Grilling fires are serious business. I have a six-inch burn scar that encircles one of my ankles, the result of an accident caused by a faulty grill. Two months of debriding is painful and no way enjoy grilling season!

Grill fires get started for a number of stupid reasons. Mine flared up because lighter fluid was stored too close to the grill. But I’ve also responded to fires started because a rickety charcoal grill collapsed, a gas grill sprang a propane leak and because some idiot lit a hibachi on his screened-in porch.

If you haven’t fired up your grill in a while, here are some important safety tips to remember from NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital:

• If you’re using a propane gas grill, inspect your propane tank and hoses for leaks, dents, cracks or corrosion.

• Always light the match before turning on the propane gas.

• Never use your grill indoors or under any structure that may catch fire, such as patio covers.

• Never smoke cigarettes or use matches or lighters near the grill.

• If you’re using a charcoal grill, use water to make sure that coals are extinguished and be careful never to dispose of briquettes that are still hot.

• Avoid loose clothing while grilling, especially long sleeves.

• Keep kids away from the grill at all times.

If an accident does happen, be prepared. The new SOS App for Androids, from Sharecare and the American Red Cross, has first aid tips for treating burns.

Did you learn your lesson the hard way when it comes to grilling safety? Share your story in the comment box below.

When you wear skinny jeans, it can cause the artery inside your thigh and the nerve next to it to be squeezed together. As a result, says Mehmet Oz, MD, “the blood can’t flow to the tissue, plus the nerve next to it gets irritated.”

Wondering whether your jeans really are too skinny? Find out with this simple test from Dr. Oz: If you can comfortably fit a marker inside your front pocket, they’re probably okay. If not, you may need to go up a size or opt for another, less form-fitting pair. “You don’t want to have legs you can’t feel, no matter how good you look!” says Oz.

I guess I’ll pack up my skinny jeans for now—although I will miss the calories burned during the morning gyrations required to get them on!

What fashion accessories make your body hurt? Tell us in the comments below.

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So just what is the “core” anyway?

While most people think of just their abdominal and lower back muscles as their core, that’s not the case. “The core is your entire body basically, excluding your arms and legs. It is where all movement begins,” says Sharecare fitness expert Wendy Batts.

Why should I care about it?

“The core helps maintain proper posture, balance, and alignment of the body,” says NASM Elite Trainer Heather Lethbridge. “When the core is strong, the body is strong!”

Think of it this way: If you were to build a house, you would want to create a stable foundation for it to sit on, right? It’s the same when you’re building up your body. Strengthening your core will give you the stability you need to move more efficiently, keep injuries at bay, and tackle everyday tasks like lifting your toddler or reaching up to change a light bulb.

How do I strengthen my core?

Any exercise that targets your hip, butt, abs, chest, back, or neck muscles will work a part of your core. In this video, Batts reveals a terrific—and fast!—core strengthening routine:

“There are approximately 29 muscles that make up the core of your body,” says Batts. Work some of them today!

Visit Sharecare’s Fitness Center for more great workouts and fitness tips.

Have you tried a stability ball? What’s your favorite way to use it? Let us know in the comment section below.

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A new study of the dirtiest areas in the workplace offers some real eye-openers.

In the study, conducted by Kimberly-Clark Professional, researchers tested almost 5,000 surfaces used by 3,000 people in a variety of workplaces. They measured levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which can indicate contamination by bacteria, yeast or mold. You have a decent chance of getting sick from touching objects with an ATP level of 300 or higher—and the researchers found that all of these six spots qualified:

1. Sink-faucet handles in the break room
2. Microwave door handles
3. Computer keyboards
4. Refrigerator door handles
5. Water fountain buttons
6. Vending machine buttons

Charles Gerba, PhD, better known as “Dr. Germ,” served as a consultant on this study. “People are aware of the risk of germs in the restroom, but areas like break rooms have not received the same degree of attention,” says Gerba. “This study demonstrates that contamination can be spread throughout the workplace when office workers heat up lunch, make coffee or simply type on their keyboards.”

Solution? “Before eating any meal or snack at work, your hands should be washed and scrubbed with soap and rinsed under clean running water” says Joan Salge Blake of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. (But, based on the study, we assume you shouldn’t touch that sink faucet in the beak room when you’re done. Here’s where a paper towel comes in handy.) She adds, “You should also clean your desktop area as you would your kitchen table.”

Find out more places germs hide by taking our germ quiz. 

What’s the scariest place in your office, and how do you deal with it? Let us know in the comment box below.

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So when I recently took the RealAge Test I thought, piece of cake—I’ll ace this puppy for sure. I zipped through the questions and waited for my score. The results? My RealAge is 4.4 years younger than my chronological age.

I looked at my score and thought, that’s it?

I mean, surely I get more than a measly four years of extra credit for all my healthy dos and don’ts?

Sadly, no. According to the test, two things are adding to my RealAge: stress (too much), and sleep (not enough). Oh yeah, and I need to floss—but that’s getting picky.

