FAMILY LIFE
Give presents that promote a healthy lifestyle. Keep health in mind when making your list and checking it twice.
Ask for or give “Gift of Time Coupons” for shoveling snow, cooking a healthy meal, cleaning the house, and doing other active household chores throughout the year.
© American Institute for Preventive Medicine
WELL-BEING
While you may be used to battling frigid temperatures and the inevitable snowstorms that arrive every winter, are you aware of the dangers these pose to your heart?
“When the temperature outside drops, our blood vessels narrow to prevent our bodies from losing heat. This is a natural response that can also put people with heart conditions and those involved in strenuous exercise at greater risk of having a heart attack,” says Dr. Holly Andersen of the Perelman Heart Institute at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.
Shoveling snow is one of the most strenuous and dangerous winter exercise activities. It can raise blood pressure, and coupled with the effects of colder temperatures, shoveling can increase heart attack risk drastically. Take these precautions:
*Warm up.Warm up with stretching and light activity before shoveling, exercising or beginning more strenuous physical activities.
*Bundle up.When going out to shovel, always wear a scarf over your mouth and nose to warm the air before you breathe in, and dress in layers. Layering clothes underneath a windproof and waterproof outer shell helps maintain body heat.
*Push the shovel.It is less strenuous to push the snow rather than lifting it, and this reduces the risk of overexerting yourself.
*Take breaks.You should take frequent breaks while shoveling to give your muscles, especially your heart muscle, a chance to relax. You may also consider sharing the work with a friend to make the workload lighter and ensure that you are not alone in the event of an emergency.
*Consult a doctor.If you are over the age of 50, overweight, out of shape or have suffered a heart attack, you should consult a doctor before shoveling snow or starting any exercise routine.
© American Institute for Preventive Medicine
SELF-CARE CORNER
Salmonella, E. coli, and roundworms are among the nearly 20 different diseases that people most commonly get from their pets, said Jason Stull, assistant professor of veterinary preventive medicine at Ohio State. Infants, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with limited immune function are most at risk for animal-borne, or zoonotic, diseases.
Since different species of pets-dogs, cats, rodents, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians-carry different types of diseases and at different stages of life, Stull and his colleagues suggest that families talk to both their doctor and veterinarian about what pet is the safest choice for their family.
Here are some safe tips for pet ownership:
* Wear protective gloves to clean aquariums and cages and to remove feces.
* Wash hands after pet contact.
* Don’t let your pets lick your face.
* Cover playground sandboxes when not in use (cats love them).
* Avoid contact with higher risk animals such as reptiles, amphibians, and exotic animals.
* Regularly clean and disinfect animal cages, feeding areas, and bedding.
* Put litter boxes away from areas where food is eaten and prepared.
* Schedule regular veterinary visits.
© American Institute for Preventive Medicine
MEDICAL NEWS
Wherever there are crowds, such as at football games, conventions, or music concerts, there are germs. Mayo Clinic infectious diseases expert Dr. Gregory Poland tells how you can avoid illness when you’re in a large throng of people, even in subways and on airplanes.
Whenever you’re in a venue with hundreds or thousands of people gathering, you automatically run increased risk for getting “something.” The people around you may not have the same immunization programs or the same standards of personal cleanliness or food safety, he said, especially if you’re in an international group.
Besides illnesses such as whooping cough, measles, mumps, colds and flu, other heightened dangers in places with large numbers of people passing through include respiratory diseases such as tuberculosis; vermin such as head lice and bedbugs; food-borne sickness such as E. coli, salmonella, hepatitis A and traveler’s diarrhea; and skin conditions including athlete’s foot and staph infections.
Dr. Poland offers these tips for sidestepping illness:
* Keep your vaccines up to date: The most important ones include the MMR vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella; the seasonal flu shot; and a relatively new vaccine called Tdap, for tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough.
* Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
* Dine carefully: If it’s not cooked well, boiled or peeled, forget it. Make sure food that is supposed to be hot is served hot and food that is supposed to be cold is served cold, and make sure dishes and utensils are clean.
* Wear shower/pool shoes when using the shower or pool in public places.
* Avoid swimming pools, hot tubs, or whirlpools unless you are certain they are properly maintained, and it’s hard to tell.
* Don’t smoke: It raises the odds you’ll get Legionnaires’ disease if you’re exposed to the legionella bacteria and can also make you more susceptible to respiratory illnesses in general.
* Don’t try on hats in stores to minimize the risk of getting head lice. If you buy a hat, seal it in a plastic bag to carry it home, then freeze it for several days or launder it before wearing.
* Scout for bedbugs in a hotel room, and once in a room, only place your luggage on wooden surfaces or in the bathtub, not on the floor, bed, chair or couch until you determine whether bedbugs are present.
* Be an advocate for your health: If someone near you is obviously ill, move away if you can, or ask to be reseated.
© American Institute for Preventive Medicine
MEDICAL NEWS
It has to do with how you smell, but scientists still don’t know why some breeds are attracted to different smells, said Jason Pitts, professor of biological sciences at Vanderbilt University.
The source of the aromatic compounds that produce body odor are bacterial colonies that exist on human skin, particularly in dark, moist areas such as the armpits and between the toes. Pitts and his colleagues have discovered that mosquito antennae are filled with hundreds of tiny odor receptors, which are individually tuned to detect specific odors.
Just as mosquitoes may love you, they may not love natural repellants such as clove oil, citronella, lemon grass, eucalyptus, castor oil, peppermint, lavender, and cedar oil. But almost all of these are less effective than the synthetic repellant DEET, and they need to be reapplied more frequently.
Bet you didn’t know these pesky insects have a long-range system that allows them to track down potential prey from more than 100 yards away. The mosquitoes do so, in part, by sensing the carbon dioxide in human breath. When we exhale, our breath contains more carbon dioxide than the surrounding air, and mosquitoes can detect this difference-especially if you’ve had a beer or other alcoholic drink.
To avoid mosquito bites, CDC gives the following advice:
* Use an insect repellant when you go outdoors. The FDA approves ones with DEET, picaridin. IR3535, and oil of lemon eucalyptus. Follow the product label’s directions.
* As much as possible, wear long sleeves, long pants, and socks. For extra protection, spray clothes, not your skin, with repellant that contains permethrin.
* Avoid outdoor activities from dusk to dawn or take extra care to use insect repellant and protective clothing during these times.
* Keep mosquitoes outside the house. Use screens on windows and doors or use air conditioning.
* On a regular basis, empty water that collects in outdoor buckets, flowerpots, pool covers and bird baths. Mosquitoes like stationary water.
© American Institute for Preventive Medicine
WELL-BEING
Though driving a car may seem like a simple task, it requires quick reflexes, concentration and reasoning. When a driver is distracted, some – or all – of these important skills can be lost.
Distracted driving means the driver is doing something other than focusing on the road ahead. It can be anything that takes the driver’s mind off of driving, hands off the wheel or eyes off the road. In the age of smartphones, tablets and other electronic devices, it’s easy to get distracted when driving – even for just a second.
Though it seems harmless, a quick glance at a phone to read a text can be dangerous or even deadly. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. That’s like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed if you’re going 55 miles per hour. In that amount of time, a driver can hit a pedestrian, run a red light or stop sign, or crash into another vehicle.
The NHTSA says nearly 3,500 people died and almost 400,000 were injured in 2015 due to distracted driving crashes. Here’s what we can do to help stop distracted driving:
* Never use a phone while driving. Put it in the back seat or out of reach to reduce the urge to look at it “just for a second.”
* Talk with your teens about distracted driving and tell them that the texts can wait. Lead by example.
* Sign a pledge to not drive distracted and stick to it. Ask family members and friends to sign it too. The “It Can Wait” pledge is available atitcanwait.usaa.com.
Did you know?
There are laws that prohibit distracted driving. Talking on a hand-held cellphone while driving is banned in 15 states and the District of Columbia. Text messaging is banned for all drivers in 47 states and the District of Columbia.
To learn about your state laws, go towww.iihs.org/iihs/topics/laws/cellphonelaws.
© American Institute for Preventive Medicine
WELL-BEING
When your iPad or other tablet causes pain in the neck and shoulders –
* Use a case that positions the device at a comfortable viewing angle.
* Routinely shift hands and weight. Stand up if seated, or sit down if standing.
When using a laptop or desktop computer, follow the same tips for a tablet plus:
* Use an external keyboard.
* Keep shoulders relaxed and elbows close to the body.
* Keep hands, wrists, forearms, and thighs parallel to the floor.
* Take a break and change position every 15 minutes.
Holding a tablet computer too low, say on the lap, forces the neck to bend forward too much, straining and possibly even injuring muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, or spinal discs. Simply placing a tablet on a table propped at an angle in a tablet case can reduce neck strain and potential pain, according to research conducted at the Harvard School of Public Health.
© American Institute for Preventive Medicine
WELL-BEING
Have you read the warnings on a 3D TV or gaming system? Can 3D actually cause altered vision, lightheadedness, twitching, nausea, disorientation, especially for children and the elderly?
Through these disclaimers, companies may have been scaring away the customers they seek, but medical evidence does not back up the claims.
Professional eye photographer Timothy Bennett of Penn State Hershey Eye Center said there are no health issues associated with 3D imaging. Some people experience headaches or dizziness, but these are temporary. The images may be disorienting, but as soon as you stop looking at 3D, the feelings clear up.
He recommends sitting far from the screen, especially if you are sensitive, and take breaks from gaming or watching 3D TV.
Some people experience headaches or dizziness, but these are temporary.
© American Institute for Preventive Medicine
WELL-BEING
Why wait to create a new you? Live your best life now. This advice comes from researchers at Washington University:
*Learn something new.Take a class in a subject you enjoy or are curious about. Check your community colleges for noncredit continuing education classes. Rekindle your love of learning.
*Volunteer.It’s good for your physical and mental health whether you’re building a house for someone, ladling out soup for the homeless, or collecting canned goods. You’ll make valuable community connections.
*Get your social media house in order.The Internet and social media have opened up exciting new avenues to connect with others and new vistas to share preferences in films, books, and music. Have fun. But be cautious. Check your default privacy settings. Log out and see what your profile looks like to the outside world. Make sure passwords are complex – Use upper and lowercase letters and a special character, such as $. Don’t use the same password for all social media accounts.
*Rediscover the library.The digital revolution has changed your local library. You can often download books online. Consider how much your library offers: novels and nonfiction works for all ages, how-to books, music CDs, movies on DVD or videotape, maps and reference works. Read the latest magazines or journals.
*Step away from your desk.Physical activity improves health, lowers stress, and increases productivity. And if those weren’t reasons enough, research shows that exercise reduces the risk of diseases such as breast cancer, colon cancer, and Alzheimer’s.
*Pay down your credit card debt.Put extra money toward the loans with the highest interest rates. Consolidate several small debts.
*Use your smartphone to quit smoking.You can tap into apps for messages of support and access websites that give step-by-step encouragement.
*Kick the car habit.Leave the SUV in the garage and try alternate means of transportation such as the bus or train, bicycling, walking, or park-and-ride commuting.
*Parents:Make every day count. Happy, well-adjusted children need happy, well-adjusted parents.
*Get more sleep.
*Consume more culture.The arts not only educate and entertain, they help us to better understand ourselves and others. Visit your local museums, galleries, theaters, dance companies, and music halls.
© American Institute for Preventive Medicine
WELL-BEING
Traveling? Make a little room in your luggage for a travel first aid kit. It won’t cost much or take up much space. Once you reach your destination, you won’t need to reach any further than your suitcase to relieve those minor aches and pains that can put a major damper on your plans.
A basic travel first aid kit should include a handful of over-the-counter remedies you can buy just about anywhere, said Caroline Sullivan, DNP, assistant professor at Columbia University School of Nursing.
Here’s what should go in the kit:
* Tylenol or Advil to ease a headache or fever
* Cortisone 10 cream to soothe an itchy, swollen insect bite
* Antibiotic ointment like Neosporin or Bacitracin to prevent infection from minor cuts, scrapes, and burns
* Band-Aids to cover up blisters, or for those minor cuts and scrapes
* Pepto-Bismol tablets to relieve diarrhea, upset stomach, heartburn, indigestion, and nausea after too much food and drink. Note: This is for adults only. Pepto-Bismol has salicylates which have been linked to Reye’s syndrome.
* Benadryl to relieve allergies, and also to help you sleep
* Hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol
* Tissues to sneeze, dab cuts, and clean hands in a pinch
* Pack your prescription medicines in their original bottles in your carry-on bag.
© American Institute for Preventive Medicine