In the News

Breast Cancer Awareness Month started on October 1. To celebrate, you plan to make an appointment with your provider to get a mammogram, yes? If not, you’re not alone.

Your pregnancy test came back positive — good for you! Your first thought may be to let your closest loved ones know, but the next may very well be, “Now what do I do?” When it comes to you and your developing child’s health, every question is a good question.

As the population continues to age, more people are providing care to a family member or loved one. Data provided by Mayo Clinic states that approximately one out of three adults in the United States provides care to another adult as an informal (untrained) caregiver.

With much of the world able to allow freer movement and open businesses, you may feel like you’re starting to get your life back to normal. A return to a normal lifestyle may include your favorite things like indoor dining and the kids returning to in-person schooling. But it also means the return of flu season.

Medical emergencies always generate a feeling of stress and fear of what might happen. While that is completely normal, whether it be sickness or injury, it’s very important to be prepared to seek the appropriate medical attention.

One of the trickle-down effects of the pandemic that providers have experienced is sicker patients due to deferred testing. One test that understandably went by the wayside is the colonoscopy.

Imagine having a care team that is available to help with your physical, emotional, and spiritual health needs, and is ready to provide high-quality care when you need it the most. For Equality Health members, this type of interdisciplinary care team is a reality.

Right about now, most kids are paying little to no attention to anything having to do with going back to school. While the reality of school may lurk vaguely in the back of their minds, kids usually have definite feelings about going back into the classroom.

When it comes to risk-taking — doing something that can be harmful or dangerous — men clearly outdo women. That risky behavior has put men way behind women when it comes to their health.

Most people don’t look forward to getting vaccinated. Maybe for the promise of protection, yes; but not for the ouch of the shot and possible reactions. For some of you, the hesitancy might go beyond skin deep. Memories, history and stories may make you shy away from any kind of vaccination.

No matter where you go on planet Earth, women have held an important role in the development and evolution of the human race. For starters, everyone has a mother. During the nine months your mother carried you, her body provided nourishment for your developing body. Women are the predominant caretakers in the world. They are unique and exceptional beings filled with love.

On the first Saturday in April, the U.S. celebrates National Love Our Children Day. The fitting start to National Child Abuse Prevention Month places attention on the hidden epidemic of violence toward and neglect of children. It’s a reminder for everyone to appreciate children and develop loving and respectful relationships with them.

The rollout of the long awaited COVID-19 vaccine had a bumpy beginning. Limited supplies made efforts to receive a dose hit-and-miss for many, but combined with significant access barriers, the vaccine became virtually impossible for underserved communities to receive it.

For Lourdes Martínez, a 55-year-old woman from south Phoenix, the COVID-19 pandemic brought stress beyond that of the virus. This extra layer of stress came from the suspension of nonurgent medical procedures.

With COVID-19 vaccines now available throughout the United States, the number of people in Arizona qualified to receive the vaccine has opened up, and many people have been fully vaccinated. Information that’s provided when vaccines are given reveal a clearer picture about the number of people affected by this virus.

The recent rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in Arizona has brought a feeling of hope and relief in defeating this new virus — not only for those who have received the vaccine, but for the rest of the community patiently waiting for theirs as well.

Now that 2020 has passed, the good news is you made it through one of the most difficult years in the nation’s recent history. Though the start of 2021 brings renewed hope with an opportunity to improve your life by achieving goals and attaining new heights, this new year comes with its own new challenges and obstacles.