As I’ve reported previously, more than 200,000 cases of blocked milk ducts occur in nursing mothers in the U.S. every year. In this column, I’d like to share my own personal experience as one of those mothers.
While it was challenging for many reasons, I’m deeply grateful for this experience because it ultimately led me to create PhysioFit’s innovative blocked milk duct program.
Anytime I kick off a new year, I like to ask myself a couple of questions: How am I doing with my exercise routine? Am I getting enough physical activity? Am I finding enjoyable and challenging ways to stay active? When I answer these questions, I’m more likely to set myself up for a year of healthy life choices.
Yet my line of self-directed inquiry doesn’t end there. I also ask: Am I encouraging my children to be physically active, too?
A Bay Area judge last week placed a preliminary injunction on an attempt by the Trump administration to eliminate access to free birth control, guaranteed to women through the Affordable Care Act, by allowing employers to deny contraception based on moral or religious grounds.
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra headed a coalition of attorneys general from 13 states and the District of Columbia protesting the birth control exemptions, set to take effect Jan. 14. Oakland District Judge Haywood S. Gilliam’s decision to block the move came in under the wire Jan. 13.
According to a 2018 survey conducted by Globe Newswire, 45 percent of teens said they’re stressed out all the time, and based on data from the American Psychological Association, 44 percent of children reported trouble sleeping due to stress.
While we often hear about the impact of stress on adults, the impact of stress on children and teens is just as prevalent and real these days, and is something to pay attention to. Children and teens are facing different types of pressures than ever before, including more competitive academic environments; increased use of technology such as mobile devices, social media, video games and on-demand programming; bullying in school and online; and notably busy schedules that include homework, several after-school activities and sports.
A donation shortfall over the winter holidays has prompted the American Red Cross to issue an emergency call for blood and platelet donors to give now to prevent a blood shortage from continuing throughout winter and affecting patient care.
The Red Cross collected more than 27,000 fewer blood and platelet donations the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s than needed to sustain a sufficient blood supply. During the period, volunteer sponsor groups hosted approximately 1,350 fewer blood drives than required to meet patient needs, as busy holiday schedules kept many donors away.
The flu has claimed the first local person under the age of 65 this season, the Santa Clara County Health Department reported this month. The individual was 39 years old and had medical conditions that placed him or her at an elevated risk for severe complications from the viral infection.
Citing medical privacy laws, health department officials could not provide additional information about the case, and they could not confirm whether the deceased had received a flu vaccination.
