Category: Health

7 Science-Backed Ways to Stay Healthy As You Age

These simple habits can have a major payoff.

Once upon a time, staying healthy meant eating some veggies and, well, pretty much nothing else. But with each passing decade, the risk for injuries and chronic illnesses increase, and wellness starts to take a little more work.

The good news? There are plenty of things you can do to keep feeling like your best and doing the things you enjoy. Here, seven that are worth integrating into your regular routine.

Fit older woman

1 Keep moving

Being active doesn’t just help prevent chronic diseases. As we age, it can also lower the chance for serious injury.

“Strength, balance, and flexibility exercises are key to preventing falls, which are one of the greatest threats to our healthy longevity,” says Scott Kaiser, MD, a family physician and geriatrician at Providence St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California.

Regular exercise could also boost your brainpower. When sedentary adults performed three 45-minute exercise sessions per week for six months, they had improved executive function (the ability to focus and make plans) equal to someone nine years younger, found one Neurology study. So go ahead and lace up those sneaks.

2 Prioritize protein

Grocery bags starting to feel a little heavier than they used to? Muscle loss is a normal part of aging, but research shows that eating enough protein can help you preserve what you’ve got—and even support your efforts to build more.

How much should you get in a day? Recent findings suggest that adults over 65 need 1 to 1.2 grams of protein per kilogram of weight to support muscle health. (That’s at least 68 grams of protein per day for a 150-pound person.)

Make sure to add a lean protein source to each meal, like fish, poultry, or beans. And choose wholesome high-protein snacks too. Think: Greek yogurt with fruit, hummus with veggies, or a protein-packed nutritional drink like BOOST. (We’re fans of the strawberry and chocolate flavors. Yum!)

3 Get regular checkups

Don’t just go to the doctor when you’re sick. Regular well visits are a chance to screen for (and catch!) health issues that become more common with age, like high blood pressure and diabetes, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Those checkups are a prime opportunity to check that you’re up to date on all of your vaccines—especially ones that offer extra protection for older adults, like the flu shot or shingles vaccine.

4 Reach out

Meet a friend for coffee, check out that photography class, or FaceTime with your grandkids. “Investing in meaningful relationships is one of the most important things we can do to increase our health, quality of life, and wellbeing,” Dr. Kaiser says.

One big reason why? Social wellbeing is tied to lower levels of interleukin-6, an inflammatory factor involved in chronic diseases like Alzheimer’s, heart disease, osteoporosis, arthritis, and some cancers.

5 Get enough sleep

If you’re finding it harder with each passing year to snooze soundly, you’re far from alone. Nearly half of older adults say they regularly have trouble falling asleep.

The problem? Sleep-deprived folks are more likely to feel depressed, have trouble remembering information and focusing, feel sleepy during the day, and fall more during the night.

You need the same amount of sleep today as you did when you were younger—between 7 and 8 hours per night, the NIH says. If you’re having trouble hitting that mark, talk with your doctor. She’ll help you figure out whether an underlying sleep problem is behind the tossing and turning and what you can do to get the rest you need.

6 Make time to de-stress

Unchecked tension doesn’t just put you in a lousy mood. It also boosts inflammation in the body, which can speed aging and make you more likely to get sick.

In fact, findings suggest that the majority of diseases are related to chronic stress. Stress hormones like cortisol are also thought to negatively impact memory and contribute to brain shrinkage starting as early as our late 40s, according to a Neurology study.

Finding ways to unwind can make a difference—even if it’s only for a minute or two. “Even if you’re pressed for time, take a moment and take one restorative breath,” Dr. Kaiser says.

7 Lean into today

There are countless reasons why getting older is great. (Senior discounts! Way more wisdom!) So instead of succumbing to tired stereotypes, think about what you love about your current age.

Yale University research shows that older adults who see aging as a good thing live almost eight years longer and have a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease compared to those who view aging negatively. “Having a positive view of aging is associated with both living longer and living better,” Dr. Kaiser says.

It turns out, the fountain of youth was inside your head all along.

By Marygrace Taylor in Prevention Magazine

https://www.prevention.com/health/g26115957/healthy-aging/

6 Speed Walking Tips to Help You Burn as Many Calories as You Would Running

Got bad knees?  A tad over-weight?  Not into running?  Then this article is for you.

Pro tip: Your posture is super important.

You don’t have to be a runner to torch calories and reap the weight loss benefits of cardio. In fact, you can burn just as many calories walking as you can running—if you speed walk, says Michele Stanten, an ACE-certified personal trainer, walking coach and author of Walk Your Way to Better Health,

“All a walker has to do to burn more calories than a runner is to outpace the runner,” she explains. For example, if you walk 4.5 mph (a 13 to 15-minute per mile pace) for about 42 minutes, you can burn as many calories as a runner who does a 10-minute mile. Push it to 5 mph (a 12-minute per mile pace) for 35 minutes, and you can match the runner’s calorie burn in a shorter amount of time.

In addition to burning more calories, you’ll also boost your overall health. A faster walking pace can reduce your risk of death, especially from heart and respiratory diseases, according to a 2019 study from the University of Glasgow in the United Kingdom.

While walking at a speed of 4.5 to 5 mph may seem intense, it’s possible to sustain if you build your endurance and gradually increase your time, says Stanten, who offers her tips below.

How to speed walk for weight loss

Ready to pick up the pace? Here are Stanten’s top strategies for improving your average walking speed and boosting your metabolism’s calorie-burning powers.

1. Stand tall. When you elongate your spine, you gain more distance in between your hips and rib cage, which allows your legs to swing more freely than when you slump into your pelvis.

2. Look out in front of you. Keep your line of vision 10 to 20 feet ahead instead of looking down at your feet. Roll your shoulders back and down to help open up your chest and un-hunch your back so you can take deeper breaths.

3. Swing your arms faster. Bend your arms at 90 degrees as you swing them forward and back. Avoid swinging them across your body or winging them out to your sides. This can mess with your stride and make you lose energy fast. Pumping your arms will help you engage your upper body and core to help you move more efficiently and walk faster.

4. Take smaller steps. When your front leg reaches out too far, it acts like a brake and slows you down. With shorter, quick steps, your foot lands almost underneath you so you roll right over it. To figure out your gait, follow this exercise from Stanten: Raise one knee to hip height so your foot is hanging just below your knee, like you’re marching. Then, extend your leg in front of you and bring your heel down to the ground. It should be just a few inches in front of your other foot.

5. Do speed intervals. Alternating between short but fast bursts of walking with slower-paced intervals not only helps increase your walking speed—it can also help you burn more calories, even after you’re done exercising. “The longer or harder you work out, the more time it will take your body to return to normal,” Stanten says. “As you recover, you’ll continue to burn calories at an accelerated rate for as little as 20 minutes or possibly up to 24 hours.” For a serious post-workout calorie burn, try this interval walk:

  • Warm up by walking at an easy to moderate pace for three minutes. You should be able to hold a conversation with a friend.
  • Speed up to a brisk pace for 30 seconds. At this pace, you’re moving pretty quickly and will find it harder to speak in full sentences.
  • Go fast for 20 seconds. You’re walking at your top speed at this point, so be sure you can sustain it for the entire time.
  • Sprint for 10 seconds by giving it everything you’ve got. You can’t carry a conversation at all at this pace and might be breathing heavily.
  • Repeat the 30-, 20- and 10-second set of intervals for four minutes, followed by a 1-minute recovery at a moderate pace.

6. Compete against yourself (or others). Count the number of steps you take during your fast intervals and try to beat that number on subsequent intervals. If you’re walking with a friend, ask them to keep track of their numbers and compare them at the end of the workout. This will motivate you to increase your speed and improve your endurance.

