HealthyLife Articles

Author: AIPM

  • Cool That Heartburn

    SELF-CARE CORNER

    Man suffering from heartburn.

    Do you get a burning feeling in your chest after eating or at night? Does it get worse if you lie down or bend over?

    Many people have heartburn once in a while.

    Don’t ignore frequent heartburn

    When heartburn keeps happening, it could hurt your health. Frequent heartburn that lasts longer than two weeks is called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This condition can damage your throat or even cause breathing problems.

    See a doctor about frequent heartburn so you can get treatment.

    If you get occasional heartburn, there are several ways you can reduce it or avoid it:

    *  Stay upright after eating. Don’t lie down after a meal. This can cause the acid and food to come up and into your esophagus.

    *  Avoid activities that use the tummy muscles right after eating. This includes activities like hard exercise or lifting heavy objects.

    *  Eat smaller meals. Eat your food slowly and stop before you feel overly full.

    *  Avoid heartburn triggers. This includes caffeine, chocolate, fatty foods, fried foods and spicy foods.

    *  Work toward a healthy weight if you are overweight.

    *  Ask your doctor about using an antacid for occasional heartburn.

    Heartburn drug recall

    Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found that an acid reflux (GERD) medicine contained a “probable human carcinogen” at low levels. This means that these medicines contain something that could potentially cause cancer.

    The drug, known as ranitidine or Zantac, is an H2-blocker. It works by reducing the amount of acid in the stomach. After FDA’s announcement, some drug companies recalled their ranitidine products. Some pharmacies also pulled the medicine off their shelves.

    If you are taking ranitidine or Zantac, talk to your doctor. There are other FDA-approved medicines that could work for you. Your doctor can help you choose the best treatment.

    FDA continues to evaluate the safety of ranitidine and will provide more information as it becomes available.

    Source: Food and Drug Administration

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Collecting Unclaimed Funds

    FINANCIAL HEALTH

    Young couple holding a jar with money in it.

    Could you have money waiting for you? Learn about unclaimed money or property from bank accounts, tax refunds, insurance policies or wages and pensions.

    You can find your unclaimed money for free. Here’s how:

    *  Search in every state where you have lived. Look up each state’s unclaimed property office. You can also try contacting the state treasurer’s office.

    *  Search the FDIC database. If your bank or credit union closed, you could have unclaimed deposits. You can also check out the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) atwww.ncua.gov/support-services.

    *  Current or former VA life insurance holders can check for unclaimed life insurance funds. Go toinsurance.va.gov/UnclaimedFunds.

    *  Look for tax refunds from an FHA-insured mortgage. If you earned income but your wages were below the tax filing requirement, you might have a refund waiting. Go toirs.gov/refunds to check. If you bought mortgage insurance from the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), you might have a refund. Go toentp.hud.gov/dsrs/refunds.

    *  Do you have unclaimed back wages or pension money from a past employer? Go to the Workers Owed Wages (WOW) website atwebapps.dol.gov/wow. You can also check the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation atpbgc.gov.

    Notice that these websites include “gov.” They don’t have a “com” or “org.” The “gov” means it’s an official U.S. Government website. You should never have to pay any money to find or claim your unclaimed money. It’s FREE. Watch out for scammers and people who want to charge you for this service.

    Source: usa.gov

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Clean Cut: Cutting Board Safety

    HEALTHY EATING

    Bird-eyes view, cutting vegetable on a cutting board.

    Cutting boards are useful for all types of slicing, dicing and chopping. They can save your countertops and make meal prep easier. But without careful cleaning, your cutting board could contaminate your foods and make you sick. Every surface your food touches needs to be clean, especially those that touch raw meat, poultry and seafood.

    When to clean your cutting board

    For a clean surface, remember to wash your board:

    *  Before using it for the first time.

    *  After it has held raw meat, poultry, seafood, eggs or flour.

    *  Before switching foods and moving on to the next step, even if it’s for the same meal.

    *  After you’re done using it.

    How to clean your cutting board

    *  Scrub your board thoroughly with hot, soapy water and a clean cloth or brush. Then rinse with hot water.

    *  If your board touched meat, fish or poultry, disinfect it after you wash it. You can do this by using a diluted bleach solution. Combine one tablespoon of bleach with one gallon of water. Pour the solution all over the board and let it sit for five minutes. Finally, rinse it well.

    *  Let it air dry or dry it with a clean towel if you need to dry it quickly.

    *  If it’s dishwasher safe, put your cutting board in the dishwasher. Be aware that some cutting boards may crack or split in the dishwasher, so follow the manufacturer’s directions.

    Other tips for clean cutting

    Buy two different boards. Use one board for meats and the other for ready-to-eat foods like fruits and breads. Get different colors so you can tell them apart.

    Replace your cutting board if it has a lot of wear, cuts or grooves. It can be hard to clean in the small grooves, which can be a hiding spot for germs.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Caring For Family From Afar

    FAMILY LIFE

    Nurse helping patient at home.

    Anyone, anywhere can help care for a loved one. You don’t have to live in the same town, or even the same state. If you live far away from an older relative, you may wonder how you can help. Long-distance caregiving is possible.

    Before you start

    Does your loved one already have a primary caregiver? Talk to that person about how you can help. It’s usually best to coordinate your efforts with the person who sees your loved one most often.

    If they don’t yet have a caregiver but need one, you can help with that too. Talk to other family members and discuss the options. You may be able to help with finding and hiring a nurse or aide if family members can’t do it.

    Even if you can’t visit often, know that your visits are valuable. It’s time to not only catch up, but to take on some caregiving duties. Maybe you can give the primary caregiver a break while you are there. You can also find out what kinds of things you can do to help when you’re away.

    Options for helping out

    Some ideas for helping your long-distance loved one include:

    *  Helping them manage their finances or bill paying, which often can be done online

    *  Arranging for in-home care such as home health or nursing aides

    *  Ordering medical equipment that they need

    *  Making calls to the pharmacy for medication when they need it

    *  Researching skilled nursing or assisted living facilities

    *  Calling them often to check in and provide emotional support

    *  Contacting their insurance company if there are questions about coverage

    *  Keeping other family members informed about their health and needs

    *  Creating paperwork for an emergency that lists their health conditions and medicines they take

    Finding local resources

    There may be many resources close to home that can help your relative. You can get started online with these websites:

    *  Eldercare Locator:www.eldercare.acl.gov

    *  National Institute on Aging:www.nia.nih.gov

    *  Family Caregiver Alliance:www.caregiver.org

    Source: National Institute on Aging

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Burn Calories Without Trying

    BE FIT

    Image of women holding up tablet with calorie tracking.

    When you’re not exercising, you can still burn extra calories! Use little ways to get more fit every day.

    Don’t make things convenient.

    Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Park farther away from your destination and walk. Use your bike instead of a car for quick grocery store runs. Put your favorite snack foods in the basement, rather than on the main floor near the TV.

    Get up.

    Take a short break every hour if you sit at a desk. Get up, move your arms and legs or even do a few jumping jacks. Use a hands-free headset so you can get up and walk or lift weights while you’re on the phone. Have a meeting? See if you can stand during part of it or even have a walking meeting.

    Sneaky exercises.

    Do some isometric exercises if you sit a lot. Try squeezing your glute muscles and knees together for eight counts, holding for five seconds then release. Do this every couple of hours.

    Move whenever you can. Walk in place instead of standing still.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Brca Gene For Breast Cancer

    MEDICAL NEWS

    Women wearing pink shirts with pink ribbons.

    You may have heard of the BRCA gene for breast cancer. But many people don’t understand what this gene is, or what it really means for breast cancer risk.

    What BRCA really means

    “BRCA” is an abbreviation for “BReast CAncer.” There are two types: BRCA1 and BRCA2. Everyone has both of these genes. Having them does not mean you will get breast cancer.

    In fact, BRCA genes actually help prevent breast cancer. They can stop or slow breast cancer growth.

    When BRCA genes aren’t good

    In some people however, the BRCA genes don’t work properly. This is called a BRCA gene mutation.

    When this happens, the BRCA genes can’t prevent breast cancer. This makes the person more likely to get breast cancer. They may also develop breast cancer at a younger age. Those with BRCA mutations have a higher risk of developing other cancers too, including ovarian and pancreatic.

    Up to 65 percent of women with a BRCA1 mutation will develop breast cancer before age 70. About 45 percent of women with a BRCA2 mutation will develop breast cancer by age 70. People who have a mutated BRCA gene may also pass this along to their children.

    What to do

    Women who have one of the following should talk with a doctor:

    *  A family history of breast cancer

    *  History of ovarian cancer

    *  History of two or more cancers of any type

    In some cases, you may need a test to look at the BRCA genes. If the test finds that you have a BRCA mutation, talk with your doctor about next steps. This may include:

    *  Watching closely for breast cancer signs and getting regular screenings

    *  Taking certain medicines that can reduce estrogen, which can lower breast cancer risk

    *  Having a mastectomy, which is surgical removal of the breasts

    Screening is key

    Even without a BRCA gene mutation, all women should talk with their doctors about breast cancer risk. They should get regular breast cancer screenings. Finding breast cancer early is key. It means you have the best chance for successful treatment.

    Sources: National Breast Cancer Foundation, National Institutes of Health

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Bloated Belly: Ways To Get Relief

    SELF-CARE CORNER

    Image of tea and different tea leaves.

    Most people have felt a bloated stomach after a big meal. Usually, the belly feels overly full. It can make clothing feel tighter. The belly may look swollen. Bloating is usually caused by too much food or air and gas getting trapped in the intestines.

    But some people get bloated even when they didn’t eat too much. In some cases, it can be downright painful. The best way to address painful bloating is to find the cause and know how you can treat it.

    Bloating culprits

    The most common causes include:

    *  Dairy foods. If you notice bloating after eating cheese, ice cream, or drinking milk, you could have lactose intolerance.

    *  Gum. Swallowing air while chewing can cause bloating.

    *  Eating too much fiber at once. Fiber is great for you, but if your body isn’t used to it, you can get bloated and uncomfortable. Increase the amount you eat gradually.

    *  Bowel problems. Being constipated or having irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can cause painful bloating. Drinking plenty of water can help with constipation and fiber absorption.

    *  Menstrual cycles. Some women get bloated because their body holds extra water before or during their periods.

    Treat bloating at home

    Many times, bloating can be managed at home. Here’s how:

    *  Write down what you eat and drink. Record when you get stomach pain or bloating.

    *  Cut back on gum.

    *  Avoid carbonated drinks.

    *  Drink plenty of water to keep the bowels moving. Don’t use a straw when drinking.

    *  Eat enough fiber. Start with fruits and vegetables. Eat only small amounts of beans, lentils and other gas-causing foods until you get used to them.

    *  Watch out for sugar-free foods. Some artificial sweeteners can cause bloating and gas.

    *  Ginger, peppermint, chamomile or fennel herbal teas may help. Always ask a doctor before using herbs if you have a health condition or take any medicines.

    *  Over-the-counter anti-gas medicines with simethicone help move gas bubbles out of the body.

    When to see your doctor

    Call a doctor or seek immediate medical care if you notice bloating with:

    *  Blood with bowel movements (stool)

    *  Losing weight without making an effort

    *  Nausea or vomiting

    *  For women: menstrual bleeding between periods or after menopause

    *  Fever

    *  Severe pain that won’t go away

    These could be signs of a serious health issue that needs treatment.

    Source: American Academy of Family Physicians

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine