June is Men’s Health Month

June 12, 2024 Men’s Health Month encourages men and boys to take charge of their health by making healthy lifestyle decisions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),...

National Preparedness Month: Build an Emergency Kit

September 22, 2022 After an emergency, you may need to survive on your own for several days. Being prepared means having your own food, water and other supplies to last for several days. A disaster...

Healthy Aging Awareness Month: Fall Prevention

Falls can be dangerous at any age. Babies and young children can get hurt falling off furniture or down the stairs. Older children may fall off playground equipment. For older...

Tips for Preventing Heat-Related Illness

July 28, 2022 Stay Cool Wear Appropriate Clothing: Choose lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. Stay Cool Indoors: Stay in an air-conditioned place as much as possible. If your home does not have air conditioning,...

National Men’s Health Month: Men and Depression

June 29, 2022 Introduction Men and women both experience depression but their symptoms can be very different. Because men who are depressed may appear to be angry or aggressive instead...

National Migraine & Headache Awareness Month: How Are Migraines Treated?

June 20, 2022 There is no cure for migraines. Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and preventing additional attacks. There are different types of medicines to relieve symptoms. They include triptan...

How to Celebrate National Safety Month

June 20, 2022 1. Conduct a home fire drill Fire is highly likely. However, taking precautionary measures can prevent severe damage. And what better time than National Safety Month to...

Thinking Traps: How Can I Deal with Negative Thoughts?

May 10, 2022 What do you do when you feel “stuck”? When you see the world through a negative lens, it can feel like everything is terrible and there’s no...

How to Start Being Active

May 10, 2022 Physical Activity and Exercise  Exercise is a type of physical activity that some people enjoy. Other people aren’t interested in exercise at all.  Physical activity and healthy...

Stress Awareness Month

April 22, 2022 How to observe stress awareness month: 1. Practice meditation One of the most effective ways to deal with stress is to learn how to silence the mind. Meditation...

Myths and Facts: 7 Parkinson’s Disease Misconceptions

April 22, 2022 Ask experts what common myths or misconceptions about Parkinson’s disease still exist, and they will ask a question: “Which one should we start with?” There are many...

Four Types of Driver Distractions

April 22, 2022 Distracted driving is any activity an operator of a motor vehicle is engaged in that both distracts them from their primary task of driving and increases their...

Bad Sleep May Raise Heart-Disease Risk in Middle Age

March 10, 2022 Although previous research1 has established a link between sleep health and heart disease, a new study2 in the journal Scientific Reports says that having multiple sleep problems can increase middle-aged adults’ risk...

Workplace Healthy Vision Tips

March 10, 2022 Prevent Blindness has declared March as Workplace Eye Wellness Month.  Because one of the many negative effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is the increase in digital...

10 Signs You May Have Kidney Disease

March 10, 2022 More than 37 million American adults are living with kidney disease and most don’t know it. “There are a number of physical signs of kidney disease, but sometimes people...

Toothbrushing Tips for Young Children

February 10, 2022 Each child has different skills and needs that can guide parents in helping him or her brush. Tips to Help Young Children Practice Brushing & Make It...

What Is Low Vision: Causes and Symptoms

February 10, 2022 Low vision refers to vision loss that cannot be corrected by medical or surgical treatments or conventional eyeglasses. A person with low vision must learn to adjust to it. The...

Stress and Your Heart

February 10, 2022 Stress is the way your mind and body react to a threat or a challenge. Simple things, like a crying child, can cause stress. You also feel stress...

Thyroid Facts, Risk Factors, Symptoms, and Screening

January 10, 2022 Thyroid facts: • Women are 5-8 times more likely than men to experience thyroid problems. • 1 in 8 women will develop a thyroid disorder in her lifetime. • The...

What Can I Do to Reduce My Risk of Cervical Cancer?

January 10, 2022 The most important thing you can do to help prevent cervical cancer is to get vaccinated early and have regular screening tests. HPV Vaccine The HPV vaccine protects against...

Glaucoma: Types and Risk Factors

January 10, 2022 Types of Glaucoma There are two main types of glaucoma: primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), and angle-closure glaucoma. These are marked by an increase of intraocular pressure (IOP),...

Healthy Habits to Help Prevent Flu

December 15, 2021 The tips and resources below will help you learn about actions you can take to protect yourself and others from flu and help stop the spread of...

10 Tips for Safe Toys and Gifts

December 15, 2021 You of course want to choose a toy that’s fun and exciting. Seeing your child’s face light up as they open a gift may bring you just...

Simple Holiday Safety Tips

December 15, 2021 The holidays are a time to reconnect with family and friends, but they also can present seasonal safety hazards. Here are some tips to help you keep...

Understanding Diabetes and Mental Health

November 7, 2021 Diabetes takes a toll on more than your body. It’s normal to feel emotional strain—and it’s important to ask for help.  With diabetes, you have a lot...

13 Tips to Keep Your Bladder Healthy

November 7, 2021 People rarely talk about bladder health, but everyone is affected by it. Each day, adults pass about a quart and a half of urine through the bladder...

Symptoms and Reducing Risk of Lung Cancer

November 7, 2021 Different people have different symptoms for lung cancer. Some people have symptoms related to the lungs. Some people whose lung cancer has spread to other parts of...

5 Steps to Reduce Your Risk for COPD

November 7, 2021 If you are concerned about getting COPD, there are steps you can take to protect yourself.  If you are a smoker, STOP SMOKING. Quitting smoking is the single most...

