In a world where concerns about the negative aspects of internet use dominate headlines, a new study from the University of Oxford offers a refreshing perspective (Daye, 2024, May 14).[1] Contrary to popular belief, spending time online might actually boost your well-being. This groundbreaking research analyzed 16 years of data from 2.4 million people worldwide and found that those with internet access scored higher in measures of well-being compared to those without.

​Researchers Matti Vuorre and Andrew Przybylski examined data from the Gallup World Poll, spanning the years from 2006 to 2022. This extensive dataset included responses from 2,414,294 participants aged 15 and up, across 168 countries. This wide-ranging approach allowed the researchers to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of internet access on well-being, far beyond the usual focus on young people in the U.S. and Europe.​

​As pointed out in a Washington Post article, those of us who have MC, or some other IBD, are not the only ones who have to worry about the proximity of the nearest available bathroom whenever we leave our own home (Lazo, 2023, September 8).[1] It's a serious problem for people who have certain medical issues, expectant mothers, older people, and homeless people. It's also a problem for parents who have children with them.​​

the U.S. Census showed the population of the country to be 203,392,031. According to a Yahoo! News 360 article, in 1970, there were approximately 50,000 public bathrooms scattered across the U.S. (Bebernes, 2023, September 6).[2] That calculates out to almost 25 bathrooms per 100,000 residents.

​Traditionally, insurance companies have been viewed as a way for individuals to prevent financial ruin, due to an unanticipated property loss, or an unforeseen liability issue, or an unexpectedly large medical bill. But in the healthcare field, for many patients, insurance companies have become the elephant in the room; with the power to dictate whether the outcome of a medical treatment will be life, or death, in some cases. A growing body of evidence suggests that insurance companies wield far too much control over healthcare decisions, often to the detriment of patients. From delaying necessary treatments, to denying coverage, the question arises, “Should insurance companies be controlling our healthcare?”

Were it not for the life limiting effects of the issues listed below, theoretically, we might be able to live in relatively good health for hundreds of years. But unfortunately, in today's world, these issues are constantly gnawing away at our longevity, and this list surely isn't complete: