Features
Give a gift to the Earth this season by incorporating some eco-friendly habits into your favorite holiday traditions.
Dec 2008 If the material excesses of this holiday season have ever distressed you personally, or seemed somehow contrary to what the season means to you, they likely seem so more than ever this year, now that the movement toward “green living” is progressing around the country and around the world. What better time, then, to “go green,” if you haven’t already? After all, the philosophies of green living fit so naturally with the traditional meaning of Christmas as a time for expressing love to others and extending compassion to those in need, and many faith-based groups are encouraging green living throughout the year. In its emphasis on env. . . read more
Decorate Your Heart for Christmas
Dec 2008 The Christmas cards we receive speak of love, peace and kindness for all creatures everywhere. We open each card, read the message inside and smile at the names of friends and family we may not hear from often. The holidays are a time for joy and warmth, good cheer and wishes for happiness. It is also a time to look carefully at our heart and its contents, to take stock of what is stored there. Perhaps it may be time to throw out a few things.
It may be that we have not received a card from Cousin Janie or our old friends from college. Should we strike them from our list? What about the Carringtons, who were so friendly until we loaned the. . . read more
Play it Safe When Purchasing Toys
Dec 2008 Local parents still wary despite legislation passed to protect children from lead-tainted toys.
While local parents are pleased with a new federal bill that bans lead from toys, most remain cautious when purchasing products for their little ones.
In August, President George W. Bush signed the law, which prohibits lead, beyond minute levels, in merchandise made for children under 12 years of age. The measure follows numerous reports within the last year of toys made in China that contained excessive levels of lead—prompting popular toy companies Mattel, Fisher-Price, and Toys “R” Us, among others, to recall scores of produ. . . read more
Don't Skate on Thin Ice: With Holiday Health Hazards
Dec 2008 Even though Hampton Roads doesn't usually have any snow or ice to speak of in December, it may be tempting to skate on thin ice, at least figuratively, when it comes to guarding against common holiday health hazards. Those of us at the Health Journal want all of our readers to have a safe and healthy holiday season. So grab some eggnog, put your feet up and check this list (twice!) as a reminder of potential pitfalls to avoid during what can be a healthy and joyful time of year.
Ho-ho-hum?
Instead of visions of sugarplums dancing in our heads, many of us feel just plain miserable during the holidays. According to the Mayo Cl. . . read more
Plan Ahead for the Care of Your Disabled Child
Dec 2008 Parents of children with special needs can use a variety of legal tools to help make their child's financial future worry-free.
Today more children with life-limiting disabilities are living longer and healthier, while more parents find themselves caring for their disabled children at home. For these parents, the care and responsibility do not end with their child's transition into adulthood. Instead of a time of new beginnings, this transition period becomes a time of uncertainty and worry. Such worry continues as both parents and their children age. Every parent of a disabled child, whether or not the child is an adult, must eventually c. . . read more
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SAD Develops in the Darkest Months of the Year
Nov 2008 Travel, social obligations and increased spending can make the holidays a time of untold stress. But the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder, related to shorter and darker days, shouldn't be written off as merely the winter blues. Here's how to tell the difference.
For many North Americans, winter's shorter days bring with them a different kind of darkness: seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, a type of depression that strikes mostly during the colder months of the year.
While the disorder affects many types of people, medical experts say it can be treated and the seriousness of the illness reduced by watching for symptoms an. . . read more
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Area Hospitals Go Tobacco-Free
Nov 2008 Medical facilities from Portsmouth to Greater Williamsburg will stomp out smoking on Nov. 20, the day the American Cancer Society hosts it's annual "Great American Smokeout."
When doctors provide advice on how to stay well, one item always makes their list of recommendations: Don't smoke, or if you do, quit as soon as possible.
Now several major local health organizations are looking to practice what they preach by making their hospital campuses and medical offices entirely tobacco-free. No cigarettes, no chewing tobacco, no smoking areas for staff or visitors, indoors or outdoors; just encouragement for everyone to give up. . . read more
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Storing and Reheating Your Holiday Meal Leftovers
Nov 2008 Unless your dining room table is brimming with guests this Thanksgiving Day, you'll likely be enjoying leftovers for at least a week. But given the growing concern over the safety of plastic food storage containers, you may be searching for a safer way to store and reheat your turkey and trimmings.
Health experts warn that the phrase "microwave safe" may be misleading; such labeling may mean that a particular container will not warp and melt when heated, but it doesn't always guarantee that toxic chemicals won't migrate into your food during heating. Health Journal has put together a helpful guide, from choosing eco-friendly storag. . . read more