Every day, 46 children are diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. So, to help raise awareness, support families and improve research and treatment of childhood cancers, September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. See how you can make a difference.
(more…)Obesity rates around the world – for children and adults – are on the rise. And a recent study suggests that if we don’t do something soon, half of all U.S. adults will be obese by 2030. Fortunately, there are things you can start doing now to help your whole family stay fit and healthy.
(more…)Between unemployment, the market, keeping food on the table, taking care of your family, retirement, debt, credit cards, and life in general, it’s not surprising if you’ve been stressed out lately. But all that stress, all the time, could be seriously hurting your health. Learn more.
(more…)Are you one of the many Americans who is more likely to access the Internet on a mobile device than by a home Internet connection or on a PC? Now there is a new tool that allows you to find nearby public services using your mobile device – BeeLocal!
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Managing type 2 diabetes is possible with the right tools and lifestyle changes. But what happens when you can’t afford to make those changes, healthy choices aren’t available and other factors make it difficult for you to manage your diabetes and keep up with costs?
The short answer: you don’t manage your diabetes well.
So, various programs have been created to help diabetics develop healthy habits and manage their diabetes. But after the programs ended, many people reverted back to old habits. Researchers wanted to know why. Here were the top 4 reasons:
It can become a vicious cycle. Low-income neighborhoods tend to have the highest number of fast food restaurants, snack foods and few if any grocery stores with fresh vegetables and fruits. Poor nutrition often leads to weight gain, which means diabetes and more health problems. Of course, health care costs and medications can quickly become too expensive and those who need life saving services can’t afford them. Leaving many people with very few options.
So, what can you do? If you’re living with diabetes, there are things you can do now to eat healthy, live well and manage your diabetes:
One man drinks too many beers daily with his boys to help calm his anger. While another woman prays nightly, waiting for a higher power to lift her mood and her spirit. Still, she can’t shake her sadness.
When depression strikes, it’s important that you recognize it and begin dealing with it, immediately.
There are just two questions you need to ask yourself to see if you may be experiencing depression, according to a simple screening tool known as the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2). Here they are:
1. During the past month, have I often been bothered by feeling down, depressed or hopeless?
2. During the past month, have I been bothered by little interest or pleasure in doing things?
If you answer “Yes” to one or both of these questions, you could be suffering from depression, according to the researchers from Pfizer who developed this screening tool.
It’s important for you to know that depression can be treated. But, it’s important that you be aware of the signs and seek support. The National Mental Health Association advises people to seek help if they suffer from these common symptoms of depression:
Please consider contacting your physician or other mental health care professional to discuss any symptoms you may be experiencing. Being sad all of the time, feeling a lack of energy, difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite and mood swings, do not have to be your daily struggle. And, please know that you are not alone.
Mental health professionals provide many resources to help treat depression – from medications to talk therapy – in order to help individuals recover and regain their hope.
For your confidential and free depression-screening test, visit the National Mental Health Association at www.nmha.org. However, if you are thinking about harming yourself, please call 9-1-1 immediately or the 24-hour hotline of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
I need to spend the last $80 of my health Flexible Spending Account (FSA) money before March 15! This account allows my employer to set aside a portion of my earnings to pay for qualified, medical expenses, using pre-tax dollars.
Know that my intentions were good. I scheduled my preventive care appointments for myself and my family. The good news: it was a healthy year for us. So, I’m still a few co-pays and filled prescriptions away from using up these final funds. (Most plans give you a 2 to 2.5 month grace period to get your money.)
Last year, I was able to spend my stray bucks on assorted cold medicines, antihistamines, eye drops, etc., providing receipts for the purchases at the last hour. This year, the rules have changed, and reimbursing the cost of many over-the-counter medicines and drugs from health flexible spending arrangements is no longer an option. You will need a prescription in order to quality for reimbursement. (Thanks, Affordable Care Act!)
So, am I going to lose my money or gift it to my employer? Uh, neither! I visited www.IRS.gov and got a few ideas on how to spend my hard-earned (and saved) flexible spending account dollars.
If you find yourself in a similar situation, here are some options to help you get your FSA money:
To learn more about health Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts, contact your employer’s human resources department to see if these types of programs are offered. Also, you can learn more about them by visiting www.IRS.gov.
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February marks the two year anniversary of the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA). And as one of Obama’s first actions as President, it’s already made some big improvement for millions of children and families.
Here are just a few of the ways this Act has changed health care:
Find out more about affordable health care in your area by calling call 1-877-543-7669 (1-877-Kids-Now). You can also learn about the programs available in your state, here.
Courtesy of HealthNews
Preschool-age kids need good habits and routines for healthy development. But a new study shows just how important those routines may be to your child’s health and weight.
While we all come in different shapes and sizes – obesity raises the risk for diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. Needless to say, with more children in the U.S. becoming obese it may be time for some healthy changes.
There are several factors that contribute to obesity. But healthy lifestyle choices, including eating right and physical activity, can lower the risk of becoming obese and developing related diseases. Teaching your kids about healthy habits now can help them maintain a healthy weight into adulthood.
Along with eating right and exercising, these steps can help reduce childhood obesity:
Ready to make some healthy choices for the whole family, but don’t know where to start? Visit The Beehive for healthy living tips, weight management and more.
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Each year, more than 700,000 Americans have a stroke – it’s the third leading cause of death in the U.S. But many of the risk factors can often be treated.
In some areas, like East Texas, fried foods, lack of exercise and high tobacco use mean high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease – which also means high stroke risk. But it’s not just in Texas. All over the U.S., rising obesity rates and untreated health problems put many of us at risk.
So, what are the best ways to prevent stroke? Be able to recognize the warning signs that your brain isn’t getting enough oxygen and make a few lifestyle changes to help reduce your risk and prevent numerous health problems.
While some risk factors can’t be changed, there are some that can be treated. Here are a few of the risks and ways to prevent a stroke:
High blood pressure: Maintain a healthy weight by exercising and eating a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables, cutting back on salt can also help. Your doctor may also prescribe medicine to help lower your blood pressure. Controlling your blood pressure can also help you avoid heart disease, diabetes, and kidney failure.
Cigarettes: There are a number of reasons to quit smoking – one in particular is that tobacco products can cause problems in the carotid artery – this is the main neck artery supplying blood to your brain. Blockage of this artery is the leading cause of stroke. There are several ways to quit smoking, learn more and find the right one for you.
Heart disease: Several heart disorders can result in blood clots that may block vessels leading to the brain. Another common cause of stroke. Talk to your doctor about medication, like aspirin, that can help prevent blood clots.
Warning signs or history of stroke: If you’ve had one before, get to know the warning signs and take steps to reduce your risk of a second stroke.
Diabetes: This can cause destructive changes in the blood vessels throughout your body, including the brain. Learn how to manage your diabetes and take control of your health.
If you’re having a hard time paying for healthcare or you’re living in an area where health services are limited, get some help with the costs of healthcare and find an affordable health center.
