By David Parra / Associate state director — AARP Arizona Medicare coverage consists of hospital insurance (Part A), medical insurance (Part B) and prescription drug insurance (Part D). This article will address Part A coverage, including hospital care, skilled nursing facility care,…
Category: Health
Bilingual commentary: Holiday Blessings Food Drive was a success!!
By Egle Rucci / Village Land Shoppe Inc. Our goal of feeding 10 Flagstaff Families has become a reality thanks to our incredible neighbors and neighborhood businesses! What a wonderful and unexpected treat this has been; to meet so many wonderful people with…
Health: Phone down, buckle up
By Shawn Thomas / Coconino County Public Health Services District Policy Analyst Have you ever run late for work? Perhaps to make up time, you began eating your bagel, applied last minute touches to your hair or makeup, fiddled with your…
Guest commentary: Share holiday blessings with a Flagstaff family in need
By Egle Rucci / Village Land Shoppe Inc. My name is Egle Rucci, Realtor ® at Village Land Shoppe Inc, and together with Teresa Bolen at Prime Source Lending, we are pledging to sponsor families in need in our community this year…
Bilingual report: Market on the Move returns to Flagstaff on Dec. 17
AmigosNAZ staff report FLAGSTAFF — Market on the Move, a farmer’s market-style program where community members can get up to 60 pounds of fresh produce for a $15 donation, will return to Flagstaff on Wednesday, Dec. 17, Chris Nez, Health Promotion…
December cover story: Caregivers, children get an early start in education
Variety of programs available in Northern Arizona to help youth succeed in school, life By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ At first glance it seemed a bit out of place — a group of caregivers, parents and grandparents gaining parenting…
Health: Food preparation safety key to successful holiday meals
By the Coconino County Public Health Services District As the holidays approach and families across the county make plans for gatherings, the Coconino County Public Health Services District (CCPHSD) is stressing the importance of making food safety part of the…
November cover story: Season of giving begins in Northern Arizona
While donations, volunteers are welcomed during the holidays, officials say need must be met throughout the entire year By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ Right after Halloween thoughts start turning toward Thanksgiving, Christmas and other holidays. You can’t escape it…
Analysis: NAU helps fight student hunger
By Tony Salazar / AmigosNAZ intern Every year in America the price of higher education continues to rise at astronomical rates. This year alone for an incoming freshman at Northern Arizona University one can expect to pay about $25,000 as…
Guest commentary: At Halloween, protect kids’ teeth. Prevent school absences
Did you know that tooth decay is among the most common health issues affecting young children, and that dental disease is one of the leading causes of school absence? The Arizona Department of Health Services estimates that almost half of…
Experienced heart problem that you needed help for? We want to hear your story
“Have you experienced a heart problem that you needed help for? We want to hear your story! “Please contact Jeronimo Vasquez at (928) 214-3904 if you are interested. Gracias”
Commentary / Comentario: The season of nutritional health
By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ While this is the season for cultural events, it is also the time to start thinking about proper nutrition as students return to school and we prepare for the dreaded sweet and fat-laden holiday season. The…
Commentary / Comentario: Poore Clinic opens in Sunnyside
By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ Even with the passage of the Affordable Care Act, obtaining quality health care continues to be a challenge for many people. Whether it’s transportation issues due to a shortage of accessible neighborhood clinics, problems…
Local / Locales
Northern Arizona University has been awarded a three-year research grant to promote academic success among young Spanish-speaking English learners, university officials reported in a media release. The grant, awarded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Educational Sciences, will…
Health / Salud: Public Health and you – Picnics, barbecues and food safety tips
Editor’s note: The following commentary is provided by the Coconino County Public Health Services District. By Marlene Gaither / Coconino County Environmental Health Program manager Summer is the season for picnics and cookouts, but these outdoor activities can present food…
Health / Salud: Vaccinations: An important way to protect children
Editor’s note: The following commentary is provided by the Coconino County Public Health Services District. By Michelle McKay, RN, BSN / Coconino County Public Health Services District Immunization Program manager Through advances in medicine and vaccinations, potentially deadly illnesses and…
Market on the Move makes successful stop in Flagstaff
Hover over each image to see a description. AmigosNAZ staff report FLAGSTAFF — Market on the Move, a farmer’s market-style program where community members can get up to 60 pounds of fresh produce for a $15 donation, made a successful return…
