HealthyLife Articles

Category: Self-Care Corner

  • Don’t Let The Bed Bugs Bite

    SELF-CARE CORNER

    Image of women making bed.

    Bed bugs have become more common in the U.S. in recent years. Common pesticides used to kill bed bugs may not work as well as they once did. The bugs may be getting “resistant,” which means they can survive pesticides used on them. This resistance, along with increased travel by people and lack of knowledge about how to get rid of them, are likely to blame for the rise in these pests.

    Bed bugs feed on blood so they are attracted to people and animals. They also come out at night, so the bed is the best place for them to find their meal.

    Check for bed bugs

    If you want to keep bed bugs out, you’ll need to check your home, as well as hotels while traveling. Look for small, reddish brown bugs about the size of an apple seed. Use a flashlight to get a good look. Check:

    *  Under and all around the mattress, box spring and bed frame

    *  Seams and small crevices where they like to hide –  bed bugs can get into cracks as thin as a credit card

    *  Nightstands and other furniture near beds

    Do I have bed bugs?

    Even if you don’t see any bugs, watch for signs that they are hiding in your home and biting people. The most common signs of bed bugs include:

    *  Small, reddish spots on bed sheets or mattresses

    *  Small round, dark spots on the bed  (may look like ink spots)

    *  Tiny eggs, egg shells or light yellow skins

    How to prevent them

    Bed bugs have been found in clean homes that are well cared for. They can be hard to keep out. These tips can help you keep them away:

    *  Check for bed bugs when you travel and don’t put your suitcase on the bed.

    *  When you get home from a trip, immediately wash your travel clothes in hot water.

    *  Keep luggage outside when you get home and vacuum it thoroughly. Empty the vacuum contents into a plastic bag, seal it and throw it in the garbage outside.

    If you find a bug that might be a bed bug, tape it to a piece of paper so you can show it to a pest control expert. Call a pest control company right away. If you live in an apartment or rental home, contact your landlord about what to do.

    The Environmental Protection Agency has information about getting rid of them on their website. Visitwww.epa.gov/bedbugs.

    Sources: National Institutes of Health, Environmental Protection Agency

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Is Your Desk Dining Making You Sick?

    SELF-CARE CORNER

    Image of business man eating lunch at his desk.

    A whopping 83% of Americans typically eat in their office or cubicle in an effort to save time and money. But you’re “out to lunch” if you don’t practice safe food handling.

    According to a new survey by the American Dietetic Association* and ConAgra Foods’ Home Food Safety program, many working Americans eat breakfast and lunch and snack throughout the day at their desks. Best defense:

    *  Wash your hands and clean the desktop. Only half of all Americans say they always wash their hands before eating lunch. In order to reduce the risk of foodborne illness, wash your hands with soap and warm water before and after handling food and keep your desk stocked with moist towelettes or a hand sanitizer for those times you can’t get to the sink. A University of Arizona study found that the average desktop has 100 times more bacteria than a kitchen table and 400 times more than the average toilet seat.

    *  Clean the office fridge. Even though virtually all workplaces now have a refrigerator, is it ever cleaned? Take turns and have a sign-up sheet. And stick a refrigerator thermometer in it to ensure food is safely stored below 40ºF. (Don’t let perishable foods sit out for more than 2 hours.)

    *  And that office microwave? Leftovers and frozen meals are easy, quick, and inexpensive lunch options. But make sure you zap them long enough to kill harmful bacteria. Reheat leftovers to 165ºF.

    *The American Dietetic Association* is now known as the National Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Prevent Vision Loss

    SELF-CARE CORNER

    Image of older man getting an eye exam.

    Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness. When glaucoma is treated in its early stages, vision loss can be prevented. Yet studies show that more than half of people with glaucoma don’t use their medications properly.

    The American Academy of Ophthalmology offers this advice:

    *Be honest with your eye doctor about your medication difficulties.Missed a dose? It may not seem to matter much, but research shows that skipping doses can cause your glaucoma to become more severe. Ask about the best way to make up for a missed dose and how to manage your medications.