The point here is not to beat myself up over a few shortcomings. Instead, my somewhat disappointing score helped me see how a couple of problems have been sneaking up on me—things I hadn’t even realized were taking their toll. Here’s what I plan to do about them:

1. Take the edge off my stress.  Sure, some of my stress has to do with major life events—moving, changing jobs, the recent death of a beloved friend. But much of it is the plain old garden variety kind of stress—perhaps summed up best the other day by the Russian woman giving me a facial: “You have wreenkles in your forehead! You theenk too much!”

To fight both kinds of stress, I’m exercising more: I’ve signed up for a yoga class in my new town, and I’m hitting the workout machines in my apartment complex (okay, so I’ve only done it twice, but it’s a start, right?). Upping my exercise may not make my wrinkles go away, but I know it’s one of the best things I can do for my health.

2. Clean up my sleep habits. I know the rules of good sleep hygiene, but lately I’ve been ignoring them—especially the one about not checking emails or working late in bed. So these days, I’m getting back to my regular bedtime, and I’m leaving my laptop in another room. I’m putting up heavier blinds to block out light. And I’m even thinking about shooing out the cat—she may be cute, but her nighttime prowling keeps me up.

3. Floss. Turns out flossing is a bigger deal than I thought: Doing it once a day fights inflammation that can lead to gum disease, tooth loss and possibly even heart disease. Finally, I’m getting the message. In a few months, I plan to take the RealAge test again. If my score’s any better, I’ll let you know. In the meantime, I’m saving up for another facial.

How does your RealAge compare to your chronological age? Let us know in the comment box below. 

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Weight Loss Myth #1

“I can’t lose weight if I was overweight as a child.”

You can always lose weight! You are not your childhood or your genes. Your genes account for about 25 percent of your health. Your lifestyle choices account for about 75 percent! If you implement proven strategies, you can successfully lose weight at any age and keep it off. In fact, the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR) reports that over 70 percent of successful weight-loss maintainers were overweight as children and teenagers.

Weight Loss Myth #2

“I can’t lose weight if I’ve tried diets in the past and they didn’t work.”

It may be time to change your approach. More than 90 percent of those surveyed by the NWCR reported previous attempts at weight loss. In fact, over 60 percent said that they tried four or more times to lose weight before they were able to lose the weight and keep it off.

Often times, weight loss and weight maintenance is unsuccessful because people try weight-loss fads that lead to yo-yo dieting instead of proven methods. If you implement the right strategies you WILL lose weight, and if you consistently maintain these healthy behaviors you WILL keep it off.

Weight Loss Myth #3

“If I lose weight I’ll have to starve myself to keep it off.”

Here’s something to chew on: A vast majority (85 percent) of successful weight maintainers reported that they eat three healthy meals per day, with breakfast being the most important meal. They also reported that they did not feel deprived; in fact, they felt they were happier, had more energy and exhibited more self-confidence.

If you follow a healthy eating plan that includes an abundance of fruits and vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, low fat dairy and healthy fats, you can feel totally satiated while providing your brain and body the key nutrition that it needs to optimize your health.

Weight Loss Myth #4

“To lose weight I have to become an exercise fanatic.”

Not true, unless you consider walking fanatical. Successful weight loss maintainers reported that they generally exercised for three times per week, for 30 minutes at a time. Walking was the most reported physical activity.

This is still less than what is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health and the National Academy of Sports Medicine. I recommend that you get 10,000 steps per day (or accumulate 70,000 steps for the week) and at least 20 minutes of physical activity a day that makes you sweat and gets your heart pumping. This can activity can take the form of fast walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, using an elliptical machine, resistance training, yoga, and recreational sports.

Weight Loss Myth #5

“I can’t lose weight because I’m over 40.”

Age isn’t a valid excuse. It is true that your metabolic rate decreases as you age. It’s also true that you lose lean muscle as you age. But regular physical activity slows and/or prevents a decline in both. If you incorporate regular cardiovascular training, resistance training, and flexibility training, you can maintain and enhance your metabolism and lean muscle mass.

Sign up for Sharecare fitness and leverage our evidence-based tools to help ensure your success.

Live healthy!

What excuses have held you back from weight loss, and how did you overcome them? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.

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The responses those little self-centered nuggets elicited from my FB friends were highly satisfying. Who wouldn’t appreciate knowing that other moms have shed a few tears while packing away a well-chewed copy of Goodnight Moon? I soon found myself checking FB daily, composing clever updates in my head and posting photos (mostly of my kids, but also of incredibly important stuff, like my toes after a particularly snazzy pedicure).

As it turns out, I may be getting more satisfaction out of FB than I realize. According to a new paper from Harvard titled “Disclosing Information about the Self Is Intrinsically Rewarding,” disclosing information about myself on Facebook may stimulate my mesolimbic dopamine system, including my nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental areas—parts of the brain that get all happy when a person eats something delicious and, well, does other pleasurable things.

