Health Disparity was our Word Wednesday this week. When a group of people is more impacted by illness than another, it is called a health disparity. This can look differently depending on the specific illness. The number of people affected, the quality of life impact, and the access to treatment are all factors to consider…
Health disparity A heavier burden of illness experienced by one group, when compared to another Most often, racial and ethnic group health disparities are reported. However, there are also health disparities between income groups, gender groups, sexuality groups, and other populations of people. To learn about health disparities here in Philadelphia, join us for our…
Taking breaks is an important part of being healthy! Briefly disengaging from your work, whether it is physically strenuous, mentally intense or simply continuous, is a way to keep your brain and body active and able to perform what you need it to. From 20 seconds to 5 minutes, breaks can help reboot your brain…
Cortisol The body’s primary stress hormone Cortisol levels in the blood affect the regulation of many parts of the body, like blood pressure, sleep cycles, and blood-sugar levels. Continuous stress, and therefore chronically higher levels of cortisol, can lead to headaches, weight gain, sleep disturbances, depression and anxiety, and heart disease.
Chronic pain is usually defined as pain that lasts longer than 3 months, or that lasts past the expected time for healing. Chronic pain occurs for many reasons. Sometimes the pain is because of an underlying condition that does not heal, like arthritis pain that is caused by inflammation repeatedly. This pain serves the function…
Thoracic Between the neck and the abdomen. The thoracic cavity is where the heart and lungs are in humans and other mammals
It’s Cervical Health Awareness Month! A 2019 CDC study showed that the HPV vaccine that has become widely available is reducing cervical pre-cancer. Women who had received the HPV vaccine had the most drastic decrease in pre-cancers, but unvaccinated women showed a decline as well. Without further study, the cause of decline in unvaccinated women…
Pre-Cancer Cells are present that have grown abnormally It is important to note that pre-cancer DOES NOT mean you will develop cancer. It means a higher risk of cancer developing at some point. It is a sign that closer monitoring is needed to catch any cancer development early, or even to prevent it from developing…
A grain where the germ, endosperm, and bran layer are all present, or “whole”
Nutrition and teeth go hand in hand. We often hear about the foods to avoid for healthy teeth: sugary and sticky foods. Avoiding these foods, and practicing oral hygiene help teeth stay functional and pain-free. It is also important to keep in mind that healthy teeth are necessary for proper nutrition. Many of the nutrient…
Involving free oxygen. Also commonly called “cardio” when referring to exercise due to the increase of oxygen use through the cardiovascular system to meet energy demands
Exercising in the winter can be hard! It’s cold, sometimes there is snow on the ground you could slip on, it gets dark early, feeling down in the winter is more common. The obstacles are many. However, just a little bit of exercise each day can be beneficial. The American Heart Association recommends about 20…
The U.S Fire Administration cautions us that December through February are the prime time for home heating fires. As we discussed last week, the holidays can be dangerous times, but winter has dangers throughout the season. Just like you can take precautions to avoid slipping and falling, you can do some things to prevent home…
Unplanned cell death or tissue death. Can be caused by injury, disease, infection, toxins, inflammation, or obstructed blood flow
Falls and motor vehicle accidents are leading causes of Traumatic Brain Injury, according to the CDC. Falls are more common in children and older adults, but winter ice and holiday decorating activities make this time of year a particularly dangerous one. Holiday decorations and candles can be a cause of electrical shocks and house fires….
A mild Traumatic Brain injury that can affect brain function. Usually caused by a blow to, or violent shaking of the head.
What is IBD? Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) refers to conditions that cause bowel inflammation. The two most common diseases are Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. These diseases are separate from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Though abdominal pain can occur for all three conditions, Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis can cause lasting damage to the intestines and…
Co-morbidity: two or more chronic conditions occurring at the same time to a single person.
December 3rd is the International Day for People with Disabilities. 61 million adults in the United States live with disabilities, which is 1 in 4 people. Adults older than 65, non-Hispanic Native Americans/Alaskan Natives, and women are more likely to have at least one disability. Americans with disabilities are more likely to smoke, have heart…
Major life activity: caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, working, and participating in community activities. Impairment in one or more is the ADA definition for disability.
Some exciting developments in HIV prevention were presented this past July at the IAS Conference on HIV Science. Initially, prevention of HIV transmission was only safe sex practices. Then in 2012 the drugs we know as PrEP and PEP were approved to prevent the transmission of HIV. PrEP is a prevention drug that can be…
Antibody: A protein produced by the immune system to recognize a foreign threat, attach to it, and begin the necessary process for neutralizing or killing it
Older Americans who are diagnosed with HIV are more likely to be diagnosed in later stages, attributing symptoms to normal signs of aging.
Relative Contraindication When two medicines or treatments may cause negative outcomes if used together. Caution must be used when two medicines are relatively contraindicated.
