Feature Channels: Winter Holidays

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Every year, thousands of children in the U.S. are injured in winter-related activities, regardless of whether they live in warm or cold climates.

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Snow is fun for sledding and skiing, but what is its role in soil protection? The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) February 15 Soils Matter blog post explains the crucial role of snow for healthy soils.

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Hand rashes can be frustrating, especially when the cause of your rash is unknown. Was it a new brand of hand soap? Eczema? Or just really dry skin? According to dermatologists from the American Academy of Dermatology, it could be any of these things and more. Hand rashes, they say, commonly occur because of something you touched or something happening inside your body.

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Experts from the Stony Brook University Trauma Center share some tips that go beyond the usual winter safety driving advice and touch upon those often overlooked inconveniences that winter storms leave behind in order to decrease injuries and major accidents.

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Winter recreational activities can pose painful problems for the outdoor enthusiast who is not in the best condition. Preparing your body before participating in winter sports such as snowboarding, skiing or ice-skating decreases the potential for spasms, strains and sprains, according to the American Chiropractic Association.

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Believe it or not, winter has officially begun! And, although there has been a lack of significant snowfall and cold temperatures in our area, we should still be prepared for the possibility of more seasonable weather.

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Profits in stocker production can be as green as winter pastures when conditions are right and producers apply correct stocking strategies, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Research expert. And research trials at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Overton are focusing on identifying optimal strategies and stocking rates for producers.

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Kristy Archuleta and Sonya Britt, both associate professors in the Institute of Personal Financial Planning, offer tips for starting now to ensure financially merrier holidays in 2017.

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Research shows that only 8% of people making New Year’s resolutions end up achieving them each year. Some health experts believe a more effective approach would be to follow New Year’s with a recommit strategy that capitalizes on the natural momentum of the weekly cycle.

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When a patient is hospitalized over the holidays, it can intensify the feelings of "holiday blues." Here are some tips to make the most of the holidays when hospitalized.

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We all make resolutions to be healthier in the New Year, but what resolutions do health professionals themselves make? UCLA Health experts share theirs.

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Along with increased cheer and festivities during the holidays comes an increased risk of stroke, one of the leading causes of death and disability in the U.S. Patrick D. Lyden, MD, chair of the Cedars-Sinai Department of Neurology, said he sees a significant increase in stroke incidents during December and January, particularly on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

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A Baylor University consumer behavior expert shares four savings goals and offers a few tips to get in good financial shape in the coming year.

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Roger Adams, associate professor and rare books librarian for K-State Libraries, has studied the history of traditional holiday foods.

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New research at Tufts University, in collaboration with MIT scientists, reveals the molecular composition of firefly "nuptial gifts", offering the first peek into the content of these special packages and shedding new light on post-mating sexual selection. The findings were published today in Scientific Reports.

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Tina Turner does it. So does Katy Perry, Sting, supermodel Gisele Bundchen and a host of other celebrities. When not strutting the concert stage or cat walk, they’re sometimes grooving to meditation’s benefits. While celebrity isn’t a reason to try meditation, it did make me a bit more curious. These are people who must surely have at least as much stress in their daily lives as many of us, right? As we swing into the holiday season, stress can play as big a role in our lives as exchanging presents and expressions of good cheer. Our minds race with thoughts of travel plans, family gatherings, gift-buying and how to keep it all together without losing it -- both mentally and physically. And that included stressed-out me. According to health experts, stress that’s left unchecked can contribute to many health problems, such as heart disease, weight gain and mental health concerns.

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Everyone knows the holiday season can put stress on families, finances and schedules. A Cedars-Sinai laryngologist says the holidays also can be hazardous to your vocal cords.

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Professor Rebecca Earle, food historian at the University of Warwick has been researching the traditional Christmas turkey, in order to find out how this north American bird has become a mainstay of festive food.

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Sam Emerson, doctoral student in food, nutrition, dietetics and health, offers tips for battling overindulgence of holiday treats.

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How can I enjoy holiday parties and meals with family and not gain weight?

