Take Control of Your Health with Preventive Medicine

Close-up of a doctor pointing to a tablet, with a patient sitting in the foreground.
It’s difficult to find someone who hasn’t been affected by cancer — whether themselves or a loved one. Unfortunately, experts are predicting cancer deaths will rise over the next decade. But there’s hope because so much can be done with the power of preventive medicine. That is one reason why the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) started a world awareness day every February 4....
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Advocating for Accessibility

Close-up of a hand gripping the wheel of a wheelchair
As anyone who lives with a chronic health condition or disability knows, it’s easy to become isolated because of the body’s limitations. This is especially true for seniors. As the National Institute on Aging (NIH) has reported, social isolation and loneliness can worsen the physical health of seniors, leading to poor health outcomes. With as many as 13.8 million older adults living alone,...
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Winter Safety Tips

Looking down a quaint Philadelphia street in winter
Love it or hate it, winter’s here — and with the cold comes an increased risk of weather-related injuries. Make sure you’re ready for whatever the winter brings. Take these steps to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.

Stay Warm

Keep indoor temperatures at 65 degrees or warmer. If the expense is a problem,...
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Fact or Fiction: The Truth About Five Winter Wives’ Tales

A woman dries her young daughter's hair
As a full-time working mom, I am usually in a rush all the time, especially in the mornings. So it’s not uncommon for me to wash my hair and run out of the house while it’s still wet — even in the cold winter months. It’s a very defiant act considering that my mother scolded me my whole life for this (and still does)....
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Food vs. Food: Milk — To Dairy or Not to Dairy?

For years, if you wanted milk on your cereal or in your coffee, cow’s milk was your only option. But take a trip down the supermarket dairy aisle, and you’ll find a veritable herd of plant-based milk alternatives. There are options made from soybeans, nuts, rice, oats, and even peas! Udderly confused about whether to stick with traditional cow’s milk or switch to a plant-based milk alternative like soy or almond milk?...
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No Resolution Required: Tools for Better Health

If you’ve already given up on your New Year’s resolutions, don’t stress about it — statistically, only eight percent of people achieve their New Year’s goals. Despite our best intentions, changing our lives for the better isn’t easy. But, there are resources that can help you be a healthier you. Have you considered your health plan?...
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Why It’s Important for Children to Get the HPV Vaccine

a mother talks with her daughter outdoors
If you could vaccinate your child to prevent cancer, you would, right? That’s exactly what the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine offers. I spoke to Independence Medical Director and board-certified pediatrician Dr. Anna Baldino about the lifesaving HPV vaccine, which has the power to prevent nearly 40,000 cancers a year in the U.S.

Why get the HPV vaccine for your child?

...
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Bring on the Nostalgia, Bring on the Joy

A hand holds a vintage photograph of a boy on a bicycle in front of a Christmas tree.
Not all traditions happen on purpose. Some happen by accident and some develop over time. When I was nine years old, my parents bought a stereo system, complete with a five-disc CD changer, just in time for Christmas. Two of the first albums they purchased were Johnny Mathis’ Merry Christmas and Bing Crosby’s White Christmas....
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How to Protect Children From Lead Poisoning

Paint peeling on an old windowsill
We assume our homes are safe, but something you can’t see or smell may be hurting your child or grandchild. This hidden danger is lead, a toxic metal that can build up in the body over time and cause serious health problems. There are several ways children can be exposed to lead, including contaminated dust and soil around a home or day care center....
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Staying Healthy on Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

Someone getting hand sanitizer from a dispenser
December is a month of heavy travel for many people. Whether you’re heading south to someplace warmer, visiting the in-laws for a holiday celebration, or embarking on international travel, you may be spending time on public transportation, surrounded by crowds of people, or in public venues such as rest stops, train stations, or airports. Unfortunately, this travel also coincides with cold and flu season,...
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