Category: 52 Weeks to Health

Getting preventive care is one of the most important steps you can take to manage your health. That’s because when a condition is diagnosed early, it is usually easier to treat. And regular checkups can help you and your doctor identify lifestyle changes you can make to avoid certain conditions. Use the following link to see what preventive screenings are recommended for your age and gender: Preventive Screenings and Immunizations. While this is not a comprehensive list, these screenings are among the most important. Also listed are needed immunizations. The primary benefit of immunizations are to prevent disease. Immunization is […]

Taking Steps Toward Personal Wellness Often the hardest part of getting started on the journey toward a healthier lifestyle is taking that first step.  A good “first step” can be by simply completing a Health Risk Assessment (HRA).  A HRA is a questionnaire with questions that help determine your current health and your health risks.  There are questions regarding your and your family history of illnesses and medical conditions which can identify health risks for you.  There are questions about your health habits and lifestyle, which can identify areas that you may need to work on to improve. The Lake […]

world Hepatitis Day World Hepatitis Day is recognized annually on July 28th, the birthday of Dr. Baruch Blumberg (1925-2011), who discovered the hepatitis B virus in 1967 and two years later developed the first hepatitis B vaccine. In 2021 the theme is ‘Hepatitis Can’t Wait’.  Worldwide, viral hepatitis is among the top 10 infectious disease killers with more than one million people dying each year. These deaths are primarily from cirrhosis or liver cancer caused by hepatitis B and hepatitis C. In fact, chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C cause approximately 80% of the world’s liver cancer. Many of those […]

Build A Family Disaster Supply Kit Disasters and emergencies can happen at any time to anyone.  It is important to think about how you will respond BEFORE something happens.  With your family or household members, discuss how to prepare and respond to the types of emergencies that are most likely to happen where you live, learn, work and play. A disaster supplies kit is simply a collection of basic items your household may need in the event of an emergency. Try to assemble your kit well in advance of an emergency. You may have to evacuate at a moment’s notice […]

Have A Family Disaster Plan Disasters and emergencies can happen at any time to anyone.  It is important to think about how you will respond BEFORE something happens.  With your family or household members, discuss how to prepare and respond to the types of emergencies that are most likely to happen where you live, learn, work and play. Here are a few easy steps to start your emergency communication plan: Understand how to receive emergency alerts and warnings.  Make sure all household members are able to get alerts about an emergency from local officials. Check with your local emergency management […]

Firework Safety Tips Below are fireworks safety tips: Never allow young children to handle fireworks Older children should use them only under close adult supervision Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol Anyone using fireworks or standing nearby should wear protective eyewear Never hold lighted fireworks in your hands Never light them indoors Only use them away from people, houses and flammable material Never point or throw fireworks at another person Only light one device at a time and maintain a safe distance after lighting Never ignite devices in a container Do not try to re-light or handle […]

June is Scoliosis Awareness Month Scoliosis is a musculoskeletal disorder in which there is a sideways curvature of the spine, or back.  People of all ages can have scoliosis, but adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (scoliosis of unknown cause) is the most common type and typically occurs after the age of 10. Girls are more likely than boys to have this type of scoliosis. Because scoliosis can run in families, a child who has a parent, brother, or sister with idiopathic scoliosis should be checked regularly for scoliosis by the family doctor.   An x ray of the spine can confirm the diagnosis of […]

When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors! Sources: National Weather Service (www.weather.gov) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov) Lightning kills over 50 people in the U.S. each year. But deaths are only part of the lightning story. Only about 10% of those struck are killed; 90% survive. However, many of the survivors suffer devastating life-long injuries. These injuries are primarily neurological, with a wide range of symptoms, and are very difficult to diagnose. Lightning also causes over $5 billion of economic loss each year in the U.S. from fires and other property destruction. Lightning strike frequencies are highest in the Southeast, […]

Celebrate National Men’s Health Month Take action to be healthy and safe and encourage men and boys in your life to make their health a priority. Get Good Sleep Adults need between 7-9 hours of sleep. Insufficient sleep is associated with a number of chronic diseases and conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression. Also, poor sleep is responsible for motor vehicle and machinery-related accidents. Toss out the Tobacco It’s never too late to quit. Quitting smoking has immediate and long-term benefits. It improves your health and lowers your risk of heart disease, cancer, lung disease, and other smoking-related […]

May is National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month The teen birth rate has been steadily falling for years, but it still remains the highest teen pregnancy rate in the industrialized countries. About eighty-five percent of these pregnancies are unplanned, which in any population can increase the risk for problems. The biggest risk for teen mothers is delaying prenatal care or worse, about seven percent received no care at all. The Rates of Teen Pregnancy In 2017, a total of 194,377 babies were born to women aged 15–19 years, for a birth rate of 18.8 per 1,000 women in this age group. […]