UpLifting Wellness: Winter, Heart Care, State of Mind
Stay healthy with UpLifting Wellness news briefs on wellness in winter, living heart-smart and a recent expansion of behavioral health services across New Mexico.

by Rudolfo Carrillo
Wellness in Wintertime
In our last issue of 2024, readers learned cold weather itself is one factor related to heightened COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity during the winter months. While frosty weather actually impairs our immune response—increasing respiratory illnesses from January through mid-March—there’s plenty you can do to keep these bugs at bay.
Keeping current on vaccinations means enjoying the wintry sunshine without fear of severe illness. New Mexico currently has “very high” COVID-19 transmission rates, according to the CDC’s Wastewater Viral Activity Levels Map, which shows that while overall virus activity decreased, case levels remain elevated. Influenza hospitalization rates are highest among African Americans, who also have low vaccination rates. In addition to preventing infection, vaccination reduces disease severity if you do become infected. Schedule vaccinations, regardless of insurance status, at vaccine.doh.nm.gov.

Caring for a Human Heart
W. E. B. Du Bois had a lot to say about the heart and soul of life; it almost goes without saying his words can also be applied to American Heart Month in February. Du Bois told us that, “We have no right to sit silently by while the inevitable seeds are sown for a harvest of disaster …” As far as cardiac health goes, there’s much to recommend not sitting “silently by.” The American Heart Association (AHA) reports that Black people are disproportionately affected by obesity and diabetes and have a high blood pressure prevalence “among the highest in the world.”
All three conditions—particularly hypertension, “the silent killer”—are risk factors for heart attacks and strokes. But you can reduce your risk. According to AHA, we can improve those odds by understanding the risks and taking simple steps to address them.” Getting proactive about risk factors—rather than sitting by silently as they manifest or worsen—means getting educated about heart health, scheduling blood pressure screenings, and having a heart-to-heart with your doctor. Learn more at www.heart.org.

A New Mexico State of Mind
On Jan. 1, 2025, the New Mexico Health Care Authority launched a new program designed to demonstrate the state’s commitment to making health care—specifically behavioral health care—accessible to New Mexicans. The Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic program aims to “ensure that individuals and families struggling with mental health or substance use challenges can access comprehensive care quickly and all in one place,” according to New Mexico Medicaid Director Dana Flannery.
Furthermore, five new behavioral health clinics spread across seven counties will provide comprehensive services to “to all individuals in need, regardless of their ability to pay” reports a press release touting this healthy step forward in statewide healthcare services. Nick Boukas, director of Behavioral Health Services Division summed it up: “Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics will integrate a wide range of services under one roof and coordinate care, creating a cohesive approach to mental health and substance use treatment. This is a model that works.” Learn more at hca.nm.gov.