Check Your Stress: April is National Stress Awareness Month

By Samantha Munro

Red Cross graphic – Find a small way every day to cope with stress.

April is recognized as National Stress Awareness Month to bring attention to the negative impact of stress. Managing stress is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle. Knowing how to manage stress can improve mental and physical well-being as well as minimize severity of health-related issues.

The origins of National Stress Awareness Month can be traced back to 1992 when the Health Resource Network (HRN), a non-profit health education organization, launched a campaign to encourage people to learn about the effects of stress and to provide information on how to manage it.

As a humanitarian organization, The American Red Cross responds to an average of more than 60,000 disasters every year. Even when the immediate danger has. People may feel grief or anger over the damage or loss, fear or hopelessness when thinking about rebuilding their lives, and not knowing where or how to begin.

The Red Cross offers Disaster Mental Health services provided by licensed professionals who volunteer their time and talent when disaster strikes. It is crucial for people to know that there is help available to them after experiencing a disaster. Knowing that you are not alone, that there are people who are available to assist you with getting your life back on track one day at a time.

Keeping a balanced life and limiting the amount of stress is very important. Here are some resources that can be of great benefit to anyone seeking additional information:

• The Mental Health American (MHA) provides some tips on how to reduce your stress by utilizing a Stress Screener.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website offers strategies for stress management
• The National Institutes of Health offers several resources that can assist managers and employees in dealing with stress and anxiety.

A conversation with Jane and Zymir teaches us about Public Health Week

Editor’s Note: Our fictional friends Jane and Zymir learn about the importance of Public Health Week with some help from Grandma.

National Public Health Week graphic – Protecting, Connecting, Thriving: We Are All Public Health.

By Robert Ambrose

Zymir: I feel bad.

Jane: Why? (Pause). Me, too.

Grandma: When you aren’t practicing a sport, what happens?

Zymir: You get worse at it.

Grandma: Same is true in life. If you aren’t helping others, then you might feel like you don’t have a purpose.

Jane: So, what do you do about it?

Grandma: (Smiling) As young people in your 20s, you will realize: you have to get involved. For example, check in with NPHW.

Zymir: What’s NPHW?

Grandma’: Not to go on a rant but National Public Health Week is beautiful way to do great things. You could make the whole neighborhood better and healthier by hosting anything from a bike ride to a community cleanup, or a community exercise, or a community potluck.

Jane: I hear community a lot in there.

Grandma: Exactly. It’s all about the community. There’s much more. For college students like you, host nar-can training in case of a drug overdose, set up an on-campus blood donation drive with the Red Cross, work with the recreation center to have an exercise class, invite therapy dogs during stressful times like college exams, host economical nutritious food classes because you are what you eat and manage a letter-writing campaign to decision-makers regarding important public health matters.

Zymir: You seem like a public health expert.

Grandma: I am an involved volunteer.

Jane: When does National Public Health Week start.

Grandma: Soon. April 1 to 7. Each day will have a different theme.

Jane: Like what?

Grandma: April 1 is Civic Engagement. Do a Pledge to Vote Campaign. Then greater numbers of people will turn up on election day. Higher voting percentages translate to healthier people.

Zymir: And Tuesday?

Grandma: Tuesday is Healthy Neighborhoods Day. We recognize that where we live, and work has a dramatic effect on our health.

Jane: What about Wednesday?

Grandma: Climate. We consciously try to buy less things so that there is simply less packaging floating around and less carbon footprint to buy the item in the first place. Americans have a lot of stuff, you know?

Zymir: That leaves Thursday through Sunday.

Grandma: Thursday is New Tools and Innovations. So, smartwatches can help us monitor health or remind us just to get out there and take a walk. Friday is Sexual Health Day when we consider cancers and STDs screening. Saturday is making a plan for a disaster – Emergency Preparedness – and tell your family. Then they can know what to do. Sunday is an easy day. Look at NPHW.org to learn how to balance resources to ensure all have resources to enjoy community well-being.

Jane: Okay. What can we do right now?

Grandma: Download the APHA Keep It Moving app. That way, through April 7, you can exercise, feel better and join the broad national conversation about public health. Community by community we aspire to build a healthier America than the path we’re on.

(Jane and Zymir on their phones in the Apple Store or Google Play Store download the free app.)

World Water Day: ‘Leveraging Water for Peace’

By George Edwards

UN graphic – UN Water 22 March World Water Day: 2024 Water for Peace. Enduring peace relies on water.

Since 1993, the United Nations has instituted a call to observe World Water Day every March 22^nd. World Water Day is dedicated to highlighting the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources with the goal of attaining clean water and sanitation for all by 2030. Each year focuses on a theme related to water issues, and 2024’s specific focus is “Leveraging Water for Peace”.

We sometimes take water for granted, but water is the most basic element of life, and it has the potential to foster cooperation or exacerbate conflict among nations and communities. According to the United Nations, over 2 billion people worldwide live in countries experiencing high water stress, and about 4 billion people face severe water scarcity during at least one month of the year.

It is surprising that agriculture consumes around 70% of the world’s freshwater. But inefficient practices have jeopardized food production, leading to food shortages and increased prices. Common farming techniques extract groundwater at rates faster than it can be replenished, leading to a rapid decline in water tables. In addition to food shortages and droughts, unsustainable water use can collapse aquatic ecosystems, rapidly depleting fish populations.

Poor water quality is also a significant problem that can cause societal unrest. Lack of access to clean water and sanitation facilities can lead to the spread of diseases, such as cholera, dysentery, and typhoid. The World Health Organization also estimates that 829,000 people die each year from diarrhea due to unsafe drinking-water, sanitation, and hand hygiene.

Given the critical importance water use and sanitation play in our lives it’s worth considering ways to help conserve our most vital resource.

Here are some things to consider:

• Be conscious of your water usage: Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth or shaving, fix leaks as soon as you can, and be mindful of the amount of the you spend showering. Shortening your shower by just a few minutes can save gallons of water each time.

• Fix Leaks Promptly: Repair dripping faucets, leaking toilets, and other plumbing leaks as soon as you notice them. A small drip can waste a significant amount of water over time.

• Full Loads Only: Only run the washing machine and dishwasher when they are fully loaded to maximize efficiency.

• Efficient Appliances: Use water-efficient appliances and fixtures, like low-flow showerheads or dual-flush toilets, which can reduce water consumption substantially.

• Smart Gardening: Water plants early in the morning or late in the evening to reduce evaporation, purchase a rain barrel to collect rain for watering your garden, and use mulch around plants to retain soil moisture.

• Cover Swimming Pools: When not in use, covering your pool will reduce water loss due to evaporation.

World Water Day can serve as a great opportunity to reflect and consider ways to make a difference through smart consumption of water in your daily routine. Remember, small actions will accumulate successfully over time, and go a long way to help other in need.

National Poison Prevention Week: Poison prevention starts at home

By Susan West

Video: Poison Control Center public service announcement.

Did you know more than 90 percent of accidental poisonings happen at home, and that the vast majority involve very young children? Every March we observe National Poison Prevention Week to focus on keeping families safe. This year’s week kicks off on March 17; here are some easy ways to poison-proof your loved ones.

The Poison Help Line: 1-800-222-1222

This free service is available 24/7. Call with questions about medications, household toxins, bug bites, food poisoning, drug interactions, and liquid nicotine…and more. Trained experts provide real-time help (in 161 languages!) and can often solve a poisoning emergency over the phone. Learn more at poisonhelp.hrsa.gov.

Kitchen

• Look around: Everything at a toddler’s eye level is a potential hazard. Where are your cleaning supplies? Are your cabinets childproofed?
• Keep household products in their original containers, separate from food items.
• Don’t use bleach or any cleaning product on food or food packaging.

Bathroom, Bedroom

• Keep drugs, cosmetics, creams, and drugstore remedies—including vitamins and supplements—away from tiny hands. Have you checked your dresser and bedside table?
• If you’re unsure about drug interactions, call your doctor, pharmacist, or the Poison Help Line.

Basement, Garage

• Do you really need that leftover antifreeze and weed killer? Then put them on a high shelf, labeled.
• Lock laundry products away. (Hello, Tide Pods!) Bleach is especially toxic; don’t mix it with anything other than water. In fact, never mix household or chemical products together. Doing so can create a dangerous gas.

Some Overlooked Hazards:

• Button cell batteries are easy to lose and swallow, and the consequences can be tragic.
• E-cigarettes: Liquid nicotine can poison your child. Keep vape supplies secure.
• Gummy vitamins are attractive to kids. Hide them.
• Carbon monoxide is odorless, which is why you should have a working CO detector.
• Your curious pet should not ingest chocolate, coffee beans, macadamia nuts, onions, raisins, grapes, salt, yeast dough, alcoholic beverages, and certain houseplants.

About the Kids…

• If they don’t know what it is, they shouldn’t touch or taste it.
• Never refer to medicine as “candy.”
• Some art products can be toxic. Follow the directions, don’t eat or drink while using them, and wash up afterward.
• Know what poisonous snakes, bugs, and plants (including berries) are in your area, and educate your kids.

If It Happens…

Time is of the essence: The interval between exposure and the appearance of symptoms is a critical window of opportunity. Immediately call the Poison Help Line at 1-800-222-1222.

Be Prepared

Download the free Red Cross First Aid App and Pet First Aid App to get expert advice at your fingertips for common emergencies: Text GETFIRST or GETPET to 90999, or go to www.redcross.org/get-help and select Mobile Apps. (https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/mobile-apps.html)

Focus on healthy eating habits with National Nutrition Month

By Jackie Faiman

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics graphic: Celebrate National Nutrition Month throughout March. #NationalNurtitionMonth

What we eat may be the greatest single determinant of our health and lifespan. Our nutritional choices, both good and bad, influence how we maintain mind and body and how we fight disease. Yet eating smart is often, in practice, quite tricky. What is a well-meaning but busy consumer to do?

Enter Eatright.org, the web site of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, an information resource on nutrition. Every year in March, the organization highlights healthy dietary practices with National Nutrition Month. This year’s theme, “Beyond the Table,” offers insights into the food production and distribution cycle. Topics range from navigating grocery stores and farmers’ markets to creating healthy food options on the go to decreasing food waste. The site provides tip sheets on subjects such as smart snacking and eating right on a budget.

National Nutrition Month is just a jumping off point. Maybe we want to improve our overall nutrition but are stumped on how to go about it. If so, a simple approach might be the best.

Start with one step. Tackle, say, the goal of eating more plants. How might this translate into daily habits? It might mean replacing a meat-based meal with one built on legumes. This might then prompt a search for appealing vegan recipes on the web, and, in turn, stocking up on shelf-stable pantry items (such as canned beans and whole grains) and robust vegetables (such as carrots, onions, potatoes, and cabbage.)

Or maybe we wish to waste less food and prepare it more efficiently. We might then break down our consumption cycle into meal planning, shopping, cooking, and storage. Simple strategies might include:

• Keeping a running shopping list and buying multiples of long-life items
• Preparing a large quantity of one dish and freezing some for future meals
• Avoiding single-use packaging
• Composting food waste

In other words, a dietary shift is a multi-prong process, and one we are more likely to adopt if the changes are doable and rewarding: delicious food, improved well-being, and streamlined preparation.

If initiating any change is overwhelming, it might be time to seek outside help. Registered dieticians provide nutritional education, menus, and other supports, and their fees are often covered or subsidized by health insurance plans. Eatright.org offers a list of dietary health practitioners at Nutrition Expert Search, and local physicians and hospitals are often able to make referrals.

This month, let us all start of the journey to smarter eating with one small step.

Get heart smart this February

By Zain Ahmad

Red Cross graphic – 1. CPR. 2. AEDs. These 2 things can mean survival for someone in cardiac arrest.

February is designated as American Heart Month to raise awareness about heart related illnesses and measures to prevent them. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US but often preventable. From the American Red Cross, here is important information about heart disease, and key points to protect yourself from it.

The main theme for this Heart Month is centered around shedding light on heart related illness among women. Symptoms of heart disease can be different for men and for women. Often women do not recognize that they have heart problems because they may not have typical signs of heart disease; for example they may not have chest pain for heart attack but instead have jaw or neck pain. Educating people about these differences can save their lives.

Cardiac Arrest and Heart Attack: The Difference

Among the most important terms to differentiate are cardiac arrest and heart attack. Many of us refer to them as the same thing. The main difference is that in cardiac arrest, the heart suddenly stops, and CPR is vital in saving a victim’s life. Cardiac arrest happens when the heart malfunctions and is not able to pump blood to the other crucial organs in the body.

A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked, and this may cause chest pain. Seeking immediate medical care can result in faster treatment and saving lives. Heart attack can be one of the reasons for cardiac arrest.

Red Cross CPR, AED and First Aid Training

Another very important aspect of American Heart Month is learning about CPR, AED and First Aid; all of these skills if performed on time in someone with cardiac arrest can help in life-or-death scenarios. The Red Cross has courses for all of these skills, which and can be accessed at redcross.org/takeaclass. The skills only takes a couple hours to learn and can save lives. Courses can be taken for Adult CPR, Child CPR, and more.

Risk Factors for Heart Disease

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease. Other factors include smoking, having diabetes or high cholesterol, being overweight, and not leading an active lifestyle. Seeing your doctor can help you manage these conditions.

Heart Healthy Tips

Here are some tips to prevent heart disease-

• Stop smoking.
• Eat healthy with less added sugar and fat in your food. This will help you maintain your weight.
• Stay physically active. The American Heart association recommends 2 hours and 30 seconds of moderate intensity exercise, like walking, every week.
• Get enough sleep for 8-9 hours every night.
• Manage your stress level.

Practicing the above habits will protect you against heart disease and will keep you healthy.

National Donor Day: Sharing the gift of love

By Samantha Munro

Donate Life graphic – Happy Donor Day: National Donor Day is February 14. Share the love and register today. RegisterMe.org

It is fitting that National Organ Donation Day is the same day as Valentine’s Day as it is an expression of love — the love of life! Observed every year on February 14th, National Donor Day is an observance dedicated to spreading awareness and education about organ, eye and tissue donation. National Donor Day was started in 1998 by the Saturn Corporation and its partner, the United Auto Workers and is supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

No one wants to think of death, but when you associate it with the life of another, you may start thinking of it differently. More than 100,000 people are waiting for a lifesaving transplant, and every 8 minutes another person is added to the national transplant waiting list. Sadly 6,000+ people die each year while waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant.

National Donor Day is a day to recognize those who have given and received the gift of life through organ, eye and tissue donation, currently waiting for a lifesaving transplant, and those who died waiting because an organ was not donated in time.

Organ transplant surgeries are almost always accompanied by the use of blood donations. For example, in 2021, the average amount of blood products transfused during heart transplantation surgeries was 7.83 units of red blood cells, 2.67 units of fresh frozen plasma, 13.13 units of platelets and 1.74 units of cryoprecipitate. For lung transplantation surgeries, the average is even higher: 14.84 units of red blood cells, 12.29 units of fresh frozen plasma, 23.63 units of platelets and 2.57 units of cryoprecipitate.

This is why the American Red Cross strives to keep its inventory of blood products at a level to handle a possibility of multiple transplants, traumas and treatments. Visit our website to learn more about donating blood or to schedule an appointment.

To learn more about organ, tissue and blood donation check out these websites:

• Donate Life America
• U.S Health Resources & Services Administration
• American Red Cross Blood Services

Radon Awareness Week: January 22-26

By Haley Heisley

CDC graphic – Radon Awareness Week, January 22-26, 2024. “What’s Your Radon Story?” www.cdc.gov/radon

 Radon is a naturally formed radioactive gas that is expelled from the breakdown of uranium, which is commonly found in soil. This odorless, invisible gas gets trapped in the air of homes and buildings through cracks in the foundation once it comes up from underground. Prolonged exposure to radon causes lung tissue damage which can lead to lung cancer and even death.

The most important step after reading this article today is to test your home for radon. According to the American Lung Association, 1 in 15 homes in the U.S. test positive for dangerous levels of radon in the air. Testing for radon requires hiring a tester or purchasing your own qualified radon test kit — a crucial step in identifying if there is radon in the home. If levels of radon detected are higher than 4pCi/L, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends getting a radon reduction system installed. Testing for radon is cheap and simple and can potentially save your life since prolonged exposure can cause lung cancer in anyone of any age, even if you are not a smoker.

 According to the CDC, around 21,000 deaths are caused from radon lung cancer per year, making it the second leading cause of lung cancer behind cigarette smoke. The most tragic part of this statistic is virtually all of these deaths could have been prevented. If radon awareness is spread and people take action in their homes, schools, commercial buildings, and garages, radon can be detected sooner before prolonged exposure complications occur.

Check out the CDC’s Radon Awareness Week toolkit to learn more.

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month

By George Edwards

Prevent Blindness graphic – Glaucoma is irreversible. Early Diagnosis is important. Get your vision checked today and visit PreventBlindness.org/glaucoma.

Our sight is a critical aspect of our health, but we often overlook the importance of taking care of our eyes until it’s too late. Each year, the month of January is dedicated to raising awareness about an increasingly common and debilitating eye condition known as glaucoma.

Glaucoma causes damage the optic nerve, which is responsible for transmitting visual information from the eye to the brain. It’s estimated that over 3 million Americans have the disease, and if left untreated it can cause progressive vision loss and even blindness. During National Glaucoma Month, health care professionals encourage the public to reflect about the importance of regular eye exams and preventative eye care measures.

Because there are no early symptoms, it is recommended that adults over the age of 40 schedule an eye exam with an optometrist or ophthalmologist, who can then recommend how often to have your eyes tested. Individuals with medical conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure, those with a family history of glaucoma, and people of African, Asian, or Hispanic descent may need to have their eyes examined more frequently.

All of this may sound a little frightening because there is no cure for glaucoma, but the good news is there are preventive steps you can take to help ensure a lifetime of good eye health.

These include:

• Exercise regularly: Engaging in moderate physical activities, such as walking or swimming, can improve blood flow and decrease pressure inside your eyes. Be mindful to consult a health care provider before starting any new exercise regimen.
• Eat a nutritious diet: Foods rich in antioxidants, such as leafy green vegetables, fruits, and fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, have been shown to benefit eye health.
• Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption: Smoking and heavy drinking can significantly increase your risk of developing glaucoma. Quitting smoking and drinking only in moderation is crucial to preserving your vision.
• Wear sunglasses: Ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage the eyes. Invest in a good pair of sunglasses that provide Ultraviolet protection and wear them when you are outdoors.
• Know Your Family History: Studies have shown glaucoma has a genetic component, so It is important to know your family’s eye health history before meeting with your doctor.
• Follow Medication Instructions: If you have been diagnosed with glaucoma, your doctor may prescribe you eye drops or oral medication. It’s essential to follow your doctor’s instructions carefully regarding medication to slow down the progression of the disease.

It is never too early to take steps to protect your eyes. By spreading awareness and encouraging regular eye exams, we can detect glaucoma in its early stages and prevent additional vision loss. Schedule an eye exam and join the fight against glaucoma this January.

Making and keeping New Year’s resolutions

By Jackie Faiman

“New Year 2024” by Mohamed Mahmoud Hassan, published under CC0 Public Domain license.

January 1 begins a new calendar year, and for many of us, it is a symbolic fresh start. We vow to lose weight, exercise more, or launch a saving plan, only to fail when the going gets tough. Why is it so hard to stick with a New Year’s resolution, and how can we get better at this challenge?

A resolution is really a change in habit. We are asking ourselves to step off a well-worn path onto a new one of our own making, and this takes consistent, daily effort. It is hard, but derailment is not inevitable.

First, we must choose our resolution wisely; it should be small enough in scope that it is achievable. This is where modest aspirations trump grand, heroic ones. We may have many aspects of our life that we wish to improve, but we should pick one—just one—that matters and focus on it.

Second, we should be specific enough in our resolution that we know what we are aiming for. “Lose 10 pounds by the end of April” is a better bet than “get skinny in a hurry.” The former provides a specific number and timeline, which, in turn, can be broken down into daily, actionable steps.

Third, we need to define a daily behavior shift (new habit!) that will help us achieve our longer-term goal. For the weight loss resolution, it might be “cut 500 calories a day by making one a meal a salad.” To help ourselves automate this daily shift, according to James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits, we should minimize the barriers to enacting it. Make it obvious, attractive, easy, and immediately satisfying.  For the salad proposition, that might mean having bags of freshly chopped vegetables front and center in the fridge and choosing ingredients that are so tasty that eating them daily would be a joy.

Fourth, allow for failure. We all have bad days, and instead of letting them compromise an entire plan, see them as a necessary part of behavior change. One strategy that incorporates grace into a resolution is to build into our monthly schedule a specific number of “cheat” days. We are then acknowledging that we are only human by giving ourselves license for an occasional off day.

Finally, involve a social support structure into the resolution. Having a regular workout buddy makes it much more likely that we will show up to the gym. Talking to a friend about our goal and progress toward it keeps us accountable. There is even evidence to suggest that helping another person to reach a similar goal, even if we are struggling with it ourselves, helps us accomplish it.

Engaging these strategies can strengthen our commitment to a New Year’s resolution and make the journey both achievable and fun.