This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of the Aetna Foundation.
I do not know about you…but anytime I get an illness I quickly Google my symptoms to try to figure what could possibly be wrong with me. I think with all of the information that is available at out finger tips (especially on the internet) there is no reason that anyone should be left in the dark when it comes to health related questions and issues. Now, I am not saying that you should skip hospitals and doctors offices because you can just figure out what is wrong with you by performing a search on the internet. I am saying that if you or someone you know has some sort of medical issue that you have any questions about you can ask your health care professional or use other resources to learn more about your medical issue. I am a huge advocate of learning what you can and doing your own research (hence why I am a research assistant!). There are so many resources available (free of charge) and people should know about them and regularly use them to keep them educated and up to date with things that are going on in the medical field.
As a minority there are so many health concerns that are commonly found in my community and in my family. A few of these include diabetes, asthma, stroke, sarcoidosis, high blood pressure, heart disease, and some cancers. There are also some disease that specifically cause a lot of issues for African-Americans (such as sickle-cell anemia). And if you do not know what any of the above illnesses are you should research them!!! These illnesses are very common not only among African-Americans but other cultures as well.
There is a great resource that I recently stumbled upon to use to help research and educate myself on health related topics and issues. Aetna Foundation is a FREE digital resource for anyone who wants to use it. Aetna Foundation’s has a Digital Health Initiative that is targeted to support projects that promote healthy choices in minority populations. It is common for most Americans to have access to the internet or other digital resources. Using digital health technology offers a resource to reach more people (in a convenient way) where they are with real-time health solutions that fit easily into their daily lives.
When trying to find the best technology as a resource, people need to pick something that fits easily into their lives and everyday routine. If this comes in the form of a smart phone, tablet, PC or laptop. Find a way to obtain resources that you can use each day. Whether it is starting to email or chat with your healthcare professionals or using a fitness app on your phone or computer, technology can be a great motivator in many aspects of your life.
Education and the curiosity to learn something new should not be something that you give up once you graduate from school. There are so many new things that are evolving each day. The more you know the more you are able to share, educate, and motivate others to want to keep exercising not only their bodies, but also their minds!
A mind is a terrible thing to waste (and so is a healthy body!). Each day EVERYONE should do something to try to stay active physically and mentally. Trust me, 20…30…40…or 50 years from now you will thank me for it! Being active, fit, and mentally sharp will carry you a long way.
Now it is your turn! What are some illnesses that are commonly found in your family or community?
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of the Aetna Foundation.
