Promoting Healthy Lifestyles at Home, School, and in the Workplace.

This page will be updated throughout the year to provide you with the latest information health care essentials. The information contained here it is not intended to replace the advice of your physician or health care provider.  You are always advised to seek professional guidance from your medical providers.
 

"The greatest risks to your health are specific to you as an individual.  This is why doctors ask about your family history and why they collect as much information as possible,   Your doctor is trying to do what is best based on your individual risk factors.  Yet, no doctor will every have as much insight into your health as you can accumulate.  Your genes, environment and choices all make unique contributions.  Some elements work against you, while others fight back and help.  In this constant tug of war, knowledge is your best ally."  (excerpt from Rath, Tom. "Eat Move Sleep.")

Take, for example, a women who has a genetic mutation that creates an unusually high risk for cancerous growth. This may likely be the greatest threat to this individual's health. She takes the time to do research on her family history and learns that several individuals in her family tree had a diagnosis of kidney cancer.  Armed with this information, she  pays close attention to anything related to these vulnerabilities.  Now, whenever she notices in the news something that increases or decreases the odds of kidney cancer, she digs deeper.  She sees a headline about a large study that shows a relationship between eating fatty fish like salmon and a reduction in kidney cancer.  She also learns that there is a strong association between BMI (body mass index) and kidney cancer. The work suggests that every one-point increase in BMI increases the risk of kidney cancer by 4 percent.  While that may sound small, assuming she had a 5 point increase in her BMI, that would translate to a 20 percent higher rate of kidney cancer if she were obese.  Making these small changes may not keep this women from developing a kidney tumor.  But, in combination with everything she does to be proactive, her goal is to reduce her overall risk.  

Identify your greatest health risk today, whether it is cancer, heart disease, diabetes, or something more specific.  Watch news reports for any headlines relating to these risks.  As you learn potential ways to improve your odds, do more research.  Don't change your diet based on unreliable information.  If you see something questionable, go to the source.  Look for studies that have been published in peer-reviewed medical journals like The New England Journal of Medicine or The U.S. National Library of Medicine. Once you have confidence in the source, make small adjustments to your diet and other important health habits.  

Keep Good Records -  Consider Microsoft's free "Health Vault

Know Your Numbers -

Be Honest -

Engage -

Practice Medical Self-Care -

Be Proactive -