FOR YOUR HELATH: Take Charge of Tomorrow: Preventing Diabetes Health Problems

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(NAPSI)—November is National Diabetes Month, when communities across the country spread awareness about diabetes.

Did you know that at least 1 in 10 Americans has diabetes? That’s 38.4 million adults and children.

Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. Diabetes can raise your risk of having health problems such as heart attack, stroke, cancer and diseases that affect your kidneys, eyes, teeth or feet. The good news is that preventing diabetes or managing diabetes as early as possible after diagnosis may help you prevent these health problems.

“Managing diabetes is a daily responsibility that can make a huge impact on staying healthy and preventing complications down the road,” said Dr. ­Griffin P. Rodgers, director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). “I encourage everyone with diabetes to work with their health care team to learn how they can best manage their condition to maintain an active life and delay or avoid diabetes-related problems.”

Prevent or Delay Type 2 Diabetes

You are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes if you are overweight or obese, are age 35 or older or have a family history of type 2 diabetes. Other risk factors include having prediabetes or a history of gestational diabetes.

If you have overweight or obesity, losing 5 percent to 7 percent of your weight can lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. For instance, if you weigh 200 pounds, your goal would be to lose 10 to 14 pounds.

Visit the NIDDK website and use the Diabetes Risk Management Calculator to find out how much weight you might want to lose to lower your diabetes risk.

Manage Your Diabetes ABCs

If you have diabetes, managing your diabetes ABCs is an essential first step in preventing diabetes health problems. The diabetes ABCs are:

• A1C blood glucose level.
• Blood pressure.
• Cholesterol.
• Stopping smoking.

Health care professionals give the A1C test to measure your average blood glucose level over the last three months. Some people with diabetes also use devices to track their blood glucose throughout the day and night.

Research shows that keeping your diabetes ABCs in a healthy range can help prevent blood vessel damage and health problems from diabetes. Ask your health care team what blood glucose, cholesterol and blood pressure levels are healthy for you.

Make Lifestyle Changes To Build Healthy Habits

You can help prevent type 2 diabetes or manage your diabetes ABCs by building healthy habits and taking steps to:

• Plan healthy meals and snacks that are lower in calories, sugar, saturated fat and salt.
• Be physically active most days of the week.
• Reach or maintain a healthy weight.
• Stop smoking, vaping or using other tobacco products.
• Get enough sleep and take care of your mental health.

When planning meals, try to choose more fruits, nonstarchy vegetables, whole grains, lean protein foods, and low-fat or nonfat dairy products or dairy alternatives. Drink water instead of sugary drinks.

Walking is a simple way to be active. Invite a loved one or a friend to make walking a social activity. If you’re not active now or a health condition prevents you from being active, ask your health care professional about physical activities that are best for you.

Making lifestyle changes can be hard. Start slow and build healthier habits from there. Ask for help from your family, friends and health care team.

To learn more about preventing or delaying diabetes and diabetes health problems this National Diabetes Month, visit the NIDDK website at www.niddk.nih.gov and follow us on social media @NIDDKgov.

FOR YOUR HEALTH: There’s More To Vision Health Than Meets the Eye

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An alliance of experts brings hope to people suffering visual function loss.

(NAPSI)—If you or someone you care for is ever among the millions of people in the United States who suffer from a loss of visual function as the result of stroke, concussion, traumatic brain injury and other illnesses and conditions, there’s information you may want to see.

Understanding the Issue

Most seeking care are told that if their visual abnormalities don’t resolve on their own within the first year, there is nothing that can be done to rehabilitate visual field loss. It can be devastating, resulting in loss of the ability to work, drive, read and other important functions that are critical components to quality of life. Fortunately, many of these conditions have and continue to be rehabilitated through neuro-optometry.

Vision is more than eye health; it’s a complex process that relies on the brain’s processing functions to translate the information received from the eyes. The practice of treating the interaction of the eyes and the brain is known as neuro-optometry, but awareness of this field of practice­—and access to physicians who specialize in it—is limited. That’s why a group of experts and innovators created the DeyeNAMICS Alliance. Its goal is simple, but its implications are profound. By raising awareness of neuro-optometry and creating the most rigorous standards of care, the organization seeks to revolutionize access and outcomes for patients.

Access is Critical

The life-changing care the group provides, however, is only as valuable as a patient’s ability to access to it. That’s why the DeyeNAMICS Alliance is committed to growing a nationwide network of quality providers to create more access points for patients. The Alliance’s core values are grounded in the belief that everyone deserves the dignity of a diagnosis and quality continuum of care.

A network of doctors is located across the country, and a goal is to have so expansive a network that everyone has a provider within an easily drivable radius—so there’s more care for more people with better outcomes.

Treatable Conditions

Stroke and TBI aren’t the only conditions that can produce loss in visual function abnormalities—and visual field loss is only one of several conditions people may develop. Patients with Lyme disease, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s and other conditions can have other visual abnormalities that require more than traditional optometric care—and may also suffer from visual midline shift, which results in dangerous gait and balance problems destabilizing everyday motor function, making life far more difficult.

Conditions May be Complex, but Awareness and Access Can be Simple

With millions of people suffering, we all probably know someone struggling with one or more of the treatable conditions mentioned. The key is to educate and increase awareness of neuro-optometry and how to access it. To that end, the DeyeNAMICS Alliance created an informational website of easy-to-understand information and links to providers. A better understanding of how neuro-optometry can improve lives is as close as your phone or home computer.

Learn More

To learn more about how neuro-optometry works, see a comprehensive list of conditions it can treat and even schedule an appointment with a physician, visit deyenamics.com.

FOR YOUR HEALTH: Medications and Wellness Essentials Delivered to Your Front Door

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You can get the medications and other pharmacy items you need quickly without having to drop what you’re doing.

(NAPSI)—Whether you’re tied up at work, busy with school or just not feeling well, home delivery is a convenient and affordable way to get the products and medications you need. Good news: while home delivery from one major pharmacy isn’t new, the service has been enhanced and is faster than ever.

CVS Pharmacy launched 1- to 2-day delivery on eligible prescriptions nationwide back in 2018. Since then, the company has added more delivery options, such as on-demand delivery (or delivery in as little as three hours) and has expanded the products eligible for delivery.

It’s a core component of the company’s digital offerings and its effort to meet consumers’ unique health and wellness needs. Delivery is available through more than 9,000 CVS Pharmacy locations across the U.S. and 97% of Americans can access those services.

“Our wide array of delivery offerings allows us to get household products, health and beauty aids, and OTC and prescription medications to our customers and patients faster than ever before,” said Prem Shah, Executive Vice President, Chief Pharmacy Officer, and President of Pharmacy and Consumer Wellness, CVS Health. “We’ve led the way in prescription delivery and will continue to innovate to ensure we meet the demands of those who shop and fill prescriptions with us.”

How does prescription delivery work?

Getting products and prescriptions delivered to your door is quick and easy. The first step is to download the CVS Pharmacy app or sign up for text alerts. Patients then order their prescriptions or request refills as normal. When prescription orders are ready, the patient can review their order status and schedule one of several delivery options, if their prescriptions are eligible for delivery, on their CVS Pharmacy app or by clicking on a text message link.

CVS Pharmacy offers free on-demand and 1- to 2-day delivery of all eligible prescriptions through its ExtraCare+ membership program. For those who are not ExtraCare+ members, the fee for on-demand delivery in as little as three hours is $9.49 and 1- to 2-day delivery is $5.49. All options can be managed through the CVS Pharmacy app, SMS text messaging, CVS.com or by speaking with the local CVS Pharmacy team.

If a state allows, CVS Pharmacy offers prescription delivery on most types of medications. Some insurers do not allow prescription delivery and other exclusions may apply. You can learn more about CVS Pharmacy’s delivery options at www.cvs.com/delivery.

*FOR RX DELIVERY: Rx delivery is available for eligible prescription drug orders with qualifying prescription benefit programs and insurance plans. Order cutoff times may vary by delivery option and pharmacy location. Delivery fees apply and may vary by delivery option and location. Other restrictions apply. Click to learn more.

*FOR SAME-DAY DELIVERY (NON-RX): Same-Day Delivery is available for a fee with qualifying retail orders. Minimum order total required. Excludes select items and locations. Delivery window is an estimate and may be subject to delays. Click to learn more.

*FOR EXTRACARE PLUS: Membership is $5 per month or $48 annually plus any applicable taxes. Must have a valid ExtraCare® card to enroll. Membership requires recurring charges to your payment card and automatically renews until canceled. To enable certain digital, shipping and pharmacy delivery benefits, you must have a CVS® account and complete your digital profile online. CVS.com® shipping and same-day delivery are FREE for qualifying orders of at least $10 after the application of any coupons, rewards, or discounts and before taxes are applied. FREE Rx delivery is available for qualifying prescription orders and health plans. Delivery times may vary. Most stores are eligible for delivery. Other exclusions apply. Click for full EC+ terms and conditions.

FOR YOUR HEALTH: A Difficult Diagnosis Sparks Hope and Support for Others—Maybe You

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Lisa Reed and a quarter million other Americans have pulmonary fibrosis, a serious lung disease, ­but early treatment can make a big difference.

(NAPSI)—In 2022, Lisa Reed was eagerly anticipating her 70th birthday. She had plans to travel to Italy and was looking forward to spending more quality time with her grandchildren. But a persistent cough, worsened by a bout of COVID-19, led her to the emergency room in her hometown of Sante Fe. There, a series of tests, including a high-resolution chest CT of her lungs, revealed something unexpected: pulmonary fibrosis (PF).

Symptoms of PF, such as chronic dry cough, fatigue and shortness of breath, can often be confused with other more common illnesses, making it difficult to diagnose. In Reed’s case, her chest CT showed the presence of white tissue on her lungs—a characteristic sign of scarring and inflammation.

Like many others diagnosed with PF, Reed had never heard of the disease. Her internet search was startling, revealing that PF causes progressive and irreversible scarring in the lungs. It is part of a family of over 200 interstitial lung diseases (ILD) that affect more than 250,000 Americans.

Fortunately, Reed was diagnosed in the early stages of the disease. She quickly immersed herself in learning everything she could about PF. She discovered the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation’s (PFF) website, absorbing fact sheets, watching webinars, and exploring clinical trials and opportunities to get involved.

A friend of Reed’s who is a nurse practitioner suggested she reach out to the ILD clinic at National Jewish Hospital in Denver, a PFF Care Center Network site. She now receives care there from a multidisciplinary team of doctors including a pulmonologist, rheumatologist, cardiologist, and oncologist. She began an antifibrotic treatment to slow the progression of the disease.

As Reed started her treatment, her family received more unexpected news—both of her brothers were also diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. The siblings believe their condition is familial, with each of them at different stages of the disease. One of her brothers has since undergone a double lung transplant and is doing well.

Reed firmly believes that self-advocacy is essential in getting the right care as quickly as possible. She has volunteered for clinical trials, participates in online support groups, and actively engages with the PFF. Throughout her journey, Reed has found the PFF to be a vital resource for trusted information and tremendous support.

“Whether it’s getting the right diagnosis, learning what treatments are available, or finding resources for caregivers, there are answers and support,” she said. “It’s impressive and wonderful.”

Now, Reed volunteers as a PFF Ambassador, sharing her story and helping others along their journeys. “The way to help myself is to help others,” she says.

Reed plans to attend a virtual PFF Education Symposium. She looks forward to learning about the latest research studies, how to live better with PF, and to connect with others navigating life with PF.

“Whether you’re newly diagnosed, or you’ve been living with PF for years, no one should face this journey alone,” said Reed. “There are so many ways we can help each other, both big and small. And there’s a whole community of people, resources, and support ready to help you through the PFF.”

The PFF Education Symposium is a virtual conference taking place Nov. 7-8. To learn more about PF and to register for the Symposium, visit pulmonaryfibrosis.org/symposium.

FOR YOUR HEALTH: New Survey Reveals Knowledge Gaps About Breast Density and Cancer Risk

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Ashley Dedmon looks at family photos with her father. With a family history of cancer on both her mother and her father’s side, Dedmon underwent genetic testing and learned she is a carrier of the BRCA2 mutation that predisposes her to breast cancer.

(NAPSI)—The latest Cancer Risk Survey: Breast Cancer Edition from Myriad Genetics shows that more than half (63 percent) of women do not know that breast density can reveal an increased risk of breast cancer.

Though dense breast tissue is normal, women who have it are at a slightly elevated risk for developing breast cancer. New FDA guidelines require that by September 2024, all breast imaging facilities must alert patients by letter if they have dense breasts, and provide recommendations that they contact their care provider for follow-up and risk assessment.

For women with dense breasts, additional screening methods such as ultrasound or MRI may be recommended in addition to mammograms to improve cancer detection rates.

Dense breasts present unique challenges in breast cancer screening, but awareness and proactive management can help mitigate these challenges,” said Dr. Ifeyinwa Stitt, an OB-GYN physician in Annapolis, MD. “By understanding their breast density and cancer risk, women can make informed decisions about their screening options and take proactive steps to prioritize their well-being.”

The survey also revealed that the majority (92 percent) of women understand detecting cancer early means they have more treatment options, which means a higher chance for better outcomes. However, only 66% of women believe annual breast checks are necessary.
While many women (40 percent) think they should receive additional screenings like MRIs or ultrasounds if they are if they are identified as having dense breasts, only 33 percent of those would consider genetic testing.

These findings expose a critical gap in understanding, as insights gathered through genetic testing may reveal patients at increased risk that would benefit from additional screenings to identify cancer at its earliest, most treatable stage. By combining genetic insights, family history and other clinical factors like breast density, MyRisk® Hereditary Cancer Test with RiskScore® calculates a woman’s 5-year and remaining lifetime risk of breast cancer. If a woman is found to be at high risk, she then has multiple options available to her, including a change in medical management.

“Breast cancer has impacted my family since before I was born—my great grandmother, grandmother and mother all passed away from breast cancer. My mother lost her battle at only 42, when I was only 21-years old,” said Ashley Dedmon, a patient advocate for Myriad’s MyRisk with RiskScore test. “I want every clinician in the country who may not think genetic testing is necessary to hear my story. Your patients want and need this screening.” Know your risk, plan for your future. Learn more by visiting getmyrisk.com.

FOR YOUR HEALTH: What You Need To Know About Vaccines On World Polio Day And Every Day

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Rotary International says everyone should get the necessary vaccines, and anyone can support efforts to protect more people.

(NAPSI)—In the last 50 years alone, vaccines have saved 154 million lives—six people every minute for five decades. But measles, polio, and cholera outbreaks are on the rise despite being vaccine-preventable, and vaccines still urgently need funding. Measles is one of the most contagious diseases and is often the first indicator of immunization gaps.

About Vaccines

Vaccines are one of the safest and most effective ways to protect people from certain life-threatening diseases.

Unfortunately, COVID interrupted life-saving vaccine campaigns, and now there’s a growing resurgence of vaccine-preventable infections, including polio and measles, around the world, including 13 outbreaks of measles cases in the United States.

Pointers on Polio

Consider that old scourge, polio. Efforts to eradicate it have been going on for decades. At its peak in the 1940s and 1950s, it affected between 13,000 and 20,000 people in the United States every year, many of them children. Thousands died, and many others were permanently paralyzed. Then, in 1955 Jonas Salk and in 1961 Albert Sabin developed and deployed vaccines and the number of cases dropped.

In the years following, Rotary International (https://endpolio.org) a global humanitarian service organization with more than 1.2 members around the world, initiated the global fight to end polio. Since founding the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988, Rotary and its partners have reduce polio cases by more than 99.9% percent worldwide. Partners include the World Health Organization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF, the Gates Foundation, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

Rotary International and its members have donated $2.7 billion and countless volunteer hours to help immunize 3 billion children and eliminate polio in 122 countries. As a result, in 2023, only seven cases of “wild poliovirus” (two in Pakistan, five in Afghanistan) were found. For the past 30 years, the World Health Organization’s Region of the Americas has been declared polio-free.

Rotary members are business, professional, and community leaders who share a commitment to making the world a better place. Rotary and its partners also use a new vaccine, nOPV2, to address variant polio virus outbreaks. Millions of doses have been administered. Rotary has advocated, distributed, and administered vaccines for 45 years.

More About Measles

Once, measles, too, looked like a success story. It was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, thanks to a very high percentage of people receiving the safe and effective measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

However, recent data show that U.S. MMR coverage among kindergartners is below the CDC’s 95% coverage target—much lower in some communities—and decreasing.

The CDC reports that measles is so contagious that if one person has it, The CDC reports, up to 9 out of 10 people nearby will become infected if they are not vaccinated. Common complications are ear infections and diarrhea. Serious complications include pneumonia and encephalitis.

Meanwhile, global measles activity is increasing, meaning there are more chances of an unvaccinated person infected with measles abroad returning to the United States. That’s one reason it may be wise to talk to your healthcare provider about the MMR vaccine, especially if you plan to travel.

Concerning Cervical Cancer

Rotary is also involved in preventing this deadly disease—women diagnosed with cervical cancer are almost twice as likely to die of it than of breast cancer. Fortunately, cervical cancer is preventable and treatable.

The human papillomavirus, which is also called HPV and is responsible for more than 90% of cervical cancers, can linger in the body for a long time and eventually cause cancer. Getting vaccinated against HPV helps prevent most cases of cervical and many other cancers by giving the body a safe way to build immune system awareness of certain HPV strains.

To help, the Rotary Foundation has awarded more than $10.3 million in global grant funding for cervical cancer projects since 2014, and other Rotary projects have tackled this issue outside of global grant funding.

What You Can Do

You can be part of the effort to end polio in four ways:

1. Donate to the End Polio Now Campaign (https://endpolio.org).
2. Contact government leaders and encourage them to prioritize financial and political support for polio eradication and vaccination for other conditions.
3. Every year on October 24 participate in World Polio Day to raise awareness of the importance of polio vaccination and to celebrate the parents, professionals, and volunteers who make eradication possible.
4. Join Rotary. Since 1985, Rotary members have helped immunize up to 400 million children against polio a year. As a result, more than 20 million people who would otherwise have been paralyzed are walking, and more than 1.5 million people are alive who would otherwise have died.

Learn More

For additional information visit: www.polioeradication.org and www.endpolio.org.

FOR YOUR HEALTH: It’s Time to Help Protect Yourself from the Flu and COVID-19

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You can schedule an appointment for the seasonal flu vaccine, as well as COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and pneumococcal pneumonia vaccinations at your local CVS Pharmacy at CVS.com.

(NAPSI)—While there’s no distinct COVID-19 season like there is for the flu, it’s been shown that COVID-19 can peak during the winter months. To help fight respiratory illnesses, it’s recommended you get a flu vaccination, as well as the updated COVID-19 vaccine.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people six months and older, with rare exception, should get the updated annual flu vaccine, ideally by the end of October. The CDC also recommends that everyone ages six months and older should get the updated 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine, unless otherwise noted, to help restore and enhance protection against the currently circulating virus variants.

It’s especially important to protect certain populations. This includes those at increased risk of complications from severe flu or COVID-19 illness, such as adults 65 and older, people with certain immunocompromising or chronic medical conditions, infants, children younger than two and pregnant women.

“Preventive vaccinations are the best way to protect yourself and your family from seasonal illnesses,” said Dr. Sree Chaguturu, executive vice president and chief medical officer at CVS Health. “Access to preventive vaccinations is critical to keeping communities healthy.”

According to Dr. Chaguturu, it’s helpful to understand the science behind vaccines so people feel informed and safe getting vaccinated.

Myth #1: You should wait until flu season peaks to get vaccinated.

According to the CDC, the timing of flu season is difficult to predict and can vary in different parts of the country and from season to season. It’s important to get vaccinated before flu season peaks or outbreaks occur in your area since it takes about two weeks for your body to build up protection after getting vaccinated.

Myth #2: You can’t receive other vaccinations with the flu shot.

The CDC says patients can get a COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as the flu vaccine and other eligible vaccines. At CVS Pharmacy, patients can schedule multiple vaccinations in one appointment.

Myth #3: You don’t need updated vaccinations for the flu.

Getting the flu shot every year is essential because the body’s protection from the vaccine declines over time. Also, flu viruses vary yearly, so receiving the latest vaccine formulation provides optimal protection.

Flu shot appointments (for up to four people in one appointment) can be scheduled at CVS Pharmacy or MinuteClinic by visiting CVS.com or the CVS Pharmacy app.

You can visit CVS.com to learn more about vaccinations or schedule an appointment.

FOR YOUR HEALTH: Help Shape the Future of Liver Health

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By taking an online survey you can help millions of people with liver disease­—maybe even yourself – get the treatment they need.

(NAPSI)—If you or a loved one are among the nearly 100 million Americans affected by liver disease, consider joining the American Liver Foundation Patient Registry. By sharing your story, you can help share the future of liver health. As a participant in the registry, you will join a group of individuals dedicated to changing the face of liver disease through the advancement of new science and treatments that will benefit all.

The American Liver Foundation Patient Registry is free to join and the first-ever patient registry for all types of liver diseases, including transplant. It helps provide researchers with a better understanding of liver diseases, the effect of current treatments, and how liver disease affects patients. Until now, there has not been one central place where researchers interested in liver disease can access information on a patient’s disease history and more importantly, how patients are managing their disease and its often-debilitating symptoms and associated conditions such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease and high cholesterol.

With more than 100 different types of liver disease, it is imperative that researchers have access to this kind of information to help discover better treatments and cures.

Who Can Participate?

The American Liver Foundation Patient Registry is voluntary and open to any patient with liver disease, 18 years of age or older, in the U.S. If you decide to participate, the registry will gather data about your disease through an online survey.

How Does it Work?

Powered by EmpiraMed’s PRO Portal, the American Liver Foundation Patient Registry is designed to be easy to use. The Portal keeps track of where you are in the survey process and automatically saves your work as you go, so you never have to worry about losing information. After registering, you will be asked to complete an initial online survey about:

• Your history of liver disease(s)
• How you manage/treat your disease and symptoms
• Other medical conditions relevant to your liver disease
• Lifestyle choices which may influence your liver health
• Additional information about you.

Get Started Today

To learn more and sign-up go to liverpatientregistry.org and start working towards a world free from liver disease.

FOR YOUR HEALTH: Prepare Your Place for the Next Pandemic

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Germs, pollution and allergens can be spread around your house by an ordinary HVAC system.

(NAPSI)—While more than 1.1 million Americans lost their lives due to COVID-19, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, emerging HVAC technology is now available to protect homes from the next pandemic.

The 2020 pandemic blindsided a nation that found itself without a vaccine and preventatives. Scientists warn a similar coronavirus-type event could wreak havoc again.

SARS CoV-2, like all coronaviruses, was easily transmitted via inhaled and exhaled airborne droplets. Home isolation was often ineffective and didn’t offset outside influences, such as returning schoolchildren, parties, or just visitors who can potentially infect unprotected home environments. Air droplets have been proven to move between rooms mainly via the HVAC system’s air distribution.

New HVAC Technology Combats Viruses

The good news is that the HVAC industry’s air filtration sector has introduced new disinfecting technologies to combat airborne biological contaminants, including coronaviruses. Most submicron-sized contaminants, 95% of them smaller than a grain of sand, easily pass through a standard HVAC filter. However, a new third-party-tested technology disinfects airborne pathogens and enhances particulate filtration, which normally would pass through an HVAC system.

One example is Aireshield® by Reviveaire LLC. This patented non-thermal plasma disinfection system resembles the size and thickness of a common HVAC fabric filter used in most home central air conditioning and/or heating systems. It’s easily installed by HVAC technicians or Do-It-Yourselfers.

How It Works

The non-thermal plasma system electrostatically charges the HVAC supply air with an undetectable plasmic cloud of negative and positive-charged ions. The positive and negative ions electrically attach to themselves and submicron airborne contaminants. This agglomeration process enlarges both biological and non-biological submicron particulates, so they easily entrap in standard fabric HVAC filters. The electrostatic field also disinfects pathogens.

The process also prevents bio-slime, a sludge t­hat easily grows in the dark, moist environment of cool HVAC coils. Bio-slime potentially cuts HVAC efficiency (thermal transfer) by up to 30 percent.

Keeping coils clean and efficient can pay back a non-thermal plasma system’s cost in three to five years with energy savings. The system continues providing protection from viruses, as well as everyday concerns such as allergens, flu, common cold and other airborne biological contaminants for 10 years or more.

Protecting a home from everyday airborne contaminants or pandemics requires readiness.

To find contractors who can install Aireshield, call Reviveaire at 908.987.7089 or email info@reviveaire.com.

FOR YOUR HEALTH: Back to School Means Recommended Vaccines for Preteens Too

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Today is the day to protect your kids with HPV vaccination.

by Ruth Stefanos, M.D.

(NAPSI)—As a pediatrician, I hear many questions from parents. As their children grow from babies to adolescents, so does the number of questions they have about how to continue protecting their kids. This makes sense, since we are all navigating a changing world with social media, peer pressure, and more homework and scheduled activities. Parents are juggling these things every day, and the bottom line is that parents want to know how they can protect their kids.

One of the most important things we know to protect your kids – now and as they grow – is vaccination. While most parents are familiar with getting their babies vaccinated, they might not realize that there are vaccinations specifically for preteens that can protect them against serious diseases like cancer and meningitis.

HPV vaccination is given when kids are about 11–12 years old to protect them from ever getting the HPV virus that can cause cancers later in life. Both preteen boys and girls need this vaccine now, before they are ever exposed to the virus. Stopping that virus in its tracks can protect them from things like cervical cancer in women, and head and neck cancer in men.

While it can be hard for parents to look at their preteens and see the young adult they will become, vaccinating them now means not having to worry about HPV-related cancers as they grow up. We know that this virus is common—about 13 million people in the United States, including teens, become infected with HPV each year. Every year in the United States, HPV causes about 36,000 cases of cancer in both men and women. This is why I strongly recommend that parents vaccinate their kids. I also know that the HPV vaccine has a reassuring safety record that’s backed by over 15 years of monitoring and research. What’s amazing is that we are really starting to see the impact of this vaccine. HPV infections and cervical precancers have dropped substantially since 2006, when HPV vaccines were first used in the United States.

I feel very confident telling parents that today is the day to get their kids protected with HPV vaccination. It’s a good reminder that while you can’t stop kids from growing up, you can protect them against cancer later. Back to school healthcare visits are a great time to take this step to protect them. Please call to schedule your kids’ appointment today. You can learn more at www.cdc.gov/HPV.

Dr. Stefanos is a medical officer in the Division of Viral Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Preven­tion (CDC).