Did you know that January is Blood Donor Awareness month? Blood donation is an important, life-saving donation for which there is no substitute. One in seven people will need a blood transfusion at some point in their lifetime, but only one in twenty of those who are eligible will donate. So, why should you donate blood? Why donate blood?When people think of blood transfusions, they likely think of life-saving blood transfusions done in emergency trauma situations, like after a car wreck. But …

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Approximately 13,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year. While formerly the most common cause of cancer deaths in women, cervical cancer deaths have been steadily on the decline, thanks in part to awareness about the disease and screening. Learn more about cervical cancer and prevention during cervical cancer awareness month, and make sure people you care about are getting screened! Cervical cancer, therefore, is rapidly multiplying cells of the cervix, located in the …

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Your immune system defends you against pathogens - microorganisms that make you ill. How your immune system responds to germs and pathogens determines whether you get sick and how long you feel bad. So, can you ‘boost’ your immune system to make sure that it can keep you from getting sick? Let’s start with understanding how the immune system works. Most importantly, if you are frequently sick and concerned about your immune function, you should see your physician. Your …

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Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a type of depression that is associated with the winter months when cooler weather and shorter days cause feelings of sadness, low energy, and other symptoms associated with depression. SAD is thought to be triggered by lower levels of serotonin, due to reduced sunlight, a disruption in melatonin, and changes in our biological clocks. It is most common in those who have a family history of SAD, live further from the equator, or are already diagnosed with …

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Diabetes is a chronic disease that develops when your body either does not make insulin or cannot use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone created by the pancreas and helps the body to pass glucose (sugar) from our food into the bloodstream to be used by the body. When this process doesn’t work properly, the glucose level in your bloodstream rises (called hyperglycemia). When this happens repeatedly over a long period of time, it damages the tissues and organs in the body, resulting in …

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