HEALTH & WELLNESS

By Heart.org | ContributorDespite the best of intentions, it’s common for plans to build healthier habits to fall flat. Often, the culprit isn’t a lack of motivation or discipline; rather, it’s unrealistic expectations.Overhauling your lifestyle requires a level of commitment that isn’t always practical. Understanding your personal health needs and the challenges you need to overcome can help give you a more realistic roadmap toward better health.Tools to Guide YouEvery plan needs a starting point and there are many reputable sources that can help guide you toward a plan that addresses your personal health needs.For example, the American Heart Association introduced My Life Check, a simple, free tool to help individuals understand their heart health and what’s driving it. Users answer simp...

By American Heart Association | ContributorTaking care of your heart with healthy behaviors may be at the top of your wellness priority list already, and there may be good news about the effects of adhering to expert recommendations.New information from the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease & Stroke Statistics Update shows deaths from heart disease and stroke are on the decline. However, rates continue to climb for high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity – all of which are health risk factors that contribute to cardiovascular disease.Following expert guidance can be your prescription for better health as 80% of heart disease and stroke is preventable.To help maintain and improve your cardiovascular health, consider following the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essen...

By Christa Melnyk Hines | ContributorWant to bring more joy into your home this year? Try shifting your mindset. Not only can adopting a more optimistic attitude create a happier life, you’ll influence how well your kids respond to life’s daily challenges too.“Children watch their parents. They pick up on moods and beliefs. A positive attitude is contagious–as is a negative attitude,” says psychologistDr. Kristen Hensley.Positively rewarding.A positive outlook boosts productivity, energy and motivation; helps reduce stress; enhances confidence and self-esteem; benefits health and even improves relationships with others.“A positive attitude can also help us be more flexible in our thinking and make seeing solutions to problems easier,” Hensley says. “Looking for silver linings in life can h...

By Family Features | ContributorAs you age, your doctor’s interest in your cholesterol level is likely to increase. That’s no coincidence. High cholesterol and age are two significant risk factors for heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the United States.You may not be able to slow the hands of time, but elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, also known as “bad” cholesterol, is one of the most significant addressable risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease. Uncontrolled high LDL-C can lead to death, heart attack, stroke or the need for a coronary revascularization.While statins are considered first-line treatment for people with high LDL cholesterol, an estimated 29% of patients stop taking their statin within the first year, based on findi...

By Tanni Haas, Ph.D. | ContributorHow can you tell if your kids are overwhelmed by stress or are just experiencing some minor challenges that they’re coping with in a healthy manner? How do you know if the stress they are experiencing has reached the level where it has become a real problem? Experts agree that you should pay close attention to the following physical, behavioral, and communicative symptoms of stress: Physical SymptomsChild psychologist Dr. Michele Borba says that seriously stressed kids frequently complain about various physical pains, including headaches, neck aches, backaches, and stomachaches, and often suffer from a variety of gastro-intestinal problems, including constipation, diarrhea and nausea. They also often feel lightheaded and experience changes in appetite – ei...

By Family Features for American Heart Association | ContributorHeart health is about more than just the heart itself. It’s a two-way street between the heart and the rest of the body. However, many U.S. adults aren’t aware of the connection between organs.According to a survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of the American Heart Association, 42% of U.S. adults do not understand how the heart can be impacted by other organ systems.Health issues in other organ systems, like the kidneys or metabolic system – which includes how the body manages weight and blood glucose – can lead to heart trouble.The close relationship between heart health, kidney health and metabolic health is known as cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic health, or CKM health, and it is the focus of an American Heart Asso...

Article courtesy of American Heart AssociationTaking just a few minutes to make a home-cooked dinner for yourself can be more deliciously satisfying — and healthier — than microwaving frozen dinners night after night. And it can be done without a lot of cleanup afterward. The key is to have a few basics stocked in the pantry and the freezer. Here are some must-have meal-builders for fast and healthy meals for one.Stock your pantryKeeping shelf-stable items on-hand means having quick meals at your fingertips, ready for you at any time!Canned tuna.The American Heart Association recommends eating fish — preferably oily fish that contain omega-3 fatty acids — at least twice a week. Very low sodium canned albacore tuna, packed in water, can help you meet those recommendations. Tuna is a classic...

By Justin Todd, co-founder ofAddictionResource.net | Guest ContributorNicotine pouch use among U.S. high school students has almost doubled between 2023 and 2024. This disturbing trend has serious health risks, including addiction, harm to brain development, mouth irritation, and more.Addiction rates among teenagers using nicotine pouches are a new public health crisis in need of immediate attention. Research from USC’s Keck School of Medicine reveals that 5.4 percent of high school students used nicotine pouches in 2024, compared to three percent in 2023. This surge may be largely due to the rise of social media “Zynfluencers” who promote these products by linking them to mental acuity, confidence, and masculinity, turning toxic nicotine products into marketing tools that bypass tobacco a...

Article Courtesy of American Heart AssociationHere are five foods to refresh your pantry:Canned fish or chicken.Very low sodium canned albacore tuna, packed in water, or chicken can be a go-to for sandwiches. Instead of mayo, stir in fat-free or low-fat plain yogurt. Not in the mood for a sandwich? Stir canned tuna or chicken into a low-sodium pasta sauce or add as a protein to a green salad.Canned beans and vegetables.Canned vegetables and beans can help make a meal in minutes. Add no-salt-added or low-sodium canned beans to a salad for a vegetarian entrée. Or sauté beans in a small amount of olive oil with garlic, add low-sodium tomato sauce and serve over whole-grain pasta. Canned veggies, such as green beans, can be sauteed and added to pasta. Choose lower-sodium options when buying ca...

By Mercedes Korngut and Anastasia Korngut | Co-Founders, Smallbitsofhappiness.comWe hope that through these journal prompts, you practice self-reflection on your life and process some large emotions.In an interview with psychologist and professor, Ethan Kross, he shared that journaling is one of the most effective ways to regulate our emotions. Yet, it is also one of the least utilized. Why? Well, for starters, journaling takes time and effort. We need to sit down, deeply consider what we’re feeling and why, and somehow verbalize these experiences onto the page.However, if we can only push through the initial avoidance that we face in doing difficult tasks, and understand the importance and value of journaling on our happiness and resilience, we can build it into a positive happiness habit...