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Does any good ever come from sinuses?

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We have a lot of pressure in our day-to-day life, like work, home, kids, traffic. And annually, for one out of eight adults, there is the added pressure from sinuses. If you get a headache that feels like it’s in your forehead, on either side of your nose, in-between your eyes or in your upper mouth, it might be your sinuses.  

 What purpose do sinuses serve?  

You know they serve a purpose, but when the only time you notice your sinuses is when they are causing pain, you wonder why they exist. Our sinuses lighten the weight of our head, humidify and heat the air we inhale, and keep out potentially harmful dirt, allergens and other particles in the air. They are hollow air spaces in the bones behind your eyes and nose that connect to the nose through small, narrow channels.  

How do sinuses get infected?  

For many, the inflammation starts when viruses or bacteria infect your sinuses (often during a cold) and begin to multiply. Part of the body’s reaction to the infection causes the sinus lining to swell, so the sinuses cannot function properly. The infection is referred to as sinusitis and can also be called rhinosinusitis because the symptoms involve both the nose and the sinuses.  

Simple tips to prevent infections are similar to ways to prevent catching a cold. Drink plenty of fluids; frequently wash your hands; consume vitamin C; blow your nose frequently instead of sniffing; avoid cigarette smoke; and don’t let your nasal passages get too dry. Try to keep your nose cleared out but not dried out by using a nasal spray or humidifier.  

How to treat 

There are many over-the-counter medications for the sinus infection that is not getting worse and lasts less than 10 days.  

To help ease the symptoms, there are home remedies such as: 

  • Drink plenty of fluids 

  • Run a humidifier in your bedroom at night while you sleep 

  • Inhale steam by bending over a bowl of boiling water and put a towel over your head 

  • Put a warm towel over your nose 

If you feel worse or the symptoms are prolonged, call your doctor.

 

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.

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Chili lime corn on the cob

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Submitted by aduranplazola on

 

 
 

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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.

Watch this video to learn how to make this delicious chili lime corn recipe.

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Cholesterol: The good, the bad and the great news

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Submitted by aduranplazola on

Cholesterol is a silent disease and common enough that Stephen Knox, M.D., board-certified family medicine, Genesis Primary Care, addresses the problem with patients every day.

“Without testing, we can’t tell if our cholesterol levels are too high or too low until we have a big problem,” Dr. Knox said. “That’s why I talk about this multiple times per day. The great news is, with the right steps, we can prevent and correct issues and have healthier lives.”

 

What is cholesterol?


Cholesterol is a waxy, yellowish fatty substance found in the blood. While the body needs cholesterol to build healthy cells, too much of it can accrue over time. As extra cholesterol gathers, plaque forms within blood vessels and arteries and increases the chances of heart disease, heart attacks and strokes.

The liver, the largest gland in the body, makes and clears cholesterol for our bodies. We also get cholesterol from foods we eat, specifically animal-based products. 

The good, the bad and the great news related to cholesterol.


Although bad cholesterol, or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, leads to fatty buildups in arteries, not all cholesterol deserves a bad rap. Good cholesterol, or high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, carries bad cholesterol back to the liver, so it can be broken down and removed from the body. 

To determine good and bad cholesterol levels, everyone over the age of 20 should have a routine blood test once every five years.

“Ideally, we want high HDL and low LDL, and that can take effort,” Dr. Knox said. “But don’t worry. You can lower your cholesterol. A good place to start is with your family doctor.”

 

Lifestyle upgrades to lower cholesterol.


Treatments for high cholesterol include medication and lifestyle changes. Your family doctor will work with you to identify the best pathways to better health while considering medical history, risk factors and health goals.

Risk factors for having high cholesterol include gender (males tend to have higher levels than females), age (cholesterol levels commonly increase with age), poor diet, obesity, smoking and diabetes.

“We can’t control all of the risk factors for high cholesterol like genetics, but we can take control of our diet, activity levels and smoking habits,” Dr. Knox said. “Lifestyle changes can make a major difference in our cholesterol level and overall health.”

Dr. Knox suggests these three lifestyles changes to lower cholesterol levels:

1.       Quit smoking. A non-smoking 55-year-old non-diabetic male with low good cholesterol and high total cholesterol has a 10.8 percent chance of having heart disease or a stroke in the next 10 years. If that same person is a smoker, the risk of heart disease or stroke jumps to almost double at 19.5 percent.

2.       Improve diet choices. Eating less high-processed sugary foods and carbohydrates and consuming more fruits and green vegetables will help lower cholesterol levels. Also, when choosing to eat animal products, pick leaner meats like fish and chicken instead of fatty red meats.

