A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Diet and Diabetes Diabetes management and meal-planning: It is important to learn about proper meal-planning when your child has diabetes. The type and amount of food your child eats affects his/her blood sugar levels. If your child eats too much, his/her blood sugar may go up too high. Also, if your child skips meals, his/her blood sugar may go too low. Good blood sugar control requires a balance of food, exercise, and medication. Healthy meals include foods that contain carbohydrates, protein, and fat...

Exercise and Physical Stamina Physical considerations for your child: Physical stamina will vary for each child with congenital (present at birth) heart disease. Children with heart defects that cause symptoms, such as shortness of breath, fast heart rate, or sweating, may have less energy and endurance. Children with cyanotic congenital heart defects also have less stamina because they have lower levels of oxygen in the bloodstream to begin with, and can deplete their oxygen levels even faster with pla...

Heart Healthy Eating What is heart healthy eating? A diet high in fat and cholesterol may contribute to the development of heart disease in adulthood. A "heart healthy" diet may help prevent or treat high blood cholesterol levels. The American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition recommends that healthy children age 2 years or older follow a diet low in fat (30 percent of calories from fat). These are the same recommendations for healthy adults. A diet high in fat, especially saturated fat, may ...

Determining Body Mass Index What is body mass index? Determining how much your adolescent should weigh is not a simple matter of looking at an insurance height-weight chart, but includes considering the amount of bone, muscle, and fat in his/her body's composition. The amount of fat is the critical measurement. A good indicator of how much fat your adolescent carries is the Body Mass Index (BMI). Although it is not a perfect measure, it gives a fairly accurate assessment of how much of your adolescent's...

Exercise and Adolescents Facts about children and exercise: Exercise is an important part of keeping adolescents healthy. Encouraging healthy lifestyles in children and adolescents is important for when they grow older. Lifestyles that are learned in childhood are more likely to stay with the child into adulthood. Changes in lifestyle are harder to make the older the person becomes. The best way to promote healthy lifestyles is for the whole family to become involved. Establishing an exercise plan: A da...

Gastric Bypass (Malabsorptive) Surgery (Malabsorptive Procedure, Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, Biliopancreatic Diversion) What is gastric bypass surgery? Gastric bypass surgery, a type of bariatric surgery (weight loss surgery), is a surgical procedure that alters the process of digestion. Bariatric surgery is the only option today that effectively treats morbid obesity in people for whom more conservative measures such as diet, exercise, and medication have failed. There are several types of gastric bypass...

Healthy Lifestyles Healthy lifestyles include healthy eating and exercise. Encouraging healthy lifestyles in children is important as they prepare for adolescence and adulthood. Lifestyles that are learned in childhood are more likely to stay with the child into adulthood. Listed in the directory below you will find additional information regarding helping your adolescent make healthy lifestyle choices, for which we have provided a brief overview. Healthy Eating During Adolescence Weight Management Dete...

Maintaining Weight Loss Benefits of maintaining weight loss: While losing weight is difficult for many people, it is even more challenging to keep weight off. Most individuals who lose a large amount of weight regain it two to three years later. One theory about regaining lost weight is that people who decrease their caloric intake to lose weight experience a drop in their metabolic rate, making it increasingly difficult to lose weight over a period of months. A lower metabolic rate may also make it eas...

Obesity in Adolescents What is obesity? Overweight and obesity together represent the second leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Obesity is a serious, chronic disease that can inflict substantial harm to a person's health. Overweight and obesity are not the same; rather, they are different points on a continuum of weight ranging from being underweight to being morbidly obese. The percentage of people who fit into these two categories, overweight and obese, is determined by body mass...

Preventing Obesity Facts about prevention: Obesity is a chronic disease affecting increasing numbers of children and adolescents as well as adults. Obesity rates among children in the US have doubled since 1980 and have tripled for adolescents. About 17 percent of children aged two to 19 are considered overweight compared to over 66 percent of adults who are considered overweight or obese. Earlier onset of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity-related depression in children and adolescent...

Weight Management Facts about obesity: According to the National Center for Health Statistics, about 19 percent of children ages 6 to 11 in the United States are considered overweight and 17 percent of teenagers (ages 12 to 19) are overweight. More people are now overweight than 15 years ago. This increase is seen in both sexes and all ages. Individuals who are obese as adolescents will most likely remain obese as they become older. What is obesity? Obesity is defined as a generalized accumulation of bo...

Exercise Finding the right exercise program and the right preparation: To be physically fit you do not have to exercise intensely for long periods of time. Experts agree that physical activity does not have to be vigorous, and recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity daily, or on most days of the week. To achieve and maintain physical and cardiovascular fitness, health professionals advise following a balanced fitness program - a program that includes the following: If you have an exi...

Health Promotion and Prevention From before puberty to after menopause, a woman's body is constantly changing and developing. At each stage of development and maturation, it is important to make healthy lifestyle choices and find ways to prevent problems. Getting regular healthcare examinations and learning to identify potential health problems are ways to help you live longer, live better, and live happier. Listed in the directory below you will find some additional health promotion and prevention info...

Managing Stress The effects of emotional stress on the body: Many women face difficult challenges and responsibilities that may overlap or conflict, causing stress that can affect their health. Stress can arise out of difficulties at home, in relationships, and in the workplace. Family "well-being" includes stable relationships, and family members' ability to fulfill essential roles in the home, child rearing values and practices, and the mental and physical health and development of every family member...

Medical Treatment for Obesity Medical treatment overview: Treatment by a physician may be necessary when an individual's own efforts to lose weight have failed and/or when co-existing medical conditions make it crucial for a person to lose weight. Prescription medication may be necessary for those having obesity-related health problems. Many people take over-the-counter supplements in an attempt to lose weight. However, to ensure long-term success, behavioral weight loss measures are an important part o...

Obesity According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity has reached epidemic proportions. It has a far-ranging negative effect on health. Persons who are overweight or obese are at increased risk for developing many different health conditions, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and bone and joint disease. Listed in the directory below are some topics related to obesity, for which we have provided a brief overview. Overview of Obesity Treatment of Obesity Obesity Treatment Ov...

Obesity Treatment Overview Treatment goals: Regardless of the type or combination of obesity treatment, goal setting is an important part of any obesity treatment plan. While a person may want to lose a large amount of weight because of societal or fashion reasons, it is important to realize that setting and achieving a goal of reducing weight by as little as 5 percent to 10 percent of body weight will yield important, positive gains in health. Treatment goals work best if they are individualized. For e...

Overview of Obesity Facts about obesity: Overweight and obesity together represent the second leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Obesity is a serious, chronic disease that can inflict substantial harm to a person’s health. Overweight and obesity are not the same; rather, they are different points on a continuum of weight ranging from being underweight to being morbidly obese. The percentage of people who fit into these two categories, overweight and obese, is determined by Body Mas...

Treatment of Obesity Because obesity is a serious, chronic disease that can inflict substantial harm to a person's health, treatment is very important. There is a variety of methods used to treat obesity. Incorporating multiple methods, such as making diet changes as well as adding exercise, may be beneficial. Obesity Treatment Overview Medical Treatment for Obesity Surgical Treatment for Obesity Gastric Bypass (Malabsorptive) Surgery Gastric Stapling (Restrictive) Surgery

Watch Your Weight When is watching your weight necessary? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 65 percent of US adults are overweight. Maintaining a healthy weight is especially important if you have had any of the following: heart disease type 2 diabetes stroke high blood pressure cancer of the uterus, gallbladder, kidney, stomach, breast, or colon a high total cholesterol level If your weight is not in the healthy range for your height and build, the best way to...

Healthcare Guidelines For Men Routine activities for men to ensure good health: These charts provide general healthcare guidelines for men, but are not meant to replace any advice and guidance given by your physician. Please use them as a reminder to take care of your personal healthcare needs, and also as a list of topics you may want to discuss with your physician. Each Day Each Month Each Year Other Exercise 20 minutes (at least 3 days each week). Perform a testicular self-examination. Have a dental ...

Calculating Calories and Fat Grams To maintain your current weight, follow this formula: To determine the number of calories and fat grams you need to consume each day in order to lose or gain weight, consult your physician or a registered dietitian. To maintain your current weight, follow the formula below. 1. Write your body weight in the equation that fits your activity level and gender. Then, multiply. a) Moderately active male : _____ pounds x 15 calories = _____ total calories per day. b) Moderate...

Designing an Exercise Program How to design an exercise program: Even low-to-moderate intensity activities for as little as 30 minutes a day can be beneficial. These activities may include: pleasure walking climbing stairs gardening yard work moderate-to-heavy housework dancing home exercise However, more vigorous aerobic activities, done three or four times a week for 30 to 60 minutes, are best for improving the fitness of the heart and lungs. Regular, aerobic physical activity increases a person's cap...

Diet and Cardiovascular Disease Following a healthy diet plan: The food guide pyramid is a guideline to help you eat a healthy diet. The food guide pyramid can help you eat a variety of foods while encouraging the right amount of calories and fat. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the US Department of Health and Human Services have prepared the following food pyramid to guide you in selecting foods. Click Image to Enlarge The Food Pyramid is divided into 6 colored bands representing...

Exercise: Before Starting an Exercise Program Starting a daily exercise program: It is always important to consult your physician before starting an exercise program. This is particularly true if any of the following apply to your current medical condition: chest pain or pain in the neck and/or arm shortness of breath a diagnosed heart condition joint and/or bone problems currently taking cardiac and/or blood pressure medications have not previously been physically active dizziness obesity If none of th...

Lifestyle Changes Primary risk factors for chronic disease: At the top of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention list of primary risk factors for all chronic diseases are: smoking, poor nutrition, and sedentary lifestyle. Living a healthier lifestyle can help to prevent heart disease. This includes the following: eliminating all tobacco products adhering to a heart-healthy diet following an appropriate exercise program Eliminate all tobacco products: You should be aware that all tobacco products...

Risks of Physical Inactivity What health risks are associated with physical inactivity? Lack of physical activity has clearly been shown to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Less active, less fit persons have a greater risk of developing high blood pressure. Studies indicate that physically active people are less likely to develop coronary heart disease than those who are inactive - even after the researchers accounted for smoking, alcohol use, and diet. Physically active overweight or obese ...

Asthma Medications and Emotional Side Effects Do you often feel nervous or hyperactive? If the answer is yes, it's possible that your asthma medications may be causing this reaction. Although medications can successfully treat asthma symptoms, they may also have side effects that leave you feeling jittery. Many people with asthma who experience these feelings may not realize that they may be caused by their medication. Feeling nervous or jittery all the time can lead to stress, which is a known trigger ...

Heart Disease: Communicating with Several Providers If you are like most people with heart disease, you have several providers who each treat you for a different health issue. When a team of providers cares for you, it's important to keep each one up-to-date on your overall health. Doing so helps them understand the "big picture" of your treatment, while preventing drug interactions. Keep these tips in mind: Tell your providers the names and specialties of all your other health care providers. Although ...

Heart Disease: Managing Multiple Medications Like many people with heart disease, you probably take more than one medication. Heart medicines can help you be more active and live longer and more comfortably. Using them correctly is essential to your health. Whether you take prescription drugs, over-the-counter (OTC) medicine or both, there are important guidelines to follow to get the most from your medicines—and to avoid unpleasant or dangerous side effects. Always follow the label directions. Never se...

Know About Niacin Along with diet and exercise, treatment to lower cholesterol may include the B vitamin niacin combined with drugs such as statins. Niacin is available by prescription, over the counter and as a dietary supplement. (The dietary supplement form is not recommended for lowering cholesterol.) Take niacin only under a doctor’s guidance. Niacin helps lower triglyceride levels and increase HDL (“good”) cholesterol, which carries fat away from arteries. It also helps reduce the production of LD...

