HealthNews

My wife turned into a religious zealot and spiraled to her death. Then our problems really started.

Prudie and a Slate Plus member discuss a letter each week. Have a question for Prudie? Send it to us here.
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She converted to Christianity at the age of 40 and became extremely devout. My ex-wife turned her devoutness on our children. She burned their books and searched their browser history to find sinful thoughts. The youngest was dragged to church against protests. She told our son that he’d burn in Hell if he came out. I ended our marriage when our oldest child revealed a homosexuality.
It was a nasty custody fight, but I had a prenup that was ironclad and crushed her (public service announcement: Get a PRE-NUP). She spiraled out of control, suffered a breakdown and died two years later at the age 52. That’s where my real problem began.
My kids and even my son now accuse me of her collapse. They are all adults, and they seem to blame me for the collapse of their mother. After weeping in court over her actions, now they seem to place her on a pedestal. She shaved the head of my daughter for wearing makeup, and she now blames me that I used my wealth to “persecute” my mother. This conversation is beyond my comprehension. How can you explain to an adult their mother’s death was the result of a good woman who went insane? Especially when they were present? It’s hard for me to tell my children that I was right.
The villain of the story is not always the bad guy
Jenee Demond-Harris : “Burning their books”, I was shocked. The situation only worsened from that point. I feel bad for her kids, particularly the gay son she rejected.
As bad as her behavior may sound, I wonder if they are on to something about the behavior of the person who wrote the letter. It seems a bit odd to me that he was so excited about crushing the woman in court. (And to focus on the prenup which has nothing whatsoever to do with getting custody or protecting children.) It’s a hint that he may need to apologize about some of his behavior. It’s not that his decisions caused her death or spiral, but I understand if they made him look like a bad guy because he was more interested in winning rather than grieving.
Lizzie O’Leary: Ooooooooooffffffffffffff. Also, I started freaking out when I heard that “their books were burned.” I need more details. Did the prenup and custody fight mean the late wife had nothing after the battle? Was it a factor in her spiral? It may be legal and “right,” but the children could also use it as an outlet for their anger. The LW was understandably upset by the situation and wanted to get rid of their mother.
Even if the children are grown-ups, I suspect they’re still angry at what happened, including their mother, and they only have one person to blame. The LW needs to be able to allow his children to express their anger while still gently keeping the lines.
Jenee: Yes, I do. In addition to letting his children be angry, I believe he should also try to heal the anger that is causing them. There’s obviously no way to bring the mother back. It would be helpful to say something along the lines of: “I felt so angry and adversarial about how she treated you when she wasn’t well that I probably was more enraged than I should have. It was clear to me that you should not be with her. I did not say that it was her fault that she was ill, or that compassion was due. She was in a bad place after the divorce and I will always wonder what I would have done differently if I had gotten her the help she required. You can understand if you disagree with me about my decisions or my tone in relation to the divorce and her death. “I’m there for you, no matter what. I am always willing to hear your thoughts about the difficult times our family went through.”
Lizzie: Yes, I think so. The fear of his children that the LW felt might make them understand why he behaved the way he did. What is the relationship of these kids to religion now? Are they devout or skeptics? Do they believe in God? How did they experience their mother’s religiousness? It could affect how they feel. You might not have known her in any other form. In that case, you may need to talk to the LW about who she used to be before she became a Christian and what made this change.
Jenee: Definitely. He should be careful not to talk about how terrible she was, even if they are doing it to make a comparison. However, if the children soften and show that they want to have more conversations with him then this is a great thing to mention.
Sadly for the writer of the letter, I do believe that the following rule applies: if you lose your mother, then you get to pass on 90 percent of the bad behavior you have done for an extremely long period of time. I do think that it is possible to get through this stage. It won’t last forever.
Lizzie: I was an a**hole for a good year following the death of my stepdad. The grief is a lifelong and complex one. Unfortunately, the LW will have to deal with a great deal of this. In many cases, you can just wait until the other person is ready for a different discussion. It will probably happen eventually, but I think it’ll take some time.
Jenee: I’m going to end by saying that, as a letter-writer, you said that you wanted your children to know that you had done the right thing. You did the right thing in protecting your children from their mother’s bad behavior. As a strategy, and to stay connected with your children, you should forget that. Instead, focus on what you can do for them right now.

