The committee’s report contained specific warnings to reduce red meat and processed meat consumption. Lower intakes of meats, including processed meats; processed poultry; sugar-sweetened foods, particularly beverages; and refined grains have often been identified as characteristics of healthy eating patterns.
For more information on the government's new 2015 dietary guidelines, visit http://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/
During the holiday season when we are surrounded by delicious treats and meals with friends, family and co-workers it's easy to over indulge and add on extra pounds. So what's the problem with putting on some extra weight over the holidays when you can take it off in the new year? According to the National Institutes of Health, the pounds most Americans put on over the Holidays are not so easily taken off and actually accumulate year over year, contributing the obesity.
The best strategy is to avoid putting on the extra pounds in the first place. Here are some tips for keeping the calories under control.
1. Watch the portions. The good news is that you should be able to can the food you want, the key is how much you consume.
2. Don't go to holiday gatherings hungry. Having a nutritious and fulfilling snack ahead of time will make it easier to resist over eating and control your portions.
3. Drink water instead of high calorie drinks. Those holiday cocktails don't just contain lots of calories themselves, they can also stimulate your appetite and make you lose track of how much you have eaten.
4. Offer healthy snacks. If you're contributing to the holiday menu consider offering healthy alternatives like fruits and vegetables and low calorie dips.
5. Focus on the real meaning of the season. The reality is most holiday gatherings are centered around food. By focusing your attention on friends and family, you can take pleasure in good conversation.
If you regularly experience the sensation of ringing or whistling sounds in your ears you have a very common condition called tinnitus. Tinnitus affects approximately 50 million Americans and for most people it is just an annoyance and not a serious problem. However, for some tinnitus can cause problems like sleeplessness and difficulty concentrating.
While tinnitus is sometimes associated with loss of hearing, many people with tinnitus experience no hearing loss and some may even become more sensitive to sound.
The most common cause of tinnitus is hearing that has been damaged by exposure to loud noise, which can cause permanent damage to the cochlea in the inner ear. Because even a single exposure to loud noise can damage the ear and cause tinnitus, it's important to protect your hearing when you're near loud music, power equipment, gunshots, aircraft engines and other loud noises.
Other common causes include:
If you're concerned about tinnitus or have other hearing problems, speak with your doctor.
As we approach the fall season many people begin to experience symptoms of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or seasonal depression. SAD is a very common mood disorder that is characterized by depression that occurs at the same time every year.
The symptoms of SAD include feeling tired, depressed, hopelessness, and withdrawing socially.
The exact causes of SAD are unknown, but there are several factors that seem to increase the likelihood of experiencing the condition, these include:
Having an occasional day when you feel down is normal, but don't brush off that yearly feeling as simply a case of the "winter blues" or a seasonal depression that you have to deal with on your own.
Feeling depressed to days at a time that leads to a lack of motivation and activity can signal a major depression. It's especially important to see your doctor if your sleep patterns and appetite have changed or if you feel hopeless, have suicidal thoughts, or turn to alcohol for comfort or relaxation.
Treatment for SAD may include light therapy (phototherapy), talk therapy and medications. Your doctor can also give you tips to keep your mood and motivation on an even keel throughout the year.
With the start of school approaching it's important to be prepared to reduce stress and make sure your child stays healthy and safe during the school year. Here are some things to check prior to the start of the school year.
Have your child's medical history and emergency contact information organized and available for your family and your child's school or day care provider. Have printed instructions for the caretaker to take with them to the emergency department if needed. Communicate with the school nurse about any medical conditions that may require medications or other supervision.
Vision and hearing screenings are especially important for kids starting their first year of school.
If your child rides the bus, pick a safe pick up/drop off spot that can be clearly seen by other adults and preferably in a group with other children.
If your child will be riding a bike (or skateboard or scooter) make sure they wear a helmet and have appropriate safety gear.
Allergy shots are not a magic bullet that will cure your allergies, however they can reduce the symptoms and make life easier. If you have severe allergies that last 3 months of the year or more, or you can't take allergy medications because of the side effects or adverse interactions with other medications you may be taking, allergy shots may be a good option.
