Visit here for past health action items

• Heart Health Month 

  • When is heart health month?
  • 25 Ways to Take Part in Heart Health Month
  • Howard County Health Guide - High Blood Pressure
  • Heart Disease Facts

  Heart Health Awareness and Resources

  • ABC's of Heart Health
  • Heart Smart Basics  
  • Heart Health Tracker
  • 7 Strategies to Live a Heart-Healthy Lifestyle
  • Register for heart health and high blood pressure wellness workshops in Howard County here!

• Colorectal Awareness Month 

  Colorectal Cancer Awareness

  • • • When is Colorectal Cancer Awareness month and how can I build awareness?
      • Use these posts and images to spread the word that colorectal cancer screening saves lives on social media
      • Wear blue and support the mission to end colorectal cancer

  Colorectal Cancer Awareness and Resources

  • • • Basic Colorectal Cancer Information
      • Colorectal Cancer Symptoms  
      • Colorectal Cancer Screening Information
      • Colorectal Cancer Screening Program
      • How to Prevent Colorectal Cancer
      • Tips to Live Healthy to Prevent Colorectal Cancer
  • • •  

- Tobacco Prevention and Cessation

Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Awareness

• Start your quitting journey by learning how to quit
  • Reasons why calling a quitline can be key to your success
• Common withdrawal symptoms and what you can do about them
• Learn about quit smoking medicines

Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Resources

• What's in tobacco smoke
• Crushing the habit flyer  
• Tobacco cessation program flyer  
• HCHD Cancer Program Pamphlet  
• Vaping and E-cigarette Myths and Facts  

- Youth Health Awareness

• Anemia in Children and Teens: Parent FAQs
• Diabetes in Children
• Flu: A Guide for Parents of Children or Adolescents with Chronic Health Conditions
• Overweight/Obesity in Children Facts
• Sickle Cell Disease: Information for Parents

Youth Health Resources

• Chronic Conditions and School
• Fitness and Children with Chronic Illnesses
• Sleep Health for Children

- Breast Cancer Awareness

• General Breast Cancer Information
• Causes of Breast Cancer
• Symptoms of Breast Cancer
• Screening for Breast Cancer Explained
• Get Involved with the National Breast Cancer Foundation
• Talking with children about breast cancer

Breast Cancer Awareness and Prevention Resources

• Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program
  • Cancer Programs Brochure  
• Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center's Breast Center
  • Claudia Mayer / Tina Broccolino Cancer Resource Center
    • Peer mentor program, support groups, individual counseling, wig salon
• Maryland Department of Health's Breast and Cervical Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment (BCCDT) Program

• Diabetes Awareness
  • • • Diabetes Awareness
        • • • American Diabetes Association (ADA)
              • ADA 60-Second Risk Test for Type 2 Diabetes
              • ADA Diabetes Alert Day Risk Test
              • ADA: Managing Your Diabetes - Beyond the Meter
            • Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists: Self-Care Behaviors to Manage Your Condition 
              • Spanish Resources: Recursos en español para personas con diabetes y prediabetes
            • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Diabetes Basics
              • CDC: Diabetes and Prediabetes Fact Sheet
              • CDC: Eating Well with Diabetes
              • CDC Prediabetes Risk Test
            • Office on Aging and Independence Newsletter

Diabetes Resources and Programs

• • • Living Well with Diabetes: Toolkit is a free, virtual, 6-week workshop in which participants who have diabetes or are at risk for developing diabetes will learn the skills to manage their diabetes and health. Caregivers, partners, support persons and family members are also welcome to register.

                  Offered by:

      •  Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center  
        • Offered in English
        • Virtual or In-Person
        • Register here: https://living-well-with-diabetes-toolkit-spxgf.events.hcgh.hopkinsmedicine.org/register/registration/select

           

           

    • This six-week diabetes disease self-management program (DSMP) is designed for people and/or their caregivers living with type II Diabetes. Weekly topics include glucose monitoring, skin and foot care, appropriate exercise, nutrition, and healthy eating and maintaining a balance blood sugar. This program meets for 2.5 hours for six consecutive weeks. 

Offered by:

• • • DCRS - Office of Aging and Independence
      • • • Offered in English, Spanish, and Korean
          • In-Person (Spanish)
          • Register here: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/howardcounty/activity/search/detail/140083?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true

• Dining with Diabetes

  Dining with Diabetes is an evidence-based, national Extension program for adults with type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes and their families that teaches healthy meal planning and other self-management skills to help control this disease. Click here for more informaiton.

• STRESS MANAGEMENT

  • How Stress Affects You - Everyone experiences stress. Sometimes it can help you focus and get the task at hand done.
  • How Stress Impacts Everyday Life - Feeling stress can be a normal coping response and can forge a healthy sense of our ability to solve problems. However, when the stress is long term, known as chronic stress, it can lead to worsening health problems.
  • Healthy Ways to Cope with Stress - Learning to cope in a healthy way can help reduce your stress. Taking small steps in your daily life to manage stress can have a big impact.
  • Heart Healthy Living - Learning how to manage stress and cope with problems can improve your mental and physical health.
  • Mind and Body Approaches for Stress and Anxiety - Several mind and body approaches, including relaxation techniques, yoga, tai chi, hypnotherapy, and meditation may be useful for managing symptoms of stress.

  STRESS MANAGEMENT RESOURCES IN SPANISH

  • Manejar el estrés y desarrollar la resiliencia | Los Institutos Nacionales de Salud - Es importante aprender a manejar el estrés para no sentirse abrumado. El primer paso es reconocer las señales de su cuerpo.
  • Control del estrés | American Stroke Association (Asociación Americana del Derrame Cerebral) -  El estrés crónico se produce cuando el estrés es constante y el cuerpo está en un estado de alta actividad durante días o semanas. 
  • PS92S_SP_Managing_Stress2019.pdf - Efectos del estrés y cómo sobrellevarlos.
  • Siento estrés | Qué Hacer Ahora - El estrés es la forma como nuestro cuerpo responde a presiones o tensiones que sufrimos.
  • Técnicas de control del estrés| Kaiser Permanente - Afortunadamente, hay cosas que puede hacer que le ayudarán a controlar el estrés en el momento y a desarrollar habilidades para afrontar situaciones estresantes en el futuro.

- National Minorty Health Month

National Minority Health Month Awareness and Resources

• When is National Minority Health Month and how can I build awareness?
• Use this toolkit to spread the word about National Minority Health Month and resources available
• U.S. Playbook to Address Social Determinants of Health
• Minority Health and Health Equity Resources
• Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) Program

Mental Health Awareness Month 

• Howard County Mental Health Resources
  • Athelas Institute: Athelas Institute is a non-profit organization that provides support services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including mental health services.
  • Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center: The Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center is a 24/7 resource that offers intervention for individuals experiencing a crisis or contemplating suicide. It also provides shelter and counseling services to those in need. 
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Howard County: NAMI Howard County is a local affiliate of the national organization that provides free support groups, educational programs, and advocacy for individuals and families affected by mental illness.
  • Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) Howard County: This community promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, as well as their families and friends through education, support groups, and more.
  • TeenHealth Matters: TeenHealth Matters is part of the Howard County Health Department. It serves to connect friends, parents, mentors and the people who care the most to the resources needed for teens to stay safe, happy, and healthy.

• National Mental Health Resources

  • Mental Health America: Mental Health America is the nation’s leading national nonprofit dedicated to the promotion of mental health, well-being, and condition prevention.Mental Health America founded Mental Health Month in 1949 and has led the effort every May to promote mental wellness nationwide.
  • National Council for Mental Wellbeing: The National Council for Mental Wellbeing is a membership organization that drives policy and social change on behalf of more than 3,200 mental health and substance use treatment organizations and the more than 15 million children, adults and families they serve.
  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation.