Health

Okanogan, Washington, residents spent Christmas under a boil order after a water main leak earlier this week. As of Thursday, the order is still intact.

Q. In one article, you suggested that Listerine might be helpful for scalp psoriasis/eczema. I have had flaking with red plaques for several years, so that article intrigued me.

Q. You have written about using Vicks VapoRub on the soles of the feet to stop a nighttime cough. When I have trouble falling asleep, I do the same thing. I smear a layer of Vicks on the soles of my feet, put on a nice, warm pair of socks (to keep the sheets from getting greasy) and go right to sleep every time.

Will and Melissa Rosebro’s 10-year-old daughter is asking Santa for the Bubble Skincare Water Slide hydration-boosting serum with hyaluronic acid this holiday season. She has no idea if her skin needs a hydration boost or whether hyaluronic acid is good for her skin, nor does she care, her parents said. The $17 serum felt “nice” when she sampled it at a friend’s house, she told them. And she’s already picturing the periwinkle blue bottle on her vanity.

Nearly a quarter of U.S. adults reported living with chronic pain in 2023, according to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Q. If you watch television and see the drug commercials, diabetes is the happiest disease you could hope to have. The ads make you almost want to have it, because people are always having so much fun.