It’s an odd feeling. This has happened a few times:
“I thought you quit?” my friend would say as I reached, again, for my NYC-priced Camel Blues (at that time, $15 a pack 😱).
“Sure,” I’d say. “I quit lots of times.”
Undermining, of course, the whole notion of quitting. That’s the nature of bad habits.
You know smoking’s not good for you. It hurts others. It’s expensive. And that’s nothing compared to the cancer, COPD, asthma, or heart disease you’ll almost certainly get. Diseases you can easily avoid by not smoking.
But you do it anyway.
Believe me. I feel for you. More than once, I’ve decided, triumphantly, to finally quit smoking — and then reached for the next one within the same 30-second span.
It’s humbling. And it’s made it easier to empathize with, rather than judge, those who suffer from addiction.
I haven’t smoked for over 9 years now. Haven’t even wanted to. How’d I do it?
Everyone who quits will do it their own way. In my case, I took up yoga.
For someone who smoked, it was miserable at first. I was gasping for breath, dizzy, and inflexible. But that post-yoga feeling was unlike anything I’d ever experienced — wrung out, calm, happy, at peace — and I didn’t want to trade it for anything.
Not even cigarettes.
That’s the true power of habit — on both sides of the coin. Sure, it’s easy to slip into bad habits, to talk yourself into self-indulgence. But it’s also easy to develop, and stick to, good habits.
Once you get in the habit. 😉
Replace bad habits with good ones.
It doesn’t have to be hot yoga (but try it!) — just anything that gets the monkey off your back. Get your mind off cigarette cravings with a quick walk. Ten push-ups. A game on your phone. A phone call to friends or family. A carrot. A handstand. A song and dance. Whatever it takes
The sooner you quit, the lower your risk for painful disease, hospital bills, and bitter regrets.
Log in now. Peruse our new slideshow: “What Happens When You Quit Smoking Tobacco.” The health benefits start within minutes — and will last you the rest of your (now longer) life.
Check back soon to see more updates on the Smoking Cessation learning page!
It’s an odd feeling. This has happened a few times:
“I thought you quit?” my friend would say as I reached, again, for my NYC-priced Camel Blues (at that time, $15 a pack 😱).
“Sure,” I’d say. “I quit lots of times.”
Undermining, of course, the whole notion of quitting. That’s the nature of bad habits.
You know smoking’s not good for you. It hurts others. It’s expensive. And that’s nothing compared to the cancer, COPD, asthma, or heart disease you’ll almost certainly get. Diseases you can easily avoid by not smoking.
But you do it anyway.
Believe me. I feel for you. More than once, I’ve decided, triumphantly, to finally quit smoking — and then reached for the next one within the same 30-second span.
It’s humbling. And it’s made it easier to empathize with, rather than judge, those who suffer from addiction.
I haven’t smoked for over 9 years now. Haven’t even wanted to. How’d I do it?
Everyone who quits will do it their own way. In my case, I took up yoga.
For someone who smoked, it was miserable at first. I was gasping for breath, dizzy, and inflexible. But that post-yoga feeling was unlike anything I’d ever experienced — wrung out, calm, happy, at peace — and I didn’t want to trade it for anything.
Not even cigarettes.
That’s the true power of habit — on both sides of the coin. Sure, it’s easy to slip into bad habits, to talk yourself into self-indulgence. But it’s also easy to develop, and stick to, good habits.
Once you get in the habit. 😉
Replace bad habits with good ones.
It doesn’t have to be hot yoga (but try it!) — just anything that gets the monkey off your back. Get your mind off cigarette cravings with a quick walk. Ten push-ups. A game on your phone. A phone call to friends or family. A carrot. A handstand. A song and dance. Whatever it takes
The sooner you quit, the lower your risk for painful disease, hospital bills, and bitter regrets.
Log in now. Peruse our new slideshow: “What Happens When You Quit Smoking Tobacco.” The health benefits start within minutes — and will last you the rest of your (now longer) life.
Check back soon to see more updates on the Smoking Cessation learning page!
Few comments are more grating — except maybe “Awww, somebody’s got a case of the Mondays!” — especially if you are in a bad mood.
“I’ll show you how to cheer up ...” [brandishes fist].
Grumpy, blue, stressed, mopey, sulky — whatever your brand of bad mood is, you probably do need to cheer up if it’s that noticeable.
But that, like so much else, is easier said than done.
“Case of the Mondays? ... Some days, I swear ...”
If you find yourself muttering under your breath more often than you’d like, remember that moods change. Feelings are fickle things.
The same circumstances that make you tear your hair out today might not even phase you tomorrow.
And you have a lot more control over your moods than you might think. Moods often have more to do with what’s going on inside your body than what’s happening out in the world.
It’s not about just looking on the bright side. Or ignoring the sadness, or explaining it away. You don’t have to see the silver lining for every cloud, or deny how overwhelming and exhausting life can be. We all have a right to our feelings. But you have to admit, it all seems even worse when you’re in a bad mood.
And you can take concrete steps to feel better than you do now.
Next time you’re down in the dumps, ask yourself these questions before you react to your coworkers, send that snide email, yell at your kids, or make any important decisions.
How to Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself
👉 Did you sleep well last night?
Just try feeling good when you get up early for work after a late night of Netflix and noshing nachos. Just try maintaining a positive mental attitude when your 6 am alarm drags you kicking and screaming into hateful wakefulness. Even if the adrenaline and caffeine get you through the morning, the afternoon slump is gonna getcha. And when your weary brain is making you overreact to some mundane challenge, the last thing you need is for a coworker to snark, “Looks like somebody needs a nap ...”
👉 When’s the last time you ate (and what was it?)
Just as with sleep, what and when you eat has a huge impact on how you feel. Anyone with kids sees the direct relationship between junk food and temper tantrums, let alone inconsistent bedtimes (see above).
But the same is true for adults operating on too little sleep and unhealthy breakfasts come mid-afternoon. By the time we try to combat fatigue and low blood sugar with a sugary snack and extra coffee, the result is often irritability — or even an embarrassing tantrum — over little things.
Woe to the unfortunate soul who gets in the way of a hangry, over-caffeinated office worker.
👉 Have you been exercising? Like, at all?
When you move, sweat, and get your heart rate up, your body makes these feel-good chemicals called endorphins all by itself. It’s amazing! No other drug — not alcohol, caffeine, prescription meds, or herbal supplements — comes close to that natural high. There’s no shortcut. No substitute. You can’t fake it! You have to move. The bonus is that regular exercise helps you sleep better and feel more motivated to choose healthy foods, which in turn can help you avoid bad moods.
Move your body. There’s no better way to feel better.
👉 Are you taking care of yourself in other ways?
Find a daily practice that helps you keep things in perspective, regardless of your current mood. This can be your exercise — yoga, walking, hiking, yardwork, whatever you like. Or maybe it’s doing the day’s crossword, reading a novel at the coffeeshop, journaling, or playing a game. Or woodworking, building model airplanes, making art, or cooking delicious food. Or just sitting and meditating. Whatever gets you out of your own head and into that flow state, when you’re in the zone and fully focused on what you’re doing right now.
The trick is to make it a regular practice. Don’t wait till you feel like doing something — that moment might never come. Just do it because that’s what you do.
You might be surprised how a daily practice can recenter you and bring you back to a place of mindful self-awareness. It can help you keep things in context and take them in stride instead of overreacting because you’re feeling snappy.
Perspective is everything.
Not to sound callous, but sometimes you just have to get over yourself. The world is no worse of a place after 4 hours of sleep than it is after 8, but it can definitely feel that way. Recognize your own limits — and your own power — when it comes to letting your mood affect your day.
Before you try pinning the blame on work frustrations, personal problems, the state of the world, social injustice, climate change — or even the constant eye-rolling from your teen — cover the basics. Get your sleep. Eat good food. Get active. Don’t reach for booze or coffee or a doughnut every time you want to feel better.
It won’t solve all your problems. But it can make them feel a whole lot less daunting — and can do a lot to brighten a bad mood.
Log in now. Learn more about handling what gets you down — even if it’s your own state of mind.
n April 3rd, Norfolk State University hosted a gathering of students, faculty, healthcare professionals, and community leaders to delve into the crucial topic of enhancing health literacy — the ability to understand and act on basic health information — within college campuses and communities. The event was supported by NSU's Office of Health & Wellness and the Center for African American Public Policy in collaboration with EdLogics, a Virginia Beach-based company dedicated to improving health literacy. The symposium guests were welcomed by Student Affairs Vice President Leonard Brown, Ph.D.
Dr. Brown embraced the university’s efforts to reduce health disparities on the campus of NSU in communities of color. Greetings were provided by Mr. Gilbert Bland, President/CEO of the Urban League of Hampton Roads, and member of the NSU Board of Visitors who commended NSU for launching the Healthier757 initiative to improve the health of students, faculty, and administrators on the campus of NSU and throughout the Hampton Roads region.
The program featured a panel discussion moderated by Craig Loper, Sports Director at WAVY TV 10/WVBT Fox 43, and included:
Shaunice Johnson, NSU Student Health Ambassador
Milton Brown, M.D., Ph.D., Vice Dean of Research, Eastern Virginia Medical School
Cynthia B. Burwell, Ed.D., MCHES, Director, NSU Center of Excellence in Minority Health Disparities
Thomas M. Chamberlain, Pharm.D., Founder & CEO, EdLogics
Keith H. Newby, M.D., Market Director, Community Health Improvement & Engagement at Bon Secours Health
Sheila A. Ward, Ph.D., MPH, Project Director, NSU Health & Wellness Initiative for Women
Together, they addressed the significant health disparities prevalent in communities, particularly among people of color. The panel shed light on how the 757 region trails behind in health metrics related to diabetes, heart disease, cancer, infant mortality, and life expectancy, compared to the rest of Virginia and the US. They emphasized how low health literacy leads to unhealthy choices and poorer healthcare decisions — so the disparities continue.
Dr. Olusoji Akomolafe, Executive Director of the NSU Center for African American Public Policy introduced NSU President Javaune Adams-Gaston, Ph.D., and applauded her commitment to improving the health of NSU students and acknowledged her accomplishment of receiving NSU’s largest philanthropic gift of $40 million dollars from the Mckenzie Scott Foundation. During the event, President Javaune Adams-Gaston, Ph.D., read a health literacy proclamation underscoring the university's dedication to combating health disparities through research and innovative programs on the campus of NSU.
One such initiative is Healthier757, a regional effort focused on boosting the health literacy of Hampton Roads residents. The partnership between NSU and Healthier757 signifies a significant step toward addressing chronic health conditions and disparities in vulnerable communities.
NSU's collaboration with Healthier757 has enabled the university to pioneer the launch of Rewards for Healthy Living, making NSU the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in the nation and the first university in Virginia to do so. The digital platform offers engaging games, videos, quizzes, and articles on hundreds of health topics — along with cash rewards — and is available free of charge to all NSU students, faculty, staff, and administrators.
A student raffle, facilitated by Alexus Ross, an EdLogics Community Coordinator and recent NSU graduate and Healthier757 intern, awarded four $25 gift cards to participating students.
Vanessa Jenkins, Ed.D., Executive Director, NSU Health & Wellness, closed the program by underscoring the importance of improving health literacy among NSU students, which in turn will empower them to make better informed healthcare decisions all their lives
It’s an odd feeling. This has happened a few times:
“I thought you quit?” my friend would say as I reached, again, for my NYC-priced Camel Blues (at that time, $15 a pack 😱).
“Sure,” I’d say. “I quit lots of times.”
Undermining, of course, the whole notion of quitting. That’s the nature of bad habits.
You know smoking’s not good for you. It hurts others. It’s expensive. And that’s nothing compared to the cancer, COPD, asthma, or heart disease you’ll almost certainly get. Diseases you can easily avoid by not smoking.
But you do it anyway.
Believe me. I feel for you. More than once, I’ve decided, triumphantly, to finally quit smoking — and then reached for the next one within the same 30-second span.
It’s humbling. And it’s made it easier to empathize with, rather than judge, those who suffer from addiction.
I haven’t smoked for over 9 years now. Haven’t even wanted to. How’d I do it?
Everyone who quits will do it their own way. In my case, I took up yoga.
For someone who smoked, it was miserable at first. I was gasping for breath, dizzy, and inflexible. But that post-yoga feeling was unlike anything I’d ever experienced — wrung out, calm, happy, at peace — and I didn’t want to trade it for anything.
Not even cigarettes.
That’s the true power of habit — on both sides of the coin. Sure, it’s easy to slip into bad habits, to talk yourself into self-indulgence. But it’s also easy to develop, and stick to, good habits.
Once you get in the habit. 😉
Replace bad habits with good ones.
It doesn’t have to be hot yoga (but try it!) — just anything that gets the monkey off your back. Get your mind off cigarette cravings with a quick walk. Ten push-ups. A game on your phone. A phone call to friends or family. A carrot. A handstand. A song and dance. Whatever it takes
The sooner you quit, the lower your risk for painful disease, hospital bills, and bitter regrets.
Log in now. Peruse our new slideshow: “What Happens When You Quit Smoking Tobacco.” The health benefits start within minutes — and will last you the rest of your (now longer) life.
Check back soon to see more updates on the Smoking Cessation learning page!
Few comments are more grating — except maybe “Awww, somebody’s got a case of the Mondays!” — especially if you are in a bad mood.
“I’ll show you how to cheer up ...” [brandishes fist].
Grumpy, blue, stressed, mopey, sulky — whatever your brand of bad mood is, you probably do need to cheer up if it’s that noticeable.
But that, like so much else, is easier said than done.
“Case of the Mondays? ... Some days, I swear ...”
If you find yourself muttering under your breath more often than you’d like, remember that moods change. Feelings are fickle things.
The same circumstances that make you tear your hair out today might not even phase you tomorrow.
And you have a lot more control over your moods than you might think. Moods often have more to do with what’s going on inside your body than what’s happening out in the world.
It’s not about just looking on the bright side. Or ignoring the sadness, or explaining it away. You don’t have to see the silver lining for every cloud, or deny how overwhelming and exhausting life can be. We all have a right to our feelings. But you have to admit, it all seems even worse when you’re in a bad mood.
And you can take concrete steps to feel better than you do now.
Next time you’re down in the dumps, ask yourself these questions before you react to your coworkers, send that snide email, yell at your kids, or make any important decisions.
How to Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself
👉 Did you sleep well last night?
Just try feeling good when you get up early for work after a late night of Netflix and noshing nachos. Just try maintaining a positive mental attitude when your 6 am alarm drags you kicking and screaming into hateful wakefulness. Even if the adrenaline and caffeine get you through the morning, the afternoon slump is gonna getcha. And when your weary brain is making you overreact to some mundane challenge, the last thing you need is for a coworker to snark, “Looks like somebody needs a nap ...”
👉 When’s the last time you ate (and what was it?)
Just as with sleep, what and when you eat has a huge impact on how you feel. Anyone with kids sees the direct relationship between junk food and temper tantrums, let alone inconsistent bedtimes (see above).
But the same is true for adults operating on too little sleep and unhealthy breakfasts come mid-afternoon. By the time we try to combat fatigue and low blood sugar with a sugary snack and extra coffee, the result is often irritability — or even an embarrassing tantrum — over little things.
Woe to the unfortunate soul who gets in the way of a hangry, over-caffeinated office worker.
👉 Have you been exercising? Like, at all?
When you move, sweat, and get your heart rate up, your body makes these feel-good chemicals called endorphins all by itself. It’s amazing! No other drug — not alcohol, caffeine, prescription meds, or herbal supplements — comes close to that natural high. There’s no shortcut. No substitute. You can’t fake it! You have to move. The bonus is that regular exercise helps you sleep better and feel more motivated to choose healthy foods, which in turn can help you avoid bad moods.
Move your body. There’s no better way to feel better.
👉 Are you taking care of yourself in other ways?
Find a daily practice that helps you keep things in perspective, regardless of your current mood. This can be your exercise — yoga, walking, hiking, yardwork, whatever you like. Or maybe it’s doing the day’s crossword, reading a novel at the coffeeshop, journaling, or playing a game. Or woodworking, building model airplanes, making art, or cooking delicious food. Or just sitting and meditating. Whatever gets you out of your own head and into that flow state, when you’re in the zone and fully focused on what you’re doing right now.
The trick is to make it a regular practice. Don’t wait till you feel like doing something — that moment might never come. Just do it because that’s what you do.
You might be surprised how a daily practice can recenter you and bring you back to a place of mindful self-awareness. It can help you keep things in context and take them in stride instead of overreacting because you’re feeling snappy.
Perspective is everything.
Not to sound callous, but sometimes you just have to get over yourself. The world is no worse of a place after 4 hours of sleep than it is after 8, but it can definitely feel that way. Recognize your own limits — and your own power — when it comes to letting your mood affect your day.
Before you try pinning the blame on work frustrations, personal problems, the state of the world, social injustice, climate change — or even the constant eye-rolling from your teen — cover the basics. Get your sleep. Eat good food. Get active. Don’t reach for booze or coffee or a doughnut every time you want to feel better.
It won’t solve all your problems. But it can make them feel a whole lot less daunting — and can do a lot to brighten a bad mood.
Log in now. Learn more about handling what gets you down — even if it’s your own state of mind.
he candlelight flickers. You glance up. Your Valentine is already looking at you with soft eyes. Soft light dances on their face and you smile. Holding hands across the table, caressing thumbs, neither of you says anything. The sounds of a crowded restaurant fade as you’re lost in each other’s gaze.
Sigh ...
Maybe not this year.
Valentine’s Day can be tough when you’re single. Everywhereyou look, you see couples holding hands, sharing chocolates, sending flowers,whispering sweet nothings. It can make anyone feel left out and lonely.
Why not use this February to nurture the relationships in your life that you care most about? That includes the one you have with yourself! Here are some tips to help you beat the blues and enjoy the day, with a friend or on your own.
Embrace the independence
Being single on Valentine’s Day gives you the opportunity to do what you love and indulge in some much-needed self-care. Spend the day at a spa, go shopping, or treat yourself to dinner out. Remember, you don’t need someone else to make you happy.
Surround yourself with friends
If you don’t want to spend the day alone, gather a group of single friends and celebrate together. Plan a date, exchange gifts, cook, watch movies, and talk about how annoying Valentine’s Day is.
Get creative
If you’re feeling adventurous, try something new. Cook up an exotic new recipe. Go bungee jumping. Sign up for guitar lessons. Go horseback riding. Sing karaoke. Plan a solo adventure, like traveling to a new city or hiking a nearby trail. Attend a concert. Participate in a singles event or speed dating session. Doing something that takes you out of your comfort zone can be a great way to build confidence and fight loneliness.
Volunteer
Spending time helping others helps you feel fulfilled and connected to your community. Volunteer at a local charity, visit an elderly care home, or help out at a homeless shelter.
It’s more important than it sounds. Loneliness can hurt your health. Studies have shown that loneliness can lead to depression, anxiety, and even physical health problems like heart disease. That’s why it’s so important to build — and maintain — a strong community of friends and family.
Having a supportive network of people you can turn to for help and encouragement is essential for your well-being. Join a club, take up a sport, or just spend time with your neighbors — connection is everything.
Valentine’s Day is about honoring and tending to the supportive relationships in your life, whether they’re romantic or not. Embrace your independence, surround yourself with friends, get creative, and don’t forget the importance of community.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Log in now. Learn about other ways to stay healthy and add years to your life.
ooner or later, we all get sick, and we all need healthcare.
Of course, not all Americans have equal access to healthcare. Some of us can’t afford it. Some live far from quality providers. Some experience bias based on race, sex, age, or gender identity.
The result?
People suffer and die from health problems they could have avoided — if they’d gotten the care they needed.
Untreated conditions require more expensive treatments down the line. And — whether it’s the person, the hospital, health insurance, or the government — someone has to pay for it.
Low health literacy and less access to healthcare for some people means higher healthcare costs for everyone.
February is Black History Month. Research shows that historically, people of color often receive poorer healthcare than white people, for many reasons. This is known as healthcare inequality, and it’s a problem that affects us all.
Basically, it means that not everyone has equal access to healthcare or health education. Those disparities have been documented among African Americans, women, the elderly, the LGBTQ+ community, and many ethnic groups.
How do disparities in access to healthcare disproportionately affect communities of color?
Disparities in healthcare can occur because of provider bias. The providers themselves may or may not be aware they have certain biases.
This is also an issue: Currently available medical science tends to be based on clinical findings of white male study participants. Those results may or may not generalize to people of color, women — anyone who is not a white male.
Disparities in health literacy put those populations who are already experiencing disparities in service at an even greater disadvantage. Because of a lower ability to understand health information and navigate the system, they are not as well equipped to advocate for themselves or others in their care.
Why should everyone care?
Health disparities put people’s lives and health at risk. For example, women are often not treated for heart attacks with the same urgency as men, which puts women at greater risk of death.
Delayed treatment or lack of treatment for people of color can lead to later stage disease diagnosis or disease mismanagement, which in turn may lead to more serious health consequences.
In addition to the unnecessary pain and suffering, there are increased cost consequences of treating people at later disease stages. These greater costs affect the healthcare system as a whole and result in greater costs for everyone.
👉 Overall, the goal of health equity is to provide everyone the opportunity to live healthy and active lives by addressing disparities in healthcare and health literacy. 👈
Equally important are social health essentials and personal determinants of health — such as housing and access to nutritious food, having social connections, a sense of purpose, and a positive outlook.
What can everyone do about it?
Our healthcare system needs to do a better job of training medical professionals about health disparities and help them be aware of their biases.
Those that pay for healthcare, such as insurance companies and employers, need to hold providers accountable for disparities with key performance metrics.
And individuals — regardless of ethnic background or gender identity — can strive to be prepared to advocate for themselves and others by increasing their health literacy.
At the community and employer level, providing opportunities for people to increase their health literacy is key to addressing this issue.
It’s important to note that our health system is complicated and health information is complex. Translating public health and clinical information to the personal level is challenging for most people from all walks of life. Low health literacy does not necessarily mean low literacy — some very intelligent and well-read people find it difficult to navigate our health system no matter their education level. It is NOT an issue of intelligence.
No matter who you are or what you know, you can and should improve your health literacy. It could save you some pain, some money, and even your life.
Log in now. Learn more about healthcare inequality, how it affects all of us, and what we can do about it.
ood news: New goods! We have a lot of great stuff for you. Let’s jump right in:
HOT TOPIC: Keeping Kids Safe on Social Media
In a lot of ways, the internet is still the Wild West — especially when it comes to kids. Let’s face it: kids (and to be honest, a whole lot of adults) don’t know much about skills you need to stay safe on social media, like using self-control, moderating emotions, measuring risk, and others. Online predators, cyberbullying, scams, hate groups ... all these things (and more) can hurt your child mentally, emotionally, and in some cases, even physically. Learn what you can do to protect your child.
LEARN: 5 Fast Facts About Colon Cancer, PLUS a Colon Cancer Quiz
Colorectal cancer is killing more young adults in their 20s, 30s, and 40s than ever, and the diagnosis rates are rising. In fact, colorectal cancer is now the #1 leading cause of cancer death in men under 50, and the second leading cause in women in the same age group, according to a 2024 report from the American Cancer Society. Don’t assume it can’t be serious just because you’re young. Check out our slideshow. Learn more about your risk for colorectal cancer, no matter how old you are — and what you can do to prevent it.
HOW TO: Bedtime Dos & Don’ts
Everyone’s tired. Few of us are getting enough sleep to be healthy and feel our best. Even when we know what we should do to sleep better, it can be hard to turn off the lights (or our brains) and turn in. Many habits that you may not think twice about — like a late-night snack, or a nightcap, or scrolling on your phone in bed — can lower the quality of your sleep. Check out our comprehensive (if not exhaustive) slideshow on Bedtime Dos and Don’ts — and sleep better tonight.
INFOGRAPHIC: Common Causes of Belly Pain
Stomachache? It could be last night’s double cheeseburger — or something more serious. Check out our infographic for 18 of the most common causes. Knowing what’s hurting you is the first step toward knowing how to treat it — and feeling better.
GAME UPDATE: Beat the Clock!
We’ve made some improvements to our most popular game — with more to come in the near future. Now, you lose 5 seconds if you guess wrong. That might make it more challenging to beat the clock, but it also reinforces learning all these important health facts. Random clicking won’t get you anywhere — not anymore! Check it out! And stay tuned for many more improvements coming very soon.
