Luke Whelan
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Freelance writer and editor, sad Seattle Mariners fan, formerly senior editor @outsidemagazine
lukewwhelan (at) gmail.com
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Articles by Luke Whelan
She Survived Sepsis, But That Was Only the Start
When Katy Grainger woke up in the ICU at the Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, she was disoriented. Bright lights blinded her, and a breathing tube had just been pulled out of her throat. When she saw her hands, she realized something was really wrong. “It looked like my fingertips were black and dehydrated,” says Grainger.
Why You Should Get Tested for Cholesterol Called Lp(a)
You run around Green Lake regularly, you don’t smoke, and you’ve cut out red meat from your diet. There’s no way you need to worry about high cholesterol, right? Well, it turns out there’s a type of cholesterol-carrying particle that can increase your risk of heart disease, no matter how healthy your lifestyle is or how low your cholesterol levels are on your lipid panel. It’s called lipoprotein(a), and new guidelines now recommend that everyone get tested for it. Here’s why. What is lipoprotein(a)?
Does Mouth Taping Actually Help You Sleep Better?
Unless you’re stuffed up, you probably don’t think very hard about whether you are breathing through your mouth or your nose. But according to a certain set of wellness and fitness enthusiasts, breathing through your nose can offer all sorts of health benefits, including better sleep — in fact, they even tape their mouths shut at night to improve the quality of their shut-eye. But can nose breathing truly help you feel more rested? And are there any other health benefits?
5 Ways to Deal With Your Anger in a Healthy Way
There’s a lot you could be angry about these days: an injustice in the world, a layoff after years of loyal service, or just the never-ending traffic on I-5 or the pile of dishes left in the sink … again. Here’s the thing — anger is a natural emotion that is often necessary. But many people, especially men, don’t know how to process their anger in a healthy way, which can lead to harmful or destructive behavior.
7 Things Men Can Do to Improve Their Fertility
You might have gotten the impression from sex-ed that it’s easy to get someone pregnant, but when you’re actually ready to have a kid, the reality is often very different. About 1 in 6 heterosexual couples experience infertility, which can be challenging and emotionally exhausting to navigate. Another misconception? That infertility is always the female partner’s fault. In fact, about 50% of the time, the guy is contributing to the couple’s infertility.
This App Helps Doctors Set Exercise Goals for Patients
In a world obsessed with finding a silver bullet for health and wellness, there’s been one under our noses this whole time. No, not GLP-1s — it’s exercise. Doctors have known for centuries how good physical activity is for nearly every aspect of physical and mental health. The problem is, it’s a lot harder to get people to be active than it is to prescribe a pill or get a shot. Now, that is starting to change.
Movie icon Alfred Hitchcock's poetic final words during his last moments before his death
Director Alfred Hitchcock Director Alfred Hitchcock suffered from several ailments when he died (Image: Bettmann, Bettmann Archivevia Getty Images) The legendary filmmaker's remarkable life tragically ended in 1980 at the age of 80. The British icon, born in Leytonstone, East London, is widely recognized as a pioneer of the thriller genre.
Inside Billy Idol's drug addiction that nearly took his life as he's honored at AMAs
Billy Idol will be honored at the American Music Awards -Credit:Scott Dudelson, Getty Images for Coachella (Scott Dudelson, Getty Images for Coachella) During the 1980s, Idol's life was consumed by cocaine and heroin, much like countless rock stars of that era. In his memoir 'Dancing With Myself', he recounted how he would black out in nightclubs and regain consciousness in hospital as a result of his substance abuse.
Why Cold Water in the PNW Is More Dangerous Than It Looks
Washington’s ocean, lakes and rivers are unrivaled in their beauty, but they can be deceptively dangerous, especially in spring and early summer. Beth Ebel, MD, is a pediatrician at Harborview Medical Center and a professor of pediatrics at the UW School of Medicine who researches injury prevention, so she knows this well.
Do Wearables Make You Healthier or Just More Anxious?
