Articles by Amanda Merck

School Principal Steers a Culture of Cycling with Bike Safety and BMX Trails

November 30, 2015

In 2009 Douglas Johnson, the new principal at Mountlake Terrace Elementary School in Mountlake Terrace, Wash., realized the enormity of physical inactivity and obesity in his community. Many kids lack safe, quality opportunities for physical activity, which heightens their risk for obesity and disease. Safe biking opportunities provide one avenue to improve the situation. Johnson and other leaders at Mountlake Terrace started taking advantage of existing opportunities offered by local cycling clubs. Soon, they began creating their opportunities and helped bring new bikes, helmets, and a brand-new bike trail to the school to expand students’ ability to get the physical activity they need to stay healthy. Kids Aren't Playing Enough In 2009 Douglas Johnson, the new principal ...

Study: A Dose of Gratitude Keeps the Heart Young and Healthy

November 25, 2015

It’s the time of the year when we’re feeling grateful for being healthy, having a loving family and a job, but do you know gratitude can also keep your heart healthy? A study led by Paul Mills, professor of family medicine and public health at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine recruited 186 men and women who suffered from heart disease “either through years of sustained high blood pressure or as a result of a heart attack or even an infection of the heart itself.” During the study, Mills asked each participant to fill out a questionnaire to rate how grateful they were for the people, places or things in their lives. “We found that more gratitude in these patients was associated with better mood, better sleep, less fatigue and lower levels of ...

#SaludTues Tweetchat 1p ET 11/24/2015: Thanksgiving Muy Healthy

November 21, 2015

We love to spend time with family and friends—hence Thanksgiving is one of the most important holidays for people in the U.S. Many families combine the traditional Thanksgiving dishes like turkey and pecan pie with popular specialties such as tamales, pozole and empanadas. Unfortunately, diabetes and cardiovascular disease affect the community in big numbers and for this reason is important that we make healthy choices this holiday season. Join #SaludTues this Tuesday, Nov.24, 1 pm ET, we’ll be sharing healthy recipes and ideas to have a muy healthy Thanksgiving dinner. WHAT: #SaludTuesTweetchat: “Thanksgiving Muy Healthy” DATE: Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2015 TIME: 1-2 p.m. ET (Noon-1 p.m. CT) WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues HOST: @SaludAmerica ...

#SaludTues Tweetchat 1p ET 11/17/15: Diabetes

November 13, 2015

Diabetes is one of the major illnesses that impacts all people, including Latinos. Yet it is also one of the more preventable and treatable illnesses. Do you know how important a healthy diet and exercise are to preventing or controlling diabetes? What's the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes? How often should you check your glucose levels? Let’s use #SaludTues on Nov. 17, 2015, to tweet about all the need-to-know facts about diabetes. WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: “Diabetes” TIME/DATE: 1-2 p.m. ET (Noon-1 p.m. CT), Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015 WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues HOST: @SaludAmerica CO-HOSTS: USA.gov (@USAgov); Diabetes Hands Foundation (@diabetesHF); U.S. FDA (@FDAenEspanol) Together with our partners, we’ll discuss: Key ...

Obesity is on the Rise in the U.S.

November 12, 2015

Obesity is on the rise in the United States, including among Latinos, according to a new CDC study, CBS News reports. The results come as a surprise after a decade of public-awareness campaigns and efforts to get Americans to watch their weight. According to the report by the CDC, the obesity rate of U.S. adults climbed to 38% from 32%, almost a decade ago. "This is a striking finding and suggests that a situation that was thought to be stable is getting worse", Dr. William Dietz, an obesity expert at George Washington University, told CBS News. But some experts warn that the study done by the CDC “may not have been representative of the nation as a whole.” The study was based on surveys conducted in 2013-2014 and found the rate of obesity to be higher among American women ...

Neighborhood Renovates Kelly Park & Soccer Field in Community in Chicago

November 12, 2015

In the past 10 years, the Thomas Kelly High School girls’ soccer team has been one of the winningest teams in Chicago. But they don’t even have their own field to practice or play on. The school is in Southwest Chicago’s Brighton Park Neighborhood (83% Latino), an area that is burdened by high rates of obesity and physical inactivity due to less options for safe, quality recreational facilities than other parts of Chicago. The Brighton Park Neighborhood Council (BPNC) organized a campaign to renovate Kelly Park, the park adjacent to Kelly High School, to build a turf football/soccer field to make the park safer for students and families. The Issue of No Safe Places for Physical Activity Awareness: Patrick Brosnan, Sara Reschly, and other Brighton Park residents saw how ...

11 millones de personas en riesgo de perder su vista a causa de la diabetes

November 11, 2015

Doctor examining pregnant womans blood sugar

La retinopatía diabética es una de los tipos de enfermedad más comunes que afecta los ojos de diabéticos. Actualmente esta condición afecta a más de 7 millones de personas en EE.UU y se pronostica que para el 2013 afectara a más de 30 millones, según el instituto nacional de los ojos (NEI). Los latinos, nativos americanos y afroamericanos están a mayor riesgo. “Lamentablemente, solo la mitad de las personas con diabetes se hace un examen completo de los ojos con dilatación de las pupilas.” según lo ha expuesto el experto del Instituto Nacional del Ojo, el Dr. Eduardo Alfonso. “Este examen es clave para detectar la enfermedad diabética del ojo en sus primeras etapas, cuando se puede tratar efectivamente.” Las enfermedades de diabetes en el ojo incluyen ...

11 Million Americans at Risk for Diabetic Eye Disease

November 9, 2015

health fraud woman with glasses wary questioning eye health vision

Diabetic retinopathy, the most common type of diabetic eye disease, affects more than 7 million Americans and that number is expected to rise to 11 million by 2030, according to the National Eye Institute (NEI). Some people are at higher risk. “Only about half of all people with diabetes get an annual comprehensive dilated eye exam, which is essential for detecting diabetic eye disease early, when it is most treatable,” Dr. Paul Sieving, director of the NEI said in a press release. Diabetic eye disease is a group of conditions including cataract, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy and everyone with type 1 and type 2 diabetes is at risk. What can you do if you have diabetes? Take your medications as prescribed by your doctor Reach and maintain a healthy weight ...

#SaludTues Tweetchat 1p ET 11/3/15: “How Swimming Can Level the Playing Field for Kids”

November 1, 2015

Swimming is one of the best physical activities because it requires all major muscle groups and had proven to increase children’s confidence, motor skills, and academic achievement. But not everyone has the same access to swimming facilities and lessons. This increases a child's risk of drowning, and fewer opportunities to swim or learn how to swim means kids can't do water-based physical activities, such as underwater handstands, sink-and-seek, diving, water aerobics, tubing, kayaking, paddle boarding, boating, skiing, and fishing. Join #SaludTues on No. 3, 2015, to tweet about how communities can increase children's access to swimming lessons and facilities to decrease their risk of drowning and increase their participation in numerous life-enriching water activities: ...

About the Author

Amanda Merck

Connect with Amanda: