Martin's Must-Reads

Martin's Must-Reads

By Betty Martin, Mark MartinArtsBooks
Download on the App Store

Martin's Must-Reads episodes

  • To Your Health: Back to School in the Time of COVID - Part 1
    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
    2 min
  • To Your Health: Ticks Are Responsible for More Than Just Lyme Disease
    When people think of ticks, the next thing they usually think of is Lyme Disease. But did you know ticks are responsible for over fifteen different human diseases in the United States? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ticks spread the pathogens that cause disease through the feeding process, when small amounts of their saliva enter their host. To avoid becoming a meal for a disease ridden tick, avoid overgrown shady areas when outdoors. The common suggestion of
    2 min
  • To Your Health: Dehydration
    Runners sometimes joke about the strangest places they have gotten a drink when putting in long, hot miles ---from a stranger’s garden hose, a spigot on a golf course---but dehydration is no laughing matter. It’s also not something to cry about...because people who are dehydrated can’t produce tears. According to The Mayo Clinic, dehydration occurs when you use or lose more fluid than you take in, and your body doesn't have enough water and other fluids to carry out its normal functions. In the
    2 min
  • To Your Health: Effectiveness of Sexual Health Ads on Promoting Safe Sex and Testing
    Dating apps are becoming more popular and are frequently used for hook ups, which means getting together to have sex, with no relationship commitment. Health organizations are beginning to consider using dating apps to communicate and educate individuals on safe sex practices and where to get tested for Sexually Transmitted Diseases. It is becoming more common for health organizations to use dating apps to get their message out to their target audience. The app Grindr reports to have over 1.5
    2 min
  • To Your Health: How To Cut A Clear Path Through Medicare Coverage Confusion
    Reaching retirement age at 65 is one of life’s key milestones and certainly a cause to celebrate! However, before the celebration starts, one of the important tasks is cutting a clear path through the Medicare Coverage confusion. Low health literacy is one of the biggest problems when people begin considering their Medicare options. An article in The Journal of Health Communication stated "the success of health plans hinges on the engagement of their members, and that requires providing
    2 min
  • To Your Health: Maternal Mortality Among Black Women
    Before you walk out the door, are you sure you have everything? The baby’s first outfit? Did you install the car seat correctly? What about your birth plan? I don’t see an advanced directive in here. What are we supposed to do if you die while giving birth? Unfortunately, this is a brutal reality for black mothers to be. While many women may be nervous about the pain of childbirth and the responsibilities of a new baby, not too many women fear death. About 700 women die each year in the U.S. as
    2 min
  • To Your Health: Firework Safety
    John Adams wrote his wife, Abigail that July 4th “ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more." Independence Day is almost here and many of us will be celebrating it in a style that would make John Adams proud. However, this is also the time of year that the National Council on Fireworks Safety reminds the public of the safe and responsible use of
    2 min
  • To Your Health: Mental Health During COVID-19
    The World Health Organization states, “The sudden and near-constant stream of news reports about an outbreak can cause anyone to feel worried.” Mental Health America states that the mental health effects of COVID-19 are as important to address as the physical health effects, and “for the one in five who already have mental health conditions – or the one in two who are at risk of developing them” it is crucial to have access to reliable information and mental health resources. To prevent stress,
    2 min
  • To Your Health: Men's Health
    A survey by the American Academy of Family Physicians found that 55% of men surveyed had not seen their doctor for a physical exam in the previous year, even though 40% of them had at least one chronic condition. Maybe this is one reason why American men’s life expectancy is five years shorter than American women’s. In many societies, men generally enjoy more opportunities, privileges, and power than women, yet these multiple advantages do not translate into better health outcomes. According to
    2 min
  • To Your Health: Meditation and Mindfulness
    When I first heard about meditation, I think it was on some kind of early 80s sitcom, with people wearing unitards and scarves and chanting “ohm” as the laugh track blared. But, now meditation and mindfulness are getting serious attention. Data from the 2017 National Health Interview Survey found that U.S. adults’ use of meditation tripled between 2012 and 2017. The National Institute of Health defines meditation as a mind and body practice that has a long history of use for increasing calmness
    2 min

About Martin's Must-Reads

From the publisher's feed

There are one million new books published each year. With so many books and so little time, where do you begin to find your next must-read? There’s the New York Times Bestseller list, the Goodreads…