In this third installment of Vaccines: What You Need to Know, we’ll compare the risks of vaccination with the risks of infection. For a review of how immune responses and vaccines work, please see our earlier posts How the Immune System Works and How Vaccines Work. As described in our How Vaccines Work post, vaccines… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Health Awareness
Vaccines: What You Need to Know — Part 2
In this second installment of Vaccines: What You Need to Know, we’ll focus on how vaccines work and why they represent such a significant advancement in the field of health care. For a review of how immune responses work, please see our earlier post titled How the Immune System Works. How Vaccines Work Important Terms… Read more »
Vaccines: What You Need to Know — Part 1
Vaccines have a long history of helping to prevent disease. Even so, many people still don’t understand the facts about how vaccines work, their safety, and their importance to the health of communities. In this series of blog posts, we will Describe how your immune system works Explain how vaccines work Explore vaccines’ importance to… Read more »
What Does 2000 Calories Look Like?
Wondering what 2000 calories looks like? It’s smaller than you think for most foods! :
Is salt a risk factor for multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases?
In developed countries like the United States, the number of people being diagnosed with autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS) and type 1 diabetes are increasing. Recently, scientists identified a possible culprit—salt. What does salt do in your body? Sodium (1 of the 2 molecules that make up salt) is necessary for the body to… Read more »
Two Easy Ways to Track Your Health
Our friends at Blip Care recently unveiled their new wireless weight scale and the world’s first wireless blood pressure (BP) monitor—both of which use Wi-Fi to connect to an online portal that allows users to track and visualize their data over time. . .
Alleviate Pain by Changing Your Sleeping Position
Can sleep hurt? A recent article by the Wall Street Journal suggests that certain sleeping positions may be creating or exacerbating pain, including neck and shoulder problems. Peggy Brill, a Manhattan orthopedic physical therapist, suggests sleeping in a healthy anatomical position, as “rest is important for the musculoskeletal system to recover.” What Is a Healthy… Read more »
How to Choose a Workout Video
Workout videos are a convenient way to fit exercise into your schedule in the comfort of your own home. However, a recent search on Amazon.com displayed over 14,000 results for the query “workout video.” How can you choose a good one? Look for the following characteristics: Put Safety First. Incorrect technique during exercise can cause… Read more »
Healthy Weight Week
This week is the 20th annual Healthy Weight Week, an event that brings awareness to healthy, diet-free living habits that last a lifetime and can help prevent eating disorders and weight problems. Each January, the Healthy Weight Network brings attention to the most ineffective and unsafe weight-loss products on the market. Products are reviewed by a… Read more »
How to Choose a Quality Health App
There are over 40,000 medical applications available for smartphones and tablets, but unfortunately many of them “do not work” according to a recent article by the Washington Post. Nearly 247 million mobile phone users around the world are expected to download a health app in 2012. How can you protect yourself and choose a quality… Read more »