RI Tops 1,600 Deaths – Near Record Hospitalizations and 1,081 New Coronavirus Cases

December 16, 2020

Mood Boosters: Improve Your Mental Health During the Holidays

Cold weather, shorter days, extended time indoors, and holiday treats may leave you feeling lethargic, or even down. Try these tips to give your spirits a boost and improve your mental health:

stay active with an indoor fitness routine
find relaxation techniques that work for you
eat a healthy diet
get a good night’s sleep

Treating Menopause Symptoms

Menopause is a naturally occurring event for women often after the age of 45. Menopause does not happen all at once. As your body transitions over several years, you may experience a variety of symptoms including:

Hot flashes and/or night sweats
Trouble sleeping
Irregular periods or bleeding
Vaginal dryness
Mood changes
Problems with memory or trouble focusing
Depression and anxiety
Urinary problems

Changes in your body in the years around menopause may raise your risk for certain health problems. Low levels of estrogen and other changes related to aging (like gaining weight) can raise your risk of heart disease, stroke, and osteoporosis.

Medicines and other treatments can help relieve your symptoms. Talk to your doctor or health care provider about your concerns and learn more.

African Americans Can Cut Stroke Risk by Quitting Smoking

A National Institutes of Health study, which followed 4,410 African American men and women for 15 years, suggests that African Americans could significantly cut their risk of stroke if they stopped smoking. In fact, the study found that the risk drops to about the same level as African American nonsmokers. Find out more in the NIH MedlinePlus magazine.

Liver Diseases

Your liver is the largest organ in your body and is essential for digesting food and ridding your body of toxic substances. Liver diseases are caused by:

Viruses, such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C
Drugs, poisons, and too much alcohol
Cancers
Inherited diseases

Symptoms of liver disease can vary, but they often include swelling of the abdomen and legs, bruising easily, changes in the color of your stool and urine, and jaundice, or yellowing of the skin and eyes. Sometimes there are no symptoms. Learn more about liver diseases.

Homelessness and Health

The reasons for homelessness are complex. Some people are chronically homeless, while others have temporarily lost their shelter. Homelessness is closely connected to declines in physical and mental health; homeless persons experience high rates of health problems. Many of the problems that people who are homeless face can make their health worse, including: