One for All Missouri states that traditional Halloween activities like trick or treating or going to parties can increase your chances of catching and spreading COVID-19. However, celebrating holidays can be important during challenging times. There are ways to safely keep some Halloween traditions, or you could get creative and wind up with a new tradition that lasts long after the pandemic is over! If you are giving out treats, keep in mind these guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control

The American Society of Hematology states, “Blood clotting, or coagulation, is an important process that prevents excessive bleeding when a blood vessel is injured. Platelets and proteins in your plasma work together to stop the bleeding by forming a clot over the injury. Typically, your body will naturally dissolve the blood clot after the injury has healed. Sometimes, however, clots form on the inside of vessels without an obvious injury or do not dissolve naturally. These situations can be

In the early 1990s , the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Estee Lauder and Self magazine began distributing pink ribbons at events to promote breast cancer awareness. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Today, most people are aware of breast cancer, but many don’t have a plan to detect the disease in its early stages and encourage others to do the same. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, about 1 in 8 women born today in the United States will get breast

On June 15, 2020 the American Red Cross began testing all blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies. An antibody test screens for antibodies in your blood, which are formed when fighting an infection, like COVID-19. An antibody test assesses whether your immune system has responded to the infection, not if the virus is currently present. Positive antibody test results do not confirm infection or immunity; just potential prior exposure to the virus. Donors who test positive for

As the flu season approaches in the United States, health experts are warning that the addition of another respiratory illness on top of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic could overburden the health care system, strain testing capacity, and increase the risk of catching both diseases at once. Although the infection fatality rate of flu is roughly 10 times less than that of COVID-19, it still kills 30 to 60,000 Americans every year. However, unlike COVID-19, the flu is a familiar foe, and a safe and

Do you remember hearing the quote “Don’t judge a book by its cover?” Chronic illnesses, such as Multiple Sclerosis, have symptoms that are like icebergs; you only see what’s on the surface. One of my students recently shared with me her experience as an MS warrior. There are 2.3 million people worldwide that are affected by this disease, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder that affects the central nervous system and is the most

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear about cannabis? Most people might think of the “high” effect the marijuana plant has on people. However, there is a compound in the cannabis plant that has many health benefits and it has been booming on the market recently. It is called Cannabidiol, or CBD for short. The psychoactive ingredient in the cannabis plant is called THC. THC produces a high feeling, increased appetite, and memory impairment. Unlike THC, CBD has been shown to have

What if when we talked about kids going “back to school” we considered their actual backs and their spinal health? A 2006 study in The Pediatric Journal of Orthopedics found 37% of children experience back pain due to carrying heavy backpacks. Rob Danoff, a doctor of osteopathic medicine and a certified family physician with Philadelphia’s Aria Health System compares the spine to the frame of a house: it’s what keeps your child’s body sturdy and upright. Put too much weight on this frame while a

The American Academy of Pediatrics states, “Schools provide more than just academics to children and adolescents. In addition to reading, writing, and math, students learn social and emotional skills, get exercise, and have access to mental health support and other services that cannot be provided with online learning.” However, because some students or family members have higher medical risks, online learning is the safest option for them this year. This is the second of "To Your Health’s" two

The American Academy of Pediatrics has stated, “The goal of having children attend school in person--which is how they learn best--will only be safe when a community has the spread of the virus under control.” Families have faced difficult choices as they decided how to approach the new school year: homeschool? Remote learning? Back in the classroom with precautions? They ultimately had to come up with a plan that was best for them, after weighing each family member’s needs and risks. For the