COPD Among Women

November 7, 2021 In the past, COPD was often thought of as a man’s disease, but things have changed in the past couple of decades. Since 2000, more women than...

COPD Symptoms, Risk Factors, and Complications

November 7, 2021 What are the symptoms of COPD?  Symptoms of COPD include:  Frequent coughing or wheezing.  Excess phlegm, mucus, or sputum production.  Shortness of breath.  Trouble taking a deep...

Diabetes and Eye Health

November 7, 2021 It’s easy to take your eyesight for granted.  Diabetes is the leading cause of vision loss in people 18–64 years old. And there are no obvious signs or...

Diabetes Types

November 7, 2021 No matter where you are in your fight, here’s where you need to be.  Whether you’ve been newly diagnosed, have been fighting against type 1 or type...

November is Diabetes Month

https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/warning-signs-of-lung-disease

June Is Men’s Health Month — Get Involved

The month also coincides with Men’s Health Week (June 14–20), a special awareness period created by Congress. See our easy list of things to do to be active and aware...

Men: Take Charge of Your Health

The Basics: Overview Most men need to pay more attention to their health. Compared to women, men are more likely to: · Smoke · Drink too much alcohol · Make...

20 Summer Savings Tips

During the pandemic, many people learned how much money they could save—by not doing anything. Vacations were canceled, there were no fights about school lunch money, and all the usual...

Living with Chronic Migraine and Caring for Your Mental Health

Living with chronic migraine takes a toll on our physical and emotional health. Unfortunately, we tend to focus on our physical health, often ignoring our emotional needs. Chronic illness impacts...

Stages of Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s disease typically progresses slowly in three general stages: early, middle and late (sometimes referred to as mild, moderate and severe in a medical context). Since Alzheimer’s affects people in...

What Is Dementia?

Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of neurological conditions affecting the brain that get worse over time. It is the loss of the ability to think, remember,...

Heat-Related Illnesses

Heat Stroke WHAT TO LOOK FOR · High body temperature (103°F or higher) · Hot, red, dry, or damp skin · Fast, strong pulse · Headache · Dizziness · Nausea...

Health & Happiness: 5 Strategies for Wome

Stay active. Eat healthy. And get some sleep! Most important? Start today. The federal government’s Office on Women’s Health created National Women’s Health Week as a way to encourage all...

Young Women May Face Greater Stroke Risk Than Young Men

Young women are more likely than their male peers to have a stroke, a new study suggests. Researchers analyzed a claims database of insured people in the United States from...

Stroke Symptoms

During a stroke, every minute counts! Fast treatment can lessen the brain damage that stroke can cause. By knowing the signs and symptoms of stroke, you can take quick action...

10 Surprising Facts About Indoor Tanning

Is a tanning bed really safer than the sun? Will indoor tanning help your body make all of the vitamin D it needs? Findings from years of scientific studies have...

Do You Know How to Spot Skin Cancer?

Do you know how to spot skin cancer? In this video, the American Academy of Dermatology used an ultraviolet camera to show people the sun damage hidden underneath their skin....

Mental Illness Warning Signs and Symptoms

Trying to tell the difference between what expected behaviors are and what might be the signs of a mental illness isn’t always easy. There’s no easy test that can let...

Mental Health Benefits of Physical Activity

Exercise is proven to strengthen both your body and mind during difficult times. Here are some of the many benefits of regular exercise. Clearer thoughts. Exercise releases endorphins that help...

Who Can Donate?

All people should consider themselves potential organ and tissue donors—regardless of age, health, race, or ethnicity. Don’t rule yourself out! No one is too old or too young to be a deceased...

Organ Donation

Organ donation takes healthy organs and tissues from one person for transplantation into another. Experts say that the organs from one donor can save or help as many as 50 people. Organs...

Distracted Driving Awareness Month FAQs and Facts

Distracted Driving Awareness Month FAQs    What are the four types of distractions while driving?  The four types of distractions are Visual – looking at something other than the road. Auditory...

Testicular Cancer Awareness Month: Self Examination Saves Lives

Testicular cancer occurs when cancer cells form in the tissues of one or both testicles — the egg-shaped glands located inside the scrotum that produce testosterone and sperm. Although testicular cancer...

Symptoms & Causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

What are the symptoms of IBS?  The most common symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are pain in your abdomen, often related to your bowel movements, and changes in your bowel movements....

6 Tips: IBS and Complementary Health Practices

As many as one in five Americans have symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBS is a chronic disorder that interferes with the normal functions of the colon and is...

Safe Toys and Gifts Month

It’s the holiday season, and that means toy-sharing and gift-giving are in full swing. But before you give that special child a new toy, it’s important to stop and consider:...

Safe Toy Checklist

Too often, accidents involving children and toys occur and may result in eye injuries. Each year, thousands of children age 14 and younger suffered serious eye injuries, even blindness, from...

Choosing Safe Toys

Toys are a fun and important part of every child’s development. But each year, many kids are treated in hospital emergency departments for toy-related injuries. Choking is a risk for...

National Handwashing Awareness Week Activities and Facts

Personal hygiene begins and ends with our hands. And though we’re taught as youngsters to wash our hands before dinner, it’s important to remember that germs don’t care what time...

Brief History on National Handwashing Awareness Week

In short, washing hands saves lives. If you had given birth or been born in 1847 in an overcrowded hospital in Vienna, Austria, you’d probably agree. The infant mortality rate...

Hand Sanitizer Use Out and About

When should I use? Soap and Water Before, during, and after preparing food Before eating food Before and after caring for someone who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea Before...

Healthy Habits to Help Prevent Flu

The single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated each year, but good health habits like avoiding people who are sick, covering your cough and washing your...

Differences and Similarities Between Influenza (Flu) and COVID-19

What is the difference between Influenza (Flu) and COVID-19? Influenza (Flu) and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. COVID-19 is caused by infection...

How is HIV Transmitted

How Do You Get or Transmit HIV? You can only get HIV by coming into direct contact with certain body fluids from a person with HIV who has a detectable...

HIV in America

Goal The new initiative seeks to reduce the number of new HIV infections in the United States by 75 percent within five years, and then by at least 90 percent...

Breathing Exercises

  Out with the old, stale air and in with new fresh air. That’s the theme of the two most useful breathing exercises—pursed lip breathing and belly breathing—taught by  pulmonary rehabilitation specialists...

Causes and Risk Factors of Stomach Cancer

Causes   It’s not clear what causes stomach cancer, though research has identified many factors that can increase the risk.   Doctors know that stomach cancer begins when a cell...

Signs and Symptoms of Stomach Cancer

Early stage stomach cancer rarely causes symptoms, making early detection very difficult. Stomach cancer may or may not present with vague gastrointestinal symptoms, including indigestion, abdominal pain or discomfort, nausea...

Approaching Memory Loss Concerns

It can be difficult to know what to do if you’ve noticed changes in yourself or a family member or friend — particularly when they’re related to memory loss, thinking...

Stages of Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s disease typically progresses slowly in three general stages: early, middle and late (sometimes referred to as mild, moderate and severe in a medical context). Since Alzheimer’s affects people in...

Protecting Your Lungs

Sometimes we take our lungs for granted. They keep us alive and well and for the most part, we don’t need to think about them. That’s why it is important...

13 Tips to Keep Your Bladder Healthy

People rarely talk about bladder health, but everyone is affected by it. Each day, adults pass about a quart and a half of urine through the bladder and out of...

Bladder Health for Older Adults

What Can Affect Bladder Health?   Many things can affect bladder health. You can’t control everything that affects bladder health, but there are many bladder health behaviors that you can...

Diabetes Risk Factors

Type 1 Diabetes   Type 1 diabetes is thought to be caused by an immune reaction (the body attacks itself by mistake). Risk factors for type 1 diabetes are not as...

Diabetes Fast Facts

The Big Picture   More than 34 million people in the United States have diabetes, and 1 in 5 of them don’t know they have it. More than 88 million...

Oral Health Fast Facts

Oral health is essential to general health and well-being. Oral disease can cause pain and infections that may lead to problems with eating, speaking, and learning. It can also affect...

Taking Care of Your Teeth and Mouth

Healthy teeth and gums make it easy for you to eat well and enjoy good food. Several problems can affect the health of your mouth, but good care should keep...

Recognizing and Treating Eye Injuries

You can’t always tell when an eye is injured or that the injury is serious. Some problems, like a detached retina, can only be seen during a doctor’s examination. And...

Eye Safety at Home

In fact, accidents involving common household products cause 125,000 eye injuries each year. Ninety percent of these eye injures can be prevented through understanding, safety practices and the use of...

Liver Cancer

Cancer is a disease in which cells in the body grow out of control. When cancer starts in the liver, it is called liver cancer. Each year in the United...

Lifestyle-related Breast Cancer Risk Factors

A risk factor is anything that increases your chances of getting a disease, such as breast cancer. But having a risk factor, or even many, does not mean that you...

How Common Is Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women, except for skin cancers. Currently, the average risk of a woman in the United States developing breast cancer sometime in her...

Breast Cancer Signs and Symptoms

Knowing how your breasts normally look and feel is an important part of breast health. Although having regular screening tests for breast cancer is important, mammograms do not find every...

Vaccine Safety

Vaccines are safe and effective. Because vaccines are given to millions of healthy people — including children — to prevent serious diseases, they’re held to very high safety standards. In...

Managing Itch

The itch of psoriasis may have a bigger impact on quality of life than the visible aspect of the disease. Itch is present in 70 to 90 percent of psoriasis...

Screen Use for Kids

There are many reasons for parents to be thoughtful about how much screen time they allow their children. Amount of screen use per day has been associated with developmental outcomes, obesity, poor sleep...

Four Hidden Signs of Vision Problems in Kids

As summer winds down, families of school-aged children scramble to get backpacks, clothes and other supplies ready for the new school year. But one of the most important yet often overlooked necessities...

Gastroparesis Traveling Tips

Gastroparesis is a disorder in which the stomach empties too slowly, causing nausea, vomiting, pain, bloating, fullness, and/or reflux. There are very few effective treatments for the condition, so most...

Gastroparesis Prevention & Management Tips

There are lots of things that affect health and illness. Some you cannot control, but some you can. Beyond making healthy lifestyle choices, having gastroparesis will likely push you to...

Sarcoma Symptoms, Causes, and Risks Factors

Symptoms Signs and symptoms of sarcoma include: A lump that can be felt through the skin that may or may not be painful Bone pain A broken bone that happens...

UV Radiation Safety

Taking steps to protect yourself from the sun is a year-round responsibility. Protect yourself and others from the sun with shade, a shirt, or sunblock (SPF 15+) all year long....

