• Housecall: It’s flu shot time again

a health care provider with gloves on giving a person a flu shot injection in the upper arm

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES
Flu shot: Your best bet for avoiding influenza
Flu season is nearly here, so it's a good time to get vaccinated. Wondering why you need a flu shot each year? Get your questions answered.

Eat well to control cholesterol
One way to help keep your cholesterol at healthy levels is by eating a heart-smart diet. Learn what to add to your plate and which foods to skip.

EXPERT ANSWERS
Is foot swelling during air travel a concern?
It's common for your legs and feet to become swollen during a flight. Discover the most likely cause and what you can do.

Sex after years of abstinence
With time and patience, you can resume sexual activity at any age. Here's what you should know.

PLUS ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Slideshow: Joint protection for people with hand arthritis
Legionnaires' disease
Shin splints
What does a seal of approval mean?

HEALTHY RECIPES
Apple dumpling
Lemon cheesecake
Spinach-stuffed sole
Baby beet and orange salad

HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK
Taking care of a blister? Here's how
Need to drain a painful blister? To avoid infection, follow these steps:

  1. Wash your hands and the blister with soap and warm water.
  2. Swab the blister with rubbing alcohol, and sterilize a clean, sharp needle with rubbing alcohol.
  3. Puncture the blister at several spots along the edge.
  4. Let the blister drain, but leave the overlying skin alone.
  5. Apply antibiotic ointment and cover with a bandage.
  6. After several days, remove the dead skin with sterilized tweezers and scissors. Apply more antibiotic and a bandage.

Need practical advice on diet and exercise? Want creative solutions for stress and other lifestyle issues? Discover more healthy lifestyle topics at MayoClinic.org.

NOW BLOGGING
Success depends on commitment, not just genes

It's often assumed that the most successful people have inherited a gift from the gods, but they're also totally committed to their craft.

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