You may have noticed that many loved ones, friends, and perhaps yourself, have been getting sick lately. This year’s flu season is especially bad. The CDC releases weekly reports on national flu activity, and as of the most current release, 29 states were experiencing high flu activity.

Part of the reason for this is because the main strain of the flu virus mutated, and the flu shot doesn’t protect fully against this mutation. Because of this, it’s very important to prevent the spread of the flu as much as possible.

• Stay home if you’re sick. Flu can spread to others from as far as 6 feet away - so even if you’re careful to stay away from co-workers or other students, you can easily spread the virus.

• Wash hands with soap and water frequently.

• Thoroughly clean eating utensils and bedding linens.

• Frequently touched surfaces should be disinfected, especially if someone using them has been sick.

You can spread the flu one day before any symptoms appear and five to seven days after being sick, so take as much precaution as possible, to do your part to help minimize the spread of the flu!

November is Lung Cancer Awareness month — and with good reason. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death and the second most common cause of cancer among both men and women in the United States.

While not smoking will drastically cut your risk of getting lung cancer (90% of lung cancers are linked to smoking), there are additional things you can do to protect yourself.

• Avoid second-hand smoke. Second-hand smoke is nearly as bad for you as being a smoker.

• Get your home tested for radon. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. Radon is an odorless and tasteless naturally occurring gas that comes from rocks and dirt that can get trapped in homes and buildings.

• Above all else, don’t smoke. If you do, consider quitting — there are places you can go to get support, and medicines available to help you.

According to the CDC, more than 29 million Americans have diabetes (PDF). Since November is National Diabetes Month, it is a perfect time to familiarize yourself with the ABCs of diabetes management.

A is for: A1C test - a blood test that measures your average blood sugar level over the past 3 months.

B is for: Blood pressure - the force of your blood against the wall of your blood vessels.

C is for: cholesterol - there are two types, LDL and HDL. LDL is the “bad” cholesterol that can build up and clog your blood vessels.

It is important to monitor each of these at your regular visit with your doctor. Should you develop diabetes, it can be treated with medication, but you need to be aware of potential risks or side-effects. If you or a family member is diabetic, here are some tasty recipes to try that are also healthy.

Approximately 3 million Hispanics at risk of losing their sight in 2030 as a result of complications from diabetes

Today, diabetes affects more than 29 million people in the United States or over 9 percent of the population. Are you one of them?

Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans represent two of the Hispanic groups with high prevalence of diabetes, although all Hispanics are at risk. All people with diabetes, both type 1 and type 2, are also at risk for diabetic eye disease, a leading cause of vision loss and blindness.

Diabetic eye disease refers to a group of eye problems that people with diabetes may face as a complication of the disease and includes cataract, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma.

Diabetic retinopathy, the most common diabetic eye disease, is the leading cause of blindness in adults 20–74 years of age. According to the National Eye Institute (NEI), 1.2 million Hispanics have diabetic retinopathy and this number is projected to increase to approximately 3 million people by 2030.

“The longer a person has diabetes, the greater is his or her risk of developing diabetic eye disease,” said Paul A. Sieving, M.D., Ph.D., director of NEI. “If you have diabetes, be sure to have a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year. Diabetic eye disease often has no early warning signs, but can be detected early and treated before vision loss occurs. Don’t wait until you notice an eye problem to have an exam because vision that is lost often cannot be restored.”

While all people with diabetes can develop diabetic eye disease, Hispanics and older adults with diabetes are two of the groups at higher risk of losing vision or going blind from it. All people with diabetes should have a dilated eye exam at least once a year to detect vision problems early.

“In fact, with early detection, timely treatment, and appropriate follow-up care, people with diabetic retinopathy can reduce their risk of severe vision loss by 95 percent,” added Suber Huang, M.D., a spokesperson for the National Eye Health Education Program.

When people with diabetes maintain good control of blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol, they can slow the development and progression of diabetic eye disease. In addition to having the dilated eye exam, people with diabetes should do the following to keep their health on TRACK:

• Take your medications.

• Reach and maintain a healthy weight.

• Add physical activity to your daily routine.

• Control your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol.

• Kick the smoking habit.

For more information on diabetic eye disease and tips on finding an eye care professional or financial assistance for eye care, visit www.nei.nih.gov/diabetes or call NEI at 301–496–5248.

Read this note in Spanish.