This month, we want to help individuals become aware of the negative health effects of excessive alcohol.
National Safety Month
June is National Safety Month! Even though June is almost over, it is still important to remember the importance of safety year round, though. We want you to learn more about prevent poisonings, transportation safety, and slips, trips and falls. 90% of poisonings happen at home and 25% of older adults fall badly enough that they suffer from serious injuries. Please do everything you can to prevent these things from happening.
Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month
May is Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention month! Prevention of skin cancer starts with using at least a SPF 30 sunscreen that has broad spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays. Wear sunscreen daily, not just when you are in the sun for prolonged periods of time. You can get sun exposure through car and airplane windows!
Alcohol Awareness Month
Drinking too much alcohol can have many negative impacts on your life that include, but are not limited to injuries, violence, liver disease, and cancer.
April is alcohol awareness month and you can do your part by bringing awareness to the problem and encouraging everyone you know to do the same.
Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
March is colorectal cancer awareness month. Colorectal cancer is the 4th most common type of cancer in the United States. It is either cancer of the colon or rectum, the lower part of the large intestine.
Colorectal cancer can be totally prevented through regular screening colonoscopies. If you are 50 or over and have not had one, please talk to your doctor today. Your life may depend on it!
Heart Disease Awareness Month
February is American Heart Month. Make sure that you are taking care of your heart during these cold temperatures. Did you know that the cold can be life threatening for anyone with coronary heart disease? Most heart attacks are caused from a condition called atherosclerosis. During the cold months, your body takes steps in making sure that your body stays warm, but it may also raises your heart rate and blood pressure in the process. While a person with a healthy heart has no problem tolerating these conditions, someone with atherosclerosis could have a heart attack because of this.
To protect yourself from the cold, make sure that you avoid sudden exertion in the cold, wear a lot of layers to keep your body warm, make an effort to keep your hands, feet, and head all warm, and take precautions against the cold and flu.
Cervical Cancer Awareness Month
More than 11,000 women in America are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year. A Pap smear is the screening test for this type of cancer. The test can detect early abnormalities, and if treated, can prevent the development of cervical cancer.
HPV (human papilloma virus) is a common sexually transmitted infection that causes most cases of cervical cancer. It is estimated that over 79 million Americans have HPV, but many are unaware of it. A woman may not know she has been exposed until she is told she has an abnormal Pap smear.
The HPV vaccine can prevent the most common types of HPV that are associated with risk of cervical cancer. This is especially important for teens starting as young as age 11 to get. It is important to understand that the vaccine is not used to prevent STD’s, but rather is indicated for cervical cancer prevention.
Insomnia
Everyone occasionally has a sleepless night, but the holiday season can make those more frequent. Planning for parties, selecting menus, decorating, worrying about overspending and finding the right gifts can affect our sleep simply because it is hard to “turn our minds off”. If we don’t get adequate rest, our immune system can weaken making it easier to contract a cold or the flu.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a common condition that continues to be under diagnosed. Unfortunately, the long term effects of not treating the disease are very serious and occur over time. Obesity is a major risk factor for the diagnosis.
Vitamin D
Fads come and go. The medical profession is no different. With new research daily, it is easy to get on the bandwagon of the latest and greatest of diet, exercise, vitamin supplementation, or hormone balancing techniques. There are some topics, though, that gain traction through the test of time and become increasingly more relevant to our health.