HealthyLife Articles

Tag: awareness

Be Smart About Seizures

MEDICAL NEWS

A seizure is a sudden surge of electrical activity in the brain. It can cause a person to have uncontrolled movements. A grand mal seizure or tonic-clonic seizure is the most serious. It usually involves jerking movements, shaking and the inability to talk or communicate.

When it comes to seizures, there are plenty of myths. Knowing the truth about seizures could save someone’s life.

Myth:A person having a seizure could swallow their tongue.

Truth:This is not possible. Never put something in a person’s mouth if they are having a seizure.

Myth:You should hold the person down.

Truth:Do not try to hold or move the person unless they are in immediate danger of getting hurt. You can help get them on the floor and turn on their side. This keeps the person from injuring themselves or falling.

Myth:You should always give mouth-to-mouth or CPR during a seizure.

Truth:People usually start breathing normally after the seizure is over. But if the patient stops breathing for more than 30 seconds, call 911 and begin CPR.

Should you call 911?

Call 911 if:

* The person has never had a seizure before.

* The person stops breathing for more than 30 seconds, or has trouble breathing after the seizure.

* The seizure happened in the water.

* The person is pregnant.

* The person doesn’t wake up after the seizure.

* The person has a health condition like heart disease or diabetes.

* The seizure lasts longer than five minutes.

* The person is hurt.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Mind Your Mindless Munching 2

Weight Control

Eating when you are distracted can pack on pounds.

To lose weight, you need to make a conscious effort to watch what you eat. No more of that “it doesn’t count because it’s not on my plate” logic. Calories from mindless munching in front of the TV, at your desk, or in the car add up quickly.

Lower the need for munching & snack attacks.

* Eat meals at regular times. Have breakfast every day.

* Eat when you feel hungry.

* Set a timer for 20 minutes and make your meal last that long.

* Chew foods slowly. Sip; don’t gulp.

* Savor a food’s flavor.

* Put your fork or spoon down between bites.

* If your stomach feels satisfied, stop eating.

Identify what, where, and why you eat between meals.

When you keep your daily activity diary, highlight all the extras – the mindless munchies – and add up just those calories. Note the places and activities you are doing and how you are feeling.

Substitute a healthier activity for munching.

* Instead of eating when you watch TV, exercise or work on a craft to keep your hands busy.

* Do you eat when you are nervous, on a deadline, or upset? Go for a short walk instead.

* Do you treat yourself every time you pass the jar of candy or nuts at work? Walk around it or look the other way.

* Do you order the large popcorn at the movies and munch for 90 minutes straight? Take a couple of hard candies in your pocket. Pop these into your mouth instead.

* Lunch at your desk again? Stop multi-tasking and focus on your food.

* TV dinners common in your house? Clear the clutter off the dining room table and enjoy an easily prepared home cooked meal.

* Are you an appetizer addict? Learn to say “No” to tortilla chips or any other pre-meal snacks. Drink a glass of water or chew sugarless gum while you are waiting for your meal.

Action Step

Fill your time with activities you like to do that do not involve eating. Go for a walk. Do a home improvement project. Volunteer to help others. Take up a new hobby or renew an old one.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Blood Cancer: Key Facts

MEDICAL NEWS

Your blood is made up of many different types of cells. These include red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. White blood cells protect the body from harmful substances and prevent infections.

Blood cancer is caused by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal white blood cells. The abnormal cells do not work properly, preventing them from carrying out their essential functions. As the dysfunctional cells accumulate in the blood, they crowd out healthy cells.

It’s important to know what signs and symptoms to look for. Be sure to check with your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about blood cancer.

Three main types of blood cancer

Leukemia

Leukemia is cancer that affects the bone marrow where blood cells are made. From the bone marrow, it spreads to the blood and can affect other organs.

Lymphoma

This type of blood cancer impacts the white blood cells in the lymphatic system. There are two types of lymphoma: Hodgkin, which spreads directly from one lymph node to another, and Non-Hodgkin, which spreads erratically through the lymph nodes.

Multiple myeloma

Myeloma affects plasma cells. These are white blood cells that produce antibodies to fight infections. When the plasma cells don’t function correctly, the body’s immune system doesn’t work properly.

Symptoms of blood cancer

Talk to your doctor if you experience the following:

* Fatigue

* Fever

* Unexplained weight loss

* Bone pain

* Swollen lymph nodes

* Frequent infections

Survival rates have steadily increased

Fifty years ago, there were few successful treatments for blood cancer. Now, there is a range of treatment options available, and more people achieve remission than ever before. Early detection and improved treatments have increased five-year survival rates and provide hope for the future.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Stop Feeding Your Feelings

Stress Management

Don’t let emotional eating weigh you down.

If you run to the fridge to soothe pangs that have nothing to do with hunger, you could be an emotional eater. Studies show that both negative and positive emotions can trigger eating and overeating. Allowing your feelings to prompt you to overeat on a regular basis can be dangerous to your health, especially if you are overweight or have diabetes or another chronic disease.

Causes for your cravings:

* Chronic stress – This releases cortisol, a hormone that triggers cravings for salty and sweet foods.

* To suppress or soothe emotions – People often reach for food to deal with anger, anxiety, depression, fear, or resentment.

* Social eating – Food tempts you: cake to celebrate another staff birthday; chips and dip within your reach at a party; or a ten-foot long dessert table at a wedding. Not to mention beer, wine, and other alcoholic drinks to celebrate with.

* Nervous energy – People who feel uncomfortable in social situations may eat to avoid talking with others.

* Boredom – Nothing better to do? Might as well down an entire bag of cookies.

* Learned habits – If your parents rewarded you with sweets or stopped your tears with ice cream, you may be rewarding yourself with comfort food when you want to feel better.

Break the cycle.

1. Eat as a response to hunger, not appetite. Hunger is the physical need to eat. Appetite is a psychological desire to eat. Delay 10 minutes before you eat as a response to appetite. The emotional need to eat may pass.

2. Every time you eat, write down the emotions you are feeling and whether you have physical signs of hunger. Learning your emotional eating triggers is the first step to making healthy changes.

3. Surround yourself with friends and family who support your efforts to change your eating habits.

4. Join a support group to meet other people who have similar problems.

5. Consult your doctor or health care provider if you need help controlling emotional eating.

Action Step

The next time you mindlessly reach for sweets or treats, ask yourself why. If your answer has nothing to do with physical hunger, put the food down and take a walk instead.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Cystic Fibrosis Awareness

MEDICAL NEWS

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited disease that affects 70,000 people worldwide. People who have CF have a gene mutation. This gene mutation causes mucus in the body to become thick and sticky.

With CF, thick mucus in the lungs can cause infections and make it hard to breathe. The pancreas, which helps digest food, becomes clogged. Then the body can’t absorb nutrients from food. This can cause malnutrition and poor growth. CF affects other organs, too.

CF and genetics

People with CF have two copies of the CF gene. They get one copy from each parent. Both parents must have at least one copy of the CF gene.

People with only one copy of the CF gene are called carriers. They don’t have the disease and may not know that they have the CF gene. Each time two CF carriers have a child, the chances are:

* 25 percent (1 in 4) the child will have CF

* 50 percent (1 in 2) the child will be a carrier but will not have CF

* 25 percent (1 in 4) the child will not be a carrier and will not have CF

People with CF can also pass copies of their CF genes to their children. If someone with CF and a CF carrier have a child together, the chances are:

* 50 percent (1 in 2) the child will be a carrier but will not have CF

* 50 percent (1 in 2) the child will have CF

Getting tested for the CF gene

People who are considering pregnancy may wish to get a CF genetic test. This tells you if you have CF or if you could be a carrier. This test looks for the most common CF genes, but it doesn’t test for all of them. If you’re not sure if you need the test, ask your doctor. The decision to get CF testing is a personal one and is different for everyone.

Longer lives for CF

There is no cure for CF. But with proper medical care, people with CF are living longer than ever before. Today, more than half of people who live with CF are over age 18.

Sources: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, National Institutes of Health

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Teach Your Kids Not To Drink

Substance Use & Abuse

Underage drinking is a growing problem. All too often, teenage drinking leads to:

* Traffic accidents (many of them fatal).

* Destruction of property.

* Violent or antisocial behavior.

* Poor academic performance.

* Disciplinary problems.

* Withdrawal from social activities.

* Problems coping with stress.

If you suspect (or know) your teenager drinks, don’t ignore it. To discourage or prevent underage drinking:

* Be a good role model. The best example you can set is to not drink. But if you choose to drink, drink responsibly. Children of alcoholics are four times as likely to develop a drinking problem as children of nonalcoholic parents.

* Show your children that you love them. Be affectionate, and show them you care and are interested in them.

* Make an effort to organize family activities. It may be hard to compete with your son’s or daughter’s peers for their attention at times, but make the effort anyway. Shared hobbies and sports can create bonds and strengthen a teen’s resistance to outside influences.

* Discuss the potential risks and consequences of alcohol use before it becomes a problem. Answer questions honestly and let your children know how you feel about them drinking before the situation arises.

* Tell your children to never get into a car with a drunk driver. Promise you’ll pick them up anytime, anywhere, no questions asked, if they call you instead of putting themselves at risk.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Keeping An Eye On Mental Health

MEDICAL NEWS

We all have good days and bad days. We all have moments where we feel down or cannot tap into the joy or happiness we once had. But what happens when these days grow into weeks or months? Do you suspect that you or a loved one might be suffering from a mental health issue?

Signs to Look For

* Excessive worry or fear

* Feeling excessively sad

* Confused thinking or concentration

* Extreme mood changes

* Prolonged feelings of irritability or anger

* Avoiding social activities

* Changes in sleeping habits

* Overuse of substances, such as alcohol or drugs

* Thoughts or mentions of suicide

* Intense fear of weight gain or changes in appearance

Where to Get Help

Although there is no medical test that can diagnose mental illness, a professional can assess any symptoms and provide the help you or a loved one needs. Using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), a professional can identify whether a mental health condition exists. They follow a set list of criteria, including feelings and behaviors and time limits, to make the determination.

