The American Heart Association indicates that stroke is common in the United States. Comprising one in every 19 deaths, stroke affects someone every 40 seconds. It is important to spread awareness during the month of May to help more people recognize the signs and symptoms of a stroke as well as what it is, how to prevent stroke, and resources for recovery after experiencing a stroke.

Affecting approximately one in four adults in the US, arthritis is of the most common health conditions. During the month of May, we participate in Arthritis Awareness Month in an effort to draw more attention to this chronic condition and help more people in our communities understand it. Generally, arthritis is an inflammatory or degenerative condition which affects the joints throughout the body.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and it's a great time to reflect on the importance of mental health in the workplace.

In today's fast-paced work environment, it's not uncommon for individuals to experience stress and burnout.

During the month of May, we have the opportunity to promote better hearing and speech. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) joins other organizations in observation of Better Hearing and Speech Month. It is rather common for individuals to experience issues related to communication, with at a minimum of 46 million people affected in the United States alone.

May is Mental Health Month. During this month, we aim to raise awareness about mental health, how common mental health disorders are, and how occupational therapy plays a role in treatment. Mental health issues can be categorized in many different ways depending on the individual.

Alcohol is still the number one addictive substance that kills young people compared to any other substance. Knowing this, we must continue to understand the facts about alcohol consumption in order to keep young adults safe. Alcohol Awareness month takes place throughout the month of April.

Mental health has become a growing conversation since the late 1940s when trends began to display a decline in our cognitive functioning. However, 100 years prior, William Sweetzer first used the phrase “mental hygiene” and began to explore what encompasses mental health.

Providing support for someone on the autism spectrum can be a lifelong commitment. While high-functioning adults, or those who need less support in their daily lives, may be able to live on their own and provide for themselves, those diagnosed with severe ASD are typically unable to live on their own and may require assistance from a guardian their entire life.

The month of April is Occupational Therapy month! We aim to bring awareness to others about the discipline of occupational therapy this month and throughout the year. Occupational therapists can work with individuals of all ages, throughout the lifespan.

During the month of March, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics invites everyone to learn about nutrition for National Nutrition Month. There is so much to learn about our body chemistry and nutrition, and every person is unique. This month, we can all engage in finding more information to help us make the best choices we can for our health.

How important is your vision to you? Chances are, most individuals place high value on their vision and would aim to keep their vision healthy for as long as possible. As we age, our eyes can begin to degrade or fail in different ways.

During the month of March, organizations aim to raise awareness about conditions that affect the kidneys such as chronic kidney disease. There are many ways to manage kidney disease which can help lessen the severity of the disease over time, as this is a progressive condition.

With less than 40% of adults in the United States receiving less than seven hours of sleep each night, it is safe to assume this is an area almost half of us could improve upon in our lives (Gallup).

A disease called multiple sclerosis (MS) affects the central nervous system which is comprised of your brain and spinal cord. MS can be a slow progression of disability due to damage to the nerves in your brain or spinal cord. Nerves are protected by myelin, which forms a sheath around their fibers. MS creates an immune response and targets these protective coverings on the nerves.

Epilepsy affects more than 65,000,000 people around the world annually. As the 4th most common neurological disorder, it is estimated that roughly 1 in 26 people will be diagnosed in their lifetime.

What are eating disorders? Since the 1960s, we’ve watched eating disorder statistics rates double, and it isn’t hard to believe given the propaganda we’ve been subjected to. Roughly every fifty-two minutes, someone passes away from an eating disorder.

It’s February! Before you team up with Cupid and begin counting down to Valentine’s Day, let’s take a moment to discuss heart health and why it’s important to keep your heart’s health in mind.

Low vision affects many older individuals in the United States — millions, in fact. While low vision causes impaired sight, it is different than blindness. During the month of February, the National Eye Institute aims to raise awareness of the causes of this disease and how to recognize the signs if they are present.

This year, World Cancer Day has been dedicated to addressing the needs of individuals with cancer and how hard it can be to have their needs met. Individuals diagnosed with cancer have doctor’s appointments, medicines, treatments, special diets, and so much more.