(BPT) - By Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS, Executive Director & CEO, The American College of Surgeons

(BPT) - As highly fluctuating temperatures become the new seasonal norm, homeowners begin to seek optimal HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) performance ahead of winter conditions.

(BPT) - This is the season when many Americans do a lot of online and retail shopping as well as charitable giving. That is why it’s important for consumers to be conscious of financial scams to protect their identities, bank accounts and monetary transactions. From check fraud and peer-to-p…

(BPT) - During the month of November, we honor our nation's veterans for their hard work and dedication to protect everyone's freedoms. It's also an important time to recognize their freedom and desire to live a high quality of life after their service is complete. To do this, veterans need …

(BPT) - For people living with chronic autoimmune conditions, such as Thyroid Eye Disease (TED), regular patient-doctor visits are an important part of tracking symptom progression and staying on top of care. Findings from a recent survey of 116 U.S. adults living with TED reveal a significa…

(StatePoint) 2023 was a landmark year for Alzheimer’s disease research, including advancements in treatment, risk factors and diagnosis. Here are five significant discoveries made this year:

(BPT) - Holiday shopping and gift-giving can often be challenging, but even more so when shopping for a person living with dementia. There are more than 6 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease. Depending on the stage of disease, some well-intentioned gifts may no longer be approp…

(BPT) - The holiday season is upon us. Nearly half of Americans are planning to travel for the holidays this year, according to a recent survey.[1] With more people passing through high-contact spaces like airports and hotels and gathering with loved ones, it also means your exposure to resp…

(BPT) - For many family caregivers, supporting a loved one through a health journey can be overwhelming, isolating and lonely. Fortunately, CaringBridge, the global leading no-cost health platform, addresses those needs by improving emotional health and social support, helping people come to…

(BPT) - It's a familiar situation — a light tickle in your throat soon turns into a cough that sounds like it could be trouble. Is it allergies, a cold, RSV or something worse? With so many potential causes of cough, especially during cold and flu season, it can be hard to pinpoint the cause…

(BPT) - You want to stay healthy, so you can keep doing the things you love. That’s why it’s so important to stay up to date on recommended vaccines, like the updated COVID-19 vaccine and annual flu shot.

(BPT) - If you're wondering why you're sniffling and sneezing when you thought the worst of allergy season was behind you, don't be surprised. The pollen season may be over, but wintertime offers plenty of challenges for anyone with allergies or asthma.

(BPT) - Wish-cycling (v.) – the well-intentioned but unfounded belief that something is recyclable when it is not.

(BPT) - Do you know what your auto insurance covers, and what it doesn't? What does "comprehensive coverage" mean? If you answered no to the first two questions, you're not alone. A recent survey by State Farm found many millennials and members of Gen Z have knowledge gaps about auto insuran…

(BPT) - Nothing says winter like cooking festive foods, getting cozy around the fireplace and spending time with loved ones during the holidays. During the cooler months of the year, when more gatherings are held indoors, it is important to take the time to help protect your family and home …

(BPT) - Traumatic brain injury (TBI) leads to depression in women more often than men. Minority patients are more likely to die after surgery. Parents may benefit from using virtual reality to ease their anxiety when their children have surgery. These were among the many cutting-edge studies…

(BPT) - If the dropping temperatures instantly make your skin feel dry and uncomfortable, you're not alone. Between the frigid air outside and overheated air inside, the winter months are loaded with skin stressors that can put your skin on a seemingly endless dry skin roller coaster. Accord…

(BPT) - As people age, our hearing tends to decline for multiple reasons, including repetitive exposure to loud sounds and genetic factors. In fact, hearing loss ranks as the third most common chronic condition among all Americans. For older Americans, nearly a quarter of those aged 65 to 74…

(BPT) - The seasons are changing and with winter comes, unfortunately, the flu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests a flu vaccination is your best protection against influenza.

(BPT) - With diabetes on the rise, getting tested and establishing a healthy routine are more important than ever.

