The thyroid is a small gland found in the middle of the lower neck. The hormones it produces helps control your body temperature and heart rate, and help regulate the production of protein. January is Thyroid Awareness Month. Up to 20 million Americans have a thyroid condition. The thyroid can be either over-active or under-active.…

About 36,000 units of red blood cells and 7,000 units of platelets are needed every single day in the U.S. Blood donations typically drop off during and immediately after the winter holidays, which makes National Blood Donor Month in January a critical time. Donating blood saves many lives and improves health for many people. According…

National Folic Acid Awareness Week seeks to spread awareness about the importance of folic acid. Folic acid is a type of B vitamin called vitamin B9. Folic acid helps the body produce and maintain new cells. It also helps prevent changes to DNA that may lead to cancer.

Practicing good hand hygiene is a simple yet effective way to prevent infections. Germs can get onto hands if people touch any object that has germs on it. It may be because someone coughed or sneezed on it or it was touched by some other contaminated object. When these germs get onto hands and are…

According to the World Health Organization’s World Report on Disability, 15 percent of the world’s population, or more than 1 billion people, are living with a disability. Of the over 1 billion, it’s estimated 450 million people are living with a mental or neurological condition— and two-thirds of these people will not seek professional medical…

Alzheimer’s is a complex neurological disease that is the most common form of dementia. Alzheimer’s is a form of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking, and behavior. More than 5 million people in the United States have Alzheimer’s and more than 10 million are caring for a loved one with the disease. Detecting the…

Stress is a response to demands on the body and life, a response to crisis and fears. National Stress Awareness Day is dedicated to identify and reduce stress factors that have contributed to your life. Failure to handle stress in your life effectively can lead to serious health problems, including increased blood pressure, susceptibility to…