According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 604,000 women worldwide received cervical cancer diagnoses, and approximately 342,000 died from the disease in 2020. Among women, cervical cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer and the fourth most frequently occurring cancer-related death.  The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) marks January as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month to support the WHO’s efforts to combat the disease. Understanding the risks, symptoms, and early detection methods can protect you and those you love.  What Is Cervical Cancer and Its Symptoms?  The...

COVID vaccines effectively lower your risk of infection, hospitalization, and death. However, it is still possible to be fully vaccinated and come down with COVID-19, also known as a breakthrough infection. This information can help you separate facts from fiction regarding breakthrough infections and hospitalization rates.  Current Facts about COVID-19 Vaccination  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people aged five years and older can receive two injections of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine or one injection of the Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine. A CDC...

It’s no secret that drinking habits tend to swell during the holidays. And compounded by a global pandemic, researchers found that US adults drank 14 percent more frequently than in previous years.  Dry January is a growing trend in America and Europe in which people start the new year by abstaining from alcohol use for a month. This may be seen as part of a larger movement of increased mindfulness.  Here’s some information about how Dry January can benefit your health and how to participate in a month (or more) of sobriety.  Tips on How to Do Dry January  If you wish to participate in Dry...

As individuals continue to get vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19, the United States and the rest of the world are dealing with yet another variant. Omicron is spreading faster than previous mutations, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).  U.S. cases are now increasing, but experts suspect that Omicron has been around longer than suspected. Although scientists are still working to understand the nature of this variant, we can still take steps to protect ourselves and decrease the risk of infection and serious illness.  What We Know About the Omicron Variant  The Centers...

Nearly two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, you’re probably accustomed to hearing about the phenomenon of long COVID, or long-haul COVID. Perhaps you’ve been personally suffering from persistent COVID-19 symptoms, or you’ve been supporting a friend or family member with the elusive condition. Or perhaps you’ve just been keeping tabs on long COVID news headlines as scientists have raced to learn more about the nature of this illness.  Regardless of where you fall along the spectrum of long COVID awareness, information is power. Here’s what you need to know about long COVID and how to best protect...