Metabolic Syndrome Worksheet To help manage your condition, fill in the dates on which you had or will have the following tests or checkups. Lipid profile I had a lipid profile on __________. A lipid profile is a lab test that measures the amount of certain fats and cholesterol in your blood. High lipid levels can lead to a heart attack or cause your heart disease to worsen. You should have a lipid profile at least once a year. Generally, your LDL ("bad") cholesterol should be less than 100 mg/dL, and y...

Smoking Hurts Your Back Numerous studies show a link between cigarette smoking and back pain. Smoking damages your arteries, and it’s thought that the damaged arteries in the discs and joints in your back may lead to pain and injury. Smoking increases your risk for osteoporosis, a bone-thinning disease that can lead to back pain. Smoking also increases your risk of hip fracture as you get older. Fractures can take longer to heal due to nicotine's harmful effects on bone-forming cells. Quitting smoking t...

What Is Spinal Stenosis? Spinal stenosis is a condition in which the spinal canal narrows and pinches the nerves, resulting in back and leg pain. In adults 50 years of age and older, the risk of developing spinal stenosis increases, although younger people who are born with a small spinal canal may also develop symptoms. Aging can cause the ligaments (tissues that connect the spine and bones) to become thicker and the discs between vertebrae to break down. Growths called bone spurs may occur on bones an...

Benefits of Strong Abdominal Muscles Strong abdominal muscles do more for you than just giving you a trim profile. They help stabilize your torso, which reduces aches and pains in your lower back. Don't despair if your belly is like jelly instead of a washboard. By following this three-part exercise routine faithfully three or four times a week, you can expect to see significant results in muscle strength in four to six weeks. Your genetics, diet and overall activity level determine the amount of fat st...

Breaking Yourself Out of a Rut You've eaten the same things for breakfast every day for three years, then taken the same car pool to the same job. Your life is more of the same after work. It's time to break out of your rut. "If you feel like you're stuck in a routine, you probably are," says Kenneth A. Wallston, Ph.D., a psychologist in Nashville, Tenn. A routine isn't necessarily bad; it can be comforting because it adds structure to your life and it isn't stressful. But Dr. Wallston says dissatisfact...

Follow the Road to Safety Exercising outdoors can be fun and enjoyable, but you should keep personal safety in mind before you head out the door. These safety tips from the American Running Association apply not only to runners, but also to people who walk, bike or inline skate. A big part of playing it safe is paying attention to where you choose to exercise. Keep the following guidelines in mind: Know your route. Be familiar with the area; know which businesses are open along your route. Stay in the o...

How to 'Catch' a Good Mood Colds and the flu can be passed from one person to another, but did you realize that emotions can be passed just as easily? Our moods and emotions are easily affected by others. "The closer you are to someone, the more likely you are to be infected by his or her emotions," explains Elaine Hatfield, Ph.D., professor of psychology at the University of Hawaii. If someone around you is experiencing joy or sadness or anger, you may even begin to mimic that person's facial expressio...

Kids' Health Concerns Ease with Age Your child is coughing and has a fever -- again. You begin to worry: Didn't she just get over a cold? When children are young, it's normal for them to have a variety of childhood illnesses and problems. Most go away as the child gets older. Here are some common health hurdles and when you can expect improvement. Frequent colds Preschoolers tend to get six to 12 colds a year. That number drops to two or three a year by school age. The reason: Kids come into the world w...

OTC Meds and Work: Not a Great Combination You may not realize that common over-the-counter (OTC) drugs can cause serious side effects. These side effects can put your health at risk and interfere with your everyday activities. Some of these side effects can be felt, but others can't. Side effects you can feel are dizziness, drowsiness, double vision, headache, and vertigo. Those you can't feel include confusion, depression, or slow reactions. These usually undermine or alter your perception, attention,...

Teaching Your Child to Ride a Bike You may have learned to ride a bike with your mom or dad running alongside to keep you from falling. That method still works, but there's an alternative offered by bike experts, such as the nonprofit group International Bicycle Fund (IBF). It's a method that separates learning to balance from the other skills needed to ride. If you want to stick with the more traditional method for your kids, you can try a tool called an EZ-Bar. This device attaches to the back of the ...

