The beginning of a new work week can cause a case of the blues for many people but according to recent research from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 1 in 20 Americans over the age of 12 suffer from a clinical state of depression. 40-59 year old women have the highest rates. Poor people also report depression ... Read More »

Today on Veterans Day, we honor the generations of brave men and women of this nation for their contribution to the world and country. For me, it is a time to pay tribute to our fallen heroes, and the thousands that continue to fight to preserve our founding principles and freedom. I remember the times my husband would be returning ... Read More »

Michelle Obama is doing hula hoops at the White House to raise fitness awareness and in other corners of our country we have the creation of the Krispy Kreme doughnut cheeseburger complete with bacon that clocks in at 1,500 calories. According to reports 17,000 of these culinary nightmares were recently served at a fair in Massachusetts. We applaud the efforts ... Read More »

Breast Cancer does not discriminate. The truth is, an estimated 1,910 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among men in the United States, and 440 will die, according to The American Cancer Society. After celebrating National Breast Cancer Awareness Month‘s 25 years of Awareness, Education and Empowerment. It is important we give the men we love the ... Read More »

World Pneumonia Day is November 2nd. This is a day of observance that aims to raise the awareness of pneumonia worldwide and the impact pneumonia has on people of all ages, but especially young children under age 5. Advocates will kick off the first annual World Pneumonia Day with a summit in New York City. More than 100 scientists, political ... Read More »

This Halloween we need to worry about a new body snatcher. No, it is not a blank-starring zombie roaming the streets looking for its next victim, but it is a highly contagious, serious and even deadly influenza called 2009 H1N1. Don’ let this frighten you into a catatonic state but rather take charge and fight back. Each year more that ... Read More »

For centuries mothers have been telling their children to drink up their milk and go outside to play. I think this was a survival tactic on behalf of the mothers to get their kids out from under their feet but new scientific evidence is proving again that mom knows best. A new article in this month’s journal Pediatrics estimates that ... Read More »

Tongue piercing is a historical ritual to honor the gods. But, somehow I don’t think the 20 something college crowd has this in mind when they walk into the local body piercing studio and have their tongues clamped and studded. As a mother of 3 young adults I thought it best to get some facts around this issue before I’m ... Read More »

Shingles is a painful skin rash often with blisters and lesions that look like pimples. Shingles or herpes zoster is a viral infection caused by Varicella (the chickenpox virus) and affects at least 1 million people a year in the Unites States according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The virus lies dormant in nerve cells after ... Read More »

Volume 3: Be Your Own Best Flu Advocate Alicia Verity, MSPH As a former patient advocate at a large urban teaching hospital the best advice I can give anyone in today’s heightened flu pandemic environment is to be your own best advocate. Educate yourself about the facts of the 2009 H1N1 influenza, check with your local public health department on ... Read More »