Dear Lucy: When I was a kid and didn’t want to wear a hat, my mother would tell me that 90 percent of body heat is lost through the top of the head. Is that true? How much does wearing a hat in cold weather contribute to overall body warmth? Is it time to bring back those pointy, flannel nightcaps people wear in TV holiday specials about the olden days? —Hot Head
Dear Lucy: Is it safe to use Vicks VapoRub daily for many months to try and cure a toenail fungus? I’ve seen lots of lay literature talking about this as a home remedy for toenail fungus; however, I could only find one scientific article. This article didn’t mention doing bloodwork or otherwise confirming the safety of the product when used in this off-label fashion, and it also was not a blinded, controlled study.
And how about the safety of other home remedies, such as soaking feet in vinegar or Listerine daily or twice daily for 10–30 minutes? —Vic
Dear Lucy: I’m an MIT sophomore. Last year, and this year again, I waived the MIT Extended Plan coverage, because I could be covered under my father’s health insurance plan. But my father just got laid off, and he’s losing his health insurance at the end of the month. I know I can get the Extended Plan next fall if he doesn’t get a new job by then, but what should I do in the meantime? Do you have any suggestions for me? —Uncovered
Dear Lucy: A certain member of my family uses hot water for everything—rinsing chicken, washing vegetables, and even brushing teeth. I have heard that hot water should not be used for things like this. Can you please clarify? —Cool Cat
Dear Lucy: My house is surrounded by major construction sites, and this will last for several years. Six days a week, the demolition, reconstruction, digging, pounding, and backup beeping begin several hours before I want to wake up. It’s bad enough with storm windows closed in winter; other times of the year, it’s much worse. I can wear headphones while sitting up, but not while lying down. Are there any types of earplugs that might be more effective and suitable for sleeping than the inadequate foam earplugs sold at drugstores? —Sound And Fury
Dear Lucy: I see a lot about “mindfulness” in advertisements and health articles, but what is it exactly? Is it possible to be “mindful” while commuting to work or cleaning my apartment? Is this a form of meditation, a stress reduction technique, or a buzzword used by marketing teams to sell health and lifestyle products? —Mindful Of My Confusion
Dear Lucy: I am an MIT student, and I have been sick for about two weeks now. I visited MIT Medical last week, and they told me that I don’t have an infection—just a virus. I got better, but for the last three days, I’ve been feeling weak at night and in the morning. When I go to bed, I cough until I fall sleep and usually get a little headache. Then, in the morning, I feel tired and get up coughing again. During the day, I am better and don’t cough as much. I was wondering if you think I should come back to MIT Medical to get checked out again, or if there is something I can do to get better faster? —I’d Better Get Better
Dear Lucy: Sometimes I see “how to handwash” posters that say to use warm, not hot, water when washing your hands. What do they mean by “warm”? Is there a medically significant difference between hot, warm, and cold water? Or do they really just want you to use water that is comfortable to the touch for the recommended amount of time? —Washing And Wondering
Dear Lucy: I am an MIT retiree in generally good health, age 69. Recently, I noticed that when I hold my hands still, stretched out in front of me (relaxed and flat), there seems to be a tiny tremor in both of my baby fingers. I thought it might be too much caffeine, but cutting that out didn’t make the “problem” disappear. Should I be concerned? As far as I know, neither of my parents had this condition. What do you advise? —Tiny Tremor
