The Fidelis Care Blog

In observance of National Minority Health Month this April, Fidelis Care is raising awareness about the health disparities facing minorities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), racial and ethnic minority groups throughout the United States experience higher rates of illness and death across a wide range of health conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, obesity, asthma, and heart disease.

Anyone can get a sexually transmitted infection (STI) by being sexually active. Not all STIs have symptoms. Screening is important because you may not know that you're infected. If you have an STI, get treatment right away. It can help to prevent harmful long-term effects. You may also prevent giving the STI to others.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a painful condition that affects how food and fluids move through your intestines. IBS does not increase your risk of developing other intestinal conditions and is not life-threatening. IBS is also called irritable bowel, irritable colon, spastic colon, and nervous stomach.

March is National Nutrition Month. Eating nutritious foods is a good way to keep healthy. With higher food prices, it can feel hard to put healthy food on the table. Here are some tips to enjoy nutritious foods without going over your budget.

Colorectal cancer is a disease in which cells in the colon or rectum grow out of control. It is the one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Almost 3,000 New Yorkers die from the disease every year. The risk is higher after age 50. Screening is important and can save lives. When found early, treatment is more likely to be successful. Talk to your primary care provider (PCP) about colorectal cancer and screening tests.