| I have come to accept that I will never be the person who shoos away a dessert cart (I have to at least look) or gets up early to work in a run. But there is one healthy lifestyle change that I have implemented and of which I am inordinately proud: A few years ago, I gave up my daily Diet Coke. This was no small feat. I had been a loyal Diet Coke drinker my entire adulthood. I always had one with lunch, and perhaps another later if I needed another caffeine boost. I never tired of Diet Coke, and skipping it could cause a headache. I would half-joke that I was addicted. Of course, when I started drinking Diet Coke, it seemed the more responsible choice (zero sugar or calories!). Over the years, however, research has consistently pointed to a possible link between the consumption of diet drinks and the risk of developing metabolic syndrome, a collection of conditions that can lead to heart disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes. I had other concerns. I didn't like the idea of putting so many artificial ingredients into my body. I would suffer stomach pain that would suspiciously go away when I cut back on the beverage, making me wonder if I was giving myself an ulcer. And I worried about modeling an unhealthy habit for my kids because my older daughter had started sneaking into my stash. (I recently asked her if my quitting made an impression on her. Her response, "Eh, maybe a little.") I switched to bottled tea (Pure Leaf unsweetened black is my go-to) and, after suffering a bit of withdrawal, haven't looked back. I still enjoy the very occasional Diet Coke but seem to have broken its hold on me. I was thinking about this because reporter Allyson Chiu has written an illuminating story about Rep. Debbie Dingell, who recently suffered a perforated ulcer. Dingell expected to be told to cut down on junk food and Diet Coke; like me, she thought too many carbonated beverages could be a factor. But doctors say her ulcer was likely the result of too much ibuprofen. It's an important cautionary tale about the ways we can abuse even over-the-counter medications, and anyone who relies on ibuprofen or other NSAIDs should read it. (And, though I learned Diet Coke has nothing to do with ulcers, I still don't regret giving it up.) In other stories, Allyson highlights one of the nervous disorders – skin picking – that seems to be increasing during the pandemic. She also explains why the law known as HIPAA does not protect you from being asked about your vaccination status. Freelance writer and fitness professional Ian McMahan shares the story of people who didn't start running until middle age or beyond, and yet are beating lifelong elite competitors. Freelance writer Angela Haupt warns us about increasing tick activity and offers tips for staying bite-free. And freelance writer Sunny Fitzgerald tells us why we shouldn't hold back on sharing good news, even though there has been so much pain during the pandemic.
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