Each year, thousands of teens and young people get hurt on the sports field, the basketball court, or while skateboarding, biking, weightlifting. Blows to the face in nearly every sport can injure your teeth, lips, cheeks and tongue.
A properly fitted mouth guard, or mouth protector, is an important piece of athletic gear that can protect your teeth and smile. You may have seen them used in contact sports, such as football, boxing, ice hockey, lacrosse and women’s field hockey.

The Food and Drug Administration is urging consumers to carefully read the labels of liquid acetaminophen marketed for infants to avoid giving the wrong dose to their children.
A less concentrated form of the popular medication is now available, and giving the wrong dose of acetaminophen can cause the medication to be ineffective if too little is given or cause serious side effects and, possibly, death if too much is given.
In an attempt to reduce the confusion over different strengths that have been blamed for past overdoses, some manufacturers are voluntarily offering only the less concentrated version for all children.

Capt. Shaun O’Laughlin was looking for educational classes and for better treatment methods for his physical therapy patients in a combat zone. He came across a technique that uses acupuncture-style needles to alleviate pain in joints and muscles.
Two years later, O’Laughlin has become certified to perform trigger-point dry needling, a form of physical therapy used in combination with other, more traditional physical therapy practices. The physical therapist at Munson Army Health Center said he uses trigger-point dry needling almost every day to help patients.

Nearly 4 million women give birth in the U.S. every year and almost a third of them will suffer pregnancy-related complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Prenatal care not only helps ensure those complications are caught early and treated, but can help prevent premature births. To support proper prenatal care and help women deliver healthy babies, TriWest Healthcare Alliance is now offering a new resource for military families who are expecting: The Pregnancy and Parenting Portal.

It’s been a long day at the office. Visions of the vending machine flash through your mind. Caffeine and sugar are calling your name — STOP!
The additional 140 calories from a 12-ounce can of soda and 220 calories or more from a candy bar or bagged snack, if eaten on most work days, will create a weight gain of a jumbo 25 pounds per year. Even if the soda is diet and only the candy or bagged snack is eaten, expect a weight gain of 15 pounds per year. Add to that the extra calories we eat when someone brings in donuts or “goodies” to the office, or what about that desktop candy jar?

Smith Dental Clinic’s mission is to provide professional dental care and treatment services to all active-duty personnel assigned to the area.
The Dental Command’s goal is to have 95 percent of active-duty personnel at class 1 or 2 for dental readiness. Currently, the database reflects lower than usual dental readiness for personnel assigned at Fort Leavenworth.

A smartphone can now be used for more than texting friends or flinging birds. With TriWest’s mobile account tools, you can get closer to your health care.
Get answers to general TRICARE questions whether you’re relaxing at home, standing in line or waiting at the doctor’s office. Download the TriWest mobile app (TriWest.com/GoMobile) for smart devices.

Nearly 4 million women give birth in the U.S. every year and almost a third of them will suffer pregnancy-related complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Prenatal care not only helps ensure those complications are caught early and treated, but can help prevent premature births. To support proper prenatal care and help women deliver healthy babies, TriWest Healthcare Alliance is now offering a new resource for military families who are expecting: The Pregnancy and Parenting Portal.

For Sgt. Timothy Finney, a shift worker at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks, extra weight was beginning to interfere with his career — most importantly, the chance to work a day job.
The 25-year-old Soldier, a member of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, USDB, began to gain weight and failed a tape measure test. He decided to take action and joined the Army Move! weight loss support program after consulting with his primary care provider at Munson Army Health Center.

Most have heard the saying, “Laughter is the best medicine.”  Many times medicines can improve our illness, but addressing the whole person calls for something more. There is an increasing interest in studying how humor and laughter can lead to increased health and better immune function.
What is humor? The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines humor as “the mental faculty of discovering, expressing or appreciating the ludicrous or absurdly incongruous, or something that is or designed to be comical or amusing.”  In plain English, humor is both a mental activity and behavioral action. Everyone has the potential to be humorous and appreciate humor; but one’s humor level and type of humor appreciated differs among each of us.

Nearly one-third of active-duty service members smoke, and that figure increases among troops in a combat zone, according to the 2008 Department of Defense Survey of Health-Related Behaviors.
Most Soldiers know that smoking cigarettes can eventually cause lung cancer and emphysema, but one does not have to wait 20 or 30 years to experience the adverse effects of smoking.

Ten Soldiers and Army civilian employees recently had a unique opportunity to expand their warrior training during a free judo seminar at Harney Fitness Center Dec. 12-16.
Frank Barry, an employee at the National Simulation Center, is a seventh-degree Judo black belt and sixth-degree Ju-Jutsu black belt. In addition, he holds black belt ranks in Tae Kwon Do, Akido and Kobudo.

A feature on TRICARE Online at www.tricareonline.com now allows users access to expanded personal health data, including lab results, patient history and diagnoses, and provider visits.
These features are an expansion of the current Blue Button capability, which already allowed beneficiaries to safely and securely access and print or save their demographic information, allergy and medication profiles.  The Blue Button features will further encourage beneficiaries to actively engage in their healthcare. The level of data available will be dependent on where treatment occurs — with the most data available to those who regularly get care at military hospitals and clinics.

The Department of Defense has implemented a temporary moratorium on the sales of products containing dimethylamylamine, commonly referred to as DMAA, within military facilities.
The moratorium will remain in effect pending further review of relevant scientific evidence and reported events, officials said.
Recent reports show that two Soldier deaths and additional adverse health effects in other service members may be related to the use of dietary supplements containing DMAA.

‘Tis the season to be generous to others and to ourselves. People often attend more social gatherings during the holidays where they eat and drink differently than usual. In a spirit of goodwill, alcohol flows more freely and, before you know it, you have packed on a few extra pounds or even worse. Here are a few tips to help you imbibe more safely this holiday season.
Alcohol is calorie-laden at 7 kilocalories per gram. Only fats come in higher at 9 kcal/gm; carbohydrates add up at 4 kcal/gm. Beer averages 100-250 kcal depending on type and size; 12 ounces is considered one serving. Wine runs about 90-100 kcal for a 5-ounce glass. Whiskey and vodka will cost you 55 kcal per shot.

24/7/365 Crisis Line — 682-9131

Munson Army Health Center On-Call Physician — 684-6000

Army Community Service (duty hours) — 684-2800

Staff Duty Officer — 684-4448

On-Call Chaplain (through SDO) — 684-4448

Military and Family Life Consultants  — 547-2551

Installation Victim Advocate — 683-2537

Sexual Assault Response Coordinator — 683-1443

Military One Source  — (800) 464-8107

American Red Cross  — (800) 272-7337

The fall and winter seasons are full of opportunities for celebrating. Football games, holidays and extended vacations from work all offer ample time for fun, food and fellowship. And for many people, tailgates and parties wouldn’t be the same without a splash or two of their favorite alcoholic beverages.
While social gatherings offer a perfect opportunity to let loose, Soldiers, family members and civilians must be extra vigilant and have a plan if they choose to drink, regardless of the time of year. But when you factor in other variables unique to winter, including adverse weather conditions like ice and snow, prior planning becomes even more important.

Joy to the world! ‘Tis the season to be jolly! Everyone is happy during the holidays, right?
Wrong. Life can be hard for many people during the holiday season. The holidays bring out heightened emotions, both positive and negative. It makes me wonder, is there a secret to having an optimistic attitude? What can I do to become more positive and happy during the holidays and all year long?

Members of the Fort Leavenworth community recently graduated from a tactical pistol course taught by local Defense Training Institute-certified instructors. The fall course included classroom instruction for students before attending outdoor ranges.
The course was taught by DTI Range Master Tommy Herken, with several certified volunteer instructors. Herken has been teaching tactical shooting since 1994 and has helped about 300 Soldiers, civilians and local law enforcement members of the Fort Leavenworth community.

Soldiers regularly train in various martial arts and combatives in Harney and Gruber gyms while stationed at Fort Leavenworth. Some even compete in local matches or tournaments to test and refine their skills. Two of them; Capt. Meg Pittenger, from Munson Army Health Center, and Spc. Steve Null of 15th Military Police Brigade, competed in local mixed martial arts cage matches Dec. 2 at Harrah’s in Kansas City Mo.
Pittenger fought hard in her MMA debut loss and went all three rounds of a very close match. Null also went the full distance of a close fight earning a local title belt with his victory. Both are graduates of the Modern Army Combatives Program at Fort Leavenworth.