(EMAILWIRE.COM, April 05, 2012 ) Highland, California - Beginning April 2, 2012, the American Public Health Association (APHA) is encouraging all Americans to work together to make small changes in their lives to help prevent chronic diseases and communicable diseases to create a healthier America.
From April 2-8, APHA recognizes National Public Health Week, as an opportunity to empower our families, friends, neighbors and, perhaps most importantly, ourselves to live healthier lives.
Join communitydispatch.com in working to help others make their communities a healthier place to live, work and raise a family.
Take a moment and make just one positive change a day that will help you live a healthier life. These seemingly small actions can have a big impact when they’re spread throughout an entire family, community and nation.
We need to recognize that improving our nation’s public health can be done with small changes to our daily routine,” said Pat Reed, Community Editor. “From eating less fatty and unhealthy foods to enacting smoke-free policies that improve air quality and protect individuals from secondhand smoke, we can all make a difference in helping people live healthier and longer lives.”
Increasing awareness on how to live longer lives is the first step in helping to create a healthier community. Below are resources, tips and information to help celebrate and promote NPHW 2012. Visit and promote the following sites over the next several days:
• Prevent Strokes - Did you know that 9 in 10 Americans aged 2 years and older eat too much sodium. There is strong evidence that eating too much sodium raises blood pressure, and high blood pressure is the most important modifiable risk factor for stroke. Learn how to reduce sodium in your diet thereby preventing the risks of stroke and high blood pressure: http://communitydispatch.com/1/stroke
• Healthy eating – add more fruits and vegetables to your daily meals, and pay attention to portion sizes. Follow the guidelines at www.choosemyplate.gov
• Alcohol use – excessive alcohol use causes approximately 79,000 deaths in the United States each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Learn more about the impact of alcohol use on your health at www.cdc.gov/alcohol/index.htm.
• Learn more and participate in National Public Health Week at www.nphw.org
Since 1995, when the first full week of April was declared National Public Health Week (NPHW), communities across the United States have observed NPHW as a time to recognize the contributions of public health and highlight issues that are important to improving the public’s health.
The American Public Health Association (APHA) serves as the organizer of NPHW and develops a national campaign to educate the public, policymakers and practitioners about issues related to that year’s theme. APHA creates comprehensive planning, organizing and outreach materials that can be used during and after the week to raise awareness.
