Archive for the 'Health' Category
Should I bother with a blood test?
Sometimes a blood test can be a reliable, inexpensive way to provide answers to ongoing health concerns. Do you feel unwell? Do you have problems with feeling unusually tired or lethargic. While blood testing does not replace a thorough medical history, physical examination and evaluation by a registered medical practitioner, a blood screening test can be a useful tool.
Health Testing Centres are one such provider of screening blood tests ranging from targeted and inexpensive tests to a full gamete of blood tests including multisystem review and cancer screening.
I do not advocate healthy asymptomatic people volunteering for broad based cancer and blood screening. However, I can acknowledge that in some situations where primary health care is unavailable or unaffordable, a blood test from such a provider can offer peace of mind and reassurance.
Some of the tests on offer include STD testing, Blood chemistry, cholesterol and triglycerides, thyroid function, prostate testing (PSA), liver function tests (LFTs), cancer screening markers, hormone and endocrine levels, glucose tolerance diabetes tests, and allergy testing.
Prior to arranging a blood test always consider the implications of the results. How will you feel if the test detects an illness that has a serious impact on your health? What am I obliged to divulge to my insurance company or future insurance company and how will that affect my healthcare in future? What will I do if a blood test is abnormal but not specific for a particular illness? Will I be able to attend a medical practitioner for reassurance or will this create unnecessary worry for me?
Blood tests range from inexpensive to over $1,000 so are not something you should embark on without serious thought. However if you feel the need to have greater control of your health care without the guidance of your primary health care provider, they may be just the answer.
Posted in Chronic Illness, Health | No Comments »
Weights, protein supplements and losing weight
I was discouraged from trying weight training. “If you lift weights you might start to ‘bulk-up’ like a man”, my girlfriends thought. Certainly I didn’t want to look like a body builder; I just wanted to lose some weight and tone up. My doctor suggested it after diagnosing me with low bone density. He explained to me research that demonstrates that strength training (or resistance exercise as he called it) has profound effects on the musculoskeletal system and can reduce osteoporosis and lower back pain problems.
I started with very light weights and at least ten to fifteen repetitions per set. By using lighter weights with a greater number or repetitions, my personal trainer had suggested this would be a good starting point to improve muscle tone. I only was able to commit half an hour three times a week, but that was all it took to notice a difference.
I wasn’t losing much weight, but my clothes were looser and my body felt firmer. The slacks that required a deep breath to fit into now felt comfortable. My personal trainer had suggested my posture needed improving so I was working to improve my stabilizing muscles across my back, neck, shoulders, hips and abdomen. I am starting to notice the difference. I have been plagued by headaches and migraines for much of my life but I have been fortunate to have had relatively few of these since trying the weight training.
One aspect I am falling down on is improving my diet. My doctor wants me to increase my intake of dairy products (particularly cheese and yoghurt) to improve my calcium intake and to increase my protein intake. I find it quite hard to get a good amount of protein in my diet as I rarely eat meat or eggs. My personal trainer has suggested protein supplements. There seem to be vast number of types available - soy protein, whey protein, and a vast number of brands. My plan is to try a single serve of a protein supplement each day when I find one I enjoy the taste of and which works for my body.
If you’ve struggled with weight loss and haven’t tried weight training I would thoroughly recommend it. And my girlfriends (and partner) think I am looking great!
Posted in Exercise, Nutrition for Adults, Osteoporosis, Weight Management | No Comments »
Prostate Health in November
November is Men’s Health month and many of my peers are fervently growing their moustaches for “Movember”. I won’t be growing one. I have tried. After a week I am overcome by the overwhelming urge to shave.
However I will do my bit to raise attention to a very worthwhile cause - Men’s Health and prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the most prevalent of the cancers in men and most commonly affects men over fifty. It is important for men to talk to their GPs about prostate cancer and consider have their prostate examined and a blood test called a PSA test.
If you are over fifty and haven’t discussed prostate health with your GP in the past 2 years make an appointment this month. If you are younger, or looking for things you can do to improve your prostate health have a look at The Ultimate Prostate Health guide for some more interesting facts on diet and lifestyle factors.
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Diet, diet, weight loss surgery
Overweight? Obese? Tried dieting and exercise with no good result? One of the more radical options to discuss with your local doctor is weight loss surgery. Sound invasive? Yes and no.
The first surgical procedure for weight loss was performed by a surgeon named A Kremen in 1954. Called an “intestinal bypass”, this rather crude procedure linked the upper and lower segments of small bowel. The effect was to bypass the section of gut where most food absorption takes place. Although this was effective, serious complications including dehydration, diarrhea, and salt imbalance were not uncommon.
Surgical procedures for weight loss, like bariatric surgery, have come a long way since then. Minimally invasive surgery is now an option for some people. A popular option is gastric banding using new adjustable bands. Gastric bands simply reduce the functional size of the stomach – sometimes by as much as 90%. A typical stomach size after gastric banding is approximately 3-4 tablespoons in size. This reduces the quantity of food which can be consumed in a single sitting, and speeds up satiety. Gastric bands do alter food absorption. One advantage of gastric banding is that unlike Dr Kremen’s techniques of the 1950’s, there is no need to cut, staple, or reconnect bowel or stomach tissue. Recovery time is significantly shorter, and complications are far less likely. Patients tend to notice the greatest change in their weight in the first 12 - 18 months after gastric banding surgery. After this weight is more likely to plateau - in my view, this should not be considered to be a major problem. A good clinic will ensure you are referred off for lifestyle therapy to help you learn new healthier eating habits and behaviors. These techniques can be used for life.
Whilst I wouldn’t be rushing off to my nearest surgeon because I’ve gained a few extra pounds from Christmas festivities, obese people who have made a genuine effort with less invasive treatment should investigate their options.
Posted in Weight Management | No Comments »
Arizona retirement living options
Are you a senior considering your living options? Are you considering the Arizona area? If so, I want to draw your attention to the Colten homes as they may have the range of facilities you are looking for.
The first thing I noticed about Colten is that their accommodation looks like a real ”home”. You can have a private or semi-private suite decorated to your own taste. The food on offer is a wide range of home-cooked American cuisine in good servings to offer you plenty of energy to participate in the activity programs on offer.
Colten offer a range of services you may struggle to find elsewhere to cater for most senior’s needs. For example they offer diabetic care and they can accommodate people suffering from incontinence or dementia.
Many more little luxuries including cable TV and designer fit-outs are on offer to provide the level of comfort you deserve as a senior.
If you are seriously considering Arizona retirement living or Arizona senior living you may be keen to speak with the owners operating the homes. The Colten home’s Arizona senior community are owned and operator by experienced people with 25 years in the industry. It can’t hurt to give them a call and make your own informed decision if they are right for you.
Posted in Healthy Living, Social Justice, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Pro-biotics- Keep Your Tummy Happy
We’ve all seen the commercials for pro-biotic yogurts. Is it true that we need extra bacteria in our gut to keep us regular? Popular physician, Dr. Joeseph Mercola talks about the benefits of pro-biotics.
Posted in Health, Herbs and Natural Remedies, Nutrition for Adults | No Comments »
Diabetes and You
You may have noticed I have been missing in action for a while. A big part of why was the sudden decline in health of my mother. She is a diabetic with many health problems that stem from prolonged neglect of her diabetes.
You might wonder what this has to do with you. With diabetes on the rise, chances are that you have or know someone that has a type of this disease. If left unchecked it can lead to serious health problems. Spending years neglecting your diabetes can lead to:
Heart disease
Eye problems [blindness]
Nueropathy- nerve damage in limbs and more
Slow to heal wounds
Infections
Amputations
My mother was diagnosed in her early 30’s. Today she is almost 60 and because of the neglect, is in a skilled nursing facility. She needs to use a powerchair to get around, but today her health is so bad she cannot even use that. At the time this blog went on hiatus she had another in a line of heart attacks which nearly resulted in her passing.
All of this comes from neglecting diabetes. You cannot eat as you wish any longer, once diagnosed. Blood sugar spikes then crashes imbalance and confuse the body. Natural healing processes are interrupted. Brain chemicals are thrown into a constant state of imbalance leading to depression, memory loss, and odd ‘highs’.
If you or someone you love has diabetes, please care for yourself. Educated diabetics that do not live in a state of denial are healthy diabetics. You can be healthy, happy, and enjoy a long life.
Diabetic Living Online offers hints and tips on living with diabetes and when you visit the site a pop-up offers you a free year of their print magazine.
Posted in Diabetes | No Comments »
When Free Samples Aren’t Free
We have all been suckered into clicking on the really amazing ‘free’ offers that pop up online. From a year’s worth of diapers to free computers, it is out there. Who would not want a free year of something or other? I know that I would. In fact, the very first time I saw the diaper scam, I jumped right in and went all through the rigamarole of clicking what seemed like 5 million offers. Page after page of more junk kept popping up.
I kind of figured after the first page I had made a mistake.
So, what do you do when you see a free sample that seems to good to be true? Skip it. Seriously, most of these pages just want your email so they can spam you to death. All the spam filters in the world are not going to catch every single one of the mails you will receive.
Lately some of the freebie scammers have gotten smarter. They do not offer the big deals all the time. You may see a full size bottle of shampoo, a compact disc, or something similar. Not too ostentatious. There are also the ‘poll free offers where you choose your favorite star, singer, or even beverage. Steer clear of any of those! If you are redirected to a large colorful page that asks for your email only, close it!
When searching for free sample offers, stay with websites where the webmaster has either typed a good description or has stated they have used the links themselves. Taking the time to write a good description means that the webmaster has done a bit of research and checked out the free offer themselves most of the time. (Not always, but this is a good sign)
I rarely go for offers that need shipping and handling paid. You can find some offers that are worth it. Before paying for shipping check out the retail value of the product. If an item retails for much more than the shipping and handling fee, it is usually worth the charge, but only if this is something you know you will use.
Have you found something free that really rocked your world? Have horror stories of spam? Share!
Posted in Healthy Eating, Nutrition, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Publice Service Murder?
Last night I was watching Criminal Minds. Something one of the characters said struck me pretty hard. I haven’t been able to get this out of my mind. This is a subject I feel very strongly on, but I want to know what you think.
In the show, a young boy had been murdered some twenty years before. A child predator had sexually assaulted him, then stabbed him repeatedly. Later, the same pedophile was making advances towards another boy who grew up to be one of the FBI agents. The Agent had vague memories of the situation. His parents had covered up the entire incident and the Agent had blocked much from his mind.
It turned out that the Agent’s mother had found out about the predator making moves on her child and informed the father of the murdered boy. This all happened about a year after thee unsolved murder. She pointed out the predator, who had also been seen with the murdered boy not long before he had been killed. The boy’s father beat the pedophile to death with a baseball bat.
This ‘crime’ had remained unsolved because no one noticed that the predator disappeared. He had a history of exposing himself to young children and the police in not one, but two states did not readily pursue the case of his murder, even when they found a bit of evidence that would have led straight to his killer. One of the characters, a police officer, asked the FBI Agents if they really wanted to pursue and prosecute someone who had performed a ‘Public Service Murder’.
That has really gotten to me. Though I do not feel we have a right to act as a god and choose who lives or dies, when a crime of this nature has been committed, is it really a crime? Removing from the population a predator such as a pedophile, child molester, child murderer, or any serial killer…should we ardently chase down a suspect? Should a father or mother who kills someone who hurt their child in a manner that will scar the child for life or take away their young life, be prosecuted. In this instance, hypothetically let’s say the parent knows without a doubt who the perpetrator is. There is no doubt whatsoever.
Is it wrong? Is there such a thing as Public Service Murder? Please, offer your thoughts.
Posted in Activities, Exercise, Exercise, Health, Healthy Living, Mental Health, Outdoors, Stress Management, Uncategorized, Weight Management | No Comments »
Choosing the Perfect Pet (part 1)
When picking the perfect pet for your family, there are a few things to consider:
*are you and your family ready for a pet — do you have the time and resources to devote to a new pet in the home
*is your child old enough to handle a pet — keeping in mind that your child won’t be mature enough to help out with the pet until eight or so years old
*what kind of pet will fit in with your lifestyle — if you’re a traveler you’ll want a cat as they are more independent and can be left alone for several days.
If you’re a dog person and you’re absolutely sure your family needs a dog, it’s best to consider one between one and five years old. They are more mature than puppies and won’t rough house as much, and they’re still young and spry enough to play with your child.
Some breeds are better known for their family orientated personalities like retrievers and spaniels tend to be gentler and love being played with. Whereas small dogs such as terriers and toy breeds are easily hurt so they are more aggressive with nipping children out of fear. The only sure way to get one that is good with children is to measure the dog and not the breed.
Adoption is a good place to start with looking for a dog. The adoption counselors know the animals and their temperaments to tell if they’d be a good match with kids. A lot of shelters test out their dogs with children to verify if they’re good with them. They also foster dogs out to families with small children to accustom the dog to day to day life for permanent adoption.
Here’s a test to conduct for yourself when you find a dog you’re interested in:
1.) make loud noises and sudden movements and gauge reactions
2.) touch the dog in an intrusive way as a child would.
3.) play with the dogs ears, hold the paws, put your fingers in the mouth
4.) pat him, push him, roll him over
5.) run in a circle and jump up and down
You’re looking for a pet that can handle the rougher handling because until your child learns they won’t always be gentle. If the dog responds calmly to these annoyances you inflicted, chances are you’ve got a good family dog before you.
Next installment will be on how to choose a good family cat….
Posted in Health, Healthy Living, Mental Health, Sleep, Sleep and Rest, Stress Management, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
