A Message from Your Hometown Health Manager
We are in full swing of "The Invitational" Steps Wellness Challenge ! We have 38 teams all across the state being matched up each week. In the first round of the challenge, our teams had a total of 5,258,329 steps . Way to go!

Don’t forget to log at least five days of your steps each week to earn credit for your participation. At the end of each round, you will have until midnight on Wednesdays to input steps from the previous week.

If you encounter any problems or have questions related to this challenge, please feel free to call our WebMD Customer support team at 855.667.2546.

You can also check your points/rewards status on your Hometown Health portal anytime!

All the Best,

Gwen Mahabir
Before You Get Pregnant: See Your Doctor
Thinking about having a baby? Don’t wait for the results of a home pregnancy test before you see a doctor. Consider having that first prenatal visit before you get pregnant.

It’s called a preconception checkup. And it can help make sure that you are healthy and ready for pregnancy.

What to expect
During your visit, your doctor will check your health. He or she will look for risks that might affect your pregnancy.

Your checkup may include:

  • A physical exam. You may need screening tests, such as a Pap smear. Or your blood may be tested. This is also a good time to update any vaccines you need.
  • A medical history. Tell your doctor about any conditions or treatments you’ve had in the past. Review any prescription or over-the-counter drugs or supplements you take. And answer questions about your diet, habits, and work or home environment.
  • A family medical history. Discuss health conditions that run in your family and how they may affect your pregnancy. Your doctor can refer you for genetic counseling, if needed.
  • A review of your past pregnancies and birth control use. 
Breast Cancer in the Family: What Is Your Risk?
If breast cancer runs in your family, it’s a natural question to ask: Will I get it too? 

There’s no way to know for sure. According to the American Cancer Society, most women who develop breast cancer don’t have any relatives with the illness.

But it’s true that a family history of breast cancer does increase your risk. In fact, having a mother, sister or daughter with a history of breast cancer almost doubles your chance of getting the disease. And having two close relatives with it raises your risk even more.

But keep this reassuring fact in mind: Many women with a family history of breast cancer may never get the disease. And even if it does run in your family, there are things you can do to help lower your risk and stay healthy.

Keeping Watch on Prostate Cancer
Almost all prostate cancers grow slowly. That means most men who are diagnosed have time to think about what to do next — and to talk with their doctors about their options. 

If you’re a man facing this decision, one strategy your doctor may discuss is putting off treatment. But why would you wait? After all, we don’t often put off treatment for other cancers.

Your test results may show that your cancer is an early-stage, low-risk tumor. So it may not be life-threatening. In that case, you’ll need to consider the benefits — and the risks — of treating it right away.

Stressed and out of shape
Why do most guys tend to get weaker, fatter, and less healthy when they get into their 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s? Chalk it up to increased stress, increased responsibilities and decreased time and energy.

We know we need to eat better. We know we need to take better care of ourselves. But most guys simply have a hard time staying consistent with their nutrition and exercise plans.

You can take control of your own health and fitness. You can reverse the downward spiral of stress, and start building a healthy body you can be proud of.

In this article, you’ll learn:

  • the two biggest fitness-related problems that hold men back from getting and staying in shape, and
  • how to overcome these obstacles to get the body — and life — you want.
Florida League of Cities | www.floridaleagueofcities.com | 850.222.9684