6 Reasons Why Getting a Flu Shot This Season is Particularly Important

Receiving a flu shot each year is the best preventative step you can take to ensure you do not come down with influenza. The CDC recommends that people 6 months and older get a yearly flu vaccine. Flu vaccinations prevent millions of people from developing the flu each year. The CDC states that during the 2018-2019 flu season, the vaccine stopped an estimated 4.4 million influenza illnesses, 2.3 million related medical visits and 58,000 influenza-caused hospitalizations, as well as 3,500 deaths. A case of influenza can be especially severe for the elderly or those with compromised immune systems. Fortunately, you can help avoid this scenario by receiving an annual flu vaccine.
When to See a Gastroenterologist: 6 Reasons to Make an Appointment

Although most people may not enjoy discussing their stomach problems to their friends or family, it is important to be transparent about these issues to your doctor, as you are definitely not alone. In fact, according to the CDC, there are more than 22.4 million visits to the doctor for diseases of the digestive system as the primary diagnosis each year.
7 Foods to Avoid with Kidney Disease and Diabetes

Did you know that diabetes and kidney disease are often connected? In fact, 1 in 3 people in the U.S. living with diabetes is also diagnosed with kidney disease. Diabetes is considered one of the biggest factors for increasing your risk of developing kidney disease. Over time, high blood sugar can damage the blood vessels in the kidneys. As a result, kidneys can become damaged and not perform necessary bodily functions as efficiently. Your kidneys remove wastes and excess fluids from your body; when they become damaged, these wastes can accumulate and eventually harm other organs in your body. This is also known as Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD).
Everything You Need to Know About Coronavirus Antibody Testing in Connecticut

Antibody testing, also referred to as serology testing, can determine if a patient has produced an immune response to the COVID-19 virus. If you’ve gotten sick in the last few months since the emergence of COVID-19, you may be left wondering if you had the virus at one point or another. In addition, the virus can be asymptomatic (meaning the virus produces no symptoms) in some individuals, so you may have been previously infected without knowing. COVID-19 antibody testing can help answer some of these questions for you and your family.
Understanding Osteoarthritis vs. Rheumatoid Arthritis and their Symptoms

In the United States, approximately 54 million people, or about 23% of the total population, have some form of arthritis. While it’s normal to have an occasional ache or tenderness in your body, living with chronic pain in your joints is not. If left untreated, pain due to arthritis can be debilitating because it can limit your mobility and get in the way of your everyday life.
The Link Between Your Body’s Physical and Mental Health Explained

Recent data reveals that more people in the U.S. are reporting significant and sustained increases in symptoms of depression and anxiety due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. While we continue to adjust to our “new normal” and try our best to stay healthy physically, it is equally important to remember to take care of your mental health, as it is closely tied to your body’s overall wellness.