On April 7th, people around the globe will be recognizing World
Health Day. This international event has raised awareness
about a variety of important wellness topics for 70 years. So, what is
World Health Day and why does it matter? Let’s look at what you need to know.
What Is World Health Day?
This World Health
Organization (WHO) international event first took place back in 1950.
Since then, each annual event has shed light on a specific health topic.
Previous years’ themes have included Universal Health Coverage (UHC),
depression, diabetes, and food safety. As soon as each annual theme is
announced, people can begin to plan their events and activities.
World Health Day 2020
Theme
Since
2020 is the official International Year of
the Nurse and the Midwife, it’s only fitting that this year’s World
Health Day theme matches. The day, this year on April 7th, will aim –
through advocacy activities and campaigns around the world – to shine a light on all the work that these dedicated
health professionals do daily.
The World Health Organization has drawn up a list of secondary
goals, including:
- Encourage
public appreciation for the work of nurses and midwives
- Boost
the profile of both nurses and midwives within the health care sector
- Trigger
some support and extra investment for both nurses and midwives
Nursing and Midwife Statistics
- There
are approximately 29 million nurses and midwives in the world.
- By
2022, there will be more nursing jobs available in the United States than
any other role, according to the American Nurses Association.
- Nurses
earn an average of $71,730 per year in the United States.
- Around
80% of Britons state that they “always” have trust in the National Health
Service nurses that treat them.
- 63%
of Registered Nurses in the United States work in a hospital setting.
- In
2018, there were 303,146 registered nurses (RNs), including nurse
practitioners (NPs) in Canada.
- Ireland
has the highest number of midwives per capita compared with the other EU
Member States.
How to Get Involved in World Health Day 2020
You
can get involved and show some support for World Health Day 2020 in a variety
of ways. First, check to see what local events are
going on near you, then look at the WHO’s list of simple ways in which you can play your part when
April 7th comes around. Here’s a summary of some of the things you might do:
- Send a letter to
leaders: Sending
letters to politicians could be a good place to start. Asking them how
they are helping nurses and midwives could spark real change or at least
bring the issue to the forefront of leaders’ minds.
- Say “thank you”
to a nurse:
Sometimes, a simple thank you can go a long way. It could take the form of
sending some flowers to a nurse or midwife who has treated you recently.
Alternatively, you can take WHO up on its suggestion to share on social
media using the hashtag #SupportNursesAndMidwives.
- Start a
petition: If
you’re truly passionate about helping nurses and midwives, why not start a
petition to support positive change? Use one of the many online services
to raise awareness, spread the word, and gather signatures.
- Spend a day in
the life of a nurse: Do
you think you could do what a nurse or midwife does? Why not see if you
can shadow one of these health care professionals for just a day to see what
they really do? It’s another of WHO’s suggestions.
How to Protect Your General Health
While
World Health Day comes around once a year, you should take care of
your wellness the whole year round. This isn’t easy when you’re
busy or stressed, but finding simple ways to look after your general health
should be your top priority. Being active and eating well are two good places
to start.
Be Active
Do
you lead an active lifestyle? If you work in an office or spend all day sitting
down, it could be harmful to your health. The European Society of
Cardiology suggests that leading a sedentary
life for 20 years can double your risk of early mortality.
Although your job role might dictate that you stay seated throughout the day,
there are still things you can do to improve your everyday activity levels.
Don’t
panic if you’re not naturally inclined to go to the gym. You can exercise
without hitting the treadmill. One of the smartest things you can do is to build exercise into your usual routine so
that you hardly even notice you’re exercising. Why not join a dance class that
you’ll enjoy, or just start cycling to work?
If
you’re not sure how much activity you should be doing, don’t worry. According
to the Physical Activity Guidelines for
Americans, adults should be doing up to five hours of moderate
exercise per week or up to two-and-a-half hours of vigorous exercise per week.
Eat Well
Eating
well means eating a healthy, balanced diet;
not eating more food! You’ve no doubt heard the expression, “You are what you
eat!” and the National Institute of
Health suggests that what you eat can have an impact on
your risk for heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and
the U.S. Department of Agriculture set
out some healthy eating guidelines for the public. Between 2015 and 2020, the
guidelines included these insights:
- Eat a variety of
nutrient-rich foods: Your daily diet should be based around nutrient-rich
foods, which should include vegetables, fruits, grains, protein-dense
foods (such as seafood, lean meat, and eggs), and oils.
- Limit unhealthy
food groups: It’s
not only about what you eat but also what you don’t eat. You should limit
the unhealthy ingredients you consume, which means saturated fats, trans
fats, added sugars, and sodium. Be wary of processed foods, high-sugar
snacks, and adding salt to meals. And don’t deep-fry your food!
- Consume alcohol
only in moderation: The
occasional adult beverage could do no harm, but bear in mind that women
should only drink up to one alcoholic beverage per day while men should
only consume up to two.
Learn About Your Genetic Disease
Predispositions and Current Health
Your
genetic makeup plays a big part in your health, so if you’re hoping to
protect your everyday wellness, learning more about
your DNA or blood biomarkers could make a big difference. One
of the easiest ways to do this is by taking an at-home test, but which one is
right for you? To help you decide, we’ve found a variety of great kits
currently on the market.
23andMe: The health and wellness
testing kit from 23andMe gives you a detailed overview of how your genes impact
your body. The report provides an insight into your genetic risk for 13 common diseases and
your carrier status for a massive 44 congenital conditions.
As well as key insights – such as your risk of Alzheimer’s disease and the gene
variants that could increase your risk of cancer – you also get a Health Action Plan that will help you
to adapt your lifestyle.
Everlywell: Instead of looking at your genetic
predispositions, Everlywell offers dozens of tests that cover key aspects of your current
health, including sexual, hormonal, and general wellness. The physician-reviewed results come from a CLIA-approved clinical lab, which means you
can put your trust in this testing company. As well as reporting on your heart
health, food sensitivity, folic acid, sleep, stress, and blood sugar levels,
you also get insights into how you can maintain a healthy weight.
LetsGetChecked: Like Everlywell,
LetsGetChecked checks you for current conditions, such as sexually transmitted
diseases and hormone levels. Therefore, unlike DNA tests that only require you
to submit a saliva or cheek-swab sample, this company (and Everlywell) requires
you to submit a small amount of blood by
pricking your finger. Don’t worry, it’s not as bad as it
sounds!
Futura Genetics: The Futura Genetics DNA
kit tests for predispositions to 28
common medical conditions. Your risk score for each potential
illness is compared to the general population, and the easy-to-read report also
comes complete with simple lifestyle tips that
could help you reduce your risk. Plus, you can save a lot of money by uploading
your raw data if you’ve already taken a 23andMe test.
HealthCodes DNA: If you’re ready to make
some significant lifestyle changes, HealthCodes DNA could be the testing kit
for you. You get much more than genetic results since your purchase includes unlimited health consultations and
access to a health planning program. The medical-grade DNA kits are processed
in clinical-grade labs, so you should be able
to trust the results.
The Final Takeaway
Takeaways
are not known for being healthy, but this one will be!
World
Health Day on April 7th should be an important date on
everyone’s calendar. There are lots of ways you can get
involved in making nurses and midwives feel more supported and appreciated,
which is this year’s theme. You can also take the opportunity to review your personal health, perhaps by taking a DNA or at-home blood test to see what health
conditions you could be predisposed to or suffering from.
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