Health And Fitness

Everyone 6 months and older should get an annual flu vaccine. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for your body to develop full protection against the flu. Get vaccinated by October to protect yourself and your loved ones! Shorter days and cooler evenings mean it's fall – and often the time that we start seeing people sick with flu.

Fibromyalgia is a long-lasting disorder marked by widespread pain, tenderness, fatigue, and other symptoms that can interfere with daily life. An estimated 5 million American adults have the condition. It most often affects women, although men and children also can have the disorder. Unfortunately, despite ongoing research, its causes remain unknown.

Millions of infants, children and adolescents in the United States did not receive key clinical preventive services, according to a report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in today’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Supplement. Clinical preventive services are various forms of important medical or dental care that support healthy development.

Vegetarians miss out on lots of foods. No grilled burgers or franks at picnics. No holiday turkey or fries cooked in animal fat. Strict vegetarians may even forego honey made by bees. But vegetarians also tend to miss out on major health problems that plague many Americans. They generally live longer than the rest of us, and they’re more likely to bypass heart-related and other ailments.

Some people enjoy an occasional glass of wine with dinner. Others might grab a beer while watching a football game. Most people drink alcohol moderately, within their limits. Others overdo it occasionally. But some people find they can’t control their drinking. How do you know when drinking is becoming a problem? And what can you do if it is? About 18 million Americans have an alcohol use disorder.

About 9 in 10 US children eat more sodium than recommended. Most sodium is in the form of salt, as a part of processed foods. A high sodium diet can lead to high blood pressure. About 1 in 6 children ages 8-17 years has raised blood pressure. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Lowering sodium in children's diets today can help prevent heart disease tomorrow, especially for those who are overweight.

Suicide can be prevented. Each year, more than 39,000 Americans take their own lives and about 487,000 people receive medical care for self-inflicted injuries. September 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day. Help prevent suicide in your community by knowing the facts, warning signs, and where to get help. Suicide (i.e., taking one's own life) is a serious public health problem that affects people of all ages.

What is bullying? Bullying is when a person or a group shows unwanted aggression to another person who is not a sibling or a current dating partner. Cyberbullying (or “electronic aggression”) is bullying that is done electronically, including through the Internet, e-mail, or mobile devices, among others. Bullying can be: -Physical: punching, beating, kicking, or pushing; stealing, hiding, or damaging another person’s belongings; forcing someone to do things against his or her will -Verbal: teasing, calling names, or insulting another person; threatening another person with physical harm; spreading rumors or untrue statements about another person -Relational: refusing to talk to someone or making them feel left out; encouraging other individuals to bully someone To be considered bullying, the behavior in question must be aggressive.

Volunteer blood donors play a vital role in the community health care system. Blood donors are needed every day to ensure the right blood product is on the shelf the moment it is needed.  It is difficult to predict when and exactly how much blood is needed, which is why it is important for volunteer blood donors to make blood donations on a regular basis.

How would you react to a medical emergency? When it comes to life-threatening conditions like heart attack or stroke, every minute counts. Get to know the signs and symptoms of these health threats. If you think you or someone else might be having a heart attack or stroke, get medical help right away. Acting fast could save your life or someone else’s.