August 2008 Letter on Women’s Equality Day and Smoking As we celebrate the anniversary of women’s right to vote next month on August 26th, Women’s Equality Day, we need to draw attention to the effect of tobacco-related diseases on women. Lung cancer has surpassed breast cancer as a leading killer of women. Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke increases the risk of heart disease, which kills one of three women in the United States. Babies born to women who smoke and babies who are... Read Full Story

As we celebrate the anniversary of women's right to vote on August 27th, Women's Equality Day, we need to draw attention to the effect of tobacco-related diseases on women. Lung cancer has surpassed breast cancer as a leading killer of women. Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke increases the risk of heart disease, which kills one of three women in the United States. Babies born to women who smoke and babies who are exposed to secondhand smoke after birth are at greater risk for sudden... Read Full Story

By Peter Panepento (adapted) When Cathy Phelps sits down with her staff members at the Denver Center for Crime Victims for their annual employment reviews, she doesn’t just set goals for their work performance. Instead, Ms. Phelps, the executive director, helps them make plans to improve their lives. All of the center’s 12 full-time employees are required to create annual self-care plans, in which they outline a series of steps they would like to take to improve their physical, emotional... Read Full Story

Experts agree that building a healthy heart should include many strategies. Here are some healthy eating tips that can help keep your heart beating for a full lifetime. Most Americans eat a diet high in saturated fat, cholesterol, salt, and calories and low in plant-based foods. Change the balance! Eat more plant-based foods – fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. They’re colorful and tasty if you season them instead of smother them with butter and salt. Here are some... Read Full Story

When the dull pressure of an occasional headache begins, you might chalk it up to work stress, lack of sleep or personal worries. If the ache is mild or moderate, you may consider it no big deal and simply reach for an over-the-counter drug--aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen or naproxen sodium--instead of calling your health care professional. Simple tension-type headaches are common, happening to 78 percent of adults, according to the National Headache Foundation. Such aches are dull (not... Read Full Story

Barley isn’t just for soup anymore. This grain makes an excellent choice as the starring ingredient in main courses, side dishes, breakfast fare and more. In addition to its versatility, barley is a nutritious food that’s high in fiber and low in fat. It’s no wonder this centuries-old grain is enjoying new-found interest among connoisseurs of good food and good health. Barley Helps Fight Heart Disease Eating barley as part of a healthy diet may help reduce the risk of heart disease by... Read Full Story

We’re so pressured with responsibilities—work, personal life, community activities—that we often get tied up in physical and mental knots just trying to get through an average day. Richard Cotton, MA, chief exercise physiologist with myexerciseplan.com in Carlsbad, CA, and a spokesperson for the American Council on Exercise, suggests the terrific stress-busters below. They take only a minute or two each, can be done almost anywhere and don’t need fancy equipment: Stress-Buster #1: Stand up... Read Full Story

Protein, contained in virtually every cell in your body, supports the growth and strength of your muscles, ligaments, organs, skin, blood, glands and more. Its importance to a healthy body can be found in the Greek word it comes from, meaning "primary." Yet it's easy to get confused when you hear about "complete proteins" or "incomplete proteins." What's what—and how much do you need? Here's a crash-course in vital protein basics to help you make healthy food choices: Protein is made up of... Read Full Story

Have you ever caught a glimpse of yourself in a full-length mirror or store window and seen your body slumped with poor posture? You might quickly pull your head and shoulders back, pull in your stomach and walk on. In a minute or two, when you've forgotten about what you saw, your body might start to slump again. If there were a mirror in front of us all day long, reflecting how we stand, walk and sit, good posture might be more on our minds. Having the right posture is important, and not... Read Full Story

Employers struggling with the ever-increasing costs for healthcare are wisely turning to worksite wellness programs in search of a solution. For convenience, many employers are looking to their health insurance carrier to provide the appropriate wellness program. However, the convenience of a health insurance provided program may not outweigh the risks. That decision could come back to haunt them. At issue is an insurance carrier’s ability to use information gathered during a wellness... Read Full Story