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Read it and weep: Are e-readers and tablets safe for your eyes?

emily.griffin
Submitted by emily.griffin on

Turns out your English teacher was on to something. Reading is an incredibly good habit to have. Reading promotes your mental health, cognition and can help you relax. 

Although reading is great for you, is how you read your books negatively influencing your health?  

If you’re someone who believes nothing compares to holding the physical copy of a book in your hands, the worst you could suffer might be a papercut when you’re flipping through the pages of your favorite novel.  

If you prefer e-book readers (e-readers) or tablets, visual fatigue could be a concern. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), visual fatigue can occur in response to discomfort after prolonged visual activity. It can look like “fatigue, pain around the eyes, blurred vision or headache.” 

According to a study from the National Library of Medicine, the type of screen on your e-reader or tablet plays a role in whether or not you experience visual fatigue from reading. 

There are two main types of screens: E-ink (electronic ink) or LCD (liquid crystal display) screens. LCD screens are typically found in tablets but can also be present on some e-readers. E-ink screens are found in many traditional e-readers and are designed to mimic the ink on a printed book. 

According to this study, LCD screens can lead to visual fatigue, but e-ink screens are similar enough to the pages of an actual book that they don’t cause issues with your vision.  

So, what does this mean? Do you need to throw out your tablet or LCD e-reader and run out to grab something different? Not necessarily.  

The important thing is to remember to take breaks from staring at your LCD screen and if you feel your eyes get tired, switch to a different activity for a while. 

If you’re concerned about visual fatigue or the effect your tablet or e-reader could have on your eyes, talk to your primary care physician. Happy reading. 

 

Genesis HealthCare System’s Health and Wellness content conveniently provides accurate and helpful information. Your health history and current health may impact suggestions provided through our Health and Wellness content. Although we hope this information is helpful, it is not a substitute for your doctor's medical advice. Before making any significant changes, please consult your doctor.

Read it and weep: Are e-readers and tablets safe for your eyes?

Turns out your English teacher was on to something. Reading is an incredibly good habit to have.

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Grill masters go healthy

emily.griffin
Submitted by emily.griffin on

Ready to fire up the grill this summer? Here are some tips to help you keep it healthy. View the slideshow below.

grilling

The roar of a fire and the aroma escaping your trusty grill can start your mouth watering as fast as you can singe your eyebrows while lighting the grill. However, grilling safety is a different article, while this is about grilling healthy and delicious foods. There is no reason your taste buds and body can’t both be happy on grill night.

Protein Selection

Protein Selection: Fire and meat have fueled humans for thousands of years. Since the discovery of fire, we have learned a few things: how to harness electricity, fight bacteria and share memes on social media. We have also learned a few things about grilling healthy food. When it comes to grilling healthy protein, start with fish, especially salmon and trout. For variety, mix in skinless chicken breasts. Trim visible fat from the meat before cooking, and you will have protein with less saturated fat than red meat, which is bad for your heart. By the way, never eat hotdogs.

Portion control

Portion Control: The phrase “Super Size” should be banned from the English language. Overeating leads to a multitude of health problems and is often a concern when grilling. When eating meat, three ounces is the recommended portion size according to the American Heart Associatoin. Instead of buying the largest piece of meat, go smaller and complete your meal with fruits and vegetables.

New flavors

New Flavors: Worried about fish and chicken becoming routine? Try marinating and rubbing spices. There are numerous flavors, and you can even make your own. A general rule is about a ½ cup of marinade or one tablespoon of rub per pound of meat according to the American Heart Association. And never reuse marinade or rub after it was in contact with raw meat.

fruits and vegetables

Fruits and Vegetables: Remember when we said to limit your meat portion to three ounces? This is an opportunity to grill fruits and vegetables. You may need to brush them with oil to prevent sticking, or try a grill basket. Experiment for combinations that compliment your meat selection and enjoy.

