Matthew Vaccaro

Thanksgiving marks the start of the busy holiday season, full of parties, food, and for many, alcohol. To avoid poor health during this time, it helps to keep in mind why we get together in the first place: to celebrate the season. Indulge in the love of family, sharing stories with friends and making plans…

Research has shown that the act of giving thanks has a positive effect on your health. People who count their blessings are more likely to:   * Have higher self-esteem * Have stronger relationships * Get better sleep * Have a stronger immune system * Have better physical health because grateful people exercise more, have…

Everyone is getting into the sharing spirit, but one thing you don’t want to share are your germs. Most viruses spread from person to person through droplets, such as when a person coughs or sneezes. Viruses also spread by touching a surface that is contaminated with these droplets and then touching your eyes, nose or…

Each year, 1 in 6 Americans gets sick from eating contaminated foods and beverages and the latest E. coli outbreak linked to a chain restaurant on the West Coast has people questioning the safety of their food. While the American food supply is among the safest in the world, the Centers for Disease Control estimate…

  The cooler months ahead may be the most wonderful time of the year, but they’re also cold and flu season. And the best protection against the flu is getting a yearly flu shot. Doing so reduces the chances you’ll get the flu and spread it to others. And while you probably don’t want to…

Fall and the school year can bring an increase in colds and other respiratory ills for you and your kids. And when someone in the family is sick, it’s easy to call the doctor and beg for antibiotics. But beware. Every bug doesn’t need an antibiotic. In fact, the overuse and improper use of antibiotics…