Pregnancy is an exciting time filled with hopeful anticipation, and most pregnancies are uneventful and result in healthy babies. Pregnancy, however, is not entirely without risk, leading some expectant parents to worry about birth defects and whether they’ll give birth to a healthy baby.
Many birth defects are minor and easily treated. But about one in every 33 babies is born with a major birth defect, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Major birth defects may have a serious impact on development, functional ability and overall health. Throughout January, which is Birth Defects Prevention Month, BeSmartBeWell.com highlights pregnancy risks and preventable birth defects. At BeSmartBeWell.com medical experts, and real-life expectant moms, like Sharon, share information to help lower the risk for birth defects.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/birthdefects/50829/
Adults aren’t the only ones who should be thinking heart smart this February, as heart disease is a concern for an increasing number of children, too. Research shows that overweight kids are more likely to develop heart disease as adults. And many overweight children already have conditions like high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which puts them at risk for heart disease now.
The good news is that most kids can address these risks with changes in diet and exercise. Throughout February, which is American Heart Month, BeSmartBeWell.com highlights the heart risks facing overweight kids and provides advice for how to manage them.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/childhoodobesity/50830/
The National Meningitis Association (NMA) today announced the launch of a new educational initiative in collaboration with Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi, about the importance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) recommended second dose of the meningococcal meningitis vaccine (MenACWY) for adolescents at age 16. The 16 Vaccine (The16Vaccine.org) aims to educate parents about the importance of this critical second dose of MenACWY, which helps protect teens against meningococcal meningitis during the period when they are at increased risk.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8385951-national-meningitis-association-the-16-vaccine/
Drugs are everywhere. The use of prescription painkillers has increased dramatically in recent years, and prescription drug abuse is now the nation’s fastest-growing drug problem. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than 5 million Americans misuse painkillers each month. Opioid painkillers—a class of very powerful and potentially addicting pain relievers—are the most common source of drug overdose deaths, resulting in more unintentional deaths than cocaine and heroin combined.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prescriptiondrugabuse/50825/
Announced today by VICHY Laboratoires, the VICHY EXPOSOME GRANT will promote and encourage research activity on the skin exposome. One research grant of 15 000 € will be awarded annually to a research project proposal in the field of exposome and skin.
What is exposome?
The human body is subjected to and responds to complex exposures throughout the lifespan, including exposures from the environment, diet, lifestyle. For this highly complex interaction, the term exposome was recently coined by Dr. Christopher Wild at the World Health Organization‘s International Agency for Research on Cancer.
The exposome analysis, therefore, complements the human genome by providing a comprehensive description of individuals’ lifelong environmental exposures. Exposome research aims to look at the holistic view of the human body’s exposures, how the body responds to those exposures, and their combined effects.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/7751451-vichy-announces-exposome-grant/
Today, the American Federation of Government Employees released a microsite site to raise awareness of the threat of privatizing the VA, and the negative impact it will have on veterans.
The site, The Fight Against VA Privatization, can be accessed at www.afge.org/VACall and offers viewers reports, data, photos, footage, and information about the largest health care system in the country tailored to the unique needs of our nation’s veterans.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8199531-afge-staff-the-va/
Signia today announced the premier of It’s Your Choice—a new video series debuting on YouTube highlighting three individuals with hearing loss and their path to better hearing. Signia designed this project to raise awareness of hearing loss and the risks associated with waiting to address it, and show how different life can be once someone chooses to get hearing aids.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8235451-signia-its-your-choice-hearing-loss-video-series/
As many as one in five U.S. teens suffers from disabling mental illness. Throughout Mental Health Awareness Month in May, BeSmartBeWell.com highlights the issue of mental illness in teens and tells the stories of two teens who moved from diagnosis through treatment and recovery.
What does mental illness look like in teens? It looks like Colleen, who’s battled depression and anxiety since she was 13, and Katie, who struggled with addiction in her early teens. Mental illness in teens looks just like the kid next door – studies show nearly half of all youth will experience a mental disorder at some point in their lives.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/besmartbewell/50033/
BeSmartBeWell.com, an award-winning website, is dedicated to helping the public be healthy and safe through increased awareness and simple-to-use knowledge. In 2009, Be Smart. Be Well. created a series of videos about the childhood obesity crisis. Four years later, we checked in with a leading expert to ask: Are we winning the race?
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/61019-be-smart-be-well-childhood-obesity-are-we-winning-the-race
They’ve been dubbed the “Sandwich Generation”–middle-aged people caring for aging parents while still taking care of their own children. Pulled in many directions, these family jugglers are at risk for stress, depression and other health problems. Older adults are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population; 10,000 people turn 65 every day. This will continue for nearly 20 years, and that means more and more people will find themselves aiding their aging parents.
Throughout November, which is National Family Caregiver Month, BeSmartBeWell.com sheds light on the challenges of caregiving and the particular issues facing the Sandwich Generation. At BeSmartBeWell.com, siblings Chris and Ann share their story of juggling jobs, family and caring for elderly parents.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/caregivingparents/50827/
With about one out of every three children in this country obese or overweight, it’s more important than ever to focus on healthy choices and changes that families can make together. Throughout March, which is National Nutrition Month, BeSmartBeWell.com shares stories of real families like Cindy and her children, who got healthier by cutting out junk food and exercising more.
“We lost over 200 pounds together as a family,” says Cindy in a video on Be Smart. Be Well. “After going back through and looking at pictures of where we were to where we’ve come, it’s just absolutely amazing!”
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/childhoodobesity/50831
BeSmartBeWell.com is leading the way in health education, helping people manage common, largely preventable health issues through compelling, documentary-style videos. Research shows that video storytelling is effective at changing people's habits and behaviors, and a number of prominent health organizations are collaborating with BeSmartBeWell.com in order to further health education via this powerful medium.
LoveIsRespect.org found everyday teens who were willing to speak candidly about dating abuse. In Dating Abuse: Teens Start Talking, these teens talk openly about dating abuse and the risks of being young and in love in today's fast-paced technological world.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/50837-be-smart-be-well-changing-how-people-see-health-issues
