Lara Abramov

The holiday season is a great time to get away and relax and to see family or friends. Stay healthy while traveling this year!

See how the stories of struggle and loss frame the necessity of this collection day.

It was summer and he was washing my car in the driveway. A relatively healthy guy, my husband has no chronic health problems, exercises regularly…

We all know what smoking can do to your heart. It’s no secret. That’s why I always felt like such a jerk for smoking – I was breaking my own heart and putting…

Your home is supposed to be a place where you and your loved ones feel safe and secure.

Measles, mumps and rubella – three different diseases that can each have fatal consequences. Since the creation of the MMR vaccine, cases of measles…

The costs associated with alcoholism touch the full spectrum of everything that makes us human. It impacts us physically, mentally, emotionally…

Dad drank and probably still does. Mom’s side drank too. Some of the best parties I've ever been to in my life were held in the Bank of England recreation…

Karen and Joe Gossman know firsthand what it takes to improve their health. Together, the couple has lost more than 100 pounds. This feat speaks to how…

It was over the stove in a cupboard high above my head. I knew where my father, a highly functioning alcoholic in his own right, stashed his never-ending supply…

Alcohol has been around for thousands of years. It’s a part of our culture and society and is a legal drug that’s easily available and inexpensive. It'

I was so good at drinking, I had to stop. Yeah, nearly five years ago. I dropped out of grad school and headed to rehab to finally deal with a problem I’ve had…

It’s not an easy subject to talk about, but it's one that deserves attention. An article recently appeared indicating that in 2010, as many as 40 percent of…

While you're celebrating St. Patrick's Day, don't forget these ways that alcohol affects your body.

Oscar Wilde once wrote, “The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it.” While I’m quite fond of Oscar’s witticisms, when it comes to losing weight…

I just quit smoking. Again. Nearly three weeks ago. While I’ve definitely cut down over the years, going from over a pack a day to less than a half…

Self-esteem is critical to the development of a child’s sense of worth. As a parent for over 17 years, I’ve tried to nurture a healthy sense of self-esteem in…

One of the goals of AHealthierMichigan.org is to improve the quality of life for Michigan residents by providing health and wellness information that is…

It really resonated with me, the article I read a few months back, about another teen suicide. Michael Camilleri was a 17-year-old high school senior…

“You really did me an injustice, raising me to believe that,” my 17-year-old son recently told me. We were discussing his new gym membership and his need to be…

Aside from the sedentary side effects of couch nesting, the chemicals found your couch could actually make you and your children sick.

The New Year brings with it many things. For parents, that may include thinking about all the doctor’s appointments you may need to make for your kids this year.

There’s nothing like the quaint feel of a downtown shopping area during the holiday season. There’s something old-timey and comforting about cozy storefronts…

Winter’s wrath is fast approaching as evidenced by the waning autumnal light. If you’re like me, the dark drive into work and on the way home from work ushers…

Right now, you may have containers of mashed potatoes and green bean casserole cascading out of your fridge. Or tubs of sliced turkey and platters of sweet…

Seems like more and more people are being diagnosed as ‘diabetic.’ My teenage son has a friend who is diabetic; my father in law is diabetic.

What do you think of when you hear the term ‘comfort food’? Your mind may conjure foods that hold a certain personal and sentimental meaning. My mom’s English…

In life, people come and go. Acquaintances often seem to be tied to things like our current job or whatever activities we’re presently involved in. However…

My two kids were, during recent phases of their teenage lives, skateboarders. I was proud of this as I've always supported skateboarding. I can remember driving…

It has no signs. It wields no symptoms. You can have it without even knowing it. It can wreak havoc on your heart, corrode your kidneys and batter your blood…

While Dr. Phil certainly isn’t the first person to espouse such simple yet profound platitudes about the importance of awareness, the essence of the message is…

Throughout the month of October, I’ve been researching and learning a lot about breast cancer, about risks, prevention tips, and detection tools.

When first meeting Miki Della-Moretta, a Blue Care Network Health Educator, I was surprised to learn that Miki, on average, conducts over 800 on-site visits a…

Being educated about breast cancer can literally save your life or the life of someone you love. Awareness of breast cancer, how it develops…

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Knowing what the signs and symptoms of breast cancer are can aid in early detection. Breast cancer is most treatable…

Middle school can be characterized by many (even as adults) as particularly nightmarish. It was especially difficult for my son as he was overweight. Not obese…

I recently wrote about six salads that are loaded with calories, fat and sodium. Now I’d like to provide you with a recipe for healthy salad. It’s a spin on the…

We all know that burgers are loaded with calories, sodium and fat. And, when eating out, the health-minded amongst us often opt for a salad. Of course you’d…

A few months ago I was walking down the hallway at work and passed two co-workers. We smiled and exchanged pleasantries. As they passed me, I heard one remark…

I was 6 years old when I got caught in a terrible lie. I had not only stolen a small figurine of a dog that belonged to someone else, I had lied about doing it.

I used to scoff at people who got up early to exercise. I couldn’t understand how people could get out of bed and jump into sweaty sweat pants before the sun…

If you’re like me, cooking during the summer without central air conditioning is a nightmarish task. Turning on the stove in 95 degree heat is the last thing I…

I can painfully recall what it was like to see my son laid across the doctors table, on his stomach, with a block containing what looked like 40 pins pressed…