By Alisa Bowman & Prevention Magazine

If you must sleep (j/k), Do it on your Left Side

How Sleeping on Your Left Side Affects Your Health

People sleep in different positions. Usually, people choose the position they feel the most comfortable to sleep.

However, you might not know this, but if you sleep on the left side, you can enjoy many benefits.

You might have found the perfect position, but you can try this one. After reading all the benefits, for sure you will at least try sleep in this position.

7 Benefits of This Sleeping Position

1. Normal Heart Function

The left side of the heart pumps blood towards your body. This makes sense why you need to sleep on the left side because in that way you can make it easier for your heart to function properly even when you sleep.

In addition, sleeping in this position can help the circulatory system to use gravity as a benefit, to be more specific with the aorta and the inferior vena cava i.e. IVC which is a big vein that helps carry the deoxygenated blood to your heart and is on the right side of the spine.

2. Beneficial For Pregnant Women

There is nothing wrong if you decide to sleep on the right side during the pregnancy. However, if you sleep on the left side, you can enjoy few benefits. That is specifically for the last trimester.

The benefits are that it can help boost better circulation of blood, save the liver from unwanted weight by allowing it to do its various functions.

3. Improves Drainage of the Lymphatic System

The Lymphatic system removes impurities and toxins from the body. According to experts, the lymphatic system drains into the thoracic duct placed on the left side.

That is why you will benefit if you sleep on the left side. Because in that way you will help to accelerate and facilitate the removal of toxins from the body.

In addition, the lymphatic system gathers protein that escaped from the cells. If you sleep on the left side, you can aid to bring them to where they are supposed to be.

4. Help The Liver Not to Congest

The liver is on the right side of your body, and it can become congested if you spend hours sleeping on the right side.

Sleep on your left side in order to keep substances and toxins and for them to be neutralized by the liver before being moved out of your body or collected in the liver.

5. Improved Function of the Spleen

The spleen is the organ that is part of the lymphatic system. It is located on the left side of your body, and if you sleep on that side, you will help the spleen to function better.

What happens is that the gravity boosts the blood flow to the spleen and at the same time allowing it to filter the impurities.

6. Prevent Heartburn at Night

In case you have GERD i.e. gastroesophageal reflux disease or acid reflux you should consider sleeping on your left side.

When you are in this position, your stomach is placed below the cardiac sphincter. The cardiac sphincter connects the esophagus to the stomach.

If you sleep on the left side, the contents found in the stomach won’t flow back into the esophagus, and that will prevent the nighttime GERD or acid reflux.

7. Boost The Gut to Help Get Rid of Waste Products

The ileocecal valve i.e. IV is a place on your left side where the junction of the large intestine and small intestine is located.

You need to sleep on your left side in order to boost the proper elimination of the waste products. While sleeping on your left side, you help them transfer from the small to the large intestine.

Thus allowing gravity to do its work and boost regular bowel movement.

Now you are aware of the benefits; tonight try this sleeping position. You might find it hard to adjust at first, but with time not only you will get used to it, but you will also enjoy the benefits.

healthypins247.com

Carrie Underwood’s Weight Loss Secrets Revealed

Carrie Underwood is known for her toned and healthy body. She posts her weight loss secrets on Instagram and shares how she maintains her figure despite having two kids, Isaiah and Jacob. Here are five of her valuable ideas on how to maintain a sexy physique postpartum.

Constant Exercise

Every day, Underwood posts her exercise routine for reference to those who yearn for a healthy body like hers. She shared how challenging it was for her to shed off weight after having her second child Jacob.

The “American Idol” Season 4 winner admitted that her body did not function as well as when she had her first child, Isaiah. She said that her body has not recovered from gaining weight and losing it faster than it did last year, Celebrity Insider has learned.

Despite her difficult journey, she suggested that continuing a routine exercise is key to maintaining a healthy physique. She noted that it’s important to continue the healthy habit of exercising even though one is only losing weight at a slow rate. The singer also stated that focusing on every pound and body area is not helpful in the weight loss process.

Food Journaling

Underwood has also shared her meals on social media. She uses the FitnessPal application to keep track of the foods she eats. The mother of two noted that it helps people avoid eating more than necessary and restricts their calorie intake. Among Underwood’s favorite meals are oatmeal and cereals like Kashi Go Lean and Heart to Heart and she prefers eating them without milk, according to Cosmopolitan.

The fitness enthusiast has also highlighted the importance of accepting what her body is capable of achieving instead of being too hard on herself. She shared her insight into how difficult it was for her to lose the extra weight after feeling bloated this year. She said it was more productive for her to continue her routines and just accept the limits to her fitness goals.

Positive Outlook

Underwood also stressed that being too hard on yourself does not help in your weight loss journey. She cited that maintaining a healthy lifestyle goes beyond physical health but also mental stability. If you do not follow a positive outlook while working on your goals, you will not feel content. The “Cry Pretty” songstress cited that when she was too hard on herself, achieving her goals became harder for her to accomplish.

Perseverance

Lastly, Underwood has shared that not giving up on one’s goals is an important factor in achieving a healthier body. She posts her journey every day, showing that one of her weight loss secrets is perseverance. She said that worrying about the number of pounds you lose per exercise or becoming anxious in achieving faster results does not help. She noted that consistency is what helped her achieve a healthier body.

Source:  medicaldaily©

Emilia Clarke Reveals She Suffered Two Brain Aneurysms: ‘I Wasn’t Going to Live’

emilia clarke got

  • Emilia Clarke, known for her role as Daenerys Targaryen on HBO’s Game of Thrones, revealed that she suffered two life-threatening brain aneurysms in an essay for The New Yorker.
  • Clarke says she felt the excruciating pain of her first brain aneurysm while doing a plank: “At some level, I knew what was happening: my brain was damaged.”
  • Learn what a brain aneurysm is and how to spot the symptoms.

Clarke, 32, recalls her early symptoms in the essay: “On the morning of February 11, 2011, I was getting dressed in the locker room of a gym in Crouch End, North London, when I started to feel a bad headache coming on.”

She continued: “My trainer had me get into the plank position, and I immediately felt as though an elastic band were squeezing my brain. I tried to ignore the pain and push through it, but I just couldn’t. I told my trainer I had to take a break. Somehow, almost crawling, I made it to the locker room. I reached the toilet, sank to my knees, and proceeded to be violently, voluminously ill. Meanwhile, the pain-shooting, stabbing, constricting pain-was getting worse. At some level, I knew what was happening: my brain was damaged.”

Clarke doesn’t remember everything, since the events of that day became “noisy and blurry,” but she does recall the sound of a siren, someone saying her pulse was weak, and throwing up bile. Once she was at the hospital, she was sent for an MRI, where she received a swift diagnosis: a subarachnoid hemorrhage (aka, a life-threatening stroke).

“For the next three hours, surgeons went about repairing my brain. This would not be my last surgery, and it would not be the worst. I was twenty-four years old,” Clarke wrote. She admitted the pain was unbearable after waking up, and she had no idea where she was-and yet, she went back to work to film season two about month later.

But Clarke still had a growth on the other side of her brain, which doubled in size by the time she finished filming season 3 of Game of Thrones. She was scheduled for a second emergency surgery, which was much more invasive (the doctors had to go through her skull).

While she says the recovery was much worse than her first surgery and she was “convinced she wasn’t going to live,” Clarke is now back “at 100 percent.” Finally fully healed, she wants others to be aware of her story.

So what exactly is a brain aneurysm-and why are they so often deadly? Here are the symptoms you should never ignore.

What is a brain aneurysm, exactly?

A brain aneurysm is a ballooning blood vessel in the brain, and if it bursts, it can cause bleeding, also known as a hemorrhagic stroke. Most brain aneurysms occur between the brain and the tissues covering it-also known as a subarachnoid hemorrhage, which is what Clarke was first diagnosed with.

Think of it this way: An aneurysm is a weakness in the wall of one of your brain’s blood vessels, Howard Riina, MD, a neurosurgeon with New York University’s Langone Medical Center previously told Prevention. That weakness allows the blood vessel to push outward and form a bulge, much like an over-inflated balloon. Once it ruptures, the pressure and lack of blood can lead to unconsciousness and death.

“Until a rupture or leak occurs, many people are walking around with an aneurysm and don’t know it,” Dr. Riina explained. “Some data we have suggest 6 to 9 percent of the population have one.”

It’s unclear why Clarke suffered her first aneurysm at 24. While the specific causes of a brain aneurysm aren’t known, some people are at higher risk than others, especially if they are older, smoke, have high blood pressure, or consume drugs and alcohol. If you have inherited connective tissue disorders, polycystic kidney disease, or a family history of brain aneurysms, you’re also at an elevated risk.

What are they symptoms of a brain aneurysm?

A severe headache, which Clarke experienced during her workout with her trainer, is often the first sign of a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Often people describe it as the worst headache they’ve ever had, similar to being struck by a bolt of lightening. Some of the other most common symptoms of a brain aneurysm include the following:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Stiff neck
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Blurred vision
  • Seizure
  • Drooping eyelid
  • Brief loss of consciousness
  • Confusion

How is a brain aneurysm treated?

There are two different treatment options for a brain aneurysm: surgical clipping and endovascular coiling. These two procedures have risk of bleeding in the brain and loss of blood flow to the brain.

According to the Mayo Clinic, surgical clipping is a procedure in which a neurosurgeon removes a section of your skull to locate the blood vessel that’s causing the aneurysm and then inserts a tiny metal clip on the neck of the aneurysm to stop it from leaking or bursting.

Endovascular coiling is a less invasive surgery and involves placing a catheter into an artery, usually your groin, that leads to the aneurysm. Then, the neurosurgeon pushes a soft platinum wire through the catheter leading to the aneurysm. The wire coils up in the aneurysm to seal the aneurysm from the artery. Some other treatment options for ruptured brain aneurysms include pain relievers, calcium channel blockers, and anti-seizure medications.

Toward the end of her essay, Clarke emphasizes that she is doing better than ever. “In the years since my second surgery I have healed beyond my most unreasonable hopes. I am now at a hundred percent. Beyond my work as an actor, I’ve decided to throw myself into a charity I’ve helped develop in conjunction with partners in the U.K. and the U.S. It is called SameYou, and it aims to provide treatment for people recovering from brain injuries and stroke. I feel endless gratitude.”

Source:  msn.com/en-us/health

Yes, You Can Lose Weight Walking as Little as 30 Minutes a Day – but There’s a Catch

By Emily Shiffer & popsugar

Stretching for a walk

If you’re on a mission to lose weight but don’t have the time or energy for a more intense workout, walking is a great place to start. And with fitness trackers and GPS apps readily available on our phones, it’s easier than ever to track your steps, time, or distance every time you hit the pavement.

So, let’s say you walk for an hour during the day: will you lose weight? Studies suggest you would – one in JAMA Internal Medicine found that those who walked for just 30 minutes lost body fat – but just how effective your workout is depends on a number of factors.

“The intensity at which you walk plays a key role in helping your body burn more calories and improve your cardiorespiratory system,” Denise Miklasz, an ACE-certified personal trainer at Northwestern Medicine Crystal Lake Health & Fitness Center, told POPSUGAR.

If you’re walking at a casual stroll, you’re probably not going to achieve the weight loss you want. One way to pick up the pace? “You could include 30- to 60-second bursts of faster walking every three to five minutes, followed by a 30-second recovery walk,” Denise said. You can also try walking with weights or picking a route with hills to add some intervals to your workout.

