Join the Alzheimer’s Association: Alabama Chapter for the 2023 Heart of Alabama Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Birmingham! Held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide, the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s® is the world’s largest fundraiser for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. This inspiring event calls on participants of all ages and abilities to join the fight against the disease.
While there is no fee to register for Walk, all participants are encouraged to raise critical funds that allow the Alzheimer’s Association to provide 24/7 care and support and advance research toward methods of prevention, treatment and, ultimately, a cure. Register at act.alz.org/HeartOfAlabama.
Keep the tradition and join Laura Crandall Brown Foundation (LCBF) as we host our 14th annual Head Over Teal 5K/10K and Family Fun Day. Create your own FUNdraising page or lead a team of supporters when you sign up to participate. Runners can honor survivors and remember those who fought GYN cancer by participating in the 5K/10K, joining us for our pet-friendly fall festival-themed day, or selecting the “sleep in” option. Lead race times will be eligible for a Trak Shak gift card. Share photos of family support, connect with other participants, and engage the foundation virtually by using the hashtags #headoverteal and #headoverteal2023 and by following us on social media at Facebook @LCBFoundation, Instagram at lcbfoundation, Vimeo at Laura Crandall Brown Foundation, and Flickr at Laura Crandall Brown Foundation. Learn more and register at thinkoflaura.org/headoverteal. All proceeds go to support LCBF’s mission of early detection research, awareness education, and financial support services for GYN cancer patients and their families.
Get ready for one last run! The Mercedes-Benz Marathon Weekend of Events, presented by Birmingham Marathon, Inc. and Mercedes-Benz U.S. International (MBUSI) brings its final race weekend to Birmingham Feb. 10-12, 2023. Comprised of a Full Marathon, Half Marathon, Marathon Relay, The Bell Center Children’s Run, Regions Superhero 5K and Kids Marathon presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, each race will start and finish at Birmingham’s Linn Park, where more than 10,000 runners are expected to participate.
The events allow for friends and family to run together, meet personal goals and have a feeling of accomplishment when running across the finish line for not only meeting that milestone, but also for the impact it has on the community. Â
To register and to find out more information about each race, course maps or volunteer opportunities, visit www.mercedesmarathon.com.Â
Healthy Living
Proverbs 17:22 is one of my favorite Bible verses. We even put it on every receipt that leaves our pharmacy! It says, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” At first glance, that may seem a little counterintuitive for a pharmacy to have that on their receipt. After all, we do have to sell medicine to make a living, but medicine can come in more than just a pill! Having a joyful heart affects not just your mental health, but your physical health as well. How?
1. Immune system booster. A study exposed 300 healthy volunteers to the common cold through nasal drops. The least happy people were almost three times more likely to contract the virus compared to their happier counterparts.
2. Reduces stress and its effects. Stress increases the amount of the hormone cortisol which can lead to weight gain, sleep disturbances, and heart disease. Studies have demonstrated that happy people tend to produce lower levels of cortisol in response to stressful situations.
3. Keeps your heart healthy. A number of studies have shown that being happy is associated with a 13- 26% lower risk of heart disease.
4. Leads to better pain tolerance. It is well known that low expectations of impending pain can actually lower a person’s perception of it. One study found that positive expectations produced about a 28% decrease in pain ratings. That’s about equal to a shot of morphine!
5. May lengthen your life expectancy. A long-term study followed 32,000 people over 30 years and found that the risk of death was 14% higher in unhappy people compared to their happier counterparts.
Sometimes it takes effort to have a positive outlook, but it all starts with a smile. A University of Kentucky study found that smiling – even fake smiling – reduces heart rate and blood pressure during stressful situations. A few other practices shown to increase positivity and happiness include expressing gratitude, increasing your physical activity, getting a good night’s rest, spending time outside, and spending time in prayer. Luke 2:10-11 says, “And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Did you catch that? The angel brought good news of great joy to the shepherds watching over their flock the night Jesus was born. While happiness is of the moment, joy is unwavering through the ups and downs of life. Jesus desired for all to experience His joy, so much so that He embraced the greatest anguish. Even the night before his crucifixion, He prayed to God in John 17:13, “But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.” I hope this article finds you filled with joy – the best medicine I could give someone.
-Joseph Feick, Pharm.DÂ 