Hot and Bothered

Submitted by aduranplazola on

Heatstroke and heat exhaustion or not interchangeable. They are two different conditions and have two different levels of severity. Do you know the differences?   

 

  1. Which condition is more serious?  

                   Heatstroke     or      Heat exhaustion 

  1. Which condition makes the skin red, hot and dry, even in the armpits?  

                   Heatstroke     or      Heat exhaustion 

  1. Which condition includes symptoms of moderate to severe difficulty breathing?  

                   Heatstroke     or      Heat exhaustion 

  1. Which condition causes confusion, restlessness or anxiety?  

                   Heatstroke     or      Heat exhaustion 

  1. Which condition requires emergency treatment?  

                   Heatstroke     or      Heat exhaustion 

 

The correct answer to all of these is heatstroke. A heatstroke can develop without exertion when a person is exposed to a hot environment and the body is unable to cool itself effectively. This is a life-threatening condition requiring emergency medical treatment. If you suspect it, call 911 and get the victim out of the heat and cool them down by any means possible. If the patient is conscious and not vomiting, give them fluids to drink.  

 

Heat exhaustion is caused by excessive sweating, which results in depletions of salt and fluid. This leads to low blood pressure, muscle cramps and nausea. It is prevented by staying hydrated and avoiding prolonged exposure to high temperatures. It can usually be treated quickly and effectively with shade, fluids and rest.  

 

 

 

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.

hot

Heatstroke and heat exhaustion or not interchangeable.

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(Quiz) Are hiccups a nuisance or symptom of something serious?

Submitted by aduranplazola on

For most people, hiccups are rare and don’t last very long, sort of like having a great hair day. To learn what causes hiccups, likely cures, whether you should be concerned and a little trivia, take our quiz. 

 

 

 
 

 

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.

hiccups

For most people, hiccups are rare and don’t last very long, sort of like having a great hair day. 

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The strongest candle vs. running shoes

Submitted by aduranplazola on

Who burns a candle in their garage? 

 

Why do running shoes smell so bad, especially if they’re wet? Shoes with that stench should not be allowed past the garage. Even the most potent candle can’t mask the stench of wet running shoes in the garage. Why is the odor potent? Why is it worse when shoes are wet? 

 

Bacteria. With 150,000 sweat glands in each foot, our feet sweat. If your shoes don’t get a chance to dry out between wearing, the bacteria in your shoes keep growing.  

 

Aside from going barefoot, there are remedies for smelly shoes and feet. 

 

  1. Wash your feet with antibacterial soap and thoroughly dry them, even between the toes. 

  2. Wear wicking socks made of natural or acrylic fiber blends that draw the moisture away from your feet instead of trapping it with socks made from 100% cotton. 

  3. Wear shoes made of breathable materials.  

  4. Wash shoes or insoles. 

  5. Avoid shoes made of plastic. 

  6. Don’t share shoes or towels, that’s sharing bacteria. 

 

Other remedies are to sprinkle corn starch or baking soda inside your shoes to absorb odor. Soaking your feet in a sink or tub of warm tea or Epsom salts are also methods of controlling foot odor.  

 

Until you find the remedy that works for you, keep your shoes on in social situations.  

 

 

 

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.

Strongest-Candle

Why do running shoes smell so bad, especially if they’re wet? Shoes with that stench should not be allowed past the garage.

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Healthy habits to prevent osteoporosis

Submitted by aduranplazola on

Osteoporosis is a disease that affects your bones. It means you have bones that are thin and brittle with holes inside them, like a sponge. It typically affects people after the age of 60, and it affects women more than men.  

 

Having this disease can lead to devastating health conditions for older people, like broken bones, back pain and a curved upper back. Prevention is the key, and there are some simple habits that can build and strengthen your bones. And the younger you are when you start practicing these healthy habits, the better. Let’s find out what you can do to keep the disease at bay. 

Get enough calcium and vitamin D. 

Foods that are rich in calcium are yogurt, cheese, milk and dark green vegetables. You can get vitamin D in foods like eggs, fatty fish, cereal and fortified milk. 

 

Get some sunshine. Your body uses sunshine to make its own vitamin D. 

Talk to your doctor about taking a calcium plus vitamin D supplement if you don't think you’re getting enough through your diet and sunshine. 

 

Get regular bone-building exercise.

Walking, jogging, dancing and lifting weights can make your bones stronger. 

 

Drink less alcohol.

Limit alcohol to two drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women. 

 

Don't smoke.

Smoking can make bones thin faster. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor about stop-smoking programs and medicines. These can increase your chances of quitting for good. 

 

 

 

 

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.

Osteoporosis is a disease that affects your bones.

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Feeling tired? 8 tips for better sleep

Submitted by emily.griffin on

Sleep isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity

Sleep. We all need it. But few of us consistently sleep as long — or as restfully — as we should for optimum health.

In this infographic, learn eight tips to get your eight hours of sleep each night and six bedtime snacks that contain the right combination of proteins and carbohydrates to get you ready for bed tonight.

Download the 8 Tips for Better Sleep Infographic (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.

Feeling Tired? 8 Tips For Better Sleep

In this infographic, learn eight tips to sleep better.

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5 health risks for baby boomers

Submitted by emily.griffin on

These chronic diseases are among the top causes of death and disability in Boomers.

Chronic health conditions for adults 50 to 60 years of age

Baby Boomers are the 76 million people born between 1946 and 1964, in the relative calm and prosperity following World War II.

Despite their optimistic outlook and general affluence, Baby Boomers face unprecedented health challenges. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 60 percent of adults age 50 to 64 suffer from one or more chronic health conditions. These chronic diseases are among the top causes of death and disability in Boomers.

> Generation X: 5 Health Risks You Need to Know About (Infographic)

 

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.

5 Health Risks For Baby Boomers
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Skin smarts: how to take care of your skin as you age

Submitted by emily.griffin on

No sunscreen protects you completely

Your skin. We often call it (affectionately, of course) your birthday suit. It’s your body’s largest organ, weighing in at roughly eight pounds and covering about 22 square feet. 

Many skin changes are just a normal part of the aging process. However, others can signal health problems. It pays to know what is normal and what is not.

Learn what you can do to protect your skin as you age--be kind, be gentle and be aware.

 

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.

Skin Smarts: How to Take Care of Your Skin as You Age

Learn what you can do to protect your skin as you age--be kind, be gentle and be aware.

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Generation X: 5 health risks you need to know about

Submitted by emily.griffin on

Health risks for America's "sandwich generation" of 1965-1980

If this description resonates with you, you may be a member of Generation X, also known as “America’s neglected middle child,” the boomerang generation and the sandwich genera­tion. Generation X adults were born between 1965 and 1980, after the infamous Baby Boomers and before Millennials, the largest generation in history.

Your late 30s and 40s are a time of transition. Some of the indicators of heart health — such as blood pressure, waist­line and cholesterol — may begin to creep upward, putting you on notice that you cannot take your heart health for grant­ed. You’ll also start noticing normal signs of aging, including graying hair, thinning skin and even your first few wrinkles.

Generation X: 5 Health Risks You Need to Know About (Infographic)

 

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.

health risks for generation x

Health risks for America's "sandwich generation" of 1965-1980.

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4 ways to know if you are in good health

Submitted by emily.griffin on

Do you know your numbers?

There are four key measurements of health you should know and track. They are early warning signs for heart disease and diabetes. Since these two diseases have few noticeable symptoms, you may not even realize you are ill — or at risk for becoming ill — until it’s too late. Keeping these numbers within a healthy range can help pre­vent a medical emergency, such as a heart attack.

1: Blood Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance found in every cell in your body, including blood cells. Too much cholesterol may accumulate on your blood vessel walls, where it can harden and turn into plaque. This may narrow your blood vessels, reducing blood flow and putting you at risk for heart disease.

There are different types of cholesterol. You’ve probably heard of “good” cholesterol (HDL, or high-density lipoproteins), “bad” cholesterol (LDL, or low-density lipoproteins) and triglycerides (a form of fat that can raise your cholesterol levels). All three, plus your total cholesterol, are important.

Heart experts recommend the following healthy blood cholesterol levels. You want to measure cholesterol after fasting for nine to 12 hours.

Total cholesterol < 200 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter)

HDL cholesterol > 60 mg/dL

LDL cholesterol < 100 mg/dL

Triglycerides < 100 mg/dL

2: Blood Pressure

Blood pressure measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats (systolic pressure) and in be­tween beats (diastolic pressure). Your blood pressure is your systolic pressure over your diastolic pressure. If you have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, your heart must work harder than normal, which can lead to heart disease, stroke and other serious condi­tions. A normal blood pressure is generally considered less than 120 systolic and less than 80 diastolic. Talk to your doctor about the right target blood pressure goal for you.

3: Blood Sugar

People with diabetes have to much sugar (glucose) in their blood. Diabetes is a serious disease, affecting nearly 30 million people in the U.S.

Your doctor can perform several tests to measure your blood glucose. The fasting plasma glucose test (FPGT) and the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) require you to fast beforehand. The A1C measures average blood glucose over the previous three months and does not re­quire fasting. Normal blood glucose levels are typically:

FPGT < 100 mg/dL

OGTT < 140 mg/dL

A1C < 5.7 percent

4: Weight

Obesity, especially in the form of extra fat around your midsection, is a significant risk factor for heart disease and diabetes, so your weight, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference together make up the fourth key health measurement. BMI is a rough measure of the amount of fat in your body based on your weight and height. Use this chart, use an online calculator or ask your doctor to determine your BMI. A normal BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9. Your waist circumference should be less than 35 inches (women) or 40 inches (men). Measure your waist just above your hipbones and immediately after exhaling.

Do One Thing: Know your numbers. Get a baseline measurement of these four health markers and talk to your doctor about your disease risk factors.

 

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.

Count on your health know your numbers

There are four key measurements of health you should know and track. 

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