Smartwatches, rings, patches, you name it — wearable devices have exploded in use in the last decade, and so have the health metrics they measure. Sure, you can still count your steps, but now you can also track the number of hours of REM sleep you got last night, and don’t forget to check your heart rate variability before working out today. But here’s the thing — more data is not always better.
How Men Can Find Healing and Growth After Divorce
Divorce is a major event in any person’s life — it reshapes your relationships, your living situation, your finances and how you parent. Not surprisingly, divorce increases the risk of anxiety and depression for all genders, but men are especially vulnerable, especially in the period right after the breakup. While each person’s situation is different, men generally have worse support networks and find it more challenging to ask for help. But divorce doesn’t need to be all bad for men.
Tips for Surviving Colonoscopy Prep
A colonoscopy might seem like a faraway thing … until it’s time to schedule your first one. If you’re approaching 45 — the recommended age to start colorectal cancer screening — you’re not alone if you’re feeling some dread. Sure, there’s the prospect of a tube going up your rectum and colon, but at least you won’t feel that under sedation. You will feel the 24 hours beforehand, downing bowel prep solution and sitting on the toilet.
More Young People Are Getting Diverticulitis| Right as Rain by UW Medicine
You’ve probably seen headlines about the rising rates of colorectal cancer among people under 50. But did you know that other digestive diseases are also increasing among young people? One of them is diverticulitis, the inflammation of small pouches that form in the colon. Diverticulitis is not fun, but there are ways to treat it and to prevent getting it in the first place. Here’s everything you need to know about the condition and why young people are getting it more. What causes diverticulitis?
How an MD-PhD Student With Hemophilia Made a Genetic Research Breakthrough
Nick Popp was an unhappy baby. He was colicky and constantly getting little bruises out of nowhere. “My parents took me to the pediatrician and were told to put me on a table,” he says. “Where my dad picked me up, every single one of his fingertips left a bruise on my body.” About a month later, Popp was diagnosed with hemophilia A, a rare genetic disorder that prevents his blood from clotting properly.
5 Surprising Facts About Sepsis
Most people probably know that getting sepsis is really bad, but far fewer understand what it is. A horrible infection? Blood poisoning? It’s true that sepsis is extremely dangerous. Every year in the U.S., 1.7 million people develop sepsis, and at least 350,000 adults die from it — in fact, it’s among the most common causes of death in hospitals. But the condition gets a lot more mysterious and complicated from there. Here are some surprising facts about sepsis.
Should You Be Taking Creatine?
Creatine has been around for years as a supplement for athletes, but it’s recently been getting renewed attention from fitness and wellness influencers. They claim it can help not just with exercise performance but also with muscle and bone loss during menopause and even memory and cognitive issues. So is there anything to these claims? Let’s look into it. What is creatine? Despite how it’s sometimes marketed, creatine does not directly build muscle.
Her Vision Issues Were From Brain Cancer
When Lynne Taylor, MD, co-director of the Alvord Brain Tumor Center at UW Medical Center, first met with Courtney Griffith, she was astonished by what she heard. “I kept making her tell more and more of the story,” says Taylor, who’s been a neuro-oncologist for 30 years. For years, Courtney had experienced headaches. Then came the strange vision symptoms, which prompted her to make an appointment with the eye doctor in October of 2022.
Using the Mind-Body Connection to Manage Pain
You know what pain is when you feel it, but it can be surprisingly hard to define. Pain can throb, stab, ache, sting, prick or burn. It can be severe or mild; constant or come in waves. It can go away or linger — if it lasts more than three months, it’s considered chronic pain. One thing is for sure: Whether it’s from cancer or a low back injury, chronic pain can profoundly affect your day-to-day life and leave you desperate for relief.
Have Energy Drinks Gotten Healthier?
