The primary purpose of Congenital Heart Defect Awareness day is to raise awareness of congenital heart defect (CHD) which is actually the most common birth defect. It affects approximately 1% of new-borns with more than 40,000 babies born with heart defects in the United States each year. Every day, a little over 10,800 babies in the US are born and 411 of them have some type of birth defect. Out of the 411 with birth defects, 87 will be born with a congenital heart defect. This number is more than cerebral palsy (27), Down syndrome (12), sickle cell disease (27) and oral/facial clefts (11). This is according to the March of Dimes.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. Every year, 1 in 4 deaths are caused by heart disease. The good news? Heart disease can often be prevented when people make healthy choices and manage their health conditions. We can use this month to raise awareness about heart disease and how people can prevent it — both at home and in the community. Make a difference in your community: Spread the word about strategies for preventing heart disease and encourage people to live heart healthy lives.
National Nutrition Month is a nutrition education and information campaign created annually in March by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The focus is to bring attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. In addition, National Nutrition Month promotes the Academy and its members to the public and the media as the most valuable and credible source of timely, scientifically-based food and nutrition information.
January is National Birth Defects Prevention Month, a time to focus on raising awareness about the frequency with which birth defects occur in the United States and of the steps that can be taken to prevent them. While not all birth defects can be prevented, there are things a women can do get ready for a healthy pregnancy. This is important because many birth defects happen very early during pregnancy, sometimes before a woman even knows she is pregnant. There are some steps a woman can take to get ready for a healthy pregnancy.
Type 2 diabetes is on the rise. By the year 2050, one in three people will have diabetes. Children from certain racial and ethnic groups are at higher risk, including African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian/Pacific Islander and Native American children. Just a few years ago, it was rare to hear about a child with type 2 diabetes. It used to be thought that if diabetes occurred in childhood, it was type 1, or juvenile-onset, diabetes. Not anymore. Now, according to the CDC, more than 186,000 people younger than age 20 have diabetes — both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, formerly called adult-onset diabetes.
Every season brings unique flavors – and cravings for different foods and drinks. But there’s hardly a season as inspiring as summer. That’s because there are so many great foods that come of season during summer, from corn on the cob to fresh fruits. And to beat the heat, it’s awesome to cool down with refreshing foods, from cool desserts to chilled beverages. With summer weather, it’s time to get outside – from the pool to the beach, from picnics to grilling – which means you need fresh ideas for food. Summer will be gone before you know it.
Google “vitamins” and you get 50 million results and the wildest claims you can imagine. That’s almost six times more than what you get for “Brad Pitt,” but the descriptions are just as breathless. As you navigate the maze of sites, you see phrases claiming vitamin supplements can “increase energy,” “stimulate brain function” and “improve sex drive.” There are promises of “reversing cancer” and “removing plaque” from your arteries. It all helps explain why Americans shell out $7.5 billion a year on vitamins, hoping to prolong life, slow aging and protect against a bevy of illnesses. For people who have trouble getting enough micronutrients in a day, taking vitamins will provide the necessary vitamins and minerals that are not consumed, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Sleep loss and impairments related to fatigue are common among professionals working in healthcare settings. Long continuous duty hours, reduced opportunities for sleep with minimal recuperation time, and shift work all contribute significantly to impairments in physical, cognitive, and emotional functioning. Detrimental effects include those on personal health and well-being, patient health and safety, performance of job-related tasks, and professionalism. Many challenges exist to implementing effective personal and system-wide strategies to manage the impact of sleep loss. Therefore, adopting fatigue management strategies that have been successful in other occupational settings and developing specific interventions that are appropriate for the hospital setting are key in the causes and consequences of sleep loss and fatigue in healthcare.
Do young people have heart attacks? Are women at higher risk? Every year in the United States, more than 1,000 people between the ages of 35 and 44 experience coronary artery disease. Studies show that men have more heart attacks than women, even under age 50. However, women are more apt to die after suffering a heart attack. One of the reasons women may be more likely to die after a heart attack is because symptoms of a heart attack in women may not be as obvious as they are in men. While a man may experience acute heartburn, chest pain or pain radiating down the left arm, a woman’s symptoms can be much milder. A woman may feel fatigue, shortness of breath or lightheadedness and indigestion – symptoms that could easily be attributed to other causes, such as anxiety.
The gloomy days of January can be the most miserable and stressful of the year, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Imagine living in serenity. It is possible if you make few changes to your life. It can be easy if you let it be. Laughter is the best way to start. Laughter is great for your health. It is good for your heart and your blood pressure. Laughter feels good too. Try to see the fun in your life and spend more time laughing.