Forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service expect above-normal activity for the 2024 hurricane season (which lasts until November 30).<\/p>\n
Meteorologists anticipate 17 to 25 storms with winds of 39 mph or higher, including eight to 13 hurricanes — four to seven of which could be major hurricanes with 111 mph winds or higher.<\/p>\n
What kinds of plans should you make?<\/h2>\n
Preparing for the possibility of big storms is a major undertaking. Long before ferocious winds and torrential rains arrive, you must gather hurricane supplies, figure out how to secure your home, and determine where to go if you need to evacuate (especially if you live in a flood zone). Contact the emergency management department at your city or county for shelter information.<\/p>\n
If you’ll need help evacuating due to a medical condition, or if you’ll need medical assistance at a shelter, find out if your county or city has a special needs registry like this one in Florida<\/a>. Signing up will enable first responders to notify you about storms and transport you to a special shelter that has medical staff, hospital cots, and possibly oxygen tanks.<\/p>\n
What should you pack?<\/h2>\n
While a shelter provides a safe place to ride out a storm, including bathrooms, water, and basic meals, it’s up to you to bring everything else<\/a>. It’s essential to pack medical equipment and sufficient medications and health supplies.<\/p>\n
\"It’s natural to just grab the prescription medications in your medicine cabinet, but what if it’s only a two-day supply? It might be a while before you can get a refill. We recommend at least a 14-day or 30-day supply of every prescription,\" Dr. Goldberg says. \"Talk to your doctor about the possibility of getting an extra refill to keep on standby for your go bag.\"<\/p>\n
Other health-related items you’ll want to pack include:<\/p>\n
- \n
- medical supplies you use regularly, such as a blood pressure monitor, heart monitor, CPAP machine, wheelchair, or walker<\/li>\n
- over-the-counter medicines you use regularly, such as heartburn medicine or pain relievers<\/li>\n
- foods for specific dietary needs, such as gluten-free food if you have celiac disease (if you have infants or children, you’ll need to bring foods they can eat)<\/li>\n
- healthy, nonperishable snacks such as nuts, nut butters, trail mix, dried fruit, granola bars, protein bars, and whole-grain bread, crackers, or cereals<\/li>\n
- hygiene products such as soap, hand sanitizer, toothbrushes and toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, infant or adult diapers, lip balm, moist towelettes, and toilet paper — because shelters often run out of it.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
Remember the basics<\/h3>\n
In some ways, you can think of shelter living like camping. You’ll need lots of basic supplies to get through it, including:<\/p>\n
- \n
- a sleeping bag or blanket and pillow for each person in your family<\/li>\n
- clean towels and washcloths<\/li>\n
- a few extra changes of clothes per person<\/li>\n
- a first-aid kit<\/li>\n
- flashlights and extra batteries<\/li>\n
- chargers for your electronic gadgets<\/li>\n
- rechargeable battery packs.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
Bring important paperwork<\/h3>\n
In addition to supplies, bring important documents such as:<\/p>\n
- \n
- a list of your medications, vitamins, and supplements (include the name, dose, and frequency of each one)<\/li>\n
- a list of the names, addresses, and phone numbers of your primary care provider and any specialists who treat you<\/li>\n
- a list of your emergency contacts and their phone numbers<\/li>\n
- your pharmacy’s phone number and address<\/li>\n
- copies of your birth certificate and driver’s license<\/li>\n
- copies of home, car, or life insurance policies<\/li>\n
- copies of your health insurance cards<\/li>\n
- a copy of your advance directive — which includes your living will and health care proxy form.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
\"Store these documents on a flash drive. Also make photocopies of them, which are easiest for doctors to consult in an emergency setting. Place them in a plastic zip-top bag to keep them dry,\" Dr. Goldberg advises.<\/p>\n
Prepare right now<\/h3>\n
Start today. Gather as many go-bag supplies as you can, including the bags. A small suitcase, backpack, or duffel bag for each person in your family will work well.<\/p>\n
And try not to put off these important preparations. \"Hurricanes are major stressors. You might be worried, sleep deprived, fatigued, and emotional,\" Dr. Goldberg says. \"All of that will make it hard to think clearly. You’ll do yourself and your family a favor by having discussions now and getting started on your hurricane plan.\"<\/p>","excerpt":"\n
When you’re packing a hurricane go-bag, keep health priorities in mind. If you don’t prepare in advance, you might leave behind medicines, medical supplies, important paperwork, and other essentials that can help you stay healthy. Here’s how to plan ahead.<\/p>\n ","short_excerpt":"\n
When you’re packing a hurricane go-bag, keep health priorities in mind. If you don’t prepare in advance, you might leave behind medicines, medical supplies, important paperwork, and other essentials that can help you stay healthy. Here’s how to plan ahead.<\/p>\n ","description":null,"author":null,"slug":"packing-your-hurricane-go-bag-make-provisions-for-your-health-202407013055","sort_date":"2024-07-01T04:00:00.000000Z","contentable_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\BlogPost","contentable_id":3055,"replacement_content_id":null,"landing_page_landing_page_group_id":null,"ucr_content_id":"BL070124","publication_date":"2024-07-01T14:30:00.000000Z","last_review_date":null,"imported_at":"2024-06-29T09:00:02.000000Z","last_import_type":"insert","last_modified_date":"2024-06-28T04:00:00.000000Z","active":1,"created_at":"2024-06-29T09:00:02.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-29T09:00:03.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"images_remapped":0,"old_product_id":null,"old_content_id":null,"hide_ads":0,"primary_content_topic_id":44,"ecommerce_type":"CATALOG","authors":[{"id":31,"cr_id":117,"featured":0,"hhp_staff":0,"hidden":0,"name":"Heidi Godman","title":null,"first_name":"Heidi","middle_name":null,"last_name":"Godman","suffix":null,"slug":"heidi-godman","byline":"Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter<\/em><\/a>","description":"
Heidi Godman is the executive editor of the Harvard Health Letter<\/em>. Before coming to the Health Letter<\/em>, she was an award-winning television news anchor and medical reporter for 25 years. Heidi was named a journalism fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, and has been honored by the Associated Press, the American Heart Association, the Wellness Community, and other organizations for outstanding medical reporting. Heidi holds a bachelor of science degree in journalism from West Virginia University.<\/p>","image_url":"https:\/\/d2icykjy7h7x7e.cloudfront.net\/authors\/jmHxTqYhe8m1bTrPQJnvY8odf8gsq1y1Q0i6Wp6Y.jpg","twitter_username":null,"sort_order":0,"created_at":"2021-05-11T10:08:08.000000Z","updated_at":"2022-08-03T17:04:41.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"pivot":{"content_id":18952,"author_id":31,"sort_order":1}}],"contentable":{"id":3055,"comments_open":1,"created_at":"2024-06-29T09:00:02.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-29T09:00:02.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"media":[]},"content_type":{"id":18,"name":"blog","slug":"blog","created_at":"2021-05-11T08:30:32.000000Z","updated_at":"2021-05-11T08:30:32.000000Z","deleted_at":null},"media":[{"id":15383,"model_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\Content","model_id":18952,"uuid":"78265fe6-908c-41ff-8432-ff44153979ee","collection_name":"contents","name":"8aa16373-e07d-4c16-af1a-f1e091a302f1","file_name":"8aa16373-e07d-4c16-af1a-f1e091a302f1.jpg","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","disk":"s3","conversions_disk":"s3","size":82746,"manipulations":[],"custom_properties":{"alt":"Graphic of map showing eastern US in yellow with "Breaking News Weather" on it in blue, red & orange rectangles & white swirling hurricane icon over blue water"},"generated_conversions":{"micro":true,"thumb":true},"responsive_images":[],"order_column":15314,"created_at":"2024-06-29T09:00:02.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-29T09:00:05.000000Z","full_url":"https:\/\/domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net\/medialibrary\/15383\/8aa16373-e07d-4c16-af1a-f1e091a302f1.jpg"}],"primary_content_topic":{"id":44,"name":"Staying Healthy","slug":"staying-healthy","is_primary":1,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/topics\/staying-healthy"}},{"id":18949,"content_source_id":2,"content_type_id":18,"content_access_type_id":1,"title":"5 great tips for sustainable summer living","short_title":"","subheading":"Stay cool and find joy with planet-friendly ideas to enhance summer life.","summary":"\n
Wondering how to save money, stay cooler, and be kinder to our planet during a long, hot summer? These five tips help ensure maximum fun and suggest ways to stay comfortable and safe this summer while making sustainable choices to benefit the environment.<\/p>\n ","content":"
\n \n <\/p>\n
Sustainable living treads lightly on natural resources and follows a rethink, reuse, repurpose mantra to minimize waste.<\/p>\n
Big and small wallet-friendly tips can help you save money and befriend our planet this summer, says Dr. Wynne Armand, a primary care physician at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital, and associate director of the Mass General Center for the Environment and Health<\/a>. Here are five great tips to get you started.<\/p>\n
1. Embrace the 5 Rs<\/h2>\n
Give yourself permission to start here: Nobody is perfect. We all have preferences and sustainability blind spots, fumbles, and \"sorry, just no\" feelings. Start where you are and add on when you can.<\/p>\n
2. Cut down on cooling energy<\/h2>\n
Summer heat can endanger your health, and paring back on energy use isn’t always possible or wise. Still, it may be possible to:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Stay cooler naturally.<\/strong> Pull down shades during daytime hours to block out hot sun. Open windows at night if the temperature cools down, and to capture cross breezes if possible. Dress in loose cotton clothes and wear a shading hat when outdoors. Remember that sun bounces off lighter colors and is soaked up by black or darker colors. Make your own shade by carrying an umbrella on sunny — not just rainy — days. \"<\/strong>Prepare meals that don’t require cooking or baking, since that saves resources and keeps your home cooler,\" advises Dr. Armand.<\/li>\n
- Seek shade and cool spots.<\/strong> If you don’t have air conditioning or you worry about the bills, green, leafy spaces like parks<\/a> can help cool you down. Cities and towns often open cooling centers, splash pads, and public pools. Public buildings like libraries and malls are available during daytime hours for anyone trying to beat the heat.<\/li>\n
- Turn up the temperature.<\/strong> On air conditioning, that is. If you’re fortunate enough to have air conditioning at home, follow natural cues. When you’re shivering, sweater-seeking, or tucked up under blankets, push the temperature up to save energy and money.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
3. Save resources<\/h2>\n
A sharp eye for energy savings may help pare down bills, too.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Electrify. <\/strong>Shrink your carbon footprint and help cut air pollution by using electric grills, mowers, and other landscaping tools. When tools or appliances need to be replaced, consider electric options.<\/li>\n
- Conserve energy. <\/strong>Turn off electrical equipment that is not in use in the office and at home, such as lights, TVs, computers, copiers, and printers. <\/li>\n
- Go low when demand is high.<\/strong> \"During peak electricity demand, ensuring stability of the grid is essential to public health,\" says Dr. Armand. \"Avoid using appliances like dishwashers, washers, or dryers during periods of high demand. Instead, do these chores — and charge your electric car, if you have one — late at night.\" Some energy-hogging appliances have timers to help with this.<\/li>\n
- Sign up for <\/strong>Shave the Peak<\/strong><\/a> alerts. <\/strong>Know when to curb your electricity use to avoid times when your local electric grid is relying on nonrenewable, expensive, polluting fossil fuels.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
4. Stay heat-aware and hydrated<\/h2>\n
Saving resources is a worthy goal, but not at the expense of staying safe and healthy when summer temperatures spike.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Make plans to stay cool.<\/strong> When summer swelters, having an affordable, personal plan<\/a> to cool down — especially during heat waves — can be lifesaving.<\/li>\n
- Watch out for <\/strong>signs of dehydration<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong> Drinking plenty of water and eating water-rich foods like lettuce, cucumbers, melon, and citrus fruits can help you stay well hydrated. Water-filling stations for reusable bottles cut down on single-use plastic bottles and help save money at the grocery store.<\/li>\n
- Know how to treat <\/strong>heat rash<\/strong><\/a> and more serious <\/strong>heat-related illnesses<\/strong><\/a>. <\/strong>The small, itchy red or darkened bumps of heat rash (prickly heat) occur when sweat ducts become blocked or inflamed. This makes it harder for children and adults to cool their bodies down. Generally, too much heat can harm our bodies, particularly if we work outdoors, take certain medicines, or have certain illnesses.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
5. Kickstart sharing circles<\/h2>\n
Sharing circles can help you expand a wardrobe, tool shed, or taste in foods — all while building community.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Start local, then consider expanding.<\/strong> Brainstorm with a few friends on what you all might like to share or swap. Think seasonal: gardening tools, outside d’cor, summer sports (because not everyone needs to own a paddleboard<\/a>). Local clubs, block associations, or public spaces like libraries and schools may be willing to host community swaps and shares. Some communities have swap sheds and some libraries loan gadgets<\/a> and even appliances like a portable induction cooktop burner, tech and home-improvement tools, games, and much more.<\/li>\n
- Summer supper club.<\/strong> Perfect for those overloaded with summer harvests from window boxes, community gardens, or a CSA share<\/a>. Build a theme around what’s fresh, local, and low-cost. Plant-forward menus<\/a> are good for health and for the planet. Cultural inspiration always helps. And having one person cook — or stressing no-cook recipes — saves resources.<\/li>\n
- Cut your clothing allowance.<\/strong> Tired of your wardrobe? Gather friends for a summer clothes and accessories swap. Be sure to agree on rules: gently-used, carefully washed, no stains, and so on.<\/li>\n
- Hot spots.<\/strong> \"Gathering at a friend’s or neighbor’s home for fun games and festivities on hot days is a great way to build community while saving on energy costs for cooling. And rotate for that next hot day!\" says Dr. Armand. <\/li>\n <\/ul>","excerpt":"\n
Wondering how to save money, stay cooler, and be kinder to our planet during a long, hot summer? These five tips help ensure maximum fun and suggest ways to stay comfortable and safe this summer while making sustainable choices to benefit the environment.<\/p>\n ","short_excerpt":"\n
Wondering how to save money, stay cooler, and be kinder to our planet during a long, hot summer? These five tips help ensure maximum fun and suggest ways to stay comfortable and safe this summer while making sustainable choices to benefit the environment.<\/p>\n ","description":null,"author":null,"slug":"5-great-tips-for-sustainable-summer-living-202406283054","sort_date":"2024-06-28T04:00:00.000000Z","contentable_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\BlogPost","contentable_id":3054,"replacement_content_id":null,"landing_page_landing_page_group_id":null,"ucr_content_id":"BL062824","publication_date":"2024-06-28T10:30:00.000000Z","last_review_date":null,"imported_at":"2024-06-29T09:00:04.000000Z","last_import_type":"update","last_modified_date":"2024-06-28T04:00:00.000000Z","active":1,"created_at":"2024-06-27T17:50:04.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-29T09:00:04.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"images_remapped":0,"old_product_id":null,"old_content_id":null,"hide_ads":0,"primary_content_topic_id":44,"ecommerce_type":"CATALOG","authors":[{"id":141,"cr_id":454,"featured":0,"hhp_staff":1,"hidden":0,"name":"Francesca Coltrera","title":null,"first_name":"Francesca","middle_name":null,"last_name":"Coltrera","suffix":null,"slug":"francesca-coltrera","byline":"Editor, Harvard Health Blog","description":"
Francesca Coltrera is editor of the Harvard Health Blog, and associate editor of multimedia content for Harvard Health Publishing. She is an award-winning medical writer and co-author of Living Through Breast Cancer<\/em> and The Breast Cancer Survivor’s Fitness Plan<\/em>. Her work has appeared in Newsweek<\/em>, O Magazine<\/em>, Good Housekeeping<\/em>, SELF<\/em>, and the Boston Herald<\/em>, among other venues. She is interested in many health topics, including coronavirus and COVID-19, emotional and physical wellness, parenting and children’s health, women’s health, exercise, longevity, cancer, caregiving, and end-of-life issues.<\/p>","image_url":"https:\/\/d2icykjy7h7x7e.cloudfront.net\/authors\/TqVPF0YGx0xJcBXxPlTy6uaaWpQEzL1twZBXNs9d.jpg","twitter_username":null,"sort_order":6,"created_at":"2021-05-11T10:46:14.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-28T14:07:36.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"pivot":{"content_id":18949,"author_id":141,"sort_order":1}}],"contentable":{"id":3054,"comments_open":1,"created_at":"2024-06-27T17:50:04.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-28T14:25:54.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"media":[]},"content_type":{"id":18,"name":"blog","slug":"blog","created_at":"2021-05-11T08:30:32.000000Z","updated_at":"2021-05-11T08:30:32.000000Z","deleted_at":null},"media":[{"id":15375,"model_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\Content","model_id":18949,"uuid":"7721421f-32b3-45d7-a3f9-5670dfb1dfca","collection_name":"contents","name":"71da1de7-3c71-4341-9f3a-810d2deb31c6","file_name":"71da1de7-3c71-4341-9f3a-810d2deb31c6.jpg","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","disk":"s3","conversions_disk":"s3","size":70904,"manipulations":[],"custom_properties":{"alt":"illustration of a set of rounded-corner app-style icons on the theme of summer, showing ice cream, thermometer, sunglasses, beach ball, cold drink, flip-flops, starfish, and many others"},"generated_conversions":{"micro":true,"thumb":true},"responsive_images":[],"order_column":15306,"created_at":"2024-06-28T14:24:50.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-28T14:24:51.000000Z","full_url":"https:\/\/domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net\/medialibrary\/15375\/71da1de7-3c71-4341-9f3a-810d2deb31c6.jpg"}],"primary_content_topic":{"id":44,"name":"Staying Healthy","slug":"staying-healthy","is_primary":1,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/topics\/staying-healthy"}},{"id":18946,"content_source_id":2,"content_type_id":18,"content_access_type_id":1,"title":"How health care leaders can prioritize health equity for the LGBTQIA2+ community","short_title":null,"subheading":"Here’s how health care leaders can contribute to greater health equity for the LGBTQ+ community.","summary":"
Research shows that the LGBTQIA2+ community faces disproportionate adverse health conditions due to health inequities. It’s important for those working in the health care industry to be aware of the challenges the LGBTQIA2+ community faces, to help make systemic changes and improve health outcomes.<\/p>","content":"
\r\n \r\n <\/p>\r\n
\r\n Editor's note: Health inequities have long been an issue for people in the LGBTQ+ community. We're pleased to share a post from our colleagues in Corporate Learning<\/a> at Harvard Medical School focusing on solutions that health care leaders can champion.<\/em>\r\n <\/p>\r\n
Health care business professionals can improve patient outcomes and reduce health inequities by championing the health care needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and\/or questioning, intersex, asexual, and two-spirit (LGBTQIA2+) community. These issues are an important priority for health care professionals year-round, not just during Pride Month.<\/p>\r\n
Research shows that the LGBTQIA2+ community faces disproportionate adverse health conditions<\/a> due to health inequities. It’s important for those working in the health care industry to be aware of the challenges the LGBTQIA2+ community faces to help make systemic changes and improve health outcomes.<\/p>\r\n
The LGBTQIA2+ community — which is less likely to trust<\/a> the health care system — is a rising part of the population. The 2022 national Gallup survey shows that at least 20% of Gen Z identifies as LGBTQIA2+<\/a>. This includes our coworkers, customers, and clients, says Dr. Alex Keuroghlian<\/a>, a psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital and faculty advisor for LGBT and Allies at Harvard Medical School<\/a> (LAHMS).<\/p>\r\n
\"LGBTQIA2+ people experience pervasive stigma and discrimination, as well as numerous adverse social determinants of health, all of which negatively impact health outcomes,\" says Dr. Keuroghlian. \"Health care professionals, organizations, and governmental agencies need to intentionally provide clinical care and design health systems and policies, in a manner that is culturally responsive and improves health outcomes for LGBTQIA2+ people.\"<\/p>\r\n
Due to the politicized nature of these issues, health care providers around the world, including in several U.S. states, face limitations and backlash when providing gender-affirming care. In some places, Dr. Keuroghlian says, \"legal restrictions on access to gender-affirming care create challenges for clinicians to deliver this care and for transgender and gender diverse people to safely receive it.\"<\/p>\r\n
Everyone in health care — including health care business professionals — can work to improve health outcomes and decrease inequities. \"It is critical for all businesses to offer welcoming, inclusive, and affirming work environments and service delivery for LGBTQIA2+ people,\" Dr. Keuroghlian says.<\/p>\r\n
Supporting LGBTQIA2+ health begins in the workplace<\/h2>\r\n
With thoughtful action, health care business professionals can contribute to greater health equity for these underserved individuals. Some ways to do so include:<\/p>\r\n
\r\n 1. Take an active interest in better understanding the needs and perspectives of the LGBTQIA2+ community.<\/strong>\r\n <\/p>\r\n
Conducting research, including surveys and consumer focus groups, is a good way to help better understand specific health needs and priorities. \"This community has historically been excluded from studies and research that would be very helpful in understanding their needs and their challenges,\" says Dr. Enrique Caballero<\/a>, an endocrinologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the faculty director of International Innovation Programs in the HMS Office for External Education. \"We need to get to know the population better.\"<\/p>\r\n
\r\n 2. Prioritize inclusive language.<\/strong>\r\n <\/p>\r\n
Whether you are involved directly in care delivery or other aspects of health care, pay attention to the words you use — for both customers and employees. Gendered language in job postings, informational or marketing materials, and even casual conversation can be off-putting. That means lost opportunities for organizations and LGBTQIA2+ individuals. Slight shifts in language and conscious efforts like adding pronouns to your email signature speak volumes.<\/p>\r\n
\r\n 3. Train staff to be community allies.<\/strong>\r\n <\/p>\r\n
Gaining awareness of our unconscious biases and making shifts in our everyday language doesn’t happen overnight. Health care industry businesses can help their staff be better allies to the LGBTQIA2+ community by providing access to workshops delivered by community members.<\/p>\r\n
\"No one becomes fully competent after one conversation, lecture, or video,\" Dr. Caballero says. \"It’s a lifelong process in which we all learn how to be more respectful, inclusive, and to embrace diversity.\"<\/p>\r\n
\r\n 4. Support companies and community organizations that focus on LGBTQIA2+ health.<\/strong>\r\n <\/p>\r\n
Show, don’t tell. Making financial contributions to organizations already on the ground and working with this population demonstrates that you aren’t just concerned about the bottom line. You are truly dedicated to helping the LGBTQ+ population access good health care.<\/p>\r\n
\r\n 5. Hire LGBTQIA2+ staff.<\/strong>\r\n <\/p>\r\n
The best way to ensure your company is prioritizing health equity is by having a diverse group at the decision-making table. It is crucial to have employees that represent the diversity of your customer base — not only diversity in gender expression and sexuality, but also diversity in race, ethnicity, age, ability, and beyond.<\/p>\r\n
\"Part of our obligation is to really open the doors for everybody,\" Dr. Caballero says. \"Talent is not exclusive to a particular group, and I think that is important to embrace as an organization.\"<\/p>\r\n
\r\n 6. Include LGBTQIA2+ representation in all communications.<\/strong>\r\n <\/p>\r\n
Diverse representation is key. Make a pointed effort to include same-sex couples, non-traditional family units, and transgender and non-binary individuals in all kinds of communications, participating in everyday activities.<\/p>\r\n
\r\n 7. Acknowledge any missteps.<\/strong>\r\n <\/p>\r\n
On an institutional level, company acknowledgments can go a long way in rebuilding trust with the LGBTQIA2+ community. Within the organization, it’s valuable to encourage ongoing communication about company culture.<\/p>\r\n
\"All organizations should have a system in place for people to provide feedback on how things are going and to report anything that they want to call the leadership team's attention to,\" Dr. Caballero says. \"Having a system that truly listens to members of the organization — and being sure that follow-up action is taken — is very important.\"<\/p>\r\n
\r\n 8. Make action consistent beyond Pride Month.<\/strong>\r\n <\/p>\r\n
Embracing the LGBTQIA2+ community consistently and with commitment all year long \"is truly an opportunity for everyone,\" Dr. Caballero says. \"This is not good just for the members of the community, but for everybody that works in a place that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion.\"<\/p>\r\n
Industry professionals turn to HMS for custom corporate learning programs, including on topics like LGBTQIA2+ health, that leave a lasting impact on participants. To provide these programs, HMS leverages faculty expertise from throughout the School and the entire Harvard University community to share with health care teams. To learn about HMS Corporate Learning custom programs, read about the approach<\/a> or hear from clients themselves<\/a>.<\/p>","excerpt":"
Research shows that the LGBTQIA2+ community faces disproportionate adverse health conditions due to health inequities. It’s important for those working in the health care industry to be aware of the challenges the LGBTQIA2+ community faces, to help make systemic changes and improve health outcomes.<\/p>","short_excerpt":"\n
Research shows that the LGBTQIA2+ community faces disproportionate adverse health conditions due to health inequities. It’s important for those working in the health care industry to be aware of the challenges the LGBTQIA2+ community faces, to help make systemic changes and improve health outcomes.<\/p>\n ","description":null,"author":null,"slug":"how-health-care-leaders-can-prioritize-health-equity-for-the-lgbtqia2-community-202406263053","sort_date":"2024-06-26T04:00:00.000000Z","contentable_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\BlogPost","contentable_id":3053,"replacement_content_id":null,"landing_page_landing_page_group_id":null,"ucr_content_id":"BL062124","publication_date":"2024-06-26T04:00:00.000000Z","last_review_date":null,"imported_at":"2024-06-28T04:00:00.000000Z","last_import_type":"update","last_modified_date":"2024-06-27T04:00:00.000000Z","active":1,"created_at":"2024-06-25T09:00:03.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-28T18:03:28.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"images_remapped":0,"old_product_id":null,"old_content_id":null,"hide_ads":0,"primary_content_topic_id":181,"ecommerce_type":"CATALOG","authors":[{"id":518,"cr_id":880,"featured":0,"hhp_staff":0,"hidden":0,"name":"Corporate Learning Staff","title":null,"first_name":"Corporate","middle_name":"Learning","last_name":"Staff","suffix":null,"slug":"corporate-learning-staff","byline":"","description":"
Harvard Medical School’s Corporate Learning solutions provide emerging and established companies with the knowledge they need to address the industry's toughest business challenges. Their extensive portfolio of learning solutions helps teams achieve their potential by advancing their knowledge and capabilities in areas ranging from medical science and emerging diseases to employee health and wellness. A comprehensive ecosystem of online, in-person, and hybrid solutions supports learners at all levels — from new hires to CEOs and their leadership teams.<\/p>","image_url":"https:\/\/d2icykjy7h7x7e.cloudfront.net\/authors\/V0v1ZYn5Z3micD4V2YPRVR3ij8sfLoXYOVssXTqe.png","twitter_username":null,"sort_order":1,"created_at":"2024-06-24T17:45:09.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-24T17:45:09.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"pivot":{"content_id":18946,"author_id":518,"sort_order":1}}],"contentable":{"id":3053,"comments_open":1,"created_at":"2024-06-25T09:00:03.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-28T18:03:28.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"media":[]},"content_type":{"id":18,"name":"blog","slug":"blog","created_at":"2021-05-11T08:30:32.000000Z","updated_at":"2021-05-11T08:30:32.000000Z","deleted_at":null},"media":[{"id":15367,"model_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\Content","model_id":18946,"uuid":"36e96931-b0b7-4573-8c7c-c493cbfec3fb","collection_name":"contents","name":"0f11bddf-8146-4805-ab1c-53b6561c24fd","file_name":"0f11bddf-8146-4805-ab1c-53b6561c24fd.jpg","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","disk":"s3","conversions_disk":"s3","size":32769,"manipulations":[],"custom_properties":{"alt":"illustration of multiple arms in shades of white, black, and gray raised upward against a dark red background; each arm’s hand has a red heart on the palm"},"generated_conversions":{"micro":true,"thumb":true},"responsive_images":[],"order_column":15298,"created_at":"2024-06-25T09:00:03.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-25T09:00:05.000000Z","full_url":"https:\/\/domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net\/medialibrary\/15367\/0f11bddf-8146-4805-ab1c-53b6561c24fd.jpg"}],"primary_content_topic":{"id":181,"name":"Healthcare Disparities","slug":"healthcare-disparities","is_primary":1,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/topics\/healthcare-disparities"}},{"id":18943,"content_source_id":2,"content_type_id":18,"content_access_type_id":1,"title":"One surprising effect of wildfires: Itchy, irritated skin","short_title":null,"subheading":"Is wildfire smoke contributing to eczema flares and other skin conditions?","summary":"
Mounting evidence suggests that wildfires, which are increasing in intensity and frequency, contribute to skin problems, including eczema flares. Here’s what you need to know to protect your skin from wildfire pollution.<\/p>","content":"
<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Are you finding yourself with itchy, irritated skin that you can't stop scratching? Or have you wondered why your child's eczema is suddenly worse and so hard to control? Mounting evidence suggests that wildfires, which are increasing in intensity and frequency, contribute to skin problems, including eczema flares.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
What is eczema?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n
Atopic dermatitis is the most common type of eczema. It can run in families, often beginning in childhood. Typically, in the northern hemisphere, it grows worse during the winter season when the weather is cold and drying. Now some experts are seeing that pattern change. At Massachusetts General Hospital, for example, one dermatologist noted an unusual spike last summer<\/a> in patients with flare-ups of eczema.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Why is eczema getting worse during summer?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n
In 2023, Canada experienced more than 6,000 wildfires<\/a> that burned over 16 million hectares of land — an area larger than the entire state of Georgia. While far away from the devastation, the smoke reached across the US and more than 2,000 miles to Europe<\/a>. Poor air quality from these distant wildfires caused eye and throat irritation and difficulty breathing<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In Boston, Dr. Arianne Shadi Kourosh, a dermatologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, also began to notice skin symptoms. Normally the dermatology clinics would see fewer than 20 people during a summer month for eczema, including atopic dermatitis. Suddenly that jumped to 160.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Looking back at summer month records from the last four years, her research showed that the number of visits for these skin complaints tracked with the severity of air pollution. These findings are consistent with other research noting an uptick in eczema flares<\/a> and psoriasis flares<\/a> associated with wildfire pollution. But why?<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Researchers theorize that airborne pollutants might set off a cascade of effects within the body by activating an oxidative stress pathway. This damages the skin barrier and prompts an inflammatory response. This cascade also may play a role in the development of eczema.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
What can you do to protect your skin?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n
Air pollutants in wildfire smoke may harm multiple organs — not just your heart and lungs, but also our skin, it seems. So, when outdoor air quality is bad due to wildfires, limiting your exposure can help reduce health risks. While we can say the same for industrial air pollution, wildfire pollution is likely worse due to its additional toxic particles.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
- \r\n\t
- Seek help if you're itching.<\/strong> Check with a dermatologist or your health team if you think wildfire smoke or other forms of air pollution might be affecting your skin.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Check local air quality. <\/strong>AirNow.gov<\/a> shares local, real-time air quality information and activity guidance. When recommended, stay indoors if possible. Shut doors, windows, and any outdoor air intake vents.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Protect your skin.<\/strong> When you're outdoors, wear a mineral-based sunscreen<\/a> containing zinc or titanium. While most other sunscreens work through a chemical reaction to absorb the ultraviolet (UV) rays that damage skin, zinc and titanium sunscreens help by forming a barrier over skin that reflects off UV rays. The barrier also reduces the amount of pollutant particles getting to the skin to set off the inflammatory cascade. Wearing sunscreen protects against skin cancer, as well.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Wash up.<\/strong> After coming back inside, cleansing your skin and applying a hypoallergenic moisturizer will help keep it healthy. If you do have eczema, choose cleansers and moisturizing products recommended by your dermatologist or health care provider.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","excerpt":"
Mounting evidence suggests that wildfires, which are increasing in intensity and frequency, contribute to skin problems, including eczema flares. Here’s what you need to know to protect your skin from wildfire pollution.<\/p>","short_excerpt":"\n
Mounting evidence suggests that wildfires, which are increasing in intensity and frequency, contribute to skin problems, including eczema flares. Here’s what you need to know to protect your skin from wildfire pollution.<\/p>\n ","description":null,"author":null,"slug":"one-surprising-effect-of-wildfires-itchy-irritated-skin-202406243052","sort_date":"2024-06-24T04:00:00.000000Z","contentable_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\BlogPost","contentable_id":3052,"replacement_content_id":null,"landing_page_landing_page_group_id":null,"ucr_content_id":"BL062424","publication_date":"2024-06-24T04:00:00.000000Z","last_review_date":null,"imported_at":"2024-07-01T04:00:00.000000Z","last_import_type":"update","last_modified_date":"2024-07-01T04:00:00.000000Z","active":1,"created_at":"2024-06-21T09:00:02.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-07-01T18:53:14.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"images_remapped":0,"old_product_id":null,"old_content_id":null,"hide_ads":0,"primary_content_topic_id":28,"ecommerce_type":"CATALOG","authors":[{"id":62,"cr_id":458,"featured":1,"hhp_staff":0,"hidden":0,"name":"Wynne Armand, MD","title":null,"first_name":"Wynne","middle_name":null,"last_name":"Armand","suffix":"MD","slug":"wynne-armand-md","byline":"Contributor","description":"
The navigation sport orienteering combines map and compass reading with exercise. It’s a fun way to get outside and get some exercise — and it may even help fight cognitive decline.<\/p>\n ","content":"
\n \n <\/p>\n
Picture this: you’re with friends in an unfamiliar forest using only a map and a compass to guide you to an upcoming checkpoint. There are no cell phones or GPS gadgets to help, just good old brainpower fueled by a sense of adventure as you wind through leafy trees and dappled sunlight.<\/p>\n
This is not an excursion to a campsite or a treasure hunt. It’s a navigation sport called orienteering — a fun way to get outside, exercise, and maybe even help fight cognitive decline<\/a>, according to a 2023 study.<\/p>\n
What is orienteering?<\/h2>\n
Orienteering combines map and compass reading with exercise. Competitors (\"orienteers\") race against a clock to reach checkpoints in outdoor settings that can range from city parks to remote areas with mountains, lakes, rivers, or snowy fields.<\/p>\n
\"You can go out in a group or on your own. You get a very detailed map and navigate your way to checkpoints that record your time electronically,\" says Clinton Morse, national communications manager with Orienteering USA<\/a>, the national governing body for the sport in the United States.<\/p>\n
Because orienteers are racing the clock, they might run on trails, hike up hills<\/a>, or scramble around boulders. That’s for foot-orienteering events. There are also orienteering events with courses geared for mountain biking, cross-country skiing, or canoeing.<\/p>\n
How might orienteering affect thinking skills?<\/h2>\n
Researchers asked 158 healthy people, ages 18 to 87, about their health, activities, navigation abilities, and memory. About half of the participants had varying levels of orienteering experience. The other participants were physically active but weren’t orienteers.<\/p>\n
Compared with study participants who didn’t engage in orienteering, those who were orienteers reported<\/p>\n
- \n
- having better navigational processing skills (recognizing where objects were, and where participants were in relation to the objects)<\/li>\n
- having better navigational memory skills (recalling routes and landmarks).<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
The study was observational — that is, not a true experiment — and thus didn’t prove that orienteering boosted people’s thinking skills. But the link might be plausible.<\/p>\n
\"Aerobic exercise releases chemicals in the brain that foster the growth of new brain cells. And when you use a map and connect it to landmarks, you stimulate growth between brain cells,\" says Dr. Andrew Budson, lecturer in neurology at Harvard Medical School and chief of cognitive and behavioral neurology at VA Boston Healthcare System.<\/p>\n
Where can you find orienteering opportunities?<\/h2>\n
There are about 70 orienteering clubs across the United States, and many more around the world (the sport is extremely popular in Europe). To find an orienteering event in your area, use the club finder tool<\/a> offered by Orienteering USA.<\/p>\n
How can you get started with orienteering?<\/h2>\n
People of all ages and athletic levels can take part, because orienteering courses vary from local parks to wilderness experiences. Costs are about $7 to $10 per person for local events, or $25 to $40 per person for national events, plus any travel and lodging expenses.<\/p>\n
To make orienteering easy at first, Morse suggests going with a group and taking things slowly on a short novice course. \"You don’t have to race,\" he says. \"Some people do this recreationally to enjoy the challenge of completing a course at their own pace.\"<\/p>\n
The trickiest part is learning to read the map. Morse’s advice:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Turn the map as you change directions.<\/strong> Hold the map so that the direction you’re heading in is at the top of the page. For example, if the compass indicates that you’re heading south, turn the map upside down, so the south part is on top and easier to follow.<\/li>\n
- Create a mental image of what the map is telling you.<\/strong> If there’s a fence along a field on the map, build a picture of it in your mind so you can recognize it when you see it, even if you haven’t been there before.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
Tips for safe and enjoyable orienteering events:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Dress appropriately.<\/strong> Wear comfortable clothes including long pants, good walking shoes, and a hat.<\/li>\n
- Lather up.<\/strong> You’ll be outside for at least an hour, and you’ll need sunblock and possibly tick and bug spray depending on the terrain. Preventing tick bites<\/a> that can lead to Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses<\/a> is important in many locations.<\/li>\n
- Bring some essentials.<\/strong> Pack water, a snack, sunblock, bug spray, and your phone. (Keep the phone turned off unless you need to call for help.)<\/li>\n
- Use good judgment.<\/strong> Know that the shortest route on the map won’t always be the best, since it might take you up a hill or through thick vegetation. It might be better to go around those areas.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
Once you learn the basics of orienteering, you can make it more physically challenging (and a better workout) by going faster and trying to beat your previous times, or by signing up for a more advanced course that’s longer and requires more exertion and speed.<\/p>\n
And no matter which event you take part in, enjoy the adventure. \"You’re not just following a path, you’re solving puzzles while being immersed in nature,\" Morse says. \"It’s a great way to experience the outdoors.\"<\/p>","excerpt":"\n
The navigation sport orienteering combines map and compass reading with exercise. It’s a fun way to get outside and get some exercise — and it may even help fight cognitive decline.<\/p>\n ","short_excerpt":"\n
The navigation sport orienteering combines map and compass reading with exercise. It’s a fun way to get outside and get some exercise — and it may even help fight cognitive decline.<\/p>\n ","description":null,"author":null,"slug":"orienteering-great-exercise-and-better-thinking-skills-202307102953","sort_date":"2023-07-10T04:00:00.000000Z","contentable_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\BlogPost","contentable_id":2953,"replacement_content_id":null,"landing_page_landing_page_group_id":null,"ucr_content_id":"BL071023","publication_date":"2023-07-10T14:30:00.000000Z","last_review_date":null,"imported_at":"2023-07-10T13:57:09.000000Z","last_import_type":"insert","last_modified_date":"2023-07-10T04:00:00.000000Z","active":1,"created_at":"2023-07-10T13:57:09.000000Z","updated_at":"2023-07-10T13:57:09.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"images_remapped":0,"old_product_id":null,"old_content_id":null,"hide_ads":0,"primary_content_topic_id":10,"ecommerce_type":"CATALOG","authors":[{"id":31,"cr_id":117,"featured":0,"hhp_staff":0,"hidden":0,"name":"Heidi Godman","title":null,"first_name":"Heidi","middle_name":null,"last_name":"Godman","suffix":null,"slug":"heidi-godman","byline":"Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter<\/em><\/a>","description":"
Heidi Godman is the executive editor of the Harvard Health Letter<\/em>. Before coming to the Health Letter<\/em>, she was an award-winning television news anchor and medical reporter for 25 years. Heidi was named a journalism fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, and has been honored by the Associated Press, the American Heart Association, the Wellness Community, and other organizations for outstanding medical reporting. Heidi holds a bachelor of science degree in journalism from West Virginia University.<\/p>","image_url":"https:\/\/d2icykjy7h7x7e.cloudfront.net\/authors\/jmHxTqYhe8m1bTrPQJnvY8odf8gsq1y1Q0i6Wp6Y.jpg","twitter_username":null,"sort_order":0,"created_at":"2021-05-11T10:08:08.000000Z","updated_at":"2022-08-03T17:04:41.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"pivot":{"content_id":18185,"author_id":31,"sort_order":1}}],"contentable":{"id":2953,"comments_open":1,"created_at":"2023-07-10T13:57:09.000000Z","updated_at":"2023-07-10T13:57:09.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"media":[]},"content_type":{"id":18,"name":"blog","slug":"blog","created_at":"2021-05-11T08:30:32.000000Z","updated_at":"2021-05-11T08:30:32.000000Z","deleted_at":null},"media":[{"id":14057,"model_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\Content","model_id":18185,"uuid":"7901e79b-4bfb-4c8a-af9f-7e28c15ea5e6","collection_name":"contents","name":"120519c1-033d-4843-b85b-af90955c3f9a","file_name":"120519c1-033d-4843-b85b-af90955c3f9a.jpg","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","disk":"s3","conversions_disk":"s3","size":120188,"manipulations":[],"custom_properties":{"alt":"Translucent green compass on top of a map with the red magnetic needle pointing toward the north "},"generated_conversions":{"micro":true,"thumb":true},"responsive_images":[],"order_column":14013,"created_at":"2023-07-10T13:57:09.000000Z","updated_at":"2023-07-10T13:57:12.000000Z","full_url":"https:\/\/domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net\/medialibrary\/14057\/120519c1-033d-4843-b85b-af90955c3f9a.jpg"}],"primary_content_topic":{"id":10,"name":"Exercise & Fitness","slug":"exercise-and-fitness","is_primary":1,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/topics\/exercise-and-fitness"}},{"id":18901,"content_source_id":2,"content_type_id":18,"content_access_type_id":1,"title":"Health care should improve your health, right?","short_title":"","subheading":"Modern medicine improves and extends countless lives &mdash; although sometimes it does the opposite.","summary":"\n
Modern medicine offers ever-expanding ways to heal and prevent disease, but it’s also true that health care can cause harm. Some harms are preventable while others are much harder to control. So how can you reduce your chances of being harmed?<\/p>\n ","content":"
\n \n <\/p>\n
It’s undeniable: modern medicine offers ever-expanding ways to heal and prevent disease. But it’s also true that health care can cause harm. One analysis found that about 6% of health care encounters caused preventable harm<\/a>, leading to thousands of deaths each year. And it’s not just errors that cause trouble. Highly skilled health care providers can cause harm even when they do everything right.<\/p>\n
So, how can you reduce your chances of being harmed? Understanding what you can do to lessen the possibility of harm and what’s beyond your control are good first steps.<\/p>\n
Whatever happened to \"first do no harm\"?<\/h2>\n
Fortunately, it remains a central tenet of medical care. Yet our health care system is complex and fragmented. Each year new medications are added to an ever-growing list, and people live longer with more chronic medical conditions than happened in the past. So in one sense, the successes of modern medical care may contribute to the high rate of health care–related harm.<\/p>\n
These harms are often due to our complicated system of health care rather than one individual’s mistake. Harm due to substandard or negligent care is known as medical malpractice. Both health care providers and health care systems<\/a> have important roles to play in preventing harm to patients.<\/p>\n
Are there harms that cannot be prevented?<\/h2>\n
An enormous volume of scientific research teaches the best ways to diagnose, treat, and prevent disease. Yet people can react to treatments in completely unpredictable ways.<\/p>\n
For example, a common and standard antibiotic treatment (think penicillin) can cause anaphylaxis<\/a>, a life-threatening allergic reaction. Fortunately this is rare, but unless you or your doctor know to avoid it due to past side effects, there’s always a small chance of a severe reaction.<\/p>\n
Often less dramatic — yet also unpreventable — harms are:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Medication side effects.<\/strong> Every medicine comes with potential side effects, such as nausea, sleepiness, or rash.<\/li>\n
- Misdiagnosis.<\/strong> Because no one has perfect diagnostic skills, even the most skillful health care provider can be wrong. This can result in unnecessary or delayed treatment.<\/li>\n
- Inaccurate test results.<\/strong> Just as no health care provider is perfect, no test is either. False-positive results (indicating an abnormality when none is present) and false-negative results (normal results when disease is present) are common in medical practice. These results can lead to unnecessary treatment or false reassurance.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
Which harms can be prevented?<\/h2>\n
Preventable harms can be dramatically reduced<\/a>. They’re often due to mistakes that can be caught and corrected. Frequently, it takes a combination of things to go wrong for harm to occur.<\/p>\n
Frequently in health care, several factors must line up for an error to sneak through — for example, giving a hospitalized patient a medication to which they are allergic. For that to happen, the wrong drug has to get past the prescribing doctor, the computerized ordering system, the hospital pharmacist, the nurse giving the medication, and the patient. That’s a lot of layers, so most often an error like this will be caught.<\/p>\n
What can you do to avoid preventable harms?<\/h2>\n
Where do you fit in? In these three scenarios, here’s what you can do to avoid preventable harms.<\/p>\n
The problem:<\/em> Taking medicines you no longer need or more medicines than necessary.<\/p>\n
It might not seem like a big deal to keep taking a medicine if it isn’t causing any problems. But all medicines can cause side effects that you’d do better to avoid if you can safely stop taking it or reduce the dose. Plus, harmful interactions can occur if another medicine is added to your list.<\/p>\n
What you can do:<\/em> Make sure you know why you need to take each of your medicines. Ask the providers who prescribe each medicine if it is still necessary to take it or if the dose can be safely reduced. Reducing a dose may reduce the risk of side effects and the likelihood of a harmful interaction.<\/p>\n
The problem:<\/em> Taking the wrong medicine or the wrong dose.<\/p>\n
What you can do:<\/em> At your doctors’ visits, take notes or bring a friend or family member to help you remember medicine instructions. Ask whether you can record the medication instructions your doctor gives you. Take a photo of the instructions you’re given in case you lose the written version. Double-check details of your medicine list with your pharmacist. And ask questions if you’re unsure about the medicines recommended to you.<\/p>\n
The problem:<\/em> Wrong site surgery.<\/p>\n
Despite efforts to make this a \"never error,\" surgery on the wrong part of the body still happens<\/a>.<\/p>\n
What you can do:<\/em> Make sure you and your surgeon agree on what part of your body and which side requires surgery. Most surgeons now mark the site with a special pen before surgery and ask you to confirm the site by adding your initials. (The ink doesn’t come off easily with skin cleaners applied prior to surgery).<\/p>\n
Some of these tips require time or resources that aren’t available to everyone: you might not be able to bring another person with you to medical visits or have a recording device. But asking questions — and getting answers you understand — should be routine.<\/p>\n
Where does malpractice fit in?<\/h2>\n
When the topic of health care–related harm comes up, malpractice may be the first thing you think about. Yet, the approximately 10,000 malpractice payments made each year in the US<\/a> likely represent only a small portion of all harm related to health care.<\/p>\n
There are several reasons for this, including:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Even when negligent or substandard care occurs, it doesn’t always cause major or long-lasting harm that leads to a malpractice claim.<\/li>\n
- Many people who could<\/em> file malpractice suits elect not to, or may not even realize that they’ve experienced negligent care. Past studies suggest that less than 5%<\/a> of people experiencing harm related to medical care file malpractice claims.<\/li>\n
- Increasingly, health care providers and health care systems accept responsibility<\/a> for preventable harm occurring on their watch, and offer compensation rather than waiting for a legal claim to be filed.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
The bottom line<\/h2>\n
It’s an unfortunate reality that some harms due to health care are inevitable. But there are steps you can take to avoid preventable harm and lessen the chances that the person harmed is you.<\/p>","excerpt":"\n
Modern medicine offers ever-expanding ways to heal and prevent disease, but it’s also true that health care can cause harm. Some harms are preventable while others are much harder to control. So how can you reduce your chances of being harmed?<\/p>\n ","short_excerpt":"\n
Modern medicine offers ever-expanding ways to heal and prevent disease, but it’s also true that health care can cause harm. Some harms are preventable while others are much harder to control. So how can you reduce your chances of being harmed?<\/p>\n ","description":null,"author":null,"slug":"health-care-should-improve-your-health-right-202406203050","sort_date":"2024-06-20T04:00:00.000000Z","contentable_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\BlogPost","contentable_id":3050,"replacement_content_id":null,"landing_page_landing_page_group_id":null,"ucr_content_id":"BL062024","publication_date":"2024-06-20T14:30:00.000000Z","last_review_date":null,"imported_at":"2024-06-15T09:00:02.000000Z","last_import_type":"insert","last_modified_date":"2024-06-14T04:00:00.000000Z","active":1,"created_at":"2024-06-15T09:00:02.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-15T09:00:03.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"images_remapped":0,"old_product_id":null,"old_content_id":null,"hide_ads":0,"primary_content_topic_id":44,"ecommerce_type":"CATALOG","authors":[{"id":23,"cr_id":2,"featured":1,"hhp_staff":1,"hidden":0,"name":"Robert H. Shmerling, MD","title":null,"first_name":"Robert","middle_name":"H.","last_name":"Shmerling","suffix":"MD","slug":"robert-h-shmerling-md","byline":"Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing","description":"
Dr. Robert H. Shmerling is the former clinical chief of the division of rheumatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), and is a current member of the corresponding faculty in medicine at Harvard Medical School. As a practicing rheumatologist for over 30 years, Dr. Shmerling engaged in a mix of patient care, teaching, and research. His research interests center on diagnostic studies in patients with musculoskeletal symptoms, and rheumatic and autoimmune diseases. He has published research regarding infectious arthritis, medical ethics, and diagnostic test performance in rheumatic disease. Having retired from patient care in 2019, Dr. Shmerling now works as a senior faculty editor for Harvard Health Publishing.<\/p>","image_url":"https:\/\/d2icykjy7h7x7e.cloudfront.net\/authors\/OdKCKaVzyx3xPsUxIBc9zJz8m3zvysnJa3UJsGOd.jpg","twitter_username":"RobShmerling","sort_order":4,"created_at":"2021-05-11T10:05:10.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-04-10T21:36:27.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"pivot":{"content_id":18901,"author_id":23,"sort_order":1}}],"contentable":{"id":3050,"comments_open":1,"created_at":"2024-06-15T09:00:02.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-15T09:00:02.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"media":[]},"content_type":{"id":18,"name":"blog","slug":"blog","created_at":"2021-05-11T08:30:32.000000Z","updated_at":"2021-05-11T08:30:32.000000Z","deleted_at":null},"media":[{"id":15309,"model_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\Content","model_id":18901,"uuid":"55612330-c9d4-4e4e-addf-a9a4d0e2916f","collection_name":"contents","name":"a32d083c-d4b8-4a24-8a4f-f05d4d394dd1","file_name":"a32d083c-d4b8-4a24-8a4f-f05d4d394dd1.jpg","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","disk":"s3","conversions_disk":"s3","size":31420,"manipulations":[],"custom_properties":{"alt":"Illutration of older man in brown and gray top and black pants wobbling on a tightrope against turquoise background; concept is balancing risks"},"generated_conversions":{"micro":true,"thumb":true},"responsive_images":[],"order_column":15240,"created_at":"2024-06-15T09:00:02.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-15T09:00:05.000000Z","full_url":"https:\/\/domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net\/medialibrary\/15309\/a32d083c-d4b8-4a24-8a4f-f05d4d394dd1.jpg"}],"primary_content_topic":{"id":44,"name":"Staying Healthy","slug":"staying-healthy","is_primary":1,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/topics\/staying-healthy"}},{"id":18902,"content_source_id":2,"content_type_id":18,"content_access_type_id":1,"title":"Ultra-processed foods? Just say no","short_title":"","subheading":"New research suggests that ultra-processed foods (UPFs) raise the risk of cognitive impairment and strokes.","summary":"\n
It's well known that ultra-processed foods are unhealthy. But what if you follow a healthy diet yet also eat some ultra-processed foods? A new study found that this still poses a risk for brain health.<\/p>\n ","content":"
\nWhat to know about this new study<\/h2>\n
This well-designed observational study examined data from the REGARDS <\/a>(REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke) project, a longitudinal study of non-Hispanic Black and white Americans ages 45 years and older. Study participants were initially enrolled between 2003 and 2007 and were given a number of questionnaires evaluating health, diet, exercise, body mass index, education, income, alcohol use, mood, and other factors. In addition, tests of memory and language were administered at regular intervals.<\/p>\n
To examine the risk of stroke and cognitive impairment, data from 20,243 and 14,175 participants, respectively, were found usable based on the quality of the information from the questionnaires and tests. Approximately one-third of the sample identified as Black and the majority of the remaining two-thirds identified as white.<\/p>\n
The results of the study<\/h2>\n
- \n
- According to the authors’ analysis, increasing the intake of ultra-processed foods by just 10% was associated with a significantly greater risk of cognitive impairment and stroke.<\/li>\n
- Intake of unprocessed or minimally processed foods was associated with a lower risk of cognitive impairment.<\/li>\n
- The effect of ultra-processed foods on stroke risk was greater for individuals who identified as Black compared to individuals who identified as white.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
Study participants who reported following a healthy diet (like a Mediterranean, DASH<\/a>, or MIND <\/a>diet) and consumed minimal ultra-processed foods appeared to maintain better brain health compared to those who followed similar healthy diets but had more ultra-processed foods.<\/p>\n
Why might ultra-processed foods be bad for your brain?<\/h2>\n
Here are some biologically plausible reasons:<\/p>\n
- \n
- UPFs are generally composed of processed carbohydrates that are very quickly broken down into simple sugars, equivalent to eating lots of candy. These sugar loads cause spikes of insulin, which can alter normal brain cell function.<\/li>\n
- Eating ultra-processed foods is associated with a higher risk of metabolic syndrome and obesity, well-established conditions linked to high blood pressure, abnormal blood lipid levels, and type 2 diabetes.<\/li>\n
- There are unhealthy additives in ultra-processed foods to change the texture, color, sweetness, or flavor. These additives disrupt the microbiome in the gut and can lead to gut inflammation that can cause\n\t
- the production of microbiome-produced metabolites that can affect brain function (such as short-chain fatty acids and lipopolysaccharides)<\/li>
- leaky gut, allowing toxins and inflammatory molecules to enter the bloodstream and go to the brain<\/li>
- altered neurotransmitter function (such as serotonin) that can impact mood and cognition directly<\/li>
- increased cortisol levels that mimic being under chronic stress, which can directly impact hippocampal and frontal lobe function, affecting memory <\/a>and executive function<\/a> performance, respectively<\/li>
- an increased risk for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other neurodegenerative diseases due to inflammatory molecules traveling from the gut to the brain.<\/li><\/ul><\/li>\n
- Because ultra-processed foods have poor nutritional value, people will often be hungry shortly after eating them, leading to overeating and its consequences.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
The take-home message<\/h2>\n
Avoid processed foods, which can include chips and other snack foods, industrial breads and pastries, packaged sweets and candy, sugar-sweetened and diet sodas, instant noodles and soups, ready-to-eat meals and frozen dinners, and processed meats such as hot dogs and bologna. Eat unprocessed or minimally processed foods, which — when combined with a healthy Mediterranean menu of foods — include fish, olive oil, avocados, whole fruits and vegetables, nuts and beans, and whole grains.<\/p>\n <\/body>","excerpt":"\n
It's well known that ultra-processed foods are unhealthy. But what if you follow a healthy diet yet also eat some ultra-processed foods? A new study found that this still poses a risk for brain health.<\/p>\n ","short_excerpt":"\n
It's well known that ultra-processed foods are unhealthy. But what if you follow a healthy diet yet also eat some ultra-processed foods? A new study found that this still poses a risk for brain health.<\/p>\n ","description":null,"author":null,"slug":"ultra-processed-foods-just-say-no-202406173051","sort_date":"2024-06-17T04:00:00.000000Z","contentable_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\BlogPost","contentable_id":3051,"replacement_content_id":null,"landing_page_landing_page_group_id":null,"ucr_content_id":"BL061724","publication_date":"2024-06-17T14:30:00.000000Z","last_review_date":null,"imported_at":"2024-06-25T09:00:03.000000Z","last_import_type":"update","last_modified_date":"2024-06-24T04:00:00.000000Z","active":1,"created_at":"2024-06-15T09:00:04.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-25T09:00:03.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"images_remapped":0,"old_product_id":null,"old_content_id":null,"hide_ads":0,"primary_content_topic_id":37,"ecommerce_type":"CATALOG","authors":[{"id":209,"cr_id":538,"featured":1,"hhp_staff":0,"hidden":0,"name":"Andrew E. Budson, MD","title":null,"first_name":"Andrew","middle_name":"E.","last_name":"Budson","suffix":"MD","slug":"andrew-e-budson-md","byline":"Contributor; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing","description":"
Dr. Andrew E. Budson is chief of cognitive & behavioral neurology at the Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, lecturer in neurology at Harvard Medical School, and chair of the Science of Learning Innovation Group at the Harvard Medical School Academy. Graduating cum laude from Harvard Medical School in 1993, he has given over 750 local, national, and international grand rounds and other talks; published over 125 scientific papers, reviews, and book chapters; and co-authored or edited eight books.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
His book Seven Steps to Managing Your Memory: What’s Normal, What’s Not, and What to Do About It<\/em> explains how individuals can distinguish changes in memory due to Alzheimer’s versus normal aging; what medications, vitamins, diets, and exercise regimens can help; and the best habits, strategies, and memory aids to use; it is being translated into Chinese and Korean. His book Memory Loss, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Dementia: A Practical Guide for Clinicians<\/em> has been translated into Spanish, Portuguese, and Japanese. His book Six Steps to Managing Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia: A Guide for Families<\/em> teaches caregivers how they can manage all the problems that come with dementia — and still take care of themselves. His latest book, Why We Forget and How to Remember Better: The Science Behind Memory<\/em>, explains the science of memory and how to use that knowledge to improve our ability to remember in daily life.
\r\n
\r\nWebsite: Andrew Budson, MD<\/a>
\r\n
\r\nFacebook: Andrew Budson, MD<\/a>
\r\n
\r\nTwitter: @abudson<\/a><\/p>","image_url":"https:\/\/d2icykjy7h7x7e.cloudfront.net\/authors\/1LrXGP2mmMihd5vMLhBqDR3KpvVGOmwufvdTbAgq.jpg","twitter_username":null,"sort_order":0,"created_at":"2021-05-11T10:55:26.000000Z","updated_at":"2023-02-28T18:13:49.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"pivot":{"content_id":18902,"author_id":209,"sort_order":1}}],"contentable":{"id":3051,"comments_open":1,"created_at":"2024-06-15T09:00:04.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-21T18:48:48.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"media":[]},"content_type":{"id":18,"name":"blog","slug":"blog","created_at":"2021-05-11T08:30:32.000000Z","updated_at":"2021-05-11T08:30:32.000000Z","deleted_at":null},"media":[{"id":15310,"model_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\Content","model_id":18902,"uuid":"36f0a5df-2bca-45e9-ab16-8e276a4bfb04","collection_name":"contents","name":"50802077-6dd5-461e-a720-a04899353d48","file_name":"50802077-6dd5-461e-a720-a04899353d48.jpg","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","disk":"s3","conversions_disk":"s3","size":130992,"manipulations":[],"custom_properties":{"alt":"2 metal shopping carts, one filled with ultraprocessed foods and one filling with colorful, healthy fruits and vegetables"},"generated_conversions":{"micro":true,"thumb":true},"responsive_images":[],"order_column":15241,"created_at":"2024-06-15T09:00:04.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-15T09:00:06.000000Z","full_url":"https:\/\/domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net\/medialibrary\/15310\/50802077-6dd5-461e-a720-a04899353d48.jpg"}],"primary_content_topic":{"id":37,"name":"Mind & Mood","slug":"mind-and-mood","is_primary":1,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/topics\/mind-and-mood"}},{"id":18898,"content_source_id":2,"content_type_id":18,"content_access_type_id":1,"title":"The cicadas are here: How’s your appetite?","short_title":"","subheading":"Insects provide a low-cost source of calories and protein &mdash; but for some people eating cicadas may be risky.","summary":"\nTrillions of cicadas are expected to emerge in the US by the end of June, especially in the Midwest. In many parts of the world insects are considered a low-cost source of calories and protein, but some people still won’t want to eat them — and some people shouldn’t.<\/p>\n ","content":"
\n\n \n <\/p>\n
You’ve probably heard the news: Cicadas are coming. Or — wait — they’re already here.<\/p>\n
And are they ever! Due to an unusual overlap of the lifecycles of two types (or broods) of cicadas, trillions of cicadas are expected to emerge in the US by the end of June, especially in the Midwest.<\/p>\n
If you’d like to see where they’ve already arrived, track them here<\/a>. And if you’re wondering if this cicada-palooza could help with grocery bills, read on to decide for yourself how appealing and how safe snacking on cicadas is for you. The pros and cons could change your outlook on the impending swarm.<\/p>\n
What to know about cicadas<\/h2>\n
Don’t worry, cicadas are largely harmless to humans. In fact, their appearance is welcome in places where people routinely snack on them as a low-cost source of calories and protein.<\/p>\n
Estimates suggest up to two billion people regularly eat insects<\/a>, especially in South and Central America, Asia, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Cicadas, when available, are among the most popular. And if you thought no one in the US eats cicadas, check out this video from a May 2024 baseball game<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Are you tempted to eat cicadas?<\/h2>\n
For plenty of people, cicadas aren’t the food of choice. Some people can’t get past the idea of eating insects as food. That’s understandable: after all, the culture in which we are raised has a powerful influence on what we consider acceptable in our diets. Something some Americans might find off-putting (such as eating snakes<\/a>) is common in China and Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, people outside the US find aspects of the typical Western diet unappealing<\/a> (such as root beer, peanut butter and jelly, and processed cheese).<\/p>\n
But some people shouldn’t eat cicadas because it could be dangerous for them.<\/p>\n
Why you should — or shouldn’t — eat cicadas<\/h2>\n
Eating cicadas is common in many parts of the world because they are<\/p>\n
- \n
- nutritious: cicadas are low in fat and high in protein, including multiple essential amino acids<\/li>\n
- inexpensive or free<\/li>\n
- tasty (or so I’m told): descriptions of their flavor vary from nutty to citrusy to smoky and slightly crunchy.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
In years when cicadas emerge, recipes for dishes containing cicadas<\/a> emerge as well.<\/p>\n
Then again, there are several good reasons to avoid<\/em> making cicadas a part of your diet, including these:<\/p>\n
- \n
- You just can’t get past the \"ick\" factor. Adventurous eaters may be willing to try or even embrace consuming cicadas, while others will be unable to view the idea as anything other than horrifying.<\/li>\n
- You find the taste or consistency unappealing.<\/li>\n
- You’re \"cicada intolerant.\" Some people get stomach upset, nausea, or diarrhea if they eat too many cicadas.<\/li>\n
- You’re pregnant or breastfeeding, or are a young child. Concerns about even low levels of pesticides or other toxins in cicadas have led to recommendations that these groups not eat them. Doesn’t this suggest the rest of us should also steer clear? Well, thus far, at least, there’s no evidence that toxins in cicadas are causing health problems.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
But there is one more very important entry on this list: people with a shellfish allergy should not eat cicadas<\/a>. Odd, right?<\/p>\n
The shellfish-cicada connection<\/h2>\n
Cicadas are biologically related to lobsters, shrimp, crabs, and other shellfish. So if you’re allergic to shellfish, you might also be allergic to cicadas. A particular protein called tropomyosin is responsible for the allergy. It’s found in shellfish as well as in many insects, including cicadas.<\/p>\n
The allergic reaction occurs after eating the cicada. Just being around them or handling them won’t trigger a reaction.<\/p>\n
Among people with a shellfish allergy, developing a reaction after eating cicadas could be a bigger problem than it seems: up to 10% of people have shellfish allergies<\/a> and, as noted, insect consumption is common worldwide.<\/p>\n
Is it okay for your dog or cat to eat cicadas?<\/h2>\n
Walking your dog after the emergence of cicadas can be a new and exciting experience for you and your pet! Dogs may chase after cicadas and eat them. Cats might, too, if given the chance. That can be a problem if your pet eats too many, as some will experience stomach upset or other digestive problems.<\/p>\n
While the insects are considered harmless to dogs, the American Kennel Club says it’s best to steer them away from cicadas once they’ve eaten a few<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Which other insects trigger allergies?<\/h2>\n
While insect-related allergic reactions (think bee stings) and infections (like Lyme disease<\/a>) are well known, the insect-food-allergy connection is a more recent discovery.<\/p>\n
One recently recognized condition is the alpha-gal syndrome<\/a>, in which a person bitten by certain ticks develops an allergy to meat. The name comes from a sugar called galactose-α-1,3-galactose (or alpha-gal) found in many types of meat including beef, lamb, pork, and rabbit. According to the CDC, up to 450,000 people in the US<\/a> may have developed this condition since 2010.<\/p>\n
There aren’t many rigorous studies of the overlap of insects and food allergies, so there are probably others awaiting discovery<\/a>.<\/p>\n
The bottom line<\/h2>\n
When it comes to eating cicadas, I’ll pass. It’s not because of the risks. I’ve never had a problem with shellfish, and for most people the health risks of eating cicadas seem quite small. It’s just unappealing to me, and I’m not a particularly adventurous eater.<\/p>\n
But let’s go easy on those who do enjoy snacking on cicadas. Insects offer a good source of calories and protein. Just because eating them seems unusual in the US doesn’t make it wrong.<\/p>\n
So, if you like to eat cicadas and have no shellfish allergy or other reason to avoid them, go for it! This may be a very good summer for you.<\/p>\n <\/body>","excerpt":"\n
Trillions of cicadas are expected to emerge in the US by the end of June, especially in the Midwest. In many parts of the world insects are considered a low-cost source of calories and protein, but some people still won’t want to eat them — and some people shouldn’t.<\/p>\n ","short_excerpt":"\n
Trillions of cicadas are expected to emerge in the US by the end of June, especially in the Midwest. In many parts of the world insects are considered a low-cost source of calories and protein, but some people still won’t want to eat them — and some people shouldn’t.<\/p>\n ","description":null,"author":null,"slug":"the-cicadas-are-here-hows-your-appetite-202406143048","sort_date":"2024-06-14T04:00:00.000000Z","contentable_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\BlogPost","contentable_id":3048,"replacement_content_id":null,"landing_page_landing_page_group_id":null,"ucr_content_id":"BL061424","publication_date":"2024-06-14T10:30:00.000000Z","last_review_date":null,"imported_at":"2024-06-15T09:00:05.000000Z","last_import_type":"update","last_modified_date":"2024-06-14T04:00:00.000000Z","active":1,"created_at":"2024-06-12T09:00:03.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-15T09:00:05.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"images_remapped":0,"old_product_id":null,"old_content_id":null,"hide_ads":0,"primary_content_topic_id":15,"ecommerce_type":"CATALOG","authors":[{"id":23,"cr_id":2,"featured":1,"hhp_staff":1,"hidden":0,"name":"Robert H. Shmerling, MD","title":null,"first_name":"Robert","middle_name":"H.","last_name":"Shmerling","suffix":"MD","slug":"robert-h-shmerling-md","byline":"Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing","description":"
Dr. Robert H. Shmerling is the former clinical chief of the division of rheumatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), and is a current member of the corresponding faculty in medicine at Harvard Medical School. As a practicing rheumatologist for over 30 years, Dr. Shmerling engaged in a mix of patient care, teaching, and research. His research interests center on diagnostic studies in patients with musculoskeletal symptoms, and rheumatic and autoimmune diseases. He has published research regarding infectious arthritis, medical ethics, and diagnostic test performance in rheumatic disease. Having retired from patient care in 2019, Dr. Shmerling now works as a senior faculty editor for Harvard Health Publishing.<\/p>","image_url":"https:\/\/d2icykjy7h7x7e.cloudfront.net\/authors\/OdKCKaVzyx3xPsUxIBc9zJz8m3zvysnJa3UJsGOd.jpg","twitter_username":"RobShmerling","sort_order":4,"created_at":"2021-05-11T10:05:10.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-04-10T21:36:27.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"pivot":{"content_id":18898,"author_id":23,"sort_order":1}}],"contentable":{"id":3048,"comments_open":1,"created_at":"2024-06-12T09:00:03.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-12T09:00:03.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"media":[]},"content_type":{"id":18,"name":"blog","slug":"blog","created_at":"2021-05-11T08:30:32.000000Z","updated_at":"2021-05-11T08:30:32.000000Z","deleted_at":null},"media":[{"id":15303,"model_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\Content","model_id":18898,"uuid":"17a66ea2-2af7-4e2a-a48d-e724237e50d2","collection_name":"contents","name":"4304af30-c59b-4dc8-ac93-f4ac1c590752","file_name":"4304af30-c59b-4dc8-ac93-f4ac1c590752.jpg","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","disk":"s3","conversions_disk":"s3","size":71636,"manipulations":[],"custom_properties":{"alt":"Two lacy-winged cicadas, black and orange, facing each other on a fuzzy green stem, blurred greenery in the background"},"generated_conversions":{"micro":true,"thumb":true},"responsive_images":[],"order_column":15234,"created_at":"2024-06-12T09:00:03.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-12T09:00:05.000000Z","full_url":"https:\/\/domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net\/medialibrary\/15303\/4304af30-c59b-4dc8-ac93-f4ac1c590752.jpg"}],"primary_content_topic":{"id":15,"name":"Nutrition","slug":"nutrition","is_primary":1,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/topics\/nutrition"}},{"id":18899,"content_source_id":2,"content_type_id":18,"content_access_type_id":1,"title":"Life can be challenging: Build your own resilience plan","short_title":"","subheading":"Three strategies to help you find a way forward when you’re feeling stressed, burned out, anxious, or sad.","summary":"\n
Resilience is a psychological response that helps you adapt to life’s difficulties and seek a path forward through challenges. While everyone has the ability to be resilient, life stresses can take a toll on you. It’s possible to cultivate resilience — but how?<\/p>\n ","content":"
\n\n \n <\/p>\n
Nantucket, a beautiful, 14-mile-long island off the coast of Massachusetts, has a 40-point resiliency plan to help withstand the buffeting seas surrounding it as climate change takes a toll. Perhaps we can all benefit from creating individual resilience plans to help handle the big and small issues that erode our sense of well-being. But what is resilience and how do you cultivate it?<\/p>\n
What is resilience?<\/h2>\n
Resilience is a psychological response that helps you adapt to life’s difficulties and seek a path forward through challenges.<\/p>\n
\"It’s a flexible mindset that helps you adapt, think critically, and stay focused on your values and what matters most,\" says Luana Marques, an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.<\/p>\n
While everyone has the ability to be resilient, your capacity for resilience can take a beating over time from chronic stress, perhaps from financial instability or staying in a job you dislike. The longer you’re in that situation, the harder it becomes to cope with it.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, it’s possible to cultivate resilience. To do so, it helps to exercise resiliency skills as often as possible, even for minor stressors. Marques recommends the following strategies.<\/p>\n
Shift your thoughts<\/h2>\n
In stressful situations, try to balance out your thoughts by adopting a broader perspective. \"This will help you stop using the emotional part of your brain and start using the thinking part of your brain. For example, if you’re asking for a raise and your brain says you won’t get it, think about the things you’ve done in your job that are worthy of a raise. You’ll slow down the emotional response and shift your mindset from anxious to action,\" Marques says.<\/p>\n
Approach what you want<\/h2>\n
\"When you’re anxious, stressed, or burned out<\/a>, you tend to avoid things that make you uncomfortable. That can make you feel stuck,\" Marques says. \"What you need to do is get out of your comfort zone and take a step toward the thing you want, in spite of fear.\"<\/p>\n
For example: If you’re afraid of giving a presentation, create a PowerPoint and practice it with colleagues. If you’re having conflict at home, don’t walk away from your partner — schedule time to talk about what’s making you upset.<\/p>\n
Align actions with your values<\/h2>\n
\"Stress happens when your actions are not aligned with your values — the things that matter most to you or bring you joy. For example, you might feel stressed if you care most about your family but can’t be there for dinner, or care most about your health but drink a lot,\" Marques says.<\/p>\n
She suggests that you identify your top three values and make sure your daily actions align with them. If being with family is one of the three, make your time with them a priority — perhaps find a way to join them for a daily meal. If you get joy from a clean house, make daily tidying a priority.<\/p>\n
Tips for success<\/h2>\n
Practice the shift, approach, and align strategies throughout the week. \"One trick I use is looking at my calendar on Sunday and checking if my actions for the week are aligned with my values. If they aren’t, I try to change things around,\" Marques says.<\/p>\n
It’s also important to live as healthy a lifestyle as possible, which will help keep your brain functioning at its best.<\/p>\n
Healthy lifestyle habits include:<\/p>\n
- \n
- getting seven to nine hours of sleep per night<\/li>\n
- following a healthy diet, such as a Mediterranean-style diet<\/a><\/li>\n
- aiming for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activities<\/a> (such as brisk walking) each week — and adding on strength training at least twice a week<\/li>\n
- if you drink alcohol, limiting yourself to no more than one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men<\/li>\n
- not smoking<\/li>\n
- staying socially connected, whether in person, by phone or video calls, social media, or even text messages.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
Need resilience training?<\/h2>\n
Even the best athletes have coaches, and you might benefit from resilience training.<\/p>\n
Consider taking an online course, such as this one<\/a> developed by Luana Marques. Or maybe turn to a therapist online<\/a> or in person for help. Look for someone who specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy, which guides you to redirect negative thoughts to positive or productive ones.<\/p>\n
Just don’t put off building resilience. Practicing as you face day-to-day stresses will help you learn skills to help navigate when dark clouds roll in and seas get rough.<\/p>\n <\/body>","excerpt":"\n
Resilience is a psychological response that helps you adapt to life’s difficulties and seek a path forward through challenges. While everyone has the ability to be resilient, life stresses can take a toll on you. It’s possible to cultivate resilience — but how?<\/p>\n ","short_excerpt":"\n
Resilience is a psychological response that helps you adapt to life’s difficulties and seek a path forward through challenges. While everyone has the ability to be resilient, life stresses can take a toll on you. It’s possible to cultivate resilience — but how?<\/p>\n ","description":null,"author":null,"slug":"life-can-be-challenging-build-your-own-resilience-plan-202406123049","sort_date":"2024-06-12T04:00:00.000000Z","contentable_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\BlogPost","contentable_id":3049,"replacement_content_id":null,"landing_page_landing_page_group_id":null,"ucr_content_id":"BL061224","publication_date":"2024-06-12T14:30:00.000000Z","last_review_date":null,"imported_at":"2024-06-14T09:00:03.000000Z","last_import_type":"update","last_modified_date":"2024-06-11T04:00:00.000000Z","active":1,"created_at":"2024-06-12T09:00:04.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-14T09:00:03.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"images_remapped":0,"old_product_id":null,"old_content_id":null,"hide_ads":0,"primary_content_topic_id":37,"ecommerce_type":"CATALOG","authors":[{"id":31,"cr_id":117,"featured":0,"hhp_staff":0,"hidden":0,"name":"Heidi Godman","title":null,"first_name":"Heidi","middle_name":null,"last_name":"Godman","suffix":null,"slug":"heidi-godman","byline":"Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter<\/em><\/a>","description":"
Heidi Godman is the executive editor of the Harvard Health Letter<\/em>. Before coming to the Health Letter<\/em>, she was an award-winning television news anchor and medical reporter for 25 years. Heidi was named a journalism fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, and has been honored by the Associated Press, the American Heart Association, the Wellness Community, and other organizations for outstanding medical reporting. Heidi holds a bachelor of science degree in journalism from West Virginia University.<\/p>","image_url":"https:\/\/d2icykjy7h7x7e.cloudfront.net\/authors\/jmHxTqYhe8m1bTrPQJnvY8odf8gsq1y1Q0i6Wp6Y.jpg","twitter_username":null,"sort_order":0,"created_at":"2021-05-11T10:08:08.000000Z","updated_at":"2022-08-03T17:04:41.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"pivot":{"content_id":18899,"author_id":31,"sort_order":1}}],"contentable":{"id":3049,"comments_open":1,"created_at":"2024-06-12T09:00:04.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-12T09:00:04.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"media":[]},"content_type":{"id":18,"name":"blog","slug":"blog","created_at":"2021-05-11T08:30:32.000000Z","updated_at":"2021-05-11T08:30:32.000000Z","deleted_at":null},"media":[{"id":15304,"model_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\Content","model_id":18899,"uuid":"f8090208-00be-4948-af12-6678609b3ed6","collection_name":"contents","name":"384b5a4a-770a-47f3-b8e5-9422e290d096","file_name":"384b5a4a-770a-47f3-b8e5-9422e290d096.jpg","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","disk":"s3","conversions_disk":"s3","size":88033,"manipulations":[],"custom_properties":{"alt":"Colorful paper cutouts of a thunderstorm at sea with dark clouds, lightening, fish jumping, and a red and white boat bobbing in the waves; concept is resilience"},"generated_conversions":{"micro":true,"thumb":true},"responsive_images":[],"order_column":15235,"created_at":"2024-06-12T09:00:04.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-12T09:00:06.000000Z","full_url":"https:\/\/domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net\/medialibrary\/15304\/384b5a4a-770a-47f3-b8e5-9422e290d096.jpg"}],"primary_content_topic":{"id":37,"name":"Mind & Mood","slug":"mind-and-mood","is_primary":1,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/topics\/mind-and-mood"}},{"id":16588,"content_source_id":2,"content_type_id":18,"content_access_type_id":1,"title":"Bugs are biting: Safety precautions for children","short_title":"","subheading":"Ways to protect against mosquitoes and ticks that carry serious illnesses like Lyme disease and West Nile disease.","summary":"\n
Biting bugs are a nuisance and sometimes can spread illnesses like Lyme disease, Zika, or West Nile virus. To prevent bug bites, take simple precautions and learn how to choose and safely use insect repellents.<\/p>\n ","content":"
\n \n <\/p>\n
If you spend time outdoors — which we all should do, for all sorts of reasons — you are likely to encounter biting bugs. Most of the time the bites are just a nuisance. But besides the fact that sometimes they can be painful or itchy, bug bites can lead to illness — like Lyme disease from ticks<\/a>, or Zika<\/a>, malaria, or West Nile disease<\/a> from mosquitoes. So preventing bites is a good idea for all of us, and certainly for children.<\/p>\n
Simple precautions will help<\/h2>\n
Before talking about insect repellents, it’s important to remember that there are simple and effective precautions, nearly all of which don’t involve any chemicals. For example:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Empty out any standing water outside your home. That’s where mosquitoes breed.<\/li>\n
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants if you are going to be in areas with lots of biting insects. If you treat clothes (and shoes and gear) with 0.5% permethrin, it can be helpful.<\/li>\n
- Be aware that mosquitoes are most likely to be out at dusk and dawn, and plan activities accordingly.<\/li>\n
- To avoid tick bites, avoid wooded and brushy areas and keep to the center of paths when you hike. Be sure to do a tick check when you come home — not just of all the people in your group, but also any pets or gear that came along. Taking a shower soon after arriving home can help with both tick checks and washing off any unattached ticks.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
Make choices about insect repellent<\/h2>\n
Insect repellents can be very useful. Some are more effective than others, and some can have side effects, so it’s important to do your homework. The Environmental Protection Agency has a great interactive tool<\/a> that can help you choose the best repellent for your particular situation.<\/p>\n
The most effective repellent is DEET<\/a> (N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide). It works against both mosquitoes and ticks, and is definitely the go-to repellent if you really want or need to prevent bites. The higher the concentration, the longer it lasts: 10% will give you about two hours of coverage, while 30% can protect you for about five hours. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends not using more than 30% on kids<\/a>, and not using any<\/em> repellents on infants less than 2 months old.<\/p>\n
The most common side effect is skin irritation, and if you ingest it (you never know with little kids) it can lead to nausea and vomiting. Eye irritation is possible, which is why you should never spray any repellent directly to the face, but rather put it on your hands and then carefully apply to the face. In very rare cases, like one in every 100 million users, DEET can lead to brain problems such as seizures if used in high doses. This is an incredibly rare side effect, and not something that should stop you from using it, especially if you are in an area with a lot of ticks, or an area with lots of disease-carrying mosquitoes.<\/p>\n
Here are some alternatives with minimal to no side effects (eye irritation most common; avoid as noted above):<\/p>\n
- \n
- oil of lemon eucalyptus, or PMD (the manmade alternative). This works nearly as well as DEET.<\/li>\n
- picaridin, which works better against mosquitoes than ticks<\/li>\n
- 2-undecanone<\/li>\n
- IR-3535, the active ingredient in Avon products, although it is not very effective<\/li>\n
- citronella, although it is even less effective.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
Applying insect repellent — and sunscreen<\/h2>\n
Whatever you use, follow label directions and be sure that you are careful as you apply it to all exposed skin. It’s best to spray in an open area — and spray clothing too. Pump bottles and wipes with insect repellent may help you apply products carefully. Try to choose the best product for your situation so that you can apply it just once; the EPA tool is great for that. Don’t forget sunscreen; apply that first so your skin can absorb it.<\/p>\n
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has more information about applying insect repellent on children and preventing bites from mosquitoes<\/a> and ticks<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Biting bugs are a nuisance and sometimes can spread illnesses like Lyme disease, Zika, or West Nile virus. To prevent bug bites, take simple precautions and learn how to choose and safely use insect repellents.<\/p>\n ","short_excerpt":"\n
Biting bugs are a nuisance and sometimes can spread illnesses like Lyme disease, Zika, or West Nile virus. To prevent bug bites, take simple precautions and learn how to choose and safely use insect repellents.<\/p>\n ","description":null,"author":null,"slug":"bugs-are-biting-safety-precautions-for-children-196912312566","sort_date":"2021-08-10T04:00:00.000000Z","contentable_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\BlogPost","contentable_id":2566,"replacement_content_id":null,"landing_page_landing_page_group_id":null,"ucr_content_id":"BL081021","publication_date":"2021-08-10T14:30:00.000000Z","last_review_date":"2023-07-29T04:00:00.000000Z","imported_at":"2024-06-18T09:00:02.000000Z","last_import_type":"update","last_modified_date":"2024-06-17T04:00:00.000000Z","active":1,"created_at":"2021-08-10T09:00:05.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-18T09:00:03.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"images_remapped":0,"old_product_id":null,"old_content_id":null,"hide_ads":0,"primary_content_topic_id":24,"ecommerce_type":"CATALOG","authors":[{"id":46,"cr_id":4,"featured":0,"hhp_staff":1,"hidden":0,"name":"Claire McCarthy, MD","title":null,"first_name":"Claire","middle_name":null,"last_name":"McCarthy","suffix":"MD","slug":"claire-mccarthy-md","byline":"Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing","description":"Claire McCarthy, MD, is a primary care pediatrician at Boston Children’s Hospital, and an assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. In addition to being a senior faculty editor for Harvard Health Publishing, Dr. McCarthy writes about health and parenting for Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston.com, and the Huffington Post.","image_url":"https:\/\/d2icykjy7h7x7e.cloudfront.net\/authors\/mvCBqecmOmDXOhy74hH3DviJmMAprZqhFgGbhTJL.jpg","twitter_username":null,"sort_order":5,"created_at":"2021-05-11T10:23:17.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-04-10T21:36:29.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"pivot":{"content_id":16588,"author_id":46,"sort_order":1}}],"contentable":{"id":2566,"comments_open":1,"created_at":"2021-08-10T09:00:05.000000Z","updated_at":"2021-08-12T22:45:29.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"media":[]},"content_type":{"id":18,"name":"blog","slug":"blog","created_at":"2021-05-11T08:30:32.000000Z","updated_at":"2021-05-11T08:30:32.000000Z","deleted_at":null},"media":[{"id":11415,"model_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\Content","model_id":16588,"uuid":"0cb3978d-4b1c-4bf7-a8b6-c576358af602","collection_name":"contents","name":"9ca5a45a-7ad8-48a0-9f1a-08bdd7e2091f","file_name":"9ca5a45a-7ad8-48a0-9f1a-08bdd7e2091f.jpg","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","disk":"s3","conversions_disk":"s3","size":85889,"manipulations":[],"custom_properties":{"alt":"Father spraying the back of his daughter’s legs with bug spray"},"generated_conversions":{"micro":true,"thumb":true},"responsive_images":[],"order_column":11414,"created_at":"2021-08-10T09:00:05.000000Z","updated_at":"2022-07-01T09:00:16.000000Z","full_url":"https:\/\/domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net\/medialibrary\/11415\/9ca5a45a-7ad8-48a0-9f1a-08bdd7e2091f.jpg"}],"primary_content_topic":{"id":24,"name":"Child & Teen Health","slug":"child-and-teen-health","is_primary":1,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/topics\/child-and-teen-health"}}], currentIndex: 0 }” x-on:slide-change.window=”currentIndex = $event.detail.currentIndex”>
Recent Blog Articles
- aiming for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activities<\/a> (such as brisk walking) each week — and adding on strength training at least twice a week<\/li>\n
- Increasingly, health care providers and health care systems accept responsibility<\/a> for preventable harm occurring on their watch, and offer compensation rather than waiting for a legal claim to be filed.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
- Misdiagnosis.<\/strong> Because no one has perfect diagnostic skills, even the most skillful health care provider can be wrong. This can result in unnecessary or delayed treatment.<\/li>\n
- Lather up.<\/strong> You’ll be outside for at least an hour, and you’ll need sunblock and possibly tick and bug spray depending on the terrain. Preventing tick bites<\/a> that can lead to Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses<\/a> is important in many locations.<\/li>\n
- Create a mental image of what the map is telling you.<\/strong> If there’s a fence along a field on the map, build a picture of it in your mind so you can recognize it when you see it, even if you haven’t been there before.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
- Turn the map as you change directions.<\/strong> Hold the map so that the direction you’re heading in is at the top of the page. For example, if the compass indicates that you’re heading south, turn the map upside down, so the south part is on top and easier to follow.<\/li>\n
- Check local air quality. <\/strong>AirNow.gov<\/a> shares local, real-time air quality information and activity guidance. When recommended, stay indoors if possible. Shut doors, windows, and any outdoor air intake vents.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Summer supper club.<\/strong> Perfect for those overloaded with summer harvests from window boxes, community gardens, or a CSA share<\/a>. Build a theme around what’s fresh, local, and low-cost. Plant-forward menus<\/a> are good for health and for the planet. Cultural inspiration always helps. And having one person cook — or stressing no-cook recipes — saves resources.<\/li>\n
- Watch out for <\/strong>signs of dehydration<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong> Drinking plenty of water and eating water-rich foods like lettuce, cucumbers, melon, and citrus fruits can help you stay well hydrated. Water-filling stations for reusable bottles cut down on single-use plastic bottles and help save money at the grocery store.<\/li>\n
- Conserve energy. <\/strong>Turn off electrical equipment that is not in use in the office and at home, such as lights, TVs, computers, copiers, and printers. <\/li>\n
- Seek shade and cool spots.<\/strong> If you don’t have air conditioning or you worry about the bills, green, leafy spaces like parks<\/a> can help cool you down. Cities and towns often open cooling centers, splash pads, and public pools. Public buildings like libraries and malls are available during daytime hours for anyone trying to beat the heat.<\/li>\n
- Stay cooler naturally.<\/strong> Pull down shades during daytime hours to block out hot sun. Open windows at night if the temperature cools down, and to capture cross breezes if possible. Dress in loose cotton clothes and wear a shading hat when outdoors. Remember that sun bounces off lighter colors and is soaked up by black or darker colors. Make your own shade by carrying an umbrella on sunny — not just rainy — days. \"<\/strong>Prepare meals that don’t require cooking or baking, since that saves resources and keeps your home cooler,\" advises Dr. Armand.<\/li>\n
Staying Healthy
By Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women’s Health Watch
- Reviewed by Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women’s Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
The connection between mouth and body health is stronger than you may realize.
Instead of putting your money where your mouth is, try putting your health where your mouth is. (Hint: it’s already there.)
There’s growing recognition we can’t ignore our mouths and expect a healthy body. About 300 diseases and conditions are linked in some way to oral health — triggering some problems and worsening others, says Dr. Brittany Seymour, an associate professor of oral health policy and epidemiology at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine.
A nationally representative 2017 poll of more than 2,100 people ages 50 to 64 found that more than one-third had dental problems that caused them to miss work or suffer with pain, difficulty eating, or other health problems within the prior two years. About two-thirds had undergone a dental check-up in the past year, but nearly one-quarter hadn’t sought preventive dental care in at least three years.
“There’s still a myth that we can neglect our oral health and it only affects our mouths. We know that’s not the case,” says Dr. Seymour, also a national spokesperson for the American Dental Association. “There’s still a lack of awareness around the importance of oral health far beyond the way we look.”
Gum disease dangers
Downstream effects of poor oral health can indeed prove more serious than the occasional cavity. Harmful bacteria and inflammation can creep from the mouth to the bloodstream and reach far-flung areas of the body.
The heart is particularly vulnerable. Building on research indicating that people with poor oral health (such as gum disease or tooth loss) have higher rates of heart attacks, a new study goes one step further. The analysis, published Aug. 1, 2022, in The Journal of the American Dental Association, found that heart attack patients who’d had no dental care over the prior year remained in the hospital longer than similar patients who’d had dental treatment.
Meanwhile, a 2020 study in the journal Diabetes Care estimated that among people with diabetes who also had periodontitis (severe inflammation of the gums and the bones that support the teeth), improved gum care could reduce complications such as kidney, nerve, and eye damage by about 20%. Periodontitis is three times more common among people with diabetes, Dr. Seymour says. In addition, a person with uncontrolled gum disease typically has more difficulty controlling blood sugar levels.
“Early warning signs of diabetes can even show up in the mouth,” she says. “These include dry mouth, gum disease, changes in taste, slower healing of cuts or sores in the mouth, and mouth infections such as thrush.”
Oral care products: What do you really need?Choosing toothpaste, mouthwash, and other oral care products was once a fairly simple task. But the variety of products vying for our mouths — and wallets — has exploded into a $49 billion oral care market that’s expected to nearly double by 2030. Today’s products don’t just promise to keep our mouths minty clean and fresh, however. From gum repair toothpaste to plaque removal mouthwash, these items — filling entire aisles of supermarkets and drugstores — make claims that can confuse and frustrate us, says Dr. Brittany Seymour, an associate professor of oral health policy and epidemiology at Harvard’s School of Dental Medicine. “Options are a great thing until choosing becomes overwhelming and people aren’t confident in the choices they’re making,” she says. It’s smart to be skeptical. Removing plaque, for example, requires some kind of mechanical process, such as brushing or flossing. So “a mouthwash marketed for plaque removal may kill bacteria, but still wouldn’t necessarily remove debris,” she says. Similarly, gum repair toothpaste — marketed to reduce the inflammation and gum bleeding that comes with gingivitis — contains the same active ingredient as most toothpastes: stannous fluoride, which has antibacterial properties. “Gum repair toothpaste may not work any better or differently than other toothpastes containing this type of fluoride,” she says. If in doubt, look for the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance on packaging. The seal means a team of dentists independently evaluated the product to verify that it says what it does and does what it says. “I cannot tell the difference between patients’ mouths based on the products they use,” she says. “Really, it’s just important to find a routine you can stick with. This is where product choice can be helpful; you can try different options and ultimately find something that enables you to maintain those good habits.” |
Additional revelations
What else might surprise you about dental health? Dr. Seymour offers six additional nuggets.
Brushing harder or longer isn’t necessarily better. The choice of toothbrush bristle — or an electric variety — is personal preference, but a more abrasive brush doesn’t make your pearly whites any whiter or your gums any healthier. As a rule of thumb, brush twice a day for at least two minutes. “It’s more about technique than rigor,” she says. “If your technique is effective, two minutes is just as effective as five.” Ask your dentist for pointers on optimal brushing technique.
Flossing is optional, but cleaning between teeth isn’t. Some people don’t like dental floss, but that’s not the only way to clean between teeth, where debris and plaque hide. Skipping this vital step can lead to inflamed gums and cavities. Floss-haters can try floss picks, which have tiny spans of floss stretched between plastic prongs. Other options include an oral irrigator (such as Waterpik) or an interdental cleaner, a tiny cylindrical brush. “The bottom line is, cleaning between teeth matters,” Dr. Seymour says. “Ask any dentist if she can tell which patients do it and which don’t — and we can.”
Your dentist isn’t only checking your teeth and gums—she’s also screening for cancer. Dentists are trained to look for head and neck cancers during routine check-ups. This typically involves pressing around your jaw, chin, and neck to look for lumps or swollen lymph nodes. She’ll also stretch your cheeks out and look at your tongue, palate, and throat for abnormal spots. Head and neck cancers affect 66,000 Americans each year, killing 15,000.
Going to the dentist when you’re pregnant is recommended. A long-debunked but still-prevalent myth tells women to avoid dental care — and especially dental x-rays — while pregnant. But preventive care can nip a problem before it blossoms into an infection or a cavity requiring a root canal. Pregnancy also triggers many changes in the mouth, such as bleeding gums, that should be evaluated. “You need to be sure they’re normal changes that will resolve after delivery or determine if they’re signs that need more immediate attention,” Dr. Seymour says.
Menopause can affect your mouth. The menopause-related drop in estrogen and progesterone can reduce saliva production, causing mouth dryness that encourages tooth decay and infection. Gum pain and inflammation (gingivitis) is also more prevalent when estrogen levels fall.
Chewing sugar-free gum can’t substitute for brushing. Gum-chewing encourages saliva production, which helps wash away acids from foods and drinks before they can erode tooth enamel. Gum made with the artificial sweetener xylitol can enhance this effect, lowering the level of decay-causing bacteria in saliva. But these benefits don’t override the value of twice-daily brushing. “Gum might dislodge large food particles, but it’s not as effective at removing plaque as brushing,” Dr. Seymour says.
Image: © deagreez/Getty Images
About the Author
About the Reviewer
Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women’s Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
Forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service expect above-normal activity for the 2024 hurricane season (which lasts until November 30).<\/p>\n
Meteorologists anticipate 17 to 25 storms with winds of 39 mph or higher, including eight to 13 hurricanes — four to seven of which could be major hurricanes with 111 mph winds or higher.<\/p>\n
What kinds of plans should you make?<\/h2>\n
Preparing for the possibility of big storms is a major undertaking. Long before ferocious winds and torrential rains arrive, you must gather hurricane supplies, figure out how to secure your home, and determine where to go if you need to evacuate (especially if you live in a flood zone). Contact the emergency management department at your city or county for shelter information.<\/p>\n
If you’ll need help evacuating due to a medical condition, or if you’ll need medical assistance at a shelter, find out if your county or city has a special needs registry like this one in Florida<\/a>. Signing up will enable first responders to notify you about storms and transport you to a special shelter that has medical staff, hospital cots, and possibly oxygen tanks.<\/p>\n
What should you pack?<\/h2>\n
While a shelter provides a safe place to ride out a storm, including bathrooms, water, and basic meals, it’s up to you to bring everything else<\/a>. It’s essential to pack medical equipment and sufficient medications and health supplies.<\/p>\n
\"It’s natural to just grab the prescription medications in your medicine cabinet, but what if it’s only a two-day supply? It might be a while before you can get a refill. We recommend at least a 14-day or 30-day supply of every prescription,\" Dr. Goldberg says. \"Talk to your doctor about the possibility of getting an extra refill to keep on standby for your go bag.\"<\/p>\n
Other health-related items you’ll want to pack include:<\/p>\n
- \n
- medical supplies you use regularly, such as a blood pressure monitor, heart monitor, CPAP machine, wheelchair, or walker<\/li>\n
- over-the-counter medicines you use regularly, such as heartburn medicine or pain relievers<\/li>\n
- foods for specific dietary needs, such as gluten-free food if you have celiac disease (if you have infants or children, you’ll need to bring foods they can eat)<\/li>\n
- healthy, nonperishable snacks such as nuts, nut butters, trail mix, dried fruit, granola bars, protein bars, and whole-grain bread, crackers, or cereals<\/li>\n
- hygiene products such as soap, hand sanitizer, toothbrushes and toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, infant or adult diapers, lip balm, moist towelettes, and toilet paper — because shelters often run out of it.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
Remember the basics<\/h3>\n
In some ways, you can think of shelter living like camping. You’ll need lots of basic supplies to get through it, including:<\/p>\n
- \n
- a sleeping bag or blanket and pillow for each person in your family<\/li>\n
- clean towels and washcloths<\/li>\n
- a few extra changes of clothes per person<\/li>\n
- a first-aid kit<\/li>\n
- flashlights and extra batteries<\/li>\n
- chargers for your electronic gadgets<\/li>\n
- rechargeable battery packs.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
Bring important paperwork<\/h3>\n
In addition to supplies, bring important documents such as:<\/p>\n
- \n
- a list of your medications, vitamins, and supplements (include the name, dose, and frequency of each one)<\/li>\n
- a list of the names, addresses, and phone numbers of your primary care provider and any specialists who treat you<\/li>\n
- a list of your emergency contacts and their phone numbers<\/li>\n
- your pharmacy’s phone number and address<\/li>\n
- copies of your birth certificate and driver’s license<\/li>\n
- copies of home, car, or life insurance policies<\/li>\n
- copies of your health insurance cards<\/li>\n
- a copy of your advance directive — which includes your living will and health care proxy form.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
\"Store these documents on a flash drive. Also make photocopies of them, which are easiest for doctors to consult in an emergency setting. Place them in a plastic zip-top bag to keep them dry,\" Dr. Goldberg advises.<\/p>\n
Prepare right now<\/h3>\n
Start today. Gather as many go-bag supplies as you can, including the bags. A small suitcase, backpack, or duffel bag for each person in your family will work well.<\/p>\n
And try not to put off these important preparations. \"Hurricanes are major stressors. You might be worried, sleep deprived, fatigued, and emotional,\" Dr. Goldberg says. \"All of that will make it hard to think clearly. You’ll do yourself and your family a favor by having discussions now and getting started on your hurricane plan.\"<\/p>","excerpt":"\n
When you’re packing a hurricane go-bag, keep health priorities in mind. If you don’t prepare in advance, you might leave behind medicines, medical supplies, important paperwork, and other essentials that can help you stay healthy. Here’s how to plan ahead.<\/p>\n ","short_excerpt":"\n
When you’re packing a hurricane go-bag, keep health priorities in mind. If you don’t prepare in advance, you might leave behind medicines, medical supplies, important paperwork, and other essentials that can help you stay healthy. Here’s how to plan ahead.<\/p>\n ","description":null,"author":null,"slug":"packing-your-hurricane-go-bag-make-provisions-for-your-health-202407013055","sort_date":"2024-07-01T04:00:00.000000Z","contentable_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\BlogPost","contentable_id":3055,"replacement_content_id":null,"landing_page_landing_page_group_id":null,"ucr_content_id":"BL070124","publication_date":"2024-07-01T14:30:00.000000Z","last_review_date":null,"imported_at":"2024-06-29T09:00:02.000000Z","last_import_type":"insert","last_modified_date":"2024-06-28T04:00:00.000000Z","active":1,"created_at":"2024-06-29T09:00:02.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-29T09:00:03.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"images_remapped":0,"old_product_id":null,"old_content_id":null,"hide_ads":0,"primary_content_topic_id":44,"ecommerce_type":"CATALOG","authors":[{"id":31,"cr_id":117,"featured":0,"hhp_staff":0,"hidden":0,"name":"Heidi Godman","title":null,"first_name":"Heidi","middle_name":null,"last_name":"Godman","suffix":null,"slug":"heidi-godman","byline":"Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter<\/em><\/a>","description":"
Heidi Godman is the executive editor of the Harvard Health Letter<\/em>. Before coming to the Health Letter<\/em>, she was an award-winning television news anchor and medical reporter for 25 years. Heidi was named a journalism fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, and has been honored by the Associated Press, the American Heart Association, the Wellness Community, and other organizations for outstanding medical reporting. Heidi holds a bachelor of science degree in journalism from West Virginia University.<\/p>","image_url":"https:\/\/d2icykjy7h7x7e.cloudfront.net\/authors\/jmHxTqYhe8m1bTrPQJnvY8odf8gsq1y1Q0i6Wp6Y.jpg","twitter_username":null,"sort_order":0,"created_at":"2021-05-11T10:08:08.000000Z","updated_at":"2022-08-03T17:04:41.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"pivot":{"content_id":18952,"author_id":31,"sort_order":1}}],"contentable":{"id":3055,"comments_open":1,"created_at":"2024-06-29T09:00:02.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-29T09:00:02.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"media":[]},"content_type":{"id":18,"name":"blog","slug":"blog","created_at":"2021-05-11T08:30:32.000000Z","updated_at":"2021-05-11T08:30:32.000000Z","deleted_at":null},"media":[{"id":15383,"model_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\Content","model_id":18952,"uuid":"78265fe6-908c-41ff-8432-ff44153979ee","collection_name":"contents","name":"8aa16373-e07d-4c16-af1a-f1e091a302f1","file_name":"8aa16373-e07d-4c16-af1a-f1e091a302f1.jpg","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","disk":"s3","conversions_disk":"s3","size":82746,"manipulations":[],"custom_properties":{"alt":"Graphic of map showing eastern US in yellow with "Breaking News Weather" on it in blue, red & orange rectangles & white swirling hurricane icon over blue water"},"generated_conversions":{"micro":true,"thumb":true},"responsive_images":[],"order_column":15314,"created_at":"2024-06-29T09:00:02.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-29T09:00:05.000000Z","full_url":"https:\/\/domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net\/medialibrary\/15383\/8aa16373-e07d-4c16-af1a-f1e091a302f1.jpg"}],"primary_content_topic":{"id":44,"name":"Staying Healthy","slug":"staying-healthy","is_primary":1,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/topics\/staying-healthy"}},{"id":18949,"content_source_id":2,"content_type_id":18,"content_access_type_id":1,"title":"5 great tips for sustainable summer living","short_title":"","subheading":"Stay cool and find joy with planet-friendly ideas to enhance summer life.","summary":"\n
Wondering how to save money, stay cooler, and be kinder to our planet during a long, hot summer? These five tips help ensure maximum fun and suggest ways to stay comfortable and safe this summer while making sustainable choices to benefit the environment.<\/p>\n ","content":"
\n \n <\/p>\n
Sustainable living treads lightly on natural resources and follows a rethink, reuse, repurpose mantra to minimize waste.<\/p>\n
Big and small wallet-friendly tips can help you save money and befriend our planet this summer, says Dr. Wynne Armand, a primary care physician at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital, and associate director of the Mass General Center for the Environment and Health<\/a>. Here are five great tips to get you started.<\/p>\n
1. Embrace the 5 Rs<\/h2>\n
Give yourself permission to start here: Nobody is perfect. We all have preferences and sustainability blind spots, fumbles, and \"sorry, just no\" feelings. Start where you are and add on when you can.<\/p>\n
2. Cut down on cooling energy<\/h2>\n
Summer heat can endanger your health, and paring back on energy use isn’t always possible or wise. Still, it may be possible to:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Stay cooler naturally.<\/strong> Pull down shades during daytime hours to block out hot sun. Open windows at night if the temperature cools down, and to capture cross breezes if possible. Dress in loose cotton clothes and wear a shading hat when outdoors. Remember that sun bounces off lighter colors and is soaked up by black or darker colors. Make your own shade by carrying an umbrella on sunny — not just rainy — days. \"<\/strong>Prepare meals that don’t require cooking or baking, since that saves resources and keeps your home cooler,\" advises Dr. Armand.<\/li>\n
- Seek shade and cool spots.<\/strong> If you don’t have air conditioning or you worry about the bills, green, leafy spaces like parks<\/a> can help cool you down. Cities and towns often open cooling centers, splash pads, and public pools. Public buildings like libraries and malls are available during daytime hours for anyone trying to beat the heat.<\/li>\n
- Turn up the temperature.<\/strong> On air conditioning, that is. If you’re fortunate enough to have air conditioning at home, follow natural cues. When you’re shivering, sweater-seeking, or tucked up under blankets, push the temperature up to save energy and money.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
3. Save resources<\/h2>\n
A sharp eye for energy savings may help pare down bills, too.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Electrify. <\/strong>Shrink your carbon footprint and help cut air pollution by using electric grills, mowers, and other landscaping tools. When tools or appliances need to be replaced, consider electric options.<\/li>\n
- Conserve energy. <\/strong>Turn off electrical equipment that is not in use in the office and at home, such as lights, TVs, computers, copiers, and printers. <\/li>\n
- Go low when demand is high.<\/strong> \"During peak electricity demand, ensuring stability of the grid is essential to public health,\" says Dr. Armand. \"Avoid using appliances like dishwashers, washers, or dryers during periods of high demand. Instead, do these chores — and charge your electric car, if you have one — late at night.\" Some energy-hogging appliances have timers to help with this.<\/li>\n
- Sign up for <\/strong>Shave the Peak<\/strong><\/a> alerts. <\/strong>Know when to curb your electricity use to avoid times when your local electric grid is relying on nonrenewable, expensive, polluting fossil fuels.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
4. Stay heat-aware and hydrated<\/h2>\n
Saving resources is a worthy goal, but not at the expense of staying safe and healthy when summer temperatures spike.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Make plans to stay cool.<\/strong> When summer swelters, having an affordable, personal plan<\/a> to cool down — especially during heat waves — can be lifesaving.<\/li>\n
- Watch out for <\/strong>signs of dehydration<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong> Drinking plenty of water and eating water-rich foods like lettuce, cucumbers, melon, and citrus fruits can help you stay well hydrated. Water-filling stations for reusable bottles cut down on single-use plastic bottles and help save money at the grocery store.<\/li>\n
- Know how to treat <\/strong>heat rash<\/strong><\/a> and more serious <\/strong>heat-related illnesses<\/strong><\/a>. <\/strong>The small, itchy red or darkened bumps of heat rash (prickly heat) occur when sweat ducts become blocked or inflamed. This makes it harder for children and adults to cool their bodies down. Generally, too much heat can harm our bodies, particularly if we work outdoors, take certain medicines, or have certain illnesses.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
5. Kickstart sharing circles<\/h2>\n
Sharing circles can help you expand a wardrobe, tool shed, or taste in foods — all while building community.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Start local, then consider expanding.<\/strong> Brainstorm with a few friends on what you all might like to share or swap. Think seasonal: gardening tools, outside d’cor, summer sports (because not everyone needs to own a paddleboard<\/a>). Local clubs, block associations, or public spaces like libraries and schools may be willing to host community swaps and shares. Some communities have swap sheds and some libraries loan gadgets<\/a> and even appliances like a portable induction cooktop burner, tech and home-improvement tools, games, and much more.<\/li>\n
- Summer supper club.<\/strong> Perfect for those overloaded with summer harvests from window boxes, community gardens, or a CSA share<\/a>. Build a theme around what’s fresh, local, and low-cost. Plant-forward menus<\/a> are good for health and for the planet. Cultural inspiration always helps. And having one person cook — or stressing no-cook recipes — saves resources.<\/li>\n
- Cut your clothing allowance.<\/strong> Tired of your wardrobe? Gather friends for a summer clothes and accessories swap. Be sure to agree on rules: gently-used, carefully washed, no stains, and so on.<\/li>\n
- Hot spots.<\/strong> \"Gathering at a friend’s or neighbor’s home for fun games and festivities on hot days is a great way to build community while saving on energy costs for cooling. And rotate for that next hot day!\" says Dr. Armand. <\/li>\n <\/ul>","excerpt":"\n
Wondering how to save money, stay cooler, and be kinder to our planet during a long, hot summer? These five tips help ensure maximum fun and suggest ways to stay comfortable and safe this summer while making sustainable choices to benefit the environment.<\/p>\n ","short_excerpt":"\n
Wondering how to save money, stay cooler, and be kinder to our planet during a long, hot summer? These five tips help ensure maximum fun and suggest ways to stay comfortable and safe this summer while making sustainable choices to benefit the environment.<\/p>\n ","description":null,"author":null,"slug":"5-great-tips-for-sustainable-summer-living-202406283054","sort_date":"2024-06-28T04:00:00.000000Z","contentable_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\BlogPost","contentable_id":3054,"replacement_content_id":null,"landing_page_landing_page_group_id":null,"ucr_content_id":"BL062824","publication_date":"2024-06-28T10:30:00.000000Z","last_review_date":null,"imported_at":"2024-06-29T09:00:04.000000Z","last_import_type":"update","last_modified_date":"2024-06-28T04:00:00.000000Z","active":1,"created_at":"2024-06-27T17:50:04.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-29T09:00:04.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"images_remapped":0,"old_product_id":null,"old_content_id":null,"hide_ads":0,"primary_content_topic_id":44,"ecommerce_type":"CATALOG","authors":[{"id":141,"cr_id":454,"featured":0,"hhp_staff":1,"hidden":0,"name":"Francesca Coltrera","title":null,"first_name":"Francesca","middle_name":null,"last_name":"Coltrera","suffix":null,"slug":"francesca-coltrera","byline":"Editor, Harvard Health Blog","description":"
Francesca Coltrera is editor of the Harvard Health Blog, and associate editor of multimedia content for Harvard Health Publishing. She is an award-winning medical writer and co-author of Living Through Breast Cancer<\/em> and The Breast Cancer Survivor’s Fitness Plan<\/em>. Her work has appeared in Newsweek<\/em>, O Magazine<\/em>, Good Housekeeping<\/em>, SELF<\/em>, and the Boston Herald<\/em>, among other venues. She is interested in many health topics, including coronavirus and COVID-19, emotional and physical wellness, parenting and children’s health, women’s health, exercise, longevity, cancer, caregiving, and end-of-life issues.<\/p>","image_url":"https:\/\/d2icykjy7h7x7e.cloudfront.net\/authors\/TqVPF0YGx0xJcBXxPlTy6uaaWpQEzL1twZBXNs9d.jpg","twitter_username":null,"sort_order":6,"created_at":"2021-05-11T10:46:14.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-28T14:07:36.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"pivot":{"content_id":18949,"author_id":141,"sort_order":1}}],"contentable":{"id":3054,"comments_open":1,"created_at":"2024-06-27T17:50:04.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-28T14:25:54.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"media":[]},"content_type":{"id":18,"name":"blog","slug":"blog","created_at":"2021-05-11T08:30:32.000000Z","updated_at":"2021-05-11T08:30:32.000000Z","deleted_at":null},"media":[{"id":15375,"model_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\Content","model_id":18949,"uuid":"7721421f-32b3-45d7-a3f9-5670dfb1dfca","collection_name":"contents","name":"71da1de7-3c71-4341-9f3a-810d2deb31c6","file_name":"71da1de7-3c71-4341-9f3a-810d2deb31c6.jpg","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","disk":"s3","conversions_disk":"s3","size":70904,"manipulations":[],"custom_properties":{"alt":"illustration of a set of rounded-corner app-style icons on the theme of summer, showing ice cream, thermometer, sunglasses, beach ball, cold drink, flip-flops, starfish, and many others"},"generated_conversions":{"micro":true,"thumb":true},"responsive_images":[],"order_column":15306,"created_at":"2024-06-28T14:24:50.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-28T14:24:51.000000Z","full_url":"https:\/\/domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net\/medialibrary\/15375\/71da1de7-3c71-4341-9f3a-810d2deb31c6.jpg"}],"primary_content_topic":{"id":44,"name":"Staying Healthy","slug":"staying-healthy","is_primary":1,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/topics\/staying-healthy"}},{"id":18946,"content_source_id":2,"content_type_id":18,"content_access_type_id":1,"title":"How health care leaders can prioritize health equity for the LGBTQIA2+ community","short_title":null,"subheading":"Here’s how health care leaders can contribute to greater health equity for the LGBTQ+ community.","summary":"
Research shows that the LGBTQIA2+ community faces disproportionate adverse health conditions due to health inequities. It’s important for those working in the health care industry to be aware of the challenges the LGBTQIA2+ community faces, to help make systemic changes and improve health outcomes.<\/p>","content":"
\r\n \r\n <\/p>\r\n
\r\n Editor's note: Health inequities have long been an issue for people in the LGBTQ+ community. We're pleased to share a post from our colleagues in Corporate Learning<\/a> at Harvard Medical School focusing on solutions that health care leaders can champion.<\/em>\r\n <\/p>\r\n
Health care business professionals can improve patient outcomes and reduce health inequities by championing the health care needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and\/or questioning, intersex, asexual, and two-spirit (LGBTQIA2+) community. These issues are an important priority for health care professionals year-round, not just during Pride Month.<\/p>\r\n
Research shows that the LGBTQIA2+ community faces disproportionate adverse health conditions<\/a> due to health inequities. It’s important for those working in the health care industry to be aware of the challenges the LGBTQIA2+ community faces to help make systemic changes and improve health outcomes.<\/p>\r\n
The LGBTQIA2+ community — which is less likely to trust<\/a> the health care system — is a rising part of the population. The 2022 national Gallup survey shows that at least 20% of Gen Z identifies as LGBTQIA2+<\/a>. This includes our coworkers, customers, and clients, says Dr. Alex Keuroghlian<\/a>, a psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital and faculty advisor for LGBT and Allies at Harvard Medical School<\/a> (LAHMS).<\/p>\r\n
\"LGBTQIA2+ people experience pervasive stigma and discrimination, as well as numerous adverse social determinants of health, all of which negatively impact health outcomes,\" says Dr. Keuroghlian. \"Health care professionals, organizations, and governmental agencies need to intentionally provide clinical care and design health systems and policies, in a manner that is culturally responsive and improves health outcomes for LGBTQIA2+ people.\"<\/p>\r\n
Due to the politicized nature of these issues, health care providers around the world, including in several U.S. states, face limitations and backlash when providing gender-affirming care. In some places, Dr. Keuroghlian says, \"legal restrictions on access to gender-affirming care create challenges for clinicians to deliver this care and for transgender and gender diverse people to safely receive it.\"<\/p>\r\n
Everyone in health care — including health care business professionals — can work to improve health outcomes and decrease inequities. \"It is critical for all businesses to offer welcoming, inclusive, and affirming work environments and service delivery for LGBTQIA2+ people,\" Dr. Keuroghlian says.<\/p>\r\n
Supporting LGBTQIA2+ health begins in the workplace<\/h2>\r\n
With thoughtful action, health care business professionals can contribute to greater health equity for these underserved individuals. Some ways to do so include:<\/p>\r\n
\r\n 1. Take an active interest in better understanding the needs and perspectives of the LGBTQIA2+ community.<\/strong>\r\n <\/p>\r\n
Conducting research, including surveys and consumer focus groups, is a good way to help better understand specific health needs and priorities. \"This community has historically been excluded from studies and research that would be very helpful in understanding their needs and their challenges,\" says Dr. Enrique Caballero<\/a>, an endocrinologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the faculty director of International Innovation Programs in the HMS Office for External Education. \"We need to get to know the population better.\"<\/p>\r\n
\r\n 2. Prioritize inclusive language.<\/strong>\r\n <\/p>\r\n
Whether you are involved directly in care delivery or other aspects of health care, pay attention to the words you use — for both customers and employees. Gendered language in job postings, informational or marketing materials, and even casual conversation can be off-putting. That means lost opportunities for organizations and LGBTQIA2+ individuals. Slight shifts in language and conscious efforts like adding pronouns to your email signature speak volumes.<\/p>\r\n
\r\n 3. Train staff to be community allies.<\/strong>\r\n <\/p>\r\n
Gaining awareness of our unconscious biases and making shifts in our everyday language doesn’t happen overnight. Health care industry businesses can help their staff be better allies to the LGBTQIA2+ community by providing access to workshops delivered by community members.<\/p>\r\n
\"No one becomes fully competent after one conversation, lecture, or video,\" Dr. Caballero says. \"It’s a lifelong process in which we all learn how to be more respectful, inclusive, and to embrace diversity.\"<\/p>\r\n
\r\n 4. Support companies and community organizations that focus on LGBTQIA2+ health.<\/strong>\r\n <\/p>\r\n
Show, don’t tell. Making financial contributions to organizations already on the ground and working with this population demonstrates that you aren’t just concerned about the bottom line. You are truly dedicated to helping the LGBTQ+ population access good health care.<\/p>\r\n
\r\n 5. Hire LGBTQIA2+ staff.<\/strong>\r\n <\/p>\r\n
The best way to ensure your company is prioritizing health equity is by having a diverse group at the decision-making table. It is crucial to have employees that represent the diversity of your customer base — not only diversity in gender expression and sexuality, but also diversity in race, ethnicity, age, ability, and beyond.<\/p>\r\n
\"Part of our obligation is to really open the doors for everybody,\" Dr. Caballero says. \"Talent is not exclusive to a particular group, and I think that is important to embrace as an organization.\"<\/p>\r\n
\r\n 6. Include LGBTQIA2+ representation in all communications.<\/strong>\r\n <\/p>\r\n
Diverse representation is key. Make a pointed effort to include same-sex couples, non-traditional family units, and transgender and non-binary individuals in all kinds of communications, participating in everyday activities.<\/p>\r\n
\r\n 7. Acknowledge any missteps.<\/strong>\r\n <\/p>\r\n
On an institutional level, company acknowledgments can go a long way in rebuilding trust with the LGBTQIA2+ community. Within the organization, it’s valuable to encourage ongoing communication about company culture.<\/p>\r\n
\"All organizations should have a system in place for people to provide feedback on how things are going and to report anything that they want to call the leadership team's attention to,\" Dr. Caballero says. \"Having a system that truly listens to members of the organization — and being sure that follow-up action is taken — is very important.\"<\/p>\r\n
\r\n 8. Make action consistent beyond Pride Month.<\/strong>\r\n <\/p>\r\n
Embracing the LGBTQIA2+ community consistently and with commitment all year long \"is truly an opportunity for everyone,\" Dr. Caballero says. \"This is not good just for the members of the community, but for everybody that works in a place that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion.\"<\/p>\r\n
Industry professionals turn to HMS for custom corporate learning programs, including on topics like LGBTQIA2+ health, that leave a lasting impact on participants. To provide these programs, HMS leverages faculty expertise from throughout the School and the entire Harvard University community to share with health care teams. To learn about HMS Corporate Learning custom programs, read about the approach<\/a> or hear from clients themselves<\/a>.<\/p>","excerpt":"
Research shows that the LGBTQIA2+ community faces disproportionate adverse health conditions due to health inequities. It’s important for those working in the health care industry to be aware of the challenges the LGBTQIA2+ community faces, to help make systemic changes and improve health outcomes.<\/p>","short_excerpt":"\n
Research shows that the LGBTQIA2+ community faces disproportionate adverse health conditions due to health inequities. It’s important for those working in the health care industry to be aware of the challenges the LGBTQIA2+ community faces, to help make systemic changes and improve health outcomes.<\/p>\n ","description":null,"author":null,"slug":"how-health-care-leaders-can-prioritize-health-equity-for-the-lgbtqia2-community-202406263053","sort_date":"2024-06-26T04:00:00.000000Z","contentable_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\BlogPost","contentable_id":3053,"replacement_content_id":null,"landing_page_landing_page_group_id":null,"ucr_content_id":"BL062124","publication_date":"2024-06-26T04:00:00.000000Z","last_review_date":null,"imported_at":"2024-06-28T04:00:00.000000Z","last_import_type":"update","last_modified_date":"2024-06-27T04:00:00.000000Z","active":1,"created_at":"2024-06-25T09:00:03.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-28T18:03:28.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"images_remapped":0,"old_product_id":null,"old_content_id":null,"hide_ads":0,"primary_content_topic_id":181,"ecommerce_type":"CATALOG","authors":[{"id":518,"cr_id":880,"featured":0,"hhp_staff":0,"hidden":0,"name":"Corporate Learning Staff","title":null,"first_name":"Corporate","middle_name":"Learning","last_name":"Staff","suffix":null,"slug":"corporate-learning-staff","byline":"","description":"
Harvard Medical School’s Corporate Learning solutions provide emerging and established companies with the knowledge they need to address the industry's toughest business challenges. Their extensive portfolio of learning solutions helps teams achieve their potential by advancing their knowledge and capabilities in areas ranging from medical science and emerging diseases to employee health and wellness. A comprehensive ecosystem of online, in-person, and hybrid solutions supports learners at all levels — from new hires to CEOs and their leadership teams.<\/p>","image_url":"https:\/\/d2icykjy7h7x7e.cloudfront.net\/authors\/V0v1ZYn5Z3micD4V2YPRVR3ij8sfLoXYOVssXTqe.png","twitter_username":null,"sort_order":1,"created_at":"2024-06-24T17:45:09.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-24T17:45:09.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"pivot":{"content_id":18946,"author_id":518,"sort_order":1}}],"contentable":{"id":3053,"comments_open":1,"created_at":"2024-06-25T09:00:03.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-28T18:03:28.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"media":[]},"content_type":{"id":18,"name":"blog","slug":"blog","created_at":"2021-05-11T08:30:32.000000Z","updated_at":"2021-05-11T08:30:32.000000Z","deleted_at":null},"media":[{"id":15367,"model_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\Content","model_id":18946,"uuid":"36e96931-b0b7-4573-8c7c-c493cbfec3fb","collection_name":"contents","name":"0f11bddf-8146-4805-ab1c-53b6561c24fd","file_name":"0f11bddf-8146-4805-ab1c-53b6561c24fd.jpg","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","disk":"s3","conversions_disk":"s3","size":32769,"manipulations":[],"custom_properties":{"alt":"illustration of multiple arms in shades of white, black, and gray raised upward against a dark red background; each arm’s hand has a red heart on the palm"},"generated_conversions":{"micro":true,"thumb":true},"responsive_images":[],"order_column":15298,"created_at":"2024-06-25T09:00:03.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-25T09:00:05.000000Z","full_url":"https:\/\/domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net\/medialibrary\/15367\/0f11bddf-8146-4805-ab1c-53b6561c24fd.jpg"}],"primary_content_topic":{"id":181,"name":"Healthcare Disparities","slug":"healthcare-disparities","is_primary":1,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/topics\/healthcare-disparities"}},{"id":18943,"content_source_id":2,"content_type_id":18,"content_access_type_id":1,"title":"One surprising effect of wildfires: Itchy, irritated skin","short_title":null,"subheading":"Is wildfire smoke contributing to eczema flares and other skin conditions?","summary":"
Mounting evidence suggests that wildfires, which are increasing in intensity and frequency, contribute to skin problems, including eczema flares. Here’s what you need to know to protect your skin from wildfire pollution.<\/p>","content":"
<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Are you finding yourself with itchy, irritated skin that you can't stop scratching? Or have you wondered why your child's eczema is suddenly worse and so hard to control? Mounting evidence suggests that wildfires, which are increasing in intensity and frequency, contribute to skin problems, including eczema flares.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
What is eczema?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n
Atopic dermatitis is the most common type of eczema. It can run in families, often beginning in childhood. Typically, in the northern hemisphere, it grows worse during the winter season when the weather is cold and drying. Now some experts are seeing that pattern change. At Massachusetts General Hospital, for example, one dermatologist noted an unusual spike last summer<\/a> in patients with flare-ups of eczema.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Why is eczema getting worse during summer?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n
In 2023, Canada experienced more than 6,000 wildfires<\/a> that burned over 16 million hectares of land — an area larger than the entire state of Georgia. While far away from the devastation, the smoke reached across the US and more than 2,000 miles to Europe<\/a>. Poor air quality from these distant wildfires caused eye and throat irritation and difficulty breathing<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In Boston, Dr. Arianne Shadi Kourosh, a dermatologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, also began to notice skin symptoms. Normally the dermatology clinics would see fewer than 20 people during a summer month for eczema, including atopic dermatitis. Suddenly that jumped to 160.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Looking back at summer month records from the last four years, her research showed that the number of visits for these skin complaints tracked with the severity of air pollution. These findings are consistent with other research noting an uptick in eczema flares<\/a> and psoriasis flares<\/a> associated with wildfire pollution. But why?<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Researchers theorize that airborne pollutants might set off a cascade of effects within the body by activating an oxidative stress pathway. This damages the skin barrier and prompts an inflammatory response. This cascade also may play a role in the development of eczema.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
What can you do to protect your skin?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n
Air pollutants in wildfire smoke may harm multiple organs — not just your heart and lungs, but also our skin, it seems. So, when outdoor air quality is bad due to wildfires, limiting your exposure can help reduce health risks. While we can say the same for industrial air pollution, wildfire pollution is likely worse due to its additional toxic particles.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
- \r\n\t
- Seek help if you're itching.<\/strong> Check with a dermatologist or your health team if you think wildfire smoke or other forms of air pollution might be affecting your skin.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Check local air quality. <\/strong>AirNow.gov<\/a> shares local, real-time air quality information and activity guidance. When recommended, stay indoors if possible. Shut doors, windows, and any outdoor air intake vents.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Protect your skin.<\/strong> When you're outdoors, wear a mineral-based sunscreen<\/a> containing zinc or titanium. While most other sunscreens work through a chemical reaction to absorb the ultraviolet (UV) rays that damage skin, zinc and titanium sunscreens help by forming a barrier over skin that reflects off UV rays. The barrier also reduces the amount of pollutant particles getting to the skin to set off the inflammatory cascade. Wearing sunscreen protects against skin cancer, as well.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Wash up.<\/strong> After coming back inside, cleansing your skin and applying a hypoallergenic moisturizer will help keep it healthy. If you do have eczema, choose cleansers and moisturizing products recommended by your dermatologist or health care provider.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","excerpt":"
Mounting evidence suggests that wildfires, which are increasing in intensity and frequency, contribute to skin problems, including eczema flares. Here’s what you need to know to protect your skin from wildfire pollution.<\/p>","short_excerpt":"\n
Mounting evidence suggests that wildfires, which are increasing in intensity and frequency, contribute to skin problems, including eczema flares. Here’s what you need to know to protect your skin from wildfire pollution.<\/p>\n ","description":null,"author":null,"slug":"one-surprising-effect-of-wildfires-itchy-irritated-skin-202406243052","sort_date":"2024-06-24T04:00:00.000000Z","contentable_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\BlogPost","contentable_id":3052,"replacement_content_id":null,"landing_page_landing_page_group_id":null,"ucr_content_id":"BL062424","publication_date":"2024-06-24T04:00:00.000000Z","last_review_date":null,"imported_at":"2024-07-01T04:00:00.000000Z","last_import_type":"update","last_modified_date":"2024-07-01T04:00:00.000000Z","active":1,"created_at":"2024-06-21T09:00:02.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-07-01T18:53:14.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"images_remapped":0,"old_product_id":null,"old_content_id":null,"hide_ads":0,"primary_content_topic_id":28,"ecommerce_type":"CATALOG","authors":[{"id":62,"cr_id":458,"featured":1,"hhp_staff":0,"hidden":0,"name":"Wynne Armand, MD","title":null,"first_name":"Wynne","middle_name":null,"last_name":"Armand","suffix":"MD","slug":"wynne-armand-md","byline":"Contributor","description":"
The navigation sport orienteering combines map and compass reading with exercise. It’s a fun way to get outside and get some exercise — and it may even help fight cognitive decline.<\/p>\n ","content":"
\n \n <\/p>\n
Picture this: you’re with friends in an unfamiliar forest using only a map and a compass to guide you to an upcoming checkpoint. There are no cell phones or GPS gadgets to help, just good old brainpower fueled by a sense of adventure as you wind through leafy trees and dappled sunlight.<\/p>\n
This is not an excursion to a campsite or a treasure hunt. It’s a navigation sport called orienteering — a fun way to get outside, exercise, and maybe even help fight cognitive decline<\/a>, according to a 2023 study.<\/p>\n
What is orienteering?<\/h2>\n
Orienteering combines map and compass reading with exercise. Competitors (\"orienteers\") race against a clock to reach checkpoints in outdoor settings that can range from city parks to remote areas with mountains, lakes, rivers, or snowy fields.<\/p>\n
\"You can go out in a group or on your own. You get a very detailed map and navigate your way to checkpoints that record your time electronically,\" says Clinton Morse, national communications manager with Orienteering USA<\/a>, the national governing body for the sport in the United States.<\/p>\n
Because orienteers are racing the clock, they might run on trails, hike up hills<\/a>, or scramble around boulders. That’s for foot-orienteering events. There are also orienteering events with courses geared for mountain biking, cross-country skiing, or canoeing.<\/p>\n
How might orienteering affect thinking skills?<\/h2>\n
Researchers asked 158 healthy people, ages 18 to 87, about their health, activities, navigation abilities, and memory. About half of the participants had varying levels of orienteering experience. The other participants were physically active but weren’t orienteers.<\/p>\n
Compared with study participants who didn’t engage in orienteering, those who were orienteers reported<\/p>\n
- \n
- having better navigational processing skills (recognizing where objects were, and where participants were in relation to the objects)<\/li>\n
- having better navigational memory skills (recalling routes and landmarks).<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
The study was observational — that is, not a true experiment — and thus didn’t prove that orienteering boosted people’s thinking skills. But the link might be plausible.<\/p>\n
\"Aerobic exercise releases chemicals in the brain that foster the growth of new brain cells. And when you use a map and connect it to landmarks, you stimulate growth between brain cells,\" says Dr. Andrew Budson, lecturer in neurology at Harvard Medical School and chief of cognitive and behavioral neurology at VA Boston Healthcare System.<\/p>\n
Where can you find orienteering opportunities?<\/h2>\n
There are about 70 orienteering clubs across the United States, and many more around the world (the sport is extremely popular in Europe). To find an orienteering event in your area, use the club finder tool<\/a> offered by Orienteering USA.<\/p>\n
How can you get started with orienteering?<\/h2>\n
People of all ages and athletic levels can take part, because orienteering courses vary from local parks to wilderness experiences. Costs are about $7 to $10 per person for local events, or $25 to $40 per person for national events, plus any travel and lodging expenses.<\/p>\n
To make orienteering easy at first, Morse suggests going with a group and taking things slowly on a short novice course. \"You don’t have to race,\" he says. \"Some people do this recreationally to enjoy the challenge of completing a course at their own pace.\"<\/p>\n
The trickiest part is learning to read the map. Morse’s advice:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Turn the map as you change directions.<\/strong> Hold the map so that the direction you’re heading in is at the top of the page. For example, if the compass indicates that you’re heading south, turn the map upside down, so the south part is on top and easier to follow.<\/li>\n
- Create a mental image of what the map is telling you.<\/strong> If there’s a fence along a field on the map, build a picture of it in your mind so you can recognize it when you see it, even if you haven’t been there before.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
Tips for safe and enjoyable orienteering events:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Dress appropriately.<\/strong> Wear comfortable clothes including long pants, good walking shoes, and a hat.<\/li>\n
- Lather up.<\/strong> You’ll be outside for at least an hour, and you’ll need sunblock and possibly tick and bug spray depending on the terrain. Preventing tick bites<\/a> that can lead to Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses<\/a> is important in many locations.<\/li>\n
- Bring some essentials.<\/strong> Pack water, a snack, sunblock, bug spray, and your phone. (Keep the phone turned off unless you need to call for help.)<\/li>\n
- Use good judgment.<\/strong> Know that the shortest route on the map won’t always be the best, since it might take you up a hill or through thick vegetation. It might be better to go around those areas.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
Once you learn the basics of orienteering, you can make it more physically challenging (and a better workout) by going faster and trying to beat your previous times, or by signing up for a more advanced course that’s longer and requires more exertion and speed.<\/p>\n
And no matter which event you take part in, enjoy the adventure. \"You’re not just following a path, you’re solving puzzles while being immersed in nature,\" Morse says. \"It’s a great way to experience the outdoors.\"<\/p>","excerpt":"\n
The navigation sport orienteering combines map and compass reading with exercise. It’s a fun way to get outside and get some exercise — and it may even help fight cognitive decline.<\/p>\n ","short_excerpt":"\n
The navigation sport orienteering combines map and compass reading with exercise. It’s a fun way to get outside and get some exercise — and it may even help fight cognitive decline.<\/p>\n ","description":null,"author":null,"slug":"orienteering-great-exercise-and-better-thinking-skills-202307102953","sort_date":"2023-07-10T04:00:00.000000Z","contentable_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\BlogPost","contentable_id":2953,"replacement_content_id":null,"landing_page_landing_page_group_id":null,"ucr_content_id":"BL071023","publication_date":"2023-07-10T14:30:00.000000Z","last_review_date":null,"imported_at":"2023-07-10T13:57:09.000000Z","last_import_type":"insert","last_modified_date":"2023-07-10T04:00:00.000000Z","active":1,"created_at":"2023-07-10T13:57:09.000000Z","updated_at":"2023-07-10T13:57:09.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"images_remapped":0,"old_product_id":null,"old_content_id":null,"hide_ads":0,"primary_content_topic_id":10,"ecommerce_type":"CATALOG","authors":[{"id":31,"cr_id":117,"featured":0,"hhp_staff":0,"hidden":0,"name":"Heidi Godman","title":null,"first_name":"Heidi","middle_name":null,"last_name":"Godman","suffix":null,"slug":"heidi-godman","byline":"Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter<\/em><\/a>","description":"
Heidi Godman is the executive editor of the Harvard Health Letter<\/em>. Before coming to the Health Letter<\/em>, she was an award-winning television news anchor and medical reporter for 25 years. Heidi was named a journalism fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, and has been honored by the Associated Press, the American Heart Association, the Wellness Community, and other organizations for outstanding medical reporting. Heidi holds a bachelor of science degree in journalism from West Virginia University.<\/p>","image_url":"https:\/\/d2icykjy7h7x7e.cloudfront.net\/authors\/jmHxTqYhe8m1bTrPQJnvY8odf8gsq1y1Q0i6Wp6Y.jpg","twitter_username":null,"sort_order":0,"created_at":"2021-05-11T10:08:08.000000Z","updated_at":"2022-08-03T17:04:41.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"pivot":{"content_id":18185,"author_id":31,"sort_order":1}}],"contentable":{"id":2953,"comments_open":1,"created_at":"2023-07-10T13:57:09.000000Z","updated_at":"2023-07-10T13:57:09.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"media":[]},"content_type":{"id":18,"name":"blog","slug":"blog","created_at":"2021-05-11T08:30:32.000000Z","updated_at":"2021-05-11T08:30:32.000000Z","deleted_at":null},"media":[{"id":14057,"model_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\Content","model_id":18185,"uuid":"7901e79b-4bfb-4c8a-af9f-7e28c15ea5e6","collection_name":"contents","name":"120519c1-033d-4843-b85b-af90955c3f9a","file_name":"120519c1-033d-4843-b85b-af90955c3f9a.jpg","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","disk":"s3","conversions_disk":"s3","size":120188,"manipulations":[],"custom_properties":{"alt":"Translucent green compass on top of a map with the red magnetic needle pointing toward the north "},"generated_conversions":{"micro":true,"thumb":true},"responsive_images":[],"order_column":14013,"created_at":"2023-07-10T13:57:09.000000Z","updated_at":"2023-07-10T13:57:12.000000Z","full_url":"https:\/\/domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net\/medialibrary\/14057\/120519c1-033d-4843-b85b-af90955c3f9a.jpg"}],"primary_content_topic":{"id":10,"name":"Exercise & Fitness","slug":"exercise-and-fitness","is_primary":1,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/topics\/exercise-and-fitness"}},{"id":18901,"content_source_id":2,"content_type_id":18,"content_access_type_id":1,"title":"Health care should improve your health, right?","short_title":"","subheading":"Modern medicine improves and extends countless lives &mdash; although sometimes it does the opposite.","summary":"\n
Modern medicine offers ever-expanding ways to heal and prevent disease, but it’s also true that health care can cause harm. Some harms are preventable while others are much harder to control. So how can you reduce your chances of being harmed?<\/p>\n ","content":"
\n \n <\/p>\n
It’s undeniable: modern medicine offers ever-expanding ways to heal and prevent disease. But it’s also true that health care can cause harm. One analysis found that about 6% of health care encounters caused preventable harm<\/a>, leading to thousands of deaths each year. And it’s not just errors that cause trouble. Highly skilled health care providers can cause harm even when they do everything right.<\/p>\n
So, how can you reduce your chances of being harmed? Understanding what you can do to lessen the possibility of harm and what’s beyond your control are good first steps.<\/p>\n
Whatever happened to \"first do no harm\"?<\/h2>\n
Fortunately, it remains a central tenet of medical care. Yet our health care system is complex and fragmented. Each year new medications are added to an ever-growing list, and people live longer with more chronic medical conditions than happened in the past. So in one sense, the successes of modern medical care may contribute to the high rate of health care–related harm.<\/p>\n
These harms are often due to our complicated system of health care rather than one individual’s mistake. Harm due to substandard or negligent care is known as medical malpractice. Both health care providers and health care systems<\/a> have important roles to play in preventing harm to patients.<\/p>\n
Are there harms that cannot be prevented?<\/h2>\n
An enormous volume of scientific research teaches the best ways to diagnose, treat, and prevent disease. Yet people can react to treatments in completely unpredictable ways.<\/p>\n
For example, a common and standard antibiotic treatment (think penicillin) can cause anaphylaxis<\/a>, a life-threatening allergic reaction. Fortunately this is rare, but unless you or your doctor know to avoid it due to past side effects, there’s always a small chance of a severe reaction.<\/p>\n
Often less dramatic — yet also unpreventable — harms are:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Medication side effects.<\/strong> Every medicine comes with potential side effects, such as nausea, sleepiness, or rash.<\/li>\n
- Misdiagnosis.<\/strong> Because no one has perfect diagnostic skills, even the most skillful health care provider can be wrong. This can result in unnecessary or delayed treatment.<\/li>\n
- Inaccurate test results.<\/strong> Just as no health care provider is perfect, no test is either. False-positive results (indicating an abnormality when none is present) and false-negative results (normal results when disease is present) are common in medical practice. These results can lead to unnecessary treatment or false reassurance.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
Which harms can be prevented?<\/h2>\n
Preventable harms can be dramatically reduced<\/a>. They’re often due to mistakes that can be caught and corrected. Frequently, it takes a combination of things to go wrong for harm to occur.<\/p>\n
Frequently in health care, several factors must line up for an error to sneak through — for example, giving a hospitalized patient a medication to which they are allergic. For that to happen, the wrong drug has to get past the prescribing doctor, the computerized ordering system, the hospital pharmacist, the nurse giving the medication, and the patient. That’s a lot of layers, so most often an error like this will be caught.<\/p>\n
What can you do to avoid preventable harms?<\/h2>\n
Where do you fit in? In these three scenarios, here’s what you can do to avoid preventable harms.<\/p>\n
The problem:<\/em> Taking medicines you no longer need or more medicines than necessary.<\/p>\n
It might not seem like a big deal to keep taking a medicine if it isn’t causing any problems. But all medicines can cause side effects that you’d do better to avoid if you can safely stop taking it or reduce the dose. Plus, harmful interactions can occur if another medicine is added to your list.<\/p>\n
What you can do:<\/em> Make sure you know why you need to take each of your medicines. Ask the providers who prescribe each medicine if it is still necessary to take it or if the dose can be safely reduced. Reducing a dose may reduce the risk of side effects and the likelihood of a harmful interaction.<\/p>\n
The problem:<\/em> Taking the wrong medicine or the wrong dose.<\/p>\n
What you can do:<\/em> At your doctors’ visits, take notes or bring a friend or family member to help you remember medicine instructions. Ask whether you can record the medication instructions your doctor gives you. Take a photo of the instructions you’re given in case you lose the written version. Double-check details of your medicine list with your pharmacist. And ask questions if you’re unsure about the medicines recommended to you.<\/p>\n
The problem:<\/em> Wrong site surgery.<\/p>\n
Despite efforts to make this a \"never error,\" surgery on the wrong part of the body still happens<\/a>.<\/p>\n
What you can do:<\/em> Make sure you and your surgeon agree on what part of your body and which side requires surgery. Most surgeons now mark the site with a special pen before surgery and ask you to confirm the site by adding your initials. (The ink doesn’t come off easily with skin cleaners applied prior to surgery).<\/p>\n
Some of these tips require time or resources that aren’t available to everyone: you might not be able to bring another person with you to medical visits or have a recording device. But asking questions — and getting answers you understand — should be routine.<\/p>\n
Where does malpractice fit in?<\/h2>\n
When the topic of health care–related harm comes up, malpractice may be the first thing you think about. Yet, the approximately 10,000 malpractice payments made each year in the US<\/a> likely represent only a small portion of all harm related to health care.<\/p>\n
There are several reasons for this, including:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Even when negligent or substandard care occurs, it doesn’t always cause major or long-lasting harm that leads to a malpractice claim.<\/li>\n
- Many people who could<\/em> file malpractice suits elect not to, or may not even realize that they’ve experienced negligent care. Past studies suggest that less than 5%<\/a> of people experiencing harm related to medical care file malpractice claims.<\/li>\n
- Increasingly, health care providers and health care systems accept responsibility<\/a> for preventable harm occurring on their watch, and offer compensation rather than waiting for a legal claim to be filed.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
The bottom line<\/h2>\n
It’s an unfortunate reality that some harms due to health care are inevitable. But there are steps you can take to avoid preventable harm and lessen the chances that the person harmed is you.<\/p>","excerpt":"\n
Modern medicine offers ever-expanding ways to heal and prevent disease, but it’s also true that health care can cause harm. Some harms are preventable while others are much harder to control. So how can you reduce your chances of being harmed?<\/p>\n ","short_excerpt":"\n
Modern medicine offers ever-expanding ways to heal and prevent disease, but it’s also true that health care can cause harm. Some harms are preventable while others are much harder to control. So how can you reduce your chances of being harmed?<\/p>\n ","description":null,"author":null,"slug":"health-care-should-improve-your-health-right-202406203050","sort_date":"2024-06-20T04:00:00.000000Z","contentable_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\BlogPost","contentable_id":3050,"replacement_content_id":null,"landing_page_landing_page_group_id":null,"ucr_content_id":"BL062024","publication_date":"2024-06-20T14:30:00.000000Z","last_review_date":null,"imported_at":"2024-06-15T09:00:02.000000Z","last_import_type":"insert","last_modified_date":"2024-06-14T04:00:00.000000Z","active":1,"created_at":"2024-06-15T09:00:02.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-15T09:00:03.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"images_remapped":0,"old_product_id":null,"old_content_id":null,"hide_ads":0,"primary_content_topic_id":44,"ecommerce_type":"CATALOG","authors":[{"id":23,"cr_id":2,"featured":1,"hhp_staff":1,"hidden":0,"name":"Robert H. Shmerling, MD","title":null,"first_name":"Robert","middle_name":"H.","last_name":"Shmerling","suffix":"MD","slug":"robert-h-shmerling-md","byline":"Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing","description":"
Dr. Robert H. Shmerling is the former clinical chief of the division of rheumatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), and is a current member of the corresponding faculty in medicine at Harvard Medical School. As a practicing rheumatologist for over 30 years, Dr. Shmerling engaged in a mix of patient care, teaching, and research. His research interests center on diagnostic studies in patients with musculoskeletal symptoms, and rheumatic and autoimmune diseases. He has published research regarding infectious arthritis, medical ethics, and diagnostic test performance in rheumatic disease. Having retired from patient care in 2019, Dr. Shmerling now works as a senior faculty editor for Harvard Health Publishing.<\/p>","image_url":"https:\/\/d2icykjy7h7x7e.cloudfront.net\/authors\/OdKCKaVzyx3xPsUxIBc9zJz8m3zvysnJa3UJsGOd.jpg","twitter_username":"RobShmerling","sort_order":4,"created_at":"2021-05-11T10:05:10.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-04-10T21:36:27.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"pivot":{"content_id":18901,"author_id":23,"sort_order":1}}],"contentable":{"id":3050,"comments_open":1,"created_at":"2024-06-15T09:00:02.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-15T09:00:02.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"media":[]},"content_type":{"id":18,"name":"blog","slug":"blog","created_at":"2021-05-11T08:30:32.000000Z","updated_at":"2021-05-11T08:30:32.000000Z","deleted_at":null},"media":[{"id":15309,"model_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\Content","model_id":18901,"uuid":"55612330-c9d4-4e4e-addf-a9a4d0e2916f","collection_name":"contents","name":"a32d083c-d4b8-4a24-8a4f-f05d4d394dd1","file_name":"a32d083c-d4b8-4a24-8a4f-f05d4d394dd1.jpg","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","disk":"s3","conversions_disk":"s3","size":31420,"manipulations":[],"custom_properties":{"alt":"Illutration of older man in brown and gray top and black pants wobbling on a tightrope against turquoise background; concept is balancing risks"},"generated_conversions":{"micro":true,"thumb":true},"responsive_images":[],"order_column":15240,"created_at":"2024-06-15T09:00:02.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-15T09:00:05.000000Z","full_url":"https:\/\/domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net\/medialibrary\/15309\/a32d083c-d4b8-4a24-8a4f-f05d4d394dd1.jpg"}],"primary_content_topic":{"id":44,"name":"Staying Healthy","slug":"staying-healthy","is_primary":1,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/topics\/staying-healthy"}},{"id":18902,"content_source_id":2,"content_type_id":18,"content_access_type_id":1,"title":"Ultra-processed foods? Just say no","short_title":"","subheading":"New research suggests that ultra-processed foods (UPFs) raise the risk of cognitive impairment and strokes.","summary":"\n
It's well known that ultra-processed foods are unhealthy. But what if you follow a healthy diet yet also eat some ultra-processed foods? A new study found that this still poses a risk for brain health.<\/p>\n ","content":"
\nWhat to know about this new study<\/h2>\n
This well-designed observational study examined data from the REGARDS <\/a>(REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke) project, a longitudinal study of non-Hispanic Black and white Americans ages 45 years and older. Study participants were initially enrolled between 2003 and 2007 and were given a number of questionnaires evaluating health, diet, exercise, body mass index, education, income, alcohol use, mood, and other factors. In addition, tests of memory and language were administered at regular intervals.<\/p>\n
To examine the risk of stroke and cognitive impairment, data from 20,243 and 14,175 participants, respectively, were found usable based on the quality of the information from the questionnaires and tests. Approximately one-third of the sample identified as Black and the majority of the remaining two-thirds identified as white.<\/p>\n
The results of the study<\/h2>\n
- \n
- According to the authors’ analysis, increasing the intake of ultra-processed foods by just 10% was associated with a significantly greater risk of cognitive impairment and stroke.<\/li>\n
- Intake of unprocessed or minimally processed foods was associated with a lower risk of cognitive impairment.<\/li>\n
- The effect of ultra-processed foods on stroke risk was greater for individuals who identified as Black compared to individuals who identified as white.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
Study participants who reported following a healthy diet (like a Mediterranean, DASH<\/a>, or MIND <\/a>diet) and consumed minimal ultra-processed foods appeared to maintain better brain health compared to those who followed similar healthy diets but had more ultra-processed foods.<\/p>\n
Why might ultra-processed foods be bad for your brain?<\/h2>\n
Here are some biologically plausible reasons:<\/p>\n
- \n
- UPFs are generally composed of processed carbohydrates that are very quickly broken down into simple sugars, equivalent to eating lots of candy. These sugar loads cause spikes of insulin, which can alter normal brain cell function.<\/li>\n
- Eating ultra-processed foods is associated with a higher risk of metabolic syndrome and obesity, well-established conditions linked to high blood pressure, abnormal blood lipid levels, and type 2 diabetes.<\/li>\n
- There are unhealthy additives in ultra-processed foods to change the texture, color, sweetness, or flavor. These additives disrupt the microbiome in the gut and can lead to gut inflammation that can cause\n\t
- the production of microbiome-produced metabolites that can affect brain function (such as short-chain fatty acids and lipopolysaccharides)<\/li>
- leaky gut, allowing toxins and inflammatory molecules to enter the bloodstream and go to the brain<\/li>
- altered neurotransmitter function (such as serotonin) that can impact mood and cognition directly<\/li>
- increased cortisol levels that mimic being under chronic stress, which can directly impact hippocampal and frontal lobe function, affecting memory <\/a>and executive function<\/a> performance, respectively<\/li>
- an increased risk for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other neurodegenerative diseases due to inflammatory molecules traveling from the gut to the brain.<\/li><\/ul><\/li>\n
- Because ultra-processed foods have poor nutritional value, people will often be hungry shortly after eating them, leading to overeating and its consequences.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
The take-home message<\/h2>\n
Avoid processed foods, which can include chips and other snack foods, industrial breads and pastries, packaged sweets and candy, sugar-sweetened and diet sodas, instant noodles and soups, ready-to-eat meals and frozen dinners, and processed meats such as hot dogs and bologna. Eat unprocessed or minimally processed foods, which — when combined with a healthy Mediterranean menu of foods — include fish, olive oil, avocados, whole fruits and vegetables, nuts and beans, and whole grains.<\/p>\n <\/body>","excerpt":"\n
It's well known that ultra-processed foods are unhealthy. But what if you follow a healthy diet yet also eat some ultra-processed foods? A new study found that this still poses a risk for brain health.<\/p>\n ","short_excerpt":"\n
It's well known that ultra-processed foods are unhealthy. But what if you follow a healthy diet yet also eat some ultra-processed foods? A new study found that this still poses a risk for brain health.<\/p>\n ","description":null,"author":null,"slug":"ultra-processed-foods-just-say-no-202406173051","sort_date":"2024-06-17T04:00:00.000000Z","contentable_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\BlogPost","contentable_id":3051,"replacement_content_id":null,"landing_page_landing_page_group_id":null,"ucr_content_id":"BL061724","publication_date":"2024-06-17T14:30:00.000000Z","last_review_date":null,"imported_at":"2024-06-25T09:00:03.000000Z","last_import_type":"update","last_modified_date":"2024-06-24T04:00:00.000000Z","active":1,"created_at":"2024-06-15T09:00:04.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-25T09:00:03.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"images_remapped":0,"old_product_id":null,"old_content_id":null,"hide_ads":0,"primary_content_topic_id":37,"ecommerce_type":"CATALOG","authors":[{"id":209,"cr_id":538,"featured":1,"hhp_staff":0,"hidden":0,"name":"Andrew E. Budson, MD","title":null,"first_name":"Andrew","middle_name":"E.","last_name":"Budson","suffix":"MD","slug":"andrew-e-budson-md","byline":"Contributor; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing","description":"
Dr. Andrew E. Budson is chief of cognitive & behavioral neurology at the Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, lecturer in neurology at Harvard Medical School, and chair of the Science of Learning Innovation Group at the Harvard Medical School Academy. Graduating cum laude from Harvard Medical School in 1993, he has given over 750 local, national, and international grand rounds and other talks; published over 125 scientific papers, reviews, and book chapters; and co-authored or edited eight books.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
His book Seven Steps to Managing Your Memory: What’s Normal, What’s Not, and What to Do About It<\/em> explains how individuals can distinguish changes in memory due to Alzheimer’s versus normal aging; what medications, vitamins, diets, and exercise regimens can help; and the best habits, strategies, and memory aids to use; it is being translated into Chinese and Korean. His book Memory Loss, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Dementia: A Practical Guide for Clinicians<\/em> has been translated into Spanish, Portuguese, and Japanese. His book Six Steps to Managing Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia: A Guide for Families<\/em> teaches caregivers how they can manage all the problems that come with dementia — and still take care of themselves. His latest book, Why We Forget and How to Remember Better: The Science Behind Memory<\/em>, explains the science of memory and how to use that knowledge to improve our ability to remember in daily life.
\r\n
\r\nWebsite: Andrew Budson, MD<\/a>
\r\n
\r\nFacebook: Andrew Budson, MD<\/a>
\r\n
\r\nTwitter: @abudson<\/a><\/p>","image_url":"https:\/\/d2icykjy7h7x7e.cloudfront.net\/authors\/1LrXGP2mmMihd5vMLhBqDR3KpvVGOmwufvdTbAgq.jpg","twitter_username":null,"sort_order":0,"created_at":"2021-05-11T10:55:26.000000Z","updated_at":"2023-02-28T18:13:49.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"pivot":{"content_id":18902,"author_id":209,"sort_order":1}}],"contentable":{"id":3051,"comments_open":1,"created_at":"2024-06-15T09:00:04.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-21T18:48:48.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"media":[]},"content_type":{"id":18,"name":"blog","slug":"blog","created_at":"2021-05-11T08:30:32.000000Z","updated_at":"2021-05-11T08:30:32.000000Z","deleted_at":null},"media":[{"id":15310,"model_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\Content","model_id":18902,"uuid":"36f0a5df-2bca-45e9-ab16-8e276a4bfb04","collection_name":"contents","name":"50802077-6dd5-461e-a720-a04899353d48","file_name":"50802077-6dd5-461e-a720-a04899353d48.jpg","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","disk":"s3","conversions_disk":"s3","size":130992,"manipulations":[],"custom_properties":{"alt":"2 metal shopping carts, one filled with ultraprocessed foods and one filling with colorful, healthy fruits and vegetables"},"generated_conversions":{"micro":true,"thumb":true},"responsive_images":[],"order_column":15241,"created_at":"2024-06-15T09:00:04.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-15T09:00:06.000000Z","full_url":"https:\/\/domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net\/medialibrary\/15310\/50802077-6dd5-461e-a720-a04899353d48.jpg"}],"primary_content_topic":{"id":37,"name":"Mind & Mood","slug":"mind-and-mood","is_primary":1,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/topics\/mind-and-mood"}},{"id":18898,"content_source_id":2,"content_type_id":18,"content_access_type_id":1,"title":"The cicadas are here: How’s your appetite?","short_title":"","subheading":"Insects provide a low-cost source of calories and protein &mdash; but for some people eating cicadas may be risky.","summary":"\nTrillions of cicadas are expected to emerge in the US by the end of June, especially in the Midwest. In many parts of the world insects are considered a low-cost source of calories and protein, but some people still won’t want to eat them — and some people shouldn’t.<\/p>\n ","content":"
\n\n \n <\/p>\n
You’ve probably heard the news: Cicadas are coming. Or — wait — they’re already here.<\/p>\n
And are they ever! Due to an unusual overlap of the lifecycles of two types (or broods) of cicadas, trillions of cicadas are expected to emerge in the US by the end of June, especially in the Midwest.<\/p>\n
If you’d like to see where they’ve already arrived, track them here<\/a>. And if you’re wondering if this cicada-palooza could help with grocery bills, read on to decide for yourself how appealing and how safe snacking on cicadas is for you. The pros and cons could change your outlook on the impending swarm.<\/p>\n
What to know about cicadas<\/h2>\n
Don’t worry, cicadas are largely harmless to humans. In fact, their appearance is welcome in places where people routinely snack on them as a low-cost source of calories and protein.<\/p>\n
Estimates suggest up to two billion people regularly eat insects<\/a>, especially in South and Central America, Asia, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Cicadas, when available, are among the most popular. And if you thought no one in the US eats cicadas, check out this video from a May 2024 baseball game<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Are you tempted to eat cicadas?<\/h2>\n
For plenty of people, cicadas aren’t the food of choice. Some people can’t get past the idea of eating insects as food. That’s understandable: after all, the culture in which we are raised has a powerful influence on what we consider acceptable in our diets. Something some Americans might find off-putting (such as eating snakes<\/a>) is common in China and Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, people outside the US find aspects of the typical Western diet unappealing<\/a> (such as root beer, peanut butter and jelly, and processed cheese).<\/p>\n
But some people shouldn’t eat cicadas because it could be dangerous for them.<\/p>\n
Why you should — or shouldn’t — eat cicadas<\/h2>\n
Eating cicadas is common in many parts of the world because they are<\/p>\n
- \n
- nutritious: cicadas are low in fat and high in protein, including multiple essential amino acids<\/li>\n
- inexpensive or free<\/li>\n
- tasty (or so I’m told): descriptions of their flavor vary from nutty to citrusy to smoky and slightly crunchy.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
In years when cicadas emerge, recipes for dishes containing cicadas<\/a> emerge as well.<\/p>\n
Then again, there are several good reasons to avoid<\/em> making cicadas a part of your diet, including these:<\/p>\n
- \n
- You just can’t get past the \"ick\" factor. Adventurous eaters may be willing to try or even embrace consuming cicadas, while others will be unable to view the idea as anything other than horrifying.<\/li>\n
- You find the taste or consistency unappealing.<\/li>\n
- You’re \"cicada intolerant.\" Some people get stomach upset, nausea, or diarrhea if they eat too many cicadas.<\/li>\n
- You’re pregnant or breastfeeding, or are a young child. Concerns about even low levels of pesticides or other toxins in cicadas have led to recommendations that these groups not eat them. Doesn’t this suggest the rest of us should also steer clear? Well, thus far, at least, there’s no evidence that toxins in cicadas are causing health problems.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
But there is one more very important entry on this list: people with a shellfish allergy should not eat cicadas<\/a>. Odd, right?<\/p>\n
The shellfish-cicada connection<\/h2>\n
Cicadas are biologically related to lobsters, shrimp, crabs, and other shellfish. So if you’re allergic to shellfish, you might also be allergic to cicadas. A particular protein called tropomyosin is responsible for the allergy. It’s found in shellfish as well as in many insects, including cicadas.<\/p>\n
The allergic reaction occurs after eating the cicada. Just being around them or handling them won’t trigger a reaction.<\/p>\n
Among people with a shellfish allergy, developing a reaction after eating cicadas could be a bigger problem than it seems: up to 10% of people have shellfish allergies<\/a> and, as noted, insect consumption is common worldwide.<\/p>\n
Is it okay for your dog or cat to eat cicadas?<\/h2>\n
Walking your dog after the emergence of cicadas can be a new and exciting experience for you and your pet! Dogs may chase after cicadas and eat them. Cats might, too, if given the chance. That can be a problem if your pet eats too many, as some will experience stomach upset or other digestive problems.<\/p>\n
While the insects are considered harmless to dogs, the American Kennel Club says it’s best to steer them away from cicadas once they’ve eaten a few<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Which other insects trigger allergies?<\/h2>\n
While insect-related allergic reactions (think bee stings) and infections (like Lyme disease<\/a>) are well known, the insect-food-allergy connection is a more recent discovery.<\/p>\n
One recently recognized condition is the alpha-gal syndrome<\/a>, in which a person bitten by certain ticks develops an allergy to meat. The name comes from a sugar called galactose-α-1,3-galactose (or alpha-gal) found in many types of meat including beef, lamb, pork, and rabbit. According to the CDC, up to 450,000 people in the US<\/a> may have developed this condition since 2010.<\/p>\n
There aren’t many rigorous studies of the overlap of insects and food allergies, so there are probably others awaiting discovery<\/a>.<\/p>\n
The bottom line<\/h2>\n
When it comes to eating cicadas, I’ll pass. It’s not because of the risks. I’ve never had a problem with shellfish, and for most people the health risks of eating cicadas seem quite small. It’s just unappealing to me, and I’m not a particularly adventurous eater.<\/p>\n
But let’s go easy on those who do enjoy snacking on cicadas. Insects offer a good source of calories and protein. Just because eating them seems unusual in the US doesn’t make it wrong.<\/p>\n
So, if you like to eat cicadas and have no shellfish allergy or other reason to avoid them, go for it! This may be a very good summer for you.<\/p>\n <\/body>","excerpt":"\n
Trillions of cicadas are expected to emerge in the US by the end of June, especially in the Midwest. In many parts of the world insects are considered a low-cost source of calories and protein, but some people still won’t want to eat them — and some people shouldn’t.<\/p>\n ","short_excerpt":"\n
Trillions of cicadas are expected to emerge in the US by the end of June, especially in the Midwest. In many parts of the world insects are considered a low-cost source of calories and protein, but some people still won’t want to eat them — and some people shouldn’t.<\/p>\n ","description":null,"author":null,"slug":"the-cicadas-are-here-hows-your-appetite-202406143048","sort_date":"2024-06-14T04:00:00.000000Z","contentable_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\BlogPost","contentable_id":3048,"replacement_content_id":null,"landing_page_landing_page_group_id":null,"ucr_content_id":"BL061424","publication_date":"2024-06-14T10:30:00.000000Z","last_review_date":null,"imported_at":"2024-06-15T09:00:05.000000Z","last_import_type":"update","last_modified_date":"2024-06-14T04:00:00.000000Z","active":1,"created_at":"2024-06-12T09:00:03.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-15T09:00:05.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"images_remapped":0,"old_product_id":null,"old_content_id":null,"hide_ads":0,"primary_content_topic_id":15,"ecommerce_type":"CATALOG","authors":[{"id":23,"cr_id":2,"featured":1,"hhp_staff":1,"hidden":0,"name":"Robert H. Shmerling, MD","title":null,"first_name":"Robert","middle_name":"H.","last_name":"Shmerling","suffix":"MD","slug":"robert-h-shmerling-md","byline":"Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing","description":"
Dr. Robert H. Shmerling is the former clinical chief of the division of rheumatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), and is a current member of the corresponding faculty in medicine at Harvard Medical School. As a practicing rheumatologist for over 30 years, Dr. Shmerling engaged in a mix of patient care, teaching, and research. His research interests center on diagnostic studies in patients with musculoskeletal symptoms, and rheumatic and autoimmune diseases. He has published research regarding infectious arthritis, medical ethics, and diagnostic test performance in rheumatic disease. Having retired from patient care in 2019, Dr. Shmerling now works as a senior faculty editor for Harvard Health Publishing.<\/p>","image_url":"https:\/\/d2icykjy7h7x7e.cloudfront.net\/authors\/OdKCKaVzyx3xPsUxIBc9zJz8m3zvysnJa3UJsGOd.jpg","twitter_username":"RobShmerling","sort_order":4,"created_at":"2021-05-11T10:05:10.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-04-10T21:36:27.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"pivot":{"content_id":18898,"author_id":23,"sort_order":1}}],"contentable":{"id":3048,"comments_open":1,"created_at":"2024-06-12T09:00:03.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-12T09:00:03.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"media":[]},"content_type":{"id":18,"name":"blog","slug":"blog","created_at":"2021-05-11T08:30:32.000000Z","updated_at":"2021-05-11T08:30:32.000000Z","deleted_at":null},"media":[{"id":15303,"model_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\Content","model_id":18898,"uuid":"17a66ea2-2af7-4e2a-a48d-e724237e50d2","collection_name":"contents","name":"4304af30-c59b-4dc8-ac93-f4ac1c590752","file_name":"4304af30-c59b-4dc8-ac93-f4ac1c590752.jpg","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","disk":"s3","conversions_disk":"s3","size":71636,"manipulations":[],"custom_properties":{"alt":"Two lacy-winged cicadas, black and orange, facing each other on a fuzzy green stem, blurred greenery in the background"},"generated_conversions":{"micro":true,"thumb":true},"responsive_images":[],"order_column":15234,"created_at":"2024-06-12T09:00:03.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-12T09:00:05.000000Z","full_url":"https:\/\/domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net\/medialibrary\/15303\/4304af30-c59b-4dc8-ac93-f4ac1c590752.jpg"}],"primary_content_topic":{"id":15,"name":"Nutrition","slug":"nutrition","is_primary":1,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/topics\/nutrition"}},{"id":18899,"content_source_id":2,"content_type_id":18,"content_access_type_id":1,"title":"Life can be challenging: Build your own resilience plan","short_title":"","subheading":"Three strategies to help you find a way forward when you’re feeling stressed, burned out, anxious, or sad.","summary":"\n
Resilience is a psychological response that helps you adapt to life’s difficulties and seek a path forward through challenges. While everyone has the ability to be resilient, life stresses can take a toll on you. It’s possible to cultivate resilience — but how?<\/p>\n ","content":"
\n\n \n <\/p>\n
Nantucket, a beautiful, 14-mile-long island off the coast of Massachusetts, has a 40-point resiliency plan to help withstand the buffeting seas surrounding it as climate change takes a toll. Perhaps we can all benefit from creating individual resilience plans to help handle the big and small issues that erode our sense of well-being. But what is resilience and how do you cultivate it?<\/p>\n
What is resilience?<\/h2>\n
Resilience is a psychological response that helps you adapt to life’s difficulties and seek a path forward through challenges.<\/p>\n
\"It’s a flexible mindset that helps you adapt, think critically, and stay focused on your values and what matters most,\" says Luana Marques, an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.<\/p>\n
While everyone has the ability to be resilient, your capacity for resilience can take a beating over time from chronic stress, perhaps from financial instability or staying in a job you dislike. The longer you’re in that situation, the harder it becomes to cope with it.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, it’s possible to cultivate resilience. To do so, it helps to exercise resiliency skills as often as possible, even for minor stressors. Marques recommends the following strategies.<\/p>\n
Shift your thoughts<\/h2>\n
In stressful situations, try to balance out your thoughts by adopting a broader perspective. \"This will help you stop using the emotional part of your brain and start using the thinking part of your brain. For example, if you’re asking for a raise and your brain says you won’t get it, think about the things you’ve done in your job that are worthy of a raise. You’ll slow down the emotional response and shift your mindset from anxious to action,\" Marques says.<\/p>\n
Approach what you want<\/h2>\n
\"When you’re anxious, stressed, or burned out<\/a>, you tend to avoid things that make you uncomfortable. That can make you feel stuck,\" Marques says. \"What you need to do is get out of your comfort zone and take a step toward the thing you want, in spite of fear.\"<\/p>\n
For example: If you’re afraid of giving a presentation, create a PowerPoint and practice it with colleagues. If you’re having conflict at home, don’t walk away from your partner — schedule time to talk about what’s making you upset.<\/p>\n
Align actions with your values<\/h2>\n
\"Stress happens when your actions are not aligned with your values — the things that matter most to you or bring you joy. For example, you might feel stressed if you care most about your family but can’t be there for dinner, or care most about your health but drink a lot,\" Marques says.<\/p>\n
She suggests that you identify your top three values and make sure your daily actions align with them. If being with family is one of the three, make your time with them a priority — perhaps find a way to join them for a daily meal. If you get joy from a clean house, make daily tidying a priority.<\/p>\n
Tips for success<\/h2>\n
Practice the shift, approach, and align strategies throughout the week. \"One trick I use is looking at my calendar on Sunday and checking if my actions for the week are aligned with my values. If they aren’t, I try to change things around,\" Marques says.<\/p>\n
It’s also important to live as healthy a lifestyle as possible, which will help keep your brain functioning at its best.<\/p>\n
Healthy lifestyle habits include:<\/p>\n
- \n
- getting seven to nine hours of sleep per night<\/li>\n
- following a healthy diet, such as a Mediterranean-style diet<\/a><\/li>\n
- aiming for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activities<\/a> (such as brisk walking) each week — and adding on strength training at least twice a week<\/li>\n
- if you drink alcohol, limiting yourself to no more than one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men<\/li>\n
- not smoking<\/li>\n
- staying socially connected, whether in person, by phone or video calls, social media, or even text messages.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
Need resilience training?<\/h2>\n
Even the best athletes have coaches, and you might benefit from resilience training.<\/p>\n
Consider taking an online course, such as this one<\/a> developed by Luana Marques. Or maybe turn to a therapist online<\/a> or in person for help. Look for someone who specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy, which guides you to redirect negative thoughts to positive or productive ones.<\/p>\n
Just don’t put off building resilience. Practicing as you face day-to-day stresses will help you learn skills to help navigate when dark clouds roll in and seas get rough.<\/p>\n <\/body>","excerpt":"\n
Resilience is a psychological response that helps you adapt to life’s difficulties and seek a path forward through challenges. While everyone has the ability to be resilient, life stresses can take a toll on you. It’s possible to cultivate resilience — but how?<\/p>\n ","short_excerpt":"\n
Resilience is a psychological response that helps you adapt to life’s difficulties and seek a path forward through challenges. While everyone has the ability to be resilient, life stresses can take a toll on you. It’s possible to cultivate resilience — but how?<\/p>\n ","description":null,"author":null,"slug":"life-can-be-challenging-build-your-own-resilience-plan-202406123049","sort_date":"2024-06-12T04:00:00.000000Z","contentable_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\BlogPost","contentable_id":3049,"replacement_content_id":null,"landing_page_landing_page_group_id":null,"ucr_content_id":"BL061224","publication_date":"2024-06-12T14:30:00.000000Z","last_review_date":null,"imported_at":"2024-06-14T09:00:03.000000Z","last_import_type":"update","last_modified_date":"2024-06-11T04:00:00.000000Z","active":1,"created_at":"2024-06-12T09:00:04.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-14T09:00:03.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"images_remapped":0,"old_product_id":null,"old_content_id":null,"hide_ads":0,"primary_content_topic_id":37,"ecommerce_type":"CATALOG","authors":[{"id":31,"cr_id":117,"featured":0,"hhp_staff":0,"hidden":0,"name":"Heidi Godman","title":null,"first_name":"Heidi","middle_name":null,"last_name":"Godman","suffix":null,"slug":"heidi-godman","byline":"Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter<\/em><\/a>","description":"
Heidi Godman is the executive editor of the Harvard Health Letter<\/em>. Before coming to the Health Letter<\/em>, she was an award-winning television news anchor and medical reporter for 25 years. Heidi was named a journalism fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, and has been honored by the Associated Press, the American Heart Association, the Wellness Community, and other organizations for outstanding medical reporting. Heidi holds a bachelor of science degree in journalism from West Virginia University.<\/p>","image_url":"https:\/\/d2icykjy7h7x7e.cloudfront.net\/authors\/jmHxTqYhe8m1bTrPQJnvY8odf8gsq1y1Q0i6Wp6Y.jpg","twitter_username":null,"sort_order":0,"created_at":"2021-05-11T10:08:08.000000Z","updated_at":"2022-08-03T17:04:41.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"pivot":{"content_id":18899,"author_id":31,"sort_order":1}}],"contentable":{"id":3049,"comments_open":1,"created_at":"2024-06-12T09:00:04.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-12T09:00:04.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"media":[]},"content_type":{"id":18,"name":"blog","slug":"blog","created_at":"2021-05-11T08:30:32.000000Z","updated_at":"2021-05-11T08:30:32.000000Z","deleted_at":null},"media":[{"id":15304,"model_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\Content","model_id":18899,"uuid":"f8090208-00be-4948-af12-6678609b3ed6","collection_name":"contents","name":"384b5a4a-770a-47f3-b8e5-9422e290d096","file_name":"384b5a4a-770a-47f3-b8e5-9422e290d096.jpg","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","disk":"s3","conversions_disk":"s3","size":88033,"manipulations":[],"custom_properties":{"alt":"Colorful paper cutouts of a thunderstorm at sea with dark clouds, lightening, fish jumping, and a red and white boat bobbing in the waves; concept is resilience"},"generated_conversions":{"micro":true,"thumb":true},"responsive_images":[],"order_column":15235,"created_at":"2024-06-12T09:00:04.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-12T09:00:06.000000Z","full_url":"https:\/\/domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net\/medialibrary\/15304\/384b5a4a-770a-47f3-b8e5-9422e290d096.jpg"}],"primary_content_topic":{"id":37,"name":"Mind & Mood","slug":"mind-and-mood","is_primary":1,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/topics\/mind-and-mood"}},{"id":16588,"content_source_id":2,"content_type_id":18,"content_access_type_id":1,"title":"Bugs are biting: Safety precautions for children","short_title":"","subheading":"Ways to protect against mosquitoes and ticks that carry serious illnesses like Lyme disease and West Nile disease.","summary":"\n
Biting bugs are a nuisance and sometimes can spread illnesses like Lyme disease, Zika, or West Nile virus. To prevent bug bites, take simple precautions and learn how to choose and safely use insect repellents.<\/p>\n ","content":"
\n \n <\/p>\n
If you spend time outdoors — which we all should do, for all sorts of reasons — you are likely to encounter biting bugs. Most of the time the bites are just a nuisance. But besides the fact that sometimes they can be painful or itchy, bug bites can lead to illness — like Lyme disease from ticks<\/a>, or Zika<\/a>, malaria, or West Nile disease<\/a> from mosquitoes. So preventing bites is a good idea for all of us, and certainly for children.<\/p>\n
Simple precautions will help<\/h2>\n
Before talking about insect repellents, it’s important to remember that there are simple and effective precautions, nearly all of which don’t involve any chemicals. For example:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Empty out any standing water outside your home. That’s where mosquitoes breed.<\/li>\n
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants if you are going to be in areas with lots of biting insects. If you treat clothes (and shoes and gear) with 0.5% permethrin, it can be helpful.<\/li>\n
- Be aware that mosquitoes are most likely to be out at dusk and dawn, and plan activities accordingly.<\/li>\n
- To avoid tick bites, avoid wooded and brushy areas and keep to the center of paths when you hike. Be sure to do a tick check when you come home — not just of all the people in your group, but also any pets or gear that came along. Taking a shower soon after arriving home can help with both tick checks and washing off any unattached ticks.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
Make choices about insect repellent<\/h2>\n
Insect repellents can be very useful. Some are more effective than others, and some can have side effects, so it’s important to do your homework. The Environmental Protection Agency has a great interactive tool<\/a> that can help you choose the best repellent for your particular situation.<\/p>\n
The most effective repellent is DEET<\/a> (N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide). It works against both mosquitoes and ticks, and is definitely the go-to repellent if you really want or need to prevent bites. The higher the concentration, the longer it lasts: 10% will give you about two hours of coverage, while 30% can protect you for about five hours. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends not using more than 30% on kids<\/a>, and not using any<\/em> repellents on infants less than 2 months old.<\/p>\n
The most common side effect is skin irritation, and if you ingest it (you never know with little kids) it can lead to nausea and vomiting. Eye irritation is possible, which is why you should never spray any repellent directly to the face, but rather put it on your hands and then carefully apply to the face. In very rare cases, like one in every 100 million users, DEET can lead to brain problems such as seizures if used in high doses. This is an incredibly rare side effect, and not something that should stop you from using it, especially if you are in an area with a lot of ticks, or an area with lots of disease-carrying mosquitoes.<\/p>\n
Here are some alternatives with minimal to no side effects (eye irritation most common; avoid as noted above):<\/p>\n
- \n
- oil of lemon eucalyptus, or PMD (the manmade alternative). This works nearly as well as DEET.<\/li>\n
- picaridin, which works better against mosquitoes than ticks<\/li>\n
- 2-undecanone<\/li>\n
- IR-3535, the active ingredient in Avon products, although it is not very effective<\/li>\n
- citronella, although it is even less effective.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
Applying insect repellent — and sunscreen<\/h2>\n
Whatever you use, follow label directions and be sure that you are careful as you apply it to all exposed skin. It’s best to spray in an open area — and spray clothing too. Pump bottles and wipes with insect repellent may help you apply products carefully. Try to choose the best product for your situation so that you can apply it just once; the EPA tool is great for that. Don’t forget sunscreen; apply that first so your skin can absorb it.<\/p>\n
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has more information about applying insect repellent on children and preventing bites from mosquitoes<\/a> and ticks<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Biting bugs are a nuisance and sometimes can spread illnesses like Lyme disease, Zika, or West Nile virus. To prevent bug bites, take simple precautions and learn how to choose and safely use insect repellents.<\/p>\n ","short_excerpt":"\n
Biting bugs are a nuisance and sometimes can spread illnesses like Lyme disease, Zika, or West Nile virus. To prevent bug bites, take simple precautions and learn how to choose and safely use insect repellents.<\/p>\n ","description":null,"author":null,"slug":"bugs-are-biting-safety-precautions-for-children-196912312566","sort_date":"2021-08-10T04:00:00.000000Z","contentable_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\BlogPost","contentable_id":2566,"replacement_content_id":null,"landing_page_landing_page_group_id":null,"ucr_content_id":"BL081021","publication_date":"2021-08-10T14:30:00.000000Z","last_review_date":"2023-07-29T04:00:00.000000Z","imported_at":"2024-06-18T09:00:02.000000Z","last_import_type":"update","last_modified_date":"2024-06-17T04:00:00.000000Z","active":1,"created_at":"2021-08-10T09:00:05.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-06-18T09:00:03.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"images_remapped":0,"old_product_id":null,"old_content_id":null,"hide_ads":0,"primary_content_topic_id":24,"ecommerce_type":"CATALOG","authors":[{"id":46,"cr_id":4,"featured":0,"hhp_staff":1,"hidden":0,"name":"Claire McCarthy, MD","title":null,"first_name":"Claire","middle_name":null,"last_name":"McCarthy","suffix":"MD","slug":"claire-mccarthy-md","byline":"Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing","description":"Claire McCarthy, MD, is a primary care pediatrician at Boston Children’s Hospital, and an assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. In addition to being a senior faculty editor for Harvard Health Publishing, Dr. McCarthy writes about health and parenting for Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston.com, and the Huffington Post.","image_url":"https:\/\/d2icykjy7h7x7e.cloudfront.net\/authors\/mvCBqecmOmDXOhy74hH3DviJmMAprZqhFgGbhTJL.jpg","twitter_username":null,"sort_order":5,"created_at":"2021-05-11T10:23:17.000000Z","updated_at":"2024-04-10T21:36:29.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"pivot":{"content_id":16588,"author_id":46,"sort_order":1}}],"contentable":{"id":2566,"comments_open":1,"created_at":"2021-08-10T09:00:05.000000Z","updated_at":"2021-08-12T22:45:29.000000Z","deleted_at":null,"media":[]},"content_type":{"id":18,"name":"blog","slug":"blog","created_at":"2021-05-11T08:30:32.000000Z","updated_at":"2021-05-11T08:30:32.000000Z","deleted_at":null},"media":[{"id":11415,"model_type":"App\\Models\\Marketing\\Content","model_id":16588,"uuid":"0cb3978d-4b1c-4bf7-a8b6-c576358af602","collection_name":"contents","name":"9ca5a45a-7ad8-48a0-9f1a-08bdd7e2091f","file_name":"9ca5a45a-7ad8-48a0-9f1a-08bdd7e2091f.jpg","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","disk":"s3","conversions_disk":"s3","size":85889,"manipulations":[],"custom_properties":{"alt":"Father spraying the back of his daughter’s legs with bug spray"},"generated_conversions":{"micro":true,"thumb":true},"responsive_images":[],"order_column":11414,"created_at":"2021-08-10T09:00:05.000000Z","updated_at":"2022-07-01T09:00:16.000000Z","full_url":"https:\/\/domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net\/medialibrary\/11415\/9ca5a45a-7ad8-48a0-9f1a-08bdd7e2091f.jpg"}],"primary_content_topic":{"id":24,"name":"Child & Teen Health","slug":"child-and-teen-health","is_primary":1,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/topics\/child-and-teen-health"}}], currentIndex: 0 }” x-on:slide-change.window=”currentIndex = $event.detail.currentIndex”>
Recent Blog Articles
- aiming for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activities<\/a> (such as brisk walking) each week — and adding on strength training at least twice a week<\/li>\n
- Increasingly, health care providers and health care systems accept responsibility<\/a> for preventable harm occurring on their watch, and offer compensation rather than waiting for a legal claim to be filed.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
- Misdiagnosis.<\/strong> Because no one has perfect diagnostic skills, even the most skillful health care provider can be wrong. This can result in unnecessary or delayed treatment.<\/li>\n
- Lather up.<\/strong> You’ll be outside for at least an hour, and you’ll need sunblock and possibly tick and bug spray depending on the terrain. Preventing tick bites<\/a> that can lead to Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses<\/a> is important in many locations.<\/li>\n
- Create a mental image of what the map is telling you.<\/strong> If there’s a fence along a field on the map, build a picture of it in your mind so you can recognize it when you see it, even if you haven’t been there before.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
- Turn the map as you change directions.<\/strong> Hold the map so that the direction you’re heading in is at the top of the page. For example, if the compass indicates that you’re heading south, turn the map upside down, so the south part is on top and easier to follow.<\/li>\n
- Check local air quality. <\/strong>AirNow.gov<\/a> shares local, real-time air quality information and activity guidance. When recommended, stay indoors if possible. Shut doors, windows, and any outdoor air intake vents.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Summer supper club.<\/strong> Perfect for those overloaded with summer harvests from window boxes, community gardens, or a CSA share<\/a>. Build a theme around what’s fresh, local, and low-cost. Plant-forward menus<\/a> are good for health and for the planet. Cultural inspiration always helps. And having one person cook — or stressing no-cook recipes — saves resources.<\/li>\n
- Watch out for <\/strong>signs of dehydration<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong> Drinking plenty of water and eating water-rich foods like lettuce, cucumbers, melon, and citrus fruits can help you stay well hydrated. Water-filling stations for reusable bottles cut down on single-use plastic bottles and help save money at the grocery store.<\/li>\n
- Conserve energy. <\/strong>Turn off electrical equipment that is not in use in the office and at home, such as lights, TVs, computers, copiers, and printers. <\/li>\n
- Seek shade and cool spots.<\/strong> If you don’t have air conditioning or you worry about the bills, green, leafy spaces like parks<\/a> can help cool you down. Cities and towns often open cooling centers, splash pads, and public pools. Public buildings like libraries and malls are available during daytime hours for anyone trying to beat the heat.<\/li>\n
- Stay cooler naturally.<\/strong> Pull down shades during daytime hours to block out hot sun. Open windows at night if the temperature cools down, and to capture cross breezes if possible. Dress in loose cotton clothes and wear a shading hat when outdoors. Remember that sun bounces off lighter colors and is soaked up by black or darker colors. Make your own shade by carrying an umbrella on sunny — not just rainy — days. \"<\/strong>Prepare meals that don’t require cooking or baking, since that saves resources and keeps your home cooler,\" advises Dr. Armand.<\/li>\n
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