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Rebekah Meitler, instructor in Kansas State University's School of Family Studies and Human Services, said teaching manners to young children is all about preparation, practice and pointing out examples.

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A study based on massive amounts of data offers a new way to forecast flight late arrivals and departures and to schedule crews based on expected needs during holiday and other seasonal travel. The new approach could help to cut delays that both frustrate passengers and cost the airlines large sums.

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While it may look like a pine wreath dotted with crimson berries, this holiday-themed image is in fact one of the world’s first color electron micrographs.

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The holidays are supposed to be a time of joy and celebration, but we all know they can be stressful even under the best of circumstances. Add to the mix a relative with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) or dementia, and caregivers and family members can quickly become overwhelmed.

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Despite his reputation as a model of good behavior, are some of Santa's activities - racing from rooftop to rooftop in an open sleigh and consuming millions of cookies every Dec. 24 - setting a bad example for a healthy lifestyle? Dr. Jennifer Caudle discusses Santa's naughty and nice health habits.

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The holidays are a time for family, fun and happiness. They are usually spent with the ones we love reflecting on the past year and feeling grateful. However, even with all the joy, the holidays can cause quite a large amount of stress. Whether it be trying to forgive someone for a mishap, trying not to let your worries impact your sleep, dealing with the dark and gloomy days, or merely learning the joys of giving, our experts are here with tips on how to make this holiday season a little brighter.

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An expert at Rutgers University’s Care2Caregivers helpline shares tips on how families can celebrate the holidays with loved ones suffering from an illness that affects memory

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The Grinch couldn't have stolen Christmas if Ebenezer Scrooge hadn't done it first, say Charles Dickens researchers at Kansas State University.

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The hustle and bustle that comes with the ‘most wonderful time of the year’ can unfortunately lead many to disregard of important safety precautions.

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The holidays can pose great challenges for parents who must juggle seasonal excitement and overtired kids. Saint Joseph’s University sleep expert and Professor of Psychology Jodi A. Mindell, Ph.D., offers the following suggestions for parents to help kids navigate high spirits and the need for rest.

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As they choose charities or causes to support during the holiday season, givers should consider five key areas – Gratitude, Passion, Need, Impact and Resources – as they look “within and without” to assess who they are, what they have been given and the needs and opportunities around them.

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A Saint Louis University germ expert suggests strategies to cut your risk of getting sick if you travel during the holidays.

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Women often neglect their own heart health during the holidays and can suffer serious health problems.

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Jeff Moore, instructor of pharmaceutics and director of the compounding laboratory at University of the Sciences, gives insight into what to look for when purchasing creams or lotions to protect your skin.

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6 tips from Jeff Moore, who runs the compounding pharmaceutics lab at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, for finding the right cream or lotion to protect your skin from harsh winter weather.

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In this Q&A, grief expert Helen Harris, Ed.D., assistant professor in Baylor University’s Diana R. Garland School of Social Work, shares some insights about long-term grief and how we can approach others who are hurting during the holidays.

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A new study from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, published recently in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, found that immediate rewards are strongly associated with persistence in a long-term goal, despite a delayed reward being the underlying motivation

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New research from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business highlights common mistakes that people will make this holiday season, including thinking more about the moment they expect when giving a present than the many moments after when their recipients keep and use the gift.

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We watch crystallization take place every winter when ice crystals form on our windows. But no one had ever seen it happen at the molecular level – until now. The Weizmann Institute’s Prof. Ronny Neumann and colleagues have created a way to observe this phase of crystallization, verifying long-held theories.

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Research that helps protect soldiers from blast injuries on the battlefield can also prevent kids battling with foam swords in their basements from poking each others’ eyes out.

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Dr. Jennifer Caudle offers tips to beat holiday stress and a reminder of the only two things you absolutely need to remember to do this season.

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The key is to make a budget and stick to it. But UF/IFAS experts share numerous other tips.

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Heidi Copeland, family and consumer sciences agent with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension Leon County, has these tips for avoiding common baking blunders during the holidays.