HealthNews

Chase Field, Chandler mall among new measles exposure sites in Maricopa County

According to officials from the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, attendees of a Chase Field Concert and East Valley Mall shoppers may have come into contact with measles.
The Fuerza Regida Concert at Chase Field on Sunday July 12th from 7 pm to midnight may have been a place where a person who has measles could have infected others. On July 13, the same person who did not reside in the county visited Chandler Fashion Center.
The following are new exposure sites:
The Taco Spot – 885 North 54th Street, Chandler from 2:30 pm to 5:45 pm on the 12th of July.
Sonesta Select- 920 North 54th Street, Chandler. July 12, 13, 2014.
Chase Field, 401 East Jefferson Street, Phoenix. July 12, 7 pm to midnight
IHOP 5020 E Ray Road, Phoenix on the 13th of July from midnight until 3:30 am.
On July 13, from 11:15 am to 2:30 pm, you can enjoy bb.q chicken at 1900 West Chandler Boulevard.
Chandler Fashion Center, 3111 West Chandler Boulevard from 12:45 to 4:30 pm on the 13th of July.
Visitors to these areas should be on the lookout for any symptoms until August 3.
In 2026, there were 25 measles confirmed cases in Maricopa County. Officials said that for the past 30 years there has been one measles case per year.
Ariella Dale Ph.D. is the chief scientist at MCDPH. She said: “The continued identification of measles exposures and cases highlights how quickly this virus spreads.” We have a proven, effective vaccine that has prevented the measles virus from spreading in this way for many decades. We can stop the spread of this virus as a community by using that tool.
Check your vaccination status, and be on the lookout for any symptoms.
High fever > 101degF
Eyes that are red and watery
Cough
Runny Nose
The rash is raised, red and blotchy. It usually starts on the scalp at the hairline and spreads down to the rest of the body.
The measles virus is extremely contagious, but can be prevented with two doses of vaccine. County officials stated that unvaccinated individuals have 90% of the chance to become infected when exposed.
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HealthNews

Cyclospora Cases in the U.S. Hit Record High

On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that they had confirmed over 2,500 new cases of cyclospora infection in the United States. This makes 2026 the most severe year for this parasitic disease on record.
Since May 1, 4,173 domestic cases have been confirmed in 41 states. In addition, 767 international travelers were also affected. The C.D.C. The C.D.C. There have not been any deaths reported and only 308 hospitalized patients.
C.D.C. reported an average of 2,800 cases per year since 2016. Since 2016, the C.D.C. has recorded an average of 2,800 cases each year.
The recent outbreak of illnesses due to cyclospora is still under investigation by health officials. This parasite can be transmitted via contaminated water and food. They say there are multiple possible sources. However, one outbreak of 1,644 illnesses in Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia as well as Indiana, Kentucky and Kentucky has been linked to Taylor Farms shredded lettuce grown in Mexico.
Experts in health say the number of actual infections may be higher. Many people who have cyclosporiasis are never tested. It takes a while for the states to notify C.D.C. of cases. State case counts often exceed those reported by the C.D.C. The New York Times contacted state health departments to ask for the case count, which totaled more than 11,000 infections.

HealthNews

San Diego Zoo Safari Park bat tests positive for rabies, prompting warning

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San Diego Zoo Safari Park is urging visitors to report any contact they may have had with a bat that tested positive for the rabies virus.
Unidentified wild bats were found outside the Oasis on the Rocks Restaurant on July 11, 2011. According to San Diego Zoo Safari Park, the bat tested positive for Rabies.
Fox News Digital reported that Safari Park said visitors to the park who did not have any physical contact with bats are at no risk of rabies.
‘UNSUPERVISED CHILD’ AT HERSHEYPARK zoo injures by wolf after crawling under safety barrier
The county health department is asking for anyone with direct experience of bats to contact them and be evaluated.
Officials said that the bat did not belong to Safari Park’s collection of animals, and no reports of human contact have been made.
San Diego County reported that the bat tested positive for rabies at the County Public Health Laboratory.
San Diego County officials report that this is the 19th positive rabies test in San Diego County for bats. According to officials, 21 bats have tested positive for rabies in 2025.
In a recent statement, Dr. Ankita Kadakia said that rabies is a serious virus disease. It’s one of the most deadly, and can be fatal if it’s not treated early.
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We are conducting an investigation to make sure anyone in contact with the bat is treated quickly. Rabies cannot be treated once symptoms appear.
The incident, according to wildlife experts, serves as a warning that bats are dangerous and should not be handled by humans despite their important contribution to the environment.
Fox News Digital reported that there are more than 20 species of bats in San Diego County. These animals provide a great benefit for our gardens and farms by eating as many as 1,000 insects the size of mosquitoes per hour.
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Wohl stated that even though bats are rare carriers of rabies it is still important to be cautious and avoid handling them without gloves.
Bats, according to Dr. Brian Collins of Cornell Riney Canine Health Center in New York are the main carriers of rabies and the cause of most cases of human rabies.
Collins, speaking to Fox News Digital said: “It is important that you do not touch a bat if it’s in the public eye.”
He recommended that people keep their pets and themselves away from animals and notify local authorities, such as animal control, property management or law enforcement.
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Collins says that if you suspect or know you’ve had contact with a bat, wash your affected area for 10-15 minutes with soap and warm water.

HealthNews

Doctors Say These Simple Daily Habits Can Help Lower Your Blood Pressure

Recent research has shown that more than half of U.S. adult adults who have uncontrolled high blood-pressure don’t even know it. Untreated high blood pressure (also known as hypertension) increases the risk for cardiac events like heart attacks and strokes, along with other health issues such as kidney damage, cognitive decline and dementia.
Lawrence Phillips M.D. is an assistant professor at NYU Langone Health and a cardiologist. He says that high blood pressure in many cases can be asymptomatic. The majority of people don’t know they are suffering from high blood pressure, so regular screenings are important.
It is measured by the pressure of blood on the artery wall. The two numbers are: the top number, systolic pressure (the force that occurs when the heart beats), and the lower one, diastolic pressure (the pressure in between the heartbeats). According to the American Heart Association, a reading of 130/80mmHg or higher indicates high blood pressure. A high blood pressure forces your heart to work more to pump the blood around. This can cause damage to heart muscle and vessels.
Hypertension can be caused by a number of factors. Some are within your control, while others may not. Some people are predisposed to hypertension, such as those with a history of it in their family. Your chances also increase naturally as you age. Adults in some ethnic groups, such as those of Black, Hispanic and Asian descent, have higher hypertension rates than other adults. For women, their chances increase after menopause due to a decrease in estrogen, which protects the heart.
Fortunately, many people can control their blood pressure by making lifestyle changes. Sometimes, this is done without the use of medication.
You can reduce your intake of salty foods and processed food, for example, because too much sodium will cause your body to retain more water. This increases blood volume, and therefore the pressure on your arteries. Alcohol can also constrict the blood vessels and cause pressure to build up in your arteries. The smoking habit is also a problem, for many reasons. Nicotine triggers the release hormones epinephrine & norepinephrine which raise blood pressure.
Stress, lack of sleep and sedentary lifestyles can all increase your chances.
Learn more by following the below steps about lifestyle changes that can help you avoid or control this condition.
3 Must-Do Lifestyle Changes for Lowering Hypertension Risk
Eating More Healthily
Dietary Approaches to stop Hypertension (DASH) was created to reduce blood pressure naturally without the use of medication. It is a balanced diet that emphasizes vegetables, fruits, grains, proteins and dairy products with low fat. The daily limit for sodium consumption, however, remains at 2,300mg (the ideal level being 1,500mg).
– Enjoy a daily small serving of dark, flavanol-rich chocolate. These substances relax the blood vessels and increase blood flow. You should aim for cocoa levels between 50% and 90%. The higher the cocoa percentage, the greater your heart-friendly flavanols.
Ease Your Stress
Meditation, breathing exercises, and yoga can all help to keep your stress hormones in check, as well as your blood pressure. Spend a few moments meditating before bedtime and when you wake up (who wouldn’t like to begin and end the day with a relaxed note?) Standing breaks can be turned into yoga flows if you work at a desk.
No time to do a breathwork session properly? Studies suggest that listening to relaxing music and taking deep breaths can help lower your heart rate and blood pressure.
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Strengthening the heart muscles can help lower blood pressure. At least 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity exercise is recommended, or 20-30 minutes daily. It’s possible to break up the exercise: According to one study, three 10-minute walks per day can help lower blood pressure.
Researchers have found that regular isometric exercise (held challenging positions with little movement) may be more efficient at lowering blood pressure than aerobic exercises. Try glute bridges, wall sits and planks.
How to get a good blood pressure reading
These tips will help you get accurate results at your next appointment with the doctor.
Plan Ahead
Avoid the exercise and double cappuccino before getting your blood pressure checked. Try to remain calm and relaxed that day.
The Hit Loo
A full bladder can temporarily increase your blood pressure by sending a message to the brain. This stimulates your nervous system.
Take A Few Deep Breaths
It can help you relax and ease the white coat syndrome. This is high blood pressure caused by anxiety when in a doctors’ office.
Take Your Posture Seriously
Sit on both your feet and rest your arm on a level surface with your heart. The arm should be supported, as opposed to having the hand rest on your lap. You may not always be asked to change your arm’s position by your healthcare provider. Don’t hesitate to ask.
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HealthNews