In a world with ever-increasing demands on your time and attention, who isn’t looking for a boost of energy? Around 85% of adults in the U.S. consume caffeine every day, and increasingly, they’re getting it from energy drinks. While energy drinks used to be marketed in neon colors and packed with sugar, a new generation of beverages is now on the shelves of grocery stores and gas stations purporting to be “natural” and “healthy” — not something you need to be guilty or embarrassed to knock back.
5 Ways to Boost Your Energy Without Caffeine
The sun is setting before you get off work, and you barely have the energy to get to 5 o’clock, much less think about your goals and hobbies. The temptation of a late afternoon coffee or energy drink is stronger than ever. But relying on caffeine to get through your days can’t be great for you, right? It turns out that while caffeine can be a helpful tool, it’s not a silver bullet — and there are other things you can do to get that pep back in your step. How much caffeine is too much?
How to Take Care of Your Heart During the Holidays
The holidays can be stressful, whether you’re hosting family, braving a trip over the pass or across the country, or trying not to blow the budget on presents. Do you know what else can get stressed during this magical time of year? Your heart. In fact, doctors often see a spike in abnormal heart rhythms and heart attacks around Christmas and New Year’s. The last thing you need is a trip to the emergency room, so here is how to keep your heart healthy during the holidays.
Functional Fitness Exercises to Prepare You for Everyday Life
You bend down to pick up your kiddo for a shoulder ride and you feel a twinge in your low back. Or you walk home with two heavy grocery bags and find your arms are sore for days. Or maybe getting your suitcase up and down from the plane’s overhead compartment is more challenging than it used to be. All of us, at one point or another, struggle with everyday tasks, whether it’s yard work, playing with kids, lifting and carrying heavy things or maintaining balance on uneven or icy surfaces.
80s music icon reveals huge health news after diagnosis that's 'not easy to live with'
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Annie Lennox's health battles as she reveals new diagnosis that's 'not easy to live with'
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Can You Shower with Contact Lenses?
If you wear contact lenses, you’re probably familiar with the following scenario: You’ve arrived at your hotel room late, only to realize you forgot to pack contact lens fluid. Would it be so bad to sleep in your contacts and run to the drugstore in the morning? Or what about this: You’re running late, and as you hop in the shower, you realize your contact lenses are still in. Is it really worth the trouble to get out of the shower and take them out?
How to Use Chat GPT for Health Advice
Move over Dr. Google, Dr. ChatGPT is the new health “expert” on the internet, answering your medical questions 24/7. According to a recent survey, 1 in 6 adults in the U.S. use AI chatbots, like ChatGPT, for health information at least once a month — 1 in 4 people under 30 do.
8 Things That Can Infect You While Swimming
There’s no better cure for a hot Pacific Northwest summer day than a jump in a cold body of water. But before you jump off that stand-up paddleboard in Lake Washington or cannonball into the public pool at the park, look before you leap. In addition to the risk of drowning (the most serious danger for swimmers, by far) lots of things are lurking in the depths that have the potential to make you sick.
Do Hacks for Falling Asleep Work?
It’s clearer than ever how important sleep is for your health. Getting enough sleep lowers your risk for cancer, cardiovascular disease and dementia. But falling asleep isn’t always as easy as just laying down and shutting your eyes. Enter countless new hacks for getting your body to relax and move into that precious state of shuteye. Does this sound familiar? If you breathe this many times for this many seconds, or imagine this specific thing, you’ll fall asleep in two minutes.
How to Encourage Your Man to Go to the Doctor
Raise your hand if you have a dad, husband, male partner or friend who avoids going to the doctor. No, this isn’t just a stereotype — more than half of men in a recent national survey reported that they don’t get regular health screenings. That’s a problem because regular checkups with a primary care doctor can help catch or prevent a wide range of issues, including heart disease, cancer and mental health issues like depression.
Are Whole-Body MRIs Worth It?
Having a body is scary. You don’t know what kind of problem might be lurking in your organs or arteries, waiting to ambush your health. But what if there was a simple test that could tell you immediately if you had any tumors, aneurysms or other abnormalities before you had symptoms? Enter: whole-body MRIs, which scan your body from your head to (almost) your toes, giving you a comprehensive look at your body and its major organs.
