The last few years have been tough on us all. And the worldwide impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has affected each of us in different ways. 

One of the most recognized effects of the pandemic is an overall increase in attention to wellness. We’re talking about our health more. We’re paying attention to what helps us stay healthy, and what we can do to avoid getting sick.

Over the last couple years, many of us have looked to improve our overall wellness in some way. This is especially apparent when we look at what people are searching for on the internet.

Every January, Google lists the top search trends of the previous year. In 2021, wellness topics were very popular.

So, we took a look at the most popular search terms for health and wellness in 2021, and we found a wide range of topics.

From affirmations to where can I get a covid booster, we’ve compiled a list of the most searched health and wellness topics and top wellness trends of 2021.

2021 wellness trends

1. Affirmations

If you’re unfamiliar with affirmations - they’re a form of positive self-talk. They’re used to encourage yourself and bring about positive feelings.

An example of an affirmation might be: “I know I can accomplish anything I set my mind to” 

or “I am strong, healthy, and confident.”

The idea is to talk to yourself using these affirmations on a daily basis. And, in doing so improve your emotional and mental well-being.

But, does it work? 

‍Do affirmations actually make an impact?

Many believe they do. In fact, affirmations are a part of several cultural and religious practices world-wide. Professional athletes and entrepreneurs often use them regularly. And we’ve all heard the adage about the power of positive thinking.

‍But what about the science?

Studies show affirmations may cause a physical response in the brain.

 This study in particular looked at brain scans of individuals who practiced self-affirmation and those who didn’t. 

Those who practiced self-affirmation had more activity in the brain associated with valuation and reward compared to those who didn’t practice self-affirmations. They also demonstrated behavioral changes related to their goals. In other words, they were more likely to take steps in their daily lives to realize their affirmations.

‍But, what does this mean?

It means affirmations might actually change the way people value certain states they’re in or actions they take. In the same way we value food more when we're hungry - affirmations might be able to change how much we value certain things in our lives.

Affirmations are an easy way to possibly improve emotional and mental well-being. It requires minimal effort and no risk.

2. SoulMate

The idea of a soulmate has been around for centuries.

And, as one of the top searches in 2021, it’s evident that people are either curious to learn more about what a soulmate is, or even how to find theirs.

Although marriage rates are on the decline - it seems people are yearning for a strong connection with someone significant in their lives.

And, healthy relationships might even have a positive impact on our wellness. 

‍Research suggests that healthy relationships and social ties can help us live longer, healthier lives. And, according to the NIH, relationships can affect our physical health, health behavior, and mental health.

‍Experts even suggest with a healthy loving relationship we can: 

Heal quicker

• Lower our blood pressure
• Experience less pain 
• Improve heart health
• Strengthen our immune system
• Become more physically fit

There are different ideas of what a soul mate could be. Some might say a soul mate is a romantic life partner. For some, it could be a friend.

Regardless, based on what researchers suggest, healthy relationships have a positive impact on our wellbeing.

3. Where can I get my covid booster

It’s no surprise that this was such a sought-after topic on the internet in 2021.

As vaccines rolled out, the world began to open up and become somewhat normal again. 

‍Vaccines work by imitating an infection and helping the body develop immunity against it. This is especially important for those at risk. This includes people with underlying health conditions or people with weakened immune systems. 

An increase in searches around where to get a covid booster suggests that more people were looking to make sure they’re fully protected.

Afterall, arming yourself the best you can against COVID is something we can all do to help keep ourselves and our communities safe. 

And seeing this was one of the top searches of 2021 tells us that many of us were ready and eager to do our part. 

4. How to maintain mental health

According to Google,

“How to maintain mental health was searched more this year globally than ever before.”

There’s no doubt mental health has suffered worldwide in recent years. And learning how to maintain good mental health is something that can benefit everyone regardless of what’s happening in the world.

