How to Fix an Overactive Bladder

A class of drugs called antimuscarinics (which include trospium, darifenacin, and oxybutynin, available for women as an over-the-counter patch) can help relax an overactive bladder. But the drugs have been linked to serious side effects, including dementia, and they’re no longer a wise first choice for treatment. “The older you are, the higher the risk…

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CR’s Guide to Deck Maintenance and Safety

To ensure safety and visibility, municipalities usually mandate lighting around deck areas such as steps and landings, says Patrick Harders, a landscape lighting designer and co-owner of Sterling Lighting, an outdoor lighting maker in Danville, Va. But avoid wall-mounted security floodlights. “You don’t need that ‘prison breakout’ look to make things safe,” Harders says. Instead,…

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How Often Should You Change the Filters in Your House?

Air PurifiersMost air purifiers have a filter indicator (often a light) that alerts you when the filter should be checked and possibly replaced. Though you can simply wipe down most prefilters, the main HEPA filter should be replaced about every six to 12 months, or as your manual advises. We factor this expense—new filters can…

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If Ukraine Loses Starlink, Here Are the Best Alternatives

For years, Ukrainian officials have hinted that they are working on Starlink alternatives. But the truth is, there aren’t many options on the table. The one most discussed is OneWeb, a satellite communications network owned by Eutelsat, a satellite operator in France. Like Starlink, this network relies on small, ground-based terminals, and its total constellation…

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Social Security Workers Aren’t Allowed to Read This Story

Employees at the Social Security Administration (SSA) were informed on Thursday morning that new rules forbid them from accessing “general news” websites, including those that have been at the forefront of the reporting on Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) effort. In an email reviewed by WIRED and addressed to “all SSA employees”…

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Most and Least Reliable Vacuum Cleaners

Their answers provide the basis for our ratings for predicted reliability and owner satisfaction in our vacuum ratings. The scores apply to all models from that brand in a particular category—upright, canister, corded stick, cordless stick, or robotic—and figure into each model’s Overall Score. Because we consider reliability and satisfaction over time so important, brands…

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Used Midsized Sedans With the Best Fuel Economy

To help steer you to the best choice, we’ve assembled a list of the most fuel-efficient 5-year-old nonhybrid midsized sedans. All performed well enough in our tests to be recommended when new. All have average or better reliability, according to CR’s Annual Auto Surveys, where we ask CR members to tell us about what went…

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