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Author Archives: healthedeals.com
When food is the enemy – allergy awareness
It may seem like we hear more about food allergies these days because we do. They are on the rise. In 2007, the reported food allergy rate among all children younger than 18 was 18 percent higher than in 1997, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and National Center for Health Statistics.
May 13 through 19 is Food Allergy Awareness Week, a time to draw attention to the seriousness of food allergies, foster understanding and inspire action. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases reports that food allergy affects an estimated 5 percent of children under age 5 and an estimated 4 percent of people age 5 and older.
Time for a Spot Check
Today marks Melanoma Monday, the American Academy of Dermatology’s way of raising awareness about skin cancer and encouraging early detection. Held the first Monday each May, it kicks off National Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month.
May is the perfect time to think about skin cancer prevention. With summer drawing near, we tend to spend more time outdoors. And with increased exposure to sunlight comes increased risk for skin cancer. There are three common forms of skin cancer, and melanoma is the deadliest. It is also the most curable when detected and treated early.
A New Approach to Online Medical Searches
The abundance of medical information and resources online these days isn’t always a good thing. You often wind up sifting through pages of search results—often trying multiple search terms—only to spend time navigating seas of text for the answers you seek. Sometimes locating a reliable source with timely information that digs deeper than the surface can be tricky.
Living with Seasonal Affective Disorder
As the trees shed their leaves, temperatures dip and the days grow shorter, many of us feel a post-summer letdown of sorts. For some, however, these “winter blues” reach more disruptive levels. People who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, a form of major depression often referred to as SAD, experience depression at certain times of year—typically winter.
While it sounds and feels unpleasant, it’s not hopeless. SAD impacts people from all walks of life around the globe. Once you recognize it, you and your health care provider can manage it and make the year’s toughest season a little easier.
Quitting Time
By now we all know about the harmful effects of cigarettes — cancer, low birth weight, infertility and respiratory disease, to name a few.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- Tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States. One in 5 U.S. deaths result from the habit annually.
- For every person who dies from a smoking-related disease, 20 more people suffer with at least one serious illness from smoking.
- Cigarette smoking costs more than $193 billion — i.e., $97 billion in lost productivity plus $96 billion in health care expenditures.
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Open Enrollment for One
Take time to reconsider your coverage
Fall signals open enrollment season for those covered by employer-sponsored health insurance. Employees can find out about new plans available to them and elect to continue with their current coverage or change to something that better suits them. This annual event may not apply to self-insured individuals, but it can be helpful for them to follow suit and use this time of year to revisit coverage options.
Observing Diabetes
November’s National Health Observances include three diabetes-related themes – American Diabetes Month, Diabetic Eye Disease Month, and Foot Health Issues Related to Diabetes Awareness Month – reminding us how prevalent this disease is among our population. This month provides an opportunity to take note of it, educate yourself, assess your risk and consider making healthier lifestyle choices to lessen your risk.
Sobering numbers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reinforce the issue’s seriousness. Recent estimates project that as many as 1 in 3 American adults will have diabetes in 2050 unless we take steps to stop it. According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 26 million American children and adults have diabetes and an additional 79 million are at high risk for developing diabetes in its most common form, type 2.
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Prevention Matters Year-Round
As the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month winds down, we at healthedeals.com want to remind everyone that preventive care is important all year long.
Breast Cancer is the second most common cancer in women after skin cancer – about 1 in 8 U.S. women get it. Early detection improves the chances of successful treatment. According to the American Cancer Society, most doctors feel early detection tests for breast cancer – mammograms, breast self-exams, clinical beast exams save thousands of lives annually.
Of course preventive care screenings extend beyond breast cancer. The United States Preventive Services Taskforce recommends various preventive services for women, men and children throughout their life stages.
Temporary health insurance option for unemployed
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released a study with results from the National Health Interview Survey. The study was held between January and March 2011 with a survey pool of over 25,000 individuals. Some of the big news touted from the study was that the number of uninsured individuals ages 19-25 dropped by nearly one million between 2010 and 2011. This is being credited by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as a direct result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), which required an age limit increase on traditional plans. As of March 2011 children can now remain on their parent’s health plan until age 26.
Back to school health basics
With a new school year underway, fall is a season of fresh starts for many. As families settle into new routines, this time of year provides a good opportunity to work on forming healthy habits.
Regular well-child exams not only help catch problems early and ensure your child is developing properly, they also serve as a check-in time with his or her pediatrician. These visits, which are covered by insurance under the Affordable Care Act, are also an opportunity to discuss concerns and ask questions. Click here for preventive pediatric health recommendations from Bright Futures and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
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