HealthyLife Articles

Tag: safety

  • Tips To Protect Your Eyes

    Eye Conditions

    Man smiling wearing dark sunglasses.

    Look cool and protect your eyes at the same time!

    *  Anytime your eyes are exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, wear eyewear that protects your eyes. Do this when it is sunny and even on cloudy days. Choose sunglasses that block 99 to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays.

    *  Pick the color lenses you want, but make sure they have UV protection.

    *  Take sunglasses you already have to your eye doctor or to an optical shop. A UV meter can measure the amount of UV a lens can absorb.

    *  The sun’s UV rays are the most harmful between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

    *  Reflected glare from snow or ice doubles the risk of UV damage.

    *  If you wear contact lenses, choose ones with UV protection and wear sunglasses that have it, too. These protect eye tissue that the contact lenses do not cover.

    Health at Home Lifetime book by the American Institute for Preventive Medicine. www.HealthyLife.com. All rights reserved.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Is Your Home Safe From Radon?

    MEDICAL NEWS

    Image of hand holding an illustration of a home.

    Indoor radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. Breathing it over long periods can present a significant health risk to families all over the country.

    Radon is an invisible radioactive gas that seeps into homes undetected through foundation cracks. It can reach harmful levels if trapped indoors. It travels up from underground sources of uranium in the earth’s crust.

    The radon threat is preventable with some simple steps. In existing homes, families can begin protecting themselves by buying an easy-to-use radon test kit to find out if a high level exists. If so, a high level might be lowered simply with a straight-forward radon venting system installed by a contractor.

    In new homes, builders can easily and economically include radon-resistant features during construction. Home buyers should ask for these. The EPA also recommends that home buyers ask their builder to test for radon gas before they move in.

    According to the EPA, 1 in every 15 homes nationwide has a high radon level. Test your home for radon every 2 years. Retest for it any time you move, make structural changes to your home, or occupy a previously unused level of a house.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Watch List For Winter Weather Activities

    BE FIT

    Image of women with skis.

    Winter weather doesn’t have to derail your exercise routine, says a Saint Louis University exercise expert. As you adjust to darker days, colder temperatures, and slippery surfaces, it’s important to be mindful of safety issues that come with the territory of winter workouts.

    “A change in weather should bring a change to your mindset. As temperatures get colder, it’s important for athletes to adjust their routines,” said Dr. Tony Breitbach, director of athletic training education.

    Dr. Breitbach offers the following tips to avoid injury during winter months:

    *Watch what you wear.Dress in layers for outside exercise. Next to your skin, wear a  breathable wicking material, not cotton because it retains sweat. Next, add a thermal layer of fleece or cotton to keep in heat. Use a third, outer layer as a cover. As you start to heat up, you’ll be able to peel off layers to manage your comfort level.

    *Watch for pain.Your furthest extremities are the first to be affected by the cold. If you get pain or tingling in your ears, fingers, or toes, it’s time to go inside to warm up.

    *Watch your hydration.Staying well-hydrated is another concern during cold winter months due to dry air and indoor heat. Drink plenty of fluids, but be sure to avoid caffeine and alcohol-based beverages, which also lead to dehydration.

    *Watch for hazards.Use caution when running after dark. Wear light-colored, reflective clothing so drivers can see you.

    *Watch out for overuse.Winter weather can limit outdoor exercise options such as running in the park, golfing, and swimming. So be careful to avoid over-doing it with one activity. Working out on hard, unforgiving surfaces like gym floors or concrete can worsen any over-use issues you have. Think outside the gym. Be creative; try ice-skating, cross-country skiing, or a yoga class.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Uv Safety

    Skin Conditions

    Man holding sun block in hand with sun screen on face.

    Exposure to the sun’s UV rays causes most skin cancers. Even a few serious sunburns can raise the risk.

    Limit exposure to the sun. When in the sun, wear sun screen and lip balm with a sun protective factor (SPF) of 30 or higher.

    Ultraviolet (UV) radiation comes in three forms: UVA, UVB, and UVC. UVA and UVB rays cause skin and eye damage. UVC rays don’t reach the earth.

    UV rays also reflect off of surfaces like water, sand, and snow.

    Use sun screens that protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Choose eyewear that absorbs 99-100% of both UVA and UVB rays. Wrap-around sunglasses work best because they block UV rays from sneaking in from the side.

    High doses of UVA radiation comes from tanning beds.

    For the look of a tan, use sunless tanning lotions, sprays, and bronzers, instead of sun bathing, tanning beds, and sun lamps.

    Health at Home Lifetime book by the American Institute for Preventive Medicine. www.HealthyLife.com. All rights reserved.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Mouth To Hand

    SELF-CARE CORNER

    Image of person holding their wrist.

    Tingling, numbness and pain in your fingers and wrists? Is it just tired hands or something more severe? While, these can all be signs of tired, overused hands, these symptoms can also indicate something serious, such as a repetitive stress injury, tendonitis, aggravation of arthritis or sprains, and even carpal tunnel syndrome.

    With over 152.7 billion text messages sent per month in the U.S. alone, according to CTIA-The Wireless Association, it is becoming clear that our society is shifting its primary method of communication from our mouths and voices to our hands and fingers. With this shift, there has also been an increase in the number of injuries related to these repetitive motions.

    “It is important that patients don’t dismiss symptoms of sore fingers, occasional numbness and tingling,” says George Kardashian, MD, an orthopedic surgeon and hand specialist at The Center for Bone and Joint Disease. “These symptoms are all the body’s way of saying it needs a break or a more serious injury will occur.”

    Since it is almost impossible to stop using mobile devices or computers completely, it is important to know how to prevent these symptoms from turning from sore, tired fingers into something more severe.

    *  Take frequent breaks from typing and texting.

    *  Stretch your hands and fingers.

    *  Use ice packs to reduce swelling.

    *  See your doctor if you have continuing symptoms.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Water Safety Tips You Need To Know

    SELF-CARE CORNER

    Image of mother and young child in the pool.

    When the summer sun beats down, many people flock to water for cooling relief and fun. Swimming, boating and water activities are a favorite pastime for many Americans. But, it’s important to know the dangers of water and how to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says more than 3,500 people DROWN in the U.S.  each year in swimming (non-boating) related accidents.

    Most of these are children under the age of 14.

    And according to the U.S. Coast Guard,

    hundreds more die in boating-related accidents

    each year – and the majority of them are DUE TO DROWNING.

    Most drownings are preventable –

    so here’s what you should do any time you’re around water:

    *Keep pools gated and locked.Home pools should be enclosed with a locked fence that’s at least 4 feet high.

    *Always supervise.Children drown within seconds, not minutes. And, there’s typically no screaming, splashing, or other noise. Keep your eyes on children in the water at all times. Don’t turn your back, even for “just a minute.”

    *Wear life jackets.Many boating-related deaths could be avoided if all passengers wore U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets. Children should also wear them when swimming.

    *Consider swimming lessons.Children and adults can benefit from knowing how to swim, and it can reduce the risk of drowning.

    *Learn CPR.Giving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can save lives if given quickly after a water accident.

    *Stay sober.Alcohol and water don’t mix – so don’t drink if you’re boating, swimming or supervising children in the water.

    *Watch the weather.If there’s a chance of strong winds or a thunderstorm, stay out of the water.

    *Watch for rip currents in natural bodies of water.A rip current is a powerful current that you can’t see, but can quickly take even a grown adult underwater. If you feel one pull you down, swim parallel to the shore until you get free. Don’t try to fight it or swim toward the shore.

    *Know the boating laws.There are state and federal laws that boaters must follow. Learn about them atwww.uscgboating.org. You can also look into boating safety courses and safety checks for your boat on this website.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Avoid Drowsy Driving

    Healthylife® Weigh

    Part 3

    Alert driver.

    Driving while sleepy can severely impair your driving and cause an accident. Studies have linked sleepiness and fatigue to decreases in reaction time, decision-making, and mind and body coordination. All of these factors are very important for safe driving.

    According to estimates from the National Safety Council in 2017, one out of every five deadly traffic crashes is due to drowsy driving.

    Drive when you feel alert. On long drives, plan 15-minute breaks to get out and stretch your legs every 2 hours. Avoid using food to stay alert. Closing your eyes for even a second (called microsleep) can be enough to travel blindly down the road (or off the road). If you drive while you are fatigued, you and anyone around you is at serious risk.

    Signs of Fatigue

    *  You can’t stop yawning.

    *  You have trouble keeping your head up.

    *  Your eyes close for a moment or go out of focus.

    *  You have wandering, disconnected thoughts.

    *  You have no memory of driving the last few miles.

    *  You miss seeing a sign or your exit.

    *  You slow down when you don’t mean to or brake suddenly or too late.

    *  You drift across the road or veer off onto rumble strips.

    What to do:

    *  Pull to the side of the road or go to a rest stop.

    *  Take a 15-20-minute nap. If you can, have 250-300 mg of caffeine (about 2 cups of coffee) before the nap.

    *  Get a non-drowsy person to drive or find some way of getting to your destination without driving yourself.

    *  Drive to a motel or place where you can sleep.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Mow Safely

    WELL-BEING

    Image of person mowing the lawn.

    Lawn mowers are powerful machines. Careless injuries harm children and adults alike each year, according to these concerned medical groups: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery (the docs who reattach fingers!).

    Prevent injuries by following these lawn mower safety tips:

    *  Only use a mower with a control that stops the mower blade from moving if the handle is let go.

    *  Children should be at least 12 years of age before operating a push lawn mower and age 16 to operate a driving lawn mower.

    *  Wear sturdy shoes (not sandals or sneakers) while mowing.

    *  Prevent injuries from flying objects, such as stones or toys, by picking up objects from the lawn before mowing begins. Have anyone who uses a mower or is in the vicinity to wear polycarbonate protective eyewear at all times.

    *  Do not pull the mower backward or mow in reverse unless absolutely necessary, and carefully look for children behind you when you mow in reverse.

    *  Always turn off the mower and wait for the blades to stop completely before removing the grass catcher, unclogging the discharge chute, inspecting or repairing lawn mower equipment, or crossing gravel paths, roads, or other areas.

    * Use a stick or broom handle (not your hands or feet) to remove debris in lawn mowers.

    *  Do not allow children to ride as passengers on ride-on mowers and keep children out of the yard while mowing.

    *  Drive up and down slopes, not across to prevent mower rollover.

    *  Keep lawn mowers in good working order. Before using a lawn mower for the first time in a season, have it serviced to ensure that it is working correctly.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • What Our Aging Parents Fear Most

    FAMILY LIFE

    Image of eldery man in wheel chair cooking at his stove.

    Seniors fear moving into a nursing home and losing their independence more than death, according to a new research study, Aging in Place in America, commissioned by Clarity and  The EAR Foundation.

    The study looked at the attitudes and anxieties of the nation’s elderly. The children of seniors also fear for their parents, with particular concern about their emotional and physical well-being should they have to enter a nursing home.

    One of the most significant findings of the study is that, when asked what they fear most, seniors rated loss of independence (26%) and moving out of their homes into a nursing home (13%) as their greatest fears. These two possibilities are a much higher concern than death, which was the greatest fear for only 3% of seniors surveyed.

    Other key findings include these:

    *  Most seniors want to age in place. That means they want to grow older without having to move from their homes. More than half are concerned about their ability to do so.

    *  Seniors cited three primary concerns that could jeopardize their ability to live independently: health problems, memory problems and inability to drive or get around.

    *  Many seniors said they are open to or would like to use new technologies that enable independence. More than half would consider the use of technology in their homes-specifically, sensors-to monitor their health and safety.

    *  Most Baby Boomers fear their parents will be mistreated in a nursing home and fear they will be sad. Almost two-thirds of Boomers provide some kind of help or support for their aging parents.

    “These findings tell us that, above all else, older Americans value their ability to live independently,” said Peter Bell, president of National Aging in Place Council. “As a society, we must find ways to help our parents and grandparents live their latter years at home.”

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine