Health

Performing hands-only CPR to the beat of “Baby Shark” is the perfect way to help save a life. The song is the right speed for chest compressions.

The City Health Dashboard, a project of the Department of Population Health at New York University, spotlighted Oklahoma City’s innovative, data-based approach to advancing health and well-being in local communities.

Many Americans find that their physical and mental health is adversely affected by a sedentary lifestyle. Fortunately, there are ways you can remain physically active and maintain your mental health during the workday.

The average adult’s body weight is approximately 60 percent water. The body uses water in its cells, organs and tissues to help regulate temperature and maintain other bodily functions.

Make this school year a healthy one for your kids. First, teach kids how to keep their hands clean by washing them thoroughly and keeping them away from the face.

Juggling multiple responsibilities is hard, and maintaining your mental health through it all is even harder. With so much on our plates, it’s easy to neglect ourselves and forget to set aside time to breathe. Here are some tips to implement self-care tactics into your everyday life.

The Oklahoma City-County Health Department’s epidemiologists use various data points like outside temperature, mosquito trap counts and disease rates, complaints from residents and human surveillance of West Nile cases in Oklahoma County to determine the risk of West Nile disease during the summer months.

Have you seen your kid’s USB flash drive lately? It could be an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) containing nicotine. E-cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco products among American middle and high-school students, and USB-shaped e-cigarettes, especially flavored e-cigarettes, are growing in popularity.

An estimated 160 million Americans experience difficulty sleeping. We recommend creating a Zen bedroom by ensuring the noise is consistent. Earplugs or a sound conditioner might be in order. Shutting down all electronic devices before sleeping will also help ensure a good night’s rest.

Trying to improve your health? Easy: get some z’s. That’s right – proper sleep habits have been linked to improved mental, physical and emotional health. At PA Health & Wellness, we know that a good night’s rest is key to great health.

Oklahoma City-County Health Department’s Public Health Protection experts remind residents who plan to picnic or cookout this summer to keep all ingredients on ice to avoid the threat of contamination and sickness.

Cases of measles are now appearing in pockets across the country, particularly in the northwest. It is critical to understand the virus and how to be protected from it.

Many in our society are focusing on making their lives greener. But for some, the concept seems so vast that it’s hard to understand the lingo.

West Nile Virus has existed in Oklahoma since 2002, as a seasonal outbreak which flares up in the summer and continues into the fall. It’s spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes.

With summer just a few months away, it’s the perfect time to jump into eating better and exercising. These habits can help you get in shape and have a healthier and more active season.

The OKC-County Health Department’s Total Wellness program is a no-cost, interactive weight-loss program for adults that helps prevent diabetes and heart disease. Classes meet one hour a week for eight weeks. The goal of the class is for everyone to lose 5 percent of their body weight and develop a more active lifestyle.

Cases of measles are now appearing in certain pockets of the country, particularly across the northwest. It is critical to understand the virus and how to protect against it.

Every 39 seconds, an adult dies of a heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular diseases. Heart disease doesn’t just happen to older adults. It’s happening more frequently to younger adults, and conditions that lead to heart disease are commonly occurring at younger ages.

Let’s face it: Dreams can be weird, scary, humiliating and stressful. But what exactly do they mean?

As spring approaches, it’s important to survey your surroundings and eliminate the culprits that cause allergies to flare up at home or in the office.

Laws enacted at the state Capitol can directly impact the lives and well-being of individuals across the state. The Oklahoma Legislature can take action to significantly improve the collective health of Oklahomans by passing legislation that further reduces the smoking rate and curbs vaping by teenagers. Enacting barriers to smoking and/or vaping is a proven strategy that has achieved greater health outcomes in states across the country.

Oklahoma recently ranked 47th in health rankings by the United Health Foundation. As a result, Oklahoma businesses could see increased healthcare costs if rankings remain low.

American Heart Association’s revolutionary movement, Healthy for Good, inspires people to create lasting changes in their health and in their lives. Make 2019 the year to be “healthy for good,” with the following tips:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is saying goodbye to the Obama administration’s school lunch and breakfast program in a move to serve meals more appealing to students.

Nations Laboratory Services LLC (NLS), recently opened a new location in Tecumseh, in partnership with the Citizen Potawatomi Nation (CPN). NLS will provide clinical and medical testing services for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease.

A new year is a good reminder to safeguard those prescription medications before guests of all ages visit your home. When family and friends are in your home, continuously monitor your medicines for missing or outdated pills, and never keep leftover prescriptions.

“The definitive factors in determining whether someone is in good health extend significantly beyond access to care and include the conditions in their life and the conditions of their neighborhoods.” – John Auerbach, former policy director with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Milk’s vitamins and minerals make it an important part of a healthful diet, but yet many wonder if milk is healthy for humans. Here are a few myth busters:

Healthy families raise healthy children. The OKC-County Health Department’s Health at School program partners with local schools to help them become healthier places for staff, students and families. One way we do this is through the use of Community Health Workers (CHWs).

Dr. Dan T.D. Nguyen, a nationally renowned neuroradiologist, has moved his medical talents to Oklahoma and is breaking down the barriers of pain management.

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?