July is Healthy Vision Month Diabetic retinopathy is an eye condition that can cause vision loss and blindness in people who have diabetes. It affects blood vessels in the retina (the light-sensitive layer of tissue in the back of your eye). If you have diabetes, it’s important for you to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year. Diabetic retinopathy may not have any symptoms at first — but finding it early can help you take […]
June is National Men’s Health Month Out of the 15 leading causes of death, men lead women in all of them except Alzheimer’s disease, which many men don’t live long enough to develop. On average, men die five years earlier than women. The Men’s Health Network (MHN) reports that men die at higher rates than women from the […]
May is Stroke Awareness Month A stroke happens when the blood supply to part of your brain is suddenly interrupted. Then brain tissue is damaged. Most strokes happen because a blood clot blocks a blood vessel in the brain or neck. A stroke can cause movement problems, pain, numbness and problems with thinking, remembering or […]
APRIL IS NATIONAL STRESS AWARENESS MONTH And who isn’t a little bit stressed right now? Diabetes management is a lifelong process. This can add stress to your daily life. Stress can be a major barrier to effective glucose control. Stress hormones in your body may directly affect glucose levels. If you’re experiencing stress or feeling […]
MARCH IS NATIONAL KIDNEY MONTH Diabetic kidney disease is a type of kidney disease caused by diabetes. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease. About 1 out of 4 adults with diabetes has kidney disease. The main job of the kidneys is to filter wastes and extra water out of your blood to make […]
February is National American Heart Month Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. 28,291 Erie County adults had been diagnosed with high blood pressure. Locally, Heart Disease was the leading cause of death* To help prevent heart disease and increase awareness of its effects, Family Health […]
NATIONAL BLOOD DONOR MONTH January is the beginning of a new year and the perfect time to start the year celebrating National Blood Donor Month. Due to increased seasonal illnesses during the winter months and inclement weather conditions, donations of blood and platelets decline and demand increases. The American Red Ross and Blood Banks of America […]
December is National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month Almost everybody loves holiday parties, but drinking and driving can make that festive time deadly for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. December’s National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month has a high fatality rate due to people driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or both. According […]
November is Diabetes Awareness Month Consider that while almost 30 million people in the U.S. have some form of diabetes, one in four don’t even realize they’re walking around with the disease. National Diabetes Month is an annual event each November to boost awareness about the risk factors, symptoms, and types of diabetes. If you’ve […]
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month Breast cancer doesn’t discriminate. Although breast cancer is more prevalent among American white women, African-American women tend to die from the disease more often. Overall, only one percent of American males are diagnosed with breast cancer, but African-American men just like women in their community, are more prone to […]