WELCOME TO THE NEW SLPL.ORG!!!

The St. Louis Public Library has a new online entrance.  The website is changing on Monday, November 7.  The consumer health blog will no longer be updated at this URL; instead, please find new posts here.

Open enrollment begins again

Open enrollment in the federal healthcare marketplace at healthcare.gov starts tomorrow, November 1.  You can get help from Certified Application Counselors from Affinia Healthcare
in the Locust Street Atrium of the Central Library on Tuesday mornings from 10 am to noon on November 15, 22, and 29.  They will also provide information and assistance with Gateway and Medicaid.

National Diabetes Month

November is National Diabetes Month (and World Diabetes Day is on the 14th), and as an early start, here's some information from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, with pages on daily management, building a support network, complication prevention, and risk.

The American Diabetes Association has an online test you can take to see whether you are at risk of having diabetes.

For material you can hold in your hands, the St. Louis Public Library has plenty of options.

From the American Diabetes Association, there's the cookbook Magic menus for people with diabetes and the health book Ask the experts: expert answers about your diabetes from the pages of Diabetes forecast, and there are lots more cookbooks and health information books, including The 8-week blood sugar diet: how to beat diabetes fast (and stay off medication) by Dr. Michael Mosley and Diabetes meal planning made easy by Hope S. Warshaw, and currently on order: The case against sugar by Gary Taubes.

In books other than cookbooks or health advice, we have The complete diabetes organizer: your guide to a less stressful and more manageable diabetes life by Susan Weiner and Leslie Josel, The buena salud guide to diabetes and your life by Jane L. Delgado, and Diabetes rising: how a rare disease became a modern pandemic, and what to do about it by Dan Hurley.
We also have exercise videos like Yoga for the rest of us. Easy yoga for diabetes with Peggy Cappy.

Magazine Monday: Women's Health

The last of the health-related magazines found in the Science & Technology Room at Central Library, Women's Health has lots of diet and exercise articles, and also, in the November issue, features on

• boredom 
• nature
• pets 
• marijuana

In addition to the copy available to read at the Central Library, there are issues available for check out at the Schlafly branch.

Wicked problems

What happens when a group of smart, driven people come together to think about "the world's wicked problems"?  This is one of them.  As they say about Problem 1, "For the homeless, no amount of health care can substitute stable housing."

Homelessness is the focus of GlobalHack VI, taking place this weekend at Chaifetz Arena.  "Participants will explore drastically different approaches to issues surrounding supply chain management, client management, and data sharing for social service agencies working to end homelessness."

Magazine Monday: Well Being Journal

Every other month a new issue of Well Being Journal becomes available at the Central Library, where you can scan and email articles to yourself for free!

"Heralding the integration of medicine with physical, mental, emotional, spiritual & social aspects of health" as the masthead says, this publication contains articles on alternative medicine and holistic well-being.

Recent issues have covered chemotherapy, chronic pain, Lyme disease, and dental health.

Light up (or down) your brain!

Artificial lighting interferes with the body's biological clock.  Blue wavelengths of light, which appears white, suppresses production of melatonin more than other wavelengths; electronic screens and energy-efficient lighting produce more blue light than incandescent bulbs.  This is fine earlier in the day when it promotes alertness and focus, but bad close to bedtime because melatonin is important for both quantity and quality of sleep.

The Harvard Health Letter has an article detailing the negative health effects of lack of sleep, as well as explaining how light effects our circadian rhythms.  The American Medical Association has an article on the dangers of high-intensity outdoor lighting, specifically blue-rich LED streetlights.   Blue light also increases glare, creating a nighttime driving hazard.

The first result to pop up in Consumer Health Complete when one searches for "blue light"
is "Seeing Blue: The Impact of Excessive Blue Light Exposure" by Heather Ford in the April 15 issue of Review of Optometry, which also discusses the health implications of blue light.

This blog post was inspired by a phone call recently fielded in the Science and Technology Room, which is happy to search for answers to all your health-related questions.

Magazine Monday: WebMD

One "credible and in-depth" trusted source for consumer health on the Web also has an impressive paper magazine.  WebMD, a first stop for many in their quest for medical information that is easy to understand, puts out a beautiful issue every month.  Recent articles have covered anger, Alzheimer's, and the vagus nerve.

It is available for reading in the Science & Technology Room at Central Library, and available to checkout at Baden and Schlafly Branches.  Place a hold today, or visit the Library downtown (and check out the Fantasy Maps exhibit at the same time, running through the end of this week).

National Bullying Awareness month

October is National Bullying Awareness month.   Bullying and mental health is a worldwide concern that continues to need advocacy and awareness.  Too many people of all ages continue to suffer from the effects of bullying and the distresses that have resulted.  Shola Richards of The Positivity Solution has a post up focusing on the workplace full of practical inspiration.  Check out Shola's new book for more great workplace advice (that is also applicable to situations outside of work).

World Mental Health Day is on October 10th, and was initiated in 1992 by the World Federation for Mental Health.   This year, The World Federation for Mental Health is proud to support the Amanda Todd Legacy Society and their 4th Annual Light Up the World Purple Awareness Campaign as part of an international effort to increase awareness about mental health and the effects of bullying.

Magazine Monday: Prevention

This popular magazine can be found at many St. Louis Public Library locations, and except for those issues in Central's Science & Technology Room, they can be checked out and placed on hold just like a book.  It is also available online for free with your library card through Zinio.  Articles are short and entertaining, covering a variety of topics for improved health.  Recent issues include articles on sleep, migraines, sex, and breakfast ideas.

Suicide prevention

Suicide Prevention Week was September 5 through 11.  At this year’s Show Me You Care About Suicide Prevention Conference on July 21-22, 2016, Bart Andrews, PhD gave a presentation titled “Community Saves Lives and Community Can Happen Anywhere – Suicide Prevention and Social Media #SPSM”.  Click here to view it for free from the Missouri Institute of Mental Health.

More resources from the Web:

• Suicide Prevention Resource Center
• Live Through This

Books at the St. Louis Public Library include:

• Stay: a history of suicide and the philosophies against it by Jennifer Michael Hecht.
• Understanding and preventing suicide: the development of self-destructive patterns and ways to alter them by Kristine Bertini.
• Out of the darkness: teens and suicide by Marion
• Crook.

Magazine Monday: Nutrition Today

Nutrition Today is another magazine with a focus on nutrition.  It leans more toward the professional side of things than the popular/consumer, with in-depth research articles.  It also offers the chance to earn Continuing Professional Education Credits.

Every two months you will find a new issue to read in Central Library's Science and Technology Room.

Health care insurance trouble for 2017

An article in USA Today on 30 August has the disconcerting headline: "Health care choices choked further" with the subtitle: "More than 2 million people could be bumped from insurance plans in 2017".

The reason: insurers are leaving the states' marketplaces.  This means that people in 14 states, or 17% of Americans, will have only one insurer remaining, which means they will have no choices, because there will be no competition.  One county in Arizona has no insurers at all.  North Carolina is worried that an insurer, that is the only option for 90% of counties, will leave the state.

ACA signup period (open enrollment) starts November 1.

Magazine Monday: New England Journal of Medicine

As a contrast to the popular and more accessible magazines we've been looking at, with bite-sized articles which are easy to dip into and out of, the Library also offers one of the preeminent scholarly medical publications, the New England Journal of Medicine.  To lure you in, the September 8 issue includes brief articles on lyme disease, typhus, and acute care, as well as longer articles on sleep apnea, uveitis, and sinusitis.

It is also available with your St. Louis Public Library card online through two databases: EBSCO MasterFile (since 09/06/1984) and ProQuest (since 01/04/1990 with a 3 month delay, and abstracts since 05/15/1986).

EpiPen

epinephrine

By now it's old news that Mylan NV plans to produce a generic version of their EpiPen.  Earlier this year people started complaining about the steep rise in price in the life-saving drug.  The EpiPen is an allergy auto-injector device containing epinephrine.  It treats severe allergies including insect bites and food (nuts and eggs, e.g.) that can lead to anaphylactic shock, and expires after a year.  The price was $97 for a 2-pack in 2007, and is $600 now; the generic version will be $300.

This is local news because the name brand version is already produced here in St. Louis and the generic version will be made at the same facilities in Brentwood and Maryland Heights by Meridian Medical Technologies, a subsidiary of Pfizer.

Magazine Monday: Nutrition Action

Nutrition Action HealthLetter is a short but information-packed magazine.  The articles are also short but full of information, perfect for quick browsing.  It is published by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, making it reliable and trustworthy.  Stop by the Central Library to read it!

Marijuana and the DEA

Four weeks ago, the Drug Enforcement Administration decided to leave marijuana on the list of Schedule 1 drugs -- which is the list of drugs considered most dangerous.  Changing it to a Schedule 2 drug would make it easier to get studies approved, and would make it possible for doctors to prescribe marijuana-derived drugs -- eventually.  Studies have shown that marijuana can relieve nausea, improve appetite, and ease painful spasms.  But according to a press release from the DEA, "marijuana remains a schedule I controlled substance because it does not meet the criteria for currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, there is a lack of accepted safety for its use under medical supervision, and it has a high potential for abuse."  Check out this page from the National Institutes of Health on the dangers of recreational use.

Though an attempt to place marijuana legalization on the November 2016 ballot in Missouri failed, we can expect to see this issue resurface in the future.  Recreational marijuana is currently legal in four states and Washington, D.C., and medical marijuana is legal in 25 states.

Magazine Monday: Health

Lots of Branches have this health-related magazine; every location, in fact, except for the 3 mini-branches (Central Express, Marketplace, and Charing Cross).  This is due to it being a very popular magazine with engaging articles on topics ranging from diet and exercise to relationships and life issues to fashion on beauty to diseases and stress.  Focused on women, it encourages health and happiness.  Weight loss is emphasized.

In addition to the many copies available for checkout, you can also find it in the Science & Technology Room at the Central Library.  Because that copy doesn't circulate, it will always be here when you want to stop by for a quiet moment of reading.

5th Annual Sickle Cell Stroll

The Sickle Cell Association is a nonprofit community-based organization located in St. Louis, and they will be holding the 5th Annual SICKLE CELL STROLL on Saturday, September 10, 2016, on the campus of Washington University School of Medicine, just south of Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

Magazine Monday: Harvard Health Letter

The Harvard Health Letter is a periodical that comes out on a monthly basis.  At only 8 pages per issue, it doesn't overwhelm with an encyclopedia's worth of knowledge (visit any time to peruse one of the Library's medical encyclopedias).  As you would expect from the name, it is a source of authoritative, dependable advice.

The front page has a feature called Five Things to do This Month, which is a list of five simple (though not necessarily easy) tips which provide inspiration to improve your life.  Each also points to an article inside with further information including the latest research and more detailed suggestions.

Stop by the Central Library downtown today to peruse this practical source of great information.
Also visit Harvard Health on Twitter.

Health and Wellness at the Arch

Kick off your Labor Day weekend with friendly librarians at the Gateway to Well-being Festival next Saturday!

Brought to you by Yoga Buzz, "[t]he purpose of the Gateway to Well-being Festival is to connect local expert professionals and specialty businesses with the community so that St. Louisans are empowered to live healthier, happier lives."

THE RIVERFRONT ON LEONOR K. SULLIVAN BLVD

Magazine Monday: Gluten-free Living

This week's installment is Gluten-free Living, a magazine that focuses on living happily and healthily without gluten.  The magazine features healthful meals and snacks, and contains many recipes.  The most recent issue has additional information about research and restaurants, moving and parties, and what to look out for when going out for ice cream.

Don't forget to look at the ads.  They might be equally helpful for readers looking for gluten free products.

Find it for reading at the Central Library and for checkout at the Buder Branch.

The Power of Mindfulness: A Deeper Look

The three week series The Power of Mindfulness: A Deeper Look starts in a week!  It will take place Thursdays August 25, September 1, and September 8 at 10:00-11:30 AM. The program is free and open to anyone affected by cancer (patients, family and friends, bereaved).  It is brought to you by the Cancer Support Community and will be held at Mercy David C. Pratt Cancer Center.

This 3-week series will help you get started with mindfulness and meditation by

• providing information on the benefits of mindfulness and meditation for the body and brain
• allowing you to experience and participate in mindfulness exercises, breathing meditations, and guided imageries
• offering tips to help you establish your personal practice and skills to reduce stress and increase the experience of peace and well being in your life.

To RSVP and for more information, contact the Cancer Support Community at 314-238-2000, or sign up online at www.cancersupportstl.org

Magazine Monday: Consumer Reports On Health

This week's magazine feature is Consumer Reports On Health.  They "contact health authorities and medical researchers from across the country" to build their articles; for the August issue that includes professors from universities across the United States and Canada, and a doctor from the Cleveland Clinic.

It includes relevant, reliable health information, with articles on everything from medication to mental health to nutrition.  Stop by anytime to peruse a recent issue.  While copies at Central are for in-Library use only, there are circulating copies at the Kingshighway Branch.  You could place a hold on anybut the most recent issue, and pick it up wherever is most convenient!

Volunteer with Operation Food Search

Operation Food Search is seeking volunteer Nutrition Instructors, Culinary Instructors, and Class Assistants to teach a Cooking Matters nutrition-based cooking class.

Classes meet for 2 hours once a week for six weeks.  Cooking Matters provides curricula, kitchen, supplies, and staff support.

• Empower working families to prepare simple, nutritious, and delicious recipes
• Help people make the most of their food choices on a limited budget
• Expose kids, teens, and adults to new foods and tasty ways to eat nutritiously
• Have fun, gain experience leading a group, fine-tune your teaching skills, and make a difference!

For more information including job descriptions and links to get started, click here.  You can also get more information from Danielle by email or by phone at 314.726.5355x27.

Magazine Monday: Clean Eating

Clean Eating is a magazine that focuses on healthful cooking.

The latest issue contains articles on barbecue, tacos, affordable meals for your family, and lots of recipes.  If you're looking for fun new ideas for delicious recipes that are good for you, this is the magazine for you!

You can find current and past issues in the Science and Technology Room at Central Library.  This magazine can go anywhere in the Library, but does not leave.  Stop by to read it (and use the handy photocopier just steps away to scan and email articles to yourself -- for free!) and get some great ideas about recipes and ways to fuel your body healthfully.

Yoga at the Garden

The Missouri Botanical Garden, in partnership with Aetna, brings free yoga classes to the public during the month of August.  Every Wednesday morning at 7:30, join other yoga enthusiasts for a free class that is open to the public.  There are also classes Tuesday evenings for Garden and Aetna/Coventry members.  More information can be found here.  That page also includes a link to a walking meditation tour that is free to download and enjoy.

Periodicals: a great source of up-to-date information

In addition to books, movies, and music, the Library has magazines.  Some are part of the reference collection, while others (at the Branches and in Central's café) can be checked out.  The Science and Technology Room at the Central Library houses health information, so that is where you will find the health-related magazines.
















And not just magazines; because health information is constantly changing (and hopefully improving), some of the books are also periodically published, whereas others have new editions at less predictable intervals.  For example, the Physician's Desk Reference has a new edition every year, whereas the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is revised as needed.

Here is a list of the health-related magazines available for perusal.  Stay tuned for reviews of these periodicals.

Clean Eating
Consumer Reports On Health
Family Safety and Health
Gluten-free Living
Harvard Health Letter
Health
New England Journal of Medicine
Nutrition Action
Nutrition Today
Prevention
Townsend Letter
WebMD
Well Being Journal
Women's Health

Home safety

There are lots of things we can do to be safe at home; taking preventative measures is smart.

This home safety checklist from FEMA is a good place to start.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission offers safety alerts, guides, posters, brochures, handbooks and other materials here, covering electrical safety, safe cooking, indoor air pollution, smoke alarms, and more.

For books at the Library, try The home security handbook: expert advice for keeping safe at home (and away) by Lynne Finch or Survival mom: how to prepare your family for everyday disasters and worst-case scenarios by Lisa Bedford.

Stress awareness

The Cancer Support Community offers Mindfulness Practice: Managing Stress
With Present Moment Awareness on Monday, August 1 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Learn to relax and stay in the moment using mindfulness meditations.  The session will include information, strategies for integrating mindfulness into your day, and a practice.  It is open to anyone affected by cancer (patients, family and friends, bereaved).

Contact the Cancer Support Community at here.
314-238-2000,  or sign up online

Reminder on sleep

Sleep is too important to forget about, so here is a gentle reminder.

Ariana Huffington has been making the rounds of talk shows and radio programs, promoting her (relatively) new book on the importance of sleep.  Have you checked it out?  The Library has it in 4 formats (print and audio, and ebook and eaudio).

This article has a video of Huffington talking about sleep, as well another video with Russell Foster, who talks about why we sleep.  Learn fascinating tidbits about what the brain does during sleep, including information processing and memory consolidation.  Did you know that some parts of the brain are more active during sleep than while awake?

Sweet dreams!

Shoot for the Moon!

As mentioned in this post last month, the Cancer Moonshot has commenced.  That single day in June was neither the beginning nor the end of the Moonshot.  The Summit was one day in a project that started with the President's State of the Union on January 12, 2016, and will continue for the rest of the decade.

For more information, check out this infographic from the Mesothelioma + Asbestos Awareness Center!  To learn even more about the moonshot and how it impacts rare cancers click here.   

Pokémon Go

Pokémon Go is a new augmented reality video game for smartphones that gets players out and about.  In the game, based on the Japanese cartoon franchise that was popular in the 1990s, players track down and capture Pokémon characters using the cameras and location tracking on their smartphones.  Different Pokémon live in different places, so players have to walk around to find them.  Once caught, Pokémon can then be trained and used to battle other Pokémon.  Because it sends players trekking through their neighborhoods and cities, it can be a fun way to increase physical activity.

Plain language and health literacy

Plain language is so important in health situations, it's the law!*
*for federal agencies; usage by health care providers may vary

What is Plain Language?

Plain language (also called Plain English) is communication someone can understand the first time they read or hear it.  Language that is plain to some people may not be plain to others. Written material is in plain language if those who read it can:

• Find what they need;
• Understand what they find; and
• Use what they find to meet their needs.

No one technique defines plain language. Rather, plain language is defined by results—it is easy to read, understand, and use.

In the area of health care, providers should encourage patients to ask questions and understand the answers.  Questions like:

• What is my main problem?
• What do I need to do?
• Why is it important for me to do this?

The Health Literacy section of plainlanguage.gov has helpful tools to translate doctor-speak into plain language, the Saint Louis Public Library has helpful books and databases to look up information, and your friendly librarians are here to help you find drug and disease information that makes sense to you.

On medical billing

Ever had a moment of frustration with medical insurance?  Here's an article from a health care provider's perspective.

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July, readers!

For a healthy, fun time outside today, remember to:

• apply sunscreen
• drink plenty of water
• wear bug repellent

Put your additional suggestions in the comments!

Fun video on animal -> human disease

Diseases Jumping from Animals to Humans: Recording

At the 2016 Joseph Leiter Memorial Lecture, guest speaker Jonna Mazet, DVM, MPVM, PhD, talked about her specialty -- diseases that jump from animals to humans. "Most of the infectious diseases that we see today like Ebola, MERS, even Zika originated from an animal host," she told the audience. "How can we stop them or stop them from expanding their range?" The recording of Dr. Mazet's lecture is available from the NIH Videocast site. 

One takeaway: each pandemic costs as much as it would take to research prevention

Coro Fellow Report: Behavioral health system in St. Louis

In January 2016, the RHC and Behavioral Health Network of Greater St. Louis (BHN) collaborated to sponsor four fellows from Coro Leadership - St. Louis (a program of FOCUS St. Louis). During the month-long assignment, the Fellows interviewed nearly 50 key stakeholders of the Behavioral Health system in St. Louis, MO. Interviews were completed to receive impressions and feedback regarding key findings from the RHC's Access to Care 2015 Report to the Community.
According to the Coro Fellows report, the "stakeholders interviewed had a unanimous message: the St. Louis region's behavioral health system is not keeping up with demand. Stakeholders cited at-capacity behavioral health entry points and cuts in funding as key factors in explaining the stress experienced by the St. Louis region's behavioral health system and its patients."

Report Key Findings:
1. Patients' Needs Are Outpacing the Region's Behavioral Health System
2. Congestion Rises as Emergency Department Encounters Increase
3. Community Mental Health Centers At Capacity
4. Community Health Centers Expand Services to Meet System Demands
5. Funding: An Underlying Cause That Limits Capacity

Click here to review the Coro Fellow report and feedback from the RHC advisory boards.

Cancer Moonshot

Cancer Support Community of Greater St. Louis and American Cancer Society High Plains Division are partnering together to take action against cancer as part of the Vice President’s Cancer Moonshot.

On June 29th, the Vice President is convening a Cancer Moonshot Summit, including conversations in communities across the United States. These Summits will be the first time that individuals and organizations representing the entire cancer community and beyond – researchers, oncologists, care providers, philanthropists, data and tech experts, advocates, patients and survivors – will all convene under the national charge to double the rate of progress toward a cure.

The St. Louis Moonshot Summit will be an opportunity to share updates and discuss efforts to accelerate progress in cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care while keeping the patient experience at the front of the conversation.  As a participant in the Summit, you will be able to hear the Vice President’s comments about the Cancer Moonshot and the implications of the Cancer Moonshot from researchers and patients affected by cancer.

• WHERE: American Cancer Society, 4207 Lindell Blvd, St. Louis, Mo 63108
• WHEN: Wednesday, June 29 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
• Lunch will be provided

Now is a great time to meet up with other supporters in your community to share stories, generate new individual and organization commitments, and get ready for the work ahead.

More information about the Moonshot can be found here:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/cancermoonshot

Invitation to the local event is here.
RSVP by calling 314-238-2000 or by emailing Kelly at koneal AT cancersupportstl DOT org.

Don't miss "Living Alive and Well in STL" on Thursday

Tune in to  "Living Alive and Well in STL" this Thursday!

Tune in to KSDK NewsChannel 5 on Thursday, June 23 from 7-7:30 p.m. for "Living Alive and Well in STL." Hosted by KSDK anchors Kay Quinn and Art Holliday, "Living Alive and Well in STL" will highlight a series of stories about how trauma and toxic stress impact the well-being of youth in our region. "Living Alive and Well STL" will feature several stories with topics ranging from preparing your young adult for the emotional challenges of the transition from high school to college to gang prevention strategies that the St. Louis City Police Department has deployed.

PTSD in veterans

This is a video from UMSL and MIMH with Martha Metter and Charles Clyde talking about PTSD and how it relates to veterans.  This recording was part of Mental Illness Awareness Week: Recovery is Possible and was recorded in October of 2008.

Library books on PTSD include

• Fields of combat: understanding PTSD among veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan by Erin P. Finley
• Hidden battles on unseen fronts: stories of American soldiers with traumatic brain injury and PTSD by Patricia P. Driscoll and Celia Straus for the Armed Forces Foundation 

as well as the DVD Of men and war

Opioid use and abuse

Opioid addiction is an epidemic across the country, and news stories about it are everywhere you turn, from local news to national.  The New York Times, in a June 7 article, states that over 165,000 people in the United States died between 1999 and 2014 due to prescription opioid overdoses.  This April, Prince became another victim.

Opioids include both heroin and prescription painkillers.  They can affect balance and thinking and memory and can cause nausea, vomiting, and constipation.  Alternatives to opioids for pain management include exercise, weight loss, cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness meditation, tai chi, and yoga.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention introduced new guidelines in March for prescribing opioids.

Wake Up St. Louis! is a portal for local resources.

Health on your phone

An announcement from the National Network of Libraries of Medicine MidContinental Region:

Study Examines Use of Mobile Health Applications
among U.S. Adult Populations

This study examined the use of mobile health applications (mHealth apps) among the U.S. adult population. It also investigated the respondents' attitude towards helpfulness of mHealth apps for achieving health behavior goals, medical care decision-making, and asking a physician new questions or seeking a second opinion. In a national sample of adults who had smartphones or tablets, 36% had mHealth apps on their devices. Among those with apps, 60% reported the usefulness of mHealth apps in achieving health behavior goals, 35% reported their helpfulness for medical care decision-making, and 38% reported their usefulness in asking their physicians new questions or seeking a second opinion.

This blog post has reviews of selected mobile apps by NN/LM MCR librarians who are part of the Mobile App Experience Project.  Becker Medical Library at WashU has lists of FDA approved apps, medical specialty apps, and a guide to blogs and other lists of medical apps. 

Do you use any apps to track your health or help make health decisions?  Let us know in the comments.

Government health information

Want to keep up with the latest news about the Zika virus?  How about information on flu vaccines, suicidal thoughts, physical fitness, mold, and poisoning?  A portal to access health resources?  All of this (and more) is at this website.

Screens and Sleep

Sleep is one of the cornerstones of health, affecting brain function, emotions, physical well-being, safety, and functionality.  Obesity and diabetes are correlated with lack of sleep, and cardiac health and mental health depend on sleep too.

Sunlight helps set the body's internal clock, but now electric lights and screens contribute too.  That's why scientists recommend not watching TV or using a computer near the time you want to fall asleep, and getting an hour of morning sunlight for those who have trouble falling asleep.

To read more, check out the websites below, and place a hold on Arianna Huffington's new book on sleep.

The importance of sleep
Sleep
Sleep hygiene
Sleep disorders
Understanding sleep

Telemedicine

Consulting remotely with a health care professional through a phone or computer is quicker and easier than going to the emergency room or getting an appointment.  Though not a replacement for in-person care, such as exams or tests, it can be a good way to get a fast answer to a question, and doctors can usually prescribe medicine (not across state lines).


Insurers are sometimes reluctant to pay, but are growing increasingly willing, as it is a cost-effective option in some situations.  Telemedicine as a proportion of all health care provided will likely
continue to grow for the foreseeable future.

Forever young?

Science is working on a drug to slow down aging.  Right now researchers are testing on dogs a drug that has already lengthened the lives of mice.  The drug, a chemical known as rapamycin, is made by a type of soil bacterium, and  extends the lives of flies, yeast, and worms.  An article in the New York Times has more details.

Wonders of medicine

Did you hear about the first penis transplant in the United States?  On May 17, the New York Times had an article about Thomas Manning, who had most of his penis amputated due to cancer, and recently underwent surgery to attach a donor penis.  This groundbreaking surgery could eventually help those U.S. veterans who have been injured by IEDs and roadside bombs.

Home Organizing Made Easy

Clutter causes stress, and stress harms our health, so an organized home supports a healthy life, and conquering clutter will improve health.  Next week at the Central Library, Terry Capehart, owner of Organization In Bloom, a professional organizing services company, will talk about how to get your home decluttered and organized for a simplified life.

Thursday, May 26
7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Central Library
1301 Olive Street
St. Louis MO 63103

You will learn some great tips for organizing your home from small to large projects.  Come with your burning organizing questions.  You'll leave inspired and motivated!

Cover Missouri: fun and understandable videos

Understanding the health care system can be fun work.  Cover Missouri has a fun series of videos that explain some of the complicated intricacies of health care in a fun and easy to understand way.

One of those videos is Helping Consumers Understand the Importance of Preventive Care, which talks about the importance of preventive care, as well as some of the preventive care benefits offered through the Affordable Care Act.

Also see Health Literacy Missouri for clear, simple communication about health information and services.

Healthy Kids

Information to help keep kids healthy!

Here are some books at the St. Louis Public Library; also check out the other resources below.

• The thriving child: parenting successfully through allergies, asthma, and other common challenges by Erica Reid
• Your healthy child: a practical guide to more than 80 childhood complaints by Miriam Stoppard
• Healthy choices, healthy children: a guide to raising fit, happy kids by Lori S. Brizee with Sue Schumann Warner
• Healthy child, whole child: integrating the best of conventional and alternative medicine to keep your kids healthy by Stuart H. Ditchek and Russell H. Greenfield with Lynn Murray Willeford; foreword by Andrew Weil

Vaccines: The Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program offers vaccines at no cost for eligible children.  Find out more at this link.  Additional information here.

Insurance: Millions of children and teens qualify for free or low-cost health and dental coverage through Medicaid & the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).  Learn about coverage options for your family at this link.

Through the MO HealthNet for Kids program, children receive full, comprehensive coverage including primary, acute and preventative care, hospital care, dental and vision care as well as prescription coverage. This portal page has information on how to apply, who is eligible, what benefits are offered and how to find a doctor in your area.

Here in St. Louis, the Family Resource Center at Children's Hospital can provide information.  It is staffed by nurses and medical librarians and they offer support not just to kids and their families in the hospital, but to anyone, and all of their services are free, whether you have a child who is a patient at Children's or not.  Their website has interactive tutorials available here, with topics from Asthma to Bed Times.

Paleo diets

Eat like a caveman (or woman)!

Maybe you’ve heard the phrase “paleo diet” floating around.  It’s the latest popular diet.  The idea is that our bodies are designed to handle the sort of food that our caveman ancestors ate – raw fruits and vegetables, plenty of protein (usually animal), no grains and minimal processing.

The St. Louis Public Library has a selection of materials on this subject.  Some focus on nutrition and are in the health section, and some are in the cookbook section.  There are also quite a few ebooks available through your computer. 

Family yoga and energizing food with Cancer Support Community

Tuesday and Thursday next week bring two exciting health-supporting programs from the Cancer Support Community.

Family Yoga

Tuesday, May 10 ● 6:30-7:30PM

Lisa Roberts, RYT, RCYT and author of  Breathe, Chill – A Handy Book of Games and Techniques Introducing Breathing, Relaxation and Meditation to Kids and Teens will offer ongoing sessions for children and families to practice wellness in fun and interesting ways.

Energizing Food Class

Thursday, May 12 ● Noon-2:00 PM 

Prepare recipes with Food Energy Coach/Macrobiotics Chef  Bridgette Kossor. Learn how to manage your energy with the food you cook and eat...you will be amazed at how easy it is and how good it tastes!

For more information or to RSVP call Cancer Support Community at

314-238-2000, or sign up online at www.cancersupportstl.org