Wellness Wednesday

Here is a list of the topics, arranged alphabetically, we have covered from October 2023 through June 2025.   Document: Wellness Wednesdays.

Emotional health is one aspect of mental health.

Emotional wellness means you can recognize, express, and manage positive and negative emotions, cope with stress, and adapt to challenges and changes. Strong emotional wellness helps you handle difficulties, make thoughtful decisions, and maintain social connections.
 

Some warning signs of emotional health in need of care include:

• Isolating yourself from friends, family, or coworkers
• Lower energy than usual
• Sleeping too much or too little
• Eating too much or too little
• Increased use of substances
• Racing thoughts
• Lower performance at work
• More interpersonal conflicts than usual
• Feelings of irritability, guilt, hopelessness, or worthlessness
• Neglecting hygiene and personal care

If you're struggling with poor emotional wellness, start by acknowledging your feelings without judgment. Then, consider reaching out to someone you trust or contacting a healthcare provider for support.

This applies to both men and women: You should visit your health care provider regularly, even if you feel healthy. The purpose of these visits is to:

• Screen for medical issues
• Assess your risk for future medical problems
• Encourage a healthy lifestyle
• Update vaccinations and other preventive care services
• Help you get to know your provider in case of an illness

. (We featured Men's Health Awareness as a Wellness Wednesday June 12, 2024 page 8​.)

You will notice many of these screenings are for all people.

Physical/wellbeing: Screenings are an important part of staying well, especially for men as they get older and face a higher risk of certain long-term health conditions. These routine checks are designed to pick up on potential problems—like heart disease, diabetes, or cancer—early on, often before any noticeable symptoms appear. Detecting these issues early means treatment can begin sooner, often making it more effective and less intensive.

Making time for regular screenings is a practical way for men to take charge of their health. It helps maintain energy, physical function, and independence over the years. More than just preventing illness, it’s about preserving your quality of life and giving yourself the best chance to stay well and active for as long as possible.

Prostate Cancer Screening: This is one of the most common cancers in men, particularly for those who are 50 and over. Many types of prostate cancer grow slowly in most men; however, early diagnosis and detection will allow for an easier and less invasive treatment. Prostate cancer screening tests that may be offered are the PSA blood test, the digital rectal exam and/or a prostate ultrasound. This is recommended for men aged 50–70 with average risk or men aged 40-45 with a family history or an increased risk.

STD Screening: A sexually transmitted disease is any infection that spreads through sexual contact. For males, an STD can take hold in the urethra, penis, prostate, testicles, rectum, throat, or bloodstream. If it goes untreated, an infection can cause pain, interfere with fertility, or lead to serious long‑term illness such as HIV. That’s why regular screening and prompt treatment matter. In general, for all sexually active men annual screenings at a minimum, even with no symptoms. If a man has multiple partners, unprotected sex, or a part of a high-risk group, every 3-6 months is the recommendation. All adults ages 18 to 79 should get a one-time test for hepatitis C. All people ages 15 to 65 should get a one-time test for HIV (human immunodeficiency virus.

Cholesterol and Blood Pressure: High levels of cholesterol increase your risk of stroke and heart disease. A simple blood test will help your primary care physician (PCP) determine your numbers and if you're at risk. If you have a family history of diabetes or heart disease, you may need yearly screenings. Blood Pressure tests measure the pressure in your arteries as your heart pumps. Biennial (every two years) checks are recommended if you have normal blood pressure or more frequently if you have high blood pressure (hypertension) or low blood pressure (hypotension). Normal blood pressure below 120 systolic (top number) and 80 diastolic (bottom number).

Diabetes Test: A diabetes test analyzes your blood glucose levels. Screening should be repeated every 3 years if you are overweight or have obesity. You should be tested more often if you have other risk factors for diabetes, such as you have a first degree relative with diabetes or you have high blood pressure, prediabetes, or a history of heart disease.

Colonoscopy: A colonoscopy is a procedure doctors use to examine the lining of the colon and rectum for signs of colorectal cancer. If you are under age 45, talk to your provider about getting screened. You may need to be screened if you have a strong family history of colon cancer or polyps. Screening may also be considered if you have risk factors such as a history of inflammatory bowel disease or polyps. If you are age 45 to 75, you should be screened.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm: If you've ever smoked, you should have an ultrasound to test for an abdominal aortic aneurysm—a weakened area of the aorta that can enlarge and rupture if it gets too large. Otherwise, men who have never smoked are at decreased risk, and your doctor can decide if this screening is necessary.

Bone Density Test:  A men's bone structure screening primarily involves a bone mineral density test, such as a DEXA scan to assess bone health and fracture risk. This screening is recommended for men 70 and older or those with risk factors including a family history of osteoporosis, long-term steroid use, low testosterone, or a history of fractures.

Hearing and Vision Screening: Hearing and vision screening tests look for whether you have problems hearing and seeing. Unless you notice problems in your vision or hearing, these are the guidelines for adults age 20-39, vision tests every 10 years, adults 40 to 64 vision checks every 2-4 years, adults over age of 65, annual vision test. For hearing tests adults ages 18 to 49 should be checked every 10 years, over the age of 50 every 3 years

Oral Health Checkup: An oral health checkup involves getting a teeth cleaning, an oral health exam, and X-rays of your mouth.  Your dentist can also diagnose oral cancer, gum disease, mouth infections and other conditions that can spread to the rest of your body. You should have an oral health checkup and teeth cleaning one to two times a year throughout your adult life.

The pink ribbons for breast cancer awareness are on display throughout the country for breast cancer awareness month (more on this topic on the 10/25/2023 Wellness Wednesday page 5: https://dft231.mi.aft.org/sites/wellness-wednesday).

This is to bring your attention to the top 10 health screenings women should be having: women's bodies develop and change in many stages: puberty, childbearing years, menopause, and many smaller stages along the way. (Next week we will be examining the top health screenings for men in which you will notice some overlaps.)

Physical/wellbeing: Physicals are visits with your doctor to ensure that you are healthy and receiving necessary medications and treatments. Your doctor will also give you any immunizations that you might need. In general, you should visit a primary care doctor once a year your entire adult life for a general health check.

Mammogram:  A mammogram is an X-ray of your breasts. It is used to find signs of breast cancer, the second leading cause of cancer-related death of women in the United States. Some guidelines suggest you start getting mammograms when you turn 50, but others recommend getting a mammogram every year, or every other year, starting at age 40. Talk with your doctor about your individual risk of breast cancer.  

Pelvic Exam and Pap Test: A pelvic exam is an examination of your female reproductive organs to check for infections, cancer, and other conditions. During a pelvic exam, your doctor will look at your external organs, including your labia and rectum, as well as your internal organs, including the inside of your vagina and your cervix (the opening to your uterus). A Pap test is a common screening done during a pelvic exam to help detect cervical cancer. A pelvic exam is recommended once a year starting at age 21; a Pap test every three years between the ages of 21 and 29. If you are between 30 and 65, a Pap test every three years, or every five years if your doctor combines the Pap test with a test for human papillomavirus (HPV). You can also opt to have the HPV test alone every five years. Ask your Ob/Gyn or primary care provider (PCP) how often you should have a Pap test.

STD Screening: STD screening tests look for evidence of infections that you have contracted through sexual contact. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has the following guidelines: Nonpregnant, sexually active women younger than 25 should be screened for chlamydia and gonorrhea.  Nonpregnant, sexually active women who engage in high-risk sexual practices should be screened for chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, and syphilis. Pregnant women should be screened for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, and syphilis. Pregnant women younger than 25 and pregnant women engaging in high-risk sexual behavior should be also be screened for chlamydia and gonorrhea. For other STDs, how often you are tested is largely up to your Ob/Gyn or PCP depending upon individual circumstances and risk factors.

Cholesterol and Blood Pressure: A cholesterol test measures the level of cholesterol in your blood and can help indicate your risk of heart disease and stroke. Blood pressure monitoring is an important element in evaluating most diseases and conditions. The American Heart Association recommends you have a complete blood cholesterol test called a fasting lipoprotein profile every five years starting at age 20. Your blood pressure should be checked every two years if you have normal blood pressure (lower than 120/80).

Diabetes Test: A diabetes test analyzes your blood glucose levels. Higher blood glucose can indicate that you have diabetes or prediabetes, a condition that puts you at high risk for diabetes. The American Diabetes Association recommends you have a diabetes screening test once every three years once you turn 45. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not recommend diabetes testing unless you have symptoms of diabetes, such as urinating more often and being more thirsty, or if you have a high risk of diabetes, such as high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, or obesity. Talk to your PCP if you have concerns.

