Better Yet: Welcome letter
Welcome to the corner of the internet where we just want you to thrive. I'm Sam Woodward, the wellness audience editor fellow at USA TODAY, your go-to source on the world of health and wellness and how to live your life even better yet.
Every week, I will send you a roundup of health and wellness happenings from USA TODAY with news you can use and deep dives to inform and empower you to live your best life – plus some things that bring me joy (that also might bring you joy)!
When I'm not in your inbox, I can be found walking (and occasionally running) around one of Minnesota's 10,000 lakes, recreating my favorite restaurant dishes and desserts, trying to hit my reading goal and playing party games with family. I am a born-and-raised Midwesterner with an incessant travel bug and am always looking for ways to balance the craziness of life (and news) with little everyday joys.
Better Yet is a community of answers and seeks to help you discover how to better understand reality beyond your bubble. That means I want to hear from you! You can reach me at swoodward@gannett.com, or find me on X and Bluesky @woodyreports.
Better Yet would not be possible without USA TODAY subscribers. If you subscribe, thank you, and if not, please consider supporting USA TODAY and our journalism.
Take care and talk soon,
Sam Woodward
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USA Today
4 hours ago
- USA Today
Flesh-eating bacteria case in Cape Cod prompts public health alert: What to know
A warning from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health may have some beachgoers exercising a little more caution as they try to escape the August heat. Residents and visitors at Buzzards Bay, a community on the south end of Cape Cod, are on alert after officials identified a person with a rare, flesh-eating bacterial infection in the area. Officials said the bacteria, known as Vibrio, could pose a risk to others in nearby coastal waters. The Vibrio species, which includes Vibrio vulnificus, can cause severe and life-threatening infections. Some can lead to necrotizing fasciitis, which kills off flesh around an open wound. Many people with a Vibrio vulnificus infection can get seriously ill and need intensive care or limb amputation. About 1 in 5 people with this infection die, sometimes within a day or two of becoming ill. But it's not the first time this bug has made its way to the Massachusetts bay: In a news release, the department of health said there have been seven cases of the illness over the last seven years among residents of the commonwealth, including four who were exposed in Massachusetts. The Vibrio bacteria and the infection it causes are usually more common in warmer waters, including in the Gulf Coast states of Louisiana, Texas and Florida, Dr. Larry Madoff told USA TODAY. But it's increasingly being seen northeastern states along the Atlantic coast, he added, such as Massachusetts and New York. "It's associated with warmer waters, and our waters are getting warmer," said Madoff, adding that the area where it's been found, Buzzards Bay, is an area with estuaries, small islands and warmer water on the western area of Cape Cod. The Vibrio bacteria also thrive in salty and brackish waters along the Atlantic coast, said Madoff, medical director for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences. Above-average water temperatures are creating the conditions that allow the bacteria to grow, especially in the spring, summer and early autumn. Still, he said, there's no need for most people to worry, as long as they take certain precautions. "I would not discourage people from going to the beach," he said. "The beach is good and people need to cool off." What precautions should people take against flesh-eating bacteria? There are several species of Vibrio bacteria that can cause people to fall seriously ill. So how can people protect themselves? The bacteria is opportunistic, and it can enter the body through open wounds, health officials said. Foods like contaminated shellfish can also carry the bacteria. People with health conditions including liver disease, cancer, diabetes, HIV or who are on immunosuppressants are at highest risk of severe illness from the bacteria following exposure. Some precautions include: What are some symptoms and signs of flesh-eating bacterial illness? According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, common signs of a Vibrio infection include diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, dangerously low blood pressure and blistering lesions. Wounds that become infected may be red, swollen or discolored and may have a discharge.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Family of boy who died from brain-eating amoeba speaks out: 'Unimaginable'
The family of a 12-year-old boy from South Carolina is grieving after he died from a brain-eating amoeba, according to a statement from their lawyer. Jaysen Carr died on July 18 after developing an infection from the brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri, the statement shared by Bailey Law Firm said. The South Carolina Department of Public Health confirmed in a statement to USA TODAY on July 23 that a person died after being exposed to the amoeba earlier in July. Prisma Health Children's Hospital Midlands confirmed on July 22 that the person was treated at the facility but did not publicly identify the person. "The Carr family is incredibly grateful for the outpouring of love from the community and for the dedicated care provided by the doctors and nurses at Prisma Health Children's Hospital in the Midlands," the statement said. Brain-eating amoeba victim was 'bright and beloved' middle schooler The statement from the Carr family's lawyer said Jaysen was a "bright and beloved" middle school student. "His loss is unimaginable, and our hearts are with his family as they grieve their son and search for answers," the statement said. The legal team said it will "stand beside this family not only to seek the truth, but to help ensure no other family endures a loss like this." "We ask that you keep the Carrs in your thoughts and prayers and respect their privacy as they prepare to lay Jaysen to rest," Bailey Law Firm's statement said. Brain-eating amoeba: Person dies from Naegleria fowleri in South Carolina, officials say Family says boy was infected with brain-eating amoeba at SC lake The family's statement also said Jaysen Carr developed the infection after swimming at Lake Murray outside Columbia. The SCDPH said it also believed the exposure occurred at the lake. "We cannot be completely certain as this organism occurs naturally and is present in many warm water lakes, rivers and streams," the agency said. What is Naegleria fowleri? Why is it known as a brain-eating amoeba? Naegleria fowleri is a type of amoeba that can cause a rare but nearly always fatal brain infection. It thrives in warm freshwater lakes, rivers and hot springs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The amoeba is often referred to as brain-eating because it can cause an infection called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) that destroys brain tissue. Most people who have been in bodies of waters have been exposed to the amoeba, but contact alone is not harmful, Dr. Anna Kathryn Burch, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Prisma Health Children's Hospital Midlands, said during a news conference on July 22. "Where it can cause an issue is if forceful water gets up the nose and is able to cross from the nose into the brain," Burch said, adding that a PAM infection causes the brain to swell. To protect against a possible infection, the CDC recommends holding or wearing a nose clip when jumping into fresh water, keeping the head above water in hot springs and using distilled or boiled tap water when rinsing sinuses. Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 12-year-old dies from brain-eating amoeba after swimming in lake Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
Cody Rigsby is 'over' wellness trends. Now he's keeping it simple.
Cody Rigsby recently restarted therapy. The New York City-based Peloton instructor, 38, told USA TODAY he picked back up his sessions after about six weeks off. Rigsby says in therapy he's focused on "getting right with the thoughts and feelings that are coming up, and seeing what I need to take with me through the rest of the summer." For anyone picking up a wellness routine after a hiatus, Rigsby says working out or going to therapy might require an initial hurdle, but it's worth it. "You can do something you don't want to do for 20 minutes," Rigsby says. "That consistently turns into a good feeling." Shedding the wellness fads Now is the time to get back to simple wellness routines, Rigsby says, and make a back-to-school plan to take into the fall. He's "over" the whiplash of wellness trends, and wants to set an example of simple ways for reliable results that make us feel good. He's taking this mentality into his partnership with Kashi, leaning away from habits like crash diets, feeling guilty about carbs and restrictive meal plans, and embracing intuitive, mindful routines. A bowl of simple cereal encapsulates that desire for ease, he says. And with exercise classes and therapy sessions expensive right now amid inflation and rising consumer prices, Rigsby recognizes many Americans are struggling to keep us with constant fads to eat right and get active. To anyone feeling that wellness isn't accessible for them right now, Rigsby suggests simple, free tasks, like meditating for five minutes, a body weight exercise or a walk in a public space. "It doesn't feel complicated," Rigsby says of this current wellness ethos. What's the difference? Minimally-processed vs. ultra-processed foods How a fitness leader stays fueled Rigsby, known for his effusive pop-music-backed positive cycling classes, has learned a lot about protecting his energy on and off the Peloton screen. Many people rely on him for their sacred moment of the day catching their breath between pedaling to Britney Spears and laughing at his "Codylations." But he's learned to set boundaries, he says, so he's got enough fuel to show up for himself and his classes. "What really recharges me is quality time with the people I care about," Rigsby says of the balance. He tries to schedule moments of self care into his life, from a workout daily to a monthly night out with friends to an annual big vacation. "I'm fortunate enough to have a job I get to bring that joy to what I do and connect with people," Rigsby says. He's also stepped into a caregiving role for his mother, a duty he acknowledges is "draining" for so many people who manage the well-being of a friend or family member. "With my mom, there are things I'm responsible for, but I try carve out time that's fun, enjoyable and memorable," Rigsby says. He has learned how to anticipate his "triggers" when going to be with his mom so he's able to show up and make the most of their time, rather than feel depleted or frustrated. "A big reminder is that whether we are the caregiver or the person being taken care of, we're all doing the best we can," Rigsby says of his experience. "We're never going to do it perfectly, so give yourself a lot of grace because no one gives you a guidebook on how to have kids or how to care of your parents or how to take care of a partner. We're going to mess up." The caregiving economy: Nearly half of parents with disabled kids report suicidal thoughts, but can't find help He balanced work and personal responsibilities with opportunities for restoration and exploration this summer, he says. Watching all four seasons of Netflix's "Emily in Paris" (a show he describes as "so bad it's so good") was his easy way to "dissociate" from the anxieties of his packed schedule. And he toured Europe, adventuring across Paris, London and Madrid. His favorite moment: A peaceful mid-week wander through the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in Spain. Art as wellness? "It's inspiring," he says. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Peloton's Cody Rigbsy is 'over' complicated wellness trends Solve the daily Crossword
