When a patient asks if vaping is safer than smoking, I tell them that neither is safe, potentially pose health risks, and that both habits should be broken. While vapes—also called vapor cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes—have been marketed as a safer alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes, there hasn’t [...]
For many middle school and high school students, summer is the time to relax: no alarms, lazy days by the pool or at the beach, later bedtimes. But these months of relaxation can result in injury when student-athletes return to the field in September if they aren’t careful. When [...]
Those happy-to-see-you tail wags and melt-your-heart meows—pets give us so much love and joy. But that’s not all they do for us. According to studies, contact with pets: Counteracts the stress response by lowering stress hormones and heart rate. Lowers anxiety and fear levels and elevates feelings of calmness. [...]
While summer is a celebrated season marked by a range of fun outdoor activities, summertime conditions can also expose people to a variety of hazards if they’re not careful. “Summer is a great time of year to enjoy an array of activities, especially if you have kids, but you [...]
Temperatures are expected to stay over 90 degrees this week. Children, the elderly and people with chronic health conditions such as heart disease, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, COPD, asthma, pulmonary hypertension or obesity need to be carefully monitored in hot weather conditions. Whenever possible, avoid being outdoors and [...]
You’ve probably heard of the Mediterranean diet, and if you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure, you may have heard of the DASH diet. Combine the two and you get an eating plan designed to boost your brain health — among other benefits. How Our Diet Affects Our Brains [...]
Your body has a unique way of signaling when it isn’t getting the nutrients that it needs. Do you know how to read the signs? Here are a few ways that your body is letting you know that it’s not getting what it needs and some tips to a [...]
There are five common obstacles that stop smokers from taking the leap, according to Amy Metzger, MSW, LCSW, behavioral health consultant at CentraState. They are: Fear of failure Lack of support Physical discomfort from withdrawal, such as cravings and urges Difficulty ending a "relationship" with cigarettes Lack of other [...]
For many people, it's tough getting a healthy, home-cooked meal on the table every day. But it doesn't need to be that way. "You can fit eating health into your busy schedule—you just have to be prepared and get a little creative," says Aimee Crant-Oksa, MS, RD, FAND, clinical [...]
Put some pressure on your bones—it's good for them! Your bones are alive. Like muscles, they are living tissue and respond to pressure. When bones undergo good stress, such as bouncing, walking, or jumping, they will grow new cells. To maintain strong, healthy bones, two types of exercise are [...]