 

Genesis HealthCare System’s Health and Wellness content conveniently provides accurate and helpful information. Your health history and current health may impact suggestions provided through our Health and Wellness content. Although we hope this information is helpful, it is not a substitute for your doctor's medical advice. Before making any significant changes, please consult your doctor.

Ready to fire up the grill this summer? Here are some tips to help you keep it healthy.

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Baby carrots with orange glaze

emily.griffin
Submitted by emily.griffin on

Baby Carrots With Orange Glaze
Servings: 4
Serving size: ½ cup

Ingredients:
1 pound baby carrots
½ cup fresh orange juice
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 teaspoon grated orange zest

Instructions:
In large sause pan, boil until carrots are almost tender.
Drain water
In a saucepan, combine the carrots and orange juice. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat.
Cook until the carrots are tender, and the orange juice is thickened to a glaze consistency, about 2 minutes.
Remove from heat and stir in the olive oil and orange zest. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Information
Calories 65 Sodium 89 mg
Total Fat 1 g Carbohydrates 13 g
Source: Genesis Diabetes Cookbook
(Recipe from Type 2 Diabetes Cookbook)

Download the recipe (PDF)


 

 

 

Genesis HealthCare System’s Health and Wellness content conveniently provides accurate and helpful information. Your health history and current health may impact suggestions provided through our Health and Wellness content. Although we hope this information is helpful, it is not a substitute for your doctor's medical advice. Before making any significant changes, please consult your doctor.

Baby Carrots with Orange Glaze

This delicious baby carrots with orange glaze recipe only takes 25 minutes to prepare and makes 4 servings.

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Lots of fun in the summertime

emily.griffin
Submitted by emily.griffin on

Celebrate safely  

Summer is a great time to get outdoors and enjoy the warm weather with your family and friends. Being aware of the health risks can help you have fun in the sun safely. Summer health risks include sunburn, heat cramps and heat stroke.  

The best defense against sunburn is prevention. Use sunscreen and wear hats and sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays. “Sunburn is often mild. However, sunburn that results in blistering may require medical attention, especially if it’s extensive or covers the entire back or abdomen,” said Stephen Ulrich, M.D., board-certified family practice, Perry County Family Practice, New Lexington, Ohio. Remember that excessive sun exposure also increases the risk of skin cancer and skin damage.  

Heat Exhaustion 

We can take precautions to avoid exposure to the sun but it’s important to know the signs and symptoms of overexposure. Heat cramps, or heat exhaustion, is caused by excessive sweating. In heat exhaustion, the body is depleted of salt and fluid and leads to low blood pressure, muscle cramps and nausea. To prevent heat exhaustion, stay hydrated and avoid prolonged exposure to high temperatures. Heat exhaustion can usually be treated quickly and effectively with shade, fluids and rest.  

Heat Stroke 

Heat stroke is a more serious form of heat injury. The exact cause is unknown, but the victim stops sweating, his or her temperature quickly rises to 105 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, and he or she becomes confused and disoriented. Heat stroke is a medical emergency and if not aggressively treated, it can result in seizures and death. If you suspect heat stroke, call 911, and get the victim out of the heat and cooled by any means possible. If the person is conscious and not vomiting, give him or her fluids to drink.  

“Remember to put on sunscreen, stay hydrated, and keep an eye on yourself and others when you spend more than an hour in the summer sun,” Dr. Ulrich said. And most of all – have lots of fun in the summertime.  

 

 

Genesis HealthCare System’s Health and Wellness content conveniently provides accurate and helpful information. Your health history and current health may impact suggestions provided through our Health and Wellness content. Although we hope this information is helpful, it is not a substitute for your doctor's medical advice. Before making any significant changes, please consult your doctor.

Lots of fun in the summertime 

Being aware of the health risks can help you have fun in the sun safely.

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When did you last clean that water bottle?

emily.griffin
Submitted by emily.griffin on

Do you grab the same reusable water bottle day after day without cleaning it? Do you justify your lack of soapy scrubbing based on the premise that the water bottle only holds clean water, so it can’t get that dirty? 

A 2017 study on the International Association for Food Protection website examined 90 participants’ reusable water bottles and found that 60 percent hosted more bacteria than permitted in public drinking water. Ew.  

That’s not the worst of it. A recent study discovered that the average reusable water bottle contains more colony-forming units (CFU) of germs per square centimeter than a kitchen sink and dog bowl combined. For an exact germ count: reusable water bottles came in with 313,499 CFU compared to 3,191 CFU in the kitchen sink and 47,383 CFU in the dog bowl.   

This study tested water bottles after a week of use without being washed, evaluating a small collection of squeeze top, straw top, slide top and screw top bottles. While all the water bottles bred germs, slide top water bottles strongly surpassed the other water bottles by growing 933,340 CFU; straw tops claimed the least, with only 25.4 CFU.  

Time for a wash? 

Unsterile water bottles breed mold, bacteria and possibly yeast, which can negatively affect your health, but there’s an easy solution: warm water and soap.   

So how often should water bottles undergo a thorough washing? Most doctors recommend cleaning reusable water bottles daily, just like you’d wash a drinking glass daily. Because germs thrive in dark, moist environments, make sure to clean and dry the water bottles to keep tiny, troublesome organisms away.  

Find it awkward to scrub your water bottle’s curves and crannies? Even that excuse dissolves now that water bottle cleansing tablets and a large variety of sized and shaped brushes are widely available. So, before you take another sip, give that water bottle a bath – it needs it.

 

 

Genesis HealthCare System’s Health and Wellness content conveniently provides accurate and helpful information. Your health history and current health may impact suggestions provided through our Health and Wellness content. Although we hope this information is helpful, it is not a substitute for your doctor's medical advice. Before making any significant changes, please consult your doctor.

When did you last clean that water bottle?

Do you grab the same reusable water bottle day after day without cleaning it?

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LPN Careers

Kyle.Norton
Submitted by Kyle.Norton on
Abstract

If you are committed to providing quality, compassionate care in an innovative hospital where your talents and contributions are appreciated daily, Genesis HealthCare System is the employer for you.

Leaves of 3? Let them be! 

emily.griffin
Submitted by emily.griffin on

A part of nature

Leaves of 3? Let Them Be!

Ah, nature! The birds are singing and there is no place you'd rather be than right here, enjoying a morning hike in the woods. As you pass through this wilderness paradise, you feel the forest greenery gently brush against your bare skin. Then, the next day, as you fondly recall your outdoor adventure, a new sensation begins to pull you out of your dream-like state: a nasty itch.  

You reluctantly look down to find a rash of scratchy, red blisters covering your ankles and calves. Doggone it! You’ve run into poison ivy, or maybe it’s poison oak. 

Where it’s found, what it looks like

Poison ivy and poison oak can be found anywhere and everywhere in the great outdoors. While it grows in most wilderness settings you can find it just as easily in backyards and neighborhoods, thriving in sun and shade. 

Both poison ivy and poison oak have clusters of three leaves: ivy’s more pointed and poison oak resembles an oak leaf with round, serrated edges. Both are green in the summer and turn red in fall. 

 

poison ivy vs. poison oak

Urushiol and you

for your skin spray bottle

A bit of trivia: The itchy rash you get when you encounter either of these plants can take anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks to appear and is caused by an oil called urushiol. If you are exposed to urushiol, wash the affected area with a degreaser like dishwashing soap to minimize the effects.  

Fortunately, the rash you get isn’t contagious. But beware: urushiol remains on clothing and other surfaces and can cause another rash if you come into contact with it. In fact, it can remain potent for years. To remove it, wash clothes separately from other laundry and wipe down non-laundry items with rubbing alcohol.  

 

Take that, poison ivy!

These poisoned plants don’t have to put a damper on your idyllic wilderness romps or unnecessarily keep you indoors.  

