June is National Healthy Homes month! The Office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) designated June to spotlight the importance of having and maintaining a healthy home. This year’s theme is Growing up Safe and Healthy: 5 Minutes to a Healthy Home. ANTHC’s Healthy Homes program aims to encourage healthy home practices all the time, but in recognition of Healthy Homes Month, we’re hosting a contest on social media. Over the course of this month, we will be posting seven Healthy ...

At the Alaska Native Medical Center, nurses and medical staff work to ensure the safety and care for patients as they heal and address their health needs. One way that staff is dedicated to patient care is by supporting breastfeeding women and their families. A group of ANMC volunteers are working together to make reusable breast pads for mothers who live in rural areas where disposable breast pads are either hard to find or expensive to purchase. Nurses in the ...

Health research with Alaska Native women who smoke during pregnancy reveals the importance of quitting tobacco. Your health is your baby’s health. Quit tobacco to keep harmful chemicals from your baby.Evidence shows cancer causing chemicals from tobacco use transfers from a mother to her unborn baby. When pregnant women smoke cigarettes, they expose their unborn baby to harmful chemicals, some that are known to cause cancer. The more cigarettes a woman smokes, the more she exposes her unborn child to ...

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America recognizes May as National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month. Spring is a peak season for people affected by asthma and allergies. ANTHC’s Air and Health Homes Program wants Alaska Native people to recognize potential in-home irritants that can trigger asthma and allergies. Download a PDF with tips on asthma irritants to avoid here. Asthma is a chronic disease that causes irritation and swelling of the airways, impacting the lungs and breathing. Asthma can ...