June, 2020

What to know about basal and squamous cell cancers

You've probably read a few stories about melanoma, the deadliest skin cancer, but you may not have read much about two far more common skin cancers. Basal and squamous cell skin cancers or carcinomas are the most prevalent types of skin cancer. They start in the top layer of skin and are usually caused by sun exposure. Basal cell carcinomas These skin cancers make up about eight out of 10 skin cancer diagnoses. They usually develop on sun-exposed areas of the body—often the face, head or n...

Older adults: Stay connected during the pandemic

Social distancing can be especially hard on older adults, who are already at risk for isolation. So it's important for you to stay connected with others during this time. Here are six steps you can take to do that: Gather contact information for friends and family. That includes phone numbers, email addresses and physical addresses. Track down their accounts on social media, too, and follow them. Update your devices if needed. If your computer, phone or tablet is slow or out of date, this might ...

Even during COVID-19, don't skip your child's shots

Families are focused on staying healthy during the pandemic. And that's the right thing to do, but health experts have an important reminder for parents. COVID-19 prevention shouldn't mean skipping your child's vaccines. Vaccines help protect kids of all ages from serious diseases. Those include diseases like whooping cough and measles. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends children get many of their shots by age 2. Despite that recommendation, it seems that fewer kids have b...

Catch Up On Preventive Care

While the COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak, it was important to stay home. For you and your family, that may have meant avoiding some routine doctor's visits, but now that restrictions are easing up, it's time to catch up on any preventive health services you missed. A good way to stay healthy Preventive care includes screening tests, vaccines and wellness checkups that help you stay healthy. It includes things like: Mammograms and Pap tests for women. Screenings for heart disease and cancer. C...

Stay Active While Social Distancing

Health experts recommend that we keep a distance of at least 6 feet from other people to help slow the spread of the coronavirus, but that doesn't mean you can't get the 150 to 300 minutes a week of exercise recommended for most people. Why bother? There's good reason to make a point of staying active. For one thing, exercise helps your immune system stay healthy. And that's very important right now. It's also a great way to cope with the stress and anxiety you may be feeling. So there's nothing...

High Blood Pressure: 6 Must-Know Facts

There's a good reason most healthcare provider visits start with a blood pressure check. While nearly half of all American adults have high blood pressure, many don't know it. That's because you can have high blood pressure and still feel fine. Usually, it doesn't cause obvious symptoms. Here are six more facts to know about this widespread condition. 1. Untreated high blood pressure is dangerous. It raises your risk of a heart attack, stroke, kidney disease and vision loss. But once it's detect...