by the We Can Do This COVID-19 Public Education Campaign

(NAPSI)—As the days get longer and the temperatures warm up, spring is the perfect time to take stock of your household and your health. This season is a time of renewal and rejuvenation, offering the opportunity to make some simple moves to improve your overall well-being.

To make the most out of a spring refresh, we’ve rounded up some of our top cleaning and health and wellness tips: Continue reading →

(NAPSI)—For many health conditions, Black/African Americans are impacted at disproportionate rates. High blood pressure is the leading modifiable risk factor for stroke, cardiovascular disease, and dementia. Black/African Americans are 50 percent more likely to have high blood pressure when compared to other racial and ethnic groups, and Black/African American men have the highest rate of uncontrolled blood pressure.

Many other factors can increase your risk of high blood pressure, including genetics and family history, having certain medical conditions, and lifestyle factors. While you can’t change your genetics, there are many simple and effective lifestyle changes you can make that can help control your blood pressure and lower your risk of stroke and dementia later in life.

“People need to think about how they can decrease their chances of developing s Continue reading →

(NAPSI)—In November 2022, Jim Cheatham was stationed across the country from his family when his grandmother’s health began to quickly decline.

Help From The Red Cross

“It became very obvious that she was not going to make it to the end of the year,” said Beth Cheatham, Jim’s mother. “My son had leave planned and approved for Christmas and I became very afraid that he would not be able to say goodbye, so we reached out to the American Red Cross Hero Care Network to bring him home early.”

One of the many ways the American Red Cross supports U.S. service members is through the Hero Care Network, which is available 24 hours a day. When a service member or their family member initiates an emergency message, as Beth did on behalf of her son, Red Cross staff work with the family and appropriate professionals, such as doctors and nurses, to verify the emergency. Emergencies include the illness/injury or death of an immediate family member, as well as birth messages. Once initiated, this verified message is provided to the command, enabling the service member’s commander to make an informed decision regarding emergency leave.  Continue reading →

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

(NAPSI)—Unused medication can sometimes find its way into the wrong hands, so it’s critical to dispose of it properly. To make that easier and raise awareness about the potential of medication abuse, and encourage people to remove unneeded medications from their homes, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) hosts National Prescription Drug Take Back Days each spring and fall. For year-round convenience, CVS Pharmacy offers in-store disposal units available during pharmacy hours at thousands of locations nationwide.

Why is safe medication disposal important? 

Unneeded or expired medications that are not properly secured of disposed can be associated with accidental poisoning and improper access by those seeking to misuse them.  Continue reading →

(NAPSI)—Eye disease affects more than your ability to see the world clearly. People with impaired vision face an increased risk of falls, fractures, injuries, depression, anxiety, cognitive deficits and social isolation. One of the best ways to protect yourself against vision loss from eye disease is to get regular eye exams.

Ophthalmologists—physicians who specialize in medical and surgical eye care—have more tools than ever before to diagnose eye diseases earlier, and to treat them better. But these advances cannot help people whose disease is undiagnosed, or who are unaware of the seriousness of their disease.

That’s why the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends all adults receive a comprehensive eye exam by age 40, and every year or two after age 65.

Here’s how low vision can affect nearly every aspect of your life:  Continue reading →

Group of diverse senior male and female friends doing puzzles at home. socialising with friends at home.

(NAPSI)—Kidney disease is often referred to as a “silent disease” because there are usually no symptoms during its early stages. In fact, as many as 90% of Americans who have chronic kidney disease (CKD) don’t know they have the disease until it is advanced.

CKD is estimated to affect more than 1 in 7 adults in the United States. The good news is the earlier you find out you have kidney disease, the sooner you can take steps to protect your kidneys from further damage. By getting tested for CKD and following your kidney health, you may help keep your kidneys healthier for longer and give yourself more healthy moments.

Know Your Risk

Even if you feel healthy and have no symptoms, ask your doctor about getting tested for kidney disease. If you are over 60 or have any risk factors for kidney disease—such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, a history of acute kidney injury or a family history of CKD—you may be at increased risk. Continue reading →

(NAPSI)—If you’re like many people, the idea of a “smart home” is both enticing and a bit intimidating. There’s the promise of an ideal in which simple voice commands and automation can set the lighting, activate the air conditioning, and play music on demand. In reality, setting up all the many devices to make this possible can be daunting due to one primary underlying reason: “Standards,” according to DigiCert VP of Digital Trust, Mike Nelson. “Or, rather, lack thereof.” According to Nelson, the answer is establishing a catch-all standard in device-making for all available vendors. Now, there’s Matter, which can be this long-awaited standard.

The Problem

Despite roughly a billion smart home devices shipped yearly, Nelson claims there is still a need for a device interaction protocol. Competing platforms, such as Google Nest, Apple Home, and Amazon Alexa, contend in a chaotic market. This is without including the countless other companies producing all manner of products that are compatible with all of these smart home systems. The varying degrees of interoperability are further complicated by the sheer number of control apps coming to market. Continue reading →

(NAPSI)—Ah, Spring: Flowers in bloom, birds on the wing, fun in the sun—and itchy eyes, runny noses, sneezing, coughing, hives, wheezing, fatigue and difficulty breathing for the more than 60 million Americans the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America say suffer from asthma or allergies. But there can be a solution.

The Problem

Even the cleanest home can harbor all sorts of indoor allergens. Unseen contaminants and air pollutants including dirt, dust, pet dander, cigarette smoke, mold, mildew and chemicals. They get pulled into your home’s HVAC system and recirculated throughout the house several times a day.

An Answer

A few simple steps can reduce and remove allergens.  Continue reading →

Michele Long (right) reviews a GeneSight test report with her patient, Beth. Genetic information helps providers find effective mental health medications and may reduce the frustrating trial-and-error process that is common when treating mental illness.

(NAPSI)—Nurse practitioner Michele Long has been Beth’s primary care provider for years. So, when Beth started experiencing symptoms of depression, she scheduled an appointment with Michele.

It was the right decision. According to Beth, “Michele made me feel very comfortable talking to her about my mental health.”

Talking about mental health with primary care providers is something doctors and nurse practitioners want more people to do. According to the GeneSight Mental Health Monitor national survey from Myriad Genetics, more than 83 percent of primary care providers (PCPs) wish more of their patients would tell them about their mental health concerns.

Yet, more than half of surveyed clinicians don’t think patients are aware that PCPs and nurse practitioners are fully trained to diagnose and treat mental health conditions.  Continue reading →