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DEAR ANNIE: When social media ‘likes’ define self-worth

DEAR ANNIE: My 14-year-old daughter spends far too much time on social media, and I am beginning to see it affect her mood, confidence and sleep. She checks her phone the moment she wakes up and often stays online long after she is supposed to be asleep. If a friend posts a picture without her, she becomes upset. If one of her own posts does not get enough likes, she worries that people are mad at her or no longer think she is popular. Recently, I took her phone away for the weekend after discovering she had been awake past midnight scrolling through videos. She cried and told me I ...

HINTS FROM HELOISE: Try this trick in garden

DEAR HELOISE: This is the time of year when many “DIY’ers” use hand clippers and cutters to trim flowers, bushes and small branches. Often, they become coated with dried sap and plant material from use. While there are products that are available for this purpose, I’ve found that kitchen steel wool pads and water can quickly and completely remove the material. — Bob S., in Kenosha, Wisconsin DEAR HELOISE: Printed news doesn’t depend upon a battery or electricity. It can be taken whole or in part to read while waiting in line or waiting for customer assistance at a bank ...

TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH: She worries over warts, white spots on her skin

DEAR DR. ROACH: About four months ago, my doctor switched me from a combination of 5 mg of amlodipine and 100 mg of Losartan daily (which I’d been taking for several years) to 10 mg of amlodipine only. Things went just fine until very recently, when I started developing some annoying skin problems. I’ve noticed wart-like growths and itchy, small white things that look like skin tags. They bleed when I scratch them, and my whole torso and neck are itchy. I don’t tolerate antihistamines, so I’m using hydrocortisone cream, which is helpful. Would switching back to my old dosage of ...

Is AI the right prescription?

WASHINGTON — A prescription refill program that quietly launched in Utah earlier this year has kicked off a big medical debate: Is artificial intelligence ready to take over tasks that, until now, could only be performed by doctors? The program allows Utah residents to skip the doctor’s ...

FDA OKs testosterone replacement therapy

Q. My doctor prescribed testosterone four years ago, and my hormone levels are now normal. I know that there were concerns about heart problems, but my blood pressure (BP) is 115/76, pulse is 70, and my annual electrocardiogram is normal. If doctors treat women with hormone replacement therapy, why not men who are suffering from declining testosterone? I think the reasons are more theological than scientific. A. The Food and Drug Administration is about to change its official prescribing information for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Instead of discouraging doctors from ...