The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 40 million kids aged 5 to 14 will be keeping up the tradition of knocking on doors this Halloween. Urban legends about poisoned candy or razor blades stuck in taffy apples have made parents vigilant through the decades; however, no recorded incident of a random Halloween poisoning or razor blade incident exists. The biggest threat to trick or treaters , according to the American College of Emergency Physicians, is actually cars. Children are four times more

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

Mental Health America states, “Whether for heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, or depression - health screenings provide a quick and easy way to spot the first signs of serious illness and can reach people who might not otherwise seek professional medical advice. Clinical depression is a common medical illness. Like screenings for other illnesses, depression screenings should be a routine part of healthcare.” Today is Depression Screening Day. According to the Centers for Disease

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

Fall has arrived! The leaves are turning colors, the air is getting cool and crisp…and you’re sneezing? Allergies don’t just occur as things bloom in the spring and summer. Fall allergies have different triggers than spring and summer allergies, but they can be just as annoying. Ragweed is a common culprit. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America report that 10 to 20 percent of Americans suffer from ragweed allergy or hay fever. Ragweed begins releasing pollen in late summer and continues

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

I can remember a big milk carton style box of Epsom salts sitting in the linen closet at my grandparents’ house. Like the canister of Metamucil in the kitchen and the denture tray in the bathroom, it seemed like one of the mysteries of senior citizens that would one day be revealed to me. So I was surprised when after indulging in a massage recently, the massage therapist told me I should take a bath with Epsom salts that night. Didn’t I have at least another 20 years before I needed that? And

You know it’s a bad habit. And yet, there you are stuck in traffic and you find yourself trimming your fingernails…with your teeth. Up to 50 percent of us will chronically gnaw our nails at some point in our life, according to a study from the University of Calgary. But, nail biting is more than unattractive. It can carry health risks too. The Mayo Clinic reports that nail biting can: Increase the risk of colds and other infections by encouraging the spread of germs from your fingers to your

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

Lon Hodge, a Vietnam veteran with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder once said: “People tell me, you don’t look like you need a service dog. And I say, that’s because I have a service dog.” While dogs can be someone’s companion, they can also help save someone’s life. Service animals are defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act as dogs that have been trained to perform a task for their owner. The most commonly known service animals are guide dogs who are trained to lead blind and visually