  • Make sure clothing covers any exposed skin before venturing out. 
  • Stay on cleared pathways as much as possible. 
  • Know what they look like—and steer clear!

 

woman hiking

You may be out of the woods, but...

oatmeal bath

While your urge to scratch might feel unbearable, doing so could lead to an infection—which would be even worse.  

To help you get past the itch, apply calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream to the affected area. Wet compresses and oatmeal baths can help, too. And taking your mind off it can’t hurt either, so spread out on the couch, and call a friend or re-watch your favorite movie! 

Sources: 

 

poison ivy vs. poison oak

Poison ivy and poison oak can be found anywhere and everywhere in the great outdoors.

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It’s all sun and games: Are you wearing sunscreen correctly?

emily.griffin
Submitted by emily.griffin on

As the days get longer and the weather gets warmer, you and your family may be planning to spend more time outside. This can only mean one thing: It’s time to break out the sunscreen. 

You already know sun protection is critical for keeping your skin safe from UVA and UVB rays, but there are a lot of misconceptions about how to care for your skin in the sun, particularly around sunscreen. Prevent sunburns and peeling this summer and take this quiz to see if you’re using your sunscreen effectively.  

 

So, how’d you do? For more great tips on sun care and protection, visit the American Academy of Dermatology Association’s FAQ on sunscreen. 

 

 

Genesis HealthCare System’s Health and Wellness content conveniently provides accurate and helpful information. Your health history and current health may impact suggestions provided through our Health and Wellness content. Although we hope this information is helpful, it is not a substitute for your doctor's medical advice. Before making any significant changes, please consult your doctor.

It’s all sun and games: Are you wearing sunscreen correctly?

Prevent sunburns and peeling this summer and take this quiz to see if you’re using your sunscreen effectively.  

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Healthy hair care tips

emily.griffin
Submitted by emily.griffin on

Is taking care of your hair so frustrating it’s making you want to, well, pull your hair out? Hair care can be challenging, especially when it feels like no matter what you try, you aren’t seeing results. Ready to stop fighting with your locks? Let’s get to the root of the problem. Here are three ways to raise your chances of having a good hair day. 

Tailor your routine 

Hair care isn’t one-size-fits-all. How often you need to wash your hair or which hair mask or treatment is right for you will vary depending on your hair texture, lifestyle and genetics. Something that works great for your best friend, or you read about on Facebook might not work well for you, and that’s OK.  

Take some time to learn about your hair. Ask yourself: 

  • What kind of hair texture do you have?  
  • Is your hair porous? (Does it absorb water quickly?) 
  • Does your hair tend to be dry or oily?  
  • Do you like to dye or perm your hair?  
  • Do you struggle with dandruff or an itchy scalp? 
  • Is your hair thin or thick? 

Once you have answers, do some research on what works best for you. If you’re struggling with a hair condition, be sure to check with your doctor before trying any new products or treatments. 

Maintain a healthy lifestyle 

We know, if you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a million times. Eating a well-balanced diet impacts all aspects of your body, including your hair. According to Harvard Health, a diet rich in the B vitamins (thiamin, riboflavin and biotin) will keep your hair healthy. 

Protect your hair 

If you like to blow dry, straighten or curl your hair, make sure to use a heat protectant spray to prevent damage and keep your hair silky smooth.  

According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD), if you’re going swimming, make sure to wet and condition your hair before you dive in the pool. Wearing a swim cap can also keep your hair safe from chlorine. 

If you’re spending time outside, be mindful of sun damage. Prolonged exposure to the sun can bleach and weaken your hair. 

 

Genesis HealthCare System’s Health and Wellness content conveniently provides accurate and helpful information. Your health history and current health may impact suggestions provided through our Health and Wellness content. Although we hope this information is helpful, it is not a substitute for your doctor's medical advice. Before making any significant changes, please consult your doctor.

healthy hair care tips

Ready to stop fighting with your locks? Let’s get to the root of the problem. Here are three ways to raise your chances of having a good hair day.

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