With much of our health focus these days on COVID-19 – avoiding it, the vaccination and dealing with friends and family who may contract it – American Heart Month reminds us about the leading cause of death, killing more than 650,000 Americans each year, in the United States: heart disease.[1] COVID-19 can directly or indirectly…
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When it comes to healthcare, it is all about the individual, not their condition. Healthcare organizations endeavor to help patients achieve better health, and this goes beyond reducing symptoms and healing injuries. Behavioral economics—a science that was founded on the idea that “humans are irrational beings, but in highly predictable ways”—is empowering individuals to live…
Taking your medications exactly as prescribed (improving medication adherence) is one of the most important things you can do to enhance your health and prevent medical complications. For many Americans, medication adherence can be difficult to maintain. There are a number of barriers that we face every day, from social determinants of health (like medication…
Anxiety is a normal response to a constant barrage of bad news. Headlines and notifications related to recent events are taking their toll on mental health in what some call “headline stress disorder.” While this is not a medical diagnosis, the continued anxiety or stress from headlines may cause things like heart palpitations and chest…
As the new COVID-19 vaccine is being administered across the country, many people are feeling a mix of emotions. There is hope that the vaccine will normalize life and relief that the vaccine will save lives. There is also anxiety about its potential side effects, long-term effectiveness and availability. For some, the stress and uncertainty…
How we can comfort and support each other when grieving Grieving the loss of a family member, friend or colleague is difficult. The pandemic has made it even harder for many people to cope. Those who have lost loved ones to COVID-19 or other illnesses may face additional grief and sadness. Infection control restrictions have…
Find ways to deal with negative emotions There is no question that the pandemic has affected the mental health of Americans of all ages. We have experienced months of social isolation, job changes and unemployment, school closures, and other disruptions. This has led to a surge in the number of people reporting high levels of…
With the hope of a vaccine on the horizon, it is important to keep in mind that the global pandemic is still prevalent. It will take time for these vaccines to reach the general population, and the first recipients will be front-line medical workers and at-risk populations. Although the introduction of a vaccine is great…