It’s hard to imagine that typing “Never do hip-hop in flip-flops. Never. ” (7/8/09) can have the same effect as a gourmet meal and great sex, but since I continue to do it I have to think the researchers are on to something. They made their discovery by using MRI to observe subjects’ brains while they talked about themselves. Then, to seal the deal, they did separate studies in which participants could get paid to answer questions about themselves, or get paid more to answer questions about other people. Most people chose to forego the extra cash in favor of answering questions about themselves.

Finally the researchers looked at people’s brains while they shared their opinions about something with another person or kept their opinions to themselves. Sure enough, the pleasurable effects on the brain were “magnified by knowledge that one’s thoughts would be communicated to another person,” according to the researchers.  In other words, people get off on writing FB updates and tweeting, pinning, etc.

I would argue that social media can serve a higher purpose. I may share some me-centric stuff, but I also use my wall to give a shout-out to causes I care about, to hail the publication of a friend’s new book and to otherwise toot someone else’s horn. Case in point: A series of posts chronicling the capture of five squirrels who got into my kitchen not only elicited a huge response, it also got the rodent-whisperer who caught the critters at least one job wrangling some rats in a FB friend’s garage. I definitely felt good about that.

At Sharecare, thousands of experts—doctors, dentists, dieticians, personal trainers, patient advocates and more—share their opinions every day by answering your health questions as well as blogging on their profile pages and on Sharecare’s blog channel. Magnify their reward by letting them know you’re listening! Go to your favorite expert’s profile page and friend them to keep up with their latest answers and posts. Hopefully these experts enjoy the same sort of payoff from helping members of the Sharecare community as I got from helping the rodent-whisperer, or from writing things like “Today my daughter became a woman: She got a cell phone.” (9/7/10). Thanks for the happy memories, Timeline!

What’s your favorite method of sharing your opinions and life events with others? Leave a comment in the box below.

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I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised. Despite their less-than-chic (even clunky) appearance, they’re ubiquitous. And I’ll admit, the promise is attractive: Simply wear these shoes and you’ll lose weight and develop a shapely lower half, courtesy of the rocker- or pod-style bottom (depending on the shoe). They are “designed to make your muscles work harder by giving you a slightly unstable surface beneath your feet,” explains NASM Elite Trainer Ken Cutcher.

Sounds too good to be true, right?

Alas, that’s precisely what it is.

Bottom line: The shoes don’t work. Last week the Federal Trade Commission announced that Skechers USA Inc., makers of Shape-ups, Tone-up, and Resistance Runner shoes, will have to pay $40 million in customer refunds for making such claims. They’re not the first toning shoe maker to take a hit; last fall, Reebok had to pay $25 million for claims relating to its EasyTone and RunTone shoes, thanks to another FTC ruling.

The government isn’t alone in doubting the claims. “There is no evidence to prove toning shoes can increase the activation of your muscles,” says Mike Clark, PhD, Sharecare’s Chief Science Officer. What’s more, the rocking motion can actually hurt your feet. “The companies developing these shoes didn’t look at biomechanics,” he says. “They didn’t look at how the foot actually works.” As a result, wearing the shoes causes your feet to pronate, or flatten out—and that can lead to plantar fasciitis and a host of other issues.

So if you’re looking to lose some weight and tone up your lower half, what does work? Three things:

1. Start eating 500 fewer calories a day.
“Before you can see those toned muscles, you have to lose the fat on top,” says Clark.

2. Strengthen your lower body.
Watch below for a routine from Sharecare fitness experts Wendy Batts and Mel Mueller that will help you firm and shape your legs and butt:

3. Boost your calorie burn.
Intense activities like running and cycling, especially done interval-style, will deliver the biggest calorie bang for your buck. Brisk walking is a good option if you want a more moderate-paced workout, and you’ll rack up all sorts of other health benefits as well. (Need new shoes to replace those toners? Here’s what to look for.)

“Marketers come up with all sorts of gimmicks to sell their products,” Dr. Clark muses. “And unfortunately, a lot of people fall for them.” That’s what happened with toning shoes. But now, the word is out—and we can all get back to doing what really works.

What’s your favorite way to tone your legs and butt? Let us know in the comment section below.

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1. Beware of bacteria.  Whether you’re swimming in a pool, lake or ocean there may be bacteria lurking in the water. In this video, Vinocur gives tips on how to avoid getting sick while swimming.
2. Avoid heat exhaustion. Learn the signs and the treatment for heat exhaustion in this video.
3. Study up on poisonous plants. You know the rule: “Leaves of three, let it be.” But if you happen to come in contact with poison ivy, poison oak or sumac, here’s what to do.

Want more safe-summer tips? Visit Sharecare’s Summer Safety Center. And if you’re an Android user, check out the free S.O.S. Emergency Support App for Android, created by Sharecare and the American Red Cross.

What are your summer safety concerns? Let us know!

Join the largest health conversation in 140 characters or less! Tweet what you want to talk about to @SharecareNow and let’s start chatting!

Join the largest health conversation in 140 characters or less! Tweet what you want to talk about to @SharecareNow and let’s start chatting!