The number of Americans growing their own food has risen 200 percent since 2008, according to the National Gardening Association. Harvesting your own fruits and vegetables is often more affordable than buying organic produce and healthier than packaged foods. Gardening also is a great workout that can be very relaxing.

There has been a precipitous drop in medical visits and preventive testing since shelter-in-place orders went into effect in March, even though many doctor’s offices, urgent care centers and hospitals are still open. Since early April there has been a 49 percent decrease in adult primary care visits compared to the period immediately before orders were announced, according to the Commonwealth Fund. 

With the media focusing on COVID-19, you may have missed the news: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) introduced new nutrition fact labels. Next time you are grocery shopping, pick up a packaged food item and check out the updated label. They’ve changed to include information on potassium and vitamin D, two nutrients consumers often don’t get enough of.

After having a heart attack, it’s common to make lifestyle changes. Get more exercise. Give up certain foods. Throw away the cigarettes. Another step that may help especially if you’re experiencing chest pains following a heart attack – also known as early post-infarction angina: Listen to more music. 

Listening to 30 minutes of music a day can reduce pain and anxiety in post-infarction angina patients, according to a study presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session Together with World Congress of Cardiology. 

Mediterranean diet has been linked to lowering your risk for cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and type 2 diabetes. One reason it works is by altering gut bacterium linked to healthy aging and lower inflammation in older people, according to a study published the BMJ journal Gut.

Using herbs and spices is one of the easiest ways to enhance the flavor of your food. And they’re certainly healthier than adding salt or sodium-laden condiments such as soy sauce, salad dressings and dips. Because they’re plant-based, they’re also high in antioxidants and minerals and can boost the nutritional value of your meal. 

It’s an important question -- especially now, in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic. If you’re experiencing symptoms possibly related to COVID-19, another illness or an injury, where do you go? Your primary care doctor office? A walk-in clinic? Urgent care? Or an emergency department? 

Each offers different treatment options as well as price points, which are important considerations when deciding where to go for your own symptoms or for someone you love.

PTSD is a mental health condition that can develop after a traumatic event. The event may be shocking, frightening or dangerous, which is why many of us associate PTSD with war. While it’s true that recent veterans are more likely to have PTSD than the rest of us, anyone can get it. During a pandemic, frontline health and human services workers are at especially high risk. 

Many people are excited to "get back to normal" as businesses reopen and regular activities resume; I am too! But there's still the need to protect ourselves against COVID-19 while coming into contact with the general public again. Here are some action steps that you can take to help stay safe and healthy as society opens back up.

Wear Protection 

Some states that issued stay-at-home orders in the wake of COVID-19 are starting to reopen for business. If it’s safe for you to go get your hair cut, shouldn’t that mean it’s safe for you to see your grandchildren? 

Maybe. Maybe not. 

 Base your plans not only on local government recommendations, but also on factors unique to your family. These may include age, health status and commitment to protective measures.