4 . For decades, researchers have chased a drug that could significantly reduce weight without dangerous side effects.     1     A pair of drugs, Ozempic and Wegovy have shown amazing effectiveness in helping people lose weight by suppressing their appetites. In a 15-month study by the manufacturer, obese people lost an average of 15 percent of their body weight.       2    

Some 40 percent of Americans are obese, while another 30 percent have enough excess weight to increase the risks for heart disease, cancer, and osteoarthritis.       3     This was driven in part by an explosion of enthusiastic social media. The hashtag #Ozempic has generated more than 700 million views on TikTok.

The drugs are taken weekly in self-administered injections through a pre-filled “pen” like those used for insulin (胰岛素).     4     By sending signals of satiety (饱足) to brain receptors that govern appetite, they give people a feeling of fullness after small meals.

    5     Doctors say they’re not common and will improve with time and dose adjustments. But those who have had the drugs say they can be weak. “I had no energy, constant nausea (恶心), and what I call power vomiting,” said Anna Toonk, a podcaster in New York City who abandoned Ozempic.

6 . It is well known that smoking is harmful to health. It is unfortunate that despite some individuals who choose not to smoke, they remain to be victims of various diseases caused by cigarette smoking.

Cigarette smoke contains thousands of dangerous chemicals that are unhealthy for both smokers and non-smokers. Secondhand smoke refers to the smoke from the burning end of a cigarette and the smoke breathed by smokers. More than 126 million Americans are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke at home, at work, and in enclosed public spaces.

The Deadly Effects

Secondhand smoke can cause heart disease and lung cancer in non-smoking adults. Breathing secondhand smoke for even a short time increases risk for those diseases.

Children and infants are especially attacked by the poisons in secondhand smoke. Almost 3 million children in the United States under the age of six breathe secondhand smoke at home at least four days per week.

Secondhand smoke is a known cause of the sudden infant death syndrome, breathing problems, ear infections, and asthma attacks in infants and children.

Secondhand smoke in the home environment can slow the lung growth of exposed children. Older children whose parents smoke get bronchitis and pneumonia more often than the children of non-smokers. Wheezing (气喘) and coughing are also more common in children who breathe secondhand smoke.

Protecting Yourself and Others

The only way to fully protect yourself and loved ones from the dangerous chemicals in secondhand smoke is through 100 percent smoke-free environments. Opening a window; sitting in a separate area; or using ventilation (通风), air conditioning, or a fan cannot get rid of secondhand smoke exposure. If you are a smoker, the single best way to protect your family is to quit smoking.

8 . Do You Laugh Too Little?

When we are kids, we laugh a lot. Children laugh dozens of times a day: they laugh at small things and big things; they laugh at silly jokes and serious things.     1    . Do you laugh too little in your life? Should you remember how you used to laugh as a child?

In fact, laughter has a lot of benefits.     2    . It can reduce your blood pressure. And it contributes to the release of hormones and neurotransmitters, which is good for our health: if we are laughing, it means that all is well.

    3    . It helps us feel more at ease around new people and also connects us with others. Laughing together is great for bonding, no matter what the situation.

A good idea to laugh as carefree as a child is to allow yourself to play. Play is a natural activity that promotes a lot of laughter, whether it’s through video games, outdoor games, or board games.     4    !

Beyond that, you can also cultivate (培养) situations that promote laughter in your life.     5    . Be silly with your friends, make jokes and laugh at jokes. Make a conscious effort to include things, people, and events that make you laugh in your daily life. Try to see your friends more often. Hang out with family members that are nice to be around, with whom you can have fun, laugh, and enjoy yourself.