HealthyLife Articles

Category: Uncategorized

Flu Shot Faqs

MEDICAL NEWS

Every year, millions of people get the flu. Some get very sick and need to be hospitalized. Thousands of people die from the flu every year.

This year as we battle COVID-19, getting a flu shot is more important than ever. Flu shots decrease the chance that you will be hospitalized or die from the flu. This helps ensure that hospitals will not become overwhelmed with flu and COVID-19 patients.

Won’t last year’s shot help me?

Everyone needs to get a flu shot every year. There are two reasons why:

* Your immune system’s protection from the shot gets weaker over time.

* Flu viruses are always changing, so you need a shot that has this year’s flu strains in it.

Will a flu shot increase my risk of getting COVID-19?

No. Studies have shown that a flu vaccine will not put you at risk for COVID-19. But it will help protect you from the flu, which also protects your loved ones and people around you!

Will the flu shot give me the flu?

The flu shot is made from inactivated flu virus. An inactivated virus cannot give you the flu. Some people notice side effects from the shot like aches or a mild fever. These side effects last only a day or two. This is much milder than getting the flu, where fever, aches and other symptoms last a week or longer.

What if I’m not high risk?

Everyone 6 months of age and older should get the flu shot, even if they have no health problems. Even young, healthy people – including children – can become very sick with the flu.

When more people get the flu shot, we help protect people who are high risk, including babies, older adults and people who are allergic to the shot.

Is it too late to get a flu shot?

Even if you haven’t gotten your flu shot yet, it’s not too late. After getting the shot, you won’t have immunity right away. It takes about two weeks for your body to develop antibodies to the flu.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Questions About Metabolism

MEDICAL NEWS

Your body has a process for taking food and turning it into energy. This is known as your metabolism. Some diets and exercise plans claim to raise metabolism so you can lose more weight. How does this work, and is it even true?

Does exercise boost metabolism?

Exercise burns calories, and you’ll continue to burn some more calories after you’re done. But don’t count on exercise to rev up your metabolism so you can eat much more than usual.

If you exercise and then eat a lot of calories, this can lead to weight gain. Even if your workout is long and hard, watch out for high-calorie foods and drinks if you’re trying to lose extra pounds.

Use exercise for its amazing health-boosting powers. But be careful about how many calories you eat. Exercise can’t drastically change your metabolism.

Does muscle burn more calories than fat?

Having more muscle can boost your metabolism a little. But it’s only a small amount. Most of your metabolism is controlled by other organs like your brain, kidneys, liver, heart and lungs. Building muscle mass is still valuable. Lifting weights boost bone health. It can help you with everyday tasks and balance. Just don’t count on it to change your metabolism very much.

Can certain foods boost metabolism?

Green tea, caffeine or hot peppers can boost your metabolism for a short time. But it’s not enough to help a person lose weight.

Green tea has health benefits but be careful with caffeine. The Food and Drug Administration says adults should get no more than 400 mg of caffeine each day. That’s about three or four cups of coffee. Some people are sensitive to caffeine and should get much less than this amount. Remember, caffeine can also be found in tea, energy drinks and some sodas.

If I eat regular meals, does that speed up metabolism?

There are some benefits to spreading your meals out each day. You want to eat on a regular schedule so you don’t get too hungry. If you’re famished, you’re more likely to overeat and take in a lot more calories.

But there isn’t any evidence that says eating regular meals will help boost metabolism. Instead, follow your hunger cues. Eat when you’re hungry and stop when you start to feel full and satisfied.

Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
What Is ‘Lazy Eye’?

MEDICAL NEWS

Lazy eye, also known as amblyopia, is the most common cause of vision impairment in children.

Amblyopia

Amblyopia means that the vision in one eye is reduced because of a problem with the brain and eye communication. Amblyopia is not a disease, but is a result of another vision problem. Usually, amblyopia can happen when a child has:

* Strabismus, which is when the two eyes can’t work together to focus on one object. They may point in different directions. Strabismus may cause a crossed eye, known as esotropia. It may also cause one eye to turn outward, known as exotropia.

* One eye that is more nearsighted or farsighted.

* One eye that has an astigmatism and can’t see as well as the other eye.

* A cataract in one eye that causes blurred vision.

In all of these cases, the brain can start to “ignore” the signals it gets from the weaker or blurred eye. It starts using the stronger eye by itself.

When the brain doesn’t use one eye during childhood, the eye and brain connection doesn’t develop well. Over time, the vision in the weaker eye gets worse because the proper brain connections were not formed.

Steps you can take

All children should get an eye exam before age 4. If there is a family history of amblyopia, childhood cataracts or other eye problems, get their eyes checked during infancy.

Treatment for amblyopia usually involves the child wearing an eye patch. They wear the patch over the stronger eye, forcing the brain to use the weaker eye. Your child’s eye doctor will tell you how and when they should wear the patch.

It can be difficult for a child to get used to the eye patch. Try these tips:

* Use positive words to explain that the patch will help them see better.

* Allow them to pick out a color or design for their eye patch that they like.

* If the patch isn’t a good solution for your child, ask the eye doctor about special drops that blur vision in the strong eye for the same effect. The blurring effect is temporary.

Don’t wait! Getting amblyopia treated during childhood can help your child have good vision as an adult.

Sources: American Academy of Ophthalmology, National Eye Institute

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Health News: Sorting Fact From Fiction

WELL-BEING

Misinformation is rampant in the internet age. While technology allows us to stay up to date and connected, it can also amplify false information and spread confusion.

Finding reliable health information is especially important as you want to make good choices for your long-term health. But, it is all too easy to get tripped up by pseudo-science and unqualified individuals who present themselves as experts.

So, how do you sort fact from fiction?

Know how to spot reliable sources

* Look for .gov, .org, and .edu websites as most reliable.

* Check the authors’ credentials.

* Compare suspicious information to the information onmedlineplus.gov.

* Be skeptical of information on social media or .com sites that you can’t verify from a more reliable source.

Ask good questions

* Does it sound too good to be true?

* Is the source linked to a reputable national or global health institution?

* What is your emotional reaction?

* Are the headline and content straightforward or sensationalized?

* Can the information be verified by other trusted sources?

Dig a little deeper

A quick internet search can tell you know the kinds of websites that are sharing the information. Check for .gov, .org, or .edu sites on the first page of results. You can also go to a fact-checking website such as:

*Snopes.com

*Factcheck.org

*Quackwatch.org

*Healthnewsreview.org

Keep an open mind

We all have a health philosophy that guides our choices. This can be useful, but it becomes a problem when we only believe information that aligns with our bias. This prevents us from learning and growing, and from changing our minds if our bias turns out to be incorrect.

Instead of immediately accepting or rejecting new information, stay curious. Be open to the possibility there is more to learn.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Step Up To A Longer Life

WELL-BEING

Could something as simple as walking help you live longer? Some recent research says it’s possible. Here’s what to know:

1. Researchers had 17,000 older women wear a device each day to count their steps.

2. They tracked the women for four years.

3. Those who took between 4,400 and 7,500 steps each day were less likely to die during those four years.

4. Walking more than 7,500 steps is also good for your health!

Researchers said this is helpful for people who may think that 10,000 steps is overwhelming. Try to walk 4,400 steps or more each day, and you could see some important health benefits.

Sources: Journal of the American Medical Association, National Institutes of Health

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Be Happy Through Play

Stress Management

The benefits of play include creativity, release of tension and stress, and relaxation.

* Plan active play time with your children outdoors. Play in the leaves.

* Enjoy board games or card games with your children or friends.

* Wear a costume on Halloween − or any day, just for the fun of it.

* Playing games like chess and playing a musical instrument challenge the brain and can help prevent memory problems, as well as improve brain function.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
If You Can’t Alter Traffic, Alter Your Mood

Stress Management

Cars are inching along bumper to bumper. The weather is foul. You’ve already been late to work twice this week. Every muscle in your body is beginning to feel tense. What a way to start the morning. Boy, are you in for a bad day!

Auto commutes don’t have to be “stress on wheels,” though. Here are some ways to avoid commuter stress.

* Before you set out, listen to radio traffic reports to find out if and where traffic is tied up.

* Take less heavily traveled routes.

* Leave 10 to 15 minutes earlier, to allow for unexpected delays.

* Look at a map and plan alternate routes should you encounter unexpected slow-downs along the way.

If, despite such avoidance tactics, you end up caught in traffic anyway, don’t let stress get the best of you. Some hints:

* Loosen your grip on the steering wheel.

* Take a few deep breaths.

* Don’t dwell on negative factors over which you have no control, like rude drivers or the odds of arriving late.

* Listen to a radio talk show or all-news station.

* Play some CDs of pleasant music, narrated books, or self-improvement courses. (Learn French on your way to work, for example.)

* Keep a notebook and pencil or a cassette recorder handy to make notes for planning your day, make shopping lists, and so forth.

Not only do these strategies help you make good use of otherwise wasted time, you might actually enjoy the drive!

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Stop Family Friction Before It Starts

Stress Management

Stress resistance begins at home. What better way to help your family withstand the rapid change, constant disruptions, and various surprises life dishes out than to establish a stable “base of operations” at home. Psychologists and other mental health professionals have found that families who work and play together as a cohesive unit can survive a crisis like unemployment or illness better than those with poor coping skills.

Here are some guidelines for insulating your family against stress.

* Take time to talk things over and be good companions to one another.

* Hold regular family conferences or meetings. Use this time to set mutual goals, present grievances, or discuss future plans. Take turns heading these meetings. Plan an agenda so everyone gets an opportunity to speak and so that important issues aren’t overlooked.

* Teach the value of being a good listener. Pay attention to what others say. Learn to “hear between the lines.” And ask questions if you don’t understand what your spouse or children are trying to tell you.

* Establish family traditions tied to significant occasions, like birthdays or holidays, that can be celebrated together.

* Learn the value of compromise.

* Be flexible, and shift gears if the situation calls for it. Flexibility is especially important if one parent goes back to work after managing the household full time, or if one wage earner loses his or her job or gets sick.

* Allow for individual strengths and interests. Don’t compare brothers and sisters to one another, and allow family members to have “their own space.”

* Discourage competition between family members.

* Don’t overemphasize academic and financial status.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
10 Action Steps For Adult Vaccines

Medical Exams

1. Get a yearly flu vaccine and stay current with COVID-19 booster shots.

2. If you have not had chicken pox or two doses of Varicella (chicken pox) vaccine, ask your doctor if you need this vaccine.

3. If you are age 26 or younger, get three doses of human papillomavirus (HPV) as advised by your doctor. These protect women against cervical and other cancers, and help protect women and men against genital warts.

4. If you are younger than age 55 years old, ask your doctor if you need vaccines to prevent meningococcal disease.

5. Get one dose of Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis (Tdap) – adult whooping cough vaccine – if you have not yet had this. You also need a tetanus/diphtheria (Td) vaccine every 10 years.

6. If you were born in 1957 or later, you may need at least one dose of measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine.

7. Get a pneumcoccal vaccine once at age 65 years or older. If you smoke or have certain medical conditions, you need more than one dose, starting before age 65.

8. To prevent shingles or have a milder form of it, get two doses of RZV (Shingrix) vaccine at age 50 years old or older. You may not need this if you have not had chicken pox.

9. Talk to your doctor about the need for hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines.

10. Before you travel to other countries, find out if you need any other vaccines from your doctor and from 800.CDC.INFO (232.4636) orcdc.gov/travel.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
After-Dark Joggers, Heed This Advice

Personal Safety

If you walk, run, or jog after sundown, the following tips help motorists spot you.

* Attach reflective tape to the front and back of your clothes.

* Carry a lit flashlight.

* Don’t use the road; stay on the shoulder, or preferably the sidewalk. Move against (facing) traffic if you must use the shoulder.

* Be aware of your surroundings and plan to jump to safety if a vehicle veers toward you.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026