Stay Protected July is one of the hottest months of the year, so it makes sense that it's also UV Safety Month.

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, and Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun are the main cause of skin cancer.

UV damage can also cause wrinkles and blotchy skin.

How can you protect yourself?

Protecting yourself is easy.

1. Always use sunscreen when outside, even on cloudy or colder days.

Also, be sure to use sunscreen that's at least SPF 15 or higher and that offers protection against both UVA and UVB rays.

Remember, if you are going to be in the sun for more than 20 minutes you need to use sunscreen. Also, sunscreens should be applied to dry skin 30 minutes prior to going outside, and don't forget to reapply. The general rule is about every two hours.

2. Limit your amount of time in the sun.

Sunlight is good for us. It gives us a Vitamin D fix naturally and often makes us feel good. But, too much of one thing is not a good idea in most cases and certainly so for the sun.

You don't want to spend all day baking in the sun, so do your skin a favor and give it a rest by taking breaks to go inside or sit in the shade instead.

How can you protect others?

Protecting loved ones from sun-related diseases like skin cancer is as simple as encouraging them to adopt healthy sun habits.

Talk to your family about the importance of sun safety and make sure to always have plenty of sunscreen around.

Awareness leads to action

Protecting ourselves from the sun is easier said than done. Down deep we all know we should wear sunscreen and limit our sun exposure, but often we forget or think a few minutes without it won't hurt. Well, over the course of time, those few minutes add up and can increase our risk of skin cancer, and no matter how confident we feel with tanned skin, the damage from the sun is not worth the risk.

This month, and every month, take a few extra moments before you go outside to protect yourself. Your skin will thank you later.

For information on protecting yourself from the sun, check this article in Medical Daily.

Since 2000, there has been a 42% reduction in the global malaria mortality rate and many countries have declared malaria elimination a national goal.

World Malaria Day is an occasion to highlight the need for continued investment and sustained political commitment to support countries in their efforts to control and eliminate this deadly disease.

Mosquitoes, flies, ticks and bugs may be a threat to your health – and that of your family - at home and when traveling. Check out this video on YouTube to learn more about protecting ourselves from these harmful insects.

A breast self-examination involves checking your breasts to help detect breast problems or changes and many women do them regularly. Others, however, aren't as consistent or have never tried.

Examining your breasts regularly is an important part of your health. If you're too embraassed or don't think it's important know that examining your breasts regularly is an easy, quick, and effective way to help detect breast cancer at its earliest stages.

Why do a self breast exam?

Breast lumps can be noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant), and can develop at any age, though it is most common in women older than 50.

Once you know what your breasts normally look and feel like, any new lump or change in appearance should be evaluated by your physician.

When to do a self breast exam?

The best time to examine your breasts is about one week after your menstrual period begins, when your breast tissue is least likely to be swollen or tender.

If your menstrual cycle is irregular, or if you have stopped menstruating due to menopause or a hysterectomy, do your examination on a day of the month that's easy to remember.

Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding can examine their breasts every month.

Breast-feeding mothers should examine their breasts after a feeding or after using a breast pump so that the breasts have as little milk as possible, which will make the examination easier and more comfortable.

How to do a self breast exam?

To do a breast self-examination, remove your clothes above the waist and lie down. The examination is done while lying down so your breast tissue spreads evenly over your chest wall and is as thin as possible, making it much easier to feel all your breast tissue.

Use the pads of the three middle fingers of your left hand-not your fingertips-to check your right breast. Move your fingers slowly in small coin-sized circles, checking for irregular lumps or changes in your breast.

Then do the same on the other side.

What to do if you discover a lump?

Talk to your physician immediately. Although most breast problems are not related to cancer, you want to have any lump or irregularity checked immediately.

Still unsure of how to do a self breast exam?

If you're still unsure if you're doing a breast exam correctly consult your physician for further instruction. More than likely you are doing it correctly, but it's never a bad idea to make sure.

When it comes to breast cancer, there are some risks that cannot be changed. For example, family history is something you can't control. There are other things, however, that you can control that have been proven to decrease your risk of breast cancer. The biggest is, your lifestyle.

Lifestyle changes have been shown in studies to decrease breast cancer risk even in high-risk women, but changing your lifestyle is a lot easier said than done.

Here's a few things you can do right now to help decrease your risk.

1. Limit alcohol

The more alcohol you drink, the greater your risk of developing breast cancer. If you choose to drink alcohol (beer, wine or liquor) limit yourself to no more than one drink a day.

2. Stay physically active

Physical activity can help you maintain a healthy weight, which, in turn, helps prevent breast cancer.

For most healthy adults at least 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity weekly is ideal.

3. Don't smoke

Accumulating evidence suggests a link between smoking and breast cancer risk, particularly in premenopausal women.

In addition, not smoking is one of the best things you can do for your overall health.

4. Control your weight

Being overweight or obese increases the risk of breast cancer. This is especially true if obesity occurs later in life, particularly after menopause.

5. If you're pregnant, breast-feed

Breast-feeding may play a role in breast cancer prevention. The longer you breast-feed, the greater the protective effect.

6. Choose safe products

Some beauty products contain carcinogens and other harmful chemicals that can increase breast cancer risk.

The best way to avoid chemicals is to use fewer products with simpler ingredients.

7. Use sunscreen outdoors

As good as the sun is for Vitamin D, it can be harmful to our skin and increase our risk of breast cancer if we're not protected. Use sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB and is SPF 30 or higher.

Although we can't protect ourselves from cancer entirely, there are some things we can change about our lifestyle that can decrease our risk and give us a fighting chance.

The Heart of Our Health

It’s easy to forget about our hearts. They go on, day after day, pumping life into every part of our body. These unseen, and often silent, workhorses will beat roughly 2.5 billion times in an average lifespan. As important as they are to our health, it's easy to neglect and overlook taking care of our hearts.

Cardiovascular disease, including stroke, heart disease, and heart failure, claims more lives in the United States than any other illness, including cancer. That’s why heart health should be a focus in your daily diet and exercise routines, but taking care of our hearts is a lot easier said than done.

One of the problems with maintaining our heart’s health is that, although we understand there are certain foods and activities that are bad for our hearts, there are many things we do, or don’t do, that puts our hearts at risk.  

Here are 5 things that are bad for your heart.

Not flossing.

Though the exact reason is still unknown, there is a strong link between gum disease and heart disease.

One theory is that, when you don’t floss, bacteria-laden plague builds up. The same bacteria that causes gum disease can also trigger an inflammation in your body, which is not good for your heart.

Keeping healthy gums can help improve your blood vessel function.

Watching TV (or sitting for a long time)

Sitting for hours on end can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke, even if you exercise regularly. Lack of movement can affect blood levels of fat and sugar.

It's critical to get up and get moving, but If you have to sit at work all day, there are still opportunities for physical activity. Try going for short walks on your lunch break or in downtime, or stand while talking on the phone.

Drinking (Too Much)

Although some studies suggest drinking, in small doses, might be good for the heart, there is plenty of information available about the negative effects of drinking too much.

Excess alcohol is linked to a greater risk of high blood pressure, high levels of blood fats, and heart failure.

Alcohol also has extra calories and can cause you to gain weight, which is also a threat to your heart’s health.

If you must drink, men should have no more than two drinks per day, and no more than one a day for women. (One drink means a 12-ounce beer or 4-ounce glass of wine).

Overeating

Being overweight is a major risk factor for heart disease, and 72% of men and 64% of women in the U.S. are overweight or obese.

Portion control is an important component of heart health. By cutting your portions in half, eating less often, and substituting sugary sodas for water, you can reduce your risk of becoming overweight, which is great for your heart.

Oversalting

It’s true some foods taste better with a little bit of salt, but as far as your heart’s health is concerned, a little dab will do ya.

The more salt you eat, the higher your blood pressure. Avoid pre-packaged junk food, sports drinks (unless you cut it with water), sauces, and mixes. Also, check the sodium content of your food, and opt for “unsalted” options.

To be healthy we should keep our sodium intake to below 2,300 milligrams a day. If you are older than 50 or already have high blood pressure that number should be cut to 1,50 milligrams.   

Taking care of our hearts is critical to our health and wellness. We can help prevent heart disease by taking a few moments a day to thank our hearts for all it does for our minds and our bodies with good habits.

The number of cases of flu reported this year have been high. To help you reduce your risk of getting the flu please remember these basic hygiene tips.

1. Wash your hands frequently.

2. Cover your mouth with a tissue (or at the very least your shirt sleeve) when you cough or sneeze.

3. If you're feeling ill, stay home from work to avoid spreading the disease.

4. Increase your Vitamin D and Vitamin C intake and keep hydrated.

5. Get plenty of sleep