Mihaela Robles

Volunteering can help individuals make a positive impact on the world and the lives of others. According to a survey conducted by nonprofit Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, one in four workers (24 percent) dream of spending their retirement doing volunteer work. Volunteering is not only a rewarding way to give back to our communities, but it can also benefit our health, especially as we age.

Medicaid is an invaluable social safety net that provides health care coverage and services for millions of lower income Americans. However, only one in five have a “great deal” of knowledge about it, according to a survey by Transamerica Institute1.

For most of history, many cultures honor the sun, praising it for providing people with good health and life. Back then, sunbathing was often prescribed to promote health and treat many illnesses, such as skin ailments and tuberculosis. It turns out that sunlight may be the remedy our ancestors thought it was—for both body and mind.

Preventative health care is one of the most critical routines to develop for long-term health, but many of us put routine health screenings on hold as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, 38% of women passed on routine check-ups and tests during the height of the pandemic, according to a 2021 Kaiser Family Foundation survey.

Taking good care of your heart – exercising, eating healthy, and getting regular checkups – are, of course, essential for good health and for your heart. However, there is a lot of research on actionable practices you can start today to not only help your heart health but also prevent other chronic diseases from arising.

It’s never too soon (or too late) to begin caring for your heart. Embracing a healthy lifestyle at any age can keep your heart healthy, prevent heart disease, and lower your heart attack or stroke risk. There are some powerful lifestyle factors that are often encouraged when trying to keep your heart healthy. However, a component we often overlook when thinking of heart health is the influence our relationships can have on this vital organ.

Experiencing a natural disaster or other emergency events can be incredibly stressful. Even after the immediate danger has passed, the impact can still be felt by those who had to endure the event. Why is this relevant now? Well, the frequency and intensity of these events are increasing each year. For instance, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information from 2017-2021, there were 17.8 weather/climate disaster events that exceeded $1 billion per year compared to 12.8 per year in 2010-2019. Additionally, there have been at least 15 events with each loss exceeding $1 billion to affect the United States in 2022.

If someone offered you a way to improve your health and well-being, you would take it, right? I'm thinking most of us would in a New York second, and in this case, I'm pleased to report that research has found that traveling may do more than just give you a break from reality, it may boost your health and overall well-being. Thankfully, as COVID-19 restrictions relax, now may be a good time to dust off the old passport or plan a day trip somewhere new.

You know, embarking on a new healthy lifestyle can be pretty intimidating. I mean, it may seem like you'll have to make enormous and disruptive changes to your everyday life, especially when it comes to nutrition. But then again, that doesn’t necessarily have to be the case.

New Year’s 2023 is just days away! While many of us make our New Year’s resolutions around this time, you have to wonder how many of us will actually keep them. To increase our chances of success in 2023, learning about habits when thinking of goals might just provide the necessary impetus to achieve success because let's face it…we are all creatures of habit, and habits make up our behaviors—which may be health-promoting or harmful. For instance, reaching for our gym shoes in the morning, or scrolling social media, are both examples of habits that might kick off your day.