A Question of Taste -- Or Is It Smell? Sometimes when we talk about taste, we're really talking about smell. Much of our experience of the "taste" of food is what we smell of the food in our mouths, experts say. Our taste buds are important, but smell seems to play a bigger role. Most people who complain of loss of the sense of taste are surprised to learn they are actually having problems with their sense of smell. A more accurate word for the sense of taste, experts say, might be the sense of flavor. ...

Air Filters, Dehumidifiers and Humidifiers Here are some tips for understanding the air in your house and the air-quality appliances that can alter it. Air filters Purpose: Air-filtration systems pull most mold, pollen, dust mites and other particulates out of household air. The best systems use HEPA (high-efficiency particulate absorption) filters that have multiple pleats that trap tiny particles. Such a filter can be installed in the duct adjacent to the furnace fan. They also are available as portab...

As People Age, They Grow Through the daily grapevine of popular culture, we get the message over and over that young is better than old. But new research contradicts these age-old stereotypes. Indeed, studies suggest that the older you get, the happier you become. If you're surprised, it's probably because you associate old age with disease, depression and disability. The advantages of being older are that you're settled, you've accomplished things in life, and you're more content with the way you are, ...

Athletic Shoes: Lace Them to Fit You probably haven't given much thought to the way you lace your shoes or sneakers. Shoe lacing is the kind of thing you learned in kindergarten and then took for granted. But experts say shoe lacing makes a difference. It's just one of many simple things you can do to safeguard your feet while you put them through the demands of an athletic workout or even a long day of walking over all sorts of surfaces. Simply lacing your shoes or sneakers properly, along with choosin...

Dentistry: It's Not the Same Old Drill Imagine your dentist's office without the whirring sound of a high-speed drill--the sound that seems to go right through you. Well, you won't have to worry about the drill when you walk into your dentist's office in a few years. Dental researchers can't say for sure when it will happen, but they're confident that the drill will soon be obsolete. What will take its place? High-tech lasers. High-tech toothpastes and mouth rinses. Even chewing gum. And these are only ...

Don't Catch a Bad Mood Like the common cold, human emotions are highly contagious. "It's easy to get swept up in somebody else's emotions," says James Page, M.D., a psychiatrist in Greenville, SC. "When that happens, you probably need to take a step back and make a separation between your feelings and those of the other person." According to Dr. Page, one of the best ways to respond to other people's emotions is to "reflect their mood back to them." "I think it can be quite helpful to the other person t...

Drugs: Read Fine Print to Avoid Side Effects Pat H. awoke one recent morning with cold symptoms. She reached into her medicine cabinet for a well-known over-the-counter cold remedy she had often used in the past. An hour later, Pat was on the phone to her physician, describing in a panicky voice the heart palpitations, shortness of breath and blurry vision she was experiencing. It turned out that Pat, whose physician had recently put her on a prescription antidepressant, was experiencing the frightening...

Exercise Can Help to Cut Stroke Risk Take a brisk walk. Climb the stairs at work. Dance the polka. If you engage in these and other kinds of exercise for an hour a day, you can cut your risk for stroke by nearly half, according to a report in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association . In the Harvard Alumni Health Study, researchers tracked the health of people who graduated from Harvard between 1916 and 1950. In the study, researchers looked at physical activity and followed men from 1977 until...

Healthy Changes for Staying Young Time takes its toll on a body, but you don't have to sit back and let the effects of aging take place without a fight. "You have the power to control how much and how fast the aging process works on your body. You can even reverse some of the damage that has already been done," says Tom Monte, author of many health and wellness books. Part of the aging process is caused by oxidation, the breakdown of cells and tissues as they mingle with oxygen. You can fight that proce...

How Your Lungs Work Your lungs are made of a spongy tissue divided into sections or lobes: The right lung has three lobes, and the left has two. A thin lining called the pleura encases the lungs. Each day, up to 3,400 gallons of air pass through your lungs, according to the American Lung Association (ALA). In your lungs, oxygen (the fuel all your cells need) passes into your blood, and carbon dioxide (the waste product of cell metabolism) is removed from it. The everyday act of respiration makes up appr...

International Adoptions and Medical Needs In recent years, more and more people are extending their families through international adoption. Understanding the medical, social and developmental issues unique to international adoption can help parents prepare for the special challenges and special needs of these children. "The ramifications for the health of children coming from a Third World setting are profound," notes Julia Bledsoe, M.D., spokesperson for the pediatrics division at the University of Wa...

Mastering the Principles of Positive Thinking You can learn to think positively, and doing so can lead to greater self-confidence, more respect for others and achievement of your goals. The late Dr. Norman Vincent Peale's best-selling classic, The Power of Positive Thinking , has inspired millions of people in more than 130 countries. The principles it teaches are as timely today as they were when the book was first published in 1952. The book teaches a simple system of practical techniques for successf...

Myths and Tips About Dressing for Winter Do you know enough about the cold to keep warm? Poor planning of a winter outing can lead to frostbite and hypothermia. The following are some misconceptions about the cold and suggestions for staying toasty this winter. Myth: Dressing warmly avoids colds, viruses, and flu. Mom was wrong on this one--mostly. If you haven't been exposed to a virus, cold weather won't make any difference. Robert Pozos, Ph.D., director of the thermal division at the Naval Health Res...

Old Makeup Can Cause Serious Eye Infections That mascara wand can do more than just make your lashes longer - it can also give you an eye infection. Every year, many women end up with eye infections from cosmetics. In rare cases, women have been temporarily or permanently blinded by an eye cosmetic, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Eyelashes naturally have bacteria on them. As soon as you use a makeup brush on the eyelash or eyelid, the brush is contaminated, according to expert...

Pills: Make Them Go Down Easy Cricopharyngeus—that's a tough word to pronounce. It's even tougher when you have a pill stuck in your throat. Nonetheless, that's the name of the spot where the pill tends to get stuck. The cricopharyngeus is the ring-like muscle at the top of the esophagus, says the American Academy of Otolaryngology. The academy has some advice for swallowing pills without letting them get marooned in that uncomfortable location. When you swallow food, the epiglottis—the flexible cartila...

Overcoming Your Midafternoon Energy Slump You may charge into the day full of energy, but by midafternoon, a wave of sleepiness hits you. You find it hard to keep your eyes open, or you find yourself yawning. Many people experience these late-in-the-day energy lags, but you can take steps to prevent them. Here are suggestions for healthy ways to keep your energy flowing throughout the day. Don't miss breakfast The best way to keep your energy level at peak performance is to start the day with breakfast....

Racquet Sports: Tops in Training Playing tennis or racquetball is a fun way to boost the intensity of your fitness program, as well as improve your balance, strength and agility. Racquet sports alternate bursts of high-intensity exercise while points are played, with brief rest periods while the ball is picked up and served. This stop-and-start activity resembles interval training. Playing racquet sports, or any active sport, three hours a week can cut your risk for developing heart disease and lower yo...

A Positive Step Toward Fitness Are you having second thoughts about exercising? Good. Have some third thoughts, fourth thoughts, and fifth thoughts, as well, but make them positive thoughts. The way you think about exercise can be the crucial factor in sticking with your fitness program. If you look on it as a disagreeable chore, it becomes one. But if you develop an image as an active, dynamic person, you'll be more likely to stick to your fitness program. Some exercise advice: Find an exercise partner...

Secrets for Finding Happiness at Work The type of work you do, your title or your salary has very little to do with whether you are happy at work. Self-esteem and believing you deserve to be happy do. "Self-esteem is the first key to finding happiness on the job," says Denis Waitley, Ph.D., speaker and coauthor of several books on personal and career success, including The Joy of Working . "Self-esteem is a deep-down feeling in your soul of your own self-worth. Individuals who enjoy their work develop s...