I'm writing this from Cape Cod, where summer has officially arrived. The beaches are full, ice cream lines are long, and everyone seems just a little lighter than they did a month ago. Maybe that's why joy's been on my mind. Not happiness exactly — there’s a scientific difference — but those moments that stop you in your tracks and make you feel connected to other people, your surroundings, or life outside your own orbit. And lately, those experiences seem to be everywhere:
If you've ever been told your on-the-bathroom-floor period pain is "just cramps, hon," this one's for you. Endometriosis affects roughly 1 in 10 women, but it can take nearly a decade to get a diagnosis. Part of the problem? The lesions resulting from it are often too small and flat to show up on standard scans, so the definitive way to confirm them is exploratory surgery. Now, researchers think they may have found a faster, less-invasion option.
What’s going on: Specialists at Oxford are testing a new imaging technique that uses an injected agent to make endometriosis lesions light up on a scan. That includes the surface-level ones on abdominal lining standard screening tools tend to miss.
The promising part: In an early trial, the scan successfully identified lesions that would otherwise be difficult to detect, and showed zero false positives. The study was small, and it needs to clear larger trials before the technology lands at your gyno's office, but experts say so far, the results are promising.
Why it matters: Endo isn’t just bad period cramps. The condition can cause chronic pelvic pain, digestive issues, fatigue, fertility challenges, and symptoms that ripple through daily life. The faster people get answers, the sooner they can access treatment options and stop wondering whether what they're experiencing is "normal."
A heating pad isn’t the only device in your toolbox. Here’s what experts recommend to manage pain and flare-ups.
Track your symptoms, ask for imaging, and don't accept "some women have bad cramps." Self-care strategies can help you cope, but there’s no substitute for a full workup.
How concerned should I be about the Ebola outbreak?
“While there is currently an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with a limited number of linked cases reported in Uganda, the risk of a global outbreak remains low. Ebola is not spread through the air, water, food, or casual contact. These exposures most commonly occur among household contacts or healthcare workers caring for infected patients. To date, no Ebola cases associated with the current outbreak have been reported in the United States, and the CDC considers the risk to the American public and travelers to be low.
The primary risk factors for Ebola are travel to affected areas and close contact with an infected individual. Most travelers do not need to change their plans. However, individuals who have traveled to affected regions or who have had contact with a person infected with Ebola should monitor for symptoms for up to 21 days after exposure.
Although public health officials continue to monitor the Ebola outbreak closely, measles, influenza, and COVID-19 currently pose a greater infectious disease threat to most travelers attending large international gatherings. For travelers, the best protection remains staying up to date on recommended vaccinations, practicing good hand hygiene, avoiding travel when ill, and seeking medical attention if symptoms develop after international travel.”
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Only one in five people get enough flavanols, plant compounds best known for their antioxidant properties and ability to help blood vessels relax. That's good news for your heart and brain, which is why nutritionists love to see flavanol-rich foods and beverages make regular appearances in your routine. Want to be one of the few who gets enough? Start here:
You know that the best way to hydrate is to use a water bottle. But when it’s been rolling around in your car, gym bag, or purse for days, things can start to get a little… funky. Moisture and bacteria build-up can lead to that unmistakable taste and smell. Enter the UV water bottle, aka smart hydration. UV rays from the lid help “self-clean” the bottle, which can cut down on germs and odor. These top our list.
