The U.S. childhood obesity rates have more than doubled during the past three decades, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The advantage of confronting obesity at an early age is that it’s still possible for your child to get things under control.  

Mon, 11/07/2022 - 23:11

Here are 7 tips for helping your kids maintain a healthy weight throughout their childhood. 

Mon, 10/31/2022 - 23:11

How much do you know about dry skin and what you can do to prevent it? Follow these questions and answers to learn how to save your skin. 

Mon, 10/31/2022 - 23:11

Do you know how smoking impacts your health? Take our quiz to learn more. 

Fri, 10/28/2022 - 14:22

Here’s a look at some of the most common foot problems for women and ways to reduce foot pain.

Weighing in on zero-calorie drinks. Do benefits sound too sweet to be true? 

To cut calories, many people switch to sipping on zero-calorie beverages. More than a quick trend, this phenomenon changes consumer markets and impacts personal health. In fact, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey says 28% of US adults now drink no/low-calorie sweet drinks daily. Are the benefits of drinking zero-calorie drinks too sweet to be true? Will cutting out the calories really cut down our weight? 

Turns out, the answers aren’t cut and dry – they’re more mixed and bubbly, like many of the beverages themselves.  

Beverage companies make low-to-no calorie thirst-quenchers by knocking sugar from the ingredient list. Instead, calorie free artificial sweeteners like aspartame, sucralose, cyclamates and saccharin enhance the drinks. While decreasing sugar consumption is a great idea, the new artificial sweetening ingredients may come with their own sour effects. For example, researchers in Europe investigated 56 studies examining artificial sweeteners’ link with cancers, kidney problems, cardiovascular disease, mood and brain function, blood sugar, oral health and more. Unfortunately, after exhaustive analysis, the researchers lacked conclusive results and recommend further, long-term studies. 

Could zero calories now add up to big calories later?

Another worry is that artificially sweetened drinks stir up cravings for more sweetness. For example, a 2021 study found women and people with obesity experienced an increase in cravings and appetite-stimulating effects after consuming sugar substitutes. Interestingly, men and people with healthy weights didn’t react the same. Research on this finding continues to roll forth to discover if zero calorie sodas leads to consuming other foods and drinks, thereby increasing weight.  

Mon, 10/24/2022 - 15:00

To cut calories, many people switch to sipping on zero-calorie beverages. More than a quick trend, this phenomenon changes consumer markets and impacts personal health.

Even if it makes your nose run and your face burn, spicy food can still be delicious. It can have health benefits, too, even if the pain would suggest otherwise. 

Why spice? 

The compound capsaicin puts the “hot” in hot peppers. It is also spice’s primary source of health benefits. According to the University of Chicago, capsaicin benefits multiple areas of your body. 

The studied benefits of capsaicin 

• Can have a positive effect on the microbiome of healthy bacteria living in your gut 

• Curb acid production in the stomach and helps prevent ulcers 

• Boost the body’s ability to burn fat and use energy 

• Help you feel full sooner 

• Reduce the risk of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes 

• Help you live longer when eaten 6-7 times a week 

Mon, 10/24/2022 - 14:00

Even if it makes your nose run and your face burn, spicy food can still be delicious. It can have health benefits, too, even if the pain would suggest otherwise. 

You’re more than your numbers  

Do you know the eight elements of wellness? When it comes to your health, there are lots of things you can measure. You can track your heart rate, your body mass index (BMI), and how many calories you eat each day. Your healthcare provider will monitor and record your blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure and more.  

“While knowing your health numbers is important to make sure you are within healthy ranges, there is more to achieving wellness than numbers on your chart,” said Sean Beach, L.D., R.D., Genesis Diabetes & Nutrition Education. Wellness also involves being free from illness, being proactive about your health and enjoying life. 

Discuss how to optimize your personal wellness with your healthcare provider and use the eight elements of wellness to improve.  

Eight elements of wellness 

Each of these building blocks is essential to your overall health.

1. Emotional – Understand your feelings and coping with stress 

Tips: 

• Pay attention to self-care 

• Practice relaxation techniques 

• Develop skills to learn from experiences 

2. Environmental – Live a life that is respectful of the planet 

Tips: 

• Connect with nature 

• Protect the environment 

• Raise your awareness of your impact on the earth 

3. Financial – Learn to manage your expenses 

Tips: 

• Understand how to responsibly handle your money 

• Avoid financial stress by anticipating expenses 

• Use online apps to track your spending 

4. Intellectual – Have an open mind about new ideas 

Tips: 

• Explore educational opportunities 

• Be curious and expand your knowledge 

• Participate in cultural events 

5. Occupational – Take satisfaction in your work 

Tips: 

• Take pride in your achievements 

• Feel a sense of contribution 

• Enjoy what you do 

6. Physical – Keep your body healthy 

Tips: 

• Visit your doctor for check-ups and screenings and make an appointment if you notice anything unusual. 

• Eat a nutritious diet 

• Stay active 

• Get enough rest 

7. Social – Build healthy relationships 

Tips: 

• Create a support network 

• Develop intimate relationships 

• Strengthen bonds with family 

8. Spiritual – Develop values to help you seek purpose 

Tips: 

• Use resources to cope with problems 

• Practice the religion of your choice 

• Meditate 

Tue, 10/11/2022 - 09:47

Each of these building blocks is essential to your overall health. 

We have all heard sitting for long periods is unhealthy. What should you do when your paycheck is based on sitting at a desk all day? There are no substitutes for exercise, but below are tips to help your health while keeping your job.  

 

Take hourly breaks 

A quick walk around the office building, or a trip to the furthest restroom can get you up and moving for a couple of minutes and help you accumulate steps throughout your day. 

 

Park in the back of the lot 

If some people can park in the back of the lot to keep their car doors from being dinged, you can do it for your health. This will help you accumulate more steps on your way into and out of work. 

 

Walk more 

Have we mentioned walking? Doctors recommend at least 30 minutes of exercise five times a week. You will also often hear the goal of 10,000 steps a day. However, steps to the employee breakroom for a piece of cake versus steps on a treadmill add up slightly different. Regardless, do all you can to increase your step total, even if it means taking the long way to the breakroom for cake.  

 

Drink water 

If you must sit, at least drink plenty of water. You should consume about eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day depending on your weight, exercise level and surrounding area. This will keep you hydrated, make you feel fuller, so you are less likely to eat cake from the breakroom and prompt you to get steps while walking to the restroom.  

 

Pack lunch 

Take the time to pack a healthy lunch. This will help you avoid a sandwich from the vending machine or fast food restaurant next door. It makes it easier to control the calories you eat. As a bonus, you will also save money. 

 

 

Mon, 10/03/2022 - 12:18

There are no substitutes for exercise, but here are tips to help your health while keeping your job.

Your relationship with your doctor is one of the most important and personal ones you'll ever have, which is why you should be in one with a primary care provider (PCP). A PCP, or family doctor, is your first point of contact when you need non-emergency care for a wide variety of medical issues. Your PCP advocates for you and works with specialists and other healthcare professionals. Your PCP provides preventive care, identifies and treats common medical conditions and teaches healthy lifestyle choices. Yes, you need a PCP.  

 

Q: Why do I need a PCP? 

A:  Your PCP can take care of non-emergency health issues, such as colds, flu and rashes as well as your preventive health needs, like routine screenings. Each contact is an opportunity for prevention and health promotion. If your condition requires a referral, your PCP coordinates your care, and is a designated resource for specialists that knows you and your health history.  

 

Q: What’s a nurse practitioner and physician assistant?  

A: They are practitioners who go through a different training and certification process than doctors. They may serve as your PCP in some medical practices. 

 

Q: Is my PCP my lowest cost option for healthcare? 

A: Visits to your PCP are less expensive than visits to urgent care clinics, Emergency Departments or specialists.  

 

Q: Do I have to see my PCP for a referral?  

A: Your PCP handles your overall care and can coordinate medical treatments across many specialties if a condition is beyond their scope. These specialists are responsible for your treatment, but your PCP oversees the entire series of events. Check with your insurance company on referral requirements.  

 

Q: Who do I see if I have a chronic condition?  

A: Chronic health conditions like diabetes, arthritis and lupus can be difficult to monitor by yourself. A PCP can help you stay aware of how your chronic disease is affecting your body. Scheduling regular visits and performing routine tests are two ways your doctor can help you maintain your chronic condition.  

 

A PCP will get to know you and your family medical history well enough to ask the right questions and detect other health issues in their early stages. They’re trained to care for a person from infancy to advanced age. Find a PCP close to where you work or live and start the important relationship.   

 

 

Tue, 09/27/2022 - 16:15

Your relationship with your doctor is one of the most important and personal ones you'll ever have, which is why you should be in one with a primary care provider (PCP).

When you're at a doctor's appointment and asked about your family history, do you answer that your ancestors moved here from across the ocean? That's not the information providers are seeking. The doctor wants to know if anyone in your family has a medical condition worth mentioning, like heart disease, cancer or diabetes. When you respond they want you to include medical conditions, causes of death, age at disease diagnosis, age at death and ethnic background. Be sure to update the information regularly and share what you've learned with your family and doctor. 

 

Why is it important? 

Health problems sometimes run in the family, and most people have a family health history of at least one chronic disease. That's why it's important to know as much as you can about the health problems of your birth family. Information about your family's health history can help your doctor provide better care because you may be more likely to develop that disease yourself. Share with your provider if more than one close relative has (or had) the condition and got the disease at a younger age than usual. 

 

How you can use history to improve your future 

You can't change your genes, but you may have the most to gain from lifestyle changes and screening tests if you have a family health history of disease. "Screening tests, such as blood sugar testing, mammograms and colorectal cancer screening help find early signs of disease," said Angela Paima, APRN-CNP, Genesis Primary Care. "In many cases, healthy living habits can reduce your risk for diseases that run in your family." 

 

 

Tue, 09/20/2022 - 16:16

Know your medical history branch