Bright Beginnings of Prince George's County

11/01/2022

04/29/2022

Ever find reading nutrition fact labels difficult when trying to make health food choices? Well you’re not alone! The Nutrition Facts labels that are found on food and beverage packages is key in determining the most nutritious and heart healthy foods for you. For guidance on reading food labels, visit fda.gov and search "Nutrition Education Resources and Materials"

04/28/2022

Getting vaccinated is so important in staying healthy and preventing diseases! Unfortunately, there are thousands of unvaccinated people around the U.S. who develop life-threatening diseases that could have been preventable with vaccinations. If you have conditions related to heart health or diabetes, you should most definitely talk to your doctor, and make sure you are up to date with vaccinations to prevent serious complications! Check out cdc.gov/vaccinations for more info about vaccinations and disease prevention.

04/26/2022

About 1 in 5 heterosexual women ages 15-49 with no previous births are unable to get pregnant after one year of trying (cdc.org). This is known as infertility and it is more common than you think. That's why knowing the facts about infertility such as the causes and risk factors can be beneficial, especially for couples who have been trying to get pregnant for months. Both men and women can contribute to infertility, and there are many similiar and different risk factors that can play a huge part when it comes to fertility between both genders. For women, chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes can make it difficult to ovulate or conceive. Also, STDs that are left untreated can lead to complications such as damage to the fallopian tubes, uterus, and surrounding tissue which can lead to infertility. For more information on infertility such as the causes and risk factors, visit resolve.org

04/25/2022

This week is National Infertility Awareness week! NIAW is a movement dedicated to reducing the stigma and educating others about issues surrounding reproductive health. Many people have difficulties building families due to infertility, and we must support and empower those who are facing challenges like these. Visit infertilityawareness.org to learn more about the importance of infertility awareness!

04/22/2022

Diabetes and Cardiovascular Diseases often go hand in hand! Changing lifestyle habits like exercising more and eating nutritious foods can not only lower your risk of develping heart related conditions, but it can also help with managing diabetes! Knowing the facts and misconceptions about these conditions is vital to your overall health.  Visit cdc.gov/diabetes and click "Living with Diabetes" for all things related to diabetes/prevention including the links between diabetes and heart disease.

04/21/2022

Did you know? Cholesterol is not all that bad for your health. Your body needs cholesterol for many reasons like digestion, making hormones, etc. But, having too much can be harmful to your health. There are two types in your blood, one is good cholesterol that your body needs, which is known as HDL, and one is bad, which is known as LDL. LDL may come in foods like meat or dairy. Too much LDL and too little HDL can put you at a greater risk of developing heart related conditions like coronary heart disease. So, testing your cholesterol levels is key in preventing heart disease/stroke! Learn how you can prevent high cholesterol levels at heart.org and search "About Cholesterol" for management/prevention tips.

04/20/2022

Trauma is an experience that causes major stress, emotionally and psychologically. It's important to know that those who go through any form of trauma may have different experiences affecting their overall well-being. Today, we see cyberbulling and many forms of abuse on the internet that can be very harmful and have serious impacts to one's health. Supporting those who have survived traumatic experiences like these, and educating yourself and others can help us raise awareness and put an end to sexual violence, harassment, cyberbulling, and many other traumatic experiences! For resources on supporting survivors, or finding support for yourself, visit nsvrc.org

04/19/2022

Long term stress can take a toll on many vital parts of the body, like your heart. Stress hormones cause an increase in heart rate/blood pressure which can be useful in certain situations. But if this occurs for long periods of time, thats when you may be most susceptible to eventually developing heart conditions. Learning to manage your stress like recognizing that we can't control all situations and talking to others, are two of many ways that can help alleviate stress. For more info, visit stress.org for all info/articles on managing stress/heart related conditions.

04/18/2022

April is Women's Eye Health and Safety Month! Compared to men, women have a greater risk of developing vision health issues. Did you know? Those with diabetes are also at an increased risk of developing vision health problems. Diabetic retinoplathy is a common complication of diabetes, which is when high blood sugar can damage blood vessels in the retina, however, this is very preventable! (cdc.gov) By seeing an eye doctor on a regular basis, you can prevent complications through early detection and treatment! For more tips on preventing vision health issues, visit cdc.gov and search "Vision Health Initiative."

'sEyeHealthandSafetyMonth

04/15/2022

Managing conditions related to high blood pressure during pregnancy is so important in reducing the risk of serious complications! If you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant, and are at high risk for developing preeclampsia, (high blood pressure that develops during pregnancy or in the postpartum period) talking to a doctor is so beneficial in preventing poor health outcomes for you and your baby! Those at high risk are often seen in african american women, in those who have had preeclampsia in their previous pregnancy, those who have chronic high blood pressure or have diabetes (from health.gov). More information on preeclampsia/prevention, can be found on health.gov and search "Preventing Preeclampsia: Questions for the Doctor."

04/14/2022

Feeling stressed lately? Did you know stress can affect your blood glucose levels? Not only should you try and find relaxation methods to ease your stress, but it's also vital to remember to focus on your diabetes care! Stress can make it difficult to focus on your diabetes care in many ways- by not eating enough or eating too little, and it may make you forget to take medications. There are tons of tips on managing stress with diabetes! Visit diabetes.org and search "Ease Diabetes Stress."