LiveWell Vermont

  The theme of World No Tobacco day 2024 is protecting children from tobacco industry interference.   World No Tobacco Day 2024 will give a platform to young people across the world, who are calling for the tobacco industry to stop targeting them with products that are harmful to their health.  Young people globally are calling on governments to adopt policies that shield them from the manipulative practices of tobacco and related industries, including the relentless marketing of their dangerous products through social media and streaming platforms. For more, visit the WHO World No Tobacco Day page

  June is the last month to earn points for the second quarter - how are you doing with points?   To help you reach 15,000 points and achieve the incentive, you can earn double points all month! We've also outlined some tips below so you can start logging points. Take advantage of the media section: You can get 50 points each day just for watching a short video. Sort by topic and duration, so it is enjoyable and fits into your day. As the weather gets summery, don't forget to track your movement and sleep habits. You can earn up to 140 points per day from movement, and up to 70 points per day for sleep. On top of that, you get even more points for tracking 10 or 20 days out of the month! Find a Journey on a topic that is impactful to you, and learn something each day. You can earn 500 points for completing a Journey! Earn points for prevention: if you saw your doctor or dentist, you can log this in "My Care Checklist" under "Health" for points! If you did so...

 Don’t Fry Day — May 24, 2024 To help reduce rising rates of skin cancer from overexposure to the ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun, the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention has designated the Friday before Memorial Day as “Don’t Fry Day” to encourage sun safety awareness and to remind everyone to protect their skin while enjoying the outdoors. The National Council encourages everyone, including non-profit organizations, local, state, and federal governments, public health professionals, and educators to promote the importance of skin cancer prevention and sun-safety behaviors and to use the free Don’t Fry Day material and resources.

  Explore the many ways to get outside and enjoy our beautiful state parks. Each year, we host signature events that encourage Vermonters to get out and enjoy what our state has to offer, no matter the season. Everyone has their own definition of fun, so we’ve come up with a list of ways you can have fun while you visit a state park! Hiking : Vermont State Parks feature numerous trails of varying difficulty levels, offering opportunities for leisurely strolls, kid-friendly and scenic hikes, or challenging treks. Camping : Many parks offer campsites for tent camping, RV camping, or cabin rentals, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the outdoors overnight. Swimming : Several parks have designated swimming areas in lakes, ponds, or rivers, providing opportunities for cooling off during hot summer days. Boating and kayaking : Visitors can enjoy boating, canoeing, kayaking, or paddleboarding on the lakes and rivers within the parks. Fishing : Anglers can cast their lines in searc...

 This blog post is intended to make  you feel good. As you read each of these, imagine the sensation for yourself:  Seeing first bulbs coming up Hearing the birds sing in the morning Hearing spring peepers in the evenings Seeing buds on trees Grass turning green The smell of lilacs The first day you feel great going outside without a jacket The first tree you know will burst with blossoms Foraging for ramps and fiddleheads Spring onions, peas, and asparagus Drinking something cool on a warm day Choosing what to grow in the garden Meeting the first toad Write your own bliss list!  You can write it looking forward, like a to-do list of experiences you want to cultivate. Or you can write it as a record, keeping track of the bliss you've experienced recently.

  May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to understand and care for our minds. Just like we take care of our bodies, it's important to look after our mental well-being too. Sometimes we feel sad, worried, or stressed, and that's okay. Talking about how we feel and seeking help when needed is brave and smart. We can practice self-care by doing things we enjoy, talking to trusted adults, and being kind to ourselves and others. Let's remember that it's okay not to be okay sometimes, and together, we can support each other and create a happier, healthier world. Take time to support yourself by taking advantage of the CAPS Mental Health Month materials, attending a Mental Health America Webinar , or doing something else just for you.

Blood Pressure  Blood is typically recorded as two numbers, written as a ratio.  It's read as "117 over 76 millimeters of mercury"  Systolic: The top number, which is also the higher of the two numbers, measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats (when the heart muscle contracts).   Diastolic: The bottom number, which is also the lower of the two numbers, measures the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats (when the heart muscle is resting between beats and refilling with blood).  The goal is to be less than 120 for the top number and less than 80 for the bottom number. Here is a list of lifestyle practices you can add that may improve your numbers!   Reduce caffeine  Manage stress  Exercise  Quit smoking  Cut down alcohol   Get enough hours of quality sleep  Reduce salty foods (like canned food, processed meats, or mixes with flavor packs)   As always, if you have concerns, talk to ...

In a world that often feels chaotic and divided, there's an antidote: volunteering. Beyond the act of giving back to the community, volunteering offers a myriad of benefits that extend to both individuals and society as a whole. Make it actionable... If you are in central Vermont, one opportunity to connect with the community is by volunteering with the Corporate Cup State Agency Race . You can learn about opportunities here , or register for one of the options here . Looking to support young people? Check out MENTOR Vermont , which aims to drive equity through quality mentoring relationships, so every young person in Vermont has the supportive mentoring relationships they need to grow and thrive. Love the outdoors? See if the  volunteer opportunities with Green Mountain Club  are right for you. Check out your local library, animal shelter, hospital, or foodbank to see what types of volunteer support they are looking for. Many of these appreciate the extra help, and are an imp...

 It's Wellness Screening Season!  This means we're all thinking about ways we can take care of our cholesterol levels to support our cardiovascular health.  Check out these suggestions: What is cholesterol? Cholesterol is a soft, fat-like substance found in the bloodstream and in all your body's cells. While your body needs cholesterol to continue building healthy cells, having high cholesterol can increase your risk of heart disease. Cholesterol cannot dissolve in the blood; it has to be transported to and from the cells by carriers called lipoproteins. These include: low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). These, along with triglycerides, the most common type of fat in the body, make up your total cholesterol count. Total Cholesterol: Less than 200mg/dL HDL (“good cholesterol”): >40mg/dL in men, >50mg/dL in women LDL (“bad cholesterol”): <129 mg/dL Triglycerides: <149mg/dL Ratio Total Cholesterol:  ≤ 3.5 How can I boost...