Health
Stifle the Sneezes and Tame the Cold
An Ounce of Prevention:
- Step-up hygiene. Keep virus-free by staying clean. For example, wash your hands with plain soap or waterless alcohol gel for 1-2 minutes.
- Sleep. Deprive yourself of sleep and you’ll be more susceptible to viruses.
- Chill out. Manage stress can improve immune function. Try meditating, exercising, doing your favorite hobby, or acupuncture (it’ll relax you).
- Eat right. Good nutrition will help fight viruses.
- Vitamin C. Although many swear by it, recent research suggests it not a cold preventive.
- Zinc. Lozenges taken every few hours at the onset of cold symptoms actually decrease the likelihood that a virus can adhere to your body.
- Echinacea: Worried that you have been exposed to a cold virus? Consider taking Echinacea, it has been shown to reduce the chances of getting a cold by 58%. Take 2 to 3 ccs (liquid) or 300 milligrams (pill) every 2 to 3 hours for up to a week. Don’t take it indefinitely as a preventive but limit your intake to one week.
- But Echinacea isn’t for everyone. Allergic to ragweed? Beware, as the two are in the same botanical family. If you’re immune-compromised or on immunosuppressant drugs, don’t take it, as Echinacea stimulates the immune system.
- Flu shot. Elderly and adults who have frequent contact with children can avoid the flu by getting a flu shot.
Aaaah-choo! Phooey.
Despite your best efforts, you’ve got a cold. What can help you get better faster?
- Andrographic paniculata. This herbal treatment may help alleviate cold symptoms.
- Chicken Soup. Although yet to be proven by human studies, laboratory studies and Grandma’s wisdom suggest this comfort food, and potentially any vegetable soup, may alleviate cold symptoms like head and sinus congestion. Why? Eating chicken soup apparently has anti-inflammatory effects.
- Echinacea. Here are the basics about this potential cold-buster:
- Got a cold? Taken within 24-48 hours of cold symptoms can to decrease the duration of a cold by up to 1.4 days. 2 to 3 ccs (liquid) or 300 milligrams (pill) every 2 to 3 hours for 2 to 3 days or until your cold is gone.
- But make sure to read the warning above on who shouldn’t take Echinacea.
- Feed a cold? Do what feels right; if you’re hungry, eat; if not, don’t. Be sure to get plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.
- Sleep it off. Yes, lots of rest will help you recover; use a humidifier in your bedroom to decrease symptoms and help you feel better.
In addition to many more cold and flu prevention and treatment tips, RevolutionHealth.com offers free content from internationally-recognized medical sources including Mayo and Cleveland Clinic; 120+ free health assessment tools; community features (where you can talk with others on health issues and their treatment suggestions); find and rate local hospitals, doctors and dentists; and compare health insurance plans.
Superbugs are putting your health at risk. If you’ve ever felt sick or battled a bug, you may have asked your doctor for an antibiotic. Ever since the advent of these wonder drugs, these medications have one common goal: fight bacteria in the body to help maintain a healthy immune system. As new medical breakthroughs emerge, the role of antibiotics has also evolved and helped patients dealing with anything from ear infections to serious lung infections like pneumonia. Health watch: Superbug infections putting more at risk
However, antibiotics are not foolproof. Bacteria, when exposed to antibiotic drugs, can learn how to resist them. These resistant bacteria are known as superbugs, which are harder for antibiotics to kill.
Recently, superbugs have become a greater and far more serious concern. In March 2013, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a warning about a new class of superbugs called Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), which can cause dangerous infections that can get into the bloodstream – and kill up to 50 percent of people when they do.
So what can you do about it?
“The best way to keep yourself healthy is to be proactive,” says Steve Kennedy, director of infusion pharmacy services at Walgreens Infusion Services. “While there’s no foolproof way to ensure you don’t get a superbug infection, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk.”
To reduce your risk for CRE and other superbug infections, the CDC suggests taking the following actions:
* Be diligent about hand washing. Keeping your hands clean reduces the transfer of bacteria, so this is an easy first step to take to help prevent infections. If you change wound dressings or bandages or handle medical devices, it’s extra important to keep your hands clean.