Protect Yourself, Family and Pets from Excessive Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation

UV Safety: Stay Safe in the Sun Do Not Burn or Tan: Avoid intentional tanning. It may contribute to skin cancer and premature aging of skin Seek Shade: Get under cover...

Healthy Eating for Juvenile Arthritis

There’s no special JA diet, but certain foods can promote healthy growth and development and help dial down inflammation. By Amy Paturel Eating a healthy diet is important for any...

16 Joint-protection Tips

Arthritis aches and pain can affect your daily life. But there are simple ways to protect your joints, reduce strain and improve how you function each day. Here are 16...

Does Cord Blood Contain COVID-19?

To the best of our knowledge, the umbilical cord blood will not contain COVID-19, even if the mother is sick at the time of delivery.  It is important to clarify...

Men: Take Charge of Your Health

Overview Most men need to pay more attention to their health. Compared to women, men are more likely to: Smoke Drink too much alcohol Make unhealthy or risky choices Put...

Fireworks Eye Safety

What to Do for a Fireworks Eye Injury Fireworks-related eye injuries can combine blunt force trauma, heat burns and chemical exposure. If an eye injury from fireworks occurs, it should be considered...

What Causes Alzheimer’s Disease?

Scientists don’t yet fully understand what causes Alzheimer’s disease in most people. The causes probably include a combination of age-related changes in the brain, along with genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. The...

10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s

Memory loss that disrupts daily life may be a symptom of Alzheimer’s or other dementia. Alzheimer’s is a brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. There...

Cataract What You Should Know

What causes cataracts? The lens lies behind the iris and the pupil. It works much like a camera lens. It focuses light onto the retina at the back of the...

National Men’s Health Week

National Men’s Health Week is observed each year leading up to Father’s Day. This week is a reminder for men to take steps to be healthier, but they don’t have...

Mental Health Myths and Facts

Can you tell the difference between a mental health myth and fact? Learn the truth about the most common mental health myths.   Mental Health Problems Affect Everyone   Myth:...

Health Threats From High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure threatens your health and quality of life In most cases, the damage done by high blood pressure (HBP, or hypertension) takes place over time. Left undetected (or...

5 Surprising Facts About High Blood Pressure

What you don’t know about high blood pressure could hurt you. High blood pressure affects one in three Americans,1 yet many people with the condition don’t know they have it.  ...

Sun Safety

The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage your skin in as little as 15 minutes. Check the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s UV Index for your area, and follow these recommendations to help...

Suicidal Behavior

Suicide causes immeasurable pain, suffering, and loss to individuals, families, and communities nationwide. On average, 112 Americans die by suicide each day. Suicide is the second leading cause of death...

Food Allergy Myths and Misconceptions

FARE is dedicated to speaking up for the 32 million Americans with food allergies, including all those at risk for life-threatening anaphylaxis. Whether you live with food allergies or care...

Arthritis pain: Do’s and don’ts

Will physical activity reduce or increase your arthritis pain? Get tips on exercise and other common concerns when coping with arthritis symptoms and arthritis pain. By Mayo Clinic Staff Arthritis...

8 Natural Therapies for Arthritis Pain

1.     Acupuncture This form of Chinese medicine involves inserting thin, small needles through the skin at specific acupoints on the body. It is designed to stimulate nerves, muscles and connective...

Types of Strokes

The type of stroke you have affects your treatment and recovery. The three main types of stroke are: Ischemic stroke. Hemorrhagic stroke. Transient ischemic attack (a warning or “mini-stroke”).  ...

How Is Alcohol Abused?

In most parts of the world, alcohol is legal for adults to both purchase and consume. As a result, beverages that contain alcohol are available almost everywhere, and clearly, many...

What is World Health Day about?

7 April 2020 is the day to celebrate the work of nurses and midwives and remind world leaders of the critical role they play in keeping the world healthy. Nurses and...

: National Public Health Week and COVID-19

COVID-19 AND DAILY THEMES The COVID-19 pandemic means public health is the topic of the day worldwide. How does that apply to our National Public Health Week daily themes? Here...

National Distracted Driving Awareness Month

Posted by the Office of Public Affairs April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is mobilizing law enforcement...

The Hidden Costs of Alcoholism

People who engage in alcoholic behavior often think their drinking is a personal choice; it has no impact on those around them, and their excessive drinking is “no one’s business...

Types of Alcoholics

The first type, defined as the young adult subtype, includes young adult drinkers who don’t have family histories of alcoholism or co-occurring mental illnesses. The second type, known as the young antisocial...

The Prevalence of Alcohol Abuse And Alcoholism in the U.S.

However, the dangers of alcohol abuse go beyond college kids getting too drunk at parties. An estimated 14.4 million Americans ages 18 and older had an alcohol use disorder (AUD)...

Alcohol Statistics and Data

Data: The 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports that 139.8 million Americans age 12 or older were past month alcohol users, 67.1 million people were binge drinkers...

Key Tuberculosis Facts

A total of 1.5 million people died from TB in 2018 (including 251 000 people with HIV). Worldwide, TB is one of the top 10 causes of death and the...

Facts, Symptoms, and Causes of CKD

The Facts About Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) 37 million American adults have CKD and millions of others are at increased risk. Early detection can help prevent the progression of kidney...

7 Steps to Prevent Cancer

Don’t use tobacco Protect your skin form the sun Eat a healthy diet Maintain a healthy weight and be physically active Practice safer sex and avoid risky behaviors Get immunized...

Go Red for Women®

Go Red for Women® is the American Heart Association’s global initiative to end heart disease and stroke in women. Launched in 2004 to close the gap in awareness, Go Red...

General Donation Questions

What organs and tissues can be donated? Eight vital organs can be donated: heart, kidneys (2), pancreas, lungs (2), liver, and intestines. Hands and faces have also recently been added...

Cancer Prevention and Risk Reduction

At least one third of cancers are preventable giving us every reason to champion healthy choices and prevention strategies for all, so that we have the best chance to prevent...

Myths, Misinformation and Stigma

Myths, misinformation and stigma Some common myths and misconceptions about cancer – including that there is no cure or there is nothing that can be done about cancer – can understandably...

Protecting Your Child’s Teeth

Even though tooth decay—or cavities—has been on the decline for the past 30 years, it is still one of the most common chronic diseases for kids from age 6 to...

How Can I Make the Most of My Remaining Sight?

If you have low vision, you can find ways to make the most of your vision and keep doing the things you love to do. If your vision loss is minor, you may be...

Symptoms of a Heart Attack and Stroke in Women

Signs and Symptoms of Heart Attack If you have any of these signs, call 9-1-1 and get to a hospital right away. Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the...

Top 10 Myths About Cardiovascular Disease

How much do you really know about your heart’s health? It’s easy to be fooled by misconceptions. After all, heart disease only happens to your elderly neighbor or to your...

Know Your Risk for Heart Disease

What health conditions increase the risk of heart disease? High blood pressure. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease. It is a medical condition that happens...

Causes of Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can cause vision loss and blindness by damaging the nerve in the back of your eye called the optic nerve. People who have higher eye pressure are...

What Can I Do to Reduce My Risk?

The most important thing you can do to help prevent cervical cancer is to have regular screening tests starting at age 21. Screening Tests Two screening tests can help prevent cervical cancer...

Thyroid FAQs

How common is thyroid disease? Thyroid disease is more common than diabetes or heart disease. Thyroid disease is a fact of life for as many as 30 million Americans –...

BD Prevention

Best For You. Best For Baby. 5 Tips for Preventing Birth Defects. 1.    Be sure to take 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day. Folic acid is important because it...

Top Tips for Choosing Safe Toys this Holiday

The American Academy of Ophthalmology urges parents to avoid buying toys that can cause serious eye injuries, even blindness. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission an estimated 251,700 toy-related...

HIV/AIDS: The Basics

What is HIV/AIDS? HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus, which is the virus that causes HIV infection. The abbreviation “HIV” can refer to the virus or to HIV infection. AIDS stands...

Misconceptions About Flu Vaccines

Can a flu vaccine give you the flu? No, flu vaccines cannot cause flu illness. Flu vaccines given with a needle (i.e., flu shots) are currently made in two ways:...

Healthy Habits to Help Prevent Flu

The single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated each year, but good health habits like covering your cough and washing your hands often can help stop the spread of...

Influenza Key Facts

What is Influenza (Flu)? Flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness,...

Why Wash Your Hands?

Keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Many diseases and conditions are spread by not...

When to Wash Your Hands

You can help yourself and your loved ones stay healthy by washing your hands often, especially during these key times when you are likely to get and spread germs: Before,...

Lung Cancer Risks

What Causes Lung Cancer Anyone can get lung cancer. Lung cancer occurs when cells in the lung mutate or change. Various factors can cause this mutation to happen. Most often,...

How to Prevent Diabetes

What is type 2 diabetes? If you have diabetes, your blood sugar levels are too high. With type 2 diabetes, this happens because your body does not make enough insulin, or...

Stomach Cancer Risks & Prevention

Some of the factors that may increase the risk for development of gastric cancer include age, gender, ethnicity, smoking, family history, diet, and h. Pylori. pylori is a common, treatable...

Tips to Keep Healthy Lungs

Sometimes we take our lungs for granted. They keep us alive and well and for the most part, we don’t need to think about them. That’s why it is important...

13 Tips to Keep Your Bladder Healthy

People rarely talk about bladder health, but everyone is affected by it. Each day, adults pass about a quart and a half of urine through the bladder and out of...

Bladder Cancer Symptoms

How do you know that you may have bladder cancer? Some people may have symptoms that suggest they have bladder cancer. Others may feel nothing at all. Some symptoms should...

Understanding Prediabetes

When it comes to prediabetes, there are no clear symptoms—so you may have it and not know it. Here’s why that’s important: before people develop type 2 diabetes, they almost...

Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease

What Are the Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease? Scientists continue to unravel the complex brain changes involved in the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. It seems likely that damage to the...

Identifying Whole Grain Products

The Whole Grains Council has created an official packaging symbol called the Whole Grain Stamp that helps consumers find real whole grain products. The Stamp started to appear on store shelves in...

Dementia: The facts

·         Dementia is a term used to describe different brain disorders that affect memory, thinking, behaviour and emotion. ·         Early symptoms of dementia can include memory loss, difficultly performing familiar...

Pain Management

Lifestyle & Management The importance of maintaining an engaged and active lifestyle cannot be overemphasized. To the extent possible, you should participate in physical activities or exercise programs, and keep...

Basic Rights

People with chronic pain are often “people pleasers.” We find it hard to express our needs and require that others respect them. And when our needs are not met, tension...

Am I At Risk for Ovarian Cancer?

