Sumathi Reddy

My Medical Choice

nytimes.com — LOS ANGELES MY MOTHER fought cancer for almost a decade and died at 59. She held out long enough to meet the first of her grandchildren and to hold them in her arms. But my other children will never have the chance to know her and experience how loving and gracious she was.

When Computer Games May Keep the Brain Nimble

online.wsj.com — The computer game's concept is relatively simple. Find the matching motor vehicle and road sign amid a series of increasing distractions. Succeed and the challenge gets quicker and harder.

The Crucial Years for Protecting Your Eye Health

online.wsj.com — Aging eyes bring more than crow's feet and wrinkles. It's what you can't see-the health of your eyes-that is the bigger concern, doctors say. By the age of 40, many people may begin coping with vision problems they didn't have before.

Warts Most Often Transmitted in Schools and Families

aap.org — Warts are a common skin condition among grade school children. They are caused by infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), which is transmitted by direct contact with contaminated skin or indirectly via objects that carry the virus. To avoid transmitting the virus, public health recommendations are often issued to wear flip-flops in communal showers and to cover warts with waterproof bandages while swimming.

A Closet Filled With Regrets

online.wsj.com — The clothes seemed great in the store but mistakes proliferate due to sales and other reasons; people regularly wear just 20% of their wardrobe.

Doctor's Orders: 20 Minutes of Meditation Twice a Day

online.wsj.com — At Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, doctor's orders can include an unlikely prescription: meditation. "I recommend five minutes, twice a day, and then gradually increase," said Aditi Nerurkar, a primary-care doctor and assistant medical director of the Cheng & Tsui Center for Integrative Care, which offers alternative medical treatment at the Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospital.

New Questions on Cutting-Edge Prenatal Tests

online.wsj.com — New prenatal blood tests for genetic abnormalities such as Down syndrome are reshaping care for expectant mothers, but their rapid rollout has raised fears that poorly understood results could lead to confusion among patients and doctors.