Some great ways you can maintain your mental health include:

Getting enough sleep

• Spending time with friends and family
• Spending time on your passions and hobbies
• Exercising regularly 
• Taking part in relaxing activities (meditation, yoga, etc.)
• Eating healthy and staying hydrated
• Practicing gratitude

‍Meditation can directly affect regions of the brain associated with depression. And exercise can lower feelings of stress, poor self-esteem, anxiety, and depression.

Our body is directly connected with our mind. The activities we take part in can help both our physical and mental well-being.

So find what works for you and know that maintaining good mental health is an important part of our overall well being. 

5. Women's health and mammography

In the trending searches for wellness in 2021 - women's health and mammography were amongst the top.

With breast cancer affecting 1 in 8 women in the United States - it's become an epidemic of sorts. 

It's unclear exactly why these topics were searched so much, it could be an increase in awareness or education around women’s health.

It could also have something to do with the general move toward improved health that we’ve experienced across the board during the last two years.

Regardless, increased knowledge and awareness of women’s health and the importance of mammography can only lead to better outcomes.

Better awareness means earlier detection of signs or symptoms and better adherence to preventative screenings. Both of which save lives. 

Conclusion

There you have it. The top five health and wellness trends of 2021. 

And while they appear at first glance to seem somewhat unrelated, the one thing they have in common is this…

They show us that we are more connected to and more concerned with our overall health and wellbeing than ever before. And they tell us that we recognize the importance of not only physical health, but emotional and mental health as well. 

A Collaboration around Community-based health engagement: We’re joining forces with Project TECH to advance better health outcomes

One of our core values is to put individuals first--our collaboration this year with Project TECH embodies this commitment and represents an exciting step towards working directly with community leaders to encourage everyone to participate in better health outcomes.

Based in Columbia, South Carolina, with extended roots in Atlanta and Charlotte, Project TECH is an organization grounded in four community pillars: 

Technology 

Education 

Communication 

Health 

We’ve been fortunate to connect with the leaders of this organization and identify the common values that motivate our teams to do what we do. 

From our first conversation with Project TECH, it was clear that we have the opportunity to develop a new kind of collaboration model that emphasizes both group’s strengths. Evidation offers the technology and tools for better health engagement, and Project TECH helps bring the voices and experiences of their community. 

Together, we can continually improve and refine how we help individuals measure and improve their health in everyday life. 

With this ongoing collaboration, we hope to learn from and co-develop digital experiences that individuals will find helpful for improving their quality of life and meeting their health goals. Things like making healthy heart decisions and protecting each other from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

To accomplish our goals, Evidation and Project TECH will host design workshops with community members. These will be collaborative spaces focused on eliminating barriers around digital health engagement and research programs, so we can work collectively to improve our offerings.

This cycle of listening and responding is at the core of our mission to put individuals first and help people take control of their own health goals. Stay tuned as we embark on this journey of co-learning.

“Human rights are not things that are put on the table for people to enjoy. These are things you fight for and then you protect.” Waangari Maathai, Nobel Peace Prize Winner 

National Human Rights Month and Universal Human Rights Month are a time every December to remember that we’re all born with important inalienable rights. 

In December 1948, representatives from around the world drafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This document was the foundation for establishing fundamental human rights that the United Nations has worked to protect ever since. 

The first Article of the document states:

“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.” 

Human Rights Month serves as a reminder of these principles. 

What are Human Rights?

The United Nations and World Health Organization both define human rights as inherent rights we are all entitled to regardless of race, sex, gender identification, nationality, religion, or ethnicity. 

These include freedom from slavery and torture, religious freedoms, freedom of expression, the right to work and become educated, the right to clean food and water, and a general right to human dignity and respect. 

All of which are vital for our health and wellbeing. 

“Human rights are rights we have simply because we exist as human beings - they are not granted by any state. These universal rights are inherent to us all, regardless of nationality, sex, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, language, or any other status. They range from the most fundamental - the right to life - to those that make life worth living, such as the rights to food, education, work, health, and liberty.”

What Role Does Health Play in Human Rights?

The World Health Organization states that everyone has the right to the highest attainable standard of health. Without clean water and air, nutritious food, adequate housing, and the bare necessities of health, people cannot thrive. 

And while these rights are the same for everyone, the reality is,

“Disadvantage and marginalization serve to exclude certain populations in societies from enjoying good health.”

Health equity continues to be something we struggle to achieve.

And despite laws and declarations, violations of human rights still occur in some places. That’s why it’s important to take time each year to remember the strides that have been made and draw attention to the long way we still have to go. 

What You Can Do to Raise Awareness this Human Rights Month

As we turn toward awareness during National and Universal Human Rights Month, let’s remember that we’re all human beings striving to live the best life we can. Shining a light on human rights and the importance of access to quality healthcare for all can help raise awareness for those still fighting for health equity. 

What can you do?

1. Spread the message - Share posts, hashtags, and information. Standupforhumanrights.org has some great resources for easy sharing!
2. Learn more - Read the Universal Declaration for Human Rights. Reach out to local organizations focused on supporting human rights and health equity.
3. Speak up - Lobby with your local community and government to uphold human rights and make positive changes that impact your community. 
4. Participate - join a human rights group near you or go to an event that raises awareness for human rights. 
5. Reflect - Think about health inequality and other human rights violations you may have witnessed. Talk about it with others. Hold discussions. 

It's National Influenza Vaccination Week PLUS National Handwashing Awareness Week!

Every year in December, we’re reminded of the importance of protecting ourselves and others by stopping the spread of flu. 

The two easiest ways to do that are:

1. Getting the flu vaccine
2. Washing our hands

According to the CDC, these simple preventative measures can have a huge impact.

That’s why National Handwashing Awareness Week and National Influenza Vaccination Week occur together every year in the beginning of December. 

What is National Handwashing Awareness Week?

During National Handwashing Awareness Week health organizations focus on the importance of good hand hygiene and teaching us the best way to wash our hands. This year, Handwashing Awareness Week takes place December 1-7. 

Handwashing Awareness Week is now more important than ever, and can even help save lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

According to the CDC, washing your hands with soap and water is one of the easiest and best ways to stop the spread of germs and help keep you and others from getting sick!

The proper steps of handwashing, according to the CDC are:

1. Wet your hands with clean running water (warm or cold doesn't matter) and apply soap
2. Lather the soap until it bubbles on the back of your hands, under your nails, and between your fingers
3. Scrub your hands for 20 seconds (that's as long as the happy birthday song!)
4. Rinse your hands until they're clean
5. Grab a clean towel or air-dry your hands (for a green-friendly alternative)

It's important to know not just how to wash your hands, but also when. 

When to wash your hands:

• Before eating
• Before, during, and after handling food
• Before and after caring for a sick person
• Before and after touching a cut or wound
• After using the bathroom
• After playing with your pets
• Any time your hands look or feel dirty or greasy

What is National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW)?

National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) is a national awareness week focused on highlighting the importance of influenza vaccination. This year, NIVW takes place the week of December 5-11.

What is influenza?

Influenza (more commonly called the flu) is a contagious respiratory virus that affects the nose, throat, and lungs. Most people experience mild to moderate symptoms, but for some it’s much more serious.

In fact, the CDC estimates that flu causes 12,000 to 52,000 deaths per year. 

How does the flu spread?

According to the CDC, 

“Most experts believe that flu viruses spread mainly by tiny droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. Less often, a person might get flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose or possibly their eyes.”

How can the flu shot help?

The influenza vaccine, known as the flu shot, helps create immunity to flu viruses. But new viruses spread each year, so the flu vaccine is different from year to year.

That's why the CDC recommends getting the flu shot every year. 

The vaccine is usually available in September or October, and can be given well into January and even February in some cases.

Not everyone can get the flu shot. Some individuals, including babies under 6 months old and people with severe allergies or certain health conditions aren’t able to receive it. 

So be sure to talk to your healthcare provider before getting vaccinated. 

Celebrate to Save Lives

Do your part this December by encouraging your loved ones to wash their hands, get their flu shot, and stay healthy. You can spread the word on social media, at school, and even at work!

There's no better way to help than to protect yourself and your loved ones. So wash your hands, visit your local clinic for your vaccine, and start fighting germs today!

Mustaches have become a symbol of awareness for men's health during the month of November.

From handlebar mustaches to the classic English mustache, the famous mutton chops, and even the famous “Monopoly man” mustache. 

You may have noticed that November is the month of the mustache. You may have even heard of No Shave November. But you may be wondering just what facial hair has to do with awareness.

What is Movember?

Movember is the only global charity focused solely on men’s health.

Cleverly combining the words mustache and November, Movember is helping to transform how men think about their health – and how they act on it.

During the month of November, the charity, their partners, and advocates worldwide focus on raising awareness and funding for research on critical issues in men’s health. Their main focuses are on mental health and suicide prevention and prostate and testicular cancer.

Why is Movember Important?

According to the Movember charity, 

“Men’s health is in crisis. Men are dying on average 6 years earlier than women, and for largely preventable reasons.”

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, in 2019 men died by suicide over 3.5 times more than women did. Jill Harkavy-Friedman of the AFSP says:

"Men seek help for mental health less often...they're a little less likely to know they have whatever stresses or mental health conditions that are putting them at greater risk for suicide."

Prostate and testicular cancer are also leading causes of death among men. And testicular cancer is the most common cancer in young men. 

Movember allows us to raise awareness on these cancers to help with early detection and treatment that can be life-saving!

How is Movember Helping?

The Movember charity is the leading charity fighting for awareness on men's health. Since 2003, the foundation and their partners have raised funds to help more than 1,250 projects focused on men's health issues.

They’ve also created a social media storm with the hashtags #movember #menshealth and #mentalhealth on Twitter and Instagram! Memes have also been big since the start of Movember, making their mark on Reddit threads everywhere.

Projects that have been funded through the help of Movember include:

• Clinician Scientist Awards to help progress prostate cancer research
• Men in Mind that helps doctors better understand their male patients and men's distress
• Assisting Fathers in Mourning to help fathers who are grieving the loss of a child
• GAP5-TIGER trial to find treatment for testicular cancer that keeps coming back

How Can I Help?

There are many ways you can help this Movember besides growing a mustache! 

Some ideas to help include:

1. Encourage others to grow their mustache and share it on social media! The more people who participate and talk, the more awareness is spread on men's health!

2. Donate once through the Movember website, or set up a fundraiser on your own to help your choice of men's health charity. Some great charities to consider besides Movember are:

• Prostate Cancer Foundation
• Testicular Cancer Society
• The Face It Foundation
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
• Local charities to help men in your community, such as the Salvation Army

3. Team up with your school, work, or family and join one of Movember's fundraising challenges while competing against other teams! Some challenges you can join today include:

• Mo first-responder challenge
• Big mustache on campus challenge
• NHL hockey fights cancer challenge
• Mo LGBTQ Challenge
• Mo business club challenge
• Mo wispy lips challenge

4. Educate yourself on the signs of depression. 

According to Suicide Awareness Voices of Education, or SAVE, some warning signs of someone who might be thinking of suicide include:

• Talking about wanting to die
• Looking for a way to end their life
• Talking about feeling hopeless 
• Giving away items
• Talking about plans for suicide
• Increasing drug or alcohol use
• Worsening anxiety or depression

If you notice these signs, reach out for help. Share the suicide hotline number of 800-273-8255. Even if you don't know someone struggling with thoughts of suicide, sharing warning signs and resources for suicide prevention on social media can help save lives not just in Movember, but every month! And remember, if you feel this is an emergency and your loved one's life is at stake, dial 911 and get help right away!

Be the Change for Men Everywhere this Movember

It’s important that we work to create a world that understands the unique health needs faced by individuals and groups of individuals and prevents premature deaths. This Movember, you can help to raise awareness on men's health and save lives. Whether it's by growing out a mustache, encouraging others to, or by sharing the message of Movember, your voice counts!

October brings with it cool, crisp weather, pumpkins, falling leaves, and of course, Health Literacy Month!

For the past 20 years, Health Literacy Month has been a time for advocacy groups, hospitals, businesses, and communities to work together to spread awareness on the importance of health literacy.

What is Health Literacy?

According to the CDC, health literacy is an individual’s ability to find, understand, and use information to help them make well-informed decisions about their health and body.

Some examples of this can include:

• Understanding what your medication is and what it’s used for
• Having knowledge of your body and how it works
• Knowing when to visit a doctor or an emergency room
• Understanding why you might need surgery
• Understanding the risks behind medical procedures

There are many things that can impact a person’s health literacy including age, education, culture, language, and more.

But it’s important to point out that low health literacy affects individuals of all backgrounds. And even those with high overall literacy can have low health literacy.

Why is Health Literacy Important?

Health literacy has a significant effect on overall health. Individuals with low health literacy often avoid going to the doctor until too late. And many suffer from ailments or injuries that could be easily treated if caught early.

And health literacy is just as important to doctors and other medical providers. If their patients don’t understand them, they don’t trust them, and they don’t get the best care. 

In the words of Former United States Surgeon General Dr. Regina M. Benjamin,

“Health literacy is as important for clinicians as it is for patients. To bridge the gap between the medical information provided and its implementation, we need health professionals who are able to speak the language and understand the culture of their patients.”

When people are health literate, they can share their concerns with their doctor easily, like telling them they’re having pain or other symptoms.

This allows doctors to understand their patient’s health concerns and patients to understand their overall health too.

The Cost of Low Health Literacy

The physical, emotional, and financial costs associated with lower health literacy can be high.

Many individuals wait to seek care until their symptoms become too much for them to live with. By then, issues or injuries that may have been less expensive and less invasive to treat, might be much worse and more expensive.

According to the Office of Disease Prevention, low health literacy can cause people to go to the emergency room (ER) more often than they need to.

Constant visits to the ER can be expensive. They can also be frustrating.

While the emergency room is the best place to handle a true emergency, it isn’t the right place for everything. And long wait-times just to be told you need care elsewhere can lead some to avoid seeking treatment in the future.

How Culture Impacts Health Literacy

Our beliefs about health and healthcare are shaped by not only our personal experiences and values, but our cultural, religious, and historical experiences and values as well.

It’s critical that we recognize the importance of culture and community on health and health literacy. According to the Center for Health Care Strategies,

“If cultural norms do not match up with the dominant values of the healthcare system, an individual — even with adequate reading, writing, and numeracy skills — can have trouble accessing health services, communicating with providers, and pursuing effective self-management. Such cultural mismatches — along with low socio-economic levels and historic discrimination — have contributed to disparities in health and health care experienced by individuals in racial, ethnic, and linguistic minority groups.”

Barriers to Health Literacy

The CDC estimates 9 out of 10 people struggle to understand medical information when it isn’t put in simple language. And there is a lot of work being done to encourage doctors to speak simply to their patients to help with this.

But for some, that’s not enough.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, individuals from racial and ethnic minority groups who don’t speak English as their first-language are at high risk of having low health literacy.

Older age, living below the poverty line, lower education levels, and living with disabilities are other significant barriers to health literacy.

How Can Health Literacy Month Help?

The Institute for Healthcare Advancement, also known as the IHA, began its efforts to help improve health literacy in 1999. Today, they use social media, fliers, newsletters, and other outreach programs to spread the word on health literacy during the month of October and encourage other medical groups to do the same!

According to the IHA, the goal is simple to,

“build a world where all individuals have access to quality health outcomes.”

To do that, they work directly with doctors, medical groups, and others committed to improving health literacy for everyone.

There are also other groups dedicated to improving health literacy. Like the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.

Community centers and community clinics are also great for providing free classes, translators, and other resources to help support those with low health literacy and help those who want to learn about their health and their options.

What Can I Do to Help?

Some things you can do to help raise awareness for Health Literacy Month are:

• Making fliers on health literacy and sharing them
• Creating an email list to educate people
• Share the health literacy month website
• Work with your community for outreach opportunities
• Use social media to spread awareness

Here you can find fliers, social media posts, videos and more already made and ready to share!

You can share these tips with others, spread the word on social media and blogs, or even use these tips yourself with a loved one to help them improve their health.

Educate and Inform this October

While Health Literacy Month technically ends with Halloween, it’s importance stays the same all year long.

Take time this month, and in the months to come, to talk to people at your school, work, or at home about health literacy and why it matters. Ask them to spread awareness and give suggestions on what they can do to let others know health literacy month is in full swing! 

June is National Adopt a Cat Month!

Thousands of kittens are born each year, and many of them end up in shelters. In fact, an article on humanpro.org reports that over 3.2 million cats end up in shelters each year. And 27% end up euthanized. Many others end up living out their lives in shelters, never adopted.

And while cat adoption rates in the US are going up in recent years, there are still so many left without homes.

Even more never find their way to shelters, and instead roam communities as feral strays. The impact of this is severe, and not just for the cats.

A 2018 article addressing the disastrous impact feral cats have on communities and the environment reported that,

“Feral, free-roaming cats have been documented by dozens of studies to be indiscriminate killers of wildlife and the cause of at least 63 species extinctions, according to a 2016 analysis of invasive species impacts.”

Adopting a cat (or two!) doesn’t just help the animal, it helps our communities and ecosystem too. And studies show that we are healthier, happier, and live better when we share our homes with pets.

Health Benefits of Having a Cat

According to a study by the University of Indiana, just watching videos of cats,

“does more than simply entertain; it boosts viewers’ energy and positive emotions and decreases negative feelings.”

If seeing a cat video online can do so much for our mental health, just imagine the benefits of snuggling up with a cat or two of your own!

And cats aren’t the only pets to provide health benefits. Studies show that there are numerous physical and mental health benefits to sharing our homes with pets.

According to a CDC article on pets and people,

“Studies have shown that the bond between people and their pets can increase fitness, lower stress, and bring happiness to their owners. Some of the health benefits of having a pet include:

Decreased blood pressure

Decreased cholesterol levels

Decreased triglyceride levels

Decreased feelings of loneliness

Increased opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities

Increased opportunities for socialization”

And a study from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases found that children that grow up in homes with pets are less likely to develop allergic diseases.

In the news release summarizing the study, the chief of the allergic mechanisms section at NIAID states,

“This new finding changes the way scientists think about pet exposure; scientists must now figure out how pet exposure causes a general shift of the immune system away from an allergic response.”

With increased rates of allergies and autoimmune disorders in recent years, early exposure to animals could potentially mean a HUGE health benefit!

Where to Adopt

The best way to adopt a cat (or any pet) is by visiting your local animal shelter. The following resources are great search tools to help you find one near you!

Petfinder.com

ASPCA Shelter Search

Adoptapet.com

The Shelter Pet Project

And, if you need some guidance or more information before bringing home your new addition to the family, this checklist from American Humane is an excellent resource.

Member Insights

We’re excited about Adopt a Cat Month and about the many health benefits of having a pet.

And we wanted to know how many of our Evidation Members currently have pets. So, we asked.

‍

‍

Out of the 19,118 individuals who answered the question, 13,451 currently share their home with a pet.

That’s over 70% percent!

Next time, we’ll have to find out what types of pets Evidation Members prefer!