Health / Salud: The Affordable Care Act: Closed door, opened door
By David Parra / Associate state director — AARP Arizona After six months of opportunity to obtain health coverage through the new health insurance marketplace created by the Department of Health and Human Services, as part of the Patient Protection…
April cover story / Portada: Immigration awareness events return to NAU
Activities expand to entire month of April at the university By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ During an interview last year, Robert Neustadt said it would be up to the students to decide if they want to carry on “Immigration…
Local / Locales
A group of Northern Arizona University researchers focused on sustainable practices, geography and earth sciences found something unexpected during their work in Central America: the effects of drug trafficking are leaving deep scars on a sensitive landscape. They call the…
Health / Salud: Considering a tattoo – do your homework
Editor’s note: The following commentary is provided by the Coconino County Public Health Services District. By Marlene Gaither / Coconino County Public Health Services District Environmental Health Program program manager The practice of tattooing dates back thousands of years. Today, 21…
March cover story / Portada: Health-care enrollment deadline nears
March 31 is the deadline for signing up under the Affordable Care Act By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ The days are counting down until the end of the open enrollment period on March 31 for the Health Insurance Marketplace…
Local / Locales
The City of Flagstaff reports that the Army Corps of Engineers has allocated $1.6 million for the Rio de Flag Flood Control Project. “We have worked tirelessly to secure funding for the Rio de Flag flood control project. Part of…
Health / Salud: The origins of public health
Editor’s note: The following commentary is provided by the Coconino County Public Health Services District. By Angela Horvath / Coconino County Public Health Services District Policy Analyst In the mid-1800s, a deadly epidemic of cholera broke out in cities worldwide. The…
Health / Salud: Imagining a better health-care system
By David Parra / Associate state director — AARP Arizona Life is most enjoyable when you are healthy. A simple headache alters your mood, and a more serious illness can make life miserable for us and our families. Our health…
Health / Salud: WIC: Celebrating 40 years of strengthening families
Editor’s note: The following commentary is provided by the Coconino County Public Health Services District. By Lorraine Ornelas / Coconino County Public Health Services District WIC program manager The Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC) has helped millions of the nation’s…
Health / Salud: The Affordable Care Act: How to choose a plan
By David Parra / Associate state director — AARP Arizona Among other benefits, the Affordable Care Act makes it possible for people who previously had no access to health insurance to now have access to coverage. If you have coverage…
Health / Salud: Cold weather pet, livestock safety tips
Editor’s note: The following commentary is provided by the Coconino County Public Health Services District. By Sabrina Kelley / Coconino County Animal Program manager During the cold winter months, the Coconino County Public Health Services District Animal Management Program is…
Health / Salud: Healthy resolutions for the year ahead
By Metro Editorial Services (MS) As the calendar turns to a new year, the focus of men and women often shifts as well. After the hectic holiday season has come and gone, many people re-dedicate themselves to their personal health…
Local / Locales
Free diabetes and health, provided by the Northern Arizona Diabetes — Heart Connect and Diabetes programs, will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3 at the Flagstaff Public Library East Campus, 3000 N. 4th St.; from…
Health / Salud: Food safety during the holiday season
Editor’s note: The following commentary is provided by the Coconino County Public Health Services District. By Marlene Gaither / Coconino County Public Health Services District Environmental Health Program Manager Turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie are part of many holiday celebrations,…
Health / Salud: North Country HealthCare to help individuals, families enroll in health insurance
Editor’s note: The following commentary is provided by North Country HealthCare. By Katie Brock & Dr. Eric Henley / North Country HealthCare The Health Insurance Marketplace opened on Oct. 1; however, many may be confused by their options and might…
Bilingual report: ‘Health Care Information Night’ to be held Nov. 19 in Flagstaff
FLAGSTAFF — A health care information night, with information presented primarily in Spanish, will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19 at Restauración en Cristo Congregation, 624 S. O’Leary St. (en Spring Hill Baptist Church), Flagstaff. Have you had trouble…
Bilingual report: ‘Health Care Information Night’ to be held Nov. 21 in Flagstaff
FLAGSTAFF — A bilingual health care information night will be presented from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21 at the Killip Elementary School Library, 2300 E. 6th Ave., Flagstaff. Have you had trouble getting health insurance? How does the…
Health / Salud: How to use diet to supplement your workout routine
By Metro Editorial Services (MS) Men and women who have successfully adopted healthy lifestyles know full well that combining exercise with a healthy diet is the key to getting and staying healthy. Simply visiting the gym won’t work if it’s…
Local / Locales
The Coconino County Public Health Services District (CCPHSD) is helping young adults and teens to quit using tobacco products by utilizing “The CIGNAL,” Arizona’s latest effort to curb tobacco use, county officials reported in a media release. Modeled after the…
Health / Salud: Q&A: Insurance Marketplace
An interview with Dr. Eric Henley, chief medical officer, North Country Health Care By Star Hunter / AmigosNAZ The next step of the Affordable Care Act ~ the Health Insurance Marketplace ~ became active Oct. 1, to the confusion of…
CollegeAmerica Fall Resource Fair draws crowd
Click on the image to see a slideshow from the CollegeAmerica Fall Resource Fair AmigosNAZ staff report FLAGSTAFF — The first impression that something was going on at the CollegeAmerica campus on east Route 66 were the two radio remote…
Health / Salud: Help make your child’s school healthier
Por Metro Editorial Services (MS) Because children spend most of their time in classrooms, schools are an ideal setting for healthy behaviors to be taught and modeled. Therefore, parents are speaking up and getting involved in an effort to improve…
Local / Locales
The Coconino County Public Health Services District will host Back to School Vaccination Clinics from 1 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Aug. 7 and 14 at the Coconino Public Health Services District, 2625 No. King St., Flagstaff. All required vaccinations for…
Commentary / Comentario: Time to enjoy upcoming summer events
By Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Archuleta / Coconino County District 2 Supervisor Make sure to make the most of your summer by going out and enjoying what our county has to offer! Here are some fun and healthy events for all ages.…
Health / Salud: Too much of a good thing?
By Metro Editorial Services (MS) Millions of people regularly take one or more vitamin supplements daily. Many perceive vitamins as the way to combat nutritional deficiency from a poor or inadequate diet. With so many in the population leading busy…
Food / Cocina: Enjoy dairy for good health
By Metro Editorial Services (MS) To some people, dairy’s reputation for contributing to high cholesterol and weight gain is a misconception that’s hard to let go of. But dairy’s detractors should know the right dairy products enjoyed in moderation can…
Cover Story / Portada: Area food providers working to feed region’s need
Feeding the hungry remains a year-round challenge for many groups By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ Holiday canned food drives, free turkey dinners and other events during the winter months are how most people see the issue of hunger in America. Make…
Health / Salud: Living with fibromyalgia
By Metro Editorial Services (MS) Few look forward to getting older, and that is largely because of the toll the aging process can take on the human body. While certain conditions may be largely associated with the senior population, middle-age…
Bilingual report: Latinos to play important role in state’s future
Improving student achievement, developing new leaders will be key to Arizona’s success By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ A vibrant Arizona of the future will require a strong investment in the state’s educational system. But party politics and a focus on…
Health / Salud: Glaucoma does not always exhibit symptoms
By Metro Editorial Services (MS) As the human body ages, certain things might not work as well as they used to. Though no two individuals are the same, there are certain things people expect to deal with as they age.…
Food / Cocina: Look to Latin cooking to improve health
By Metro Editorial Services (MS) There has been much interest in Mediterranean cuisine and its possible medical benefits. However, individuals who prefer the spice and flair of Latin dishes may also be better for it with respect to their health. There…
Health / Salud: What to do when beginning an exercise regimen
By Metro Editorial Services (MS) Though it’s noble to want to lose weight and improve health, regardless of what time of year it is, there are precautions men and women should take before beginning a new exercise regimen. • Visit…
Health / Salud: U.S. Hispanics open up about oral health care
By Metro Editorial Services (MS) Unlike years past, the public now has a wealth of information regarding the importance of oral care at their disposal. However, one demographic group may still be lacking in basic oral health knowledge and access…
Health / Salud: Acceptable exercises for pregnant women
By Metro Editorial Services (MS) Women commonly gain weight during pregnancy. Though such weight gain is expected and perfectly natural, some women still want to maintain a healthy weight and hope to avoid gaining a few too many pounds while…
Health / Salud: The PSA test controversy
By Metro Editorial Services (MS) Inaccurate results and less than fool-proof detection has led many health professionals to eschew prostate-specific antigen tests (PSA) as an indicator of prostate cancer. A draft recommendation from the U.S. government said PSA tests should…