Doctor HealthHealth Tips

Health Tips :
If you smoke and you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, it’s especially important to kick the habit now. The toxic chemicals inhaled when you smoke are easily passed to the unborn baby.

The American Pregnancy Association offers these suggestions to help you stop smoking during pregnancy:

* Make a list of all of the health benefits of quitting for yourself and your baby.
* Replace smoking with healthier habits, such as having a snack or a cup of tea with your newspaper, instead of a cigarette.
* Surround yourself with nonsmokers.
* Have a friend or family member ready to call when you need support.
* Ask your doctor for ways to help you quit, including tips on which smoking cessation aids are safe for you and baby.
* Set a goal date for quitting.
By Healthday

I recently interviewed a professional interventionist, who has gotten thousands of addicts into a drug addiction treatment center, to find out the difference between what he does out here in the real world and how intervention is portrayed on the TV show. He gave me some interesting information that may help those who are trying to get their loved one into an alcohol or drug addiction treatment center to get the help they need.

Surprisingly, since TV and movies aren’t often very true to life, a ‘real’ intervention is very similar to what’s done on TV: The interventionist meets with family or friends prior to the intervention, lets them know what’s going to happen, sets the ground rules so everyone’s on the same page, and, if necessary, gets them to write something to the addict telling them how they feel. However, with a ‘real’ intervention – which the TV interventions are, but with a major difference - it’s the family sometimes doesn’t have to speak at all; the interventionist is often able to get the person to agree to go to a drug addiction treatment center without family input.

In every case, the drug addiction treatment center they will go to is expecting them, everything has been prearranged, and the addict is taken there directly after the intervention, by the interventionist.

So, what is that major difference?

On the TV show the addict acknowledges they have a problem and, although they don’t know there’s an intervention coming, they consent to participate in a documentary about it.

In a ‘real’ intervention for drug addiction, about 70% of the addicts haven’t even admitted they’re taking drugs. Regardless, the parent, friend or family member knows there’s a problem: Maybe their 4.0 average daughter went off to college healthy, happy, outgoing, and with a close relationship to her family. Just a few months later her grades have fallen, she’s lost 25 pounds, has blemishes, doesn’t look well, is relatively uncommunicative and has quite a different personality.

The family may have spoken to her about it, and maybe even about getting help in a drug addiction treatment center, but she denies she’s taking drugs. Says she’s overloaded with work, not getting enough sleep, has had the flu lately – whatever she can think of to explain the changes without admitting the truth.

But the parents know their kid. They know something’s up, and they know it’s probably drugs. They may even have some evidence – which has also been explained away.

There are millions of people in the U.S., of all ages, who need help in a drug addiction treatment center. And many probably fall into the 70% who, in this interventionist’s considerable experience, won’t admit they’re even taking drugs. Parents, husbands, wives, children and friends should know that a successful intervention doesn’t depend on either of those factors.

Long and short of it, if you think there’s a problem, there probably is. And a drug intervention can help you get them into a drug addiction treatment center so things can be sorted out. Don’t be afraid to contact an interventionist for help, and don’t worry that you may be wrong. Trust your instincts – the happiness, and maybe even the life, of your child, husband, wife, parent or friend could depend on it.

by GLORIA MACTAGGART

Breast cancer statistics show that over 1. 2 million persons will be diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide this year, according to the World Health Organization. For breast cancer and prevention, it has long been known that regular physical activity has been shown to decrease the likelihood of having breast cancer. What has not been known or studied has been the effect of regular physical activity on the breast cancer survival rates or likelihood of death in women that already have breast cancer. That is, until now.

The breast cancer statistics and findings as reported by the American Medical Associations Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in May 2005 were astounding! Certain participants in the study of women with Stage I, II or III breast cancer achieved a 50% reduction in the death rate from breast cancer.

Here are these breast cancer statistics: the journal reported that in the study 2, 987 female registered nurses had been diagnosed with breast cancer during the years 1984-1998. What the study found was that the women who had physical activity equivalent to walking at a steady pace of 2. 0-2. 9 miles per hour for 3-5 hours a week had a death rate of only 50% of the death rate of women who had physical activity equivalent to walking less than one hour a week. The conclusion of the breast cancer statistics in the study was that physical activity after breast cancer has been diagnosed may reduce the risk of death from breast cancer. The study found that there was little evidence of any relation between increased physical activity and increased benefit.

It’s time to dust off those walking shoes!

As a physical activity, walking can be done almost anytime by anyone anywhere. All that is needed is a good pair of walking shoes. Walking is fun and reduces stress. As for injuries, walking has the lowest injury rate of all the various kinds of exercise.

You can walk with a partner, friend, family member or dog, maybe even a neighbors dog. Or you can walk with your favorite headset and music. If you are walking outdoors with a headset, keep one ear open to hear the sounds around you.

As for basic walking tips:

· As you begin regular walking, take it easy. Standard advice is to check with your physician before starting any exercise program. If it has been years or decades since you walked regularly, perhaps you can begin with 5 minutes of walking and slowly increase your time and distance.

· Walking at a pace of 75-95 steps a minute will have you walking at a speed of about 2-3 miles per hour.

· Walk with your head up, looking out in front of you. Do not walk looking down right in front of you except to navigate any obstacles.

· Really take it easy the first 5 minutes of walking to warm up. Afterwards, gently stretch for 5-10 minutes while your muscles are warm.

· Practice good walking form. Your arms should swing naturally in the direction you are walking, not from side to side across your body. Your foot should strike the ground on your heel, then a rolling motion forward toward the ball of your foot, then pushing off with your toes.

And here are some basic walking shoes tips:

· Buy your walking shoes from a sporting shoes store with large selections. Doing so will give you plenty of choices. And buy your walking shoes later in the day when your feet will be larger.

· Buy cushioned, supportive walking shoes. To see if a shoe is supportive, do this test: take a shoe and turn it upside down. Holding each end of the shoe, try to fold it. If you find the shoe bends in the middle, then that shoe is not a supportive shoe. A supportive shoe should bend where your foot normally bends, near your toes.

· You should allow the width of your index finger between the end of your shoe and the end of your longest toe, or about one-half inch.

· Buy two pairs of walking shoes, one for home and one for the car or workplace. And if one pair gets wet, you can use the other pair that day.

Walking is the closest thing to the perfect exercise. In today’s fast-paced society, regular walking can be a welcomed break from the stress of the day. Maybe you will get to know your neighborhood or neighbors better. There may be walking trails you have never seen but wanted to.

Wherever and however you choose to walk, not only can the experience be fun, you will know you are being good to your body in a variety of ways. Besides the incredible breast cancer statistics and findings of the breast cancer study, walking helps with weight control and bone strength, elevates mood, helps build and maintain healthy muscles, joints and heart. With so many great health benefits, why not get started walking today!

By Olinda Rola

Chances are you know someone - a family member, colleague, or friend who has been affected by cancer. You’ll want to learn more about prevention especially if you have a history of cancer in your family. There are over two hundred different types of cancer and the most common one for women is breast cancer. The lifetime probability of a woman developing breast cancer is 1 in 9. The good news is that it is possible for women to protect themselves from breast cancer. When breast cancer is discovered and treated early, the chances for recovery are better.

Every woman should know their own breasts so that any changes are noticed soon and can be reported to a physician. Knowing your breasts includes having a mammogram every two years if you are between the ages of 50 and 69 and getting a clinical breast exam by a doctor or trained health professional at least every two years from the age of 40. Regardless of age, all women should do their own monthly breast self-examination a few days after her period. When doing breast self-examination, things to look for include: puckering of the skin, the appearance of what is sometimes called ‘orange peel skin’, any place in your breasts that feels lumpy or harder than the rest and bleeding from the nipples or crusting.

It is important to note that most breast problems are not breast cancer and most lumps are not cancerous. When a lump is not cancerous it is referred to as ‘benign’. A cancerous lump is called ‘malignant’.

While there are no cures yet, researchers have discovered that a healthy lifestyle is the best way to prevent cancer. Since cancer is a disease that starts in our cells, everything we eat and are exposed to can affect them. Choose to be a non-smoker and avoid second-hand smoke. In regards to diet, choose a variety of lower fat, high fiber foods. Studies have shown that intake of total fat, saturated fat and meat are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. Maintain a healthy body weight and limit alcohol consumption. Protect yourself from the sun. At home and at work, follow health and safety instructions when using hazardous materials. The link between an active lifestyle and breast cancer prevention is as yet unclear but general health is improved when regular exercise is an integral part of a person’s lifestyle.

Taking care of ourselves is an ongoing commitment that requires self-discipline and knowledge. It is well worth the effort and you’ll feel much better for it.

Article Source: Health Guidance

If we fail to ask questions when we have an appointment with a medical professional, we may not be getting the full value from the visit. Asking direct, relevant questions of a doctor is not an imposition. It is our right and is also in the best interests of the doctor to provide all of the information we need.

Forgetting to ask questions during an office visit is a common occurrence. This can be a stressful and hectic time and being distracted is normal, especially if we are not feeling well. It is helpful to write down any questions that you may have before your appointment so that you do not forget to ask. You may also want to discuss these questions with a friend or family member. Another person may be able to add insight by seeing things more clearly than we can at the time.

Don’t assume that you are causing a problem by asking questions. Most doctors appreciate patients who ask good questions. Feelings of fear, embarrassment or inadequacy are not good reasons for failing to ask the about things you really want to know. If you don’t ask, your doctor may assume that you understand, or that you do not care to know more. He or she cannot guess what your concerns are.

As you know, television and magazines are saturated with advertising for various medications. Such conditions as high blood pressure, depression, arthritis, high cholesterol and even erectile dysfunction are being targeted by pharmaceutical companies with new medications. The information supporting these products encourages viewers and readers to “ask your doctor about (name of product).”

Essentially, these companies are putting pressure on doctors to prescribe their medications. But, in a way, the pharmaceutical companies have made it much easier to initiate a dialogue with your doctor. It is no longer unusual for patients to ask doctors about something they have read or heard about. Consequently, the dynamic between patient and doctor is changing. Doctors are becoming conditioned to hearing questions from patients and they are obliged to respond.

Finally, if you forget to ask a question or think of one later, call back and ask! Your doctor should prefer, if you do have health questions, that you get the proper answer rather that guess. Guessing could be hazardous to your health.