Ovarian Cancer Risk Factors ·        All women are at risk ·        Symptoms exist – they can be vague, but usually get more intense over time ·        Early detection increases survival...

Childhood Obesity

Childhood Obesity Is a Major Public Health Problem Children with obesity are at higher risk for having other chronic health conditions and diseases, such as asthma, sleep apnea, bone and...

Gastroparesis

Gastroparesis Gastric motility disorders are gastrointestinal conditions which affect the body’s ability to digest food normally. A number of conditions fall into this category, including gastroparesis. Gastroparesis literally means paralyzed...

Gastroparesis Tips

Gastroparesis Tips Tips offered by other gastroparesis patients:  – Sit up after eating  – Walk after eating  – Belly massage  – Chew small bites of ginger  – Acupuncture  – Nausea wrist...

Water and Contact Lenses Don’t Mix

Water and contact lenses don’t mix Many people who wear contact lenses do not know that contact lenses and water are a bad combination—even when showering, swimming, or using a...

Facts About Psoriasis

Facts about psoriasis What is psoriasis? Psoriasis is a genetic skin disease associated with the immune system. Your immune system causes your skin cells to reproduce too quickly. A normal...

Vaccines for Adults

You’re not a kid anymore, so you don’t have to worry about shots, right? Wrong. Find out how to stay on top of your vaccines.   What vaccines do adults...

Taking Your Best Shot

Thanks to vaccines, we can protect young infants against whooping cough by making sure everyone is up to date with their vaccines. Pregnant women can pass on protection to their...

Chronic Intestinal Pseudo Obstruction

Chronic Intestinal Pseudo Obstruction Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction (CIP) refers to a group of rare motility disorders characterized by persistent signs and symptoms of intestinal blockage in the absence of any...

Colonic Inertia

Colonic Inertia Colonic Inertia (also known as slow-transit constipation) is a motility disorder that affects the large intestine (colon) and results in the abnormal passage of stool.    It is a...

What are the different types of hepatitis viruses occurring around the world?

The five hepatitis viruses – A, B, C, D and E – are distinct; they can have different modes of transmission, affect different populations, and result in different health outcomes....

Fireworks Eye Safety

The numbers are clear: fireworks are dangerous, and the month around July 4th is the most dangerous time. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s most recent annual fireworks injury report (PDF)...

Sun Safety

The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage your skin in as little as 15 minutes. Follow these recommendations to help protect yourself and your family. Shade You can reduce your...

Too Much Fun in the Sun? 9 Tips for Protecting Your Skin!

The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can lead to skin cancer, the most common type of cancer in the United States, as well as wrinkles and blotchy skin. UW Dermatologist Dr. Andrea...

Types of Juvenile Arthritis

·         Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Considered the most common form of arthritis, JIA includes six subtypes: oligoarthritis, polyarthritis, systemic, enthesitis-related, juvenile psoriatic arthritis or undifferentiated.  ·         Juvenile dermatomyositis. An inflammatory...

Points To Remember About Juvenile Arthritis

·         Juvenile arthritis is the term used to describe arthritis, or inflammation of the joints, in children.   ·         The most common symptoms of juvenile arthritis are joint swelling, pain,...

Cord Blood: What You Need to Know

July is National Cord Blood Awareness Month, and it’s the perfect time to learn more about cord blood—a biological product regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Found in the...

Facts about Cataracts

When are you most likely to have a cataract? The term “age-related” is a little misleading. You don’t have to be a senior citizen to get this type of cataract. In...

Ergonomics/Overexertion

Take it Easy – Your Body will Thank You Whether it happens at work or on the golf course, overexertion continues to be a leading cause of injury over all...

Work Safety Topics

Work Safety Topics Nearly 13,000 American workers suffer an injury every day; each is preventable. Injury should never be a cost of doing business. Here are some of the workplace safety topics NSC is focusing on. Fatigue...

Cancers

Cancers Each year, over 700,000 men are diagnosed with cancer and nearly 300,000 die from the disease. During the course of a lifetime half of all men will get cancer...

Cardiovascular Health

Cardiovascular Health Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is a general term that includes many different conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels. According to the American Heart Association, over 39 million American men...

Stages of Alzheimer’s

The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease worsen over time, although the rate at which the disease progresses varies. On average, a person with Alzheimer’s lives four to eight years after diagnosis,...

10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s

Memory loss that disrupts daily life may be a symptom of Alzheimer’s or other dementia. Alzheimer’s is a brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. There...

Myths of Alzheimers

Myth 1: Memory loss is a natural part of aging. Reality: As people age, it’s normal to have occasional memory problems, such as forgetting the name of a person you’ve recently...

Ways to Be Active

Ways to Be Active The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends 30 minutes of physical activity a day for adults, 60 minutes for children, at least five days a week. Sound daunting?...

Heat Related Illness

Know the signs of heat-related illness and the ways to respond to it: HEAT CRAMPS Signs: Muscle pains or spasms in the stomach, arms, or legs Actions: Go to a cooler location....

Risks of Indoor Tanning

The United States Department of Health and Human Services and the World Health Organization’s International Agency of Research on Cancer panel have declared ultraviolet radiation from the sun and artificial...

Detect Skin Cancer

Anyone can get skin cancer, regardless of skin color. It is estimated that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. When caught early, skin cancer is highly treatable. You...

Reducing Risk of Stroke

You can help reduce your risk of stroke by making healthy lifestyle changes. These are the most important steps you can take to lower your risk of stroke: ·         Keep...

Acting F.A.S.T.

When someone is having a stroke, every minute counts. Just as putting out a fire quickly can stop it from spreading, treating a stroke quickly can reduce damage to the...

Stoke Signs, Symptoms, and Complications

The signs and symptoms of a stroke often develop quickly. However, they can develop over hours or even days. The type of symptoms depends on the type of stroke and...

What’s Your Vision of the Future?

Did you know that most vision problems are preventable? It’s true! Vision loss doesn’t have to be a natural part of getting older. Use our everyday tips to help set yourself up for a lifetime of seeing well.  Wear sunglasses (even...

Physical Activity for Arthritis

Why is physical activity important for people with arthritis?   If you have arthritis, participating in joint-friendly physical activity can improve your arthritis pain, function, mood, and quality of life....

What Consent Looks Like

The laws about consent vary by state and situation. It can make the topic confusing, but you don’t have to be a legal expert to understand how consent plays out...

Effects of Sexual Violence

Sexual violence can have psychological, emotional, and physical effects on a survivor. These effects aren’t always easy to deal with, but with the right help and support they can be...

Oral Cancer Causes, Risk Factors, and Prevention

Causes Mouth cancers form when cells on the lips or in the mouth develop changes (mutations) in their DNA. A cell’s DNA contains the instructions that tell a cell what...

Organ Donation Myths and Facts

Myth 1: I have a medical condition, so I can’t be a donor. Fact: Anyone, regardless of age or medical history, can sign up to be a donor.  The transplant...

Child Abuse and Neglect Risk Factors and Protective Factors

Risk factors are those characteristics linked with child abuse and neglect—they may or may not be direct causes. A combination of individual, relational, community, and societal factors contribute to the...

Causes of Autism

There is no known single cause for autism spectrum disorder, but it is generally accepted that it is caused by abnormalities in brain structure or function. Brain scans show differences...

Asperger’s Syndrome

History Asperger’s syndrome (also known as Asperger’s Disorder) was first described in the 1940s by Viennese pediatrician Hans Asperger, who observed autism-like behaviors and difficulties with social and communication skills...

Sleep and IBS

Sleep difficulties are common in people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), as well as other gastrointestinal disorders including gastroesophageal reflux disease. Lethargy and daytime fatigue, which are common side effects...

Wine for Your Health: Truth and Myth

Cutting through the Clutter about Heart Health The following outline formed a webinar that NCADD presented in August 2015 as part of Cigna’s Alcohol and Drug Awareness Series. The presentation...

What seems impossible today will one day become your warm-up.

What are Food Additives?

Food additives have been used for centuries to improve and preserve the taste, texture, nutrition and appearance of food. Food additives and preservatives are used in today’s food supply to...

Processed Foods: What’s OK and What to Avoid

Processed food has a bad reputation as a diet saboteur. It’s blamed for obesity rates, high blood pressure and the rise of Type 2 diabetes. But processed food is more...

Kidney Disease and Your Heart: What’s the Connection?

Your heart health is tied to your kidney health. In fact, having kidney disease puts you at risk for getting heart disease. And having heart disease puts you at risk...

How Your Kidneys Work

You have two kidneys, each about the size of an adult fist, located on either side of the spine just below the rib cage. Although they are small, your kidneys...

How the Heart Works

The heart is an organ, about the size of a fist. It is made of muscle and pumps blood through the body. Blood is carried through the body in blood...

CHD Facts and Statistics

What is a congenital heart defect? Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are problems with the heart’s structure that are present at birth. Common examples include holes in the inside walls of...

Causes of Cancer

Cancers can be caused by a number of different factors and, as with many other illnesses, most cancers are the result of exposure to a number of different causal factors....

Types of Cancers

Cancer can be classified according to the type of cell they start from. There are five main types: Carcinoma– A cancer that arises from the epithelial cells (the lining of...

Cold and Flu Season: 5 Ways to Care for Your Mouth When You’re Sick

When he’s feeling under the weather, ADA dentist Dr. Gene Romo says one thing always helps him feel a little more like himself. “Brushing my teeth when I’m sick actually...

8 Bad Brushing Habits to Break in 2019

Keeping Your Toothbrush for Too Long The ADA recommends changing your toothbrush every 3-4 months, so make a resolution to change your toothbrush with every season this year. Frayed and...

Vision Rehabilitation: Helping People with Low Vision

What is low vision? Low vision is a visual impairment that cannot be corrected by standard eyeglasses, contact lenses, medication, or surgery. Activities like reading, shopping, cooking, writing, and watching...

Preventing Hearth Disease: Healthy Living Habits

Healthy Diet Choosing healthful meal and snack options can help you avoid heart disease and its complications. Be sure to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and fewer processed...

Heart Attack and Stroke Symptoms

If these signs are present CALL 9-1-1 Heart Attack Symptoms CHEST DISCOMFORT Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes,...

Heart Healthy Foods

Eat heart-healthy foods What you eat has a direct impact on your cholesterol level. ·         Choose healthier fats. Saturated fat and trans fat raise your total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. The...

We Have an Unhealthy Obsession with Your Health.

Keeping hearts beating gets our hearts pumping. That’s why we fund lifesaving science. Science that helps figure out new ways to lower your blood pressure and keep your heart healthy...

