(NAPSI)—Back to School presents parents and students with opportunities to have important discussions about life choices. One thing to connect on before the first bell rings is understanding and avoiding tobacco, including electronic cigarettes.

An increasing number of Florida school-aged children have either used an e-cigarette or know someone who does. While combustible cigarettes are almost entirely gone from our state’s schools, e-cigarettes were by far the most-used tobacco product among teens in 2021. In 2021, 18.3% of Florida high school students reported current use of e-cigarettes, a 16.6% increase compared to 2017.

Unsure how to address tobacco with your child? Here are some tips:

1.Study up. Before you have the conversation, spend some time making sure you’re aware of the most recent changes. Did you know the minimum smoking age is now 21 across Florida, or that some previously popular brands like JUUL are now less popular among teens and young adults? Continue reading →

(NAPSI)—Open enrollment is quickly approaching and while businesses continue to navigate through economic uncertainties, dynamic shifts and the ongoing Great Resignation, strong benefits offerings could help retain employees.

That’s what was revealed by the fifth annual HSA Bank Health & Wealth Index, a report that explores trends in consumer financial and physical health, and for the first time, mental health. Here are the key findings:

• More than half of Gen Z would change employers to get better healthcare benefits.
• Thirty percent of respondents were not sure if they could afford healthcare costs in the near-term or in retirement.
• Families with children really value telehealth. Sixty-one percent of respondents with children reported using telehealth services compared to 43% of respondents without children.

Continue reading →

by the We Can Do This 

COVID-19 Public Education Campaign

(NAPSI)—The new school year is quickly approaching. In addition to buying pencils and notebooks and putting school clothes in order, getting kids vaccinated against COVID-19 is an essential step for getting back into the classroom. All children 6 months and older are eligible for COVID vaccines, and children ages 5 and older who have already been vaccinated are eligible for a booster for continued protection.

“Being in school, interacting with other students and teachers, and participating in extracurricular activities are important to the overall well-being of kids,” said Dr. Kenneth Alexander, Chief of Infectious Diseases at Nemours Children’s Health in Orlando, Florida. “Vaccinations are the best way to protect kids of all ages from COVID, and the best way to make sure they stay engaged in the classroom and activities they need and enjoy.” Continue reading →

(NAPSI)—For the world’s leading neuroscientists, unlocking the brain’s capacity to stimulate neural plasticity has become something of a Holy Grail.

That’s because enhancing plasticity is perhaps the most important step towards repairing central nervous system (CNS) damage. In fact, it can have a profound impact across multiple neurological functions, including improving motor, sensory and cognitive abilities such as memory.

People marvel at how children are able to learn things so quickly and easily. This ability is mediated by their brains’ nimble neural plasticity. Neuroscientists once believed that neuroplasticity manifested predominately during childhood. However, research in the mid-20th century demonstrated that many aspects of the brain can be altered, even in adulthood. Still, the developing brain has a significantly higher degree of plasticity than the adult brain.

The human brain consists of enormous networks of neurons. They act as messengers that use electrical impulses and chemical signals to transmit information between different areas of the brain, and between the brain and the nervous system. Even a very simple task, such as standing or sitting, typically involves millions of interconnected neurons. Damage to these interconnected systems can be catastrophic.  Continue reading →

by Matt Muller

(NAPSI)—If you’re like many people, you may be curious about crypto. From crypto direct deposits and debit cards to decentralized saving and lending and cross-border payments, the cryptoeconomy is rapidly challenging many of the core ideas around what money is and how it can be put to work. As cryptocurrency grows in popularity and use cases, you may have questions about how this digital currency works—and how secure your personal information and finances will be. Read on for answers to some common questions about crypto safety and security.

How can I be sure that my crypto transactions will be secure? Continue reading →

(NAPSI)—The 2022 hurricane season is underway, with the Colorado State University (CSU) Tropical Meteorology Project Team forecasting an above-average storm season for the Atlantic basin. Emergency preparation experts say now is the time to get ready, especially as CSU places the probability of a major hurricane making landfall along U.S. coastlines at 71 percent.

When a hurricane hits, food, water and other critical supplies can run short and this year the situation could be even worse due to ongoing supply chain issues. What’s more, severe storms will negatively impact an aging electrical grid that is overdue for updating, causing the power to go out for days—if not weeks. In short order, residents may find themselves in dire need for supplies and backup power. 

What You Can Do

To help people better prepare for outages, the power outage experts from Generac, a global energy technology company, share the following tips:  Continue reading →

(NAPSI)—More than 5,400 postal employees were attacked by dogs in the United States in 2021. From nips and bites to vicious attacks, aggressive dog behavior poses a serious threat to postal employees and just about everyone else.

To help people understand the enormity of this serious issue, the U.S. Postal Service provides information on the do’s and don’ts of responsible dog ownership as part of its annual National Dog Bite Awareness Week public service campaign.

The campaign runs Sunday, June 5, through Saturday, June 11 but any time is a good time to consider dog bite prevention. This year’s theme is “The USPS Delivers for America—Deliver for Us by Restraining Your Dog.” You can help spread the news of the campaign by using the hashtag #dogbiteawareness. Continue reading →

(NAPSI)—A fast, reliable Internet connection has become a critical part of our daily lives. From remote learning and working to networking and searching for jobs, Americans everywhere felt an online shift during COVID-19.

And, while the country gradually recovers from the pandemic, the collective need to stay connected remains stronger than ever.

Enter the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). 

ACP extends and makes permanent the Internet subsidy for families in need that began under the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program. Falling under the $1.2T bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the ACP is part of a $65 billion broadband Internet initiative designed to bring affordable or even free Internet service to families who qualify.

Eligible households can save up to $30 a month, or up to $75 if they reside on tribal lands. Continue reading →

(NAPSI)—According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one in 10 Americans can expect to be diagnosed with diabetes. If you or someone you care about is ever among them, you may be surprised to learn that one of the most important ways your doctor can help detect the condition is with an eye exam. 

The Problem 

That’s because a serious complication of diabetes is diabetic retinopathy. The disease causes damage to the blood vessels in the back of the eye. It can affect up to 80 percent of patients living with diabetes and is the leading cause of blindness amongst working age adults. It can affect up to 80 percent of people with diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy has no early warning signs, and symptoms such as blurred vision do not occur until diabetic retinopathy is in an advanced state.

What Can Be Done 

Fortunately, early detection and timely treatment can reduce the risk of vision loss due to diabetic retinopathy by 95%. Primary Care physicians now have access to a simple and affordable solution called the Welch Allyn® RetinaVue® Care delivery model, available from Henry Schein. The RetinaVue care delivery model is a turnkey solution that consists of three core components, including the RetinaVue 700 Imager, RetinaVue Network software for secure transfer of patient images and Professional Medical Services to analyze and diagnose patient images and networks the doctors already have. The imager’s ease of use and lightweight, portable design make it well-suited for use across clinics, at the bedside or even in the home. In a fast and non-invasive procedure, your primary care physician can take a photo of your retina and send it to an ophthalmologist to analyze the blood vessels there. Thanks to this technology, you won’t even need to leave the doctor’s office and may not need to make another appointment with the ophthalmologist, although doctors do recommend that anyone living with diabetes get an annual retinal exam.  Continue reading →