Health

Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine before flu activity begins. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends getting vaccinated by the end of October. Oklahoma City-County Health Department (OCCHD) epidemiologist Ozair Naqvi notes the flu shot lowers one’s chance of contracting the flu and lowers the severity of symptoms if one does get sick.

As working professionals, we’re all too familiar with the afternoon slump, as productivity and motivation often decline in our post-lunch exhaustion. Most people don’t take naps while at work, but could there be benefits to midday rest?

A community health worker is a front-line public health worker who is a trusted member of a community and has an unusually close understanding of the community they serve. This trusting relationship enables the worker to be a liaison, link and intermediary between health and social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery.

Uh oh. A new study has some scary implications for our reliance on cellphones, tablets and computer screens. Those blue-tinged displays could lead to serious eye problems – maybe even blindness.

Oklahoma City-County Health Department (OCCHD) nurses encourage parents/guardians to check their children’s immunization status early.

It’s that time of year, when vigilance for mosquitoes is a must. Remember to Fight the Bite by draining standing water, using DEET-containing insect repellent, dressing in long sleeves and pants sprayed with repellent and protecting yourself by limiting your exposure outside.

Children First (C1) helps first-time mothers make the best decisions for the future of their children. C1 is utilizing the Lemonade for Life model to stop the cycle of poverty and child abuse by preventing future exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Clients learn techniques that instill hope and responsibility for change, which is key for self-sufficiency.

Heart Health Month aims to raise awareness of the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States: heart disease.

Regardless of what business you’re in, many offices share a common similarity: a sedentary work culture. Studies show sitting is a major contributor to employee health issues. Try these simple tips to minimize the negative effects of a sedentary lifestyle and create a ripple effect that could change office culture for good.

January is the time many start fresh with a new year and a new you.

Some people look good with a mustache – some not as flattering. But regardless of thickness, color or style, November is a month to embrace them all for a good cause.

An MRI is the most effective diagnostic test for soft tissue disorders, according to the Oklahoma Heart Hospital.

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Research by the Mayo Clinic suggests inactivity at your desk job could be slowly killing you. Here are some insider tips to easily increase your activity around the office:

• Get a stationary bike. You can score a stationary bike that fits under your desk on Amazon for as little as $26.

• Stand up. Decrease your risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease by spending part of your day standing.

• Take the stairs. Take advantage of a few minutes of exercise.

• Go for a walk. Instead of emailing your co-worker, make the short trek down the hall to their office.

1. Sunburns

It’s easy to find excuses for why we couldn’t stick to our routine workout schedule — it was too hard, too much to do and we weren’t ready.

Sitting is the new smoking. Meetings are the biggest time-wasters at work. Studies show walking meetings boost creativity and collaboration when done in groups of 2-4 people.

Need a boost after the holidays? Revitalize is your answer.

If the number on the scale won’t budge, your desk job might be to blame.

Whether you fancy a one-mile walk, 5K or full marathon, Oklahoma has several pleasant areas to put miles behind you.

Many big races are coming up in the next few months, including the Redbud Classic, April 9-10, and the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon, April 24. The time to start training is now.

Each new year brings waves of health resolutions – losing weight, exercise regimens, diets and annual physicals. Consider adding one more – improving your health literacy.

What if we labeled unwalkable neighborhoods “unsafe” like we do with cigarettes? Ten percent of preventable deaths are due to…