At the end of each year, we look forward to gathering with friends and family to celebrate the holidays. However, it is also the time of year seasonal influenza rears its ugly head.  Following a 2020 holiday season that kept many families apart, people are looking forward to enjoying a traditional holiday season. However, safety remains an outsized concern this year, and your best shot at protecting yourself and your loved ones is to get vaccinated against the flu.  This year, December 6-12, marks the start of National Influenza Vaccination Week. Getting this year’s flu vaccine is an excellent...

No one plans to get hurt or sick, but it does happen. Even if you enjoy good health today, you will likely need healthcare access later on, more so as you get older. While researching and choosing a health insurance plan might seem overwhelming, it is worth the time to learn about the advantages of health insurance and find the right coverage.  Having the right plan can preserve your health and safeguard you from financial jeopardy. It can even benefit public health overall.  Take the first step today and mark out November 1, 2021, through January 15, 2022, on your calendar. This is the time...

Perhaps the biggest lesson to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic is the value of handwashing. In honor of National Handwashing Awareness Week, which runs December 1-7, let’s talk about the history and modern-day benefits of washing your hands.  Washing your hands with soap and water is the best way to protect yourself from getting sick and stop spreading germs to others. Amid a worldwide health crisis, handwashing became one of three major tenets to avoid infection, along with mask-wearing and social distancing.  The Problem With Dirty Hands  Germs that cause infections (especially those of...

In America, Thanksgiving marks the biggest and best family-style meal of the year, which means shared dishes, buffet-level spreads, and passing platters of potatoes and baskets of bread around the table.   It also means communal cooking, crowded kitchens, and sneaking samples of the feast. The holiday’s culinary treats offer plenty of temptation, but behind even the best meal lurk some serious health risks. Bacteria and germs are invisible threats that can make you, your family, and your guests extremely sick if you’re not careful about how you handle and prepare your Thanksgiving fare.  To...

Thanksgiving Day is November 25 this year and will also be National Family Health History Day, which the U.S. Surgeon General established in 2004. With the family gathered, it can be an excellent time to remind each other about check-ups, preventive screenings, and healthy habits. Taking some time on Thanksgiving Day also allows your family to discuss their family medical history.  Benefits of Knowing Your Family Health History  Families have several good reasons to discuss their health history. For instance, some diseases run in families. These include diabetes, heart disease, some cancers,...