Caught an interesting study the other day that found most seniors know the heat can cause health problems but the majority don't do anything to protect themselves. Not good ... and as the temperatures soar the elderly are most at risk for trouble. But they're not alone. It's easy for active, younger folks to suffer the effects of high heat and high humidity - and having just been out west where the temps hit 117 I can attest to how fast you can start feeling poorly, even when you're alert to trouble.
The ounce of prevention comes in a glass .. drink small amounts at regular intervals, avoid alcoholic beverages, stay indoors between 10 am and 3pm when the sun's the highest - wear light,loose fitting clothing and slow down.
Signs of trouble include:
Heat edema: swelling of hands and feet caused by dilated blood vessels.
Heat cramps: may include muscle spasms; tender, hard or lumpy muscles; nausea and vomiting and/or weakness and fatigue.
Fainting- from exertion in a hot environment; pale, cool and moist skin and a feeling of lightheadedness can be a sign of impending trouble.
Heat exhaustion:(which may lead to heat stroke) heavy sweating; cool, moist, pale or flushed skin; headache; dizziness or weakness and nausea, seek medical attention and monitor the condition closely.
Heat stroke: can be life-threatening and requires emergency medical care, so seek help immediately for a high body temperature; flushed hot, dry skin with no sweating; vomiting; a weak, rapid pulse; decreased alertness; changes in consciousness; disorientation; confusion; impaired thinking and shallow, rapid breathing.
Saturday, July 7
Friday, July 6
Kiss off High Blood Pressure
Wouldn't it be great if you could eat something you love and it lowered your blood pressure?
How about a little bit of dark chocolate?
A new study from Germany finds a small amount of dark chocolate, the equivalent of one Hershey kiss a day could be the sweet treat that helps keep your blood pressure in check.
Granted it was a small study, only 44 people who had mild high blood pressure (hypertension) or borderline blood pressure that fell just short of hypertension. They were otherwise healthy and weren't taking blood pressure drugs or nutritional supplements.
For 18 weeks half the group ate the dark chocolate morsel, the other half ate white chocolate. The rules: take your chocolate dose two hours after dinner, don't change your normal diet and fitness habits and keep a diet and exercise diary.
On average, when the study wrapped up those eating dark chocolate lowered their systolic blood pressure ( the top number) by nearly three points and their diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number)by almost two points.
There was no change for the folks eating the white chocolate.
This is in line with earlier studies - but the first to show an effect with such a small amount of dark chocolate. While it's not clear WHY it works, the flavanols in cocoa may play a role.
So, one 'KISS' a day may keep the doctor away .. but indulge too much and you've got other problems. (the study is published in the current issue of JAMA (The Journal of the American Medical Association)
How about a little bit of dark chocolate?
A new study from Germany finds a small amount of dark chocolate, the equivalent of one Hershey kiss a day could be the sweet treat that helps keep your blood pressure in check.
Granted it was a small study, only 44 people who had mild high blood pressure (hypertension) or borderline blood pressure that fell just short of hypertension. They were otherwise healthy and weren't taking blood pressure drugs or nutritional supplements.
For 18 weeks half the group ate the dark chocolate morsel, the other half ate white chocolate. The rules: take your chocolate dose two hours after dinner, don't change your normal diet and fitness habits and keep a diet and exercise diary.
On average, when the study wrapped up those eating dark chocolate lowered their systolic blood pressure ( the top number) by nearly three points and their diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number)by almost two points.
There was no change for the folks eating the white chocolate.
This is in line with earlier studies - but the first to show an effect with such a small amount of dark chocolate. While it's not clear WHY it works, the flavanols in cocoa may play a role.
So, one 'KISS' a day may keep the doctor away .. but indulge too much and you've got other problems. (the study is published in the current issue of JAMA (The Journal of the American Medical Association)
Tuesday, July 3
Running - Cataracts - just an assortment
I'm out of town but not out of the loop .. if you're looking for a race with some meaning .. consider this:
The 15th annual Komen VT-NH Race for the Cure is set for Sunday, July 29 in Manchester, VT. Funds raised support community breast cancer education, treatment and screening programs plus (25 percent net ) supports Susan G. Komen for the Cure national research. Visit www.vtnhcure.org for details and to register.
And then, if you're just looking for an interesting story ... how about this
from the July issue of Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource: By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery.
And the latest research shows Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most effective surgical procedures performed in the United States. In years past, it was often recommended that patients wait for a cataract to turn white before having it removed. Today, there are no set recommendations on the best time to remove a cataract. The standard is to have one cataract removed at a time, allowing the eye to heal prior to the second surgery.
Regular eye exams remain the best way to detect cataracts early and monitor their progression.
The 15th annual Komen VT-NH Race for the Cure is set for Sunday, July 29 in Manchester, VT. Funds raised support community breast cancer education, treatment and screening programs plus (25 percent net ) supports Susan G. Komen for the Cure national research. Visit www.vtnhcure.org for details and to register.
And then, if you're just looking for an interesting story ... how about this
from the July issue of Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource: By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery.
And the latest research shows Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most effective surgical procedures performed in the United States. In years past, it was often recommended that patients wait for a cataract to turn white before having it removed. Today, there are no set recommendations on the best time to remove a cataract. The standard is to have one cataract removed at a time, allowing the eye to heal prior to the second surgery.
Regular eye exams remain the best way to detect cataracts early and monitor their progression.
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