Oct. 1, 2014 Flu season fast approaching According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an average of between 5 percent and 20 percent of the U.S. population will come down with the flu this year.Of those, 200,000 people will have complications and require hospitalization. Those most vulnerable to the flu are the elderly, the
Sept. 26, 2014 MHS Leadership Message - We stand together as a community to prevent suicide Military Health System colleagues,Every September is Suicide Prevention Month. The Department of Defense will take this opportunity, along with our partners in the VA and civilian community to refresh our attention to this important national problem. September is only a one month fraction of our
Sept. 24, 2014 Prevention is the Best Medicine When Facing Enterovirus D-68 With recent cases of the respiratory illness enterovirus D-68 being reported in multiple states within the U.S., our doctors want to make sure that all the members of the military community are informed and safe when confronting this illness. Remember, if the proper precautions and prevention
Sept. 17, 2014 Obama Details Major Increase in U.S. Ebola Response In a whole-of-government approach and with international partners, the United States is significantly upping its response to the West African Ebola epidemic to save lives now and halt future outbreaks, President Barack Obama said today during a visit to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Sept. 12, 2014 Studies Link Lack of Sleep to Greater Suicide Risk Three out of four deployed service members have trouble sleeping, a particular concern for the Military Health System since recent studies show that getting enough sleep has a direct correlation to preventing suicidal thoughts.Recognizing the serious health risk that sleep issues present, the
Sept. 5, 2014 Suicide prevention takes courage, communication, official says The Veterans Affairs Department has named September National Suicide Prevention Month, but the Defense Department continues its year-round, comprehensive, multi-pronged approach to address the issue of suicide in the military, a Pentagon official said Aug. 21.Army Lt. Gen. Michael S. Linnington,
Sept. 5, 2014 New programs help Airmen tighten belt, fight obesity In 2010, 75 percent of Americans from 17 to 24-years-old were unfit for military duty due to obesity, according to Dr. Curtis Gilroy, U.S. Department of Defense director of accessions policy."Health care to Health", a federally funded initiative implemented on select bases in the Department of
Sept. 4, 2014 MHS Leadership Message - The US Government and DoD Response to the Ebola Crisis Military Health System colleagues,The international health community is working closely together to help confront the outbreak of Ebola virus in the West African nations of Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and, more recently, Nigeria.As military medical professionals, we want to ensure that you are
Aug. 27, 2014 Suicide Prevention Month: A reminder of our 24/7/365 responsibility to ourselves and each other All Airmen have a responsibility that last much longer than a one-month campaign. This responsibility extends beyond ourselves and includes our work environment, our families, friends, fellow Airmen and our communities. While Suicide Prevention Month is observed across the United States in
Aug. 25, 2014 E-cigarettes are unregulated, health officials scrutinize use E-cigarettes have an allure that have made gas stations and tobacco shops alike sell them throughout St. Clair County. This is not unlike the grip regular cigarettes may have had on generations for decades, whether from advertisements, social pressure, or perhaps claims of being a healthier
Aug. 21, 2014 Military Doctor Fights to Protect Newborns The wars are winding down but Army Maj. Ryan Mascio's mission is booming. He and four other pediatricians, along with three neonatal nurses, care for an average of 130 newborns a month at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital in Virginia. But a new threat looms on the horizon. A tragic condition that once
Aug. 8, 2014 Japanese encephalitis virus threat in Asia Mosquitoes all over the globe carry and spread some of the most debilitating diseases known to man, and do so in a manner that's often difficult to predict with any kind of certainty.These vector-borne diseases can cause serious illness or can be fatal. Some of these diseases, such as Japanese
July 17, 2014 Report Shows DOD Contribution to National Prevention Strategy Hundreds of service members and civilian employees are eating healthier and getting more exercise at the Defense Logistics Agency, one of 14 military facilities serving as pilot locations for a new program that aims to help service members and their families become more health-conscious. The program
July 16, 2014 Keeping fit one diet at a time Susan Haley, 6th Aerospace Medicine Squadron health promotion dietitian, has been a dietitian and nutritionist for over 30 years, but she has been helping members of Team MacDill stay fit for the last seven years. "We believe that fit fighters plus healthy families equal a resilient and healthy Air
July 15, 2014 Tips Campaign Matte Article for General Public The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is continuing its national tobacco education campaign--Tips From Former Smokers (Tips)--with hard-hitting new TV commercials that feature real people who have experienced the harms caused by smoking. The ads will air across the United States
July 14, 2014 "Solicit help; don't hide" Over the years, the term "Wingman" has evolved in the Air Force. The traditional military definition of a Wingman refers to the pattern in which fighter jets fly. There is always a lead aircraft and another which flies off the right wing of and behind the lead. This second pilot is called the
June 27, 2014 Rabies can come from bite, scratch With summer months fast approaching and the topic of safety buzzing around base, it is important to remember a key precaution that is often overlooked: rabies prevention. Rabies has been a hot topic in the news this year. To some, however, the disease is still very new. Rabies is a fatal and
June 11, 2014 DOD Tracking Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Virus The Defense Department is closely monitoring the spread of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, which has infected more than 800 people worldwide, Air Force Col. Carol Fisher, the DOD's director of Public Health, said June 5.Those who catch the virus, first identified in 2012, exhibit flu-like
June 5, 2014 Defense Health Agency Streamlines Research Oversight Compliance Whether the topic is preventing sexual assault, suicide or substance abuse, Department of Defense researchers are pushing the boundaries in the fields of behavioral and social science, conducting groundbreaking studies and surveys that benefit Americans as well as people overseas every day. Though
June 3, 2014 Seeking Help: Combating prescription drug abuse Editor's Note: This feature is part of a 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs series on "Airmen seeking help".I felt nothing. I was just going through the motions day-in and day- out. It all changed once I found an escape. I looked forward to coming home every day and self-medicating until I passed out and