    *Use memory aids.The most common reason for not taking eye drops is forgetfulness. Try simple memory aids like linking your eye drop schedule to other things you do routinely such as brushing your teeth. Mark times you take your medication on a calendar. Set an alarm on your smartphone.

    *Perfect the “pocket.”Giving yourself eye drops can be challenging. In fact, research has shown that nearly 30% of people taking glaucoma medication are not properly applying their eye drops. Gently pull and pinch the lower lid to make a pocket to catch your drops. Once the drops are in, close your eyes (do not blink) and apply pressure to the point where the lids meet the nose for 2 to 3 minutes. Maybe a loved one can help you apply the drops at home.

    Who’s at risk for developing glaucoma?

    Risk factors include age, family history of glaucoma, African-American and Hispanic-American ancestry, diabetes, and past eye injuries. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that all people get an eye exam by age 40, especially those who have a higher risk of glaucoma.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Sun Sense

    SELF-CARE CORNER

    Image of sunscreen being applied to a kid's face.

    Did you know … the term “sunblock” is no longer used on sunscreen labels because no sunscreen can block all of the sun’s rays? You’ll now see the term “broad spectrum” that indicates a level of protection offered from both UVA and UVB rays.

    Sunscreens really aren’t waterproof either. Apply and reapply at least every 2 hours, but question why you’re out in the sun for that long a period of time anyway.

    Remember, only broad spectrum sunscreens with an SPF value of 15 or higher can claim to reduce the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging, and that’s only if they’re used correctly and with other sun protection measures such as wide-brimmed hats (not baseball caps) and sunglasses.

    Nobody ever applies enough sunscreen. And many people forget about ears, backs of necks, nose, lips, and tops of feet (avoid wearing flip-flops).

    Source: University of Michigan Health System, Loyola University Medical Center

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Vitamin D-What You Need To Know

    SELF-CARE CORNER

    Image of sun rising behind green hills.

    Without vitamin D, your bones may not grow strong at any age. Why? Because for your bones to make the best use of calcium, they need  vitamin D, says Robert P. Heaney, MD, researcher and professor in the Osteoporosis Research Center at Creighton University.

    But did you know that even mild shortages of vitamin D can contribute to diabetes, some cancers, high blood pressure, heart disease, and pregnancy problems? “Asking the body to deal with these disorders without adequate vitamin D is like asking a fighter to enter battle with one hand tied behind his back,” said Dr. Heaney. Vitamin D is a chemical that our body’s tissues use to produce biochemical products required for daily life. It’s less important to understand the process. It’s more important to know where to get vitamin D and how much you need.

    Some Facts

    *  Your skin produces vitamin D when you are exposed to certain rays of the sun. If you never get sunshine on your skin, you will not get enough ultraviolet radiation for your skin to make vitamin D.

    *  Sunlight in winter in most of the U.S. is so weak, it does not allow you to produce enough vitamin D, even if you’re outside in winter during midday.

    *  During summer months, a light-skinned person wearing a bathing suit will make about 15,000 IU of vitamin D in 15 to 20 minutes. Darker-skinned people can do the same, but it will take twice as long.

    *  Sunscreen blocks the radiation and prevents your skin from making vitamin D. Brief sun exposure, said Dr. Heaney, is not enough to cause skin cancer. He suggested you apply sunscreen after the first 15 minutes in the sun.

    *  Some food has vitamin D but not much. Vitamin D is added to many foods such as milk, some yogurts and orange juices, cheese, and breakfast cereals. Read the labels to see how much.

    *  Because most of us do not get enough sun exposure (or choose not to) or enough vitamin D in food, Dr. Heaney suggests taking supplements of vitamin D3, the natural form. The label should say cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) or ask the pharmacist which supplement is best.

    *  Vitamin D is safe to take. You may take supplements daily, weekly, or monthly. The important point is that you need to maintain a high enough blood level of vitamin D. This is measured by a blood test.

    *  Dr. Heaney recommends, based on his research, that adults take supplements providing from 1,000 to 3,000 IU per day. This number is higher than the 600 to 800 IU Recommended Dietary Allowance per day. Follow your doctor’s advice for vitamin D.

    *  Talk with your doctor about testing your blood level and discussing how much supplementation you may need in both summer and winter.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine