National prescription drug take back day is the day you can dispose of unused or expired prescriptions. It is unacceptable to dispose of prescriptions in the sink or toilet. The Drug Enforcement Administration with host DEA’s National Prescription Take Back Day at locations across the country. They will collect tablets, capsules, patches and other solid forms of prescription drugs (DEA. gov, 2023)
“Collection sites will not accept syringes, sharps and illicit drugs. Liquid products such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container. The cap must be tightly sealed to prevent leakage” (DEA.gov, 2023).
The DEA (2023) recommends to take the medications out of their bottle and mix them with something unappealing like kitty litter or coffee grounds if a program is not available in your area. Seal them in a bag or disposable container, and throw them away (DEA. gov, 2023)
April is stress awareness month. We all have experienced stress at sometime in our life but the issue becomes crucial when the stress interferes with our well being. We can maintain our mental and physical health by managing the stress with activities that bring you joy, and or communicating with others about your stress and anxiety.
Managing stress is an essential tool to maintain your health and well being. Stress can cause mental and physical illness if it isn’t handled appropriately.
Take care of yourself and your family. It is also imperative to recognize stress in your children, so you can teach them healthy outlets for managing their stress and anxiety. Currently, healthcare facilities are seeing more children and adolescents with mental health issues than in the past. Many cities have a shortage of mental practitioners and mental health beds.
Public health promotes and protects the health of people and the communities where they live, learn, work and play.
Public health professionals conduct scientific research, education, and setting health standards for the communities where we work and live. Public health sets safety standards to protect workers and develops school nutrition programs to ensure kids have access to healthy food.
Public health works to track disease outbreaks, prevent injuries and shed light on why some of us are more likely to suffer from poor health than others. The many facets of public health include speaking out for laws that promote smoke-free indoor air and seat-belts, spreading the word about ways to stay healthy and giving science-based solutions to problems.
Check out one of the videos above to get a better understanding of public health and do what you can do to remain healthy and well.
Ayurveda is a 5,000-year-old system of natural healing that’s truly stood the test of time. First originating in the Vedic culture of India, it’s actually considered by many to be the oldest healing science there is.
What is meant by “Ayurvedic medicine”? This system is based on the premise that there are three doshas, or body types, and depends on body composition, metabolism, digestion and other factors. Ayurvedic medicine addresses this components.
According to a report published by University of Maryland Medical Center, Ayurvedic medicine and an appropriate Ayurvedic diet can help treat inflammatory, hormonal, digestive and autoimmune problems.
Ayurveda is heavily practiced in India and Nepal, where around 80% of the population report using it. Ayurveda therapies have varied and evolved over more than two millennia. Therapies include herbal medicines, special diets, meditation, yoga, massage, laxatives, enemas, and medical oils (Ayurvedic Medicine, 2019).
“Love bombing is a tactic in which a person uses excessive and disproportionate gestures of affection with the goal of manipulation and establishing control over their partner. This can include elaborate gift-giving, over-complimenting, wanting undivided attention, and other manipulative tactics” (Jones, 2022).
Love bombing is most often used by narcissists and abusive people, as a method to quickly obtain affection and attention before tearing their victims down (Olsson, 2022). They may appear charming and exciting in the beginning, but this usually fades away and is replaced with emotional abuse” (Olsson, 2022).
Dating in 2023 can be challenging these days. Social media has changed the way individuals meet and socialize. It appears many lack the verbal communication skills needed to carry on normal conversation.
I had never heard of the term “love bombing, until a friend mentioned the phrase during a conversation we were having related to relationships. It is a concept that can be over whelming for the recipient who is receiving these gestures. The attention may seem genuine in the beginning, but can become abusive if one asserts their will against the person who is attentive to your needs. For those who have not experienced “love bombing” you may not recognize the emotional abuse that occurs until you are well immersed into the relationship.
We all want to feel wanted and loved and when you meet someone who appears to be interested and says the right things, it is easy to let down your guard. My suggestion to you, is to take your time to get to know your potential partner and set boundaries early. It is important to maintain your current friendships and continue the activities you love to keep your life in balance, so you do not loose yourself in the new relationship.
Good luck! Finding that special person can take time and effort. Be patient and know good communication and compromise is an essential key in any relationship.
Gestational diabetes means your blood sugar is too high while you are pregnant, and usually goes away after you give birth (WebMD, 2023). However, it can affect your baby’s health, and increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life (WebMD, 2023).
Symptoms include, increased thirst, urination and appetite. It is recommended a change in diet and increase in physical exercise as essential tools to reduce the probability of developing diabetes. Diabetes can cause blindness, renal disease that can lead to dialysis, strokes and or cardiac issues resulting in death.
If anyone in your immediate family (mother, father, brother or sister) has diabetes the chances of you developing gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes is likely. This is a serious matter, especially if you have symptoms of per-diabetes. Take heed, you can do something to change your health outcomes, with diet and exercise.
Obesity is considered an epidemic in this country. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 41.9% of Americans were obese in 2017 (CDC, 2022). The numbers of obese individuals has probably increased to greater than 50% in 2023, but no current data is available.
According to the Roberts Woods Johnson (2023) data, obesity is the result of several factors such as overeating, lack of physical activity, genetics, culture, and metabolism. Personally, I do not want to subscribe to the idea of genetics and metabolism when diet consumption is probably a result of culture, habit and the type of food consumed. There are food deserts all across the United States in low income neighborhoods. Sadly, it is cheaper to buy fast food then a head of lettuce and a tomato.
Americans consume to much fast food, that is full of sugar and fat. As a result we have an unhealthy population. Sugar is added to many foods as a filler. Sugar is addicting (Healthline, 2022). You will find sugar is added to most foods to enhance the taste, thus making it difficult to remove from your diet.
Obesity is linked to many health issues that can change the quality of your life, or cause death, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, certain types of cancer, and stroke (CDC, 2022).
Go to the link below to find your state ranking. It is your personal responsibility to take care of your health and well being. You can start by changing one thing in your diet and see if it makes a difference. Try giving up soda, or french fries, and stop supersizing your food, and drink more water. Your body will appreciate it and you will feel better.
The establishment of the Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) federal holiday was passed in 1983. It was celebrated nationally on the 3rd Monday of January in 1986. The legislation for this holiday was first introduced in 1968 and blocked in Congress. MLK believed in nonviolence and pushed for civil rights for African Americans during the 1960s. He was assassinated on April 4, 1968, at the age of 39 years old.
African American men were allowed to vote in 1870. However, African American women were not. During that time, many African American men were elected to Congress. The Southern States implemented rules in the 1890’s to discourage them from voting and to ensue they would not participate in ruling this country.
King at the age of 24
(Getty Images)
Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed discrimination in public spaces and employment. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was also passed, to include all Americans in the voting process. Consequently, The Voting Rights Act had been extended by Congress in 1970, 1975, and 1982 to address all irregularities related to voting and federal oversight. However, in 2013, the Supreme Court declared the key provisions in the act that involved federal oversight of voting rules in nine states (archives.gov/milestone-document/15th-amendment) was unconstitutional and not needed. Most recently, the 117th Congress failed to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act in 2021. The bill would have addressed voter registration, access and integrity, security, redistricting, and campaign finance, as well as establishing the Election Day as a federal holiday (www.congressDC.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5746).
As you celebrate the day, think about the reason for the holiday. Think about what you can personally do to encourage your congressional representative to support the passage of the voting rights bill when it comes up again for a vote in Congress.
Below of some of my favorite quotes from Martin Luther King.
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
“Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle.”
We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.”
January is the month to raise awareness about human trafficking. Wear blue on January 11, 2023 to bring attention to sexual trafficking and educate yourself and others about this hidden crime. Psychological warfare, physical force, and violence are used to intimidate others to remain a captive to those who promote sexual trafficking.
Human trafficking affects both young and old, regardless of economics, race, gender or age. It maybe happening in your neighbor, so educate yourself and increase your awareness.
Some of the indicators of human trafficking include: Homes with numerous people being picked up and dropped off at the same time. You may notice the lights are on at a workplace at strange times. Individuals who seem scared, confused or have untreated injuries, and avoid eye contact or conversation with others. All modes of communication are controlled, that include mail, phones, and the inability to speak to others due to fear. Bruises or other physical and or psychological trauma may also be present.
Be aware, if you see something, notify authorities. You maybe saving someones life.
This is the time many individuals will write audacious goals for the up coming year, that include increasing their exercise and losing weight. If you go to the gym regularly you will notice how crowded it is during the month of January and February. Sadly, by March, many will have resumed old habits and have decided the exercise routine is too time consuming or created some other excuse not to follow through.
To change a behavior, make realistic goals for yourself. Exercising is a lifestyle change, so be easy on yourself. Consistency is the key. Commit to twice a week and once you have completed that goal, increase your exercise frequency to 3 to 4 times per week. It actually takes 66 days to create a habit according to the experts (https://jamesclear.com/new-habit#). So with that said, find an activity that you enjoy, so that you will look forward to some form of exercise or going to the gym.
Get an accountability partner, so you can help each other stay on track.
Put a picture of the goal in a conspicuous place so you can see it daily. I suggest placing a picture of yourself at your ideal weight on the bathroom mirror or on the refrigerator.
Meditate on the results daily. See yourself and feel what it feels like to achieve the goal. Celebrate your small wins to keep yourself motivated. Make this the year that you follow through and achieve your goal!
I hope you have a wonderful holiday season. This is the time to make memories with your love ones As time moves on, you will realize the memories created are much more valuable than the physical items we acquire.
Time is also precious and as your family ages and matures the time you spend with them should be cherished. You do not want to look back with regret.
So take this time and enjoy your family and let go of any issues that may have come between you.
Thanksgiving is gone and the Christmas season is officially upon us. This is the time of the year, that so much good cheer is extended to others with no expectation of anything in return. Why can’t this happen all year long? Mankind still has not learned to love and respect others, especially those who are different. The jealous and self righteousness of others is very hypocritical.
Caring for each other should extend all year long, not just during the Christmas holiday season. I hope you take time to see beyond what you think you see, when you look at others. Everyone wants to be recognized, seen and appreciated. If you are experiencing sadness and self pity during this time, seek out help and do something for someone else, it will put your life in perspective.
This is the season that we promote caring and joy. Make it your mission to reach out to those in your circle. They maybe calling out for help and you have not been listening or observing. Seek help on their behalf if needed. We are our brothers keeper.
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