* Take prescriptions as directed. If your doctor has prescribed oral antibiotics, follow the doctor’s instructions on how long to take them. These instructions typically include that you should not skip doses or stop the course of treatment early. In addition, the CDC recommends that if you have leftover pills after you’ve completed your course of antibiotics, you should not save them or share them with anyone else. Instead, dispose of them in a safe and effective manner.
* Be a critical consumer. The CDC urges patients not to take antibiotics unless their doctors think they really need them. One of the best ways to keep antibiotics working – and to keep superbugs from getting worse – is to ensure they’re used only when needed. Remember that antibiotics do not work when you have a virus (like a cold or the flu), and sometimes infections caused by bacteria can clear up on their own. Patients should discuss with their doctors whether they really need prescriptions and avoid taking antibiotics if they are not necessary.
* When possible, keep your hospital stay as short as possible or stay out of the hospital. Hospitals are life-saving institutions, but they also concentrate a lot of sick people in one place. This can increase your risk of catching a superbug. In many cases, therapy provided in the hospital can be given in a different and oftentimes more convenient setting, like a non-hospital medical center or even in your home. Patients should ask their doctors if their hospital-based therapy can be provided somewhere else. For example, if you are on clinical nutrition support (receiving food through a feeding tube or an IV), your therapy could be provided at home through a home health services provider. Of course, patients should follow their doctors’ orders and seek treatment at whichever facility their doctors suggest. However, if doctors believe home health care is the best option, Walgreens Infusion Services, which offers home infusion in all 50 states, may be able to provide the necessary services to patients.
* Be proactive with your health care providers. No matter where you’re receiving medical care, make sure all those who help care for you (from doctors to nurses to family members) wash their hands before they touch you. Soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub will do the trick.
If you’re self-employed, your employer doesn’t offer health insurance, or even if you simply think you might be better off on a different plan than what your employer offers, you may find yourself buying individual health insurance. While shopping for your own health insurance may seem daunting, breaking down the plans can help you make a more informed decision.
“People need to be careful when comparing plans,” says Joel Cantor, director of the Center for State Health Policy at Rutgers University. “People tend to make the mistake of looking at the premium only and not cost-sharing. It’s a little more of a complicated calculation.”
Some individual plans may leave more money in your pocket than others, even though at first blush they may not look that way.
For example, if your employer does not offer health care coverage, you may qualify for tax credits and other subsidies in an individual plan, making your costs lower. Though less likely, you may be at an age and state of health where you can buy an individual plan that is less expensive than the one your employer offers.
If you are employed you are likely paying only 15 to 20 percent of the premium, says Paul Fronstin, director, health research and education program at Employee Benefit Research Institute in Washington, D.C.
“Premiums in the non-group [individual] market are age rated, and the younger you are, the lower the cost. But it still might be more than your work,” Fronstin says.
For those with health concerns, some individual plans may also offer more value than others, or even more than an employer-offered plan. These may allow you to find the right network, specialists, and prescription coverage for your needs.
Bear in mind, however, that you have to be on your toes when it comes to finding a healthcare plan that will really offer valuable savings, because plans and their costs change frequently.
The Kaiser Family Foundation, a health policy nonprofit, released an analysis in June 2015, projecting changes to premiums in the individual marketplace in 2016. The report found the most popular individual plans are increasing on average 4.4 percent from 2015 to 2016, which they said is moderate but a bigger jump in price from the previous year. The report stresses the value in shopping at each open enrollment period, as premiums fluctuate.
Open enrollment for 2016 begins Nov. 1, 2015 and extends to Jan. 31, 2016. It’s always worth considering all options, especially where your health and budget are concerned. Here are some things to consider when evaluating the pros and cons.
- Your medical needs: Make a list of any doctors, specialists, prescriptions, or other services you require to maintain your health or to prevent health issues.
- Your budget: Figure out how your budget will allow you to spend on health insurance and health care each month.
- Premiums + network + cost sharing: Check the premiums, network, and cost-sharing specifics of each plan. Cost sharing includes deductibles, co-pays, and coinsurance. Compare not only the premiums, but also whether all your anticipated medical costs are covered in-network or if you will have to pay for out-of-network to see your preferred doctors. Evaluate all of these costs to determine if there is a better savings (monetary) or value (more affordable access to your required specialists and prescriptions) in one plan vs. the other.
- State vs. federal coverage: Keep in mind that in most states, individual coverage is federally managed, while in a handful of others, it’s managed at the state level or some kind of hybrid between the two. If applicable, evaluate any benefits in your state’s coverage. For example, some coverage that may vary includes birth control, breastfeeding, dental and vision.
- Tax credits and other savings qualifications: Determine whether you qualify for tax credits and other savings offered in the state marketplace. This will be an important factor in determining whether an individual plan makes more sense for you, cost-wise. According to Healthcare.gov, your employer can tell you if its plan meets the standards of the Affordable Care Act, thereby disqualifying you from any savings on the individual plan.
Beth Shea Palmer is a reporter and editor based in Chicago.
Written by Equifax Reporter on September 17, 2015 in Insurance
Thirty million (or one out of four) Americans age 40 and older suffer from some level of vision loss. Yet only 30 percent of Americans indicate they incorporate specific foods or supplements into their diet to help improve eye health and vision, according to the American Optometric Association’s American Eye-Q survey, which assesses public knowledge and understanding of a wide range of issues related to eye and visual health.
Six nutrients – antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin; essential fatty acids; vitamins C and E; and the mineral zinc – have been identified as helping to protect eyesight and promote eye health. Since the body doesn’t make these nutrients naturally, it’s important to incorporate them into a daily diet and, in some cases, supplement with vitamins.–
Consuming a variety of the following foods can help protect your eyes for the future:
- Lutein and zeaxanthin: To help reduce your risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), eat one cup of colorful fruits and vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, kale, corn, green beans, peas, oranges and tangerines four times a week.
- Essential fatty acids: Studies suggest omega-3 fatty acids such as flax or fleshy fish like tuna, salmon, or herring, whole grain foods, lean meats and eggs may help protect against AMD and dry eye.
- Vitamin C: Fruits and vegetables, including oranges, grapefruit, strawberries, papaya, green peppers and tomatoes, can help minimize the risk of cataracts and AMD.
- Vitamin E: Vegetable oils, such as safflower or corn oil, almonds, pecans, sweet potatoes, and sunflower seeds are powerful antioxidants that can slow the progression of AMD and cataract formation.
- Zinc: A deficiency of zinc can result in poor night vision and lead to cataracts; therefore, consuming red meat, poultry, liver, shellfish, milk, baked beans, and whole grains on a daily basis is important.
It’s also important to remember that all foods are not created equal in their nutritional value. The Eye-Q survey also showed that nearly half of all Americans (49 percent) still believe carrots are the best food for eye health. While carrots do contain nutritional value by supplying beta-carotene, which is essential for night vision, spinach and other dark, leafy greens are the healthiest foods for eyes because they naturally contain large amounts of lutein and zeaxanthin.-
The AOA encourages consumers to make small dietary changes in order to experience a big impact with vision. Another good way to monitor eye health and maintain good vision is by scheduling yearly, comprehensive eye exams with an eye doctor. Senior.com also sells some fabulous vision enhancing products.
During the day, environmental factors are battling against our skin and breaking down the structural components which keep our skin tight and firm. Elastin, which is one of these components, is primarily composed of cross-linked fibers to form a durable, resilient web. In facial skin, this elastin web helps to keep skin flexible but tight, providing a bounce-back reaction to its normal shape as it stretches to accommodate normal activities like talking.
As skin ages, the natural cross-linking of elastin fibers is reduced. At night, while you sleep, the skin works to repair and restore its structural components, and actually “opens up” to allow creams and serums to absorb more readily. You can get the most bang for your buck, then, by applying products with powerful anti-aging ingredients before bed.
“It’s important to establish a nighttime skincare regimen to restore skin’s defenses and replenish essential moisture,” explains nutritionist Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD. She adds that the skin can lose moisture during sleep, making hydrating ingredients especially important.
To help skin restore itself at night, women should adopt a nighttime skin care routine that includes an exfoliating cleanser, a serum and a moisturizing cream created for evening use. Sass recommends applying a nighttime serum containing beneficial and robust ingredients such as DDF Restoring Night Serum. This nighttime serum contains an exclusive turmeric complex that strengthens the moisture barrier and drenches the skin with essential hydration to allow the natural cross linking of elastin, helping to repair the look of deep wrinkles for visible results in just two weeks. Women who used DDF Restoring Night Serum saw noticeable improvements. After four weeks of use, the skin’s surface structure doubled in strength, significantly minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Exercising seems like a chore, instead of an enjoyable activity.
Do you find exercise boring or overwhelming? For you, the challenge is to find activities that are more enjoyable for you and easy to do. We can help! You might also think about exercising with a friend or a group of people – by joining a class or walking with a friend. Exercise will help you feel more involved and connected if you do it with others and find activities you like. Set yourself a mission to think differently about exercise because it can help you live a longer and healthier life.
I can’t stand the idea of exercising every day for at least 30 minutes.
That’s okay because exercising for several 10-minute periods a day can be just as effective as one 30-minute period. To get some ten-minute exercises, park in the farthest space at the shopping mall, or leave the car a couple of blocks away from your destination. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Do some of your own housekeeping or gardening.
I’ve always heard “no pain, no gain” and I don’t want to be in pain.
When you exercise, you should raise your heartbeat and breathe a little heavily, but you shouldn’t be hurting. In fact, if you push yourself so hard that you hurt, you may injure yourself. You can get plenty of good results when you exercise without pain. In fact, if you exercise in short ten-minute spurts, you may not even perspire heavily!
I’m already tired. Exercising will just make me more exhausted.
Physical activity will actually make you more alert – and will help you sleep better at night, which will make you less tired during the day. When you exercise, endorphins are released in your body. These make you more relaxed and give you energy!
I’m not sure what exercise programs are best for me.
As a senior, you may have specific conditions or diseases that should be taken into account before you begin an exercise program. Talk to your doctor about what type of exercise is best for you , and what types of exercise you should avoid. Your doctor may be able to connect you with a physical therapist who can assess your strengths and weaknesses and advise you about an exercise plan. A fitness instructor at the gym can do the same, but make sure you tell him or her about your limitations.
I can’t exercise because of a medical condition or physical limitation.
If you have a disease or disability, you may not be able to exercise as you once did – and this can make you feel frustrated or depressed. Don’t stop exercising now! This is when you need physical activity the most. Exercise can make you feel much better physically, mentally and emotionally – and can improve your mobility and reduce frailty.
Instead of focusing on what you can’t do, think about what you can do. Positive thoughts produce positive results. Talk to your doctor to find out what type of physical activity is best for you, and ask your doctor to help you locate a health professional to help design your exercise plan.
I don’t have the money to join a gym or buy expensive equipment.
There are lots of ways to exercise without ever walking in the door of a gym or purchasing fitness equipment! You can do lots of activities at home – indoors or out, with no specialized equipment. Meeting a friend for a walk or bike ride. Take a dance class at the senior center. Use resistance bands against your furniture, floors and walls to increase your strength. None of these activities require you to join a gym or buy equipment.
I don’t know how to use the equipment at my gym.
Are you avoiding the gym because you don’t understand the equipment? Make an appointment with an instructor at your gym who can teach you how to use the equipment the right way. If you haven’t already joined a gym, talk to other seniors and your doctor to find out which gyms connect well with seniors and are less intimidating. The local YMCA and senior center are good places to start.
NOTE: Always talk with your doctor before beginning an exercise program. Every type of exercise is not appropriate for all people, especially if you have high blood pressure, heart disease or diabetes. And it’s important that you start slowly with any physical activity.