“An interval-training workout will continue to burn more calories after your workout due to a physiological effect called excess post-exercise oxygen consumption, or EPOC. EPOC is sometimes referred to as the ‘afterburn effect,'” Denise explained.

Even more important is your diet. You know this, but you can’t eat whatever you want or as much as you want the second you start exercising. “In order to lose weight you need to create a calorie deficit,” she said. One pound is equal to 3,500 calories, so you’d need to carve out 3,500 calories each week in order to lose one pound, which experts consider a safe and healthy goal. In other words, “you need to either burn an extra 3,500 calories or remove 3,500 calories from your diet,” Denise explained – or a combination of the two.

“Combining exercise with a healthy diet is more effective than restricting calories alone. Exercise can help you maintain and increase lean body mass, which results in a larger calorie burn per day,” she said. To that point, when you’re ready to start building muscle, remember that walking alone won’t cut it. “Ideally, incorporating strength training along with aerobic exercise will increase muscle mass and boost your metabolism,” Denise said.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/weightloss/yes-you-can-lose-weight-walking-as-little-as-30-minutes-a-day-but-theres-a-catch/ar-BBUJOX6?ocid=spartandhp

People Who Use These Words May Suffer from Depression

Depression conceptual design isolated on white background. Low mood concept

(I am not a therapist.  I post this article in the belief that if it help’s one person, one less person will take their own life.)

According to a recent report by the World Economic Forum, depression is now a disorder afflicting upwards of 250 million people around the world. Everyone feels depressed every so often, but clinical depression is a serious illness that involves feeling low or empty almost all of the time, decreased energy levels, loss of interest in activities or hobbies, difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite, and more. It wreaks havoc on your personal life and physical health, and, in extreme cases, can lead to suicide.

But spotting depression in a friend or loved one isn’t always as easy as you might think. If there’s one thing that we learned from the tragic deaths of Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade last year, it’s that depression can hit anyone—even those who are wealthy and successful and who have enviable lives—and just because someone seems active and cheerful on the outside doesn’t mean that’s how they feel inside.

Now, a new study published in Clinical Psychological Science has revealed at least one of the ways in which you can potentially spot depression in a loved one: by paying attention to the types of words they use.

Researchers conducted a text analysis of 63 internet forums comprised of more than 6,4000 members and found that people who suffer from depression tend to speak in absolutes, often employing words like “nothing,” “never,” “everyone,” and “everything.”

The prevalence of absolutist words is approximately 50 percent greater in anxiety and depression forums, and approximately 80 percent greater for suicidal ideation forums.”

Even in forums for people who feel they have recovered from depression; absolutist language was significantly more prevalent than in control forums.

Other findings show that people suffering from depression tend to use a lot of negative adjectives and adverbs, such as “lonely,” “sad,” or “miserable,” which comes as no surprise. What’s more interesting is that people with depression tend to use significantly more first-person singular pronouns, such as “I,” “me,” and “myself,” which may reflect how alone they feel in the world.

This pattern of pronoun use suggests people with depression are more focused on themselves, and less connected with others. Researchers have reported that pronouns are actually more reliable in identifying depression than negative emotion words.

Studies like this one can be especially valuable for the parents of teenagers, who are often notoriously tight-lipped about the state of their emotional well-being.

One distressing recent study found that young Americans are the loneliest of all generations and that teen suicide in America is soaring. Of course, it is possible to use a language associated with depression without actually being depressed, but it’s a good thing to be aware of and can open up a broader discussion.

If you are suffering from depression, you can call the SAMHSA’s National Helpline at, 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for free any time of day, though it’s also worth consulting a mental health specialist. It’s also worth knowing that there are ways to change your way of thinking, and thereby boost your happiness levels, outside of medication. For more on this, check out the major scientific takeaways from Yale’s Happiness Course.

Article by Diana Bruk & Best Life

 

10 Warning Signs That Something’s Up With Your Health

 

Curious if you’re healthy?

You can count on your body giving you warning signs and presenting symptoms when something isn’t quite right.

Many people either ignore the signs and symptoms completely or make justifications for them. For example, if you’ve been feeling overly fatigued and weak the last week or two, you may attribute it to your stressful finals or working extra shifts. While this may be true, your body is still trying to tell you something about your health and wellness, and needs your attention.

People are usually considered experts when it comes to their body. Since you’re the only one who has to live within your body, no one can know it better than you. When something is off or abnormal about your health and wellness, your body will present red flags to let you know there are some health issues going on.

It’s kind of like a “knock knock” from your body to your head to help make you aware that something isn’t right. This could range from symptoms of dehydration or lack of salt intake to more serious issues such as heart and respiratory problems.

10 warning signs from your body 

1. Confusion

Be sure to note times you are experiencing an altered mental status. This could be happening for several different reasons. It could be from dehydration, the onset of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, or lack of multiple vitamins.

2. Hair loss

Everyone loses hair, but excessive hair loss doesn’t just happen for no reason. Excessive hair loss can be from malnutrition, anemia, or an autoimmune disease. It can also occur because of stress.

Make sure to note how often it happens (if it’s not every day) and the times of the year (winter, summer). This will help medical professionals narrow down what to check for and possibilities of what it could be.

3. Skin rashes

Skin rashes are commonly found in autoimmune diseases. Depending on what the skin rash looks like, it could be characteristic of shingles, eczema, dry skin, dermatitis or an allergy. Other types of skin rashes can be part of other conditions such as autoimmune diseases or metabolic conditions.

4. Unexplained weight loss

Sudden weight loss can be found as a symptom of many different conditions. This is why it is imperative to seek medical help in order to find out what the cause may be and how to treat it depending on what the condition is.

5. Bathroom changes

This can be indicative of diabetes type II. It can also point toward gastrointestinal problems. Depending on the nature of change, medical professionals will be able to guide you in the right direction and it is important to seek treatment as soon as possible.

6. Unexplained bleeding

Usually, when someone is bleeding, it from a wound or scratch and you are able to identify what caused it. Blood in the urine or stool may mean that there is internal bleeding, which can be very serious if gone untreated.

7. Changes in vision

People with diabetes type II often report sudden vision changes, whether it be double vision or seeing “floaters”. Nervous system disorders also involve vision changes so you may need to seek a neurology consultation.

8. Overly thirsty

This is also characteristic of diabetes. It is also common in Sjogren’s syndrome which is an autoimmune condition affecting primarily the mouth and eyes.

9. Dark yellow urine

This is indicative of dehydration. It could also be an indication of liver disease.

10. Dry/cracked Lips

This is commonly related to vitamin B deficiencies and/or dehydration.

There are signs and symptoms that overlap with different conditions and abnormalities in the body. Do not try and diagnose yourself or you may cause yourself to be more anxious about what may be wrong. Make sure to consult a medical professional if you notice any of the following signs and symptoms as well as the persistence of them.

Where to start

Start with a primary care physician so they can guide you on what specialists to see and what tests to start out with. Symptoms may be more complex and difficult to diagnose depending on things such as family history, past medical history, social life and/or environmental factors.

Do not freak out. Just make sure to seek out medical treatment sooner rather than later. The later you wait, the possibilities of permanent damage increase.

Do not ignore the subtle signs and symptoms you experience. When your body feels something is wrong, it will alert you and your body expects you to listen to what it is trying to tell you.

When to follow up

Also, make sure you are getting yearly check-ups and physicals to stay on top of your health and be proactive. Remember, you are the expert of your own body and what you are feeling. Make sure to advocate for it.

By Brittney Lindstrom & yourtango©

Risk Factors of Stroke and How to Prevent it

 

Luke Perry RIP

Learn about the risk factors and how to prevent stroke

A stroke occurs when either too much blood or too little blood disrupts blood flow to part of the brain. This deprives brain tissue of necessary oxygen and nutrients. Within minutes brain cells begin to die and the result is a loss of brain function. Brain damage from strokes can be minimized if7 they are treated promptly, but it’s common to mistake signs of a stroke for other health problems, which delays treatment.

There are several types of stroke that present a wide range of symptoms:

  • Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA): A TIA is an early warning that a stroke (also called a brain attack) may be coming. A TIA is a temporary stroke. It causes no lasting damage. But the effects of a stroke, if it happens, can be very serious and lasting. If you think you are having symptoms of a TIA or stroke–even if they don’t last–get medical help right away.
  • Ischemic Stroke: Ischemic stroke occurs when an artery that supplies the brain is greatly narrowed or blocked. This can be caused by a buildup of plaque. It can also occur when small pieces of plaque or blood clot (called emboli) break off into the bloodstream.
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A subarachnoid hemorrhage occurs when a blood vessel on the surface of the brain bursts (hemorrhages). This spills blood into the surrounding tissue. This type of stroke often happens suddenly, with little warning. It is one of the most serious of all types of strokes.
  • Hemorrhagic Stroke: Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures. This lets blood spill into nearby brain tissue, which damages the cells. Other brain cells die because their normal blood supply is cut off.

Risk factors for stroke

Certain health and lifestyle issues–called risk factors–increase your chances of having a stroke. The leading risk factor for stroke is high blood pressure. But there are many other factors that also put you at risk. Risk factors are different for each person.

Effects of a stroke on the brain and body

When blood supply is cut off from the brain, cells begin to die from lack of oxygen. Within minutes, skills such as reasoning, speech, and arm or leg movement may be lost. The type of skills and the amount of loss depend on two things: which part of the brain was affected and how much tissue was damaged.

Preventing another stroke with a healthier lifestyle

Breaking old habits can be hard. But when your health is at stake, it’s never too late to make changes for the better. Some lifestyle changes might be easy for you. Others might be tough. If you need help, talk with your health care provider, family, or friends.

Make Healthy Changes

  • Stop smoking. If you smoke, the time to quit is now! There’s no more time for excuses. Smoking raises blood pressure and damages arteries—both of which can lead to a stroke. To stop smoking, ask your healthcare provider for help. Join a stop-smoking program. Make a list of reasons to quit and read it daily.
  • Limit alcohol. Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure and increase the risk of stroke. Alcohol can also react with certain medications. Ask your healthcare provider if it’s safe for you to drink alcohol.
  • Get support. A stroke can leave you feeling frustrated or depressed. Don’t ignore your feelings, but don’t dwell on them either. Focus on what you can do. Talking to family, friends, your healthcare provider, or clergy can also help. Join a group for stroke survivors, if there is one in your community.
  • Reduce stress. Stress can make your heart work harder and raise blood pressure. To reduce stress, try to let go of daily annoyances. Ask yourself if problems will still matter a week from now. Getting proper rest can also help. Finally, don’t be embarrassed to ask for help when you need it.

If You Have High Blood Pressure

One of the most important things you can do to prevent another stroke is to keep your blood pressure under control. If you have high blood pressure:

  • Take all your medications as directed.
  • Get regular exercise.
  • Talk with your healthcare provider about limiting fat and salt in your diet.
  • Check your blood pressure regularly. Write down your numbers and bring them to checkups with your healthcare provider.

Manage Other Health Problems

Strokes are often closely related to certain health problems. These include high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. If you have any of these conditions, it’s more important than ever to keep them under control. Do this by taking any prescribed medications and having regular checkups. Keep in mind, too, that the same healthy lifestyle choices that prevent stroke will also help control these health problems.

For Family and Friends

It’s much harder for your loved one to make lifestyle changes if he or she is feeling low. So be on the lookout for sadness, depression, or hopelessness. These feelings are not uncommon after a stroke. Talk to the healthcare provider if you have concerns.

  Source:  veteranshealthlibrary.org