Martin's Must-Reads

Martin's Must-Reads

By Betty Martin, Mark MartinArtsBooks
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Martin's Must-Reads episodes

  • World AIDS Day
    When Nelson Mandela spoke at the International AIDS Conference in 2000 in South Africa, no one knew what the future held for the epidemic. 15 years later, the global AIDS response has been transformed. Today is World AIDS Day. While 15 million people have been reached with AIDS treatment since Nelson Mandela’s speech, there is still much work to be done. World AIDS Day is held on the 1st December each year and is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their
    2 min
  • Caregiving Takes Many Forms
    Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter stated, "There are four kinds of people: those who will become caregivers, those who are caregivers, those who were caregivers, and those who will need caregiving themselves." November is National Family Caregivers Month. Caregiving takes many forms from running errands for family members and friends who are elderly, sick, or disabled, to providing comprehensive round-the-clock care for a chronically ill parent or a child with special needs. Although some people
    2 min
  • The Facts and Myths About the Flu Shot
    Did you get your flu shot? It’s not too late. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that while influenza vaccination should begin soon after vaccine becomes available, usually in October, as long as flu viruses are circulating, vaccination should continue to be offered even in January or later. If you have been hesitating because you think the flu shot will give you the flu, will cause side effects worse than the flu or isn’t effective, think again. It’s biologically impossible
    2 min
  • Hospice Helps Patients Reclaim the Spirit of Life
    In the book "Soul Service," Christine Cowgill states, “Death should not be viewed as a medical failure but as a natural conclusion to life.” November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month. Hospice and palliative care combine the highest level of quality pain management and symptom control with emotional and spiritual support to ensure that patients and families find dignity, respect, and love when a cure is not possible. According to J. Donald Schumacher, president and CEO of the
    2 min
  • Most Ulcers Are Caused by Infection
    Antacid medication commercials often feature people overwhelmed at work or regretting eating too many tacos. However, 9 out of 10 ulcers are caused by an infection, not stress or spicy food. Helicobacter pylori infection is the culprit for 90% of ulcers, according to the Mayo Clinic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,the other 10% are caused by the use of drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen. The most common symptom of an ulcer, which is a sore or hole in the lining of the
    2 min
  • Stuttering
    “Just take a breath.” “Spit it out.” Do these comments seem conducive to effective communication? October 22 was International Stuttering Awareness Day. According to the American Speech and Hearing Association, stuttering affects the fluency of speech. Stuttered speech often includes repetitions of words or parts of words, as well as prolongations of speech sounds. Dysfluencies during the preschool years that are fleeting are very common. Most adults say “um” from time to time as a vocalized
    2 min
  • October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month
    "A wife who loses a husband is called a widow. A husband who loses a wife is called a widower. A child who loses his parents is called an orphan. There is no word for a parent who loses a child. That’s how awful the loss is." President Ronald Reagan shared this passage from An Orphan’s Tale in 1988 when he proclaimed October as National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. When it comes to this type of loss, many people don’t know what to say, so it is simply not talked about. This month
    2 min
  • Asthma Is Common Among Children But Can Be Controlled
    Imagine that you are driving as fast as you can, with your flashers on, because all you hear in your backseat is crying, wheezing and gasps for air. Your child is having an asthma attack and every second seems like an eternity as you try to get them help. Asthma is one of the most common diseases in children. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, there are 6.3 million children who have asthma. It is a condition in which your airways narrow, swell and produce extra mucus. This
    2 min
  • There is Still a Need for Improvements to Sex Education
    While the 90s hip hop duo Salt N Pepa may have wanted to talk about sex, baby...many parents have difficulty broaching the topic with their children. So, how exactly did you learn about sex? Was it from your friend with an older sibling who would tell dirty jokes? Or maybe from that really scandalous TV show that your mom didn’t know you watched? Or was it from school? Before 2010, abstinence only sex education was the only federally funded sex education program in the United States. The
    2 min
  • You're Saying I Have Cancer?
    For many patients, the prospect of a cancer diagnosis brings a flood of emotions and a swirling thoughts. Where should one begin? Strong health literacy is particularly important for cancer patients due to the complex, multiple, and individualized options for treatment. Studies have shown that patients with greater satisfaction in the information oncologists provide have better overall health-related quality of life, which leads to enhanced mental health and vitality during and after treatment.
    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…