Category: Health

World Diabetes Day

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New figures from the 10th Edition of the IDF Diabetes Atlas reveal that 537 million adults around the world are living with diabetes. That means 1 in 10 adults live with diabetes!

This year’s theme for World Diabetes Day is Acess to Diabetes Care. Despite it being a century since the discovery of insulin, many afflicted individuals do not have consistent access to it and other fundamental components of diabetes care. This must change; if not now, when?

Visit the official website of World Diabetes Day here for more information, or head straight to this link to pledge your support to this cause! 

Son et Lumiere: Foo Foo Festival!

Debbie Roney Smith on

Part of the Foo Foo Festival, Son et Lumiere is a sound and light 3D projection show. A free experience for all ages, it will occur every 30mins from 7 – 9:30 p.m. on November 4-7th. The show is a digital projection on the old Escambia County Courthouse; it is a visual spectacular designed to mix history and technology. The show depicts scenes, people, optical illusions, and imagery from the last 200 years to create an interactive, modern experience. Visit the Son et Lumiere event page here for more information on the history of the concept, event details, and more. 

Halloween 2021: Fast Facts

Debbie Roney Smith on

Tomorrow is Halloween! To celebrate, keep reading to learn some fun facts about the history and current celebration of the holiday:

  • Halloween did not reach mainstream consciousness in the U.S.A until the 1800s when the mass immigration of Scottish and Irish people allowed their traditions to flourish here – traditions that helped form the modern celebration of Halloween as we know it. 
  • The largest Halloween Parade in the world is held by New York’s Greenwich Village; over 50,000 participants in costume make up the parade while millions of spectators visit Manhattan to observe the fun. 
  • Trick-or-treating is a product of the medieval practice of mumming. Mumming refers to the practice of costumed actors parading streets and performing at homes for feast days such as Hallows Eve, Christmas, Shrove Tuesday, and Twelfth Night. 
  • Trunk-or-treating was created as a safer, easier alternative to trick-or-treating for rural communities who live farther apart. 

National Pumpkin Day

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Today is National Pumpkin Day, an annual event of unknown origins that celebrates the versatile and much-loved winter squash. Did you know Floridians prefer pumpkin pancakes to other pumpkin-themed treats such as lattes, cookies, bread, and pie(1)? Pumpkins are botanically classified as fruits, and there are over 30 varieties to enjoy. There are great nutritional benefits to eating pumpkins(2): being 94% water, they offer a high vitamin and mineral content with low calories. They also have a high antioxidant content which can help the human body fight chronic diseases. So consider visiting a pumpkin patch near you to get some delicious pumpkins to enjoy this fall season! 

Medical Marijuana in Pensacola

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Dr. Michelle Beasley

Dr. Michelle Beasley is a Board Certified Physician serving Fort Walton Beach and Pensacola. She has been serving the area for over 15 years and holds both a Bachelor of Science and Doctorate in Medicine from The University of West Florida. She is currently accepting new patients for compassionate care; if you are looking to start treatment with medical marijuana, consider Dr. Beasley. If you are looking to switch providers, she offers a discounted initial assessment price of $49! To get in contact with Dr. Beasley, click here to visit her online portal – you will be able to make an appointment online or call her office.

LGBTQ+ Center Awareness

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Today is National LGBTQ+ Center Awareness Day. For more detailed information on this national event, visit the LGBT Center Awareness Day website.

Since this annual event is designed to help advocate for the work of LGBT community centers everywhere, today’s blog is dedicated to highlighting the local LGBTQ+ Center of Bay County. According to their website, the Bay Center “is currently the only safe space with dedicated programming for LGBTQ+ youth ages 13-18 in the entire Panhandle of Florida, from Mobile, Alabama to Jacksonville, Florida.”

They offer support groups, a safe space, scholarships, community outreach programs, and more! The Center advocates for community engagement, offers volunteer opprotunities, holds events, and works hard to improve the wellness of the LGBTQ+ community while leading the charge for positive change in the area. 

Visit the Center’s official website to learn more. 

World Suicide Prevention Day

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September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and today is World Suicide Prevention Day. One in every 100 deaths worldwide is the result of suicide. Suicide is a devastating pandemic that is worsened by unequal social conditions. By raising awareness, reducing the surrounding stigma, and encouraging well-informed, multi-pronged action, the prevalence of suicide around the world can be reduced. 

World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) was first successfully launched in Stockholm in 2003. It was a joint initiative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP). This global event is the perfect opportunity to raise awareness of suicide and its intricate causes. Today is a day to promote action through intersectional and holistic means that will reduce the number of suicides and suicide attempts worldwide. Head over to IASP’s website for resources, statistics, and more.

 

Grant Given to Jackson Hospital

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Jackson Hospital received a $2.5 million grant to improve operations during future natural weather phenomenon. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved a grant of $2,584,225 to allow the hospital to purchase and install 12 permanent generators within the hospital’s network of facilities. The grant was funded specifically by FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) in response to Hurricane Michael in 2018. The generator project will allow Jackson Hospital to continue operating at all locations during any future power outages.

Florida Panhandle Hospitals

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There are a number of hospitals and emergency rooms in the Florida Panhandle, but the top three are as follows:

Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare
  • Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital (Pensacola). Phone (850) 416-7000. Address: 5151 North 9th Ave, Pensacola, FL 32504. Website. 
  • Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare (Tallahassee). Phone (850) 431-1155. Address: 1300 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308. Website.
  • Ascension Sacred Heart Bay Hospital (Panama City). Phone (850) 769-1511. Address: 615 North Bonita Ave, Panama City, FL 32401. Website.

Tallahassee Nurseries

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Did you know that indoor plants offer both physical and psychological benefits to humans who own them? The benefits of houseplants are:

  • Boosts indoor air quality
  • Promotes exercise
  • Encourages healthy eating
  • Improves mood
  • Relieves stress and anxiety
  • Helps prolong attention span
  • Boosts self-esteem
  • And More!!!

This means the ongoing 2-for-1 houseplant sale at Tallahassee Nurseries is a wonderful opportunity to improve the well-being of your household! From now until September 2nd, or until supplies run out, the garden center will be selling 2-for-1 of equal-or-lesser value houseplants; rare plants and orchids are not included, despite being indoor plants.