Iowa Radiology Blog

Quitting smoking is hard. Nicotine is highly addictive, so even occasional smokers can become dependent on it. Maybe you started by sharing a cigarette with friends and then found yourself reaching for one when you felt stressed, tired, or bored. In time, it can become difficult to imagine life without smoking. How does this happen?

Why calculate BMI?

BMI is a widely used measure because it’s easy, convenient, and non-invasive. Anyone can quickly calculate their BMI at home with no information other than their current height and weight. You can calculate it yourself using a formula, or you can use any number of free online BMI calculators. While this can give most people a general idea of whether they are carrying extra weight, it falls short in some important ways. 

Are you wondering if now is a good time to get tested for lung cancer, even if you’re not currently experiencing any symptoms? Getting a screening early is a good idea to make sure you’re healthy or identify potential cancer before it spreads. 

It’s been understood for decades that tobacco smoking is the single leading cause of lung cancer, causing an estimated 1.5 to 2 million deaths per year. Eighty-five percent of lung cancers occur in current or former smokers. This year, there is a new reason to quit smoking: COVID-19. Recent studies indicate that when infected with the novel coronavirus, tobacco smokers are more likely to develop severe infections, to need mechanical ventilation, and to die as a result of the illness. This is not surprising, given that smoking causes damage that inhibits the lungs’ ability to clean and repair themselves. Along with getting plenty of exercise, eating healthy, and managing stress, avoiding cigarettes is one if the top ways to keep your immune system in good working order during the pandemic.

The strategy of closing businesses and advising residents to stay at home is, by design, isolating. That’s good for limiting the damage that the coronavirus known as COVID-19 is able to inflict in our communities. Isolation, however, comes at a cost. In the best of circumstances, restrictions on where you can go, what you can do, and who you can see in person would be hard to deal with. The stress of a new, fast-spreading illness and uncertainty about the future make it even more troubling. How can these changes in our daily lives affect our health?

In a time when so much seems beyond our control, we want to control what we can. While it’s likely that many Americans will contract the coronavirus, the severity of any individual’s illness is difficult to predict. One thing we each can do is give our immune systems what they need to be in top shape to fight whatever comes our way. Here are seven ways you can support your immune system.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both women and men in the U.S., accounting for approximately 25% of all deaths. Fortunately, many of the factors that contribute to heart disease are within your control. You can lower your risk by following these five tips. 

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., accounting for one in four deaths. Last year, the American Heart Association reported that a staggering 48% of Americans are living with some form of cardiovascular disease, which includes coronary artery disease, stroke, heart failure, and high blood pressure. Many factors influence your individual risk, and you can reduce or eliminate some, but not all, of these risk factors by adopting healthy behaviors.

Since 1997, November has been recognized in the U.S. as National Family Caregivers Month. At this time each year, we honor the everyday heroism of the more than 40 million Americans who serve this role. The AARP Public Policy Institute determined that that in 2013, family caregivers provided 37 billion hours of care to adults who needed help with everyday activities, estimating the economic value of this work at $470 billion.[1]

Although it’s important to be aware of changes in your body—particularly if they may indicate cancer—it’s also important to realize that our bodies go through plenty of normal, healthy changes throughout our lives. For women, these often include changes in breast shape and texture.