Health Tips A to Z

Second-hand smoke is the smoke that is exhaled by a smoker and the smoke released from a pipe, or the burning end of a cigar or cigarette.

Second-hand smoke is a cancer causing-agent for men, women and children.

o  Second-hand smoke contains at least 60 cancer causing-substances.

o  Breathing second-hand smoke is a risk factor for the development of lung cancer.

o  Second-hand smoke is responsible for almost 3,000 deaths each year.

o  It’s a known risk factor for cancer in the nasal sinus, lung infections and heart disease.

o  Second-hand smoke is linked with cervical cancer, breast cancer and lung cancer.

Second-hand smoke contains poisonous substances, including carbon monoxide, tar, arsenic and lead.

Chronic coughs, wheezing, chest discomfort, poorer lung function, irritation of your eye and nose, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and low birth weights are all linked to second-hand smoke.

No amount of second-hand smoke is safe.

Consult with your loved ones who smoke and encourage them to quit – for your health and theirs.

Consider wearing a mouth guard.

A mouth guard can help to protect your teeth from injury during sports.

What’s a mouth guard?

A mouth guard is designed to help cushion the mouth and your teeth.  The guard generally covers the up per teeth and minimizes risk of broken teeth and injuries that can occur from broken or chipped teeth. Mouth guards range from being ready made to custom fitted.

Who ought to wear a mouth guard?

Children and adults should use a mouth guard.

If you participate in an activity that could cause  injury to your mouth or play contact sports – football, ice hockey, basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer or volleyball – you should consider wearing one.

A mouth guard can decrease the risk of mouth-related injuries to your lips, tongue and soft tissues of mouth. They also can help to avoid chipped or broken teeth, nerve damage to a tooth and even tooth loss that can result from a blow to the mouth.

Your teeth are meant to last a lifetime. Taking care and protecting your teeth can help them to stay healthy.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is also called coronary artery disease (CAD), is the most common type of heart disease.

CHD develops when one or more of the coronary arteries (arteries that supply blood to the heart muscles itself) becomes narrow. This results from a buildup of cholesterol. This buildup decreases the blood flow to the heart muscle.

What can happen?

As coronary heart disease develops, damage to the heart occurs and the following conditions may develop –  

Angina

When the heart isn’t getting enough oxygen, a individuals might feel pain or discomfort in the chest. This is known as angina. Signs of angina include –  

•  Discomfort or pressure felt in the chest.

This can range from a vague ache to a crushing sensation.

•  Pain or pressure in the left arm, shoulder, or throat.

•  Difficulty catching your breath.

Heart Failure

Heart failure occurs when a weakened heart cannot pump efficiently. Fluid builds up in the ankles, legs, and lungs.

Heart Attack

If blood flow to any part of the heart is completely blocked, the cells in that part of the heart start to die. This causes a heart attack. Signs of a heart attack can include –  

o  Pain or pressure in the chest, shoulders or arms (most commonly on the left side), neck or lower jaw

o  Shortness of breath

o  Weakness

o  Rapid heart beat

o  Lightheadedness or faintness

o  Profuse sweating

o  Nausea or vomiting

When these symptoms occur, get help fast.  Call 911 right away.

Adults in their 40’s can have a slow loss in being able to see small objects or print. They also have trouble seeing things close-up. This is known as far-sightedness or presbyopia. It might be easier to read print when you hold reading materials further away. “Reading” glasses can help.

Another change related to age is cataracts. A cataract is a cloudy area in eye lens. This causes loss of eyesight. Cataracts are easily detected with a routine eye exam. Cataracts can be removed with surgery. Surgery may  be needed if these changes in vision interfere with every day activities.

As you age, you’re less able to make tears and your eyes may feel dry, itchy or burning. A home humidifier or special eye drops may help. Consult with your eye care provider about what’d be best for you.

Over time, when glaucoma is not treated, it can result in loss of vision or blindness.  The risk of glaucoma increases when you are over 65 years of age or an African American over 40. Glaucoma might not have any symptoms. It is detected with an eye exam. There are many treatments for glaucoma ranging from eye drops to surgery.

See an eye care specialist immediately when –  

•  you suddenly can’t see

•  vision is dim, or

•  you see flashes of light

You also need to be seen when you experience –  

•  eye pain,

•  fluid coming from eye,

•  double vision, redness or

•  swelling of eyelid

And remember… when you are outdoors, wear sunglasses that block UV rays.

The tetanus / diphtheria / pertussis shot (Tdap) protects against three serious diseases.

Tetanus also known as ‘lockjaw’ is a serious disease. Individuals  with Tetanus ordinarily have painful tightening of the jaw and neck muscles. As a result, they cannot open their mouths or swallow. Tetanus doesn’t spread from person to person. Individuals  get tetanus when their skin is cut or broken, in particular if they are around dust, soil and manure.

Diphtheria is a very serious infection of the upper chest.  The infection can lead to breathing problems, heart failure, paralysis and even death. A person who has diphtheria can give it to someone else by coughing. Today, scarcely whoever in the United States  gets diphtheria because almost everyone gets the vaccine (shot).

Pertussis (whooping cough) is an infection of the chest that causes people  to cough very hard for a long time. Sometimes people  cough so hard they break a rib. A person with whooping cough also has trouble breathing. Whooping cough can lead to pneumonia. Whooping cough spreads easily from one person to another.

The Tdap shot is the best way to protect against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough. When you are between 19 – 64 years old, you ought to get the Tdap shot one time. When it’s time for you to get your tetanus diphtheria booster shot, that’s a good time to get the Tdap shot instead. Your provider may recommend Tdap as soon as 2 years from your last tetanus/diphtheria booster because Tdap also protects you against whooping cough.

After you get Tdap shot, your skin might  be sore where the needle went in.

The warmer weather brings us outdoors and brings some unwanted “guests”. Here are some helpful hints to prevent being bit by a tick.

Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) are common in the USA. Both are the result from a Tick bite.

Ticks are generally harmless, unless the tick is infected.  The tick that causes Lyme disease is the Black-legged Deer Tick. It is the size of the head of a pin and generally lives on deer.  The American dog tick and the Rocky Mountain wood tick are the ticks that cause RMSF.

Here are some ways to protect yourself from ticks –  

•  Apply insect repellant. Be certain to use a repellant that contains DEET to exposed skin. Don’t forget to peruse the product’s instructions before use.

•  Prevent wooded areas and areas with high grass and with lots of litter. Ticks are found in these areas.

•  Wear long-pants, long-sleeves and sock if you are going to be in wooded areas. Tuck your clothing –  pants into socks; shirts into pants. This will help to keep ticks on the outside of clothing.

•  Stay in the middle of trails to avoid contact with high grass, bushes and leaf litter.

•  Make sure to take additional care in the months of May, June and July. Ticks are most active these months.

•  Remove outer clothing before coming indoors.

•  Make sure to check yourself daily for the presence of ticks.

•  Remove ticks using a pair of tweezers. If you find a tick, remove it using tweezers. Dispose of the tick in a plastic bag.

•  Cleanse the area where the tick was with an antiseptic.

Remember –  Generally, a tick needs to be on the skin for about 36 hours or more for it to spread Lyme disease or RMSF.

Notify your primary care provider if develop a fever, nausea, muscle aches, headache, loss of appetite and/or a rash after a tick bite.

Measles, Mumps and Rubella (German measles) are each caused by a virus. These diseases are highly contagious. They’re spread by coughing, sneezing, or drinking from the same cup or using the same fork or spoon as someone who’s one of these diseases.

•  Someone with the measles will have a rash, cough, runny nose, runny eyes and fever.  The illness can result in more serious problems like ear infections or pneumonia. Sometimes, it can even cause seizures and brain damage.

•  Someone with the mumps will have a rash, fever and swollen glands in the cheeks and neck. It can also result in more serious problems, like deafness, meningitis, or painful swelling of the testicles or ovaries.

•  Rubella symptoms are a rash and mild fever. If a pregnant woman gets rubella, she could lose the baby or it could be born with a birth defect.

The MMR vaccine protects against all of these illnesses.

Speak with your main care provider about the MMR vaccine if you –  

•  Were born after 1957 and do not have proof of vaccination as a child.

•  Are a female old enough to become pregnant.

•  Were vaccinated for measles before 1968.

•  Plan to travel outside the U.S.

•  Be certain to work in a health care facility

After the shot, you may experience some soreness where the needle went in, fever or a mild rash.

You don’t need the MMR vaccine when –  

•  You were born before 1957.

•  Blood tests show that you have protection against measles, mumps and rubella.

When you eat, your body turns some of the food into a sugar called glucose.  The cells that make up your body need this glucose to give you energy. Your body also makes insulin. Insulin assists glucose get into your cells. Kind 2 diabetes is a disease where your body doesn’t use insulin well or doesn’t make enough insulin. Also, the glucose can’t get into your cells. It stays in your blood, while your cells are starved for energy.  The high levels of glucose in your blood damage nerves and blood vessels. This can cause  heart disease, eye disease, kidney disease, and nerve problems. These problems can lead to heart attacks, stroke, blindness, amputation, and dialysis.

How can you tell when you have type 2 diabetes?

More than six million people  in the United States have type 2 diabetes and do not know it. You mightn’t have any symptoms. Or, your symptoms may  be so mild that you do not even notice them.

You might’ve diabetes when you –  

o  Are thirsty most of the time

o  Are hungry even though you eat enough

o  Are tired all the time

o  Need to urinate a lot

o  Notice that things look blurry

o  Be sure to get a sore that doesn’t heal

Sometimes individuals  have symptoms but don’t think they have diabetes.  The earlier you find out that you have diabetes, the better. Treatment can stop diabetes from damaging your body. When you have symptoms that you think may  be related to diabetes, consult with your physician.

How can kind 2 diabetes be prevented?

Make these changes to help reduce the risk of getting diabetes –  

o  Reach and maintain a healthful body weight

o  Make wise food choices

o  Be physically active every day

Good stress or bad stress, it’s something that we experience every day.

The good news….you can help prevent daily goings-on from causing undue stress.

Here are some things to do –  

•  Make sure to set realistic objectives both at work and at home.

•  Make sure to look at the large picture and put things into perspective.

•  Make a plan for dealing with the problem.

•  Manage tasks or projects by breaking into smaller more doable steps.

•  Do not “sweat the small stuff”.

•  If something is not important, attempt to not get upset over it.

•  Make sure to help yourself –

o  Think about a stress management class.

o  Consider a time management class.

•  Find activities you enjoy and take part in them on a regular basis.

•  Be physically active.

•  Make sure to maintain a positive outlook.

Change your thinking –

When you’re doing something new – think of it as an arousing opportunity

•  Task seems too hard – attempt a different tactic

•  Not enough time – reorder your priorities

•  Not enough resources – is not this a excellent time to get those creative juices flowing

Reward yourself for the good things you do each day

Be certain to use of tobacco or using smokeless tobacco cause about seventy-five% of cancers of the mouth and throat. Your risk of developing these cancers increases when you also drink alcohol.

Nearly 95 percent of these cancers occur in adults over 40. Men are more likely to develop cancer of the mouth and throat.

What are the risk factors?

o  the major risk factor is tobacco – cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco and dipping snuff.

o  Long time heavy smokers are at greatest risk.

o  Your risk increases when you are tobacco user who drinks heavily.

You should be concerned when you –  

o  Have a sore on your lip or mouth that does not heal.

o  Develop a lump or patch on your lips, gums or in your mouth.

o  Begin bleeding, have pain or a numb area on your lip or in your mouth.

o  Notice a change in your voice.

o  Detect loose teeth or your dentures no longer fit.

o  Have trouble chewing, swallowing or moving your tongue or jaw.

o  Develop a sore throat or have a feeling that something is caught in your throat.

When you’ve any of these, you should see your main care provider or dentist.

Most cancers of the mouth and throat are preventable.

Stopping smoking and stopping smokeless tobacco will decrease your risk.

Important — Smokeless tobacco IS NOT a safe substitute for tobacco use cigarettes.

For help to stop use of tobacco or stop using smokeless tobacco, consult with your healthcare team.