Summer break has arrived! As the old saying goes, when packing for vacation, bring half the clothes and twice the money. While overpacking or going into debt will definitely put a damper on happy travels, getting sick during those hard-earned vacation days can be a nightmare. Here are some tips for staying healthy whether you are traveling by air or sea, domestically or abroad. Cedars-Sinai Travel Medicine reminds vacationers to prepare before they leave by getting enough sleep and making sure

Just about everyone has heard of Benjamin Franklin’s quote, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” but what about the saying, “A hug a day keeps the doctor away?” As silly as it sounds, this quote holds some truth. According to Penn State University, when two people hug, it causes their bodies to release several hormones, such as oxytocin, serotonin and dopamine. Higher levels of these hormones are known to have a calming effect, improve moods, help with sleep cycles and aid in digestion.

Flowers are blooming, the sun is shining, and it’s time to break out shorts and sandals. It’s also that time when people complain about being pale and want to get tan fast. However, many forget about the safe alternatives to getting a bronzed look. Are you one of the many people that lay in a tanning bed either unaware of or ignoring its dangers? In recent years, medical professionals have seen a noticeable spike in the number of skin cancer diagnoses, specifically melanoma. According to the

According to an article by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately one in five new prescriptions are never filled, and among those filled, approximately 50% are taken incorrectly, particularly with regard to timing, dosage, frequency, and duration. Adherence to prescribed medications is associated with improved clinical outcomes for chronic disease management and reduced mortality from chronic conditions. Conversely, nonadherence is associated with higher rates of hospital

You sometimes hear students talking about how they will never use algebra in real life. Well, I don’t frequently diagram sentences or play badminton, but that doesn’t mean the time I spent in school on these activities wasn’t worthwhile. It’s National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. If you stopped thinking about participating in physical fitness and sports when you last closed your high school gym locker, it might be time to reconsider. American leaders realized fitness was vital for our

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every year in the United States, 33,700 women and men are diagnosed with a cancer caused by HPV infection. HPV vaccination could prevent more than 90% of these cancers from ever developing. SoutheastHEALTH reports that though the HPV vaccine has been available for more than a decade, the overall percentage of the number of girls and boys obtaining the vaccine is still low. In 2017, the national average was about 50 percent for girls

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services report that the Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection, causing health problems including genital warts and cancers. Missouri has one of the highest rates of HPV infection in the country. The CDC states you can get HPV by having vaginal, anal, or oral sexual contact with someone who has the virus. With approximately 79 million Americans having HPV,

The Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation reports that testicular cancer is the leading cancer in men ages 15-44. The Urology Care Foundation states that with timely diagnosis, this cancer is most likely treatable and most often curable. This is why it is important for men to be aware of the signs of a testicular tumor. April is testicular cancer awareness month. I was shocked when my friends Chell and Brian Jannin disclosed Brian was battling testicular cancer. He was one of the 9,560 new

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulties with social communication and the presence of restrictive interests, repetitive behaviors, and sensory symptoms, according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM-5. EasterSeals Midwest reports Autism affects 1 in 40 children in the United States. April is Autism Awareness month. The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Child Development states, the name ‘autism spectrum disorder’ reflects

As the seasons change, and the daily temperatures fluctuate wildly, we often hear the weather blamed for illness. But does going from warm to cold and back again actually have anything to do with whether we get sick? The answer is...well, maybe. While scientists have long insisted that it is a virus that makes you sick, not the weather, several recent studies have found that the weather might help that virus get a foothold. First, different viruses flourish in different weather. If we have the