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    Fruits and Veggies, More Matters

    Posted on: September 16th, 2014 by BrevardBlogger No Comments

    More fruits and veggies can keep you healthy.

    Brevard Medical strives to bring you products that are life changing and helpful to your everyday life. Healthy eating is an important part of aging well and staying independent. September is Fruits and Veggies Month, with the theme “More Matters.”

    This means all forms of fruits and vegetables matter, canned, frozen, fresh, or dried. As long as you are getting the many benefits from these healthy foods, it doesn’t matter how you are taking them in. Less than half of Americans get adequate fruit and vegetable consumption each week. We are going to give you a few reasons why “more matters.”

    More matters:

    1. Fruits and vegetables are vibrantly colored and add flavor to your plate. Your plate will be more colorful and appealing.
    2. More fiber in healthy foods. Fiber can keep you feel fuller longer, so you are less likely to overeat. Your digestive system will also benefit greatly.
    3. Variety of options. There are many different fruits and vegetables out there that you may have never even heard of. Fruits and veggies give you many opportunities to make delicious and healthy recipes.
    4. Low in calories. Fruits and vegetables can settle sweet and salty cravings for a lot less calories than junk food. They leave you feeling satisfied without the guilt after.
    5. Quick and natural snack option. You can feel good knowing you are eating a food that is not heavily processed. They are conveniently easy to wash and peel on the go.
    6. Packed with vital nutrients. From calcium to vitamin C, you can find that all fruits and vegetables are packed with good things for you. From inside to the outside, fruits and veggies can keep you healthy all around.

    Now that you know why “more matters” when it comes to fruits and veggies make a list of these healthy foods to get at the store next time you go. Contact us if you have any questions about our products or services.

    October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

    Posted on: October 10th, 2013 by BrevardBlogger No Comments

    October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) and Brevard Medical Equipment wants all women to be aware of breast cancer, its risks and how to get screened.

    Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure. The campaign also offers information and support to those affected by breast cancer.

    Look at any woman’s health website, women’s magazine and many food packages and you will probably see the famous pink ribbon that represents breast cancer. Jewelry, car magnets, t-shirts and hundreds of other products carry the pink ribbon of support. While people are seeing the ribbon, are they really aware of just how many women deal with breast cancer every year?

    Mammograms are the best defense in the fight against breast cancer. Early detection and early treatment greatly increase the odds of survival. Studies show that 98% of women with early stage breast cancer are alive at five years after diagnosis. But little is said about what happens after the five year mark. More recent studies show that an estimated 20% to 30% of women will have a recurrence of their disease.  Many of those will die from the disease.

    While women from any race can and do get breast cancer, white women have the highest rate of the disease overall. However under age 45, African American women have a higher incidence of breast cancer that white women.  African American and Hispanic women tend to be diagnosed with later stages breast cancer more than white women and also have larger tumors. Breast cancer rates are the lowest in Asian American and Pacific Islander women.
    This information is not meant to scare you or give you a false sense of security, but to inform you and encourage every woman of any race to schedule a mammogram.  Brevard Medical is there for any woman dealing with this disease and stands ready with everything from blood pressure cuffs to wheelchairs.

    Minorities and Cancer; the Fight to Close the Racial Gap and Saving Lives

    Posted on: April 17th, 2013 by BrevardBlogger 3 Comments

    Cancer can affect anyone from the youngest babies and children all the way up to the oldest citizens, but some minority groups have higher occurrence rates and lower survival rates than others.  Brevard Medical Equipmentwants everyone to have the best health possible and encourages healthy lifestyles, disease management and cancer screenings for all people.

    Certain racial and ethnic groups are at risk for various types of cancers more than others.

    The third week of April of each year is set aside as National Minority Cancer Awareness Week to bring awareness to these discrepancies and open dialogues about improving the health of all people. The research done on these cancer-affected groups focuses on both the rate of getting diagnosed with cancer and the survival rates.

    According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cancer death rates for women are highest among blacks, followed by whites, Hispanics, and Asian/Pacific Islanders.

    Cancer diagnosis rates versus survival rates among African-Americans are alarming and show a large discrepancy compared to white Americans.

    • African-American women are 40 percent more likely to develop cervical cancer caused by the STD human papillomavirus (HPV), and 20 percent more likely to die from it compared to white women.
    • Although African-Americans are 10 times less likely to get skin cancer than whites, they have more complications and higher death rates.
    • African-American men were almost twice as likely to have new cases of stomach cancer as white men.
    • African-American women are twice as likely to have been diagnosed with stomach cancer as white women, and they are about 2.5 times as likely to die from stomach cancer, as compared to non-Hispanic white women.

    Cancer is the leading cause of death among Hispanics (heart disease causes the most deaths among blacks and whites). Poverty and reduced access to medical services worsen the Hispanic cancer burden resulting in Hispanics have lower cancer screening rates and are diagnosed with cancer at later stages, when treatment options are more limited and less successful.

    Although Hispanics have a lower risk than whites or blacks for the most common types of cancer (lung, breast, prostate, and colon), they have a higher risk for cancers related to infectious agents like the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV related cervical cancer incidence rates among Hispanic women are about 60% higher than those among non-Hispanic whites.

    Lifestyle changes and screenings are the best weapons against cancer. Follow-up care is vital for those that have been diagnosed and are being treated or any types of cancer. For people living with cancer, Brevard Medical Equipment has equipment and supplies to improve your life. Please see us for wheelchairs, hospital beds, oxygen and respiratory equipment or anything else that will make the journey through cancer safer and more comfortable.