October: A Month of Health Awareness

October is dedicated to raising awareness about many important health topics. National Health Observances recognizes each October health awareness topic at http://healthfinder.gov/NHO/. Please take a moment to promote your health and explore the October Health Awareness topics linked below. 

Eye Injury Prevention Month: www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/injuries/index.cfm
Health Literacy Month: www.healthliteracymonth.org
Home Eye Safety Month: www.preventblindness.org
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month:  www.nbcam.org
National Bullying Prevention Month - www.pacer.org/bullying/nbpm/
National Down Syndrome Awareness Month - www.ndss.org
National Medical Librarians Month - www.mlanet.org
National Physical Therapy Month - www.apta.org/nptm/
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Month - www.firstcandle.org
Mental Illness Awareness Week (October 7-13) -  www.nami.org
Drive Safely Work Week (October 7-11) - www.trafficsafety.org
Walk to School Day (October 9) - www.walkbiketoschool.org/
Bone and Joint Health National Action Week (October 12-20) - www.usbji.org
Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day (October 13) - www.nbcam.org
National Health Education Week (October 14-18) - www.sophe.org/nhew.cfm
National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (October 15) - www.nlaad.org
World Food Day (October 16) - www.worldfooddayusa.org
World Pediatric Bone and Joint Day (October 19) - www.usbji.org
International Infection Prevention Week (October 20-26) - www.iipw.site.apic.org/about
Respiratory Care Week (October 20-26) - www.aarc.org/rcweek
International Stuttering Awareness Day (October 22) - www.stutteringhelp.org
Red Ribbon Week (October 23-31) - www.nfp.org
World Psoriasis Day (October 29) - www.psoriasis.org

 

Staying Safe in the Summer Heat

From the NOVA Office of Emergency Management:

As the temperatures are expected to be in the mid to upper 90s for the remainder of this week, we would like to remind everyone about the importance of staying safe in the heat when outdoors for any length of time.  Below you will find some important information on how you can prevent heat-related illnesses as well as how to recognize their symptoms. 
Heat Stress occurs when the body is unable to cool itself by sweating.  Several heat-induced illnesses, such as heat stress or heat exhaustion and the more severe heat stroke, can occur and can result in death.

Factors leading to heat stress may include:

• High temperature and humidity
• Direct sun or heat
• Limited air movement
• Physical exertion
• Poor physical condition
• Some medications
• Inadequate tolerance for hot workplaces

Ways to prevent heat stress include:

Know the signs/symptoms of heat-related illnesses

• Monitor yourself and co-workers
• Block out direct sun or other heat sources
• Use cooling fans/air-conditioning
• Rest regularly
• Drink lots of water; about 1 cup every 15 minutes
• Wear lightweight, light colored, and loose-fitting clothes
• Avoid alcohol, caffeinated drinks, or heavy meals

 Symptoms of heat exhaustion include:

• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Lightheadedness or fainting
• Weakness and moist skin
• Mood changes such as irritability or confusion
• Upset stomach or vomiting

Symptoms of heat stroke include:

• Dry, hot skin with no sweating
• Mental confusion or losing consciousness
• Seizures or convulsions

What to do for heat-related illness:

Call 911 (or local emergency number) at once

• While waiting for help to arrive:
• Move to a cool, shaded area
• Loosen or remove heavy clothing
• Provide cool drinking water
• Fan and mist the person with water

Summer Arrives Tomorrow – Stay Hydrated

Tomorrow is the official first day of summer.  Now that the warm weather has arrived, it is important to remember to drink plenty of water.  As long as you are not going through the security check at the airport, you can grab a bottle of water and take it with you nearly everywhere.  While staying hydrated is critical, there is a number of other benefits drinking water provides.  The MindBodyGreen website suggests that water:

1. Increases Energy & Relieves Fatigue – Since your brain is mostly water, drinking it helps you think, focus and concentrate better and be more alert. As an added bonus, your energy levels are also boosted!

2. Promotes Weight Loss – Removes by-products of fat, reduces eating intake (by filling up your tummy if consumed prior to meals), reduces hunger (hello natural appetite suppressant!), raises your metabolism and has zero calories!

3. Flushes Out Toxins – Gets rid of waste through sweat and urination which reduces the risk of kidney stones and UTI’s (urinary tract infections).

4. Improves Skin Complexion – Moisturizes your skin, keeps it fresh, soft, glowing and smooth.  [It also] gets rid of wrinkles.  It’s the best anti-aging treatment around!

5. Maintains Regularity – Aids in digestion as water is essential to digest your food and prevents constipation.

6. Boosts Immune System – A water guzzler is less likely to get sick. And who wouldn’t rather feel healthy the majority of the time? Drinking plenty of water helps fight against flu, cancer and other ailments like heart attacks.

7. Natural Headache Remedy – Helps relieve and prevent headaches (migraines & back pains too!) which are commonly caused by dehydration.

8. Prevents Cramps & Sprains - Proper hydration helps keep joints lubricated and muscles more elastic so joint pain is less likely.

9. Puts You in a Good Mood – When the body is functioning at its best, you will feel great and be happy!

10. Saves Money! - Water is FREE! Even if you choose bottled/filtered water, it’s STILL cheaper than that high sugar and fat-filled latte!

For more information about this article, please visit MindBodyGreen

 

 

 

 

 

As you plan for your summer vacation and prepare for much needed relaxation, it is easy to neglect important travel health and safety matters.  To promote a safe and happy summer vacation, take time to explore the vacation travel and safety tips referenced below: 
 
• Avoid drinking water from suspicious sources such as lakes, rivers, pools and back-country streams. You may be tempted to drink water from these sources while camping in the woods. However, it is important to be aware that this water may contain Giardia, a tiny parasite that can cause gastrointestinal distress which includes symptoms such as vomiting, cramps and nausea. Boiling water for 10 minutes or more can kill the parasite. Packing plenty of bottled water is an excellent way to stay hydrated and avoid potential parasites from suspicious sources.

• Food poisoning is a common illness that affects over 50,000 people who travel in the US and overseas. Eating contaminated or spoiled food may cause food poisoning so take a moment and think twice before devouring a sandwich that has been sitting out for several hours. Some tips in avoiding food poisoning include: cooking meat and fish sufficiently and making sure the fish is hot and cooked throughly when served. When traveling, it is a good idea to stay away from unpasteurized milk and milk products as they contain heavy amounts bacteria. Since bacteria quickly multiply at lukewarm temperatures, it is wise to consume foods that are very cold or hot. It is also a good idea to avoid buffets since it’s hard to know how long it has been sitting out or who is coming into contact with the food.

• Bug bites can lead to Lyme disease (in the case of a tick bite) or the West Nile virus so it is best to avoid grassy areas in the early morning and early evening hours when these critters proliferate. It is also a good idea to wear long sleeves and long pants and use a bug repellant (if possible) when walking in the woods to avoid bugs from getting on your skin. At the end of the day, be sure to check for bugs prior to changing your clothes. Do not approach stray animals, to avoid the risk of Rabies.
 
• Overexposure to the sun can cause sun poisoning/sunburn.  Long term f overexposure to the sun is the culprit behind 90% of wrinkles, fine lines and sun spots. To avoid the dangers of too much sun exposure, use a sunscreen that contains a minimum SPF of 15 and wear sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays. The most severe form of UVA damage occurs between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. so use extra sunscreen at these times.

• Prevent rashes by avoiding common plants that harbor triggers such as poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac. These plants release a chemical called urushiol, an oil that produces rashes, bumps or blisters, even in small amounts. These plants can be found in forests, fields and on the side of streams. Should you develop a rash, use calamine lotion, hydro-cortisone cream or special creams that are used in the treatment of these skin conditions.

Armed with these pointers to prevent contracting summer illnesses, you are on your way to happy and healthy summer vacation!  

For more information on this topic, please visit this link.

National Kick Butts Day

http://www.kickbuttsday.org/about/

The Power of Green Superfoods

With Saint Patrick’s day occurring this month, there is no time like the present to start thinking about adding more green vegetables to your diet.  Below is a list of common green vegetables and their nutrients:

Asparagus – This vegetable is packed with nutrients such as potassium, fiber, thiamin and vitamins A, B6 and C.  It is tastiest when steamed with some lemon juice or can be enjoyed in a creamy soup.

Spinach is considered one of “the most nutritious foods available.”  It contains many nutrients ranging from fiber, calcium, protein and manganese.  It is easy to incorporate spinach into your diet by substituting spinach for lettuce when you enjoy your next salad or steamed with garlic and olive oil.  It makes a great side dish next to a salmon or steak dinner.

Snowpeas are another tasty greenfood that you may be familiar with from dining out at Chinese restaurants.  It is best to pick them out when their texture is shiny and flat.  You can cook them in a stir fry or enjoy them raw in a salad.  You can obtain lots of nutrients from this vegetable including vitamin C, manganese and iron.

Artichokes are another great vegetable that can be mixed in with a salad and give you 10% of the vitamin C that your body needs for the day.  In addition, it contains other valuable nutrients like antioxidants, mineral and artichokes are a good source of fiber.

Bok choy is another favorite at Chinese restaurants that can be combined with other vegetables in a stir fry.  It contains a lot of vitamin C, potassium, vitamin K and calcium. 

Broccoli is a universal green vegetable that can be used in a lot of recipes from stir fries to salads or for snacking using a flavorful salad dressing or dip.  It contains a lot of robust nutrients such as vitamin K, C, E and is a great source of fiber.

The great news is that these green superfoods are packed with essential nutrients and are versatile enough for a variety of meal choices, whether you need a quick salad on the go or if you want to indulge your creative side by putting together a colorful stir fry recipe.  For more information on this topic, visit the following link.