Genetic Tests for Cancer Risk Can Save Your Life
In the 1970 and 80s, breast cancer was the leading cause of cancer death among women in the U.S., killing more than 40,000 people a year. In 1974, a geneticist named Mary-Claire King at the University of California, Berkeley, began studying how the disease devastated some families across generations and formed a theory that there could be a genetic link to these patterns.
8 Summer Activities to Try This Summer
Summer in Seattle is hard to beat: Long, clear days that are warm but not humid and endless opportunities to play outside, from urban lakes to alpine peaks. If you’re looking to maximize your time in the sun — before the Big Dark inevitably returns — we’ve got some ideas for you, both adventurous and more chill. Try trail running in Issaquah The perfect way to beat the heat and get in a great workout is to go on a trail run. What is trail running, you ask?
Reap the Health Benefits of Hiking
One of the best things about living in the Pacific Northwest is access to our breathtaking mountain ranges. From foothill trail systems to high alpine wilderness areas and national parks, there are endless opportunities for outdoor adventure. Getting outside and moving your body is one of the best things you can do for your physical and mental health, especially when stress and anxiety are running high.
Why Chronic Stress Is Bad for Your Heart
When you hear “heart health,” diet and exercise are often the first things to come to mind. But there’s something else that’s equally important to manage: stress. Chronic stress is now recognized as a major risk for heart disease, which means that finding ways to cope with stress is as important as staying active and eating healthy. How does stress affect the heart? It’s not possible to entirely avoid stress.
Is Prebiotic Soda a Good Source of Fiber?
Is it possible to enjoy pop (or soda) without worrying about how unhealthy it is? That's the case being made by a flurry of prebiotic soda brands taking over the beverage aisles of grocery stores. They claim that their products contain less sugar and calories than traditional soda and are good for your gut health. So can these products really turn drinking a carbonated, flavored beverage from a vice into something virtuous?
Ways to Get Over Your Cynicism
When you’re feeling overwhelmed by how polarized the world’s become and how difficult its problems will be to solve, it’s easy — understandable even — to be cynical. But here is the thing: A cynical view of humanity is not an accurate one. And it undermines your ability to connect with others, be resilient and start doing small things to make the world a better place. It can also harm your health. Here are some ways to push back against cynicism and move into hope. What is cynicism?
Cholesterol levels can be cut with daily breakfast food without gaining weight
Microsoft Cares About Your Privacy Microsoft and our third-party vendors use cookies to store and access information such as unique IDs to deliver, maintain and improve our services and ads. If you agree, MSN and Microsoft Bing will personalise the content and ads that you see. You can select ‘I Accept’ to consent to these uses or click on ‘Manage preferences’ to review your options and exercise your right to object to Legitimate Interest where used.
Are Ultra-Processed Foods Bad for Your Brain?
As if you needed another reason to feel guilty about your weak spot for breakfast sausage, new research is pointing towards ultra-processed foods — like chips, soda and lunch meats — as a culprit for higher risk of cognitive decline. Here’s what you need to know about how your meals and snacks might be affecting your brain. What’s going on with processed foods and dementia risk?
5 Ways to Drink Less Alcohol
If you’re someone who wants to drink less alcohol but you are intimidated by Dry January (or Dry July or Sober October), don’t fret. While cutting it out for a month certainly has its benefits, it’s not the only way to change your relationship with alcohol. Enter “sober-curious,” a trend that’s about bringing a more mindful approach to drinking. It encompasses being more intentional about when and how much you drink to improve your health and well-being.
7 Favorite Wellness Trends of 2024| Right as Rain by UW Medicine
There’s never a dull moment when covering health and wellness trends. From the dubious (ever heard of “cortisol face”?) to the genius (who knew a “fart walk” could be so good for you), Right as Rain dives into whatever is being talked about, whether on social media or by researchers.
Do You Know the Risks of These Raw Foods?