Types of Glaucoma and Treatments

What are some other forms of glaucoma and how are they treated? Open-angle glaucoma is the most common form. Some people have other types of the disease. In low-tension or normal-tension glaucoma, optic nerve damage...

5 Tips for Preventing Birth Defects

Tip ❶: Be sure to take 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day. Folic acid is very important because it can help prevent some major birth defects of the...

Thyroid Disease and Pregnancy

Can thyroid disease cause problems getting pregnant?   Both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can make it harder for you to get pregnant. This is because problems with the thyroid hormone can upset...

Ten Questions To Ask About Your Thyroid Health

What to ask your Physician: Where is the thyroid located, and what does it do? What are the differences between hypothyroid and hyperthyroid patients and what are the symptoms of each?...

Safe Toys and Gifts Month

Too often, accidents involving children and toys occur and may result in eye injuries. Each year, thousands of children age 14 and younger suffered serious eye injuries, even blindness, from...

Lung Cancer Awareness Month

Lung cancer is when cells of the tissue of the lungs grow out of control. This out of control growth causes problems such as the creation of a mass (tumor). Lung...

American Diabetes Month

Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the US. Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body turns food into energy. Most of the food you eat is...

National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month

Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks. ...

10 Common Warning Signs of Mental Health Conditions

Trying to tell the difference between what expected behaviors are and what might be the signs of a mental illness isn’t always easy. There’s no easy test that can let...

Eye Safety at Work

Eye injuries in the workplace are very common. More than 2,000 people injure their eyes at work each day. About 1 in 10 injuries require one or more missed workdays...

First Aid for Eye Emergencies

Knowing what to do for an eye emergency can save valuable time and possibly prevent vision loss. Here are some instructions for basic eye injury first aid. Be Prepared ·        ...

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

What Are the Risk Factors for Breast Cancer? Studies have shown that your risk for breast cancer is due to a combination of factors. The main factors that influence your...

Cervical Health Awareness Month

What is Cervical Health Awareness Month? The United States Congress designated January as Cervical Health Awareness Month. Nearly 13,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with cervical cancer each...

Glaucoma Awareness Month

January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month, an important time to spread the word about this sight stealing disease.   Glaucoma is called “the sneak thief of sight” since there are...

National Stalking Awareness Month

WHAT IS STALKING?  While legal definitions of stalking vary from one jurisdiction to another, a good working definition of stalking is a course of conduct directed at a specific person...

Thyroid Awareness Month

The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the base of the neck just below the Adam’s apple. Although relatively small, the thyroid gland plays a huge role...

January is National Birth Defects Prevention Month

Birth defects are common, costly, and critical.  While many unknown factors play a role in birth defects occurrence, steps can be taken to help prevent or limit certain risks for...

Overview Symptoms of GERD

Did you know – heartburn is not the only symptom of GERD Chronic heartburn is the most common symptom of GERD. Acid regurgitation (refluxed material into the mouth) is another...

Eating, Diet, and Nutrition for GER and GERD

Eating, Diet, & Nutrition for GER & GERD How can your diet help prevent or relieve GER or GERD? You can prevent or relieve your symptoms from gastroesophageal reflux (GER)...

10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s

Memory loss that disrupts daily life may be a symptom of Alzheimer’s or another dementia. Alzheimer’s is a brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills....

Types of Lung Cancer

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer, making up 80-85% of all cases. It typically grows and spreads more...

Diabetes Myths

On behalf of the millions of Americans who live with or are at risk for diabetes, we are committed to dispelling common myths and misconceptions around this chronicdisease. Help us set...

Exercise and Type 1 Diabetes

Exercise and Type 1 Diabetes Regardless of the type of diabetes you have, regular physical activity is important for your overall health and wellness. With type 1, it’s very important...

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Awareness Week – Nov 20 – 26

Your esophagus is the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach.  Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) happens when a muscle at the end of your esophagus does not...

Understand Your Risk for Cardiac Arrest

Cardiac arrest may be caused by almost any known heart condition. Most cardiac arrests occur when the diseased heart’s electrical system malfunctions, producing an abnormal rhythm such as ventricular tachycardiaor ventricular fibrillation. Some...

Mental Health Conditions

Mental Health Conditions A mental illness is a condition that affects a person’s thinking, feeling or mood. Such conditions may affect someone’s ability to relate to others and function each day....

Oral health: A window to your overall health

Did you know that your oral health offers clues about your overall health — or that problems in your mouth can affect the rest of your body? Protect yourself by...

Oral health: Brush up on dental care basics

Your smile depends on simple dental care habits, such as brushing and flossing. But are you using the right techniques? Follow these steps to protect your oral health. Brushing for...

Eye Injury Facts and Myths

Eye Injury Facts and Myths Men are more likely to sustain an eye injury than women. Most people believe that eye injuries are most common on the job — especially in the...

Eye Safety at Home

Believe it or not, the average home is full of dangers that often go unnoticed. In fact, accidents involving common household products cause 125,000 eye injuries each year. Ninety percent...

What Can I Do to Reduce My Risk of Breast Cancer?

Many factors over the course of a lifetime can influence your breast cancer risk. You can’t change some factors, such as getting older or your family history, but you can...

What Can I Do to Reduce My Risk of Breast Cancer?

Many factors over the course of a lifetime can influence your breast cancer risk. You can’t change some factors, such as getting older or your family history, but you can...

Love your Heart! February is Heart Health Month

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in men and women. Someone has a heart attack every 43 seconds Cardiovascular diseases claim more lives than all forms of cancer...