CAPE Community Health Services

01/23/2026

Maternal Health Awareness Day (MHAD) is observed annually on January 23rd, a day dedicated to raising awareness about preventable maternal deaths, improving maternal health outcomes, ensuring access to quality care, and educating women, families, and healthcare providers on critical issues like mental health, cardiac conditions, and hemorrhage. It's a national effort to advocate for better support, especially given that over 80% of maternal deaths are preventable, with organizations like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) leading campaigns to strengthen care before, during, and after pregnancy.

Key Goals & Focus Areas:
Preventing Deaths: Highlighting the unacceptably high rates of maternal mortality, especially in low- and middle-income countries, and advocating for data-driven solutions.

Advancing Care: Promoting respectful, evidence-based, and patient-centered care for all expectant and new mothers.
Improving Access: Reducing disparities in access to prenatal and postpartum care.

Addressing Leading Causes: Focusing on key underlying causes like mental health conditions, cardiac issues, and hemorrhage.

How to Get Involved:
Educate yourself and others on maternal health.

Advocate for policies that improve maternal care access and quality.

Support local programs that offer comprehensive support for pregnant individuals and new parents.

01/16/2026

https://www.amritahospitals.org/faridabad/blog/cold-weather-and-cardiovascular-risks-what-you-should-know

Although winter brings moments of comfort and calm for most people, it also brings some health risks. When temperatures drop significantly, your body has to work harder to maintain its core warmth. This added strain increases the risk of heart-related or cardiovascular complications. Let us understa...

01/16/2026

6 TIPS FOR YOUR HEART IN COLD WEATHER

As temperatures outside begin to drop, you might be focused on cozy sweaters and warm drinks, but it’s also important to consider how cold weather can affect your heart. Frigid temperatures place an extra strain on your cardiovascular system, and for those with heart conditions, the winter months can pose additional risks.
Cold weather causes blood vessels to constrict, which raises blood pressure and can make the heart work harder to circulate blood. This added strain may increase the risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular issues, particularly in those with existing heart conditions. Winter conditions can also mean sudden, intense activities—like shoveling snow—which can be risky for anyone with high blood pressure or heart disease.

Here’s what you need to know to stay heart-healthy during the chilly season.
1. Dress Warmly and Layer Up
Keeping warm is essential to reducing strain on your heart. Layer up with warm clothing, including gloves, a hat and a scarf. Covering your mouth with a scarf can also help warm the air before it enters your lungs, making breathing easier and less taxing on your cardiovascular system. Tip: Choose moisture-wicking layers to help regulate body temperature and prevent sweating, which can make you colder when outside for extended periods.
2. Avoid Sudden, Strenuous Activities
Tasks like shoveling snow or carrying heavy objects can cause a sudden increase in blood pressure and heart rate, which could be dangerous in cold weather. If you need to tackle these chores, go slowly and take frequent breaks. Consider asking for help or using a snow blower instead of shoveling by hand. Quick Tip: Warm up indoors with light stretching to ease your body into physical activity.
3. Stay Active Safely
While outdoor exercise in winter can be refreshing, be mindful of your limits and take precautions. Aim to keep your activity moderate and avoid overexertion. Indoor activities, such as walking on a treadmill or doing low-impact exercises, are good alternatives when temperatures dip too low. Pro Tip: If you’re walking outside, wear appropriate footwear to prevent slips and falls on icy surfaces, which could strain your heart if you attempt to catch yourself.
4. Manage Blood Pressure
Monitoring and managing blood pressure is especially important in winter. The cold causes your blood vessels to tighten, increasing your blood pressure. Keeping track of your blood pressure and taking your regular medications as prescribed can help you stay on top of your heart health. Reminder: Schedule regular check-ups with your healthcare provider, particularly during colder months, to ensure your heart is staying healthy.
5. Limit Alcohol Intake
While a warm drink might feel comforting in cold weather, alcohol can actually make you feel colder by widening blood vessels near the skin’s surface. This causes your body to lose heat more quickly and may put additional strain on your heart. Instead, opt for hot, non-alcoholic beverages to keep warm without the added cardiovascular risks.
6. Know the Signs of Heart Distress
Be familiar with symptoms of heart issues, especially if you’re spending time outdoors in the cold. Signs like chest pain, dizziness, fatigue or shortness of breath should not be ignored. Cold weather can mask some of these symptoms, so stay alert and seek medical attention if needed.

01/07/2026

January is National Birth Defects Awareness Month

Your genetics, behaviors and social and environmental factors can impact the risk for birth defects, and not all birth defects can be prevented. However, there are things you can do to increase your chance of having a healthy, full-term pregnancy and baby – and National Birth Defects Awareness Month is the perfect time to learn about them.

