Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke. In 2008 alone, more than 133,000 Americans died from stroke—that’s one person every 4 minutes—making it the fourth leading cause of death in the United States.

Stroke can affect people of all ages and backgrounds. To help protect yourself…

National Women's Health Week (NWHW), May 12–18, 2013, is an annual observance to encourage women to make their health a priority and take simple steps for a safer and healthier life. During NWHW, women are encouraged to take the following steps to…

Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate and honor moms for all they do in their many roles, especially raising children. Sometimes moms are so busy taking care of everyone else, their own health and well-being can take a backseat. This Mother's Day, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages…

May is Global Employee Health and Fitness Month, a great time to promote the benefits of a healthy lifestyle to employers and employees. Worksite health and wellness programs improve the overall health and productivity of a workforce. When the…

This week is Screen Free Week, a week when students and their parents turn off the TV, video games, computers, smart phones, and tablets, and find healthier ways to have fun.

According to the…

Did you know lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women in the United States? Did you know smoking contributes to one in five strokes in the United States?

CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health ad campaign, Tips From Former…

National Minority Health Month occurs every April. It is a call to action and unity for the state and local offices of minority health, the health departments, and all of the organizations and partners involved and invested in reducing health disparities.

To address racial and ethnic health…

Depending on where you live in the United States, you may have had access to fresh, local produce throughout the winter, but for many Americans, this only comes with the emergence of the warmer spring weather. Luckily, farmers markets across the country are re-opening this season!

The establishment…

April 1–7 is National Public Health Week (NPHW), a time to recognize the contributions of public health and highlight issues that are important to improving the health of our nation. This year's theme—“Public Health is ROI: Save Lives, Save Money”—highlights the value of prevention and the importance of…

It’s a startling fact: 80% of adult smokers started before the age of 18. The best way to prevent smoking as an adult is to prevent smoking as a youth.  Including youth in tobacco use prevention is an important factor, which is why today, Kick Butts Day, is key in starting a dialogue with youth about tobacco…

Our busy lives mean that we often grab food on the go, and often that food isn’t the healthiest.  This March, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics wants you to consider eating right, your way, every day, in observance of National Nutrition Month.

For this, the 40^th annual National Nutrition Month,…

Approximately 9 in 10 Americans aged 2 years and older eat too much sodium. too much sodium increases a person's risk for high blood pressure, and high blood pressure often leads to heart disease and is the most important modifiable risk factor for stroke.

Simply avoiding the salt shaker doesn't mean you are…

It’s already March, and perhaps you have lost momentum on your new year’s resolution to live healthier. Even with increased activity levels and the removal of sweets and fatty foods from your diet, you may still be experiencing low energy and excess weight. One piece of the puzzle that may be missing? Adequate…

Schools play a critical role in reshaping social and physical environments and providing information and practical strategies to help students adopt healthy lifestyles and prevent obesity. With more than 95 percent of young people enrolled in school, and students participating in six-hour school days, schools are the ideal setting for teaching young people about healthy nutrition and activity levels.

Because students have the opportunity to eat a large portion of their daily food…

In the United States, the number of obese children and teens has continued to rise over the past two decades. Childhood obesity is associated with various health-related consequences, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and asthma. Concerned parents may be wondering what steps can be taken to help prevent…

Parks are a wonderful place for the community to enjoy. Children run on the playground, adults gather friends for a pick-up game of soccer, and others enjoy the weather sitting on the bench. Individuals go to the park to relax, play, or see friends. What they do not go there for is secondhand smoke.

Secondhand…

Americans are busy balancing work, home life, and time for play. Americans also love convenience; they want things fast, especially food. When life gets busy, it’s easy to skip making a healthy lunch and opt to eat from the vending machine instead. But is that chocolate bar worth your health? Communities are finding…

This February, celebrate American Heart Month by loving your heart! This amazing organ works tirelessly night and day to keep you alive and living vibrantly. Be empowered this month to make heart-healthy choices. Below are ways you can love your heart:

• Avoid tobacco use and reduce the amount of sodium…

Communities across the United States are encouraging residents to walk more—to school, to work, and even to the grocery store. Walking to your destinations is an easy way to get daily physical activity. And when you walk with friends or family, it can be fun! Community landscapes are changing to accommodate this…

The issue: Tobacco use continues to be the leading preventable cause of death, disease, and disability in the United States. 46.6 million Americans smoke, and 4 out of 10 nonsmokers are exposed to secondhand smoke.

The goal: Reduce tobacco use by making tobacco products less…