Addressing Diabetes in Arizona
One in nine Arizonans have diabetes and it is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There are more than 29 million people with diabetes in the United States. The disease affects men and women, people young and old, and people of all races, shapes, and sizes. We have programs [...]
Get Smart About Antibiotics Week
Get Smart About Antibiotics Week, November 14 to 20, raises awareness of the threat of antibiotic resistance and the importance of appropriate antibiotic prescribing and use. Each year in the United States, at least two million people become infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics and at least 23,000 people die as a direct result of these infections. Antibiotic [...]
Valley Fever Awareness Week is Here
An estimated 150,000 people are infected each year in the United States by the fungus that causes Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis). The fungus is mostly found in the Southwest with 65 percent of all nationally reported cases residing in Arizona. There are more than 5,000 reported cases and 700 hospitalizations in Arizona each year. Although anyone who has been in an [...]
State Plan Focuses on Action Plan to Help People with Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s is one of the most common form of more than 100 forms of dementias. The disease attacks brain cells, causing problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging; it is a progressive disease that worsens over time affecting nearly one in three older adults who die each year. Alzheimer’s is the fourth leading [...]
New Report Asks Physicians to Support Increased Breastfeeding
Supporting breastfeeding mothers and babies is an important part of the Arizona Department of Health Services efforts to decrease childhood obesity. The United States Preventive Services Task Force has just updated their recommendations for primary care providers to include breastfeeding support during pregnancy and after birth. Evidence shows that these steps can increase the duration and rates of breastfeeding, including [...]