Thanksgiving leftovers are a staple in American culture. For folks like Kevin, it's the best meal he eats all year. Nothing seems more satisfying than piling bits of turkey and sides onto a sandwich to enjoy the days after the big feast.
But not long after eating, Kevin starts with diarrhea. He develops a fever, chills, and later that night winds up in the emergency room.
I wrote last week that the scariest thing you'll ever hear is, "You have cancer."
Possibly the second worst is... "The cancer's back."
Nearly 1.7 million Americans every year get a diagnosis that would chill any of us...
"You have cancer."
It's a popular myth that someone smells burning toast or burning hair right before experiencing a stroke. Unfortunately, that tell-tale sign is incredibly rare.
In fact, many folks miss the signs of stroke, or a milder form called a transient ischemic attack. Not getting immediate treatment leads to terrible long-term problems and death.
This is the year I might finally get a flu shot.
My longtime readers might be shocked to hear me say this. For years, I've argued that flu shots were unsafe and unnecessary. I never got one because I was always in great health and I have a robust immune system.
Americans are more stressed out than ever.
The American Psychological Association has released a "Stress in America" report for the past decade. The latest report shows that in 2016, we had a jump in overall stress levels... the first such movement in 10 years.
I'm a bit of a dancing fool...
My passion started in childhood. Winters in Minnesota left me with little to do, so I chose to spend my time learning to dance. That was, after all, what all the pretty girls were doing, too.
Doc's note: I'm handing over my daily letter today to my researcher, Amanda Cuocci. Despite working for me for nearly four years, Amanda has an embarrassing confession to make about her finances...
And my guess is, she isn't alone.
The pill the nurse was trying to get my mother to take could have killed her.
My mom was post-surgery and waking up in her hospital room. The nurses were bringing her medication to take that night, and my mom didn't recognize all of the pills.
Doc's note: Steve Sjuggerud is multi-talented guy...
He was a great tennis player, a state-champion rower, and a fantastic soccer player, too. He's also a world-class guitar player and one of the world's most accomplished "watermen" (he surfs, windsurfs, kitesurfs, and competes in stand-up paddle surfing). There never seems to be enough time in the day, but Steve still gets a lot done.