Oklahoma cyclosporiasis cases hit 172, OSDH says

According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, closporiasis has increased in Oklahoma to 172 cases.
Data released on Tuesday shows 170 confirmed cases through laboratory tests. Based on symptoms of patients and their contact with products that could have caused the transmission, two probable cases were determined.
Twelve people were hospitalized as a result of these confirmed cases. Oklahoma has not reported any deaths.
OSDH statistics show that Oklahoma’s median patient age is 40. In Oklahoma, 55% of those with cyclosporiasis are female and 45% male.
In Oklahoma, 56 parasite cases were reported last week. Number of cases has tripled.
The initial numbers OSDH released on Tuesday didn’t include all the case information. Initial numbers indicated that Oklahoma had 116 cases, not 172.
What is the cyclosporiasis disease?
Cyclosporiasis, an intestinal disease caused by Cyclospora parasites. This illness is caused by eating unwashed fruits and vegetables and can cause watery diarrhea and fatigue. It may also lead to nausea and vomiting.
Read more about the past outbreaks of Cyclospora, a parasite which can cause “explosive diarrhoea”
Infections with Cyclospora are seasonally based, and cases tend to increase in the spring and summer. From May 1 through August 31 is the cyclosporiasis period.
Cyclosporiasis symptoms
The CDC states that common symptoms are watery diarrhea, loss of appetite and weight loss. Other common symptoms include cramping, bloating gas, fatigue, nausea and vomiting. Other symptoms that are less common include body aches and headaches, a low grade fever, vomiting, nausea, fatigue, and body ache.
Most people will only have a few days of cyclosporiasis, while those with severe or persistent infections might need to take antibiotics.
What is the origin of this product?
Since 2013, FDA has investigated foodborne illnesses outbreaks and found 21 Cyclospora cases. Fresh herbs and vegetables are the most commonly consumed food products.
Fresh produce, such as fresh fruits and vegetables (such: