Take Your Mama to the Hop!

Give time and get time?

lexie157 — Mon, 18 May 2009 17:54:39 +0000

A study presented this month at the American Geritrics Society annual meeting demonstrated that people who have retired and who volunteer are less likely to die as compared to peers. Some researchers in the past thought that people who volunteer are probably more healthy than their peers. However, this study showed that, despite health status, socioeconomic status, and other possible explanations, people who volunteer are still healthier! While preliminary, this study highlights just another reason to volunteer! Researchers think that volunteering may protect against mortality by increasing social contact, self-efficacy, and social engagement.

Heart… burn? attack?

lexie157 — Sun, 17 May 2009 17:14:17 +0000

It is often difficult to tell the difference between a heartburn flare and an actual heart attack. The difficulty increases even more when you have been diagnosed with heart disease AND heart burn. If you have any heart trouble in your medical history, you may want to consult a cardiologist about chest pain of any kind. Being overly cautious when you don’t have a history of heart trouble can’t hurt, either! Here are a few ideas to help you monitor your heartburn and differentiate between heartburn and a heart attack.

Watch to see if your heartburn occurs in any pattersn. Is it after any particular foods? Are they greasy, spicy, or acidic? Are you experiencing it 30 to 45 mintues after you eat?
If you have pain while swallowing, difficulty swallowing, loss of appetite, or are throwing up blood, see your doctor right away.
If your heartburn is severe and is affecting your life, see your doctor.
If your heartburn is a new symptom, have it checked out quickly, to make sure that it isn’t a heart problem.
Go to the ER if: you have risk rfactors for heart disease and experience heartburn, if it accompanies exercise or other exertion, if it doesn’t get better despite taking antacids, or if you also experience shortness of breath or arm pain.

A Special Reward for Caregivers

lexie157 — Sat, 16 May 2009 17:03:32 +0000

Some days, it can feel like caregiving just aged you 10 years. A new study says that it actually may help you to live longer. The authors of a recently published study found that spousal caregivers were 30% less likely to die as compared to peers who were not caregiving. They hypothesize that caregiving may lead to the release of oxytocin, a hormone that combats stress-linked substances.

CPR and Improved Survival

lexie157 — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:51:56 +0000

A recent study has shown that the most important aspect of the CPR process may be the chest compressions. In fact, A new resuscitation protocol calls for 50 chest compressions before stopping to give rescue breaths. Rescuers were also instructed to minimize interruptions to chest compressions. This increased survival of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients from 7.5% to 13.9%. The American Heart Association’s recommendation currently remains 30 chest compressions to 2 breaths. Do you have your CPR certification?

Find Yourself Always Counting Sheep?

lexie157 — Thu, 14 May 2009 13:52:51 +0000

The National Sleep Foundation has offered several suggestions to help people maintain a better sleep quality. These include setting a bed time and a wake up time, preparing for bed with a relaxing routine, and making sure your bedroom is quiet and dark. They also suggest using a firm mattress and several plush pillows. Avoid work-related activities in your bedroom. Avoid eating for 2 hours prior to sleeping. Exercise daily, but leave time between your exercise routine and bedtime. Try to avoid caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine before bedtime. You may also want to try incorporating meditation, prayper or other quiet preparation before bed. Rest up, and join us At the Hop this year!

Know When to Move

lexie157 — Wed, 13 May 2009 13:46:04 +0000

If you are caring for a loved one with dementia, Alzheimer’s or other severly debilitating chronic or acute illness, you understand caregiver stress. We often don’t want to place our loved ones in facilities when we can take care of them at home. However, several red flags may signal that it’s time to make that difficult decision and allow the transition to occur. The Mayo Clinic points out several concerns to watch out for. These include the caregiver experiencing sleep deprivation and other health compromises, increasing physical limitations, inability to manage work/household/family responsibilities. Also, families may have to consider when respite support is or becomes unavailable or unaffordable. If the symptoms of the disease are challenging to manage at home, it may be in the best interest of your loved one to be in a facility where nursing staff is available 24/7. You also have to monitor and consider the amount of supervision required, the safety of the home environment, and the dependency of your loved one for activities of daily living. Also of concern are things such as weight loss, dehydration, and compromised medication management. One way to make this transition as easy as possible is to plan, plan, and plan some more. Our vendors At the Hop this year may be able to assist you with the various aspects of preparing for a transition.

Not All Omega-3s are Created Equal!

lexie157 — Tue, 12 May 2009 13:38:51 +0000

So, we know that omega-3 fatty acids are good for us and protect our hearts. bud do you know that it actually matters how we get those pesky omega-3s into our diets? There are basically 2 kinds – the ready to be used long-chain versions (EPA and DHA) found in fish, fish oil supplements, and algae extract – and the short-chain form, ALA, that our bodies have to modify to use and that can be found in walnuts, flax seed, canola and soybean oil, and green leafy veggies. Some experts say that the long-chain is the way to go, but other studies have shown that the short chain acids can be helpful, too. When considering whether to take a supplement, look at your diet and whether you consume the foods mentioned above. You want to aim for at least 2 esrvings of fatty fish per week with a adaily consumption of one the foods providing ALA, the short chain form. How do you make sure you’re staying healthy and eating a diet rich in important nutrients?

Blueberries the key to a six-pack??

lexie157 — Mon, 11 May 2009 13:17:13 +0000

Well, not exactly. However, a recent study on rats who ate a diet rich in blueberries did show that blueberry consumption was associated with abdominal fat. Besides our vanity, loss of abdominal fat is also beneficial to lowering our risk of heart disease and diabetes. The blueberry rich diet also lowered the rats’ cholesterol and improved glucose control. Researchers hypothesize that blueberries may change how our bodies store and process energy. So, if you enjoy blueberries already, this is just one more great excuse to start eating more of them!

Eating Healthy on a Budget

lexie157 — Sun, 10 May 2009 13:07:43 +0000

Eating healthy can be a challenge – period. But eating healthy on a budget? Seemingly impossible! However, there are wasy to keep your total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol intake in check. Try to eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, dairy (low fat, of course), beans, and whole grains. Frozen vegetables are an inexpensive way to add an extra serving or two of vegetables to soups, casseroles, stir frys… the list goes on! They’re also a convenient way to keep vegetables on hand… and they go on sale! Beans, which are a great source of fiber and protein, can be added to salads, soups, and stews. Some Italian pasta recipes also call for added beans! While canned beans are convenient, those who are more adventurous can try cooking dry beans. Brown rice is a great source of whole grains and one that can always be kept on hand. Try some varieties of whole wheat pasta until you find a flavor you like. Look for canned and frozen fruit – those that are packed in their own juice are best. What creative ways do you have for incorporating “healthy” foods into your diet?

Meditation… not just a passing fad

lexie157 — Thu, 07 May 2009 13:04:03 +0000

Meditation has been a core practice in Eastern traditions for thousands of years. Recently, the Western world has become more interested n the benefits, especially as it relates to stress reduction. While formal tapes and classes exist, this is a practice that you can start on your own time anywhere. Medicinenet.com provided these tips:

Find a quiet place with little sound or distracting activity.
Find a position that’s comfortable for you, including sitting, lying down, walking or standing.
Focus completely on meditation, which in practice may include repeating a word or phrase, focusing mentally on an object, or focusing on breathing.
Have an open mind and learn to acknowledge life’s distractions without necessarily judging or acting on them.

Have you tried meditation? What forms have been most helpful for you?