Lifestyle & Trends - Hot Topics

Charities need to file returns too

This is the time of year when people start preparing their annual income tax returns. It's also time to remind people who run charities and other tax-exempts that those organizations must file annual returns with the Internal Revenue Service, as well. Read More

Emerging disease expert advises vigilance, not panic

Vigilance, not panic, is what is needed to manage an emerging disease threat like H1N1, according to Dr. Corrie Brown, University of Georgia, Athens. Dr. Brown has been working with some of the leading experts in the world to learn the real story behind emerging diseases like H1N1. Read More

With multiple strains this year, don't be confused about flu prevention

With the emergence of the 2009 H1N1 virus and the presence of annual seasonal flu, health experts are concerned that this flu season could be more confusing than ever for families. Recent studies point to misunderstandings about what families should do to help prevent the spread of these viruses. Read More

Salt central to a healthy Mediterranean diet

In the diet craze that has captured our attention over the last four decades, the one plan that stands out from the rest is the Mediterranean Diet. Since the Mediterranean embraces more than 20 countries, each with its own cuisine, the diet is really a fusion of the many foods consumed by the nations bordering the sea. Read More

Spotlight on HIV/AIDS: Barriers still keep thousands from HIV care and treatment

Today, almost three decades into the HIV/AIDS epidemic, there are 1.1 million people currently living with HIV in the United States. While strides have been made in the fight against this disease, there are an estimated 640,000 people with HIV in the U.S. who, for a myriad of reasons, are either undiagnosed, not in medical care, or not receiving HIV treatment. Read More

Farmers should make a skin check a priority

Farming has plenty of challenges, but probably one of the hazards that farmers worry about the least is the danger from working in the sun year-round. Even as they start preparing for the 2010 crop season, farmers should pay attention to the condition of their skin. Read More

Break through the top weight loss myths of 2010

For all the good information out there on how to improve your health, there are a lot of weight loss myths that continue to circulate. Debunking those myths can help you live a healthier lifestyle in 2010. Read More

Rediscovering the joys of shared meals

Having a family meal isn't easily accomplished these days. Busy schedules, long work hours and even technology make it feel easier to simply grab a meal and go, rather than take the time to sit everyone down together around the table. But American families really do miss coming together around the table. Americans who eat with others more frequently are more satisfied with every aspect of their own lives, including their relationships, their physical and mental health and their level of achievement in life. Read More

Is it a cold or the flu? Here's how to tell

"My body aches and my head is throbbing. Do I have the flu or is it just because I'm stressed or tired? Do I need a flu shot? Do I need the H1N1 vaccine, too?" Millions of Americans will be asking themselves these and more questions this winter as news reports and health care providers continue to warn about seasonal influenza and novel H1N1 influenza, otherwise known as swine flu. Read More

Have a good hair day every day - without paying the price

Having a good hair day could mean spending money on salon appointments and several products to look as good as you did when you left the salon. But dermatologists say having healthy, beautiful hair doesn't have to break the bank. Read More

AP ENTERTAINMENT