3.       Increase activity levels. When it comes to exercise, Dr. Knox said anything is better than nothing. A recent study showed that 60 minutes per week of moderate activity levels improved cholesterol levels. So, take your activity to the next level and spur cholesterol improvement.

To schedule an appointment and have your cholesterol levels tested, call your family doctor. If you don’t have a family doctor, call Genesis OneCall at 740-455-7500.

 

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.

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Treat yourself to a facial using ingredients in your pantry

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Submitted by aduranplazola on

Natural products and everyday pantry items make perfectly good ingredients for an at-home facial.

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treat yourself

Start with cleansed skin.

 

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.

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No sweat, exercise in the pool

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Submitted by aduranplazola on

A refreshing dip in the pool can do more than cool you off. There are benefits to swimming that will make you want to find a way to jump in a pool year-round.  

According to Swimming.org, exercising in water makes your body work harder and uses all the muscles in your body. Thirty minutes in a pool is worth 45 minutes of the same activity on land because of the water’s resistance. That same 30 minutes of a leisurely swim can burn more than 200 calories, double the number of calories for the same time spent walking.  

There are benefits to exercising in a pool, even if you're not a swimmer. Try water walking; working against the water's resistance is good for your muscles and helps keep you flexible. Aquatic exercise classes can be in the deep end of a pool with flotation devices or the shallow end of a pool. Try a class with a trainer who leads a group through a set of exercises with special water weights or pool noodles.  

Consider lap swimming if you're generally healthy and your doctor says it's OK. But start slowly. For example, swim for five or 10 minutes, a few times per week. Gradually increase the amount of time each week and note how many laps you can do within that time. 

Water supports up to 90% of the body’s weight, which makes a pool a joint-friendly spot to exercise. Heated pools, typically 82 to 88 degrees, can help soothe joint and muscle pain while your body reaps the benefits of exercise.   

“When you exercise in water, it can ease joint stiffness, decrease pain and swelling, and improve your range of motion,” said Shehla Atiq, M.D., fellowship-trained rheumatologist, Genesis Rheumatology Care Center. “It may be more comfortable to move in water when you’re in pain.”  

If sweating is your reason for inactivity, throw water on that excuse. You won’t feel sweaty in a pool, no matter how hard you work out, because the water constantly cools you down. Go ahead, get your feet wet.

 

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.

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(Quiz) How to stop worrying – hmm … is this headline catchy?

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Submitted by aduranplazola on

Are you a constant worrier? Do you start thinking about things that are a concern and end up sleepless fretting about an asteroid hitting our planet? There are solutions. Take our quiz to learn simple techniques to control your worries and help your overall health.  

If you are worried about how you will do on this quiz? Then you definitely need to take it.

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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.

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Are your shoes your Achilles’ heel?

aduranplazola
Submitted by aduranplazola on

Almost everyone loves getting a new pair of shoes, taking them out of the box and trying them on with your favorite outfit. Then you show them off by wearing them to dinner, shopping, the gym or work. You come home … and please take them off before going inside!  

Do you know how dirty your shoes are? After reading this, you will probably wish you didn’t know. According to a study by Dr. Charles Gerba, microbiologist and professor at the University of Arizona and The Rockport Company, your shoes are covered in bacteria. How much bacteria? About 421,000 units on the outside and almost 3,000 on the inside. Yuck. 

Even worse, some of the bacteria are Escherichia coli, a nasty substance that causes intestinal and urinary tract infections, meningitis and diarrheal. Plus, there are other pain and illness inflicting bacteria on your shoes.  

The study found up to 96% of shoes in the study contain coliforms. What are coliforms? Oh, just bacteria found in human and animal waste.  

Are you ready for more depressing news? Bacteria transfers from shoes to clean tile floors between 90% to 99%. 

Think about your household floors. Your young children crawl on them. We lay on them to play board games with kids. You picked that cookie up and ate it while you comforted yourself with the five-second rule, which by the way, is not legit. Eating the cookie from the floor is eating a cookie contaminated with excrement. Need some mouth wash?   

So, what should you do? Floors, especially hardwood, tiled or linoleum, can be slick in socks.  

“To avoid bringing excess germs into your home, you should never wear your shoes inside. Leave them at the door, preferably on the outside of the door, if possible. Then keep a pair of slippers to wear inside by the door that never, ever go outside,” said Anastasia Gevas, D.O., Genesis Primary Care. 

Be cautious because shoes pick up bacteria on the inside that can be transferred when you change shoes. However, changing shoes will significantly decrease the amount of contamination those beautiful expensive shoes you love have been bringing into your home.

 

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.

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Be a Smart Shopper: Learn to Make Wise Moves

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Be an efficient shopper

Going to the grocery store or even shopping for foods online can be a task. Make a grocery list that includes regular purchases and keep it handy so you can note when you run out of staples. Group like items such as fruits and vegetables, dairy, protein (meats, beans, eggs and poultry), grains, oils and seasonings, non-grocery items like soap or toothpaste. Use a grocery app.

 

Make a list 

A list allows you to quickly get the items you need and reduces the likelihood you’ll forget an important ingredient. Don’t grocery shop when you’re hungry! You’re more likely to make unhealthy impulse purchases. 

 

Shop outside  

Shop the perimeter of the grocery store. What’ll you find there? Fresh fruits and vegetables, the deli, meat, poultry and seafood, frozen fruits and vegies, dairy and eggs.  

 

Find fresh  

Take advantage of seasonal produce. Farmers’ markets can be a fun way for your family to find fresh fruits and vegies.

 

Learn to read food labels 

Reading food labels will tell you how many calories you’re consuming and if the food has nutrients you want more of, or too many ingredients you want less of, such as added salt or sugar. 

 

Source it  

Looking for sources of good information? Go to localharvest.org to find nearby farmers’ markets. USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans are at dietaryguidelines.gov. Or go to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics at eatright.org.

 

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.

Smart Shopper
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Allergies: Something to sneeze at

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Submitted by aduranplazola on

Ah-choo! What? Where did that come from? Just last spring you inhaled the wonderful scent of the seasonal air with clear, happy sinuses. So why are you sneezing this year? Let’s find out!


 

 

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.

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Teenage behavior red flags

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Submitted by aduranplazola on

A certain level of moodiness is normal for teens who deal with social media, academic and athletic pressures, the usual brain development and raging hormones. However, some teens may exhibit deeper behavioral issues that are red flags for parental concern.

“The most common behaviors displayed by teenagers who may be undergoing changes in their mental health are irregular sleeping patterns and loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed,” said Victoria Ford-Mears, BSW LSW, Adolescent Inpatient Social Worker with Genesis Behavioral Health. “For example,” she said, “the teen may be sleeping throughout the day, or only sleeping a few hours per night.”

Ford-Mears said increased isolation is a particularly strong red flag. While the typical teenager deserves his or her alone time, she warned excessive isolation may be a sign of behavioral change. “If the teen is frequently in their room or hiding from the family, the parent or guardian should speak with the teen and then consider counseling and other services,” Ford-Mears said, adding most red flag behaviors are not gender specific.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, other red flags include self-esteem loss, unexpected and dramatic decline in academic performance, weight loss and loss of appetite, which could indicate an eating disorder. Sharply out of character personality shifts and changes, such as aggressiveness and excessive anger, may indicate psychological, drug use, or sexual issues. Ford-Mears said many factors contribute to red flag behavior development. “The most common factors I notice are bullying, lack of support, changes in mental health and a lack of parental guidance,” she said.  

Ford-Mears urges parents to seek professional help for their teen as soon as they notice red flag behavior. “I encourage parents to discuss their feelings regarding services with their teen prior to scheduling an appointment,” she said, so the teen understands counseling is commonplace. Ford-Mears said parents should explain that seeking mental health services is equivalent to visiting a primary care doctor when the teen is not feeling well. Available community services include group and individual counseling sessions, and medication options if a psychiatrist recommends. 

Early recognition of red flag symptoms can help lead to early intervention and treatment, which is critical for generating positive outcomes, according to the American Counseling Association.

No matter how irritable or difficult a teen may be, parents and guardians must maintain open communication and listen to the teen without becoming defensive. Ford-Mears said acceptance of the teen’s thoughts, feelings, sensations and behaviors as understandable, even in disagreement—is the key to navigating adolescence for the both the teen and his or her parents. “This is the foundation of a healthy, functional relationship.” Ford-Mears said most teens will revert to unhealthy support when they believe their feelings are not being validated. “I encourage parents to be understanding and know that everyone in the home has to work together to create a healthy environment,” she said. “By doing so this can create a better relationship between the teen and parents, allowing for improved communication.”

Resources: Victoria Ford-Mears, BSW LSW, Adolescent Inpatient Social Worker with Genesis Behavioral Health; American Academy of Pediatrics; American Counseling Association; Psychology Today; Raising Children Network Limited

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