HealthyLife Articles

Tag: Health Conditions

All About Brushing And Flossing

Dental & Mouth Concerns

Whiter teeth, fresher breath, fewer cavities. Who could ask for more from toothpaste? Some dental products make additional claims. Here’s a short guide to ingredients and product claims to help you decide which toothpaste is best for your teeth. (Note: Choose products with the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance on the labels. For more information on the ADA Seal of Acceptance and brand name products that have this seal, accesswww.ada.org.)

Fluoride. To help prevent cavities, children and adults should use a toothpaste that contains fluoride. (Note: Many dentists prescribe fluoride supplements for people whose household drinking water contains little or no fluoride. If your drinking water is low in fluoride, you might want to ask your dentist about this option.)

Desensitizing toothpaste. Some toothpastes are specially formulated for people whose teeth are sensitive to touch or temperature changes.

Anti-plaque and tartar control toothpastes. Plaque is a sticky, bacteria-laden goo that clings to the surface of your teeth. Unless plaque is removed every 24 to 36 hours, it can turn into a cement-like substance called tartar. And tartar destroys your gums. Plaque- and tartar-control formula toothpastes, used along with flossing and regular dental visits, can help to prevent plaque buildup. Mouthwash can help, too.

Whitening toothpastes. These remove stains on the surface of the teeth with gentle polishing, chemical agents, or other nonbleaching action. (Note: Consult your dentist before using over-the-counter peroxide-containing whiteners or bleaching agents.)

Don’t Forget to Floss

Waxed. Unwaxed. Fine. Regular. Plain or fancy, all dental floss does the job: It removes bacteria and plaque from between your teeth and above and below the gum line areas your toothbrush can’t reach. It also removes particles of food lodged between your teeth. Floss carefully at least once a day to help keep plaque from building up. (If plaque hardens into cement-like deposits called tartar, your teeth can start to decay or wobble due to loss of bone.)

Here’s how to floss.

1. Cut a piece of floss about one-and-a-half feet long. Wrap the ends of the floss about your middle fingers.

2. Hold the floss tightly between your thumb and index finger, exposing about one inch of floss. Gently guide the floss between your teeth, being careful not to snap it into the gums.

3. With the floss at the gum line, curve it into a C shape against one tooth and gently scrape the side of the tooth with the floss. Repeat on each of your teeth, top and bottom, using a fresh section of floss for each tooth.

4. After you’ve flossed, rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash to remove remaining debris. Your gums may be tender and bleed for the first week. That’s normal. But if the bleeding continues, see your dentist.

Here are some additional hints.

* If you find flossing awkward and messy, try using a dental floss holder sold in drugstores. Instead of wrapping the floss around your fingers, you insert the floss in a small, plastic fork-like holder.

* To help you remember to floss daily, without fail, floss after you brush your teeth.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Cataract

Eye Conditions

A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of the eye.

Get regular eye and physical exams to help detect when cataracts are forming.

Imagine a thick cloud covering the lens of one or both eyes. This is what it is like to have cataracts. You may see glare from lamps or the sun and halos around lights. It is also harder to see at night. Let your doctor know if you have these problems.

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness around the world. Vision can be restored, in most cases, with cataract surgery, one of the safest and most common surgeries done.

Consider cataract surgery when a cataract keeps you from doing the things you want to do. Find out more from the American Academy of Ophthalmology ataao.org.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Diabetes Prevention

Diabetes Education

Step 1: Lose weight if you are overweight.

* People at risk of type 2 diabetes may be able to delay or prevent it by losing five to seven percent of their total body weight.

* Aim to lose one pound a week.

* Ask family and friends to support you.

Step 2: Make wise food choices.

* Control food portions.

* Reduce serving sizes of high fat and high calorie foods.

* Increase the amount of veggies (especially nonstarchy veggies, like leafy greens), and fiber that you eat. Choose fruit for desserts.

* Avoid sugar sweetened beverages, such as regular soda and sweet tea.

* Limit your sodium intake to 1,500 mg a day.

Step 3: Be physically active every day.

* If you are not already active, start slowly.

* Build up to at least 30 minutes a day of a moderate-intensity physical activity five days a week.

Action Step:Keep a log of what you eat and how much you exercise. It will help you stay on track.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Fatigue

General Health Conditions

With fatigue, a person is tired, weary, and lacks energy. Often, fatigue is a symptom of another health problem.

Signs & Symptoms

* Feeling drained of energy.

* Feeling exhausted.

* Having a very hard time doing normal activities.

* Having low motivation.

* Feeling inadequate.

* Having little desire for sex.

Causes

Causes that need medical care include anemia, depression, heart disease, low thyroid, lupus (the systemic type), and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

Other physical causes include: Lack of sleep; poor diet; side effects of medicines; allergies; drug or alcohol problems; being in hot, humid conditions; and the flu.

Possible emotional causes are burnout, boredom, and a major life change, such as divorce or retirement.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the cause. Tell your doctor about any other symptoms that occur with the fatigue. He or she will explore both physical and emotional causes.

Questions to Ask

Self-Care / Prevention

* If fatigue is due to a medical problem, follow your doctor’s or health care provider’s guidelines for rest, diet, medication, etc.

* Get regular physical activity. Exercise can give you more energy, especially if you sit all day at work. Exercise can calm you, too.

* Cool off. Working or playing in hot weather can drag you down. Rest in a cool, dry place as often as you can. Drink plenty of water.

* Avoid too much caffeine and alcohol.

* Don’t use illegal drugs.

* Lighten your work load. Assign tasks to others when you can, both at work and at home. Ask for help when you need it from family and friends. Hire help if you need to.

* Change your routine. Try to do something new and that you want to do every day.

* If you do too much, make time for some peace and quiet.

* Do something for yourself. Plan time to do things that meet only your needs, not just those of others.

Resources

Treating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia

www.treatcfsfm.org

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Glaucoma

Eye Conditions

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damages the optic nerve and causes vision loss.

Signs & Symptoms

For Chronic (Open-Angle) Glaucoma

This type takes place gradually, and causes no symptoms early on. Loss of side (peripheral) vision and blurred vision are the first signs.

Later, symptoms include:

* Vision loss in side and central vision, usually in both eyes.

* Blind spots. Seeing halos around lights.

* Poor night vision.

* Blindness, if not treated early.

For Acute (Angle-Closure) Glaucoma

This type is a medical emergency! These symptoms occur suddenly:

* Severe eye pain and nausea.

* Blurred vision. Seeing halos around lights.

* Redness in the eye. Swollen upper eyelid.

* Severe headache that throbs.

Causes

Glaucoma occurs when the pressure of the liquid in the eye gets too high and causes damage to the optic nerve. Increased eye pressure without damage is not glaucoma, but increases the risk for it. Antihistamines and long-term corticosteroid use can trigger or worsen glaucoma.

Risk Factors for Glaucoma

* Being over age 60, especially Mexican Americans.

* Being African American over age 40.

* Having a family history of glaucoma.

* Having diabetes.

* Being nearsighted.

Treatment

Treatments help with current vision. They do not improve sight already lost from glaucoma. Glaucoma may not be preventable, but the blindness that could result from it is. Get tested for glaucoma when you get regular vision exams. If pressure inside the eyeball is high, an eye doctor will prescribe treatment. This includes:

Medicines used for acute glaucoma are prescribed for life. If medicines do not control the pressure, your doctor may advise:

* Laser beam surgery.

* Surgery that drains fluid from the eye.

* Medicines. These are the most common early form of treatment.

– Prescribed eye drops or pills lower eye pressure, cause the eye to make less fluid, or help drain fluid from the eye.

– Take medicines on a regular basis.

– Let your eye doctor know of side effects.

Questions to Ask

Self-Care / Prevention

* Don’t smoke. If you smoke, quit.

* Do not take any medicine, including over-the-counter ones, without first checking with your doctor or pharmacist. Most cold medications and sleeping pills, for example, can cause the pupil in the eye to dilate. This can lead to increased eye pressure.

* If prescribed eye drops for glaucoma, use them as directed.

* Ask your eye doctor about low vision services and devices.

* Try not to get upset and fatigued. These can increase pressure in the eye.

Resources

National Eye Institute (NEI)

www.nei.nih.gov

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Hiatal Hernia

Abdominal & Urinary Conditions

With a hiatal hernia, the normal action that closes off the top of the stomach does not work well. Food or stomach acids back up into the esophagus. This is known as Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Signs & Symptoms

Many people have no symptoms with a hiatal hernia. Others have one or more of these problems:

* Acid reflux. Stomach acid backs up into the esophagus.

* Chest pain. {Note: Don’t assume that chest pain is due to a hiatal hernia.}

* Pain in the esophagus. Heartburn.

* Hiccups. Belching after meals.

* A hard time swallowing.

Causes

The actual cause is not known. Risk factors are obesity, being a woman, or being middle aged. Smoking, lifting, strong coughing, and straining with bowel movements also increase the risk.

Treatment

Hiatal hernias are usually not serious problems. Often they can be treated with self-care. If not, surgery is an option.

Questions to Ask

Self-Care / Prevention

* Don’t smoke. If you smoke, quit.

* Get regular exercise. This helps keep abdominal muscles in shape.

* Lose weight if you are overweight.

* Eat 5 to 6 small meals a day instead of 3 larger meals.

* Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and spicy foods.

* Don’t lie down after eating. Wait 2 to 3 hours.

* Raise the head of the bed 6 inches. Put 6 inch blocks under the legs of the head of the bed or put a 6 inch wedge between the mattress and box springs at the head portion. Don’t prop your head up with pillows. Doing this puts pressure on your stomach area and can help force acid up into the esophagus.

* Don’t strain to pass stool.

* Take over-the-counter antacids or acid controllers, such as Pepcid AC or Tagamet HB. {Note: Read the labels before taking. Check with your doctor, too. Adverse side effects are more likely and more severe in older persons who take some acid controllers, such as Tagamet HB.}

* If you take aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen sodium, take it with food.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Macular Degeneration

Eye Conditions

Macular degeneration is a progressive eye disorder. Known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), it is the most common cause of central vision loss in older Americans. The central part of the retina (the macula) deteriorates. This results in the loss of central (straight-ahead) vision. One or both eyes may be affected. The most common type is called the dry form. With this, cells under the retina do not function well, causing subtle to overt blank spots in central vision. Only 1 to 2% of people with the dry form have a lot of vision loss. In the wet form, tiny blood vessels leak blood or fluid around the macula. The wet form is less common than the dry form. It causes more vision loss, though.

Signs & Symptoms

Macular degeneration is painless. It usually develops gradually, especially the dry form. With the wet form, symptoms can occur more rapidly. Symptoms for both forms are:

* Blurred or cloudy vision.

* Seeing a dark or blind spot at the center of vision.

* A hard time reading or doing other close-up work.

* A hard time doing any activity, such as driving, that needs sharp vision.

* Complete loss of central vision. Side vision is not affected.

Cover one eye and stare at the center dot in this grid. Seeing blurry, curvy, or distorted lines or empty spots could be a sign of macular degeneration. Repeat, covering the other eye.

This grid shows how the lines might look to someone with macular degeneration.

Causes

The exact cause of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is not known. Risk factors are:

* Advancing age.

* Cigarette smoking. High blood pressure.

* Family history of AMD.

* Having light-colored eyes.

* Exposure to ultraviolet light.

* Poor diet.

Treatment

Treatment for the wet form includes photodynamic therapy and laser therapy. Medicine called “anti-VEGF therapy” can also be given. Most dry form cases are not treatable. Your eye doctor may prescribe special eyeglasses and low vision aids. He or she may also prescribe a specific high dose vitamin and mineral to reduce the risk of advanced AMD.

Questions to Ask

Self-Care / Prevention

To Reduce the Risk for AMD

* Don’t smoke. If you smoke, quit.

* Follow a healthy diet. Include green leafy vegetables and fish.

* Protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Wear sunglasses with UV block. Wear a hat with a wide brim.

* Use Self-Care / Prevention measures to control high blood pressure and heart disease.

To Treat AMD

* Wear the special eyeglasses and use other vision aids, such as magnifying devices, as advised by your doctor.

* Talk to your doctor before taking vitamin and mineral supplements.

Resources

Macular Degeneration Foundation

www.eyesight.org

National Eye Institute (NEI)

www.nei.nih.gov

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
The Right Way To Use Mouthwash

Dental & Mouth Concerns

Be it red, green, blue, or amber, consumers spend millions of dollars a year on mouthwash. Many mouthwashes are strictly cosmetic-they leave your mouth smelling fresh and feeling tingly for a few minutes but don’t appreciably affect oral health. If you want to fight plaque, look for mouthwash containing cetylpridinium chloride or domiphen bromide, ingredients that dissolve this troublesome film of bacterial goo. If you want to fight cavities (especially cavities that form between teeth, where your toothbrush can’t reach), look for an anti-plaque, anti-gingivitis mouthrinse. Fluoride mouthrinses help prevent tooth decay, too, but should not be given to children age six and younger because they may swallow the mouthrinse.

To get the best results from your mouthwash, follow this routine.

* Brush first, then rinse (unless the product label instructs otherwise).

* Swish mouthwash or mouthrinse around in your mouth as directed on the label, then spit it out. (Don’t swallow it.)

* Rinse with mouthwash or mouthrinse once a day, preferably at bedtime.

* Don’t eat or drink anything for 30 minutes after rinsing.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Sunburn

Skin Conditions

You should never get sunburned! It leads to premature aging, wrinkling of the skin, and skin cancer.

Signs & Symptoms

* Red, swollen, painful, and sometimes blistered skin

* Headache

* Mild fever

* Chills, fever, nausea, and vomiting if the sunburn is extensive and severe

Causes, Risk Factors & Care

Sunburn results from too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from: The sun, sunlamps, and workplace light sources, such as welding arcs. Severe sunburn can occur even when the skies are overcast.

The risk for sunburn is increased for persons with fair skin, blue eyes, and red or blond hair and for persons taking some medicines. These include sulfa drugs, tetracyclines, some diuretics, and Benadryl, an over-the-counter antihistamine.

Self-care treats most cases of sunburn. Medical treatment is needed for a severe case of sunburn. Immediate care is needed if dehydration and/or a heat stroke is also present with the sunburn.

Prevention

* Avoid exposure to the midday sun (10 a.m. to 4 p.m. standard time or 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daylight saving time).

* Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 to 30 or more when exposed to the sun. The lighter your skin, the higher the SPF number should be. Make sure the sunscreen blocks both UVA and UVB rays. Reapply sunscreen every hour and after swimming.

* Use moisturizers, make-up, lip balm, etc. with sunscreen.

* Wear a wide-brimmed hat and long sleeves.

* Wear clothing with sunscreen protection or muted colors, such as tan. Bright colors and white reflect the sun onto the face.

* Wear sunglasses that absorb at least 90% of both UVA and UVB rays.

Self-Care

* Cool the affected area with clean towels or gauze dipped in cool water. Take a cool bath or shower.

* Take an over-the-counter medicine for pain and/or fever.

* Apply aloe vera gel to the sunburned area 2 to 3 times a day.

* When you go in the sun again, wear sunscreen and cover sunburned skin so you don’t get burned more.

* Rest in a cool room. Find a position that doesn’t hurt the sunburn.

* Drink plenty of water.

* Don’t use local anesthetic creams or sprays that numb pain, such as Benzocaine or Lidocaine. If you must use them, use only a little, because they cause allergic reactions in some people.

Signs & Symptoms

Contact Doctor When:

You have a fever of 102°F or higher and/or severe pain or blistering with a sunburn.

Get Immediate Care When:

You have signs of heat stroke.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
10 Dental Problems And What To Do About Them

SELF-CARE CORNER

1.Bad breath:For fresh breath, brush twice a day, floss daily, drink plenty of water, see your dentist regularly, and don’t smoke. If bad breath persists, talk to your dentist or doctor.

2.Tooth decay:When cavities are left untreated, they can get worse and lead to infections and loss of teeth. Get cavities filled quickly to prevent more extensive dental work and serious health problems.

3.Gum disease:Without treatment, gum disease gets worse and can lead to tooth loss. Symptoms include bleeding, swollen, tender, and red gums, but it often has no signs in the early stages.

4.Stained teeth:Some medications, foods, and drinks can yellow or discolor teeth. Many dentists offer whitening treatments that can help.

5.Mouth sores:A salt water rinse can help with canker sores or irritation from braces or other dental appliances. But, if sores last a week or more, your dentist should take a look.

6.Tooth sensitivity:Special toothpaste or dental procedures, such as crowns, can help relieve sensitivity to hot or cold. Look for the ADA (American Dental Association) seal of acceptance on products before buying.

7.Enamel erosion:Acidic foods and drinks can wear away at the tooth’s protective enamel over time. This can lead to tooth sensitivity and discoloration. Drinking water and milk instead of soda can help avoid this problem.

8.Wisdom teeth:Third molars, or wisdom teeth, often need to be removed during the teen or young adult years. If the jaw doesn’t have enough space for them, they can crowd or damage the other teeth.

9.Oral cancer:Cancer of the mouth, lips or gums affects about 50,000 Americans every year. Symptoms may include sores, patches, lumps, or pain in the mouth. If you notice any of these signs, contact your dentist or doctor.

10.Teeth grinding:Teeth grinding can lead to cracks and damage to the teeth enamel. A special guard made by your dentist can help protect your teeth. Beware of mouth guards sold over the counter as they can fit improperly and become a choking hazard when you sleep.

Even if you don’t have any tooth pain or other symptoms, it’s important to see your dentist every six months. Regular checkups with your dentist can prevent or treat these problems so you can keep a healthy, bright smile for life.

Sources: American Dental Association, Oral Health Foundation

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026