Colonoscopy: A colonoscopy is a procedure doctors use to examine the lining of the colon and rectum for signs of colorectal cancer. It can also help your doctor find the reason for intestinal symptoms, including rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, and changes in bowel movements. You should have a colonoscopy every ten years starting at age 50. Ten years may seem like a long time between tests but colorectal cancer grows slowly and a colonoscopy is very effective at finding and removing small areas of precancerous cells. The frequency and initial testing time frame differs for people with a family history of colon cancer.

Bone Density Test: A bone density test measures bone mass in key areas of your body, such as your wrist, hip and heel. It is currently the only test to diagnose osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a condition in which your bones become weak and brittle, and become more susceptible to breaking. Healthcare organizations recommend you have a bone density test at age 65. If you are younger than 65, you should consider a bone density test if you have rheumatoid arthritis, a family history of osteoporosis, previous fractures, or have taken a long course of steroids. You may also want to consider the test if you smoke or have smoked, or if you are a heavy drinker.

Hearing and Vision Screening: Hearing and vision screening tests look for whether you have problems hearing and seeing. Unless you notice problems in your vision or hearing, these are the guidelines for adults age 20-39, vision tests every 10 years, adults 40 to 64 vision checks every 2-4 years, adults over age of 65, annual vision test. For hearing tests adults ages 18 to 49 should be checked every 10 years, over the age of 50 every 3 years

Oral Health Checkup: An oral health checkup involves getting a teeth cleaning, an oral health exam, and X-rays of your mouth. Dental checkups help you keep your ability to chew, speak and smile. Your dentist can also diagnose oral cancer, gum disease, mouth infections and other conditions that can spread to the rest of your body. You should have an oral health checkup and teeth cleaning one to two times a year throughout your adult life.

There's been much in the news about the Coxsackie virus, also known as hand, foot, and mouth disease. Doctors warn that this highly contagious illness primarily spreads quickly among young children due to the proximity of students in classrooms and on playgrounds. Kids under age 7 are most at risk for HFMD. It is usually not serious. Most people get better on their own in 7 to 10 days with minimal or no medical treatment. You can take steps to manage symptoms while you or your child are sick.

The Center for Disease Control states because HFMD is normally mild, children can continue to go to childcare and schools as long as they:

• Have no fever
• Feel well enough to participate in class
• Have no uncontrolled drooling with mouth sores

If a parent is not sure if it is okay for them to return, they can talk with their child’s healthcare provider.

The following information comes from the Health Department of the City of Detroit which prepared a fact sheet about HFMD. See it here: HFMD Fact Sheet from Detroit Health Dept.

How is it spread?

The disease is spread person-to-person through direct contact with the discharge from the infected person’s nose, throat, feces, or fluid in blisters. Infected persons are the most contagious during the first week of illness but can still pass the infection weeks after their symptoms have gone away. The illness is usually not serious but is very contagious. It can spread quickly at schools and day care centers.

What are the symptoms?

• Sudden onset of fever
• Sore throat
• Small white blisters in the mouth 1-2 days after the onset of the illness
• Loss of appetite
• Sores on palms, fingers and soles of feet
• Sometimes no specific symptoms

How is it diagnosed and treated?

There is no specific treatment for hand, foot, and mouth disease. However, a person can do some things to relieve symptoms:

• Take over-the-counter medications to relieve pain and fever (Caution: Aspirin should not be given to children)
• Use mouthwashes or sprays that numb mouth pain
• If a person has mouth sores, it might be painful for them to swallow. However, it is important for people with hand, foot, and mouth disease to drink enough liquids to prevent dehydration due to loss of body fluids. If a person cannot swallow enough liquids to avoid dehydration; they may need to receive fluids through an IV within their vein
• A health care provider should be contacted if anyone is concerned about symptom management

How is hand, foot and mouth disease prevented?

There is currently no vaccine in the United States to protect against the viruses that cause hand, foot, and mouth disease. A person can lower his/her risk of being infected by doing the following:

• Wash hands often with soap and water, especially after changing diapers and using the toilet
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and soiled items, including toys toilets
• Avoid close contact such as kissing, hugging, sharing eating utensils or cups with people with hand, foot, and mouth disease

Medication errors—mistakes in prescribing, dispensing, taking or giving medications—impact hundreds of thousands of people a year. Some occur in a hospital or healthcare setting, others occur at home. Preventable medication errors can send patients to the emergency room, to the hospital, or worse, result in death.

Examples of medication errors that commonly happen at home include:

• Taking multiple medicines that contain the same “active ingredient.” For example, taking an over-the-counter (OTC) product that contains acetaminophen when you’re already taking a prescription pain medicine that contains acetaminophen.
• Taking or giving an incorrect dosage of a medicine, oftentimes the result of using a kitchen spoon rather than a metric measuring device
• Taking an incorrect medicine dispensed by a pharmacy due to sound-alike names or confusing medical abbreviations.
• Taking someone else’s medication instead of your own, which can result from multiple medicines for multiple users stored on the same location.
• Taking a medication on an empty stomach when it is supposed to be taken with food

While medical errors are generally accidental, medication misuse can sometimes be intentional. For example.

• Over use: taking more than prescribed or recommended dose by the healthcare provider or label. This can happen by accident—maybe you forgot you took your medicine, so you take it again. Or it can be intentional, like taking an extra dose of a prescription or OTC pain relievers.
• Under use: taking less than prescribed or recommended, missing or skipping doses either accidentally or intentionally, not filling an initial prescription or failing to get a refill.
• Not following instructions on the label.
• Taking medicines that are not prescribed for you.

Prevent Medical Errors With the Following Tips:

1. When your healthcare provider writes you a prescription, make sure you can read it. If you can’t read the handwriting on the prescription, your pharmacist might not be able to either. Ask your healthcare provider about e-prescribing, in which your prescription is electronically entered and sent to the pharmacy of your choice.
2. Ask for information about your medicines in terms you can understand—both when your medicines are prescribed and when you receive them at the pharmacy—so that you can take your medicine safely and avoid errors. (Check out this brief article: 10 questions to ask about the medicines you take)
3. When you are being given a medicine at the hospital or picking up a medicine from the pharmacy, confirm it is medicine that your doctor prescribed. Studies show that the vast majority of medicine errors involved the wrong drug or the wrong dose.
4. Ask your pharmacist for the best device to measure your liquid medicine. Special devices, like marked cups or oral plastic syringes, are available at most pharmacies and help to measure the precise dose.
5. Make sure your doctor knows about any allergies and adverse reactions you have had to medicines. This can help you avoid getting a medicine that can harm you.
6. Read about the side effects listed on the written information that comes with your prescription medicine. If you are familiar with the possible side effects that could occur, you can more quickly recognize if you are experiencing one and alert to your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
7. Make sure that all of your doctors know all the medicines you are taking, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, and dietary supplements such as vitamins and herbs.

Lack of prescription adherence can be considered America’s “other drug problem.” This can lead to unnecessary disease progression, disease complications, a lower quality of life, and even the possibility of premature death. Not taking your medicine as prescribed may lead you to experience longer or more serious illnesses. It may also lead to you not getting the full relief that the medicine is intended to provide.

Medication “non-adherence” or “non-compliance,” either intentionally or inadvertently, can include:

• Failing to initially fill a prescription
• Failing to refill a prescription
• Stopping a medication before the course of therapy is complete
• Taking more or less of a medication than prescribed
• Taking a dose at the wrong time
• Missing a dose completely

About 125,000 people die each year in the United States because of not taking medicine as directed. About one third of medicine-related hospital admissions in the United States are linked to non-adherence. Additionally, it costs the country nearly $300 billion each year in added costs for doctor visits, emergency room visits, hospital admissions and more medicine.

Explore ways to reduce medicine costs. Due to high prescription prices, people don’t fill their prescriptions. Or, they skip doses so the medicine lasts longer. Yet, there are programs that help you afford your meds. For example, prescription assistance programs provide free or low cost prescription medications.

• Keep things simple: Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about how to simplify your medication schedule. If possible, take your medicines at the same time each day.
• Work with one pharmacy:  Use one pharmacy for all prescriptions and refills. This way the pharmacy can help you manage your refills and check for drug interactions.
• Coordinate prescription refills: Talk with your doctor and pharmacist to see if you can align refill dates. Then you can pick up all medications at the same time.
• Use a reminder tool: Use a printed pill reminder sheet or write down your medication schedule. This will help you keep track of what to take, when to take it, and special instructions like “take with food.” There are alerts on phones or computers. Some people use adherence packaging or “blister packs.” Some rely on weekly pillboxes to sort medicines by day or time of day. If you do this, keep the packaging to reference dosing information and other instructions. Also, pillboxes are generally not child-resistant so keep them up and away and out of sight of young children.
• Establish a routine: Try to tie your medication schedule to your daily activities.

