HEALTH & WELLNESS

Flesh-eating bacteria making headlines, but cases are ‘rare’

4Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Flesh-eating bacteria making headlines, but cases are ‘rare’

Touted prominently this summer is news and educational information about current Eastern coastal algae blooms and flesh-eating bacteria. Many beaches have been closed due to high risk of infection or death. Ecowatch.com in June shared: “Vibrio vulnificus is an ‘opportunistic pathogen’ ... The bacteria thrive in warm salty and brackish waters and enter humans either through breaks in the skin or after being consumed with raw seafood. Up to one-third of people with vibrio vulnificus will die from the infection, which can cause a flesh-eating and commonly fatal bacteria known as necrotizing fasciitis.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists necrotizing fasciitis as rare, but also notes that 700 to 1,200 cases are diagnosed annually in the United States. Those with immune-comp...

Can’t sleep? You probably need to make these changes.

4Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Can’t sleep? You probably need to make these changes.

Brain research has shown how relevant sleep is to health, so it’s more important than ever to get a good night’s sleep. In the bedroom, that means not just decorating in calming colors but also minimizing stressors and optimizing conditions for a restful night. We asked some experts for advice and products to achieve that. Minimize noise A key obstacle to uninterrupted sleep is noise. To reduce it, Brooklyn-based architect and designer Adam Meshberg, founder of Meshberg Group, recommends soundproofing the walls — building an additional thin wall in front of the original, adding a layer of QuietRock sheetrock, or sealing any cracks or gaps within the walls. To a lesser extent, wallcoverings can also absorb sound, he says, though a padded wallcovering will do more than a simple wallpape...

4Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

HEALTH & WELLNESS

6 safety tips for summertime joggers

The key is to run sensibly A disagreeable notion, perhaps, to take a jog during summer months when temperatures soar? The key is to run sensibly. Road Runners Club of America offers this sound advice: 1. Stay hydrated: Pre-hydration with a few glasses of water before running is advised, then carry a bottle or wear a hydration pack and sip at least every 20 minutes. Rrca.org recommends weighing yourself before and after running and, to determine proper hydration, “you should have drunk one pint of fluid for every pound you’re missing. Indications that you are running while dehydrated are a persistent elevated pulse after finishing your run and dark yellow urine. Keep in mind that thirst is not an adequate indicator of dehydration.” 2. Pay attention to the day’s air pollution and humi...

Overwhelmed? 8 ways to alleviate that feeling

4Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Overwhelmed? 8 ways to alleviate that feeling

Feeling overwhelmed leads to poor productivity, stress, emotional upheaval and, according to Psychcentral.com, anger, helplessness and panic attacks Suffocation is an analogy equated often with the feeling of being overwhelmed. No wonder it can be so paralyzing. Feeling overwhelmed leads to poor productivity, stress, emotional upheaval and, according to Psychcentral.com, anger, helplessness and panic attacks, with possible symptoms of rapid heartbeat, sweating, chest pain and shortness of breath. People become overwhelmed for a range of reasons, such as the birth of a child, death of a loved one, a move, a job change, having overnight visitors and more. Psychcentral.com’s strategies to help alleviate feeling overwhelmed include: ‒ Accept the anxiety and, “Think of acceptance as ridi...

Postpartum depression: Signs to look for in women and men

4Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Postpartum depression: Signs to look for in women and men

Postpartum depression is a mood disorder that can affect women after childbirth In the Victorian era, it was known as melancholia. However, modernity recognizes the feelings of extreme sadness, anxiety and exhaustion accompanying the birth of a child as postpartum depression. Yet, while such entities as the National Institute of Mental Health maintain, “Postpartum depression is a mood disorder that can affect women after childbirth,” Medical Life Science and an increasing number of health-related experts also refer to the condition as paternal postnatal depression because new fathers can be affected. In May, psycom.net reported around 1 in 10 men experiences PPND after the birth of a child. For women, the condition is often the result of a quick drop in hormones (estrogen and proge...

4Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Foods that help your gut

Bloating, bad breath, skin irritation, sleeplessness and fatigue, and diarrhea are all symptoms of an unhealthy gut, caused primarily by bacteria in the intestinal tract. However, there are ways to obtain a healthier gut. Drew Hemler, a registered dietician based in Buffalo, New York, explained gut bacteria as “the ‘gut flora’ or the microbiome of our gastrointestinal (GI) tract.” Healthline.com last July informed further, “A person has about 300 to 500 different species of bacteria in their digestive tract. While some microorganisms are harmful to our health, many are incredibly beneficial and even necessary to a healthy body.” Yet, inflammatory foods, poor eating habits and lifestyle choices, and infections can result in an unhealthy gut. Hemler’s suggestions on ways to promote good...

4Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Pool safety tips for the summer

Tip of the week: Backyard pool Safety tips for the summer According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there are several ways to stay safe around backyard pools this summer: 1. Never leave a child unattended in or near water. 2. Teach children how to swim. 3. Teach children to stay away from drains. 4. Ensure all pools and spas — both in your backyard and any public pool you may visit — have compliant drain covers. 5. Install proper barriers, covers and alarms on and around your pool and spa. 6. Know how to perform CPR on children and adults. Veggie gardening What grows best in June Urban Farmer recommends beans, corn, cucumbers and summer squash for a June planting in USDA zones 3-8, which cover most of the continental U.S. Beans can be planted directly in the gr...

Ready to run: How to safely prepare for a running event

4Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Ready to run: How to safely prepare for a running event

Summertime into fall is replete with outdoor casual competitions. Color runs, obstacle courses, triathlons and 5Ks are enjoyable exercise goals for anyone from die-hard athletes to the minimally fitness-focused. Summertime into fall is replete with outdoor casual competitions. Not prepared? No sweat! Give a personal trainer the dates of the activities and ask him or her to set up a preparation workout schedule. Or, check out sites such as health.clevelandclinic.org, which provides safe preparation tips: - If necessary, check with a physician prior to the event. - Get plenty of sleep – at least seven to eight hours. - Run several times a week. Fitness gurus such as Ben Greenfield recommend at least three times a week. He offers this regimen: “For example, one day can be your ‘fast d...

4Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

HEALTH & WELLNESS

What really works to prevent snoring?

Whether the sound emitting from the snorer is what NSF describes as a “light rustle” or a “buzz saw,” it can wreak havoc on a bed partner’s ability to enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep. We hope you love these items as much as we did! GateHouse Media may collect a share of sales from links on this page. People snore for a number of reasons. The National Sleep Foundation points to primary causes as aging, nose and throat conditions, sleeping style, alcohol consumption and weight. NSF estimates 37 million Americans are frequent snorers, “with men and those who are overweight responsible for the bulk of it.” Whether the sound emitting from the snorer is what NSF describes as a “light rustle” or a “buzz saw,” it can wreak havoc on a bed partner’s ability to enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep. ...

4Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

HEALTH & WELLNESS

What to know about adult ADHD

Of the 8 million adults with ADHD, reports the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, fewer than 20 percent have been diagnosed or treated, and only about one-quarter of those adults seek help. The National Survey of Children’s Health estimated in 2016 that at least 6.1 million children experience Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Diagnoses among children continue to rise every year, says ADDtitude Magazine, but adults battle the disorder as well. Yet, of the 8 million adults with ADHD, reports the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, fewer than 20 percent have been diagnosed or treated, and only about one-quarter of those adults seek help. ADAA lists ADHD symptoms as an inability to focus, as well as disorganization and restlessness. Plus, adults with ADHD...