Allergy shots can be given to children older than 2 years or older and adults without heart problems or severe asthma. To determine if allergy shots are right for you your doctor will review your medical history and do a medical exam. To identify your specific allergen(s), a series of allergy tests will be performed to decide what, if any allergy shots could be beneficial. It's important to perform the testing in small amounts to ensure there are no adverse reactions to the allergens.
If you don't like needles and the idea of taking a series of shots, you'll be happy to know that the needles used for for immunotherapy are smaller than needles used for most immunizations and medications.
To work properly and safely, allergy shots must be given in a series over time, so patience will be needed for the minimum of 6 months the series of shots will need to be administered. After the initial series, maintenance therapy will be usually be continued for 3-5 years.
If you suffer from allergies for more than 3 months out of the year, talk with your doctor to see if allergy medications or shots are a good option for you.
Everyone over age 20 should have a cholesterol screening every 5 years. Those at high risk for heart disease should have more frequent screenings. If your total cholesterol level exceeds a level of 200, safely lowering cholesterol levels may be possible with exercise and dietary changes. While your doctor can help you set a target cholesterol number, there are changes you can make that can help lower cholesterol levels significantly in about 6 weeks.
Increasing soluble dietary fiber is also beneficial in not only lowering cholesterol but contain heart-healthy antioxidants. Good sources of fiber include beans, oats and products containing psyllium.
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According to Weather.com, this allergy season is expected to be one of the worst in recent memory. The allergy season in Minnesota is expected to be more severe this year because colder temperatures have delayed the pollinating of trees. Since not all trees pollinate at the same time (maple, cedar and elm trees, pollinate earlier than other trees) the delay will result in a large number of trees pollinating at once.
If you suffer every spring from a runny nose, itchy eyes and headaches there are over-the-counter allergy medications like Zyrtec and Claritin, but if your allergies are severe, it may be time to talk with your physician.
Here are some tips to reduce allergy symptoms.
1. Use nasal sprays. Sprays containing Corticosteroid drugs target inflammation and are the most effective treatment for nasal allergy symptoms.
2. Close the windows and turn on the air conditioner. The furnace air filter will reduce the amount of pollen entering the home.
3. Use a saline nasal rinse. A saline rinse helps removes pollen, mucus, and other irritants from the nose.
4. Keep your home clean. Regularly Vacuum carpet and upholstery to remove allergens that have been brought indoors.
5. Avoid peak allergy times. Pollen counts are typically lowest early in the morning right before dawn and in the early evening.
In particular order, here are 5 of the most important health related news stories of 2014.
Ebola Outbreak
Health officials first reported an outbreak of Ebola in West Africa back in March. As healthcare workers and others travelled to other countries the outbreak became a dramatic example of how infectious diseases do no respect geographic or cultural boundaries, and can travel globally in just a matter of hours.
Influenza Reaches Epidemic Levels
It became clear early in the year that this year's vaccine would not be a good match for this season's influenza strain. This dominant flu strain is H3N2, a type of the virus that tends to be more serious.
The Affordable Care Act
The ACA is reshaping the American healthcare landscape. Many people who have never had health care insurance are getting covered and persons with pre-existing conditions are no longer denied coverage.
The Return of Measles
With more than 600 cases reported in at least 24 states measles was more prevalent in 2014 than in any year in the past two decades according to the CDC. One reasons for the return is the decline in measles vaccinations in recent years which has allowed the disease to regain a foothold in the U.S.
Self-Monitoring Applications
Mobile apps for iPhone and Android devices are changing how people monitor their well being. There are over 40,000+ healthcare apps available for download from Apple's iTunes app store alone. Most of these apps track overall wellness with diet and exercise making up the largest category. While many of these apps have simple functionality, in the future we expect them to provide an important link to your healthcare provider.
Every year thousands of Americans are sickened by carbon monoxide (CO gas). Between 1999–2010 5,149 deaths occurred from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning. Because CO gas is colorless and odorless, it's important to take steps to prevent it from accumulating in the home.
If you experience these symptoms you should get everyone (including pets) out of the home. Seek emergency medical treatment immediately and try to remain still to conserve oxygen in the blood.