Respiratory Care Week appreciates and acknowledges the hard-working Respiratory Therapists around the world. It also highlights the information we need to keep us breathing well so we can enjoy a great quality of life.

Breast cancer is by far the most common cancer in women worldwide, both in developed and developing countries. In low- and middle-income countries the incidence has been rising up steadily in the last years due to an increase in life expectancy, increased urbanization, and adoption of western lifestyles. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is honored every October to help increase awareness, early detection, and treatment as well as palliative care of this disease.

As health care improves, the population of older people is growing. Their needs are also growing, as are their contributions to the world. This year’s theme for International Day of Elder Persons is “Year of the Nurse and Midwife.” We take today to highlight the role of healthcare works contributing to the health of the elderly.

September is National Cholesterol Education Month, a good time to get your blood cholesterol checked and take steps to lower it if it is high. Children, young adults, and older Americans can have high cholesterol. The good news is that people can prevent heart disease by controlling those risk factors that can be modified. By lowering risk factors through exercise, reducing saturated fats and cholesterol-containing foods, quitting smoking, and reducing excess weight.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. It is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States, yet, 2 out of every 3 people globally believe there is little or no understanding of dementia in their countries. Join us in honoring World Alzheimer’s Month to raise awareness and challenges the stigma that surrounds dementia.