HealthyLife Articles

Category: Medical News

  • Alcohol And Meds Don’t Mix

    MEDICAL NEWS

    Image of alcohol and pills.

    You may have heard that you shouldn’t drink alcohol and take medicines together. This combination is very dangerous because:

    1.  If you take aspirin and drink alcohol, this raises the chances of bleeding in your stomach.

    2.  Drinking alcohol with cold or allergy medicines can make you very sleepy.

    3.  Even small amounts of alcohol taken with sleeping pills can cause dizziness or fainting.

    4.  Alcohol combined with some pain relievers can cause liver damage.

    5.  Taking alcohol with certain blood thinners can cause bleeding.

    If you take any medicines and drink alcohol, even occasionally, talk to your doctor.

    Sources: National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Institute on Aging

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Are You Washing Your Hands The Right Way?

    MEDICAL NEWS

    Water drop illustration with the words "Wash your hand".

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says washing your hands is like a “do-it-yourself” vaccine. Washing your hands properly and at the right time will slash your risk of getting sick with illnesses like colds, flu and stomach bugs that cause diarrhea and vomiting.

    Handwashing seems simple. But, there are some steps you must take to ensure your hands are truly clean.

    The five steps

    1.  Wet your hands with clean, running water. It can be warm or cold. Then turn off the water and apply soap to your hands.

    2.  Rub hands together to get a lather. Cover the palms, backs of hands, between the fingers and under the nails.

    3.  Continue scrubbing for at least 20 seconds. Count to 20 slowly or sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice.

    4.  Rinse all the soap off under clean, running water.

    5.  Dry your hands using a clean towel. If one is not available, allow them to air dry completely.

    Don’t touch your face – a win-win

    It’s impossible for hands to stay clean all the time. Even if you’ve just washed them, try to avoid touching your face, eyes, nose and mouth. This will help keep you from letting germs into your body.

    Also, this habit helps protect those around you. If you’re sick and you touch your face, you could be putting germs onto your hands that can be spread to others.

    What about hand sanitizer?

    Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are handy to keep in a pocket or purse. Hand sanitizers do clean, but they may not remove all germs, the CDC says. They also won’t remove chemicals or visible dirt very well.

    In short, keep hand sanitizer with you, and use it when you’ve touched something that may be germy (like a door handle or ATM buttons). But, get to a sink to wash your hands whenever you can.

    Good hand hygiene is good for everyone – except germs. Wash up to stay healthy!

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Do You Know The Early Warning Signs Of Parkinson’s Disease?

    MEDICAL NEWS

    Close up image of two elderly hands holding.

    A recent nationwide survey conducted by the National Parkinson Foundation revealed that most Americans would wait to see their doctors if they were experiencing tremors (shaking), even though tremors are an early sign of the disease.

    Parkinson’s affects nerves and muscles and can affect movement and coordination, especially with walking. The disease is a result of changes in the brain that researchers now know can be associated with both genetics and environmental toxins.

    Parkinson’s develops slowly, with only subtle symptoms early on, including these:

    *  Tremors and shaking

    *  Trouble moving or walking

    *  Loss of facial expression

    *  Dizziness and fainting

    *  Stooping or hunched over

    *  Trouble sleeping

    *  Soft or low voice

    *  Small handwriting

    *  Loss of smell

    *  Constipation

    For more information about Parkinson’s disease and the National Parkinson Foundation, visitwww.parkinson.org.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Is Your Heart Older Than You?

    MEDICAL NEWS

    Image of man suffering a heart attack.

    The year you were born reveals your age. It’s part of your identity. But despite the number on your driver’s license, your heart may be telling a different story.

    According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 75 percent of Americans have hearts that are older than their actual age. For men, the average heart age is 8 years older, and for women, it’s 5 years. This means many people are at high risk of heart attacks and strokes – even if they don’t know it.

    Your “heart age” is based on certain risk factors you may have for heart disease. This includes lifestyle habits, your body mass index, and certain health problems. You can lower your heart age by adopting heart-healthy habits such as a healthy diet, regular exercise, and not smoking.

    Signs of a heart attack

    *  Pressure, squeezing, or pain in the chest

    *  Pain in the jaw, neck, upper back, arms, or abdomen

    *  Trouble breathing

    *  Feeling dizzy or nauseated

    *  Cold sweats

    If you experience these symptoms, call 911 or have someone take you to the emergency room.

    Source: American Heart Association

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Ouch! Arm And Shoulder Pain

    MEDICAL NEWS

    Illustration of skeleton shoulder highlighted in red for pain.

    Any of these symptoms sound familiar?

    *  Sudden, sharp pain in the upper arm

    *  Popping or snapping you can hear in the shoulder or elbow

    *  Cramping of the biceps muscle with strenuous use of the arm

    *  Bruising from the middle of the upper arm down toward the elbow

    *  Pain or tenderness at the shoulder and the elbow

    *  Weakness in the shoulder and the elbow

    *  Difficulty turning the palm of the hand up or down

    Could be a torn or painful biceps muscle. And if you have that, you may also have a shoulder problem or a rotator cuff tear. Because a torn tendon can no longer keep the biceps muscles tight, a bulge in the upper arm above the elbow (“Popeye Muscle”) may appear, with a dent (signifying absence of muscle) closer to the shoulder.

    The first line of treatment for these types of injuries, according to orthopedic specialists, is a variety of nonsurgical options, such as rest, anti-inflammatory drugs, changing your activity, and physical therapy. Surgery can also be considered. But the best advice is to see your doctor, say experts at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Stis And Infertility:Get The Facts

    MEDICAL NEWS

    Image of couple looking out a window.

    Millions of people in the U.S. contract sexually transmitted infections (STIs) each year. In fact, the CDC reports that in 2014, a staggering 2.86 million new cases of chlamydia and 820,000 cases of gonorrhea were reported.

    Many of these cases occurred in teenagers or young adults. In addition, thousands of people have chlamydia or gonorrhea and don’t know it. If these diseases go untreated, a woman can get pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). This is an infection in a woman’s reproductive organs that can become serious. Not only can it cause pain, fever, bleeding, and other issues, but women with PID may not be able to get pregnant.

    Fortunately, PID can be treated with antibiotics if caught early. But waiting too long to get treatment can lead to permanent damage.

    All sexually active men and women should talk to their doctors about their risk for STIs, and get tested and treated for these infections as needed.

    Early treatment for STIs could save your fertility and your health.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Understanding Enlarged Prostate

    MEDICAL NEWS

    Image of older male smiling.

    Benign prostatic hyperplasia, sometimes called BPH or enlarged prostate, is a condition where a man’s prostate gland gets larger. It is the most common prostate problem for men older than age 50. And, up to 90 percent of men over age 80 have it.

    An enlarged prostate is not cancer, and for many men, it’s not serious. But, it can cause some symptoms that are bothersome, such as urinating too frequently, trouble starting or stopping urinating and incontinence. This happens when the prostate gets too large and blocks the urethra, which lets urine out of the body. Or, it can stress the bladder as it tries to force urine past the blockage.

    In rare cases, an enlarged prostate can cause serious problems such as kidney damage. That’s why it’s important to talk with a doctor about enlarged prostate and to follow your doctor’s recommendations.

    Don’t ignore these signs

    Enlarged prostate is usually not serious. But, some symptoms could signal a more serious problem. Get medical care right away if you notice any of these signs:

    *  Complete inability to urinate

    *  Fever and chills along with frequent and painful urination

    *  Blood in urine

    *  Severe pain in lower belly and/or urinary tract

    How enlarged prostate is treated

    Treatment is based on symptoms and lifestyle. Many men who have mild symptoms find that lifestyle changes can help. Some recommendations include:

    *  Drink less fluids, especially before bedtime or when you won’t be near a bathroom.

    *  Avoid caffeine and/or alcohol. These can irritate the bladder and increase urination, which can worsen symptoms of an enlarged prostate.

    *  Avoid medications that can cause urination problems, including cold medicines with decongestants, antihistamines for allergies, diuretics and some antidepressants.

    *  Train your bladder, which means to gradually hold urine for longer periods.

    *  Exercises to strengthen muscles in the pelvic floor region of your body.

    *  Prevent and/or treat constipation, which can irritate a stressed bladder.

    Lifestyle changes usually help improve quality of life for men with an enlarged prostate. But if they don’t, your doctor may discuss medications or minimally invasive procedures. Surgery is usually not needed, but it is an option for severe cases.

    Fortunately, this common health issue can be managed and treated. Get regular checkups with your doctor or urologist to keep symptoms under control.

    Sources: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • All About Red Blood Cells

    MEDICAL NEWS

    Lab tube with blood.

    Blood nourishes every part of the body. Red blood cells are a major component of blood and a key player in how the body receives the oxygen it needs.

    What they do

    Red blood cells contain a special protein called hemoglobin that carries oxygen from the lungs and delivers it to the organs and tissues. Once a red blood cell drops off oxygen, it picks up carbon dioxide and returns it to the lungs to be exhaled when you breathe out.

    Every cell in the body relies on oxygen delivery from red blood cells. To keep a constant supply of healthy red blood cells, the bone marrow produces an impressive 2 million cells every second.

    Measuring red blood cells

    When you go to the doctor, they often order a complete blood count (CBC) to assess the health of your blood. Several of those values provide information about your red blood cells:

    *  Red blood cells (RBC) – the number of red blood cells in a specific volume of blood

    *  Hemoglobin – the amount of hemoglobin (by weight in grams) per the volume in blood (in deciliters)

    *  Hematocrit – how much of the blood is made up of red blood cells

    *  MCV – the average size of red blood cells

    *  MCH – the amount of hemoglobin in each red blood cell

    *  MCHC – the average amount of hemoglobin in a group of red blood cells

    When red blood cells are high

    Common causes include:

    *  Dehydration

    *  Kidney disease

    *  Heart disease

    *  Lung disease

    *  Smoking (causes scarring of lung tissue)

    *  Conditions of the bone marrow

    What to do:

    If your doctor finds your red blood cell values are higher than normal, they may do further testing to identify a cause. Staying well-hydrated keeps your blood cells healthy and in the right concentration.

    When red blood cells are low

    You may experience fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, and irregular heart rates. Common causes include:

    *  Anemia

    *  Malnutrition

    *  Certain types of cancer

    *  Kidney disease

    *  Liver disease

    *  Certain medications

    What to do:

    A healthy diet high in iron and other vitamins and minerals is essential for red blood cells. Leafy greens, beans, nuts, seeds, fish, meat, and iron-fortified foods keep blood cells healthy. Your doctor may also recommend supplements or medications.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine