite store’s checkout counter. Flip inside for a heads-up about some everyday bad habits that could be causing serious damage to your teeth. My article is called “Weapons of Mouth Destruction,” and while I’d love to take the credit for that title, I can’t! What I can take credit for, however, is presenting some practical advice for improving your long-term dental health.

Health Care, and Caring in General

Psoriasis doesn’t always affect only skin; it can also cause inflammation in your joints. In a brief bit in Reader’s Digest’s March issue, I tell readers how psoriatic arthritis can be treated to slow down the joint damage. I’ve also written a new article for the Canadian Journal of Medical Laboratory Science. This one explores a versatile and expanding profession: combined laboratory and x-ray technologist. Training as a CLXT can mean you have more options when it comes to finding your place in the healthcare field.

Last but not least, you may be interested in my most recent blog post on my 50 Good Deeds website. In this post, I explore the motives of the many different people I’ve interviewed for magazine articles over the years. Their willingness to put their often very personal stories in print is almost always driven by great generosity of spirit. They know that by sharing their story, they may well be helping others who walk the same path. Inspiring! Check it out here.

The Truth About Health Trends

In the February/March issue of Glow magazine, you’ll find my new story on weird and wacky health and beauty trends. When celebs tout these trends on Twitter or Instagram, it can be tempting for their followers to try them out. But these superstars are known for their movies or their music, not their medical degrees. That means you shouldn’t take their word for it! Want to find out if cryotherapy is uncool, or whether your ladyparts need a steambath? For this story, I examined five wellness trends to find out just how effective – not to mention safe – they really are.