Wellness Advice
Lichen Sclerosus: What’s Up With That Itch Down There?
I recently received a diagnosis for a problem I'd tried to silently manage for too long: vulvar itching. I put off going to the doctor until it was so...
Self-Screening for Memory Loss: Yay or Nay?
Misplacing the keys, searching for your glasses when they’re atop your head, forgetting why you got up and walked into the other room, having the name of a movie...
Squid (Ink) Game
What is squid ink (as in “squid ink pasta”)? Is it good for you?
This black liquid pigment is produced by cephalopods, including squid, as a means of self-defense. It’s...
Polypharmacy = Poly-Problems
If you’re like a lot of people in their 60s and beyond, you may have developed a particular weekly ritual: doling out your prescription medications into a pill organizer....
Is My Breakfast Cereal ‘Ultraprocessed’?
Are all breakfast cereals considered ultraprocessed foods—even the basic, non-fancy ones I buy like cornflakes, Special K, and Wheat Chex?
There are degrees of “processing,” and various definitions of what...
The Wellness Letter Turns 40!
Forty years ago, in October 1984, a wild idea that had been gestating for some time came to fruition with the very first issue of the University of California,...
Freckles … in Your Eyes?
I noticed some small dark spots that look like freckles in the iris of my eye. Is this something to be concerned about?
These sound like harmless iris freckles, medically...
Remedies for an Aging Neck?
The older I get, the more noticeable these vertical bands on my aging neck become. What are they, and can I do anything to minimize their appearance?
As Nora Ephron...
Menopause Practitioners: Is It Time to See One?
I recently saw a reference to a “certified menopause practitioner.” I’ve never heard of that credential but am intrigued by the thought. Is it worth a visit to one...
Is Concierge Medicine Worth the Price?
Looking back on my years caring for patients, one thing I always wished for was time—more time to spend with each individual during an office visit, without the pressure...