(BPT) - It’s here — your yearly opportunity to make changes to your Medicare coverage. Medicare Annual Enrollment happens every year Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, during which you can review your current plan, compare your coverage options, and make any necessary updates. Any changes you make then…

(BPT) - Aging is a natural part of life, and you can see it in the lines on your face and gray hairs on your head. However, while you may focus on the external signs of aging, the truth is that humans age from the inside out, starting in our cells.

(BPT) - Loneliness is a public health epidemic.

(BPT) - Has your favorite angler been naughty or nice this past year? Santa Bass knows all, so you better be good! For the coming holiday season, Santa Bass offers 10 incredible gift ideas and stocking stuffers that will surely bring a smile to your favorite angler.

(StatePoint) While many people picture retirement as an opportunity to relax, retirees can face many challenges, including the potential need for long-term care. A 2022 report from the Department of Health and Human Services projects that over half (56%) of Americans turning 65 today will de…

(BPT) - This year, consumers are estimated to spend $831, on average, or more than $184 billion on holiday gifts. It can be the most wonderful – but expensive – time of the year with all the travel, meal preparation and gift gifting occasions, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you need to go…

(BPT) - Menopause is a natural transition every woman goes through. Yet, it remains misunderstood and often misidentified.

(BPT) - It’s common to hear people say they feel overwhelmed by the idea of being physically active, and that they have no idea where to start. That sense of pressure can be discouraging and cause many people to postpone making positive changes in their behavior.

(BPT) - With warm sweaters, hot drinks and the holidays approaching — winter can be a magical season to spend quality time with family and friends. The last thing you want is to become sick with an illness like pneumococcal pneumonia and miss out on precious time with loved ones. Fortunately…

(BPT) - By Daniel J. Boffa, MD, MBA, FACS

(BPT) - An often silent condition that can steal vision, diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that may have no noticeable symptoms in the early stages and is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in working-age Americans. The condition affects nearly 8 million Americans, …

(BPT) - Whether you're enrolling for Medicare for the first time or you've had it for years, it's important to know that Medicare Advantage plans — which include more benefits than Original Medicare, like prescriptions, dental, vision and hearing — can change from one year to the next. On to…

(BPT) - George Washington is the “father of our country” yet, ironically, he didn’t have any children of his own. If you are like many others, you’ve probably wondered why he didn’t leave any children as his legacy.

(BPT) - It’s easy to find out what George Washington looked like. But what did he sound like?

(BPT) - School children are taught that after a life of action and harrowing battles, George Washington died peacefully in his bed at Mount Vernon. In reality, the nation’s first president died a slow and bloody death that was far from a pleasant end of life.

(BPT) - You've probably heard the story of George Washington chopping down a cherry tree and later admitting the act to his father, claiming he “cannot tell a lie.” It’s a story meant to show the impeccable early character of one of America’s most beloved Founding Fathers. It’s also a complete lie.

(BPT) - Being a pet parent is a joy and privilege. Every day, you have a friendly, four-legged companion who's just as happy to join you on walks and hikes as they are to relax with you on the couch. However, having a pet also comes with some unique challenges, especially when it comes to fa…

(BPT) - If you are diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), it's likely that your health care provider will recommend treatment with a medical device called continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP. While CPAP is the most common treatment that works well for some people, more than h…

(BPT) - Have you ever experienced a chronic cough, fatigue and shortness of breath that just won't go away? It's easy to brush off these symptoms but they could be signs of a much more serious issue — especially if you already live with a lung condition like bronchiectasis, COPD or asthma.

(BPT) - Hundreds of thousands of residential building fires happen each year in America, according to the U.S. Fire Administration — yet only 26% of families have a home fire escape plan developed and practiced[1]. Kids practice up to 156 fire drills during their K-12 experience[2], but they…

(BPT) - Every season comes with its pros and cons. Fall and winter are no exception — with the cozy sweaters, trick-or-treating, and Sunday football, we also get clunky jackets, icy roads, and fall and winter viruses. And while there are many things about fall and winter that we love, one th…

(BPT) - By Martha Weaver, Retail Gift Card Association Fraud Committee Chair

(BPT) - By John Clidas, Synovus Trust Company