Media
Understanding Addiction: Why Do Some People Become Addicted?
BeSmartBeWell.com explores the science of addiction.
Chicago April 17, 2013 – Addiction can destroy careers and ruin lives. It can be devastating to watch a loved one descend into addiction, and family members often can’t understand why an addict continues to use drugs or alcohol despite the ruinous consequences.
Read more
Top Food Safety Myths
BeSmartBeWell.com separates fact from fiction to help protect you from food poisoning.
Chicago Feb. 6, 2013 – One in six Americans will get food poisoning this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To lower your risk, you need to separate fact from fiction and understand the basics of how good food turns bad.
Read more
The Caregiving Talk: BeSmartBeWell.com says the time is now
Family gatherings can be a good time to talk with aging parents about plans for the future.
Chicago Dec. 19, 2012 – When families gather for the holidays, talk may not naturally turn to long-term care and financial documents, but it should, say experts featured on BeSmartBeWell.com/Caregiving.
Read more
Tips to Beat the Holiday Blues
BeSmartBewell.com offers expert advice to help you manage stress and depression during the holidays.
Chicago Dec. 5, 2012– The holidays are a busy time filled with shopping, parties, travel and family gatherings. But for some, the holidays can trigger stress and depression, or worsen existing mental health issues. different matter.
Read more
BeSmartBeWell.com Encourages People to Talk About Sex More
New video from BeSmartBeWell.com gives tips for talking to healthcare providers about sexual health.
Chicago Nov. 28, 2012 – If you’re like most people, you have little difficulty talking to your healthcare provider about your aches and pains. But talking to your healthcare provider about sexual health is a whole different matter.
Read more
BeSmartBeWell.com Changing How People ‘See’ Health Issues
Award-winning website delivers videos with leading experts and real-life health stories
Chicago Oct. 23, 2012 –Research shows that video storytelling is effective at changing people’s habits and behaviors, and a number of prominent health organizations are collaborating with BeSmartBeWell.com in order to further health education via this powerful medium.
Read more
Keep Kids Safe: Recognize Concussion Signs in Young Athletes
Chicago Sept. 12, 2012 – Fall sports are gearing up, and kids and teens across the country are suiting up for football, soccer and other activities. This season, parents and coaches can help keep young athletes safe by recognizing the signs of a concussion and understanding what to do for a concussion, say experts featured in a new video on BeSmartBeWell.com.
Read more
BeSmartBeWell.com and Preconception Health
May 23, 2012 - The World Health Organization recently captured headlines with an alarming statistic—12 percent of babies born in the U.S. each year are premature, representing $26 billion in health care costs and an immeasurable emotional toll on families. Be Smart. Be Well. was recently included in the National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM) Foundation’s new issue brief, “Health Plan Approaches to Preconception Health,” which outlines the innovative ways health plans and their foundations are reaching women of childbearing age, and it suggests strategies for direct and cost-effective outreach programs. The NIHCM Foundation is a national nonprofit, nonpartisan group that conducts research on health care issues.
What You Need to Know to Avoid Food Poisoning This Summer
Chicago July 11, 2012 – Backyard barbecues, coolers packed for picnics, al fresco dining and hot summer days are all the ingredients for a bad case of food poisoning if you’re not careful.
Read more
Deadliest Driving Days for Teens: What Parents Can Do
Chicago June 5, 2012 – The start of summer also marks the beginning of the “100 Deadliest Days for Teens”—the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day that is traditionally the deadliest for teen drivers.
Read more
Teen Dating Abuse: Straight Talk From Teens
Chicago April 11, 2012 – One in three adolescents has been hit, harassed, emotionally abused or digitally stalked by a romantic partner. Be Smart. Be Well. recently asked 15 middle school, high school and college students about their experiences with abusive relationships on-camera.
Read more
It’s a Family Affair: BeSmartBeWell.com recognizes National Nutrition Month with tips to help families eat healthier
Chicago March 14, 2012 –With about one out of every three children in this country obese or overweight, it’s more important than ever to focus on healthy choices and changes that families can make together.
Read more
Kids and Heart Risk
Chicago. February 15, 2012 – Adults aren’t the only ones who should be thinking heart smart this February, as heart disease is a concern for an increasing number of children, too. Research shows that overweight kids are more likely to develop heart disease as adults.
Read more
Lower the Risk for Birth Defects
Chicago January 18, 2012 - Pregnancy is an exciting time filled with hopeful anticipation, and most pregnancies are uneventful and result in healthy babies. Pregnancy, however, is not entirely without risk, leading some expectant parents to worry about birth defects and whether they’ll give birth to a healthy baby.
Read more
Eat, drink and be safe. Avoid food poisoning this holiday season.
Chicago December 14, 2011 –Whether you’re entertaining at home, celebrating at a restaurant or attending a potluck party, the holidays are a time for friends and family to gather and eat. Don’t let food poisoning spoil your holiday plans. Meet Chef Kang, a Le Cordon Bleu chef, and Ellen, a real mom who has some things to learn about food safety.
Read more
The Sandwich Generation: More People Juggle Parenting and Caregiving Responsibilities
[Chicago] November 30, 2011 / They’ve been dubbed the “Sandwich Generation”–middle-aged people caring for aging parents while still taking care of their own children. Pulled in many directions, these family jugglers are at risk for stress, depression and other health problems. Older adults are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population; 10,000 people turn 65 every day. This will continue for nearly 20 years, and that means more and more people will find themselves aiding their aging parents.
Read more
BeSmartBeWell.com highlights the link between smoking and childhood asthma.
Chicago November 9, 2011 –On November 17, millions of Americans will mark the American Cancer Society’s 36th annual Great American Smokeout by giving up smoking for the day, and maybe for good. Because smoking can trigger asthma symptoms in children, quitting is an important first step toward protecting kids’ health. BeSmartBeWell.com tells parents the steps they can take on the Great American Smokeout, and every day of the year, to lower the risk for childhood asthma.
Read more
BeSmartBeWell.com and Youth Health Literacy
October 19, 2011 - The health literacy of adolescents is a significant concern, especially as teens are increasingly accessing health information online and the credibility of this information is largely unknown. Be Smart. Be Well. was recently included in the National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM) Foundation’s new issue brief, “The Case for Investing in Youth Health Literacy: One Step on the Path to Achieving Health Equity for Adolescents.” The NIHCM Foundation is a national nonprofit, nonpartisan group that conducts research on health care issues.
More than Five Million Americans Abuse Painkillers Each Month
Chicago, October, 26, 2011 / Drugs are everywhere. The use of prescription painkillers has increased dramatically in recent years, and prescription drug abuse is now the nation’s fastest-growing drug problem.
Read more
Safe Escape: Advice for Fleeing Domestic Violence
Chicago, October 13, 2011 / Each year, more than 4 million women and one in 10 men are harmed by their partners, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Tragically, the most dangerous time for victims of domestic violence is when they try to leave.
Read more
Teens and STDs: What Parents Need to Know
Chicago Sept. 28, 2011. / PR Newswire / Chlamydia. HPV. Herpes. Gonorrhea. They’re not easy topics to bring up with your teen, but sexually transmitted disease (STD) rates are rising among adolescents. Nearly half of all new STD cases are in young people between the ages of 15 and 24, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Read more
Combating childhood obesity in the Hispanic community
Chicago, September 14, 2011 / PR Newswire / Childhood obesity is a nationwide epidemic, but the Hispanic community is particularly affected. Children of Hispanic descent are significantly more likely to be overweight and obese than non-Hispanic Caucasian kids, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Read more
Is your teen using your prescription to get high?
Chicago, August 31, 2011 / PR Newswire / Each year, nearly 2 million teens abuse prescription drugs. The new parent’s Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drug Guide from BeSmartBeWell.com and The Partnership at Drugfree.org breaks down the most commonly abused prescription and over-the-counter drugs in a simple-to-understand and interactive web page.
Read more
Parents in the dark about teen dating abuse
Chicago, August 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Though teen dating abuse is widespread, it’s often misunderstood–or just missed by adults. That’s because many teens don’t share stories of abuse and much of the abuse takes place out of view.
Read more
Seeing is Believing, and the Key to Good Health
Chicago, July 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — New research indicates that video storytelling can be an effective way to educate people about health conditions - and watching others share their health stories can empower people to take control of their own health.
Read more
“Teens Talk Mental Health on BeSmartBeWell.com”
Chicago, May 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — As many as one in five U.S. teens suffers from disabling mental illness. Throughout Mental Health Awareness Month in May, BeSmartBeWell.com highlights the issue of mental illness in teens and tells the stories of two teens who moved from diagnosis through treatment and recovery.
Read more
