health

How Giving Blood Saves Lives and Protects You
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June is a special month dedicated to raising awareness about Alzheimer's disease and promoting brain health. Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month serves as a crucial period for educating the public, supporting those affected, and fostering research and advocacy efforts. Understanding Alzheimer's disease, its impact, and ways to support brain health is essential for everyone.
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The love month is upon us, when, on February 14, baby Cupid flies around with a bow and arrow. While many people celebrate the tradition with chocolate, flowers, or a night of fine dining, it's likely that not many have knowledge of where and how this holiday began. According to the History Channel, that's because much of the background is still a mystery aside from the fact that the Catholic Church recognizes a Saint Valentine and Cupid is based on Greek mythology.
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It's true that hearing loss comes with age, in fact, a reported up to 50% of those over 75 are affected. However, the World Health Organization reports that approximately 17% of teenagers and 19% of people in their 20s have signs of hearing loss, and much is likely noise-induced, especially in this digital day and age.
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As many of those over 40 know, eyesight seems to get worse every year thereafter, resulting in a hearty sprinkling of reading glasses around the house. When you think about it, we rarely think about our ocular health unless our eyes are giving us problems.
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Holidays have a bad rap when it comes to the fattening, unhealthy foods that generally accompany them, not to mention the extra boozing and grazing that occurs at many of the seasonal parties. But not all holiday foods can be blamed for packing on the pounds. Some elements of our traditional holiday feast even have "superfood" qualities.
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'Tis the season for fresh, locally-grown leafy greens. As one of the first seeds to hit the dirt in the early spring, these hearty plants are now hitting the shelves in abundance. High in antioxidants, the benefits of adding more greens to your diet seem endless, with studies touting a number of health benefits, including cancer prevention, stronger bones, brain health, better vision, and healthier skin, among many others.
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Nobody likes to go to the doctor, especially when they aren't sick. But preventative healthcare is a huge piece of the long, healthy, and happy life puzzle. Annual wellness exams often include a general screening, vitals check, labs, and maintenance for chronic health conditions. In fact, it isn't uncommon that these annual exams identify early-stage diseases like cancer, concerning blood pressure and cholesterol levels, thyroid dysfunction, and a host of other common deficiencies and abnormalities. And, since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandated 100 percent coverage for preventative care, there's no excuse for missing your annual physical.
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Anymore, it's an expectation: New Year's Day rolls around and a laundry list of resolutions lies before us. Gym membership and self-help book sales skyrocket. The revelry of the holidays gives way to Dry January, "clean" meal planning, and the next best diet. Entrepreneurs recommit to the hustle. A growth mindset is on the tip of everyone's tongue. It seems that everyone is looking to fix, improve, and ascend the latter of some self-determined actualization or another.
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With slippery floors, shop lifting or the use of seasonal employees who make errors in the effort to push for end-of-the year sales, your small business could be at a greater risk during the holidays than it is all year long. And many of these risks apply whether you have a brick and mortar store or if your business is totally online. Here are the top four major business risks that occur during the holidays and the protection your business may need.

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It's one of those things that's overlooked until it's absolutely necessary: a first aid kit. Whether you're relaxing at home, navigating five-o-clock traffic, or summer adventuring in your new RV, having a simple first aid kit can mean the difference between an inconvenience and an emergency.
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Many people are using a new way to make extra income throughout the year by turning their property into short-stay rentals. Signing up for a home-sharing service like AirBnB or VRBO is a fairly easy process. With just a few photos and some clicks, you can have your property on the website and have your own mini-hotel business up and running very quickly.

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Today our lives are dependent on computers, iPhones and other electronic devices, regardless of where we are... at work, traveling or at home. And with so many people working from home, these devices have become a valuable asset. However insuring them can be tricky depending on whether your devices are for personal use, business use or use for a home-based business.

