Health – Page 6 – Risk Management 365

Exercise and Age

It’s never too late to start exercising. Exercise has benefits at any age.

Don’t worry if you’ve never exercised, or if you stopped exercising for some reason. Being physically active can help you continue to do the things you enjoy and stay independent as you age. In addition, the right kind of regular exercise can reduce your chance of heart disease, diabetes, and falls.

An effective exercise program needs to be fun and keep you motivated. It helps to have a goal. Your goal might be:

Manage a health condition
Reduce stress
Improve your stamina
Be able to buy clothes in a smaller size

Your exercise program also may be a way for you to socialize. Taking exercise classes or exercising with a friend are both good ways to be social.

You may have a hard time starting an exercise routine. Once you do start, though, you will begin to notice the benefits, including improved sleep and self-esteem.

Exercise and physical activity can also:

Improve or maintain your strength and fitness
Make it easier to do the things you want to do
Help your balance and walking
Help with feelings of depression or anxiety and improve your mood
Maintain your thinking skills (cognitive function) as you get older
Prevent or treat diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, breast and colon cancer, and osteoporosis

Always talk to your health care provider before starting an exercise program.

via Exercise and age: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.

What Is COPD?

COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary PULL-mun-ary disease, is a progressive disease that makes it hard to breathe. “Progressive” means the disease gets worse over time. COPD can cause coughing that produces large amounts of mucus a slimy substance, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and other symptoms. Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of COPD. Most people who have COPD smoke or used to smoke. Long-term exposure to other lung irritants—such as air pollution, chemical fumes, or dust—also may contribute to COPD.

via What Is COPD? – NHLBI, NIH.

Recognizing the Signs of Depression

It isn’t always easy to tell when normal reactions to difficult situations (grief, sadness, etc.) have crossed the line towards clinical depression that needs treatment. However, the number of signs or symptoms you are experiencing, along with the duration and frequency you have them are all important. You are probably dealing with clinical depression (which warrants a visit to your doctor for evaluation) if you have experienced 5 or more of the following symptoms (and at least one of them is among the first two listed), nearly every day for two weeks or more:

Loss of interest in things you normally enjoy
Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless
Thoughts of death or suicide
Feeling worthless or guilty
Problems falling asleep, staying asleep, waking too early or sleeping too much
Unexplained decrease or increase in appetite, resulting in weight gain or loss within the last month.
Trouble thinking, concentrating, remembering, and making decisions
Extreme tiredness or lack of energy that interferes with your ability to work or take care of your daily responsibilities
Feeling restless, unable to sit still, or abnormally slow when moving

via Recognizing the Signs of Depression | SparkPeople.

Serving Sizes and Portions

A portion is the amount of food that you choose to eat for a meal or snack. It can be big or small—you decide.

A serving is a measured amount of food or drink, such as one slice of bread or one cup (eight ounces) of milk.

Many foods that come as a single portion actually contain multiple servings. The Nutrition Facts label on packaged foods—on the backs of cans, sides of boxes, etc.— tells you the number of servings in the container.

For example, look at the label of a 20-ounce soda (usually consumed as one portion). It has 2.5 servings in it. A 3-ounce bag of chips, which some would consider a single portion, contains 3 servings.

via Serving Sizes and Portions, Eat Right, NHLBI, NIH.

How to Start Running Safely

If all the benefits of cardio have you wanting to start running, here are some tips for you to follow so you can start your new pastime safely.

Get the OK. Check with your doctor if you are new to running or exercise, or if you have any health problems, to make sure you are fine to start.
Invest in the right shoes. Dressing the part doesn’t just come down to wearing the cutest attire. Make sure you buy the right shoes; don’t go for looks, but go for support and long-lasting materials that cushion. Quality running shoes may not be cheap, but they’ll help prevent injuries and make running that much more enjoyable. Here’s what to expect when buying the right running shoe.
Start slow. It’s OK to walk — don’t think you have to power through a whole mile when you first start. Starting slow helps keep you from getting overuse injuries. Instead, use a walk/run strategy: run for five to 10 seconds every minute, and gradually shift the ratio as you become stronger. Also, try to set a few goals (like these small minigoals for beginning runners) to conquer to keep you interested and motivated.
Fuel up correctly. Make sure you’re eating the right foods to prevent an upset stomach or feeling weak. Eat a mix of proteins and carbs about 30 minutes before a run, and make sure it’s light so you don’t feel sluggish and get cramps. Read more tips on what to eat before a run here.
Warm up and cool down. Don’t force muscles to work without warming them up first. Briskly walk or jog before you start running to prevent pulls and strains. And make sure you cool down after a run; slow down to a jog and stretch your leg muscles.

via How to Start Running Safely | POPSUGAR Fitness.

Isn’t stress just part of any job?

Stress is a normal part of any life, and any job. Stress can be positive or negative, and how people react to various stressors is highly individual. But excessive negative stress (or distress) can contribute to or even cause serious health problems for employees.

Excessive job stress can be caused by many factors, but research over the past 15 years has shown that some stressors are worse than others:

Jobs that are highly demanding because they involve constant imposed deadlines over prolonged period, and provide the individual with very little control over the day to day organization of their work (high demand/low control jobs).
Jobs that require high physical or mental effort but offer little reward in the way of compensation, status, financial gain or career enhancement (high effort/low reward jobs).
An accumulation of home stress and job stress affect overall wellness.

The health of workers doesn’t have to be compromised by stress, however. Changes to the organization of work can make for a more mentally healthy workplace, especially when employees feel adequately rewarded and under greater control of their work.

via Isn’t stress just part of any job? | Mental Health Works.

Ebola Virus and Marburg Virus

Ebola virus and Marburg virus are related viruses that cause hemorrhagic fevers — illnesses marked by severe bleeding (hemorrhage), organ failure and, in many cases, death. Both viruses are native to Africa, where sporadic outbreaks have occurred for decades.

Ebola virus and Marburg virus live in animal hosts, and humans can contract the viruses from infected animals. After the initial transmission, the viruses can spread from person to person through contact with body fluids or contaminated needles.

No drug has been approved to treat either virus. People diagnosed with Ebola or Marburg virus receive supportive care and treatment for complications. Scientists are coming closer to developing vaccines for these deadly diseases.

via Ebola virus and Marburg virus Definition – Diseases and Conditions – Mayo Clinic.

Heart Disease

In the United States, the most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease (CAD), which can lead to heart attack. You can greatly reduce your risk for CAD through lifestyle changes and, in some cases, medication.

Coronary artery disease can cause a heart attack. If you have a heart attack, you are more likely to survive if you know the signs and symptoms, call 9-1-1 right away, and get to a hospital quickly. People who have had a heart attack can also reduce the risk of future heart attacks or strokes by making lifestyle changes and taking medication.

via CDC – Heart Disease Home – DHDSP.

The Enormous Cost of Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease in which blood glucose levels are above normal. Risk factors for the most common type include obesity, physical inactivity and aging. Complications can include vision loss, heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, amputation of feet or legs and premature death. Patients can manage the disease through diet, exercise and medication.

Among details from the report:

• One-quarter of adults with diabetes don’t know they have it.

• More than 200,000 children and teens have diabetes.

• Diabetes is about twice as common among blacks, Hispanics, American Indian and Alaskan native adults as among whites. But pre-diabetes rates are similar among racial and ethnic groups.

• Diabetes and its complications cost $245 billion in 2012, up from $174 billion in 2010.

via CDC: Diabetes count rises to 29 million, 12% of adults.

What is an Employee Assistance Program?

An employee assistance program (EAP) is a work-based intervention program designed to identify and assist employees in resolving personal problems (e.g., marital, financial or emotional problems; family issues; substance/alcohol abuse) that may be adversely affecting the employee’s performance. EAPs that offer medical benefits such as direct counseling and treatment, rather than just referrals for counseling and treatment, are regulated under ERISA and subject to COBRA. EAP plans are usually 100% paid by the employer and can include a wide array of other services, such as nurse lines, basic legal assistance and referrals, adoption assistance, or assistance finding elder care services. EAP services can be made available not only to the employee but also to immediate family members or anyone living in their home.

via Employee Assistance Program (EAP): General: What is an employee assistance program?.