Health

In this “Ask the Doc” article, learn about how HPV vaccination is the best way to prevent infection, and HPV vaccines in the U.S are highly effective at preventing infection from nine of the most serious types of HPV viruses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that all children get the HPV vaccine at a well-child pre-teen visit between ages 9 and 12. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan Hack)
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Ask the Doc: Should my child get the HPV vaccine?

Dear Doc: I’ve heard about HPV—I know it’s a sexually transmitted disease, and can cause some health problems, but not much more.
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jackson Adkins
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Prevent serious illness, get updated COVID-19 and flu vaccines

The fall and winter months tend to be the time when most people are sick with respiratory illnesses—though, these can happen anytime of the year.
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Masks, compliance and confusion

Recently, news media have been reporting that the much-respected Cochrane Collaboration has concluded that “masks don’t work.”
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Preventing suicide through social connectedness

Suicide is a significant public health issue that impacts individuals, families, communities and society at large.
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Mental Notes with Hilary Valdez: Preventing depression

How do you prevent depression? Is it possible? Some researchers say yes, some say no.
Photo by 123RF
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Building the breathing muscles

Separating your chest cavity from your abdomen is a muscle shaped like a dome when relaxed. This dome is tethered at many points to the lower rib cage, the vertebrae of the low back, and at least two sets of low back muscles, giving it a somewhat parachute-like appearance. This is the diaphragm.
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Good nutrition through PCS season

PCS season is hectic, stressful, time-consuming and downright hard on your body. It’s also during this time that you might be settling for takeout, pizza delivery or just drowning your stress in a pint of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream.
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Why everyone should run a 5K

I am a serious runner. Whether it’s a family fun run, 5K or marathon, I put my everything into it. Although running a race competitively may seem like a no-brainer, some people like to run for fun — even if they hate running.
"Testing for prostate cancer is important because it’s a disease which is treatable and curable if it's detected at an early stage, and it's localized to the prostate," said Dr. Gregory Chesnut, a urologic oncologist and associate professor of surgery at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. "Our intention is for curative treatment, and we have excellent outcomes."
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New treatments for ‘quiet disease’ prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men, with the National Cancer InstituteOpens Cancer.gov site estimating over 280,000 diagnoses in 2023.
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Mental Notes with Hilary Valdez: Mental health challenges

Ever wonder what people are thinking? I do, especially if I’m in a sour mood. What are they smiling at?
A referral is when your primary care manager sends you to see another provider. If your PCM refers you to a civilian provider, you can find your referral in your TRICARE regional contractor’s online patient portal or by phone.
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How to find your TRICARE referrals

If you have a TRICARE PrimeOpens tricare.mil plan, referrals play a big role in how you get health care. A referralOpens tricare.mil is when your primary care manager sends you to see another provider.
U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Derek Melton, an optometrist with the 181st Intelligence Wing, examines a patient's eyes in Owyhee, Nevada, May 23, 2023. Regular exams are important to identify problems with eye health, especially in children. (credit: U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Amy Lovgren/133rd Airlift Wing)
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Pediatric nearsightedness cases on the rise

Myopia, otherwise known as nearsightedness, is the leading cause of visual impairment in children worldwide, according to the National Institutes of Healthopens NIH.gov.
Dr. Lester Martinez-Lopez, Department of Defense’s assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, spoke at the 2023 Defense Health Information Technology Symposium on Aug. 8, 2023, at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.
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Defense Health Agency kicks off Health IT Symposium

Leaders in government, military, and industry health information technology convened at the 2023 Defense Health Information Technology Symposiumopens the event page on Aug. 8, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Summer is here, and while blood donors take vacations, go on leave, or go through a permanent change of station, the need for blood products remains steadfast. The Armed Services Blood Program, the official blood program of the U.S. military, is urging all to step up and donate blood. Help ensure military readiness by scheduling a donation with the ASBP today. (Credit: Jonathan Davis)
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Give the gift of life this summer by donating blood

Summer is the time to give back to those who need blood most in order to combat the reduction in donations that comes during these warmer months.
U.S. Army courtesy photo by Spc. Samuel Herman
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Before natural disasters strike, know your TRICARE benefits

Natural disasters are so frequent that it can be difficult to predict where the next hurricane, tornado, or flood may occur. That’s why you must always be prepared. In case of a natural disaster, one of the most important preparations is to ensure you and your family have your prescription drugs and access to health care services.
Stacy Leonard, left, and Christina Stretch, Hearing Center of Excellence Information Management Section, demonstrate some of the capabilities of the Joint Hearing Loss and Auditory System Injury Registry at the Joint Defense and Veterans Audiology Conference in March 2023. (Department of Defense photo: Larine Barr, MHS Communications)
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Registries deliver valuable data for sensory injury research

Military sensory research—and the development of clinical best practices—are fueled by vision and hearing injury registries that collect data on service members and veterans from their point of injury to recovery or rehabilitation.