Tag

Prevention

All articles tagged with #prevention

TRICARE Expands Skin-Cancer Screening and Prevention Resources
health1 hour ago

TRICARE Expands Skin-Cancer Screening and Prevention Resources

TRICARE covers skin cancer screening as part of its annual Health Promotion and Disease Prevention exams with little to no copay for individuals at risk (family/personal history, high sun exposure, or suspected precursor lesions). The article emphasizes prevention and sun safety—shade, protective clothing, wide-brim hats, UV-blocking sunglasses, and SPF 15+ sunscreen—and teaches the melanoma warning signs (A-B-C-D-E), encouraging patients to schedule yearly TRICARE exams and discuss skin changes with their providers, with CDC/NCI resources referenced.

Six Beach-Related Infections to Watch for and How to Prevent Them
health2 days ago

Six Beach-Related Infections to Watch for and How to Prevent Them

A health-focused piece warns that beach outings can carry six common rashes and infections from ocean water or sand, caused by bacteria, fungi, parasites, or fecal contamination; it recommends practical prevention steps such as rinsing off after swimming, wearing sandals on sand, avoiding barefoot exposure in polluted areas, covering wounds, showering after beach time, washing hands, and heeding local beach advisories to minimize risk.

Two Lifestyle Habits Drive Almost Half of Preventable Cancers Worldwide
health4 days ago

Two Lifestyle Habits Drive Almost Half of Preventable Cancers Worldwide

A WHO analysis published in Nature Medicine finds about 38% of global cancers in 2022 were preventable by addressing roughly 30 modifiable risk factors. The leading factor is tobacco smoking (responsible for 15% of cancers, 23% in men), with alcohol accounting for roughly 3.2%; together these two factors make up about 48% of preventable cancers. Infections (notably HPV) and air pollution also contribute to cancer risk, while HPV vaccination exists but coverage remains uneven. The study underscores that many cancers could be prevented with sustained political commitment and targeted prevention strategies worldwide.

Tick Season Arrives Early in Wisconsin: How to Protect Yourself
public-health5 days ago

Tick Season Arrives Early in Wisconsin: How to Protect Yourself

Wisconsin is seeing an early tick surge as unseasonably warm March weather wakes ticks, leading to more tick-bite ER visits; although wood ticks are common, the deer tick is the main public-health threat because it can transmit Lyme disease, and more tiny nymphs are expected in the coming weeks; watch for fatigue, stiff neck, or rash as possible Lyme symptoms; protect yourself by showering after outdoor time, treating clothing with permethrin, wearing light-colored clothing and tucking pants into socks, using lint rollers, and taking steps to protect pets; Wisconsinites can also join The Tick App, a research effort to track tick encounters.

HPV vaccination and lifestyle changes may curb rising head and neck cancers
health8 days ago

HPV vaccination and lifestyle changes may curb rising head and neck cancers

Head and neck cancers, especially oral cavity and pharynx, are rising in the U.S. and globally, with HPV now a leading risk factor. Prevention centers on HPV vaccination (two doses at 11–12 years, can start 9–26, approved up to 45) and lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking and reducing alcohol use, which substantially lower risk. There is no broad screening, and five-year survival is about 70%.

Three Practical Steps in Your 30s to Slash Colorectal Cancer Risk
health10 days ago

Three Practical Steps in Your 30s to Slash Colorectal Cancer Risk

With colorectal cancer rising among younger adults, doctors outline three in-30s actions: eat a fiber-rich, minimally processed diet and stay physically active to maintain a healthy weight; take persistent GI symptoms seriously and discuss family history with your doctor; and consider early, proactive screening—using stool- or blood-based tests as noninvasive options alongside colonoscopy—especially if you have risk factors or a family history.

Korean longevity playbook: diet, activity, and prevention for longer life
health10 days ago

Korean longevity playbook: diet, activity, and prevention for longer life

South Korea has seen a significant rise in life expectancy, driven by plant-forward diets (including kimchi), free school lunches tailored by nutritionists, regular physical activity, strong social ties, and a focus on preventive healthcare. The United States, by contrast, has lagged in longevity and often emphasizes treatment over prevention. The CNN piece suggests small, actionable steps for individuals: eat more vegetables, get vaccines and regular screenings, stay active, sleep well, manage stress, and cut vaping, tobacco, and excess alcohol to boost healthy years.

