3-2-1: How You Can Help Teens Build Healthy Habits
Holiday treats and New Year’s resolutions can serve as opportunities for adolescents to reflect on their eating, exercise, and nutrition habits. Healthy habits in the teen years can support teens’ development now and their health in the future. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services/Office of Adolescent Health has some suggestions below for adults to keep in mind as they support teens.
Folic Acid is Important for Pregnant Women
January 8-14, 2019 is Folic Acid Awareness Week. The National Birth Defects Prevention Network promotes this week to increase awareness of the importance of consuming enough folic acid, particularly for pregnant women. Folic acid is a B-vitamin that is necessary for proper cell growth. If taken before and during early pregnancy from a multi-vitamin or fortified foods, folic acid can prevent from 50% up to 70% of some forms of serious birth defects of the brain and spine. Experts recommend that women who may become pregnant should take 400 micrograms of synthetic folic acid daily, by:
January is National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month
Many young women are missing the opportunity to be screened for cervical cancer. As January is National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, WHA would like to remind you of the importance of cervical cancer prevention and early detection. Cervical cancer, which forms in the tissues of the cervix (the organ connecting the uterus and vagina), is almost always caused by human papilloma virus (HPV) infection, which is spread through sexual contact.