_ Heart Health Cheaper & Better Drug for Heart Attack Procedure By Sondra Forsyth article A study done in the UK and published in The Lancet on July 4th 2014 compares outcomes for two drugs used to prevent blood clot formation during emergency heart attack treatment. The study suggests that use of one of the drugs, heparin, could result in improved outcomes such as a reduced rate of repeat heart attacks, compared to the other drug tested, bivalirudin, which is in widespread use in high-income countries and is around 400 times more expensive than heparin.
_ Brain Health Sleep Health A Good NightΓÇÖs Sleep Boosts Brain Power as We Age By Sondra Forsyth article A University of Oregon-led study published in the June 2014 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that middle-aged or older people who get six to nine hours of sleep a night think better than those sleeping fewer or more hours. The study reaffirms numerous small-scale studies in the United States, Western Europe and Japan, but it does so using data compiled across six middle-income nations and involving more than 30,000 subjects for a long-term project that began in 2007.
_ Alternative Health Needed: A Better Understanding of Chinese Medicine By Jane Farrell article Although millions of people in the West use Chinese medicine, including acupuncture and herbs, there arenΓÇÖt enough physicians who have Chinese-language training so they can understand the nuances of those methods. Researchers from UCLAΓÇÖs Center for East-West Medicine say that there are only a few U.S. schools that have Chinese-language training. Additionally, only a few Chinese medical texts have been translated into English.
_ Exercise Sitting Pretty: How to Stay Fit Even If You Have a Desk Job By Sondra Forsyth article By Sondra Forsyth
Cancer Survivors: Dealing With Guilt When Others Don't Live On By blog At a dinner outing recently, I sat next to a young woman who had just been declared by her doctors to be in remission from her lymphoma. Over the course of the evening, we talked about many aspects of being a cancer survivor. We joked about her hair growing back curly when it had always been straight. We talked about chemotherapy and feeling horrible. She mentioned the tension of waiting for the next time she would have tests, and the continued status of remission. When I asked her what the hardest part was about being a cancer survivor, she said survival skills.
_ Making the Best Decisions With Your Doctor By Jane Farrell article Talking with a doctor about a health-care decision is crucial - and can be an intimidating process. Here, from the experts at the National Institute on Aging, are some ways to get the most out of it: Giving and getting information are two important steps in talking with your doctor. The third big step is making decisions about your care.
Rest Well By blog Are you resting well? Recently, our pastor began an 18-month journey through Genesis, and on week two, discussed the concept of ΓÇ£resting well.ΓÇ¥ He pointed out that, from the beginning of time, rest was built in to creation. God formed the heavens and the earth, all the vegetation and animals, and finally man and woman. Then He rested. Do you get it? Even GOD rested! He didnΓÇÖt work 24/7, even though He certainly had the power and limitless energy to do so. He designated an entire day for rest and enjoyment, to appreciate everything He had done. So should we.
Healthy Diet & Nutrition Senior Health Nutrition Screenings for Older Adults By Sondra Forsyth article As older adults typically have one or more chronic health conditions that can affect dietary intake, malnutrition has been identified as a serious for this population. For this reason, nutrition screenings should be a mandatory part of the comprehensive geriatric analysis (CGA), according to a review article published on July 3rd 2014 in the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition's (A.S.P.E.N.) Nutrition in Clinical Practice journal.
_ Meditation Doesn't Have To Be A Marathon By Jane Farrell article If youΓÇÖd like to meditate but are overwhelmed by the thought of lengthy training and practice, take heart: you can get the stress-reducing benefits from just 25 minutes. New research from Carnegie Mellon University is the first to show that brief mindfulness meditation practice ΓÇö 25 minutes for three consecutive days ΓÇö alleviates psychological stress. " the study investigates how mindfulness meditation affects people's ability to be resilient under stress.
_ Pets Keep Pets Safe On The Fourth By Jane Farrell article The Fourth of July weekend, with its barbecues, firecrackers and fireworks, is a festive time for millions of families. And itΓÇÖs also a time to remember your animal companions. The experts at the ASPCA have some strategies for making the holiday a relaxing time for the furry friend(s) in your home. DonΓÇÖt leave alcoholic drinks within reach of pets. Alcohol can poison animals. Your pet could also go into a coma, the ASPCA says. In severe cases, fatal respiratory failure has occurred.
_ A Declaration Of Independence From Tobacco By Jane Farrell article July 4th is a great time to celebrate freedom and independence of all kinds. Why not make it an occasion to declare your own independence ΓÇô from tobacco? The federal Centers for Disease Control has made July 4th its focal point for its program on freeing yourself from nicotine addiction. Anyone whoΓÇÖs ever quit can tell you itΓÇÖs a tough process, but understanding why itΓÇÖs so tough may help you deal with those moments when you feel you canΓÇÖt go one moment longer without a cigarette. Here are some insights from the CDC:
Heart Health Unnecessary Blood Tests Waste Money By Sondra Forsyth article Researchers at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center used two relatively simple tactics to significantly reduce the number of unnecessary blood tests to assess symptoms of heart attack and chest pain and to achieve a large decrease in patient charges.
_ Skin Skin Health Fear Of Illness Can Be A Good Thing By Jane Farrell article When it comes to skin cancer, many people are influenced by fear, not statistics, to use sunscreen. ΓÇ£Most health behavior studies donΓÇÖt account for the more visceral, emotional reactions that lead people to do risky behaviors, like eat junk food or ignore the protective benefits of sunscreen,ΓÇ¥ says Marc Kiviniemi, lead researcher and assistant professor of community health and health behavior in the University of BuffaloΓÇÖs School of Public Health and Health Professions.
Healthy Diet & Nutrition How to Choose the Best Energy-Boosting Bars and Gels By Sondra Forsyth article By The Bone, Muscle, and Joint Team at HealthHub from Cleveland Clinic Contributor: Kylene Guerra, RD Do you stand in the aisle of energy bars and sports gels wondering what to choose? When it comes to offering you the best health benefits and fuel for your sports performance, not all energy bars and sports gels are equal. Below, find tips to choosing the best ones for you. Energy bars
Excellent Advice from Maya Angelou By blog ΓÇ£Never make someone a priority when all you are to them is an option.ΓÇ¥ ΓÇô Maya Angelou Now thereΓÇÖs something I wish I had known at 18, instead of waiting until I was in my 40s! I know I made far too many others priorities throughout my life, when they only saw me as one of many options. This came from my unfortunate habit of not valuing myself fully. Get some self-respect early on. DonΓÇÖt wait.
_ The Dangers of Summer Drinking By Jane Farrell article EditorΓÇÖs note: This Fourth of July weekend, millions of Americans will gather with their families for barbecues, boat outings and beach trips. But excessive drinking isnΓÇÖt a good part of this festive mix. Here, from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, are some good reasons why drinking too much shouldnΓÇÖt be part of your holiday:
_ Alternative Health St. John's Wort & Drug Interactions By Sondra Forsyth article St. John's wort is the most frequently used complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatment in the U.S. for depression and similar psychiatric disorders. The many commonly prescribed medications that St. John's wort can interact withΓÇösometimes with serious consequences such as life-threatening ΓÇ£serotonin syndromeΓÇ¥ or heart diseaseΓÇöare reviewed in the July 2014 issue of The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine and on the web site.
_ Aging Well Testing Competency of Aging Drivers By Sondra Forsyth article As the American population continues to age, using tests to evaluate competency behind the wheel is critical. However, research done at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver found ΓÇ£significant barriers to evaluations important to the continued safety and competency of older driversΓÇ¥ according to a release from the university. The study was published 2014 in the journal Occupational Therapy in Health Care.