The Social Side Of Giving For Health

Involving family, friends  and loved ones in health decisions may be more important than you think.

This post has placed an emphasis on giving for health to communicate the social side of managing one's health at home.

Giving for health is important to both the giver and person needing help.

There are many good reasons why giving for health is important.  Firstly, when you give for health, those who give get involved in health decisions that could affect them.

Because persons are connected, their health is also connected.

Other reasons for giving could be:
-For support and encouragement
-To prevent the breakdown of a relationships when lifestyle changes are necessary
-For success in accomplishing  better health outcomes
-For financial support because of related financial needs
-For an improvement in the person's wellbeing.
-For better recovery from illness
-To protect health
- To preserve family life affected by illness

Family and friends can a be a source of health information when they give gifts of health. 
Family and friends can also be a source for health awareness. Family and friends can foster feelings of wellbeing and instill hope instead of despair.

In one study researchers found that patients recovering from a heart attack had poorer quality of life, more likely to suffer from angina and be depressed if their level of support was low.
Read about this study.

Both individuals and their support network can contribute to healthier outcomes. Individuals can do so by asking for their health's sake; family and friends can contribute by giving and supporting in times of  health needs.

Giving for health can be done in many ways, for example by giving:

• Products that promote health and wellbeing 
• Devices and equipment for self care.
• Medical coverage or payment for medical intervention.
• Support not abandonment 
• Encouragement, not redicule
• Help with lifestyle changes
• Monetary help
• Giving for health research
• Giving gifts of health instead of another

An example of a time when  giving is especially valuable is with smoking cessation. Smoking is a major cause of diseases and premature deaths. It is not easy to quit especially without  help.

If a friend's or family's life is already physically challenge, quitting can save it. Help from family and friends makes quitting easier.

Researchers have found that alcohol consumption behaviour within one's social network can affect their own alcohol consmption behaviour. They found that the behaviours of family and friends were significantly associated with a person's drinking.


These are times when giving for health can be especially helpful.

• To improve the person's quality of life
• Elder care
• During temporary ill-health
• For smoking cessation help
• When lifestyle changes are necessary
• Surviving mental illness
• Assistance with daily living at home
• When weight loss is crucial
• To support cancer other health research

Giving for health can be done for special occasions such as anniversaries, birthdays and Christmas but one can give each and every day.

Remember when you give for health, your gifts can last all year round and all lifelong, remember family and friends with health needs.

Walking To Prevent Heart Disease

Every year the World Heart Federation hosts World Heart Day on September 29. This year the organization joined forces with BUPA, a leader in health care, to organize a world walking event.

 If you are a walker, walk for a healthy lifestyle,or use a pedometer, there is an opportunity for you to donate your walking distances to prevent heart disease.

If regular exercise is not yet part of your lifestyle, it is a good time to start by walking and participating in a healthy cause.

The World Heart Federation has teamed up with BUPA to host the Ground Miles Challenge. This is a global event in which the world is invited to walk for the release of funds  for the prevention of heart disease. The funds will be released by BUPA for the protection of children from heart disease and early death.

The aim is to get the world waking 5 million miles by the end of 2013, once it has been accomplished BUPA will release funds to prevent heart disease in children.

These are ways to get involved:
1-By downloading a free App from BUPA
   Download here.

2-Signing up with the World Heart Federation to record your miles manually.
   Sign up here.

For more information on the challenge Click Here.

Every year 1.35 million babies are born with congenital heart disease; while rheumatic heart disease is a leading problem among children. You can help to release the funds for protecting children from heart disease when you participate. It costs nothing to get involved, just walk , count your miles and submit the totals.

Anit-Depressants May Not Help With Autism

A clinical trials report done in 2010 found anti-depressants not to be effective in treating autism.

Although anti-depressants are used to treat the disorder, according to a clinical trials report, there is no evidence to support their usefulness.

Autism is an autism spectrum disorder-ASD), characterized by difficulties with communication and social and developmental problems.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRI) are antidepressants commonly used to help with the symptoms.

