Ready for some yard work? The calendar may say “yes,” but slow down a bit before you head outdoors.According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, accidents involving yard or garden tools result in tens of thousands of visits to the emergency room each year.Many of these could be avoided if people knew how to properly use equipment and followed a few simple rules, said Mike Mendez, Outdoor Power Equipment Specialist for Lowe’s, North Bergen.  Mendez offered several tips about using power tools for yard or garden work.

There are many reasons why people start running: to stay slim, boost energy or improve your health. Running can help keep the heart healthy, improve mood and stave off sickness, plus recent studies have found running is a great way to lose and maintain weight. But research suggests going full speed isn’t the only route to good health.

The first sunscreen mistake is not wearing any. By now, we all know spending too much time in the sun can increase risk for both skin cancer (the most common of all cancers) and premature skin aging. On top of that, a new Australian study out this week found daily sunscreen use could slow skin aging.  But even those of us with the best intentions can make mistakes when it comes to sunscreen — mistakes that can be costly for our skin.

Steamy weather calls for a refreshing drink and if you’re in need of caffeine and in the mood to treat yourself, it’s possible you’ll order up a decadent coffee drink.  Even though coffee, of its own accord, is a health food, once you add the sweeteners, flavorings and heavy dairy, things can get a little dicey. In fact, one 2009 review of available coffee drinks in the U.S. found that the worst offenders tallied a whopping 561 calories.  In the interim, fast food restaurants have made some concessions to improve their overall calorie, fat and sugar contents. Has it been enough? We decided to take our own look at what’s available. Click here for the biggest offenders.

There is no question most skin cancers are related to sun exposure, yet even with sunscreen sales approaching $1 billion a year, skin cancer rates continue to climb. Melanoma diagnoses have risen nearly 2 percent a year since 2000 and are increasing even more among young white women.  Some experts blame inappropriate use of sunscreen, saying that people do not apply enough lotion (a golfball-size dollop) or do not reapply it every two hours as instructed. But there’s another major concern: Until recently, many sunscreens with a high sun protection factor, or SPF, were designed primarily to protect people from ultraviolet B rays, the main cause of sunburn. These sunscreens may have enabled users to stay out longer but did not necessarily protect them from ultraviolet A rays. These are associated with aging and skin damage, but some experts believe they may also be implicated in skin cancer.  Experts are urging people to limit their time in the sun, especially at midday, and protect their skin with hats, shirts and cover-ups instead of relying exclusively on sunscreen.

Okay, it’s no news flash that blueberries are nutritious. They’ve been high on our suggested shopping list for years now, and they’re easy to love. Lately, they’ve been getting a lot of good press. If you were choosing just one fruit to eat every day, a big handful of blueberries — fresh or frozen — would be hard to beat. Click here to find out why.

The typical bathroom medicine cabinet is crammed with bottles of Advil, Aleve, Bayer and Tylenol — a panoply of non-prescription pain relievers. Many people, however, are unaware of the differences between each and how much is a safe daily dose.  Overdoses of acetaminophen — the active ingredient in Tylenol — account for nearly half the 2,000 cases of acute liver failure in this country, and cause tens of thousands of emergency room visits annually.  Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil), aspirin and naproxen (Aleve), can also have adverse affects when misused, namely gastrointestinal bleeding and kidney damage.

Worst allergy season ever? It may not be hyperbole.  Anyone with multiple seasonal allergies is definitely suffering more this year. Thanks to a cold spring, instead of a gradual progression from tree to grass pollen, pollination occurred almost simultaneously making the last few weeks unbearable.  The worst weather is dry and windy, which blows the pollen around. People should limit triggers when they can, including showering at the end of the day to keep the sticky pollen from getting on bedding, as well as shutting house and car windows and putting the car on re-circulated air during the worst weeks.