All posts tagged: athome

Half of Americans Unaware of At-Home Colon Cancer Screening Options

Half of Americans Unaware of At-Home Colon Cancer Screening Options

Published by Sam Flores

By Deanna Neff HealthDay ReporterTHURSDAY, March 5, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Colon cancer is now the deadliest cancer for adults under 50, yet it remains one of the most preventable since polyps detected and removed during screening can’t turn into cancer later. But a new nationwide survey commissioned by the Colorectal Cancer Alliance reveals a troubling reason why colon cancer death rates are on the rise: Millions of Americans simply don’t know how easy it is to get tested. In all, 50% of Americans are unaware that colon cancer can be screened for at home, the survey showed.  Researchers said this lack of knowledge combined with health care providers dismissing concerns of younger patients is contributing to a growing public health emergency. “Colorectal cancer is highly preventable, and it’s usually cured when caught early,” said Dr. Richard Wender, medical adviser to the alliance and a professor of family medicine and community health at the University of Pennsylvania. “We can save lives by starting conversations sooner, taking symptoms seriously and ensuring people have access to accurate …

What to Know About At-Home STI Tests: Pros, Cons, and Recommendations (2026)

What to Know About At-Home STI Tests: Pros, Cons, and Recommendations (2026)

Published by skeptic

If you’re the kind of person who gets nervous or squeamish at the doctor’s office, you might find that collecting your own samples doesn’t freak you out as much as someone in a white coat doing it. Depending on where you live and your transportation situation, at-home STD tests might be more accessible than visiting a clinic or making a doctor’s appointment. And you can pay for them out of pocket, which might be a better option based on your health insurance. Finally, and unfortunately, sexually transmitted infections have a stigma attached to them. You shouldn’t feel ashamed of checking up on your sexual health—far from it, in fact—but at-home tests might be a better option if you’re concerned about what others may think. The Cons of At-Home STI Tests At-home STI tests are expensive. Depending on your specific health care situation, they might be more affordable, and many of them are FSA- and HSA-eligible or may be covered by insurance. But if you live in an area where there’s free testing through your city …

The at-home birthday party is back

The at-home birthday party is back

Published by Sam Flores

In my family, birthdays arrive in a cheerful pileup. From August through November, we move from my mom’s to mine to my siblings’, with only a brief intermission before my dad’s rolls around in April. The result is that I grew up something of an at-home birthday party enthusiast. Our immediate family alone was large enough to create a built-in sense of occasion; add a handful of friends you actually like enough to invite into your living room, and suddenly there’s cake on the counter, ice cream sweating gently in its carton, and a feeling I’ve never quite been able to replicate elsewhere. Being surrounded by people you enjoy, eating something sweet, feels like its own small alchemy. These gatherings — casual, imperfect, warmly familiar — have always registered in my body as real celebrations. Somewhere along the way, though, the at-home birthday party lost its cultural shine. I suspect this has something to do with the rise of a particular kind of reality television spectacle — one that insisted life’s milestones should not merely be marked, but maximized. I was twelve when …

This ergonomic machine offers effective at-home hair removal

This ergonomic machine offers effective at-home hair removal

Published by Sam Flores

Score: 10/10 We like: Dual Optical and Galvanic energy 360 degree rotating head Trio of interchangeable attachments Five intensity levels Pain-free treatment We don’t like: Cumbersome and heavier than other devices Expensive No cooling technology What is the Silk’n 7 IPL Hair Removal Device? The Silk’n 7 IPL is our Best Buy IPL hair removal device, a handheld at-home tool that uses high-intensity light pulses to remove body hair. IPL uses a broader, less precise light than laser and is limited in that it works best on lighter skin tones. Crucially, it can be done at home, and once you buy a device, there’s no further cost (unlike laser sessions.) The Silk’n 7 is designed for performance, comfort and ingenuity. It combines galvanic energy, patented electrical technology designed to open the skin’s pores, with optical energy, which allows light to penetrate the hair follicle, targeting the hair root to inhibit regrowth. The premium hair removal tool also features a 360 degree rotating head, three interchangeable attachments, one of which Silk’n claims is the largest treatment …

Gut check: are at-home microbiome tests a way to ‘hack your health’ or simply a waste? | Melissa Davey

Gut check: are at-home microbiome tests a way to ‘hack your health’ or simply a waste? | Melissa Davey

Published by Sam Flores

For a few hundred dollars you can put your poo in an envelope and post it off to a laboratory. In return you’ll get a report (sometimes generated by AI) outlining your food sensitivities, metabolic fitness, and what pathogens or fungi you’re harbouring. These at-home gut microbiome tests or “GI mapping” kits are frequently promoted by influencers as a way to “hack your health” and “take control” through analysing some of the trillions of organisms that live in your digestive tract. But how much can an at-home gut test really tell you, and are they actually worth doing? Even experts struggle to interpret at-home microbiome tests Prof Rupert Leong, a gastroenterologist and microbiome researcher based at Macquarie university hospital, is increasingly seeing patients alarmed by gut microbiome reports they don’t understand. Leong said depending on what is being analysed, gut microbiome testing can be “very powerful and accurate” in detecting microbial markers. But interpreting what those markers mean for an individual remains a major challenge, and different labs vary in their methodology, leading to differing …

A physical therapist says you don’t need to go outside or get on a treadmill to get your steps in—try these four at-home alternatives

A physical therapist says you don’t need to go outside or get on a treadmill to get your steps in—try these four at-home alternatives

Published by Jenni Sidey

There are plenty of reasons you might want to stay indoors, but that doesn’t mean missing out on movement. If you don’t have a treadmill, weights or even resistance bands, there’s still movement you can do from the comfort of your home. Beyond equipment-free strength workouts, you can get your heart rate up by walking with intention. Physical therapist and Balanced Body educator, Lindy Royer, recommends four ways to walk at home—all great ways to move your body and they might even lift your mood if you’re bored. You may like If you have a step counter or fitness tracker, Royer says you can measure your activity as you simulate many of the benefits of walking. She suggests doing the following four exercises as a mini circuit, taking three to five minutes. Set yourself a time goal in which to complete as many rounds as possible. 1. Walk or march in place Marching in Place Demonstrated by a Physical Therapist – YouTube Watch On From standing, start marching on the spot. Lift your knees higher …

Best At-Home Bunion Treatments, According to Podiatrists

Best At-Home Bunion Treatments, According to Podiatrists

Published by Sam Flores

If you notice a small bump on the inside of your foot that won’t go away no matter all the home remedies and creams you try — well, it’s a bunion. Bunions are a common hereditary deformity that causes bones in your foot to shift around and stick out, giving it a prominent, rounded appearance, according to Dr. Anne Sharkey, a board-certified podiatrist. While bunions can affect your daily life, at-home treatments can manage and minimize their symptoms. To help you make the right choice, I spoke to podiatrists about the best options to consider and got their top picks, along with highly-rated options that align with their advice. Want more from NBC Select? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter. The best bunion treatments of 2026 Experts recommend the following treatments to help reduce pain and manage symptoms of bunions. Best bunion corrector What we like Adjustable Non-slip Easy to wash If you’re looking to help temporarily realign your bunion, consider using this corrector recommended by Sharkey. It helps relieve discomfort, …