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Pets often become more like family members, and in the case of dogs (and the occasional cat), we tend to take them wherever we go. But before you pack up Fido for a summer road trip, it's important to think about how to keep your beloved pet safe when temperatures are extreme.
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It's safe to say that, at this point, everyone around the globe is tired of the pandemic. So much so that there's now an official name for it: pandemic fatigue. Unfortunately, the end of this difficult episode unknown, which means we're going to have to live with the constraints of pandemic life and all of its negative impacts for much longer than we would like.
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As the end of the year approaches, it's a good time to take inventory, reflect on the past, and make plans for future goals. You might consider your relationships, professional life, health, financial situation, or all of the above. Don't forget to also take stock of your insurance coverage and make necessary adjustments based on things that have changed over the past year. Here are some of the most important areas to consider:
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Everyone experiences stress and not all of it is bad. But when stress levels stay high or become chronic, they can cause a huge variety of health issues or make existing health problems worse. Overproduction of stress hormones can damage the brain, heart, and other organs and prevent cells from functioning normally. As the Mayo Clinic explains, chronic stress impacts the body, which impacts the mood, which can impact behavior. In this way, too much stress can impact our entire lives, affecting health, relationships and our quality of living on a day to day basis.
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February is American Heart Month, and even if you don't have heart disease, it's time to learn whether you're at risk, and what you can do about it. High blood pressure is a leading cause of death in Americans and one of the most important things to address for a healthy heart. Yet only about half of those who have been diagnosed with high blood pressure have it under control.
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Let's face it, most of us probably don't think much about replacing everyday household items, the ones we hang onto for months or even years. But hiding in our kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms are many tools and products that should be refreshed on a regular basis to prevent illness and disease, or just to ensure that they're actually working properly.
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Many popular winter sports such as skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, and even sledding can be high risk. Every year, thousands of people are treated for head injuries associated with these winter activities, and too many of those injuries turn out to be serious or, sometimes, fatal. January is National Winter Sports Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month. According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, sports injuries are rarely fatal, but the majority of fatalities due to sports injury are the result of traumatic brain injury. Keep reading to find out the real risk and how can you protect yourself and your loved ones from sports injuries this winter.
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Cold and flu season in Florida is officially here. Perhaps, as recommended by health departments nationwide, you got a flu shot, and maybe you'll get lucky and avoid getting sick. But if you do catch what's going around, here are six ways to minimize your pain and suffering, and maybe even shorten your illness.
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How much do you know about your skin or skin overall, for that matter? November is National Healthy Skin Month, and a good time to set aside all the latest skincare fads and get some real information about your skin, what it does, and what truly is the best way to take care of it.
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After a long summer, most parents and (some) kids alike are ready to go back to school. But going back to school also means sending your kids into a sea of germs, and increasing their likelihood of getting sick. In fact, most school-aged children will get 6-10 colds every single year. But there are several things you can do to help your child and the rest of your family stay healthy, and decrease their chances of catching an illness at school.
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What does it mean to age in a healthful way? Although it's different for each person, healthy aging is about maintaining a high quality of life at every stage, and cultivating habits that allow you to continue to enjoy your life and do the things you love to do. And while aging is inevitable, aging well is a choice.
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We all know we're supposed to wear sunscreen, but with hundreds of options on the shelves every summer, many of us end up choosing the wrong one. Here's what you need to know about how to choose the right sunscreen, and why.
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Summer is the time when the outdoors beckon. Research shows that spending time in nature can positively impact mental health, stress levels, blood pressure, cholesterol and many other conditions. But not all of us live close to the great outdoors, and some of us wouldn't call ourselves "outdoorsy," even if we do. Don't fret. You can still get the benefits of being outdoors, even if you live in a city or don't enjoy hiking.
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We have all heard about the sharp increase in e-cigarette use, aka "vaping," among young people. If you are a parent or educator of teens, you're probably more familiar than most. So why are e-cigarettes suddenly so common on middle and high school campuses? Here's what you need to know about vaping, and how to protect your teen.
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According to the World Health Organization, falls are the second leading cause of accidental injury deaths worldwide. Falling disproportionately impacts adults age 65 and older, and can lead to serious injury, further health problems, decreased quality of life, and a loss of independence.
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Let's face it, many of us get motivated to exercise because we want to regulate or lose weight. It's looked at like a chore, rather than a pleasure in many cases. However, know that there are many other benefits to regular exercise may up the motivation levels.
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Most of us in Florida can agree it's important to have clean air, fresh water, and a healthy living environment. Being eco-friendly is about living within your means, treading lightly, and using the resources you have wisely.
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Most of the modern world is plugged in these days to smartphones, ipads and laptops, among other things. And many of us complete the loop by coaxing earbuds into our ears, turning up the sound to shut the world out, even just for a minute. But this practice, along with the increased amount of dangerous noise present in the modern world, is causing epidemic levels of early hearing loss in children, adults and teens. Read on to find out what you can do:
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