HealthyLife Articles

Category: Uncategorized

  • Pop The Cork, Not Your Eye

    WELL-BEING

    Image of cork popping from a champagne bottle.

    Americans will consume more than a billion glasses of champagne during holiday and New Year celebrations. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the careless handling of champagne is one of the most common causes for holiday-related eye injuries. These injuries are often caused by improperly opening the bottle, as a champagne cork is just less than 90 pounds of pressure-3 times the pressure inside a car tire.

    The Korbel Champagne authorities offer this advice:

    *  The recommended way to properly open a bottle is to ease the cork out slowly, with the sound of a gentle sigh-not a pop, which wastes champagne.

    *  Make sure your champagne is chilled and unshaken. Chill the bottle for at least 4 hours in the refrigerator (a warm bottle is more likely to pop).

    *  Remove the foil cap covering the top of the bottle, exposing a wire hood.

    *  Undo the wire hood with 6 half-turns of the knob.

    *  Hold the bottle at a 45-degree angle while holding the cork firmly with one hand and the base of the bottle with the other. Be sure to point the bottle away from your guests.

    *  Do not twist the cork. Rather, turn the bottle slowly while letting the cork glide out gently, emitting a gentle sigh.

    *  In the did-you-know department: There are more than 50 million bubbles in a standard bottle of champagne.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Smartphone Break Aids Well-Being

    WELL-BEING

    Image of a smart phone.

    Want to be more productive and happier during the workday? Try taking a short break to text a friend, play Angry Birds, or check Facebook on your smartphone, according to Kansas State University research.

    Allowing employees to take smartphone microbreaks may be a benefit-rather than a disruption-for businesses. Microbreaks are nonworking-related behaviors during working hours.

    “A smartphone microbreak can be beneficial for both the employee and the organization,” said the lead researcher. “For example, if I would play a game for an hour during my working hours, it would definitely hurt my work performance. But if I take short breaks of one or two minutes throughout the day, it could provide me with refreshment to do my job.”

    Taking a break throughout the workday is important because it is difficult, and nearly impossible, for an employee to concentrate for 8 straight hours a day without a break, was the thinking. So the smartphone microbreaks were thought to be similar to other microbreaks throughout the workday: chatting with coworkers, walking around the hallway, or getting a cup of coffee. Such breaks are important because they can help employees cope with the demands of the workplace.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Thinking About Changing

    WELL-BEING

    Image of young man working at a warehouse.

    Do you want to lose weight, quit smoking, eat healthier, get fit, manage stress, drink less alcohol? First, ask yourself:  Are you ready to change?

    Meg Baker, director of Employee Wellness at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, says while the focus on self-improvement is good, you must be ready to make a change in order to actually do so. To help prepare for any lifestyle change, Baker offers some tips:

    *  Develop small, short-term goals that will fit into your schedule. Make them realistic.

    *  Consider the benefits and reasons for the change.

    *  Talk to a family member, friend, or coworker about goals. Sharing your goals with others will increase the likelihood of your staying committed to a new gym regimen or stop smoking plan, and they may want to join you.

    “If the new behavior has lost its luster, switch things up,” Baker said. “Variety is the key to life and can keep you from getting burned out. Spice things up by changing your normal exercise routine, finding new healthy recipes online, or joining a new exercise class.”

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Women Traveling Alone: Safety Tips

    WELL-BEING

    Image of young women reading a map.

    Perhaps more than ever, women are willing to ditch their traveling companions and go solo when it comes time to hit the road and see the world. Many travel for business.

    Still, despite the trend, many women may worry that traveling alone can carry too many risks, making them a target for thieves, kidnappers,

    and other criminals.

    Barbara Foster, a veteran globetrotter and author of the book The Confessions of a Librarian: A Memoir of Loves, advises, “Sure, there are risky places and bad types out there. But with the right precautions, women can travel solo with confidence, visiting the places and meeting the people they always dreamed of and returning home with wonderful stories and memories.”

    *Steer clear of the most dangerous locales.Simply put, some places just aren’t worth the risk. Avoid “no go” neighborhoods, cities, and countries.

    *Connect with friendly contacts.Make yourself known not only to the US embassy or consul, but also to people in your field, Foster said. During her travels, Foster wrote articles about libraries she visited. Her fellow librarians were a  protective group.

    *Learn the language or at least useful phrases.Even if it’s just a few key words, speaking the language can come in handy if you need to seek help. Knowing what others are saying can also alert you to potential dangers.

    *Dress wisely, pay attention to manners, and spend money in moderation.Don’t draw needless attention to yourself. For added protection against thieves, Foster suggests carrying money and ID in a pouch under your shirt.

    *Travel in the US.You will miss many of the world’s must-see places, but if the thought of traveling abroad holds too much stress for you, it might be better to stick closer to home.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • How To Care For Mature Skin

    Mature Health: Over Age 50

    Image of a caregiver placing cream on a mature women's face.

    As your skin ages, the sebaceous glands produce less oil, and the skin loses elasticity. The result is dry, wrinkled skin-unless you take steps to prevent (or minimize) those effects. Here’s what to do to stay one step ahead of Mother Nature.

    *  Shower or bathe with a mild soap or transparent glycerin soaps to prevent dry, flaky skin. Don’t use deodorant soaps on your face-they’re too harsh for sensitive facial skin.

    *  Avoid alcohol-based astringents, toners, or after-shave lotions, which dry the skin.

    *  Apply a moisturizing lotion immediately after showering or bathing. (Dry skin makes wrinkles more noticeable, so using a moisturizer makes wrinkles less noticeable.)

    *  Use a room or furnace humidifier during the winter months, to further prevent dry skin.

    *  When washing dishes or working with strong detergents, protect your hands with rubber gloves.

    *  Apply sunscreen lotion with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher whenever you go outdoors.

    If you’re thinking about having a face lift, chemical peel, or collagen injection for wrinkles, contact your local medical society for the names of board-certified surgeons or dermatologists with experience in the procedure you’re considering.

    A Year of Health Hints book by the American Institute for Preventive Medicine. www.HealthyLife.com. All rights reserved.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Enhance Your Sense Of Taste

    Mature Health: Over Age 50

    Image of fresh foods and herbs, such as potatos, tomatoes, onions, etc.

    Adding a lot of salt to foods, eating more sweets, and finding meals less enjoyable are signs that your sense of taste is fading. As you age, you may lose up to 50 percent of your taste buds. But you don’t have to resign yourself to a diet that tastes dull and bland. You can take the following steps to perk up your sense of taste.

    *  Eat fresh foods instead of canned or processed items. Fresh-cooked foods are more flavorful and have more texture, which adds to the enjoyment of food.

    *  Pep up your vegetables with flavor enhancers like savory herbs, lemon juice, slivered almonds, and sliced onions instead of extra salt.

    *  Marinate meats and fish in salad dressings or fruit juices before cooking.

    *  Include tart foods and beverages like salt-free pickles, oranges, and lemonade in your meals.

    *  Think visually. Colorful foods, garnishes, and an attractive table setting make meals more appetizing.

    *  Bring chilled foods to room temperature before serving. Flavors are more pronounced when food is warm.

    A Year of Health Hints book by the American Institute for Preventive Medicine. www.HealthyLife.com. All rights reserved.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Alcohol Increases Risk For Breast Cancer

    SELF-CARE CORNER

    Image of middle-aged women smiling wearing a pink blazer.

    Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for women in the United States, after lung cancer. Dr. Erica Mayer, a breast cancer expert at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, says there are at least 5 simple ways women can reduce their risk of getting the disease:

    1.Limit alcohol.Research has shown having too much alcohol can increase your risk of breast cancer. If you choose to drink alcohol-including beer, wine, or liquor-limit yourself to no more than one half to one drink a day on average.

    2.Get a mammogram.Many health organizations advise women to get regular mammograms starting at age 40. “Mammography screening does not prevent or cure breast cancer, but it may detect the disease before symptoms occur,” said Dr. Mayer.

    3.Eat a healthy diet and keep your weight under control.The American Cancer Society recommends a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and fiber. “High-fat diets can lead to being overweight or obese, which is a risk factor for breast cancer,” said Dr. Mayer.

    4.Exercise.There’s growing evidence that physical activity reduces a woman’s breast cancer risk.

    5.Determine if you have family history of breast cancer and be vigilant to early detection.Twenty to 30% of people who develop breast cancer have a family history of the disease. About 5 to 10% of women carry a BRCA1 or BRCA 2 mutation, the so called “breast cancer genes.”

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Face Facts About Acne

    SELF-CARE CORNER

    Image of young women washing her face.

    Acne. It’s embarrassing. It’s annoying. And it’s the most common skin condition in the U.S. Fortunately, acne can often be reduced with simple changes to your skin care routine, say experts from the American Academy of Dermatology.

    For clearer skin, follow these tips:

    *  Wash twice a day and after sweating. Perspiration, especially when wearing a hat or helmet, can make acne worse, so wash your skin as soon as possible after sweating.

    *  Use your fingertips to apply a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser. Using a washcloth, mesh sponge, or anything else can irritate the skin. Do not use skin care products that irritate the skin, which may include astringents, toners, and exfoliants. Dry, red skin makes acne appear worse.

    *  Rinse with lukewarm water.

    *  Shampoo regularly. If you have oily hair, shampoo daily.

    *  Let your skin heal naturally. If you pick, pop or squeeze your acne, your skin will take longer to clear and you increase your risk of getting acne scars.

    *  Keep your hands off your face. Touching your skin throughout the day can cause flare-ups.

    *  Stay out of the sun and tanning beds. Tanning damages your skin. In addition, some acne medications make the skin very sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) light, which you get from both the sun and indoor tanning devices.

    *  See a skin specialist for the most current treatments.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Kick Cigarettes Out Of Your House

    SELF-CARE CORNER

    Image of the word "Quit" spelled within a pile of tobacco with a crused cigarette.

    You know that smoking can cause health problems, including heart disease and cancer. But if you smoke inside your home, you could be hurting everyone who lives with you. Anyone who is around cigarette smoke is exposed to secondhand smoke.

    *  Secondhand smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals. Many of these have been proven to cause cancer and irritate the lungs.

    *  Secondhand smoke can trigger asthma attacks and they happen more often and with more severity in children.

    *  Children whose parents smoke have more ear infections, bronchitis and pneumonia.

    You and your family can be healthier if you don’t allow any smoking in your home. And don’t allow guests to smoke in your home or around your children. If your children regularly visit another home, such as a child care provider, make sure no one smokes in that home.

    If you need help quitting, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visitsmokefree.govfor free resources.

    Source: Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine