Category: 52 Weeks to Health

How Can You Prevent Rabies in Animals? There are several things you can do to protect your pet from rabies. First, visit your veterinarian with your pet on a regular basis and keep rabies vaccinations up-to-date for all cats, ferrets, and dogs. Second, maintain control of your pets by keeping cats and ferrets indoors and keeping dogs under direct supervision. Third, spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of unwanted pets that may not be properly cared for or vaccinated regularly. Finally, call animal control to remove all stray animals from your neighborhood since these animals may […]

Our Children – Keep Them at a Healthy Weight One in 5 children in the United States has obesity.. Childhood obesity puts kids at risk for having other chronic health conditions and diseases such as asthma, sleep apnea, bone and joint problems, and type 2 diabetes.  They also have more risk factors for heart disease like high blood pressure and high cholesterol than their normal weight peers. Children with obesity can be bullied and teased more than their normal weight peers. They are also more likely to suffer from social isolation, depression, and lower self-esteem. Children with obesity are also […]

Foodborne Illness Peaks in Summer – What can you do to prevent it? Year after year we hear and read the same advice: “Handle food carefully in the summer because foodborne illness, also known as “food poisoning,” is more prevalent in warmer weather.” But does foodborne illness really increase during the summer months? If so, how can it be prevented? Foodborne bacteria grow fastest at temperatures between 90 to 110 °F (32 to 43 oC) and during the summer months, the warmer temperatures and higher humidity are ideal for bacterial growth. Consumers can play a role in protecting themselves at […]

According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, almost 1 in 5 Americans experience mental health concerns each year, while more than 100 die by suicide every day. Suicide ranks as the 10th leading cause of death in the US.  Suicide ranks as the 2nd leading cause of death for 15-34-year-olds.  Visit the National Center for the Prevention of Youth Suicide for youth-specific warning signs and risk factors. 988 is the new three-digit dialing code connecting people to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (formerly the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline), where compassionate, accessible care and support are available for anyone experiencing […]

The Benefits of Breastfeeding Breastfeeding, also known as nursing, is the feeding of babies and young children with milk from a woman’s breast. Health professionals recommend that breastfeeding begin within the first hour of a baby’s life and continue as often and as much as the baby wants. During the first few weeks of life babies may nurse roughly every two to three hours. The duration of a feeding is usually ten to fifteen minutes on each breast. Older children feed less often. Mothers may pump milk so that it can be used later when breastfeeding is not possible. The […]

National Immunization Month August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). This annual observance highlights the importance of getting recommended vaccines throughout your life. We know the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all aspects of life, including your ability to attend important appointments and receive routine vaccinations. During NIAM, we encourage you to talk to your doctor, nurse or healthcare professional to ensure you and your family are protected against serious diseases by getting caught up on routine vaccinations.  Immunizations are public health’s great success story with the disappearance of many infectious diseases. As your children head back to school this fall, […]

Healthy Eating on the Run: A Month of Tips You probably eat out a lot—most Americans do. People are looking for fast, easy and good-tasting foods to fit a busy lifestyle. Whether it’s carry-out, food court, office cafeteria or sit-down restaurant, there are smart choices everywhere. Here are 30 tips to help you eat healthy when eating out. Think ahead and plan where you will eat. Consider what meal options are available. Look for restaurants or carry-out with a wide range of menu items. Take time to look over the menu and make careful selections. Some restaurant menus may have […]

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 2022 the theme is ‘I 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 […]