You probably know that eating raw foods can sometimes be risky. But those risks aren’t necessarily what you’d think. For example, did you know that it isn’t (just) the uncooked eggs that can make you sick from eating raw cookie dough? Or that finding worms in sushi isn’t usually dangerous (despite what social media may say)? Here are some of the raw foods likely to tempt you and just how dangerous they are to your health.
How to Take Rejuvenating Work Breaks
Americans are notoriously bad at taking time off work: If you have trouble using your vacation and sick days, you’re not alone — more than 4 in 10 workers in the U.S. don’t use all their paid time off. You might also have found that even when you do figure out a way to take some days off, you’re not actually feeling relaxed or rejuvenated. And when you come back to work, you’re feeling less than restored.
8 Ways for Shift Workers to Get Good Sleep
If you’re a shift worker struggling with sleep, you’re not alone. that more than a quarter of people who work nontraditional hours suffer from shift worker sleep disorder. This means having chronic issues staying awake during your working hours and/or sleeping during times you want to be getting shuteye.
The 3 Deadliest Natural Disasters in the PNW| Right as Rain by UW Medicine
If you’ve moved to the Seattle area in the last decade or two, you might know it’s earthquake territory but haven’t experienced one. You might admire Mount Rainier’s beauty without realizing it’s an active volcano. When visiting the coast, you might see the tsunami evacuation zone signs and wonder, What’s that about? Though earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanoes might seem abstract, the Pacific Northwest is one of the world’s most geologically active places, and the threat of these disasters is real.
Prostate Cancer Screenings Have Changed
You wouldn’t be alone if you had an image of a prostate exam formed by a punchline in a raunchy movie or a standup comedy routine. Think: a patient bending over an exam table while a doctor puts on a rubber glove. You may have also heard that prostate specific antigen tests can result in the overdiagnosis of cancer, leading to unnecessary invasive procedures and treatments.
Why ‘Fart Walks’ Are So Good for Your Health
From probiotic supplements to continuous glucose monitors, hacking gut health has become an obsession for many wellness enthusiasts. It’s not without reason: Doctors are just beginning to understand the importance of the microbiome and digestive system for overall health. One strategy that’s gone viral on social media, however, is deceptively simple: going on ‘fart walks’ after dinner. And darn tootin’ there just might be something to it. What are ‘fart walks’?
How Mount Rainier National Park's summer reservations system is working
JUST OUTSIDE MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK — On the Sunday before Memorial Day, Christy Narvaez made a last-minute trip from Seattle to Mount Rainier National Park. After a 2 ½-hour drive, Narvaez and her friends arrived to find an hourlong line of cars on Highway 706 leading to the Nisqually Entrance, the park’s most popular gateway. The wait was no surprise — in recent years, lines to get into the park have snaked 2 or 3 miles on summer weekends and holidays.
7 tips for visiting Mount Rainier this summer
For the first time, Mount Rainier National Park is implementing a timed entry reservation system this summer. As part of the park’s larger efforts to combat overcrowding, reservations will be required to enter the Nisqually, Stevens Canyon and White River entrances daily through Sept. 2. (Reservations not required at White River until July 4.) Want to ensure your visit to the mountain goes smoothly this summer? Keep these seven tips in mind.
The high amount of candidates in the SU Election signals increased political interest amongst students – Trinity News
For a week, the SU elections were the most contested they’ve been since 2015. Michael McInerney dropping out of the Comms race makes the number of candidates the same as in 2021, but that nine-year high of candidates should still be discussed. After all, McInerney stated that he only dropped out of the race because of pressures outside the Union must assume that this high number of candidates proves that there is significant interest in student politics right now.
How to Be at Peace with the Passage of Time
If you felt like the first few years of the pandemic were a time warp, you’re not alone. Without being able to celebrate holidays with family and friends or go on vacations to new places or even eat out at restaurants, the days and weeks blended together. As normal life began to resume, you likely felt some anxiety about the fact that valuable years of your life just went poof.
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