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Entry bubble Winter Colds and Flu

By: Joanne | November 18, 2008 | Category: Health

a mid adult man sneezing into tissue

My nose is running, my ears are clogged and I’m coughing. Ah yes, the beginning of another cold and flu season is upon us. Every other week my daughter brings home a new and exciting virus from the germ factory (that’s how I like to refer to the elementary school at this time of year). Bailey brings home the cold and is sick for a few days, then her little sister picks it up and she’s sick for a few days and it seems like my husband and I are constantly battling a virus. Sometimes we get it and sometimes we don’t. Does this sound like your house? I suppose we’re not alone.

It's important to know the difference between colds and flu and try to prevent colds and flu by following the advice of the experts. I eat really well, exercise, drink plenty of fluids and even take a multi-vitamin regularly, just to be sure I’m getting the nutrients I need. I try to get enough rest, but with a full time job and two little kids, sometimes I have trouble getting the rest I need. I’m even an almost compulsive hand washer, and still, I get sick.

So what do I do? I stay warm, I drink plenty of fluids. I especially like nice, warm cups of tea. Green tea, white tea, red tea, herbal teas with honey and lemon are soothing and I drink tea all day long. Our old family remedy for, well anything, was whiskey with honey and lemon, but I don’t find that to be a very good prescription on a work day. I’ll stick with my tea and hope that one of you has a comforting cold remedy for me to try.

| Post a Comment | View Comments [6] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: cold   flu   health   illness   joanne   virus  

 

Entry bubble Hispanic Heritage Month

By: Nancy | October 09, 2008 | Category: General

Hispanic artI had no idea that it's been around for two decades already, but this is the 20th anniversary of National Hispanic Heritage Month. My life is filled with friends and coworkers who have been really generous in teaching me about the differences and similarities in their experiences as Americans with Mexican, Puerto Rican, South and Central American backgrounds. In celebration of them, I wanted to share with you some favorite National Hispanic Heritage Month websites:

Headed up by the Library of Congress, a group of government agencies created the National Hispanic Heritage Month homepage. It's filled with images and stories of Hispanic culture, politics and life in the US.

Each year, the National Register of Historic Places features historic properties, national parks and trails that are important to Hispanic history in America.

Some health issues affect everybody about equally, regardless of who you are or where your ancestors come from. And some health problems are more common in certain ethnic groups. The Medline Plus website from the National Institutes of Health has a great section on health issues that affect the Hispanic community.

My go-to place for numbers, the Census Bureau, has National Hispanic Heritage Month stats and facts about the Hispanic experience in the United States.

Even if you can't get to Washington, DC to visit in person, the Smithsonian Latino Center has a website filled with colorful art and engaging history exhibits.

The Information Please Almanac people have their own National Hispanic Heritage Month page with quizzes, a list of notable Hispanic Americans, a collection of American English words with Spanish origins and a lot more.

I'm a foodie, and I love eating—and trying to cook—foods with a Latino flavor. From plantains to paella, quesadillas to empanadas, they're all covered here, and categorized by country.gobiernousa.gov logo

My favorite Hispanic website is created just a few doors down the hall from my office. GobiernoUSA.gov is the government's official web portal filled with links to the government's online resources in Spanish. The site isn't just a translation of its sister site, USA.gov. It features unique resources created especially for the Hispanic community, whether you're new to the U.S., just visiting, or you're running your own business.

I getGobiernoUSA tv shoot crew to work on the production of GobiernoUSA.gov's public service ads. It's helped me remember a lot of the Spanish I thought I lost between here and high school. And it's given me an even greater appreciation for the creativity and the spirit of America's Latino community.

 

 

 

| Post a Comment | View Comments [2] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: gobiernousa.gov   health   heritage   hispanic   nancy   spanish  

 

Entry bubble Celebrate Child Health Day!

By: Stephanie | October 06, 2008 | Category: Health

Child Health Day 2008 logoThe other day, I was startled to notice my 14-month-old watching me while I ate an apple. When I peeled it and handed it to him, his eyes lit up as he bit into it like a big kid (until he accidentally dropped it and our dog got it, and that was it).

Children watch us and emulate us in so many ways, not the least of which are our eating habits and level of physical activity. Today is the 80th annual Child Health Day, and this year’s theme is “Eat Healthy and Be Active for a Healthy Future.”

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) estimates that one in six U.S. children between the ages of two and 19 is overweight. In less than 30 years, obesity has more than doubled among children ages 2-5 and more than tripled among children ages 6-12 and adolescents ages 13-19.

Being overweight is a risk factor for serious health consequences such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease.

HHS, which sponsors the presidentially proclaimed Child Health Day, urges adults to take the surgeon general’s pledge to:

  • Be a role model by making healthy choices for myself.
  • Help children be physically active through everyday play and participation in sports.
  • Support children’s healthy eating habits.

You can celebrate Child Health Day by following some tips for you and your children on eating healthy and being active. And be sure to check out the child obesity prevention checklists for parents and other caregivers, schools and teachers, and communities.

The Federal Citizen Information Center also offers information on helping overweight children become healthier, and USA.gov offers links to child health information for parents.

Do you try to lead a healthy lifestyle as a role model for children?

| Post a Comment | View Comments [2] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: celebrate   child   children   date   health   observance   stephanie  

 

Entry bubble How Ya Doing?

By: Nancy | October 02, 2008 | Category: Health

Economic and political headlines. Work situations and career changes. Health and home. I don't think I can name anybody I know who hasn't experienced an increase in their stress level this past week.

stressed man with hands claspedAdult or kid, everyday life or traumatic event, stress sure is inevitable. And it's so easy to react to it unconsciously, whether you're stocking up on comfort food or battling physical symptoms like headaches or insomnia. The last time I was under a lot of stress, I developed a tic in my right eye. Half the people on the subway thought I was flirting with them.

Take a look at some of these tips on managing stress in a healthy way and then I'd love to hear: how has stress been affecting you lately, physically or mentally? What are you doing to cope with it (good or bad)? While I'm waiting to hear from you, I'll go have a cookie. And some aspirin.

| Post a Comment | View Comments [11] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: economy   health   nancy   stress  

 

Entry bubble When Grandma's in Charge

By: Nancy | September 04, 2008 | Category: Home and Family

This Sunday is the 30th annual National Grandparents Day. I kind of figured it was a holiday invented by the greeting card companies and florists. But to my shame, it's real. It was started by a West Virginia lady named Marian McQuade, who wanted to draw the younger and older generations closer together.

As I was looking into what government resources there were online for grandparents, I was shocked by a set of statistics from the US Census Bureau: 2.4 million grandparents are their grandchildren's main caregivers and providers. And a majority of those grandparents are under the age of 55. If you're involved in raising or caring for your grandkids or other young relatives in your home, the government has lots of information to help.

grandma

You know from bringing up your own children: kids are expensive! If you're financially responsible for your grandkids, check out these tips for making the most of the tax credits you're entitled to if your grandchildren are your dependents. Find out how to pay for their health care and how to be sure they're properly immunized.

If you have young grandkids in your home, childproofing's a must, as is making sure, when you go out, that car seats are the right size and are installed correctly.

USA.gov's Grandparents Raising Grandchildren section is full of even more links from around the government and other sources you can trust, like AARP, for help on everything from finding childcare options to making sure the toys you give your grandkids are safe to helping them as they adjust to moving in with you or your moving in with them.

Got a minute to get sentimental? I'd love to hear some stories about your grandparents or your grandkids. Brag on them a little—what makes your "grands" so grand to you?

| Post a Comment | View Comments [3] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: children   grandparents   health   insurance   money   nancy  

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