A client I’ll call Lilly once said something that stayed with me:
“We grew up together. Twenty-eight years. Kids, holidays, funerals, everything. And now she won’t return my calls. I feel like I’ve been erased.”

When we talk about grief, we usually think of romantic breakups or death. But the end of a long, intimate friendship can be just as destabilizing—and sometimes even more confusing because society doesn’t always recognize it as a loss worth mourning.

Yet the body and mind often know otherwise.

The Physical and Emotional Toll of Friendship Loss

The pain of losing a close friend isn’t just emotional it’s physiological. People often report insomnia, stomach distress, appetite changes, and even chest tightness. Neuroscience research shows that social rejection and loss activate the same brain regions involved in physical pain, which may explain why heartbreak can feel so literal (Eisenberger, 2012).

Psychologically, the loss can trigger anxiety symptoms such as racing thoughts, persistent rumination, emotional numbness, and constant worry. For some, it spirals into depression bringing feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, and helplessness. Friendships play a crucial role in how we regulate stress. When we believe we have enough supportive relationships to rely on, we cope better. Losing one can shake that sense of emotional safety to its core (King et al., 2016).

Intermittent fasting has become one of the most talked-about dietary approaches of the last decade. Promoted widely across media, books, and social platforms, fasting is often framed as a solution for weight loss, metabolic health, and even longevity. However, when these claims are evaluated against the strongest available scientific evidence, the benefits appear far more limited than popular narratives suggest.

A major systematic review found that intermittent fasting does not lead to greater weight loss than traditional calorie-reduction diets and in some cases, performs only marginally better than no dietary intervention at all (Garegnani et al., 2024).

What the Evidence Shows

Researchers analyzed 22 randomized controlled trials involving 1,995 adults across Europe, North America, China, Australia, and South America (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2024). These trials examined multiple forms of intermittent fasting, including alternate-day fasting, time-restricted eating, and the 5:2 diet popularized by Michael Mosley (Mosley & Spencer, 2013).

In an era increasingly defined by global health threats from pandemics to climate-exacerbated disease burdens the World Health Organization (WHO) remains the primary international body for coordinating health security, disease prevention, and response. Traditionally, WHO membership and formal engagement have occurred at the level of sovereign nations. However, recent developments show a shift toward subnational participation in global health networks, with California at the forefront of this transformation.

San Francisco, CA — Community advocates are urging city leaders to protect the integrity of San Francisco’s disability and aging governance structure amid proposed reforms that could merge or eliminate several long-standing oversight bodies. They warn that consolidating commissions and committees may weaken accountability, reduce community participation, and threaten essential funding for programs that support older adults and people with disabilities.

At the center of the debate is a proposal to streamline city commissions by folding the Disability and Aging Commission into the Human Services Commission, while also restructuring related advisory bodies. Supporters of the current system say such changes would silence diverse community voices and dismantle hard-won representation that ensures policies reflect lived experience.

Call to Maintain Independence

Advocates are calling on city officials to maintain the Disability and Aging Commission as an independent governing body. They argue that the commission was established to focus specifically on the intersecting needs of seniors and people with disabilities needs that differ sharply from those addressed by the broader Human Services Commission.

“Combining the two commissions risks losing the visibility and focus that aging and disability issues deserve,” said one local advocate. “An independent commission keeps these priorities front and center.”

Supporters note that the Disability and Aging Commission plays a vital role in shaping city policy on home care, community living, and accessibility. It also oversees programs that help residents age safely and independently in their own homes—goals that align with San Francisco’s voter-approved Dignity Fund.

When most people think of a blood clot, their minds jump immediately to deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism—serious and potentially life-threatening conditions. But there’s another form of blood clot that deserves attention, even if it is usually less dangerous: superficial thrombosis, also known as superficial thrombophlebitis.

This condition occurs when a blood clot forms in a vein close to the surface of the skin, often in the legs, causing inflammation, pain, and visible redness along the affected vein. While it’s typically not as critical as clots in deeper veins, superficial thrombosis is not something to brush off. Understanding its causes, symptoms, and management can make a significant difference in how people respond when it arises.

In the age of wellness trends and body contouring fads, lymphatic drainage massage has earned a devoted following. Endorsed by celebrities, shared on TikTok, and frequently offered in high-end spas, this treatment claims to detoxify the body, reduce bloating, and even help with weight loss.

But how much of that is hype, and how much is based on actual science?

Let’s explore what lymphatic drainage massage really is, the benefits and limitations, and who it’s truly for—using evidence-based insights and expert perspectives.

What Is the Lymphatic System?

The lymphatic system is a network of vessels, nodes, and organs that supports the immune system and removes waste and toxins from the body. It transports lymph fluid, which contains white blood cells, fats, and waste products. When lymphatic flow is impaired, fluid can accumulate in tissues, leading to swelling (called lymphedema) and increased risk of infection.

Unlike blood, which is pumped by the heart, lymph relies on movement—breathing, muscle contractions, and external stimulation—to flow.

Source: Cleveland Clinic – Lymphatic System Overview

The author remembers when they were a kid, and their mother became allergic—to life as we knew it. That’s how I understood it, anyway. The world outside, full of scents and substances, made her sick. Perfumes, new carpet, diesel exhaust, synthetic fabrics, cleaning products—they could all set off days of misery. Even food was a hazard.

The soundtrack of my childhood wasn’t music or cartoons, but the soft sniffling sounds coming from her darkened bedroom. There were days she couldn’t get up, her body aching and her head heavy with pain. Her skin was sensitive, her joints hurt, her energy vanished. She visited doctors, who mostly shrugged. Depression, maybe? Anxiety? It made her furious. “You’d be anxious too if a spritz of air freshener meant you couldn’t breathe or pick up your kid from school,” she’d say.

Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, or LASIK, has long been one of the most popular surgical solutions for vision correction. But it’s not the only option. In fact, for many people, LASIK may not be the most suitable path to clearer vision due to factors such as corneal thickness, prescription strength, dry eye risk, or simply personal preference.

Fortunately, several other effective and proven alternatives exist, including Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK), Implantable Collamer Lenses (ICL), Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE), and of course, contact lenses or eyeglasses. Each of these alternatives has unique advantages and disadvantages. Understanding how they compare can help you make the best choice for your eyes, lifestyle, and long-term health.

Beauty routines are often framed as acts of self-care, confidence-building, or simple daily ritual. But what if the very products we trust to care for our skin, hair, and appearance are putting our health at risk? A new study reveals that many women—particularly Black and Latina women—are regularly using personal-care products that contain formaldehyde, a known cancer-causing chemical.

The research, published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters, offers a sobering look at how common and widespread toxic ingredients are in beauty and hygiene products—and how these exposures intersect with long-standing beauty standards, systemic inequality, and lax regulations in the U.S. cosmetics industry.

Artificial sweeteners have long been marketed as a healthier alternative to sugar, helping individuals cut calories and manage weight. However, a growing body of research suggests that certain sugar substitutes, particularly sucralose, may have unintended effects—potentially increasing appetite instead of reducing it. A recent study sheds new light on this phenomenon, explaining why sucralose might be counterproductive for those looking to control their weight.