Hantavirus outbreak: experts separate myths from reality
health11 days ago

Hantavirus outbreak: experts separate myths from reality

Five infectious-disease experts explain that hantavirus spread is driven by rodent exposure and is not yet comparable to COVID-19 in terms of contagiousness; transmission usually occurs via dust or contact with rodent droppings, with human-to-human spread being rare. Symptoms can mimic the flu and may progress to respiratory distress; there is no widely available vaccine, and treatment is supportive. Prevention centers on rodent-proofing homes, careful cleanup of rodent-contaminated areas (moistening dust, using damp cloths, wearing a mask and gloves), and reducing outdoor exposure in infested areas. Overall risk to the general public is low compared with COVID-19, though localized outbreaks can occur where rodent populations are high.

Hantavirus risk hides in everyday spaces like garages and sheds
health13 days ago

Hantavirus risk hides in everyday spaces like garages and sheds

Health officials warn hantavirus can hide in common spaces such as garages, sheds, cabins, basements, attics, barns, crawl spaces, and even unused cars, where rodent droppings or nests may be present; inhaling contaminated dust or touching contaminated surfaces can cause infection, though human-to-human transmission is extremely rare and most U.S. cases occur in the West. To reduce risk, dampen and disinfect droppings before cleaning (CDC advises against vacuuming), wear gloves and a mask, dispose of waste properly, and wash hands thoroughly after handling potentially infested areas. The current cruise-ship outbreak involving the Andes strain is notable for human-to-human transmission, but overall hantavirus remains a rare threat in the U.S.

Tick season poised to break records as bite numbers climb nationwide
health17 days ago

Tick season poised to break records as bite numbers climb nationwide

CDC data suggest this year’s tick season could be the worst in years, with tick-bite ER visits running higher than average across most U.S. regions in 2026 and the Northeast leading; about 114 visits per 100,000 in late April. Roughly 31 million Americans are bitten annually and around 476,000 are treated for Lyme disease. Experts attribute factors like milder winters, earlier springs, snow insulation for ticks, and variable acorn mast years that boost wildlife hosts, which can fuel tick populations and disease. Prevention and tick checks are essential.

Pneumonia Hits Seniors Hard—What Raises Risk and How to Protect Them
health19 days ago

Pneumonia Hits Seniors Hard—What Raises Risk and How to Protect Them

Pneumonia is a leading cause of hospitalization, with adults 65 and older about 10 times more likely to be hospitalized and severe cases carrying mortality up to around 20%. The danger comes from both the infecting pathogen and an aging, often multi‑ill, immune system. Vaccines (flu, pneumococcal, COVID‑19, RSV) and managing chronic conditions can reduce risk, while lifestyle choices (hydration, nutrition, exercise, avoiding smoking) and general infection control (hand hygiene, staying home when sick, masking around vulnerable people) also help protect older adults.

Celebrity death spotlights atherosclerotic heart disease and prevention
health19 days ago

Celebrity death spotlights atherosclerotic heart disease and prevention

USA TODAY reports that Nicholas Brendon died from atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease, with a 90% blockage in his right coronary artery. The piece explains how plaque buildup (atherosclerosis) and long-standing high blood pressure damage the heart, outlines common risk factors (high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking), and stresses that heart disease is largely preventable through lifestyle changes and the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8, including diet, exercise, not smoking, sleep, weight management, and monitoring lipids, blood pressure and glucose.

Brain Care Score Gives People a Personal Plan to Cut Dementia Risk
health23 days ago

Brain Care Score Gives People a Personal Plan to Cut Dementia Risk

A free online Brain Care Score questionnaire helps people identify and improve 14 modifiable risk factors for dementia, stroke and depression; experts say 40–45% of dementia cases could be prevented or delayed by lifestyle changes. The score guides users toward targeted actions—such as a healthier diet, more exercise, hearing/vision care, social connection, and stress relief—empowering individuals to reduce risk, as illustrated by real-life stories and clinician guidance.