Tara Parker-Pope

The 4-Minute Workout

well.blogs.nytimes.com — Mike Harrington/Getty Images Thanks to an ingratiating new study, we may finally be closer to answering that ever-popular question regarding our health and fitness: How little exercise can I get away with? The answer, it seems, may be four minutes.

A Health Maven’s Sweet Secret

nytimes.com — "She doesn't bring dessert," a friend's teenage son complained when he heard I was coming to dinner. "She brings fruit." That was true for decades. But no more. You may know me as a health maven, but in my kitchen I have a double life, one in which the olive oil remains in the cabinet while bricks of high-fat French butter soften on the countertop.

Cheating Ourselves of Sleep

well.blogs.nytimes.com — Christopher Neal Think you do just fine on five or six hours of shut-eye? Chances are, you are among the many millions who unwittingly shortchange themselves on sleep. Research shows that most people require seven or eight hours of sleep to function optimally.

GPS maps reveal where cats go all day

io9.com — The mysterious comings and goings of our feline friends just got a little less mysterious. Researchers at the Royal Veterinary College loaded a group of cats in Shamley Green, Surrey, with cameras and GPS trackers to figure out how roaming house cats spend their days.

In Bullies' Hands, Nuts or Milk May Be a Weapon

well.blogs.nytimes.com — Margaret Riegel Any difference can set schoolchildren apart from their peers and potentially make them a target for bullying. But a severe food allergy is a unique vulnerability: It takes only one lunch or cupcake birthday party for other children to know which classmates cannot eat nuts, eggs, milk or even a trace of wheat.

In Bullies' Hands, Nuts or Milk May Be a Weapon

well.blogs.nytimes.com — Margaret Riegel Any difference can set schoolchildren apart from their peers and potentially make them a target for bullying. But a severe food allergy is a unique vulnerability: It takes only one lunch or cupcake birthday party for other children to know which classmates cannot eat nuts, eggs, milk or even a trace of wheat.

The Heart Perils of Pain Relievers

well.blogs.nytimes.com — Mario Tama/Getty Images Common pain relievers like ibuprofen and naproxen - called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or Nsaids - are the go-to drugs for headaches and pulled muscles, arthritis and menstrual cramps. Their labels have long warned that overuse may increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, but we rely on them as we do on few other medications.

When the Bully Is a Sibling

well.blogs.nytimes.com — Stuart Bradford Siblings have been bickering and trading blows since the time of Cain and Abel. But the torment and fighting that is often shrugged off as normal sibling rivalry may not always be so benign.

Really? The Claim: Biofeedback Devices Can Lower Blood Pressure

well.blogs.nytimes.com — For people looking to lower their blood pressure without the use of medication, a growing number of gadgets offer an alternative. Among the most popular are those that employ biofeedback, a technique that trains people to control things like heart rate and muscle tension, typically to reduce stress.

When the Bully Is a Sibling

well.blogs.nytimes.com — Stuart Bradford Siblings have been bickering and trading blows since the time of Cain and Abel. But the torment and fighting that is often shrugged off as normal sibling rivalry may not always be so benign.