Health Care 101 Blog

Unfortunately, there is no known way on how you can prevent an eye disease called age-related macular degeneration. But if you take care of your body by eating the right kinds of diet, exercising regularly and managing stress, then you could at least lower your risk. Regular visit to the doctor for check-ups is also a must.

I’ve always read about the health benefits of caffeine and alcohol (like beer and red wine) and I’ve known that it’s the excesses of said substances that can actually be harmful to those who over indulge.

Anyway, here’s another article on how the combination of alcohol and caffeine can lower body temperature during operations. This in turn can limit damage and enhanced recovery.

According to new research by a group led by Dr. Sheryl Martin-Schild, a neurovascular fellow at the University of Texas Health Science Center, “giving stroke patients a caffeine-alcohol mixture in concert with a clot-busting drug was safe and led to better recovery.”

Hopefully, after more successful studies, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will also approve the use of caffeinol for common consumption.

Source: Health Day

I have had pregnant friends who have complained a lot about the not-so pleasant symptoms of impending motherhood. They have lamented over morning sickness, swollen feet, protruding bellies, and of course, difficulty of sleeping. When getting enough rest is particularly important, here are some tips offered by the National Sleep Foundation on how to get more comfortable sleep during pregnancy:

Foods that can induce heartburn are a no-no.

Indulge a little and take power naps whenever you can.

Avoid drinking fluids during the day just before bed. Instead, drink them during the day. This will also avoid you from waking up constantly to go to the bathroom.

Relax before going to bed. Try meditation, breathing exercises, or a nice warm bath or shower.

In later stages of pregnancy, sleep on your left side for better blood flow and avoid sleeping on your back. Try to support your stomach with pillows while you sleep.

Source: Health Day

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, there are some alternative treatments to arthritis – some of which may involve a few changes in lifestyle and exercise and activity regimen.

Arthritis causes a lot of pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints therefore making movement difficult and painful. Therefore modifying activities such as exercise routine so that they are lower-impact can help alleviate pain. Examples of good exercise is walking and swimming. It would also help to make sure that your body weight is in the healthy range and therefore a strict diet must also be implemented.

For more aggressive treatments to be administered by your doctor, there are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medications, which can help reduce inflammation, pain and swelling. There are also corticosteroid injections for the joint that can improve joint function. These can also be complemented with physical and occupational therapy to help strengthen muscles, bones and joints and is highly recommended.

The final alternative is of course, surgery but that is to be considered as the last resort.

Source: Health Day

Running is a great way to lose weight, The best thing about running is that it is totally free as well. Running allows us to burn at least a pound for every thirty minutes or so. Running is advised to people who wish to build their stamina and endurance. It is a proven exercise that increases heart rates tremendously. Keep in mind that running forces the body to dish out a lot of liquid so its best that one replenish the lost water in the system after every lap. Do not for force yourself to run more than you could so that you could prevent muscle sprain. Patience is the key, run only what you body would allow. In time you can run as many laps as those who consider themselves professionals can. Don’t forget to wear proper running shoes while you are at it.

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Television-watching has really been a curse to older people, for it encourages hours of simply sitting. The mind is shifted into low gear. There is no challenge to real thinking. It is a passive occupation. Many older persons deteriorate rapidly on this hopeless inactivity – not only mentally, but physically as well.

In time there may be a prescription for treating and preventing the decline in the mental skills of the elderly. But in the meantime, everyone can find worthwhile projects for that necessary mental exercise, which not only serves others, but most importantly, stimulates one’s own brain!

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Hobbies offer relaxation and enjoyment. They break the monotony of work and humdrum of daily life. They allow you to learn and improve your craft in whatever activity you do.

Hobbies take various forms. The best hobbies however are those that involve some physical action.Gardening, sports, taking leisurely walks in the park, hiking, cycling, shopping and more activities that will make you move from your seat are best ways to spend leisure time as they help burn calories to make you more fit and active.

Studies reveal that people who engage in hobbies are more likely to recuperate fast and well from ailments and even surgery. Because they have developed well rounded attitudes such as being more motivated and determined to get results through their hobbies, they unconsciously apply such orientation with their battles in life.

Washing your hands properly can help a lot in preventing diseases. Is there a proper way of washing one�s hands you ask? Apparently there is:

1. Wet hands under clean running and, if possible, warm water (i.e. faucet) and apply soap. Although regular hand soap will do, there are also anti-bacterial soaps in the market.

2. Make a lather by rubbing hands together and scrub all surfaces thoroughly. By this we mean from 15 to 20 seconds.

3. Rinse hands, again under running water. Make sure that they are squeaky clean.

4. Dry hands using a paper towel or a hand dryer.

5. There are alcohol based hand sanitizers also available in the market. You may use this instead if soap and clean water are not available. Just apply a few drops on the palm. Rub hands together until they feel dry.

Source: Center for Disease Control and Prevention