Why do we need to talk about the medicines and supplements we are taking? As we get older, we may face more health problems, and we may take more and more medications to treat these conditions. If we are not careful, we may end up with adverse reactions to our prescription drugs or harmful interactions between the drugs and/or other over the counter drugs we are taking.

Most older Americans take at least one prescription, and many take three or more, a medication check-up can reduce your risk of side effects and interactions, and stop you from taking unnecessary pills. Changes in our bodies can change the way prescription drugs work. It’s wise to occasionally review the list of medicines with a healthcare provider to make sure things are working as they should and become aware of any associated side effects. It’s possible that if we are still taking a drug we were initially prescribed several years ago, we may not remember all the information we got from our pharmacist or doctor at the start of the prescription.

Ask for a medication review. The session makes sure the patient has the proper medications for the right time. Pharmacists can help you look for duplicates and drug interactions, and discuss with you less expensive, safer drugs, or even non-drug alternatives. Be sure to ask your local pharmacy whether it offers this service. Some pharmacies and doctors might charge for full reviews, but usually the cost will only be your regular insurance co-payment. Medicare allows free yearly reviews with a doctor, and for many Medicare Part D patients taking multiple meds, a pharmacist, too.

Why do we need a medication review?

The medical world is not static. There are constant changes, reviews, additions and recalls. Patients also change. Medication reviews are beneficial for elderly persons who take significantly more medication than anyone else. A medication review helps identify harmful medicine combinations, remove outdated medicine and add new ones. The assessment can reveal other helpful information, like if the patient is not taking the medication due to uncomfortable side effects.

What happens during your medication review?

During a medication review, the patient will provide their detailed medical information. The patient reveals all present illnesses and any supporting prescription drugs. Patients should also include non-prescription medicines, supplements, and homeopathic treatments. Missing one of these could impact the effectiveness of the review. You may be asked questions about symptoms, side effects and efficacy. This is a good time for patients to ask questions about medications too. Reviews should happen once a year and usually take about 30 minutes.

Our elders often lose both physical and/or cognitive function as they succumb to the natural process of aging. This renders them in need of guidance and assistance and may need their families and caregivers to completely take over decisions or activities that they can no longer perform. It can be very difficult for the elder to accept from their children the help they need.

It can also be very difficult for adult children to know how to help their parents navigate these life changes and know when and how to support them. Here are a few tips to consider when “parenting your parents.”

1. Give them space to grieve their independence.

Elders mourn the loss of independence, just as they would the loss of a loved one or the loss of a limb. Give the elders in your life space to grieve the loss of their former independent selves. Know that grief is messy and understand that in their denial and bargaining, they may not be open to accepting the help you are trying to give. It’s not personal and it’s not about you.

Be patient. Just like a teenager will fight to gain independence, your aging parent will fight to keep it.

2. Pay attention to driving clues.

Self-limitation of driving is sometimes the first clue to driving impairment in older adults. Statistically, most accidents happen within a 10-mile radius of home, so an elder who says “I don’t drive far” is not necessarily cutting their risk of an accident.

Driving is a complex task that requires all of the following: selective and divided attention, working and long-term memory, gross and fine motor skills, cognitive and physical function, and visual and kinesthetic awareness.

An astute driver needs to be able to react quickly and appropriately to unpredictable occurrences in high-risk situations. Cognitive overload occurs when the complexities of the task overwhelm the older driver and can lead to accidents.

As you would worry about putting an inexperienced teen driver in control of a vehicle, you should consider whether your older parents are truly safe to operate a vehicle. Ask yourself these questions:

• Do you feel safe in the passenger seat with them behind the wheel?
• Do they often need a “co-pilot” when driving?
• Have they had a few minor fender-benders?

3. Offer decision support only when needed.

While a teen needs support and encouragement in making decisions about their own lives, they also come to expect the “space” to do so. Your elderly parents are no different. Just like a teenager, they may not always want or feel the need to have your input.

Offer assistance where needed, especially for big decisions and if you are concerned about cognitive impairment—but do so with respect. Pick your battles and prioritize your involvement in decisions that have the biggest impact, such as major healthcare or financial decisions.

4. Give them grace around the big move.

They say, “home is where the heart is,” which is why it is so devastating for seniors who, because of functional or cognitive decline, can no longer safely live in their homes.

Understand that if your parents are in this situation, you need to expect resistance to any suggestion that they need to move out of their home and into another environment. Aging is fraught with changes that sometimes mean the loss of what is comfortable and familiar; and there is grief in that loss.

Support your parents’ aging in place by being proactive about home safety, fall prevention and additional caregiving when needed. Share with them that the willingness to accept help may be the price they pay for being able to continue to live in their home.

Likewise, accepting the need to move from home to a senior living community may be the price they pay for being able to hold on to some of their independence… which brings us full circle and back to where our discussion began!

Here are 3 sources of information that can help as you navigate providing support for elderly parents and other family members:

• Does The Older Adult in Your Life Need Help? (from the National Institute of Aging)
• Resources for Adult Children Caring for Parents (from Senior Lifestyle)
• Wellness Wednesday 1/15/2025 which lists resources in our area for caregivers

As parents age, a growing number of family caregivers are struggling in an unfamiliar role as parental figure to their own elderly parents. Suddenly, the tables have turned and determining to how accept and settle into this new dynamic can be challenging. There are a few steps that family caregivers can take to help ease the rigors of “parenting” your own elderly parents.

Allow yourself to mourn the “loss” of your parent.
Although they have not passed away, the person that you knew as your mother or father may be changing rapidly. It is okay to feel sad or angry about your relationship changing, and to allow yourself to mourn the loss of your previous relationship.

Maintain respect in your communications.
Elderly parents may be stubborn as well as embarrassed that they require assistance from their children for what was once a simple task, like bathing or getting to the grocery store. While caregiving in and of itself can be stressful, it is imperative to talk to your parents respectfully and ask them to do the same.

Set boundaries in your caregiving duties.
Regardless of how much you love your mother or father, neither of you may be comfortable with having to assist him or her with bathing or toileting. However, taking the time to establish boundaries of what you are capable of, and comfortable doing, will allow you to create a care plan for your parents with which all parties are confident. Remember, outside help, like that of a home care provider, can assist with tasks that are outside of your comfort zone.

Plan ahead to ensure security.
Long-term care can drain a family’s financial resources. However, by taking time to plan ahead, children may still be able to talk with their parents about available resources in the estate to pay for care, as well as their desires for long-term care. A realistic plan may help you feel as though there is some roadmap for your parents’ future, as well as yours as a caregiver, and provide relative peace of mind in an otherwise unnerving situation.

Get support.
Finding support as you transition into the role of caregiver is imperative to avoid harming your own mental and physical well-being. An overload of stress can quickly lead to medical conditions such as high blood pressure and depression, as well as overall feelings of anxiousness and fear. Support from siblings and friends and turning to online forums and local support groups are some healthy ways to cope. Transitioning from the role of child to parent is a major change in the parent-child relationship. Regardless of your previous relationship with your parents, it’s important to recognize your emotions about the transition and allow yourself to grieve in the process.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America’s Asthma Capitals™ report ranks the largest 100 cities in the contiguous U.S. by how challenging they are to live in when you have asthma. Yes, Detroit is number one (source AAFA Capitals Report)

Why Is Asthma Worse in September?

People with asthma and allergies are exposed to several triggers in September. Weed pollen, especially ragweed, the most common fall pollen allergy, is highest in September in the United States.  Mold counts go up as leaves collect outside. Children return to school and may catch respiratory infections. Extreme weather and wildfires are also a contributing factor. Flu and cold season is starting too.

How Can I Manage Asthma During September (and all year long)?

The best way to deal with asthma attacks is to prevent them before they begin. If your asthma is not under control, talk with your doctor as soon as possible.

• Follow your Asthma Action Plan to keep your asthma under control. If you do not have one, click here to get started: Asthma Action Plan.
• Schedule an appointment with your doctor or asthma specialist. Be ready to talk about current symptoms, medicines, and triggers.
• Take your asthma medicines as prescribed by your doctor.
• Get your vaccines. They take about 2 weeks to take effect in your body, so get them as soon as they are available. Yearly vaccines are usually available in September.
• Take steps to avoid getting sick. Wash your hands often and for at least 20 seconds. Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, and nose, especially during cold and flu season. Stay away from people who are sick as much as possible.
• Wear a mask. When respiratory illnesses are spreading, wear a good-fitting N95 mask in crowded indoor spaces. Also wear N95 masks if wildfire smoke is in your area or if you are cleaning up after a natural disaster or flood. Masks can also help if you have pollen or mold allergy.
• Good ventilation and air filters can improve your indoor air quality (IAQ). HEPA-certified air cleaners, HEPA filters on your HVAC system, exhaust fans, and open doors/windows can improve the air in your indoor spaces.  
• If you are allergic to ragweed or mold, try to limit your exposure to those allergens.
• Take care of your health. Adequate sleep and water, a healthy diet, and exercise are important. Keep your stress levels down.

How can I make my home asthma-friendly?

• Keep windows and doors shut during high-pollen times of the year, including Peak Week.
• Ask everyone to take their shoes off before coming inside.
• Keep your hair covered outside.
• Shower and wash your hair before bed.
• Use a HEPA filter in your HVAC system.
• Pay attention to air quality reports if pollution or smoke triggers your attacks.
• Avoid asthma triggers such

Tobacco: Declare your home smoke- and vape-free. Do your best to ensure no one smokes near you or in any place you spend a lot of time.
Dust mites: Dust mites thrive in humid environments, so keep humidity low. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter regularly on floors, rugs, and carpets, and wash and dry your bedding thoroughly.
Pests: Store food and trash in sealed containers. Clean dishes and food messes right away. Use pesticides as directed, but avoid foggers, as they can trigger attacks.
Mold: Dry wet items promptly and properly and consider using a dehumidifier. Fix water leaks, which can allow mold to grow in hidden places. Avoid harsh cleaners as they can trigger an attack.

Guns are the number one killer of children and teens in the United States. Almost every other day, a child gets their hands on a gun and unintentionally kills or wounds themselves or someone else in the United States. Research shows that the most effective way to prevent children from accessing firearms is by making sure all guns are stored unloaded, locked, and separate from ammunition.

More than half of gun owners don’t lock all of their guns securely, and an estimated 4.6 million children live in a home with at least one unlocked and loaded gun in the US. When guns are not securely stored, tragedy can strike ― whether it’s a child finding a firearm and wounding or killing themselves or someone else, or someone accessing it and using it to commit a crime.
 

There are steps we can all take, gun owners and non-gun owners alike, to make sure kids cannot access guns and put themselves and others in danger. State lawmakers passed the Secure Storage Law for Firearms in Michigan. This legislation requires firearm owners to safely store their firearms when someone younger than 18 years old is, or is likely to be, present. That means keeping unattended firearms unloaded and locked with a locking device or stored in a locked box or container.

All families need to have a conversation with children about firearm safety. Also, if your child is going to someone else's home, don’t hesitate to ask if firearms are present and how they’re stored.

Be SMART about gun storage and safety:

• S: secure all guns in your home and vehicle
• M: model responsible behavior around guns
• A: ask about the presence of unsecured guns in other homes
• R: recognize the role of guns in suicide
• T: tell your peers to be SMART

Additional Resources:

Project ChildSafe

Information on how to obtain a FREE gun safety kit and where to obtain a FREE gun trigger lock in 230 cities in Michigan.

Gun Safety and Children - C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital | University of Michigan Health

• Gun Storage
• Guns at homes of others
• Teaching children about what to do in the presence of a gun
• Adolescents, teens, and guns
• Non-powder guns, BB guns, and toy guns

Parents' Guide to Home Firearm Safety (umich.edu)

Information regarding firearms safety among children and teens. Great resource for families.

https://mifrp.org/prevention-tools/firearms/

The Michigan Fatality Review and Prevention, provides information regarding Prevention Resources, and Firearm Storage resources.

Holding onto Life Toolkit (michigan.gov)

The holding onto life toolkit is discusses firearms and focuses on suicide prevention

Michigan - American Firearms Training (concealedcarryonline.com)

This course reviews the fundamentals of safety and gun handling, including transportation, storage, and firing in defensive situations. The course includes easy-to-understand safety instructions and is filmed in a professional production, with a state-certified instructor. The course takes 90 minutes to complete and is free of charge.

Online Learning | Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention (umich.edu)

• The University of Michigan has provided free online courses about the Firearm Safety Among Children and Teens, Injury Prevention for Children and Teens, and Preventing Gun Violence.