Researchers reviewed the findings of a study done on celexa with six other clinical trials and found there were differences between the use of SSRI's and a placebo.

For the largest study 149 children were given either a placebo or an SSRI medication for three months. One third of the children in each group showed improvement in repetitive behaviour.

Read more about this report.

Due to the side effects of SSRI's,  experts are advising against recommending them for children with autism.

Some Alcohol May Be Good For The Health

If you consume alcohol or if you love  to have a glass of wine or beer , you could be boosting your bone health.

According to a study consuming a glass or two of beer or wine a day may have health benefits. The study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 

 For the study researchers studied 1,182 men; 1,289 menopausal women, 248 post-menopausal women.

Result: 

1- Men who had one or two drinks per day had denser bones than those who did not.

 2- Women who drank more than two glasses per day had greater bone mineral density that those who drank less.

Read More on the study.

Caution has to  be used when consuming alcohol on a regular basis especially in the presence of other habits such as smoking and use of drugs. There are several risk factors for non-communicable diseases and harmful use of alcohol is one of them. Non-communicable diseases are: cancers, heart disease. heart attacks, strokes. COPD and other respiratory diseases.

Autism Linked To Environmental Factors

According to a report done on autism, environmental factors may contribute to autism.

 For the study researchers focused on the environmental factors that babies and fetuses are exposed to.  They argued that the increase in autism cases in California could not be explained by changes in doctors' diagnoses.

For example:
In 1990 there were 205 new cases of autism; 6.2 of  every10,000 children born were autistic.
In 2006, there were 3,000 new cases and 42.5 of every 10,000 were autistic.
Medical experts suspected changes in diagnoses or migration tom the state.

They analyzed 17 years of state data that tracks developmental disability. They also used birth records and census bureau data to calculate the rate of autism and diagnosis.

The result:
Migration to the state of California had no effect.
Changes in how and when doctors diagnose the disorder and when officials file reports can explain less than half of the cases.


Read Report

Clinical Trials Information

The National Library Of Medicine and Clinicaltrials.gov have made it possible for the general public to obtain data and to research clinical trials studies on most conditions.

Here are details of specific trials. They are up to date at time of reading this post. You may go directly to the website as well.

• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• AIDS
• Cancer 
• Prostate cancer

To access other diseases and conditions, go to their website and do a search.
Clinicaltrials.gov

Second Mastectomy- A Preventative Measure

More women are deciding to have their second breast removed to prevent cancer developing again.

According to a study, it could be a  preventative measure to protect their health and save their lives

Researchers studied 542 women with breast cancer and identified three factors which put them at risk of developing cancer in the second breast.

• More than one tumor in the same breast at time of diagnosis
• A high score in the Gail model
• Cancer begins in the milk producing glands rather than the milk ducts, then invading surrounding tissue

The women in the study who had all three risk factors had both breasts removed between 2000 and 2007. Researchers believe that these women are good candidates for removal of the second breast to protect their health and save their lives. Read More

Surgical Checklist Can Reduce Complications

A simple surgical checklist could make surgery safer than ever, the checklist mentioned by the World Health Organization(WHO)as a 'safe surgery' tool will decrease mortality and complications.

Researchers found that the simple surgical checklist can reduce complications and deaths after major surgery.

The study took place in the following cities:

• Toronto, Canada
• London, UK
• Auckland, Newzealand
• Seattle, USA
• Jordan
• India
• Manilla, Philippines
• Tanzania

Data was collected from 7688 patients: 3733 before the checklist was initiated and 3955 after completion of the checklist.  Hospitals in both high and low income settings  participated.

Result:

1. The reductions in complications were of equal magnitude in both settings.
2. Major complications rate fell from 11% to 7%
3. Inpatient deaths fell by by more than 40%

The checklist in question, is a three-step process, initiated before anaesthesia, then prior to the skin incision and completed before the patient leaves the OR.

Read Report

Hospitals responded well to the results of the study, Many around the world are expected to implement its use making major surgery safer than ever.

Elderly Not Affected By Intensity of Exercise

Researchers wanted to evaluate the different intensities of aerobic exercise on the elderly with mild cognitive impairment.

According to the result of study the intensity of aerobics had no effect on the participants.

The randomized study involved 48 patients in residential homes for the elderly.

They were placed in one of three groups:
1-Performed aerobics exercise at 40% heart rate reserve
2-Performed aerobic exercise at 60% heart rate reserve
3-Performed recreational activities.

Their functional ability and cognitive level were assessed:
1-Before the intervention
2-At the end the study (3 months)
3-Three months later

On completion of the study, all patients in the aerobic training improved marginally.

There were no differences regarding cognitive level and functional ability among those in the aerobic training program and those who performed recreational activites.

The study was published in the Clinical Rehabilitation in May, 2012

So You Want To Quit Smoking!

Nicotine is the killer drug in the cigarettes and cigars that people smoke.

When you smoke the nicotine affects the brain making you temporarily calm and more alert; you actually get a mood boost. When the effects wear off the cravings to be calm and alert return and you go for another cigarette for a boost.

These personal benefits make it difficult to quit. Smoking however is bad for health because it is a #1 cause of various cancers, cardiovascular disease, respiratory diseases and more. It suppresses your immune system; it is a leading cause of premature death.

Links

Smoking is; however, a modifiable risk factor that can be stopped. There are many things one can do to quit and stay quit.

Benefits of Quitting Smoking
 The benefit of quitting is: 'good health' first and most important, but their are social and environmental benefits as well.

People who quit reduce their risk for non-communicable diseases(NCD's) and premature deaths. Within hours of quitting  their blood pressure drops. Quitting reduces your risk  for heart disease, strokes, lung disease, cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).

A woman's health is improved when she quits, quitting decreases her risk for infertility and complications during pregnancy.  Smoking during pregnancy can cause premature births and still births. Babies of mothers who smoke during pregnancy are at greater risk of being sick neonates.

The good thing about quitting is that there is a lot of free resources online and locally. There is support locally, nationally and internationally.When you decide to quit:

• Set a date to do so
• Get rid of all your cigarettes, ashtrays and lighters by this date
• Tell your health professional of your decision and ask for support
• Tell your spouse or friends
• Join a no-smoking program online, most are free
• Check out the resources available in your local community
• Hang out with non-smoking colleagues or peers
• Try nicotine replacement therapy
• Cut down on the number you smoke

When you quit, it may not be easy, remember it is a lifestyle change that is taking place. The changes would affect may aspects of your life. The changes will help you succeed with quitting and the benefits are long-term. Nicotine is also very addictive.

Lifestyle Changes
Mood Boost-Try alternate natural ways to keep calm and alert. There are many self-help books and resources that can  help you. should you find an alternative, stick with it.

More sleep-Get sufficient sleep: instead of staying up with a cigarette, hit the pillow instead. More sleep is adding to even better health.

Physical activity-Have some free time? Go for physical activity such as walking, running and cycling. Don't remain inactive too long.  Purchase a good exercise/fitness equipment for home use.

Leisure- Cut out habits that seem to accompany your smoking routine, for example: a certain past time or hobby that triggers the urge to smoke, or a place you go regularly.   Hang out with people you know that don't smoke.


If quitting is still difficult there are behaviour change programs, counseling. hypnotherapy and mHealth:  they are approved methods that work.

Parents can be an example to  their children to help them develop non-smoking lifestyles and to protect them from second hand smoke.

Support World No Tobacco Day.

 Reading Material
The Benefits Of Quitting

Healthy Lifestyle Habits- Do's For Success

 If a lifestyle change is necessary or on your mind, have you got the willpower to start and stay with it?

This article is about making lifestyle changes to improve health status.  It may be  that you  are just health conscious, may you  are recovering from illness or surgery, may be your at risk for premature death if you don't make a change.

 Whatever the reason, after reading this article you will feel better about making decisions for a lifestyle change.

If  you have health risk factors, find out what they are; some are unavoidable, meaning you could not have prevented them, they are age, gender, hereditary, environment.

Avoidable risk factors are ones such as: unhealthy eating, physical inactivity, overweight/obesity, smoking, harmful use of alcohol, drug abuse and air pollution. They are habits chosen by us  sometime during our life cycle.

One risk factor that falls somewhere in between is existing disease. Certain diseases once developed become a risk for other health problems, when this takes place the person is already physically challenged.

Whatever risk factors are present,  a change in lifestyle will improve health status, improve quality of life and prevent premature deaths.

 Fortunately the avoidable risk factors can control all others so modifying them will go a long way towards to improving overall health.  Focus on them to make your lifestyle change, if any is present start removing them.

Things To Do

• Make a lifestyle change plan of action
• Get to know your risk factors first
• Plan to reduce or eliminate them
• Track your progress
• Keep Records

If existing disease is a risk factor, talk to your physician and tell him/her your plans. It would involve  your health professional.

Get to know what your health risks are because of unavoidable risks factors. For example,  if you are a male what are your chances of developing prostate cancer at age 60. Keep informed on the current data on prostate cancer.

Ladies, may be you have a family history of breast cancer, know the facts about hereditary related to breast cancer.

To all, reduce or eliminate the avoidable risk factors, they control the unavoidable ones. Include it in your plan of auction, they are:

• Smoking
• Overweight/Obesity
• Physical inactivity
• Unhealthy eating
• Air pollution
• Harmful use of alcohol

 There are two health education plans that anyone can use to get started and succeed with lifestyle change, they are both free on subscribing to them.

 There is a weight loss plan which focuses on weight control, click here to view.

 The general health plan coaches you step-by step to reduce avoidable health risk factors,  This is ideal for the person with more than one avoidable risk factors, click here to view.

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Early Balding Linked to Increased Risk For Heart Disease

Men who become bald early in life may be at increased risk for heart disease, but eliminating avoidable risk factors early in life can help them reduce it. This is another good reason for choosing a healthy lifestyle.
 
Researchers of a recent study have linked an increase risk for heart disease with balding before age 50.  

The participants in the study were 40,000 men, middle aged to 60.

For this study, the researchers analyzed data from 6 existing studies that had examined the link between hair loss and cardiovascular disease.

Three studies tracked men's baldness for 11 years, the other three examined the heart health of men who were balding compared to those with a healthy hairline. 

Result 
The result of the first three studies showed that men younger than 55 to 60 who experienced baldness were 44% more at risk for coronary artery disease. The later three studies showed that all men who experience baldness were at increased risk but those who did so before age 50 were 84 % more likely to have some form of heart disease.

Researchers also reported it was too preliminary for men to be concerned about the results and that pursuing a healthy lifestyle is a better decision.
 
Unhealthy eating, physical inactivity, smoking and alcohol abuse are avoidable risk factors for heart disease, by focusing on a lifestyle without them men can reduce the risks of heart disease associated with balding.

Read more on this study.


Heart disease is the number 1 cause of deaths globally, but can be prevented choosing a lifestyle without the following risk factors"

• Unhealthy eating
• Lack of physical activity
• Smoking
• Overweight/obesity
• Harmful use of alcohol.   

Men who have a family history of baldness would be wise to choose a healthy lifestyle early in life to offset any chances of heart disease.
 
Our health program uses fives avoidable risk factors to teach men and women how to develop health lifestyles.
Click Here for more on it.

How Strong is Your Willpower?

May be you are determined to lose weight, eat better, be more physically active or live a healthier lifestyle, but how strong is your will power?

According to a report your willpower can be inherited, this means the amount of will power you possess could be in your genes.

Although you may not be genetically inclined to have the willpower necessary to stick with your plans, there are ways to strengthen  it.  Here are ten ways to turn your will power on:

• Practice
• Workup to it
• Watch re-runs
• Think long-term
• Try your memory
• Eat a snack
• Take a nap
• Sip some caffeine
• Cheer on others
• Laugh a lot

Click on the link below to read each in detail.

10 ways to strengthen your willpower | TheSpec.com

I want to add 'Making a Plan'
Making changes to one's  lifestyle should be treated as an important event, make a plan and use it to monitor your progress.

For those planning to lose weight here is a way to improve your chances of success.
Planning For Your Weight Loss Diet.

Preventing A Brain Attack

According to a new study, a low-risk lifestyle can prevent a brain attack by reducing the risk for ischemic stroke by 80%.

Stroke is a cardiovascular disease(CVD) that is preventable by adopting certain lifestyles and ditching others.

The report on the study gave some ways to maintain a low-risk lifestyle, they are:
1-Smoking cessation
2-Women, get off the hormones
3-Eat your vegetables and fruit
 4-Keep blood pressure and cholesterol under control
5-Take aspirin and blood thinners if your doctor orders them

Read about each in more detail.

Smoking and unhealthy eating are key risk factors for non-communicable diseases(NCD's) such as: heart disease, strokes, cancer and other chronic diseases.  There is, therefore, a lot of evidence to support smoking cessation and healthy eating as a ways to reduce strokes.

Healthy eating would include a lot of fruits and vegetables in the diet, this would reduce the risks of high blood pressure and high cholesterol.


I want to add these important actions that will reduce the risk factors that cause cardiovascular disease. They are:
1-Keep physically active
2-Maintain a healthy body weight
3-Avoid second-hand smoke
4- Maintaining clean air


There is a consumer health education program that prepares people to live a healthier lifestyle.
Click here to learn more about it or to start preparing.

Horsemeat Has Healthy Eating Benefits-Study

 Researchers say horsemeat is healthier than other meat, is high in iron, low in saturated fat,  a rich source of polyunsaturated fatty acids and a good source of omega-3.

Based on this report it is healthier than other meat and similar to fish, making it ideal for  the prevention if iron deficiency anaemia and cardiovascular disease (CVD).

The participants of the study were men age 20- 50. They were split into two groups as follows:

1. Group 1 ate 2 x 175 g of horsemeat per week for three months
2. Group 2 ate other meat, but no horse meat for three months

Blood tests were done at the start of the study, at 45 days into the study and at 90 days.

Results- The participants who ate horsemeat had a 6% drop in total cholesterol and a 9.1% in bad cholesterol.

Read  more about this study.

For healthy eating  2 servings of fish per week is recommended.

For healthy eating poly-unsaturated  and mono-unsaturated fats are recommended for our fat and oil requirements. Saturated fat; on the other hand, must be limited because it is associated with high choloesterol and obesity.

For a simple guide to our daily food requirements read my Healthy Eating Guide, it is based on Canada Food Guide.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids Linked To Healthy Babies

There is another good reason for including a healthy diet in family planning. This time researchers linked Omega-3 to healthier babies and  reduced risk for premature delivery.

Omega-3 is present in oily fish and fish oil and is available as a supplement. Omega -3 is also present in some packaged food products that have it as an additive.

 In a double blind clinical trials study done on Omega-3 fatty acids, researchers found that mothers who took the supplement during pregnancy have healthier babies.

The participants were 154 healthy women. During the last half of their pregnancy there were given either:

1. A daily dose of 600mg of Omega-3
2. A placebo

Result 
There were no adverse effects to taking DHA.

The mothers who took the supplement had babies that weighed more and were longer.

Of the mothers  who took the placebo, 5% had premature births compared to only 0.6% of those who took the supplement.

For the study the researchers took in account:

• Maternal education
• Socio-economic status
• Previous pregnancies
• Smoking
• Health risk factors   

Pregnant women should contact their doctors to see if they can benefit from the supplement. there may be other factors  to consider.

 Women who are not pregnant and are planning to have a family could make healthy eating a part of their plans; healthy eating includes fish,  fish oils and omega-3 food products.

Click Here for our 'Health Eating Guide for non-pregnant women.

Read more about the study. 

Risk Factors For Lung Cancer

 About 1.37 million people die each year from lung cancer.

Most of the lives lost to cancer have been due to cancer of the lungs; it accounts for 1:6 deaths from cancer.

Smoking is the major risk factor, 80-90% of lung cancers are caused by smoking tobacco.

Here are 9 risk factors for lung cancer, they are slide format.

1. Smoking
2. Second-hand smoke
3. Alcohol dependency
4. Physical inactivity
5. Air pollution
6. Exposure to asbestos
7. Unhealthy diet
8. Arsenic
9. Radon

 Click on each slide for photos and more details.

Cancer including lung cancer can be prevented by avoiding or reducing these risk factors. This means making lifestyle changes if necesary. Here are some lifestyle habits to adopt.

• Don't smoke, if you smoke quit now
• Eat a diet rich in vegetables and fruit
• Have your home tested for radon
• Avoid prolonged exposure to air pollution
• Avoid exposure to asbestos
• Keep physically active

This consumer health education program prepares people to eliminate health risk factors that cause cancer and other non-communicable diseases.
Click for more information or to participate in it.

Quitting The Smoking Habit

If you've made a resolution to quit smoking or if you are  a smoker you can quit the habit in 2013.

Quitting smoking, at any time has tremendous health benefits, but the younger you are when you quit the greater they are.

Quitting has immediate and long-term effects, the longer you stay quit the greater the effects.

Why Quit
Tobacco is a major health risk factor for non-communicable diseases and a big public health concern.

Almost 6 million people die each year due to smoking and 600,000 who are not smokers die from second-hand smoke.

Smoking delays or prevents recovery from unavoidable illnesses.

Quitting will prevent premature deaths from cancer, heart.attacks and strokes.

Quitting before starting a family will protect the unborn child will insure a healthy one.

Quitting is not easy, those who quit may face challenges that will prevent them from remaining tobacco free.

Quitting.
Many people quit cold-turkey, but many return to the habit. There is more help for smokers who want to quit than any other habit.
When you decide to quit ask for support, tell your spouse or other family members.

If you decide to go cold-turkey, start by cutting down on the number of cigarettes and by delaying the first cigarette until later in the day.

Many people suffer from withdrawal symptoms, they only last a few weeks. There are medications that relieve symptoms and block cravings.

Weight gain is one side effect of quitting, but this can be remedied by a simple weight control strategy.

Counseling combined with medication doubles the chances of success: although each on its own can be used.

Online and local self-help programs offer help, many are free. Checking your local community or health department could give you access to free help.

Text messaging is an alternative to traditional counseling, it is a new form of  mobile health(mHealth) that delivers messages at a time when behavour change is necessary.

If you don't succeed at the first attempt, don't give up. There is a lot of help, try another until you succeed.

Tips for Success

• Identify the situations, events or activities that make you want to smoke and write them down
• Avoid those situations that cause you to smoke
• Hang out with non-smokers
• Tell  your friends who smoke the reason why you can't hang out with them.
• Don't sit for long periods when you can smoke, be physically active instead.

When you succeed you can help others and advocate for smoking cessation initiatives.

There is a Consumer Health Education program that prepares people to quit, it combines healthy eating and weight loss with a strategy to quit.  For those concerned about weight gain it could be the answer.

Click here to read about it.

Smoking And Pelvic Pain In Pregnancy

Quitting the smoking habit is a good health decision for those planning to start a family. There are many pregnancy related problems that can be avoided by the no-smoking lifestyle. This report is about pelvic pain.

According to a research report, women who smoke during pregnancy are at increased risk for pregnancy related pelvic pain.

The report says that pelvic pain in pregnancy is common, about 14-33% of women develop this pain during pregnancy.

The study was done by Danish researchers who interviewed 5,000 women during and soon after pregnancy.

2,300 women who reported pelvic pain were compared with 2,700 who did not report the pain.

The result: Those who smoke and those who quit early in pregnancy are 20% more likely to have pregnancy related pain; it however, did not prove cause and effect.

Read report

 Based on this report, it is a wise  that couples include smoking cessation in their plans to start a family. Those who smoke should  make a serious commitment (before pregnancy)to quit.

There is a consumer health education program that prepares people to quit, it is combined with weight control and healthy eating.  The combination makes the program ideal for family planners.
Click to read about this program.