01/05/2026

To protect against flu, pneumonia, and COVID-19, practice good hygiene (handwashing, covering coughs), stay home when sick, wear masks around others, keep physical distance, improve ventilation, and stay up-to-date on vaccines (flu shot, COVID-19, potentially pneumonia vaccines), as these respiratory illnesses spread similarly and can lead to serious complications.
General Precautions for Everyone (Preventative)
• Vaccination: Get annual flu shots, COVID-19 vaccines/boosters, and discuss pneumonia vaccines with your doctor.
• Hand Hygiene: Wash hands often with soap & water or use hand sanitizer.
• Masking: Wear a well-fitted mask in crowded indoor public spaces, especially if you are at higher risk or respiratory virus levels are high.
• Ventilation: Improve air quality by opening windows or using air purifiers.
• Stay Home When Sick: Isolate yourself from others if you have symptoms.
Precautions When You Are Sick (To Protect Others)
• Stay Home: Avoid work, school, and public places.
• Mask Up: Wear a mask if you must be around others.
• Distance: Keep space between yourself and household members.
• Cough Etiquette: Cover coughs/sneezes with a tissue or your elbow.
• Clean Surfaces: Regularly disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
• Test: Test for COVID-19 to know if isolation is needed.
If You Have Symptoms (Fever, Cough, Fatigue, etc.)
• Contact Your Provider: Seek medical advice, especially if you have underlying conditions, as these viruses can lead to pneumonia.
• Monitor Symptoms: Watch for worsening signs like difficulty breathing, chest pain, confusion, or persistent fever.
By combining these preventative and isolation measures, you significantly lower your risk and protect vulnerable populations from these serious respiratory infections.

12/15/2025

The holiday season can be a stressful and overwhelming time of year for some people. This time of year can feel like and unwanted commitment filled with tension instead of joy and happiness

Maybe it’s worrying about finding the perfect gift for everyone, how you’re going to afford all of the presents, dealing with family members you don’t get along with or managing the changes in routine while trying to plan everything.

All of these demands may quickly lead to a decline in one’s mental health and may trigger harmful behaviors such as drug use, drinking alcohol to cope with stress, and sometimes an increase in mental health issues such as depression or anxiety.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the holidays, here are some tips to help manage your mental health and holiday stress levels.

12/12/2025

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ipm.org%2Fnews%2F2025-12-10%2Fblack-infants-are-dying-at-a-high-rate-in-indiana-heres-what-an-expert-has-to-say%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExOE1uWnBKdTNlUTFwaFVCaHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR6-zilNpSLE9jPaQGySgfD-sbSPo4xjD_Mjz2zHX5mmjO57GRoBaN9dlDlqIQ_aem_KRr3Be4E3dyaNxbpVxDUig&h=AT2DDeownq4QkVZRZjRDeufP-iLN3CyBgoOLE6uQ18wktns-q4dw0ZMedsY5WM_G7RPl2zYu9h2DPZl17gzaXHVv5dOUuycBpVAxIHSsn_NwvXLiy0eHt9GDJKAJXOrenUhvlk5x1Muhug&__tn__=-UK-y-R&c[0]=AT3ql47GL2Bu4rDB7ene6q5aIbHoM13sx2Tcn8cmU2BT4V7Hjh7zVW4ZMPgPHCpIYR3NKTwdbeAyyYbCu7XnPwQ4bWQD-SI3s9AHMqm_PoPVPEvSJ0dWyM-i7HVcKHgqTZ601ecjzuersewfnO7H5n_d0pyarqeS1dlbHxlNemyxhku4wsbVWL6B_nXibIbROQTZ323_0cjRW1q8cQbqYheL

Indiana's infant mortality rate was at a historic low last year, according to the Indiana Department of Health.

12/01/2025

December 1-5, 2025 is National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW), an important reminder that as long as flu viruses are circulating, it is not too late to get vaccinated. Even when flu vaccination does not prevent infection completely, it can help protect against serious flu-related complications, including hospitalization and death.

11/24/2025

If you have diabetes, the holidays can be challenging when it comes to your diet. Click on the link below for tips to help you stay on track with your diabetes management during the holidays.

Don’t let the holidays derail your diabetes management plan. Try these 7 healthy holiday tips.

11/20/2025

Do you know why high blood pressure is called the silent killer. Review the chart below for information on how high blood pressure affects the body.

11/17/2025

November is Diabetes Awareness Month

Know the signs and symptoms

09/22/2025

Help us fight infant/maternal mortality in our community. Register today for this event using the QR on the flyer. Open to the community.