Posts from — November 2010

Hepatitis A virus may cause  serious liver disease. Hepatitis A is found all over the world. It is common in countries with poor sanitary conditions. Hepatitis A is contagious.

You can get Hepatitis A by close contact with somebody who has it. You can get it by eating food prepared by somebody with Hepatitis A. You can also get Hepatitis A by drinking dirty water that contains the virus.

Everyone, particularly individuals  with Hepatitis A should clean their hands often with soap and water. Be certain to always clean after using the restroom or changing a diaper. Clean your hands before eating or preparing food.

You can also get Hepatitis A by drinking water that contains the virus.

There is a safe vaccine to help prevent Hepatitis A. You will not get Hepatitis A from the vaccine.

Talk with your main care provider about getting the Hepatitis A vaccine when –  

•  You’re planning to travel to a country where many individuals  have Hepatitis A

•  You have been told that you have chronic liver disease, including infection with Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C

•  You use illegal drugs

•  You are a man who has sex with men

•  You have a blood clotting-factor disorder

You will need to get a total of two shots. You ought to get the second shot 6 months to 12 months after the first one. After each shot, you might have some soreness where the needle went in. You might also feel tired or have a headache.

What’s pre-diabetes?

In pre-diabetes, blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not as high as with diabetes.

Pre-Diabetes is becoming more common in the United States. As many as 50 million people  have pre-diabetes.

What when you have pre-diabetes?

Pre-diabetes increases your risk for developing Type 2 diabetes. A lot of individuals  with pre-diabetes develop Type 2 diabetes within 10 years.

People  with pre-diabetes are also at risk for developing heart illness, or having a stroke.

Diabetes can damage almost every part of your body. It can make you blind, damage to your heart and blood vessels, or cause kidney problems, stroke, or nerve damage. For women, diabetes can complicate pregnancy.

When you have pre-diabetes, you can reduce your risk of developing diabetes by –  

•  Losing some weight. If you are overweight, try to lose ~5% of your body weight by making small changes in your diet and getting regular exercise. This can help to delay, or even stop you from having kind 2 diabetes.

Need some helpful tips on losing weight?

•  Consult with your health care team for help in losing weight.

Second-hand smoke is the smoke that is exhaled by a smoker and the smoke released from a pipe, or the burning end of a cigar or cigarette.

Second-hand smoke is a cancer causing-agent for men, women and children.

o  Second-hand smoke contains at least 60 cancer causing-substances.

o  Breathing second-hand smoke is a risk factor for the development of lung cancer.

o  Second-hand smoke is responsible for nearly 3,000 deaths each year.

o  It’s a known risk factor for cancer in the nasal sinus, lung infections and heart illness.

o  Second-hand smoke is linked with cervical cancer, breast cancer and lung cancer.

Second-hand smoke contains poisonous substances, including carbon monoxide, tar, arsenic and lead.

Chronic coughs, wheezing, chest discomfort, poorer lung function, irritation of your eye and nose, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and low birth weights are all linked to second-hand smoke.

No amount of second-hand smoke is safe.

Speak with your loved ones who smoke and encourage them to quit – for your health and theirs.

Consider wearing a mouth guard.

A mouth guard can help to protect your teeth from injury during sports.

What is a mouth guard?

A mouth guard is designed to help cushion the mouth and your teeth.  The guard generally covers the up per teeth and minimizes risk of broken teeth and injuries that can occur from broken or chipped teeth. Mouth guards range from being ready made to custom fitted.

Who should wear a mouth guard?

Kids and adults ought to use a mouth guard.

When you participate in an activity that could cause  injury to your mouth or play contact sports – football, ice hockey, basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer or volleyball – you ought to consider wearing one.

A mouth guard can decrease the risk of mouth-related injuries to your lips, tongue and soft tissues of mouth. They also can help to avoid chipped or broken teeth, nerve damage to a tooth and even tooth loss that can result from a blow to the mouth.

Your teeth are meant to last a lifetime. Taking care and protecting your teeth can help them to stay healthy.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is also called coronary artery disease (CAD), is the most common type of heart disease.

CHD develops when one or more of the coronary arteries (arteries that supply blood to the heart muscles itself) becomes narrow. This results from a buildup of cholesterol. This buildup reduces the blood flow to the heart muscle.

What can happen?

As coronary heart illness develops, damage to the heart occurs and the following conditions may create –  

Angina

When the heart is not getting enough oxygen, a individuals might feel pain or discomfort in the chest. This is known as angina. Signs of angina include –  

•  Discomfort or pressure felt in the chest.

This can range from a vague ache to a crushing sensation.

•  Pain or pressure in the left arm, shoulder, or throat.

•  Difficulty catching your breath.

Heart Failure

Heart failure occurs when a weakened heart cannot pump efficiently. Fluid builds up in the ankles, legs, and lungs.

Heart Attack

If blood flow to any part of the heart is completely blocked, the cells in that part of the heart begin to die. This causes a heart attack. Symptoms of a heart attack can include –  

o  Pain or pressure in the chest, shoulders or arms (most widely on the left side), neck or lower jaw

o  Shortness of breath

o  Weakness

o  Rapid heart beat

o  Lightheadedness or faintness

o  Profuse sweating

o  Nausea or vomiting

If these symptoms occur, get help fast.  Call 911 right away.

Adults in their 40’s can have a slow loss in being able to see small objects or print. They also have trouble seeing things close-up. This is known as far-sightedness or presbyopia. It may be easier to read print when you hold reading materials further away. “Reading” glasses can help.

Another change related to age is cataracts. A cataract is a cloudy area in eye lens. This causes loss of eyesight. Cataracts are easily detected with a routine eye exam. Cataracts could be removed with surgery. Surgery may  be needed when these changes in vision interfere with every day activities.

As you age, you’re less able to make tears and your eyes might feel dry, itchy or burning. A home humidifier or special eye drops may help. Consult with your eye care provider about what’d be best for you.

Over time, if glaucoma is not treated, it can lead to loss of vision or blindness.  The risk of glaucoma increases if you’re over 65 years of age or an African American over 40. Glaucoma might not have any signs. It is detected with an eye exam. There are many treatments for glaucoma ranging from eye drops to surgery.

See an eye care professional immediately if –  

•  you suddenly cannot see

•  vision is dim, or

•  you see flashes of light

You also need to be seen when you experience –  

•  eye pain,

•  fluid coming from eye,

•  double vision, redness or

•  swelling of eyelid

And remember… when you’re outdoors, wear sunglasses that block UV rays.

The tetanus / diphtheria / pertussis shot (Tdap) protects against three serious illnesses.

Tetanus also known as ‘lockjaw’ is a serious disease. Individuals  with Tetanus ordinarily have painful tightening of the jaw and neck muscles. As a result, they cannot open their mouths or swallow. Tetanus doesn’t spread from person to person. Individuals  get tetanus when their skin is cut or broken, particularly when they are around dust, soil and manure.

Diphtheria is a very serious infection of the upper chest.  The infection can lead to breathing problems, heart failure, paralysis and even death. A individuals who’s diphtheria can give it to somebody else by coughing. Today, hardly anybody in the U.S.  gets diphtheria because nearly everybody gets the vaccine (shot).

Pertussis (whooping cough) is an infection of the chest that causes people  to cough very hard for a long time. Sometimes people  cough so hard they break a rib. A person with whooping cough also has trouble breathing. Whooping cough can lead to pneumonia. Whooping cough spreads easily from one person to another.

The Tdap shot is the best way to protect against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough. If you are between 19 – 64 years old, you ought to get the Tdap shot one time. When it’s time for you to get your tetanus diphtheria booster shot, that’s a good time to get the Tdap shot instead. Your provider may recommend Tdap as soon as 2 years from your last tetanus/diphtheria booster because Tdap also protects you against whooping cough.

After you get Tdap shot, your skin may  be sore where the needle went in.

The warmer weather brings us outdoors and brings some unwanted “guests”. Here are some helpful hints to prevent being bit by a tick.

Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) are common in the United States. Both are the result from a Tick bite.

Ticks are generally harmless, unless the tick is infected.  The tick that causes Lyme illness is the Black-legged Deer Tick. It’s the size of the head of a pin and generally lives on deer.  The American dog tick and the Rocky Mountain wood tick are the ticks that cause RMSF.

Here are some ways to protect yourself from ticks –  

•  Apply insect repellant. Make sure to use a repellant that contains DEET to exposed skin. Do not forget to read the product’s instructions before use.

•  Avoid wooded areas and areas with high grass and with lots of litter. Ticks are found in these areas.

•  Wear long-pants, long-sleeves and sock when you’re going to be in wooded areas. Tuck your clothing –  pants into socks; shirts into pants. This will help to keep ticks on the outside of clothing.

•  Stay in the middle of trails to avoid contact with high grass, bushes and leaf litter.

•  Make sure to take additional care in the months of May, June and July. Ticks are most active these months.

•  Remove outer clothing before coming indoors.

•  Be sure to check yourself daily for the presence of ticks.

•  Remove ticks using a pair of tweezers. If you find a tick, remove it using tweezers. Dispose of the tick in a plastic bag.

•  Cleanse the area where the tick was with an antiseptic.

Remember –  Normally, a tick needs to be on the skin for about 36 hours or more for it to spread Lyme disease or RMSF.

Notify your main care provider if create a fever, nausea, muscle aches, headache, loss of appetite and/or a rash after a tick bite.

Measles, Mumps and Rubella (German measles) are each caused by a virus. These diseases are highly contagious. They’re spread by coughing, sneezing, or drinking from the same cup or using the same fork or spoon as someone who has one of these diseases.

•  Someone with the measles will have a rash, cough, runny nose, runny eyes and fever.  The disease can lead to more serious problems like ear infections or pneumonia. Sometimes, it can even cause seizures and brain damage.

•  Someone with the mumps will have a rash, fever and swollen glands in the cheeks and neck. It can also result in more serious problems, like deafness, meningitis, or painful swelling of the testicles or ovaries.

•  Rubella symptoms are a rash and mild fever. If a pregnant woman gets rubella, she could lose the baby or it could be born with a birth defect.

The MMR vaccine protects against all of these diseases.

Speak with your main care provider about the MMR vaccine when you –  

•  Were born after 1957 and don’t have proof of vaccination as a child.

•  Are a female old enough to become pregnant.

•  Were vaccinated for measles before 1968.

•  Plan to travel outside the USA

•  Be certain to work in a health care facility

After the shot, you could experience some soreness where the needle went in, fever or a mild rash.

You do not need the MMR vaccine if –  

•  You were born before 1957.

•  Blood tests show that you have protection against measles, mumps and rubella.

When you eat, your body turns some food into a sugar called glucose.  The cells that make up your body need this glucose to give you energy. Your body also makes insulin. Insulin helps glucose get into your cells. Type 2 diabetes is a illness where your body doesn’t use insulin well or doesn’t make enough insulin. Now, the glucose can’t get into your cells. It stays in your blood, while your cells are starved for energy.  The high levels of glucose in your blood damage nerves and blood vessels. This may cause  heart illness, eye illness, kidney illness, and nerve problems. These problems can lead to heart attacks, stroke, blindness, amputation, and dialysis.

How can you tell when you’ve kind 2 diabetes?

More than six million individuals  in the United States have kind 2 diabetes and do not know it. You mightn’t have any signs. Or, your signs might  be so mild that you do not even notice them.

You might’ve diabetes if you –  

o  Are thirsty most of the time

o  Are hungry even though you eat enough

o  Are tired all the time

o  Need to urinate a lot

o  Notice that things look blurry

o  Make certain to get a sore that doesn’t heal

Sometimes people  have signs but do not think they have diabetes.  The earlier you find out that you have diabetes, the better. Treatment can stop diabetes from damaging your body. When you have signs that you think might  be related to diabetes, talk with your physician.

How can kind 2 diabetes be prevented?

Make these changes to help reduce the risk of getting diabetes –  

o  Reach and maintain a healthy body weight

o  Make wise food options

o  Be physically active every day