Feb. 5, 2014 Know Your Risk for Heart Disease Although heart disease often manifests later in life in the form of heart attacks, it actually starts developing under the radar when people look young and healthy.This silent killer remains the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women. More than 600,000 Americans die of
Jan. 27, 2014 Biomedical Sciences Corps Week: Celebrating a proud heritage Although the Biomedical Sciences Corps is a relatively new entity in the grand scheme of military history, in some ways it has ancient roots. The BSC insignia of a serpent-entwined rod, also known as the "Staff of Asklepios," has been a symbol of healing and medicine ever since the year 300 BCE.
Jan. 24, 2014 Maintain mental fitness for a healthy life The challenges of working in the Air Force can be both physically and mentally taxing. Mental fitness is approaching life's challenges in a positive way by demonstrating self-control, stamina and good character with choices and actions."When we celebrate attitudes and actions, we want to encourage
Jan. 22, 2014 Military Anti-Tobacco Initiatives Recognized at White House Ceremony Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services, joined Acting Surgeon General Boris Lushniak at the White House on Jan. 17 to mark the release of the Surgeon General's new report on smoking and to recognize the Department of Defense and other federal agencies for their work in reducing
Dec. 26, 2013 Five Signs of Hypothermia and Frostbite Adult Hypothermia Signs- Uncontrollable shivering- Exhaustion- Confusion, drowsiness- Memory loss- Slurred speechInfant Hypothermia Signs- Bright red, cold skin- Very low energyIn the U.S., approximately 700 deaths occur each year from hypothermia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Dec. 12, 2013 Gum chewing: a healthy habit Did you know that gum chewing can help prevent dental disease? A 2008 review in the Journal of the American Dental Association stated that chewing sugar free gum for 20 minutes after meals can help prevent tooth decay. When you chew gum it stimulates the production of saliva in your mouth. Saliva is
Nov. 26, 2013 Former MTI’s road to recovery transformed tragedy into inspiration In the pitch blackness and pre-dawn stillness, his booming voice alone was enough to send several dozen new trainees into a frenzied scramble from the comfort of their bunks. His scowl was enough to keep those trainees frozen into a formation of stone figures.Tech. Sgt. Matthew Zien was one of those
Nov. 25, 2013 Personal trainer: Make holiday resolution A certified personal trainer here said he knows all too well about the well-intentioned New Year's resolutions to get in better shape that fill the gym every January. He said he has also seen the same trend every year when in February or March the gym empties to its pre-resolution regulars. Chris
Nov. 25, 2013 Deck the Halls with Safety in Mind Fa la la la la Decorating homes for the holidays is a magical way to kick-start the season but families should be aware of the potential fire hazards and injuries that can happen if safety precautions are not taken. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were 14,000 injuries related to
Nov. 14, 2013 FDA Targets Trans Fat in Processed Foods More than decade ago, a sea change began in the American diet, with consumers starting to avoid foods with trans fat, and companies responding by reducing the amount of trans fat in their products.This evolution began in 1999 when the Food and Drug Administration first proposed that manufacturers be
Nov. 13, 2013 59 MDW medical group combats diabetes Diabetes, the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States, has reached epidemic proportions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 26 million Americans have been affected.The incidence of diabetes in the military, estimated at about 5 percent of the active-duty
Nov. 4, 2013 Keesler team researches stroke prevention Keesler Medical Center's cardiovascular team is embarking on a research trial aimed at stroke prevention.Led by Lt. Col. (Dr.) Steve Kindsvater, commander of the 81st Medical Operations Squadron cardiovascular/pulmonary flight, the trial began in July. The team is seeking 320-350 patients over age
Oct. 23, 2013 DGMC specialist recognized for safety Sean Zortman, 60th Medical Group safety and occupational health specialist at David Grant USAF Medical Center, was recently recognized by the National Safety Council as one of forty Rising Stars of Safety during a ceremony presented by DuPont Sustainable Solutions in Chicago earlier this month. The
Oct. 16, 2013 The Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Protects Against Future Disease The human papillomavirus vaccine, originally targeted to preteen girls, is now recommended for boys as well. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health. "You're not going to prevent a sexually transmitted disease ... if
Oct. 11, 2013 Airmen urged to heed FDA warning about dietary supplement The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is advising consumers to stop using OxyElite Pro, a dietary supplement, because of suspected links to acute hepatitis. The FDA, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Hawaii Department of Health are investigating reports of acute
Oct. 11, 2013 Military Researchers Working to Find New Suicide Treatments The Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences established the Laboratory for the Treatment of Suicide-Related Ideation and Behavior in 2006 to work on developing new treatment methods for suicidal service members.The lab is led by Dr. Marjan Holloway, an associate professor of medical and
Oct. 8, 2013 Being prepared for the flu season According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, the timing of flu season is very unpredictable and can vary from season to season. Flu activity most commonly peaks in the U.S. in January or February. However, seasonal flu activity can begin as early as October and continue to
Sept. 27, 2013 New flu vaccine offers triple protection Each year, flu season affects millions of men, women and children. Flu season usually begins in October, so now is a great time to protect yourself and your family from the flu by getting vaccinated. The flu shot is easy to get and inexpensive - often free - for TRICARE beneficiaries and this year
Sept. 25, 2013 It’s that Time: Get your Flu Vaccine Each year, flu season affects millions of men, women and children. Flu season usually begins in October, so now is a great time to protect yourself and your family from the flu by getting vaccinated. The flu shot is easy to get and inexpensive - often free - for TRICARE beneficiaries and this year
Sept. 25, 2013 Defense Department Conducting Review of Suicide Prevention Efforts The Defense Department has more than 900 different suicide prevention initiatives. Officials have been working to identify which ones reflect the federal government's new national strategy for reducing suicide.The Defense Suicide Prevention Office started its review last fall, and an interim report