Privacy of Ancestry DNA Testing
Are you one of many who received a direct-to-consumer genetic test over the holidays? This popular gift sounds like fun and it is easy to get caught up in the excitement to learn more about your background. However, are you aware of the privacy, or lack of privacy, regarding these tests? Take some time to learn more about these tests before submitting saliva samples. Here are some resources to review so you can make an informed decision.
The National Library of Medicine’s (NLM) consumer health resource, Genetics Home Reference, has expanded its Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing content to provide more in-depth cover...
Source: BHIC - January 8, 2019 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Carolyn Martin Tags: Health Information Literacy data privacy genetics Source Type: blogs
2017 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
For the 15th year in a row, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has reported on healthcare quality and disparities. The annual National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report is mandated by Congress to provide a comprehensive overview of the quality of healthcare received by the general U.S. population and disparities in care experienced by different racial and socioeconomic groups.
The 2017 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report assesses the performance of our healthcare system and identifies areas of strengths and weaknesses, as well as disparities, for access to healthcare and quality of...
Source: BHIC - January 3, 2019 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Kay Deeney Tags: Chronic Disease Inner City Low Income Minority Health Concerns Public Health Rural Source Type: blogs
Complexity of Drug Overdose Deaths in America
A recent issue of MMWR analyzes the growing number of U.S. drug overdose deaths from 2013 to 2017, and by demographic and geographic characteristics from 2016 to 2017. More than 702,000 Americans have died from drug overdoses from 1999 to 2017.
U.S. overdose death rates linked to synthetic opioids, likely from illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF), increased more than 45 percent from 2016 to 2017 while death rates from heroin and prescription opioids – still far too high – remained stable.
Opioids were involved in over two-thirds of overdose deaths in 2017. Of the 35 jurisdictions reporting data sufficient for analysis...
Source: BHIC - January 3, 2019 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Kay Deeney Tags: Minority Health Concerns Public Health Substance Addiction and Misuse Source Type: blogs
Plain Language Checklist for Emergency Responders
Recent natural disasters have demonstrated the importance of ensuring accessibility to health and human services for everyone living in the United States, including individuals who are limited English proficient or with disabilities in need of interpretation and translation services. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, at least 350 languages are spoken across the country. In addition, approximately 15 percent of adults report some trouble hearing, 8.1 million people are visually impaired, and 32 million adults are illiterate. Federal civil rights laws, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 504 of ...
Source: BHIC - January 3, 2019 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Kay Deeney Tags: Emergency Preparedness Health Information Literacy Source Type: blogs
Heart Healthy Recipes for the Holidays
Having problems deciding how you can cook healthy meals during the holidays? Check out these weekly posts for heart-healthy recipes on MedlinePlus. This week’s recipe is for a warm and tasty peach cobbler. (Source: BHIC)
Source: BHIC - December 19, 2018 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Michelle Burda Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Food Allergies and Holiday Meal Planning
When planning your holiday meals this season, you may have to keep in mind friends or family members with a food allergy or intolerance. Allergic reactions might include itching, abdominal cramps, drop in blood pressure or trouble breathing. Learn how to avoid cross-contamination when cooking and how to manage food allergies on the food allergy health topic page from MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine’s trusted consumer health information resource. (Source: BHIC)
Source: BHIC - December 19, 2018 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Michelle Burda Tags: General National Library of Medicine News Source Type: blogs
Webinar: Health Literacy Begins at Your Library
For anyone who is interested in the role their library can play in promoting the health and wellness of its community through fostering higher health literacy or anyone who is interested in the role health literacy plays in managing one’s health, this webinar will be of interest to you.
Library programs directed toward children, teens, adults, and families deliver credible health information and activities that boost wellness. The Oklahoma Department of Libraries has fostered health literacy throughout the state, forging partnerships at state and local levels. Learn how one library in Miami, Oklahoma, made health...
Source: BHIC - December 19, 2018 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Michelle Burda Tags: Health Information Literacy Webinars Source Type: blogs
Sustainable Holiday Choices
Are you one of those organized people who are already prepared for the coming winter holidays? Or do you still have plans to make and gifts to buy? Either way, why not take a second look at some of your usual holiday activities to see if you can make them more “sustainable?” The more people who participate in these energy- and resource-saving activities, the greater effect they will have on our planet. And a sustainable planet will result in better health and longer lives for the people and animals that live on it. Learn more from the CDC about making sustainable holiday choices when you are shopping, traveling, send...
Source: BHIC - December 11, 2018 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Carolyn Martin Tags: Environmental Health Public Health healthy lifestyle holidays sustainable Source Type: blogs
Holiday Hints for Alzheimer ’ s Caregivers
Holidays can be meaningful, enriching times for both the person with Alzheimer’s disease and his or her family. Maintaining or adapting family rituals and traditions helps all family members feel a sense of belonging and family identity. For a person with Alzheimer’s, this link with a familiar past is reassuring.
However, when celebrations, special events, or holidays include many people, this can cause confusion and anxiety for a person with Alzheimer’s. He or she may find some situations easier and more pleasurable than others. The National Institute on Aging provides tips to help caregivers and the person with ...
Source: BHIC - December 11, 2018 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Carolyn Martin Tags: Chronic Disease Senior caregivers holidays senior health Source Type: blogs
Rethink Your Holiday Drinking
Many of us look forward to celebrations during the holidays, a time when some people are more likely to drink beyond their limits than at other times of the year. Some will suffer adverse consequences that range from fights to falls to traffic crashes. Sadly, we often put ourselves and others at risk because we don’t understand how alcohol affects us during an evening of celebratory drinking. Take some time and encourage others to look at drinking habits and how it may affect our health. Learn how much alcohol is in the ‘standard drink’ and how many drinks are in common containers. You may be surprised. The N...
Source: BHIC - December 11, 2018 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Carolyn Martin Tags: Public Health Substance Addiction and Misuse alcohol use holidays Source Type: blogs
Public Comment Period for Healthy People 2030 Open!
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is soliciting written comments regarding the Healthy People 2030 objectives.
The public comment period will be open from December 3, 2018 through January 17, 2019. Previous public comments on the proposed Healthy People 2030 framework helped shape the vision, mission, foundational principles, plan of action, and overarching goals for Healthy People 2030. In this public comment period, input is needed on the proposed Core, Developmental, and Research objectives. Please read the objective selection criteria, which is available now, prior to reviewing and commenting on t...
Source: BHIC - December 6, 2018 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Kay Deeney Tags: Chronic Disease Public Health Source Type: blogs
Opioid Resources from the CDC
Check out Opioid Resources from the Centers for Disease Control, from a recent WebJunction newsletter. The resources have been especially gathered for public libraries.
While you are on the page, take a look at Health Happens in Libraries. This will link to additional resources focusing on the opioid crisis in libraries. (Source: BHIC)
Source: BHIC - December 6, 2018 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Kay Deeney Tags: Articles Mental Health Public Health Substance Addiction and Misuse Source Type: blogs
December Issue of NIH News in Health Now Available!
Check out the December issue of NIH News in Health, the monthly newsletter bringing you practical health news and tips based on the latest NIH research. In this issue:
Plan Your Plate: Shifting to a Healthy Eating Style
Healthy eating is one of the best ways to prevent or delay health problems.
Safe Sleep for Baby: Reducing the Risk of SIDS
There are many ways to reduce a baby’s chances for sleep-related deaths.
Health Capsule: Probiotic May Stop Staph
A new study suggests that people who have a certain helpful microbe, or probiotic, in their gut may be less likely to have harmful “staph” germs.
Health Capsule: I...
Source: BHIC - December 6, 2018 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Kay Deeney Tags: Articles Children and Teens Chronic Disease Public Health Source Type: blogs
Interventions to Promote Health Equity
The Community Guide is a place to search for evidence-based findings from the Community Preventive Services Task force. This information can be helpful when designing community interventions because the guide discusses interventions that have worked for others and how well they have worked. There is also information about the cost of the approach, and any known gaps in the evidence. The Community Guide recently featured new publications about interventions to promote Health Equity. You can find these on the Community Guide website, along with summaries of evidence related to health equity interventions. (Source: BHIC)
Source: BHIC - November 26, 2018 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Erin Seger Tags: General Low Income Minority Health Concerns Websites Source Type: blogs
How to Bring Extensions to Your Library: Highlighting Programs from Penn State Extension
Join the National Network of Libraries of Medicine- Middle Atlantic Region on December 12, 2018 at 2:00 pm EST for their monthly Boost Box series. This series aims to boost your knowledge of National Library of Medicine products and additional health information topics. The month of December will feature guest speaker Mary Ehret, M.S.,R.D., L.D.N., from the Penn State Cooperative Extension.
This session will discuss how Penn State Extension partners with libraries in Pennsylvania by offering programs like Dining with Diabetes, and Penn State Nutrition Links. You will learn about these programs, and how programs like these ...
Source: BHIC - November 26, 2018 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Erin Seger Tags: General Public Health Public Library Webinars Source Type: blogs