Treatment Options

Every person is different and may not respond to the same treatments as someone else. But a professional may use one or a combination of things to help the person recover. This may include:

* Medication

* Therapy (counseling)

* Lifestyle changes

If you believe someone may need help, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness Helpline at 800-950-NAMI (800-950-6264). Or in a crisis, text “NAMI” to 741741.

Source: National Alliance on Mental Illness

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
What To Know About Irradiated Food

Nutrition

Have you seen the Radura symbol on fruits or vegetables in your supermarket? If so, do you know what it means?

This symbol indicates that the food has been irradiated, a method of food preservation approved for use on produce by the Food and Drug Administration. Irradiation kills microorganisms that spoil food. Irradiated food isn’t radioactive. Irradiation leaves no residue on food and it doesn’t affect flavor. Proponents of irradiation say it reduces the need for chemicals typically used to keep food fresh longer.

Those who oppose irradiation say essential nutrients in food may be destroyed, that eating food that’s been irradiated may cause cancer or other debilitating conditions, and that irradiation may be hazardous to the employees and residents of the area surrounding a food irradiation site. But studies haven’t conclusively identified any harmful effects of food irradiation.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Know The Different Heart Disease Types

MEDICAL NEWS

You’ve probably heard the terms cardiovascular disease, heart disease and coronary heart disease. But did you know each of these terms means something different?

Let’s learn some of these “heart” terms and what they mean for your health. If you have a type of cardiovascular disease, work with your doctor to come up with a heart health plan. Your plan might include a healthy diet, exercise and medications.

What is cardiovascular disease?

Cardiovascular disease is any type of disease that affects the heart or blood vessels. “Cardio” refers to the heart, and “vascular” refers to the blood vessels.

Types of cardiovascular disease include:

* Coronary heart disease

* High blood pressure

* Stroke

* Heart failure

* Peripheral artery disease

What is heart disease?

Heart disease is any type of condition that affects the heart’s function or structure. The most common type of heart disease is coronary heart disease. Heart disease also includes:

* Heart rhythm disorders known as arrhythmias

* Cardiomyopathy

* Congenital (present at birth) heart defects

* Coronary artery disease (CAD)

* Heart failure

Heart disease is a type of cardiovascular disease.

What is coronary heart disease?

Coronary heart disease is also called coronary artery disease (CAD). Coronary heart disease happens when a fatty substance called plaque builds up in the arteries. Sometimes people call this clogged arteries or atherosclerosis.

The plaque reduces the amount of blood getting to the heart. This can cause angina, or chest pain. It can also cause blood clots and can lead to a heart attack.

Sources: American Heart Association and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Connect With Caution

Social Health

Be smart using cellphones and smartphones.

Cellphones, smartphones, computers, and tablets make it fast and easy to get and stay in touch with family and friends. They also let you express your love and best wishes through text messages, videos, emails, and email greeting cards. But with these benefits come risks. To protect yourself, your kids, and personal data, practice cellphone and smartphone safety:

* Password-protect your phone, but don’t store your password on your phone.

* Install security software and anti-virus protection. Download updates for these, too.

* Shop and do banking at home instead of when you are using a public Wi-Fi zone. Use only secure sites (https://) when giving personal data.

* Keep from storing credit card and banking information on your phone. Delete emails that contain this information after they are sent, too.

* Clear your inbox and sent messages on a regular basis. Delete “Spam” or “Bulk Mail” messages without opening them. Then delete your “Trash.”

* Turn off your “Bluetooth” when not in use.

* Backup data and photos you store on your smartphone. You can sync the data on your phone to an external hard drive on your personal computer.

Keep from losing your phone! If you do lose it:

* Find out how to remotely lock and wipe data from it.

* Call your cellphone or smartphone carrier to report the loss. Ask about options to cancel your service.

Teach your kids to use their phones within limits:

* Set rules and limits for the usage of their devices. Discuss what is okay and not okay to do to protect their identity and address bullying issues.

* Use parental controls to keep your children from getting improper content on websites.

* Monitor the use of their phones.

* Set limits for calls, texts, internet usage, and costs for app downloads to avoid extra charges at the end of each month’s billing cycle.

Don’ts:

* Don’t talk, text, or read text messages while driving. Use a hands-free device if this is legal in the state you are driving in.

* Don’t reach into the backseat to search for your phone while driving.

* Don’t “sext” (take, send, or accept nude photos on your phone). You can become the target of scandal, bullying, job loss, or expulsion from school.

* Don’t lend your phone to others. They can easily send a damaging text message attached to your number.

* Don’t give your number to strangers or post it on Facebook or Twitter.

Action Step

If your phone has GPS tracking, learn about privacy features so other people can’t stalk you or your children.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026