Q&A With Idina Menzel

The actress and singer talks about her new movie, 'Frozen,' plus food, fitness, and family. By Stephanie Stephens WebMD Magazine - Feature Reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD With credits in stage, film, television, and music, Idina Menzel, 42, has won a Tony Award for her green-girl portrayal of Elphaba in the musical Wicked, and garnered a Tony nomination for her character Maureen in Rent. On television, she's played Rachel's biological mother, Shelby Corcoran, on Fox's hit series Glee. Also a songwriter, Menzel, who's known for her strong and emotional...

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Q&A With Owen Wilson

The actor talks about his new movie ('Free Birds'), plus why he practices gratitude. By Matt McMillen WebMD Magazine - Feature Reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD In Free Birds, you travel back in time to save turkeys from becoming Thanksgiving’s main course. Is turkey on your Thanksgiving menu this year? Yes, turkey is on the menu. In fact, I’m planning on having some turkey today. Recommended Related to Men Fighting My Father’s Fate Some inheritances are a curse. I don’t mean your grandmother’s cabinet of porcelain fawns, nor your uncle’s...

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How Christina Applegate Stays Healthy and Happy

The actress dishes about 'Anchorman 2,' parenting, and self-esteem. By Lauren Paige Kennedy WebMD Magazine - Feature Reviewed by Hansa D. Bhargava, MD Raised in Los Angeles by a single mother, comedic actor Christina Applegate, 41, remembers feeling the same pressures we all face growing up: trying to fit in with other kids while also forging a healthy sense of self. Applegate, who returns next month to the big screen in Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues with funnymen Steve Carell, Will Ferrell, and Paul Rudd, says she was never the type to chase...

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Q&A With Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles

Over the last year this country music star has given birth to a baby and a new solo album. By Gina Shaw WebMD Magazine - Feature Reviewed by Hansa D. Bhargava, MD Your son, Magnus, is now 11 months old. What's been the biggest revelation about being a new mom? Children require you to be truly present in the moment. I tend to be one of those people who thinks about four to five steps ahead. That has served me well in my life and in my career, and in my success. But when your child has a need, it's all about him. It helps with your perspective. You...

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Early HIV Treatment a Win-Win, Researchers Report

A cost-effective way to help patients stay healthy and prevent virus transmission, study finds WebMD News from HealthDay By Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporter WEDNESDAY, Oct. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Providing early antiretroviral drug treatment for recently infected HIV patients and their uninfected sexual partners is a cost-effective way to help patients stay healthy and prevent transmission of HIV, a new study finds. The study, published Oct. 31 in the New England Journal of Medicine, looked at HIV patients in India and South Africa. Some of the...

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New Drug May Someday Battle Obesity and Diabetes

Mouse studies found it did double duty; human trials too short to see effect, researchers report WebMD News from HealthDay By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter WEDNESDAY, Oct. 30 (HealthDay News) -- A new diabetes drug may one day perform double duty for patients, controlling both their blood sugar levels and helping them lose weight, researchers report. In mouse trials, doctors found the drug prompted weight loss, in addition to managing blood sugar levels. "That [weight loss] is not what this drug was designed to do, but it's a very attractive...

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Why Insurers Cancel Policies, And What You Can Do When It Happens

By Julie Appleby Wed, Oct 30 2013 News that health insurers are ending the policies of what could be millions of Americans has rattled consumers and added to the debate over the health care law. If you or a family member has been notified that your individual policy is being cancelled at year’s end, you may be stunned and upset. House Republicans sparred with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius Wednesday over the cancellations, with Sebelius saying the law generally didn’t require insurers to discontinue plans if they were in effect...

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Study of Twins Shows How Smoking Ages the Face

Siblings who smoked had more wrinkles, creases, droops and jowls WebMD News from HealthDay By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter WEDNESDAY, Oct. 30 (HealthDay News) -- A study comparing the faces of identical twins confirms what many smokers fear -- the habit does prematurely age a person's skin, taking a serious toll on looks even after just five years. Researchers from Case Western Reserve University in Ohio used the annual Twins Day Festival in Twinsburg, Ohio, to identify 79 pairs of twins in which one sibling smoked and the other didn't....

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Sebelius Says 'Hold Me Accountable' for Website 'Debacle'

By Karen Pallarito HealthDay Reporter WEDNESDAY, Oct. 30 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Wednesday claimed responsibility for the failed rollout of HealthCare.gov and committed to fixing the website's many software and system problems. "I am as frustrated and angry as anyone with the flawed launch of HealthCare.gov," Sebelius testified before the House of Representatives' Energy and Commerce Committee. "So let me say directly to these Americans: You deserve better, I apologize. I'm accountable to you...

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Balance Training Seems to Prevent Falls by Elderly

Researchers base findings on review of 17 studies WebMD News from HealthDay By Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporter TUESDAY, Oct. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Exercise programs meant to prevent falls in seniors may also help prevent injuries caused by falls, according to a new review. Fall-related injuries are common among seniors and a major cause of long-term pain and disability. They also increase the risk of having to go to a nursing home and have a high economic cost. The new findings, published online Oct. 29 in the journal bmj.com, suggest that...

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Activity, Brace May Ease Arthritis Pain

By Kathleen Doheny WebMD Health News Reviewed by Arefa Cassoobhoy, MD, MPH Oct. 30, 2013 (San Diego) -- Osteoarthritis can be painful, but exercise can improve the quality of life for people with OA or those at high risk for it, according to new research. For people who have OA of the knee, a simple brace can ease pain greatly, another new study says. Both studies were presented this week at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology in San Diego. OA, or the ''wear-and-tear'' arthritis linked with age, is the most common form...

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E-Cigarettes May Not Be Gateway to Smoking: Study

It found few teens go on to smoke cigarettes, use other kinds of tobacco after 'vaping' WebMD News from HealthDay By Brenda Goodman HealthDay Reporter TUESDAY, Oct. 29 (HealthDay News) -- E-cigarettes don't appear to entice teens to try smoking tobacco, a new study says. The researchers noted that doesn't mean that e-cigarettes are risk-free, but it should reassure parents that teens who try the devices may simply be doing so for the novelty and aren't necessarily setting themselves up for a lifetime of nicotine addiction. Last month, the U.S....

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Health Agency Chief Apologizes for Federal Website Woes

By Karen Pallarito HealthDay Reporter TUESDAY, Oct. 29 (HealthDay News) -- The head of the federal agency responsible for HealthCare.gov issued a public apology Tuesday for problems that have plagued the health insurance website since its Oct. 1 launch. "I want to apologize to you that the website has not worked as well as it should," Marilyn Tavenner, administrator of the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, told members of the House of Representatives' Ways and Means Committee at a hearing on the Affordable Care Act. Tavenner told the...

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Tips for Parenting College Students

WebMD Feature Reviewed by Hansa D. Bhargava, MD When children head off to college, they start to become more independent, but they still need your support.  “It’s a big shift in your relationship with your child. Often, parents are not prepared for the distance and independence young adults need,” says Annette Reiter, a licensed marriage and family therapist in St. Petersburg, FL. You may wonder if your child is staying healthy and keeping up with schoolwork. But you also want to give them enough room to grow and to learn independently....

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Single Dads: How to Balance Work and Kids

By Matt McMillen WebMD Magazine - Feature Reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD Nearly 2 million fathers in the United States are raising their kids alone. Most have been married, but close to a third never tied the knot. A few are widowers. No matter how men find themselves in single-parent mode, experts say it's not a good idea to let pride get in the way of being the best parent possible. "Men often have an 'I can do it all myself' attitude," says psychologist Barry Ginsberg, PhD. That thinking can make things tough, especially when you have to balance...

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You Asked! Expert A's to Beauty Q's: Hair Removal

Struggling to get unwanted hair off your face, legs, and other spots? Our experts share their favorite products and favorite techniques. Debra Jaliman, MD, dermatologist and author of Skin Rules: Trade Secrets From a Top New York Dermatologist: Blade Runner Schick Intuition Pure Nourishment Razor ($9.99) -- "I like razors with multiple blades and conditioning strips, like this one infused with coconut milk and almond oil. For the closest shave, shave against the growth. If you have sensitive skin, shave in the direction of the hair growth." Smooth...

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Hiking Benefits Heart, Mind, and Body

By Kara Mayer Robinson WebMD Magazine - Feature Reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD Hiking outdoors comes with a bounty of perks: nice views, fresh air, and the sounds and smells of nature. Hiking is a powerful cardio workout that boasts all the health benefits of walking, including less risk of heart disease, diabetes, breast cancer, and colon cancer, as well as better blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Because hiking is a weight-bearing exercise -- you’re moving against gravity while staying upright -- it boosts bone density and helps combat osteoporosis...

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How to Get a Celebrity Smile

A dentist to the stars reveals the secrets she shares with her clients. By Stephanie Watson WebMD Magazine - Feature Reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD Watch any red-carpet awards show, and there's a good chance some of the brilliantly white smiles beaming at the camera were custom-crafted by Los Angeles dentist Grace Sun, DDS. For 30 years, the renowned cosmetic dentist has created camera-ready grins for celebs such as Ellen Page, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Sheryl Crow, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Samuel L. Jackson. Recommended Related to Oral Health...

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Do You Really Need Eye Cream?

You've heard the promises: Eye creams reduce or even erase the signs of aging: fine lines, wrinkles, and dark circles. But aren't eye creams just more-expensive moisturizers in a smaller package? Not necessarily, says dermatologist Patricia Farris, MD, a clinical associate professor at Tulane University School of Medicine. "Eye creams are formulated specifically for the delicate skin around the eye, so they tend to be thicker. They contain more oil than a regular facial lotion, and they have a lot of active ingredients aimed at the problems we see around...

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The Trampoline Workout

Jump at this chance to blast calories and have a little fun! By Jodi Helmer WebMD Magazine - Feature Reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD Jumping on a mini trampoline, also called rebounding, is a low-impact cardio workout that improves muscle tone and balance while torching 160 calories per 30 minutes of bouncing, fitness experts say. Basheerah Ahmad, founder of the fitness consulting firm 360 Transformation, encourages celebrity clients like Carrie Underwood, Jordin Sparks, and Vivica A. Fox to use a mini trampoline in their exercise routines. "You...

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Reports of U.S. Cases of Flesh-Eating Drug Questioned

DEA says none of the drug samples tested so far has been confirmed as home-cooked krokodil WebMD News from HealthDay By Brenda Goodman HealthDay Reporter TUESDAY, Oct. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Has the new "flesh-eating" drug of abuse known as krokodil reached the United States? The drug is dubbed krokodil, the Russian word for crocodile, because it originated in that country and can cause horrific skin lesions resembling reptilian skin. Recent media reports have suggested that the home-cooked drug, which carries the scientific name desomorphine,...

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Mondays Might Be Your Best Day to Quit Smoking

Smokers most likely to seek online advice about quitting on the first day of the workweek, study finds WebMD News from HealthDay By Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporter MONDAY, Oct. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Smokers are most likely to think about kicking their habit on Mondays, according to a new study, and this finding may help boost the effectiveness of anti-smoking campaigns. For the study, the investigators monitored online searches about quitting smoking that were conducted in English, French, Chinese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish worldwide between...

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Lyrica May Ease Pain for Depressed Fibromyalgia Patients

Study finds drug safe, effective in combination with antidepressants HealthDay – Not on Site By Kathleen Doheny HealthDay Reporter MONDAY, Oct. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Fibromyalgia and depression often go hand in hand, and a new study finds that the drug Lyrica helps ease pain in patients being treated for both conditions. Lyrica (pregabalin) is approved in the United States to treat fibromyalgia and nerve pain from diabetes and herpes, but little was known about its safety and effectiveness when also taken with antidepressants, the researchers...

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Child Shyness: Help Your Shy Kid

Work with your child’s natural shyness to improve coping skills. By Shahreen Abedin WebMD Feature Reviewed by Hansa D. Bhargava, MD Every child has bashful moments. Some kids, though, are shy. Can you simply let your child be shy, or do you need to "bring them out?" “You can do both,” says Christopher Kearney, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.   A shy child may not become a social butterfly, Kearney says. “But you can still help them learn how to function in social settings and build relationships.” How...

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