(NAPSI)—When school years come to a close, many families hit the road for vacations, camps, and college visits. This makes summer an excellent time for drivers to do a routine check to make sure their vehicle is safe—checking the tire pressure, lights, and fluid levels; confirming that there are safety supplies in the trunk; and making that scheduled visit to a dealer or mechanic to change the oil or replace the wiper blades.

One important step drivers often forget is checking for vehicle safety recalls. Unlike other vehicle maintenance, repairing a safety recall is completely free at any authorized dealer.

The Problem

A recent public opinion survey commissioned by Stellantis, maker of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram, found that 43% of American drivers don’t know how to check if a vehicle has an open safety recall.  Continue reading →

(NewsUSA)  – As we get back to summer travel, cookouts, and time with friends and family, COVID-19 is still something to watch out for. While the virus may not be making big headlines, it hasn’t gone away. In fact, in each of the last four years, COVID-19 rates have gone up in July and August.

Why does this happen? The summer heat often means more indoor get-togethers and events in air-conditioned spaces, more travel, and more time spent around other people. These are just a few of the things that give the virus more chances to spread.

While a mild case of COVID-19 may feel like a bad cold for some, it can lead to serious health issues, hospitalization, or even death for many others. Doctors say nearly 3 out of 4 U.S. adults are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19. This includes people with common health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, cancer, asthma and other lung problems. Even adults over age 50 have a greater chance of getting sick enough to need medical care.

Vaccines are still a strong defense against COVID-19. But they may not fully protect everyone, especially those with other health issues. And whether someone’s vaccinated or not, it’s important to be prepared and know that there are antiviral treatments that can help. Continue reading →

(NAPSI)—Americans are living nearly a decade longer than they were in the 1970s. That’s great news—but staying healthy into your 80s and beyond requires extra care and an eye towards prevention. The protection provided by vaccines plays a key role in helping keep you healthy and preventing severe illness and potential long-term complications, especially for older adults and individuals with immunocompromised conditions.

As people age, their immune system naturally weakens—it becomes slower at recognizing and fighting off viruses. At the same time, lungs become more vulnerable, and chronic conditions such as heart disease or diabetes can make it harder to recover from illnesses such as COVID-19. Similarly, people of all ages with weakened immune systems—whether from certain health conditions or medications—face a higher risk of severe illness because their bodies also struggle to mount a strong defense. In both cases, a reduced ability to fight infectious respiratory disease increases the risk of serious complications and hospitalization. Continue reading →

Tap and glue scams leverage the convenience of tap-to-pay technology at ATMs, combined with a simple but effective trick involving glue. Scammers first disable the card insertion slot by pouring glue into it, forcing customers to use the tap function. While this may seem like an easy fix, it sets the stage for the scam.

Once a customer taps their card and withdraws cash, they often forget to log out of their account. This leaves the session open, allowing the scammer to step in and continue withdrawing funds. The scam relies on the victim’s unfamiliarity with tap-to-pay procedures, making it a lucrative tactic for fraudsters.

(NAPS)—Rachel Oh sat in an office at a military hospital, shifting in her seat and clicking the pen an American Red Cross representative had just given her. It was a day of much anticipation but at that moment, all she felt was nerves.

“I initially joined the Red Cross because I was interested in volunteering at the hospital where my mom worked,” said Oh. “It was straight out of COVID, and I was looking for something productive to do.”

The Red Cross, thanks to its Congressional Charter, which authorizes the organization to provide emergency communication services to deployed service members around the world, is granted unique access to U.S. military installations, military hospitals and veteran care facilities.

Oh lives in Kaiserslautern, Germany. Her mother is a doctor in the oncology department at the largest U.S. military hospital outside of the continental U.S.

“I was always interested in the hospital where my mom worked and wanted to be closer to her.”

But she was too young at the time, so they introduced her to the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Youth Action Campaign (YAC) instead.

AC is an educational outreach campaign that promotes awareness of and commitment to humanitarian principles in times of war. Outreach like this holds special significance to children of active-duty military parents like Oh, who describes the military as being a part of her life for as long as she can remember.  Continue reading →

Medicare Now Covers Less Invasive Colorectal Cancer Tests

(NewsUSA) – Expanded Screening Coverage Can Reduce Needless Deaths

Colorectal cancer deaths are declining, but shocking regional, racial and ethnic disparities remain. Ac-cording to the American Cancer Society, Latinos in the United States are more likely to die from colorec-tal cancer than those in many Central and South American countries, and death rates among Black men and women are 40% higher than their white counterparts. Rural residents are also far more likely to die from this often-preventable disease than those in urban areas. Much of this is due to lack of screening.

Colorectal cancer care groups, minority healthcare advocates and doctors have long held that virtual colonoscopy, or CT Colonography, can overcome cultural stigmas and anxiety associated with this screening. In January, Medicare began covering virtual colonoscopy – which uses a CT scanner to gen-erate 3D, moving images of the colon that doctors examine for signs of cancer and for precancerous polyps, which can be removed before they become cancers. Continue reading →

(NAPSI)—An estimated 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease.1 During January, recognized as Thyroid Awareness Month, YARAL Pharma is raising awareness of thyroid disease, particularly hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. Despite its prevalence, thyroid disease remains widely misunderstood, with many people unaware of its signs and symptoms.

The Role of the Thyroid

The thyroid, a small butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck, plays a vital role in regulating metabolism, energy levels, and overall hormonal balance. Conditions such as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and thyroid nodules can significantly impact health and quality of life. However, up to 60% of individuals with thyroid disease are unaware of their condition, often due to a lack of awareness about the signs and symptoms, leading to delays in diagnosis and treatment.1

Signs and Symptoms

Thyroid disorders can manifest in various ways, including fatigue, weight changes, mood fluctuations, and cognitive difficulties. These symptoms often resemble common day-to-day ailments, making them easy to overlook. As a result, many patients live with thyroid conditions for years before seeking treatment. Continue reading →

by Karyne Jones

(NAPSI)—Good news for those Americans over the age of 50 (and the people who care about them): You now have access to vaccines to stop the spread of pneumococcal disease, or pneumonia.

The change comes by way of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which updated its recommendation for pneumococcal vaccines, dropping the age to 50 from 65.

My Story

I know the importance of being vaccinated against this disease far too well. Continue reading →

(NewsUSA)  – One in three active-duty families of color have turned down military assignments due to concerns about racism or lack of inclusion in local communities, according to research from Blue Star Families’ Campaign for Inclusion. For two-thirds of these service members, declining orders led to negative career impacts — and for 15%, it was career-ending.

“When military families of color turn down assignments due to community concerns, it impacts not just family well-being but our national security,” said Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO of Blue Star Fami-lies. “With most recruitable U.S. adults projected to be people of color within five years, creating truly inclusive communities isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s essential for maintaining our All-Volunteer Force.”

The latest research from Blue Star Families’ Campaign for Inclusion examined how communities can better support diverse military families through case studies of three distinct military communities: Hill Air Force Base (Utah), San Antonio (Texas, “Military City USA”), and Hampton Roads (Virginia).

Key findings reveal that both formal systems (like community resources and programs) and informal networks (neighbors and local connections) are foundational for military families developing a sense of belonging. Having multiple shared identities — from military affiliation to cultural background — strengthens these connections. Continue reading →