It’s no surprise that mental and physical health are connected. Like peanut butter and jelly. The sun and the moon. A pen and a piece of paper. One directly influences the other. What might be surprising, though, is that, despite their obvious connection, mental and behavioral health are often treated in separate clinics by separate providers at separate times. Why not treat patients for both in the same place? Enter integrated behavioral health.

Both structured and flexible play is an important part of a child’s development as they grow into an adult. Whether it’s playing with blocks or throwing a football outside, play has several important benefits on a child’s cognitive development. Dr. Chad Rodgers, AFMC’s Chief Medical Officer, recently went on AFMC TV to discuss the misconceptions behind what play actually means and how beneficial it is to both the child and the parent.

According to the Arkansas Prevention Needs Assessment (APNA) survey, 29.1% of Arkansas high school seniors, 15.2% of eighth graders, and 6.8% of sixth graders have reported trying e-cigarettes at least once. One of the most significant factors that increase youth risk of tobacco and cigarettes is being exposed to tobacco use through parental smoking. Joy Gray, Tobacco Treatment Specialist (TTS) and branch chief of the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program, says that early intervention and education are key to helping youth make informed decisions about tobacco use when they get older.

If you’re like me, you rolled your eyes when you were a teenager, and your parents told you to turn the music down in your earbuds. Now, in my late 20s, the ringing in my ears is a constant reminder that my parents were right. Dr. Mary Chatelain, an audiologist at Pinnacle Hearing in Little Rock, recently went on AFMC TV (it's worth the watch) to discuss the importance of monitoring the noise level of earbuds, noise machines, and other listening devices, especially in babies, teenagers, and children. Doing so will protect them in the long run and save them from hearing loss.

When talking to our patients about managing their health, we can sometimes slip into “because I said so” mode. We easily understand the reasons why our patients should stop smoking, limit their alcohol consumption, or exercise regularly. But how many of our patients truly understand the benefits these actions have on their bodies? How many truly make healthy choices just because their provider tells them to?

From the title, I know what you’re thinking: “I don’t need another thing to worry about during the holidays.” I hear you. As around 48% of Americans plan to travel between Thanksgiving and mid-January, according to Deloitte, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data reveals that flu, RSV, and COVID cases are on the rise during this holiday season. But don’t worry! By making some minor adjustments and practicing mindfulness, you will be all set to enjoy your holidays virus-free!