The Louisiana Department of Health is devoted to protecting and promoting health and providing access to medical, preventive and rehabilitation services for all citizens. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) encourages behaviors that improve health or prevent diseases. People in Monroe, Louisiana can get involved with public health campaigns to promote health awareness by utilizing the resources provided by the HHS and other organizations. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) offers strategies, advice and other essential information about Alzheimer's disease to health professionals, patients and their families.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) works with community health workers to encourage heart-healthy behavioral changes in underserved and minority communities. The NHLBI also has a campaign to raise awareness of heart disease and its risk factors among women and to educate and motivate them to take steps to prevent the disease and control their risk factors. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) educates the public about the signs of stroke and the importance of going to the hospital quickly to prevent stroke-related death. NINDS also educates people about the importance of controlling blood pressure in middle age (between 45 and 6 years) to reduce the risk of stroke and possibly dementia in the future. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) provides one-minute tips on how to lead a healthy lifestyle with conversations with top researchers on a variety of health issues. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) provides tools to help people learn to achieve and maintain a healthy weight and reduce the risk of diseases associated with obesity, such as heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has a campaign to promote the second edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans which aims to help people live healthier lives by increasing physical activity. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) provides research-based information on issues related to alcohol abuse and binge drinking among college students. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) connects teens with scientists and other experts to counter myths about drugs and alcohol. NIAAA also provides information for adults about alcohol use and encourages them to evaluate their own drinking habits. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) provides personalized tools and strategies for smokers who want to quit smoking, as well as advice and support for military veterans who want to quit smoking. NCI also offers quizzes, apps, resources for Spanish-speaking communities, advice for pregnant women, resources for teens who want to quit vaping, etc.
The National Institute for Human Genome Research (NHGRI) encourages people to know their family health history to better understand their risks of suffering from certain diseases. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) educates preteens and their parents about the causes and prevention of noise-induced hearing loss. The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) improves the health of women and children by providing pregnant women, mothers, families, and health workers with evidence-based information on maternal and child health. The National Eye Institute (NEI) is designed to reach populations most at risk of suffering from eye diseases and vision loss, as well as promote the use of visual rehabilitation services. Global public health days offer great potential for raising awareness about health issues, mobilizing support for action from local communities up to the international stage. People in Monroe, Louisiana can get involved with public health campaigns by taking advantage of all these resources provided by HHS or other organizations.