HealthyLife Articles

Author: AIPM

  • Take These Small Steps To Manage Diabetes

    MEDICAL NEWS

    Close up image of female hands taking a sugar glucose reading.

    Nearly 26 million Americans have diabetes, and more than a quarter of them do not know it. Left untreated, diabetes can lead to serious problems such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, and loss of limbs.

    An estimated 79 million adults have pre-diabetes, a condition that places them at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

    Even if you know what to do to improve your health, figuring out how to do it and fitting it into your daily routine can be a big challenge. Making changes in how you care for your health is a matter of trying and learning.

    The National Diabetes Education Program suggests you make a plan and take small, but important steps to help you reach your goal:

    *  Think about what is important to you and your health.

    *  What changes are you willing and able to make (such as testing your blood glucose, exercising, planning diabetes-friendly meals and snacks)?

    *  Decide what steps will help you reach your health goals (such as talking with your doctor about your blood glucose goal, taking a tour of the grocery store with a diabetes educator, learning how to make healthier meals).

    *  Choose one goal to work on first. Start this week. Pick one change you can start to make right now.

    *  Don’t give up. It’s common to run into some problems along the way. If things don’t go as planned, think about other ways to reach your goal.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Taking Some “Ouch” Out Of Baby’S Shots

    SELF-CARE CORNER

    Image of doctor giving a baby a shot.

    Vaccines are a crucial part of keeping your baby healthy. But, it can be difficult to watch your baby feel the pain of a shot. Don’t put off or skip vaccines that your baby needs. Instead, follow these tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

    *Bring along a favorite item.Does your baby have a “lovey,” a favorite blanket, or a pacifier? When it’s time for the shot, give them the item.

    *Remain calm.Babies can sense stress in your voice and actions. Remember, the pain only lasts a few seconds. It’s well worth it for the many years of protection from disease.

    *Breastfeed if you can.If your doctor gives you the go-ahead, you may be able to nurse baby during the shot itself or immediately after. This is often very comforting to babies.

    *Consider juice or sugar.If your baby is over six months, a drink of juice or pacifier dipped in sugar can help calm them. Ask your pediatrician if this is okay. Avoid overdoing this for other stressful situations.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Talk Smart About Finances

    FINANCIAL HEALTH

    Image of young couple with laptop and piggy bank.

    Economic flux hurts more than our wallets. Financial woes can lead to emotionally damaging arguments among couples and put unnecessary strain on the family, said Josh Klapow, PhD, a clinical psychologist and professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Klapow is the author of Living Smart:  5 Essential Skills to Change Your Health Habits Forever.

    He said financial discussions, and even disagreements, can have a positive impact on families struggling through uncertainty. The key is to make those discussions productive, not destructive. Dr. Klapow offers 5 talking tips:

    1.Keep a cool head.When your emotions are high-be it anger, sadness, frustration-thoughts get cloudy. Relax, breathe, wait 2-10 minutes, then start to talk.

    2.Start easy.Arguments often start because of a critical remark or an angry tone. Try to bring up problems and mistakes gently and without blame.

    3.Don’t assume.Talk about your feelings, not what you think your spouse or partner is feeling. Describe your feelings in first person with “I” and explain why.

    4.Think then speak.The goal of the conversation should be to problem-solve, not to win. Remember, once the words are out, you cannot take them back.

    5.Repair and recover.Don’t let the discussion get out of control. End on a positive, or at least neutral, note. Lean on patience, change the topic, or offer a positive comment to let the other person know you’re part of the same team.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Talk To Your Child About Abuse

    FAMILY LIFE

    Image of parents talking to their child.

    Parents generally teach their children about “stranger danger” from an early age. They are told not to talk to, walk with or take gifts or candy from strangers. But statistics show danger often lurks closer to home.

    According to the National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse, the vast majority of children who are sexually abused are abused by someone they know-most often a family member, an adult the family trusts or, in some instances, another child.

    Parents can help protect their children from sexual abuse by talking frankly to them about abuse, starting at a young age with age-appropriate information, advises Kay Knaff, clinical services program manager for Youth Villages.

    How to talk to your child (starting about age 3 or 4) about sexual abuse:

    *  Tell your child about good touch-a hug or a pat on the back-and bad touch, when someone is touching private areas.

    *  Tell your child nobody-no family member, teacher, other child or adult-is allowed to touch him or her in the areas covered by a bathing suit because these are private areas. Exceptions are a parent bathing a young child or helping the child with using the bathroom, as well as a doctor or nurse when examining the child.

    *  Tell your child he or she has permission to tell any adult who touches them in their private areas, “No!”

    Tell your child that if anyone ever touches him or her in any way in their private areas, he or she should tell mom, dad and or grandma/grandpa or another trusted person about it immediately.

    Get help immediately. If you suspect your child has been abused, act immediately. Either call your local police, your local rape crisis center, child protective services or the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453), then push 1 to talk to a hotline counselor.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Talking To Teens About Alcohol

    FAMILY LIFE

    Image of mother talking to her teen daughter.

    It’s not always easy, but it’s important to talk to your teenage children about the dangers of underage drinking. It can result in violence, sexual assault, brain development problems and even serious injury or death.

    According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 35 percent of 15-year-olds have had at least one drink in their lives. Even if your child has never tried alcohol, many teens deal with peer pressure and need to know how to say no. Talking with your child may help prepare them to deal with these situations.

    The National Institutes of Health recommends the following tips for talking with your teen about drinking:

    *  Have open conversations about alcohol. Remain calm and answer questions honestly.

    *  Anytime the subject of alcohol comes up, use it as a chance to talk about it again. The message to avoid alcohol needs to be repeated.

    *  Tell your child about the dangers of alcohol. These include harming the body and brain and putting them in dangerous situations. Tell them underage drinking is against the law.

    *  Try “what if” situations. Ask them, “What if James asks you to try just a sip of beer?” Have them practice their response.

    *  Stress they should never get in a car with a person who has been drinking, even if they “just had one drink.” Alcohol affects teens differently than adults.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Tastes Better, Still Harmful

    MEDICAL NEWS

    Image of e-cigarettes.

    More than two out of every five middle and high school students who smoke report using either flavored little cigars or flavored cigarettes, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The study, based on data from a 2011 National Youth Tobacco Survey, is CDC’s first attempt to measure usage of flavored little cigars and cigarettes by youth in the U.S. The findings were published online in the Journal of Adolescent Health on Oct. 22, 2013.

    “Flavored or not, cigars cause cancer, heart disease, lung disease and many other health problems. Flavored little cigars appeal to youth and the use of these tobacco products may lead to disfigurement, disability and premature death,” CDC director Dr. Tom Frieden said in an agency news release. “We need to take comprehensive steps to reduce all tobacco use for all of our youth.”

    One reason flavored cigarettes and little cigars appeal to young people is because the candy and fruit flavors mask the harsh taste of tobacco. The flavored little cigars are also more affordable. Unlike cigarettes, they are not taxed in most states and can be bought individually or in doubles, so teens do not have to buy a whole pack at a time.

    Little cigars have become more popular in recent years. Sales have increased 240 percent from 1997 to 2007, with flavored brands making up almost 80 percent of the market share.

    The CDC also reported that e-cigarette (electronic cigarette) use among young smokers has doubled, due in part to brands that come in flavors such as bubble gum, gummy bear, orange cream soda and cotton candy.

    Health officials are concerned that flavored tobacco products obscure the health risks of smoking and entice young people into continued use of tobacco.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Tasty News

    HEALTHY EATING

    Image of women of a hot cup of tea.

    What we view as the sense of taste is actually a combination of smell, taste, and texture, with smell playing a major role. A single taste bud can have dozens of receptor cells that send signals of sour, sweet, salty, and bitter through nerve channels to the brain.

    The tongue is covered with taste buds, and the back of the mouth is sensitive to bitter tastes-perhaps as a last-ditch chance to expel something toxic. Taste also plays a role in digestion, preparing the stomach for a meal.

    But one of the most interesting things about taste, according to University of Virginia neuroscientist David Hill, is that taste cells regenerate, or turn over, about every 10 days, much like skin cells.

    Burn your tongue? No worries; those cells will regrow and you’ll regain your normal sense of taste within days.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Teaching Kids To Manage Money

    FINANCIAL HEALTH

    Image of boy holding money in one hand and thumbs up with the other hand.

    Good money management habits start early. In fact, even preschool age children can begin to learn about money and how to use it responsibly. Parents and caregivers have the power to teach children about proper spending, saving and sharing from a young age.

    Preschool age

    *  Use play money to “buy” items.

    *  Teach children about work. Tell them how your job helps you pay for things like food and clothes.

    *  Take them to the grocery store and talk about what items cost.

    *  If children get money for a birthday or holiday, have them put it in their piggy bank instead of spending it right away.

    School age

    *  Discuss the prices of items while shopping. Show your kids your shopping receipts and explain how much items cost.

    *  Have kids help you clip coupons and talk about how much you can save.

    *  Open a savings account for your child.

    *  Consider giving an allowance for chores. Talk to them about saving their allowance to buy something later, rather than spending it all now.

    Teenagers

    *  Show your teen how to balance a checkbook.

    *  Discuss responsible credit card spending and avoiding credit card debt.

    *  If your teen has a job, talk about taxes and help them fill out their income tax form.

    *  Explain how automobile and health insurance works.

    Don’t feel pressured to give your child a complete course in finances. Children learn by watching others, so setting a positive example for spending and saving is a great way to teach.

    Source: University of Minnesota Extension

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Teens Can’T Resist-Really

    FAMILY LIFE

    Image of two teenage boys on their cell phones.

    Don’t get mad the next time you catch your teenager texting when he promised to be studying. He or she simply may not be able to resist.

    A University of Iowa study in Psychological Science found teenagers are far more sensitive than adults to the immediate effect or reward of their behaviors. The findings may help explain, for example, why the initial rush of texting may be more enticing for adolescents than the long-term payoff of studying. They need help in regulating their attention so they can develop impulse-control skills.

    For parents, that means limiting distractions so teenagers can make better choices. Take the homework and social media dilemma: At 9 p.m., shut off everything except a computer that has no access to Facebook or Twitter, the researchers advise.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Teeth Grinding: Causes And Solutions

    SELF-CARE CORNER

    Image of dentist with a patient.

    Teeth grinding is a movement disorder of the jaw in which there is gnashing, grinding, or clenching of the teeth. It’s called bruxism. Often, people are unaware of their habit.

    The two primary types of teeth grinding are sleep bruxism, which occurs during sleep, and awake bruxism, which occurs when the person is awake.

    There is not a single contributing factor that results in teeth grinding or bruxism, rather it is believed to be the result of complex interactions between many factors, including stress, tension and anxiety; levels of certain chemicals in the brain; other sleep disorders such as snoring or sleep apnea; or a response to pain from earaches or teething (in children).

    “Teeth grinding is most often diagnosed by a combination of information derived from a history reported by the patient and a clinical exam performed by the patient’s dentist,” according to Dr. Erica Harvey, a representative of the Pennsylvania Dental Association.

    While some people noticeably grind their teeth, 80% make no sound, which makes bruxism even harder to discover. Common symptoms include reports of grinding noises during sleep by family members, tooth hypersensitivity, fractured, chipped or worn teeth, and waking up with a constant, dull headache or sore jaws.

    Regular dental checkups can help detect bruxism, and your dentist may recommend these methods to help stop or relieve the symptoms:

    *  Find ways to reduce your stress level and relax.

    *  Avoid or limit the amount of caffeine and alcohol you consume.

    Ask your dentist about the use of a nightguard to prevent further wear of your teeth.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine