Smartphones have transformed modern life in more ways than anyone could have imagined. They enable 24/7 access to infinite information and tools that help us stay organized, track our fitness, express ourselves and be entertained. However, easy access to these digital devices and their habit-forming qualities has led to high screen time for both children and adults and emerging research suggests that such high screen use can have a negative impact on mental health.

Make sure your vaccine records are up to date!

July is National UV Safety Month -- which makes sense, as it tends to be one of the busiest months for outdoor activities where we expose our skin to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays. Take extra precautions to prevent skin cancer and reduce the risk of UV damage. 

A large study showed that older adults with a higher risk of dementia may be able to reduce their risk of cognitive decline by almost 50 percent by using hearing aids.

Anyone can have a stroke. Everyone should be ready. Learn the F.A.S.T. warning signs!

Dear Nurse Chris: After a heart attack two years ago, I took all the medicines my physician asked, but he also wanted me to commit to a long period of rehab. It seemed way too strenuous for me, and I was scared it might cause another attack so I didn’t go. I am 56 now. Was I right or wrong to skip the rehab?

Children are at greater risk for frostbite than adults are. Because of their greater surface area children lose heat from their skin more rapidly than adults do. Parents can help prevent frostbite by dressing their child(ren) in layers and covering all body parts from exposure to the cold by wearing hats, scarves, and mittens.

Breast cancer is the second most common kind of cancer in women. About 1 in 8 women born today in the United States will get breast cancer at some point.

Ask the Nurse: Christine Hammerlund, President of Assured Healthcare Staffing and Nurse
The cure is close but not close enough

Mammograms help detect breast cancer early, which is why it’s important to prepare for this screening correctly.

Whether you’ve never had a mammogram before or feel like you’ve had far too many, following these tips can help you get the most from this vital breast exam.

Immunization Recommendations from the Center for Disease Control.

Are you wellderly? When we think of the term “elderly,” we immediately associate it with terms like “old” or “sick.” Wellderly Day encourages us to re-examine what “old” means and promote a healthier, more beneficial perspective on aging.

Tips and recommendations on how to make a home much more friendly to seniors using wheelchairs or walkers.

When Dan Bawden teaches contractors and builders about aging-in-place, he has them get into a wheelchair. See what it’s like to try to do things from this perspective, he tells them.

The most useful suggestion for activity or exercise is the one that matches up to your life most naturally.

Nourish Interactive’s mission is to offer fun, innovative solutions that empower children to make healthy choices. We support parents and teachers with free interactive games and tools that promote a healthier lifestyle.

The teaching resources the site provides for parents and teachers are extensive and well organized, the children's games and activities both entertaining and informative.

The coronavirus pandemic has turned life upside down for just about everyone, preventing people throughout the world from working, socializing, and performing everyday activities.

Test your knowledge about this vital annual vaccine.

True or False:

• If you received a flu shot last year, you don’t need to get another one
• Everyone should get a flu shot
• A flu shot is the only way to protect yourself against the flu

Often what distinguishes a respiratory illness as one that requires exclusion or sending the ill student of staff member home, is the presence of a fever. It might be a good PRACTICE POINT for school nurses to evaluate their current definition of fever. If you have been a school nurse for a few years you know that definition is steeped in tradition. The definition also varies even among credible professional medical organizations.

Go for a walk even when the weather is really cold – your body has to work overtime to get warm and you may burn up to 50% more calories than you would on the same walk in summer!

A five-year-old of our acquaintance once offered this gem of advice to his harried mother during the pre-holiday season: "Why don't you just sit down and delax for a while." That sums up our first tip for having a stress-free holiday.

Mammograms may rival colonoscopies for the least-favorite screening test among women.

In spite of the discomfort mammograms may cause, many women stick to a regular schedule of getting them—and with good reason.