General Wellness

Valentine’s Day and American Heart Month aren’t the only times we should think about happy and healthy hearts. Rather, every day is an opportunity to focus on your heart—what makes it beat, what makes it beat a little faster and what you can do to strengthen this important muscle.

If the pandemic caused you to put some of your routine healthcare check-ups and screenings on the backburner, the new year gives us a fresh opportunity to take stock of what you may need to do to get back on track.

Like so many events and traditions this year, Clinic Sofia’s annual Crimson Kit Collection is changing due to COVID-19. Started by Dr. Erin Stevens in 2016, the donation drive helps to collect period products for women experiencing homelessness or displacement.

The darker afternoons and evenings that mark the end of Daylight Saving Time are swiftly approaching. If you struggle with shorter days during a typical year, the wild ride of 2020 might be even more challenging. With that in mind, this might be the perfect time to stock up on bright ideas for making this winter bearable and perhaps even enjoyable.

While many women initially postponed mammograms, Pap tests and other screenings during the early days of the pandemic, Breast Cancer Awareness Month and National Mammography Day in October are reminders of the importance of this annual screening for most women. Mammograms can detect breast cancer early before it advances and requires more aggressive treatment, just one of the reasons you should maintain your regular schedule.

Preventative care is always important. Doctor’s visits, screenings and vaccinations are all designed to support your health and prevent disease. This year, however, preventative care is even more critical than ever. Experts hope to prevent a “twindemic” of flu and Covid-19 and many illnesses have symptoms that can be confused for coronavirus, underscoring the need to make health a top priority this year.