Posts filed under 'Diabetes and Chronic Disease'
According to a survey from the American Psychological Association, nearly 1 in 3 US adults report “extreme stress” in their lives. Not only is there a report in “extreme stress”, but they feel stress over half the days in a month and their levels of stress have increased almost 50% over the last five years. Not only are US adults more stressed, they are suffering physically, emotionally, and professionally as a result.
Most participants - 82% - say they manage their stress well, however, do report stress causes problems with their physical and mental health, work and relationships. Physical problems such as fatigue, headache, upset stomach and muscle tension as well as mental problems including irritability, nervousness, anger and lack of energy.
And how do we deal with these stressors?? We eat, smoke, drink and don’t sleep. Nearly 50% of the participants report losing sleep and overeating, particularly candy and chocolate. Where is the stress coming from? Work is the number one stressor with money coming in at a close second.
In the article, the American Psychological Association gives tip for managing stressors - without reaching for the nearest bag of chips!
- Understand how you experience stress.
- Identify your sources of stress.
- Learn your own stress signals.
- Recognize how you deal with stress.
- Find healthy ways to manage stress.
- Take care of yourself.
- Reach out for support.
October 25th, 2007
Now that we have moved into cold and flu season, don’t let a little sniffle ruin your weight loss progress. An article from WebMD answers the question: Is it OK to exercise when sick? Sure the last thing you want to do when you don’t feel well is go out and run sprints, however, exercising while sick can sometimes be the best remedy.
The answer to the question really depends on what ails you. Before heading to the gym when you aren’t feeling your best, it is a good idea to go through a few checks. The main rule of thumb is to determine whether or not you have a fever. If yes, then definitely sit out. The danger is raising your body temperature while it has already been elevated due to sickness. This can make your illness even worse. For aerobic exercise, it is best to use the ‘neck check’. If symptoms are above the neck (sore throat, nasal congestion, sneezing) its OK to exercise; however, if symptoms are below the neck (coughing, body aches, fatigue) it is best to rest until better.
After using the previous checks, it’s best to listen to your body. Do what you can and if you can’t do it, then don’t. If you usually run for 45 minutes, try walking instead. Or use this day for yoga or Pilates. Make sure you don’t have the above symptoms and feel free to continue your routine. Remember that exercise is a great way to prevent illness. Thirty minutes of regular exercise three to four times a week is actually shown to improve immunity.
October 24th, 2007
Due to new progress in colorectal cancer screening and treatments, cancer death rates in the US are dropping faster than ever. According to the annual “Report to the Nation“, cancer death rates dropped by an average of 2.1 percent each year between 2002 and 2004.
Even though colorectal cancer remains number two in the nation’s cancer death rates, rates have dropped significantly in men and women, nearly 5% for each. These lowered rates are due to preventive screenings as well as new treatments. Even at a 50 percent screening rate, the impact is greatly affecting the amount of new cases.
Other findings include:
- Cancer mortality is improving faster in men than women, particularly in lung cancer deaths. While men have a 2 percent decrease, women’s rates are holding steady after years of increases.
- Overall, the rate of new cancer diagnoses is decreasing about half a percent per year.
This annual report is a collaboration of the American Cancer Society, National Cancer Institute, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the North American Central Cancer Registries.
October 16th, 2007
The Hilton Head Health Institute is a proud supporter in the fight against breast cancer. In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, this October H3I donated a one-week stay to the Women’s Club of Palmetto Hall Plantation’s annual Rally for the Cure to support the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
The Rally for the Cure Silent Auction will begin this Sunday, October 7th, 2007. The Auction will be open to the public for bidding on the one-week stay. On Sunday, the Auction will open at 11:00 am and close at 6:00 pm. Visit the website, www.hhhealth.com, on Sunday during these times for the phone number you may call to place a bid. We encourage everyone to bid and share your gift of health and hope with others!
(Winning bid amount will be posted during Auction hours on Sunday, October 7th, 2007.)
About the Susan G. Komen Foundation
The Susan G. Komen Foundation is the largest global grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists. They fight to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care, and energize scientists to find a cure for this devastating disease. The Komen Foundation is dedicated to stopping breast cancer at every stage - from the causes to the cures, to the pain and anxiety of every moment in between. Through events like Rally for the Cure, the Susan G. Komen Foundation has raised nearly $1 billion, strictly dedicated to the fight for breast cancer eradication and awareness.
October 5th, 2007
The Hilton Head Health Institute is a proud supporter of the fight against breast cancer. In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, this October H3I donated a one-week stay to the Women’s Club of Palmetto Hall Plantation’s annual Rally for the Cure to support the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
After skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women and is the second leading cause of cancer death in women (lung cancer is the first). According to the American Cancer Society(ACS), there are 2 million women in the US who have been treated for breast cancer. The good news is, rates are declining, likely attributable to early diagnosis and improved treatment.
While there is no precise cause for breast cancer, there are several risk factors that increase the chances of getting the disease (many of which are uncontrollable). Also, just because you’re at higher risk doesn’t mean you will contract breast cancer-it only increases the chances. Uncontrollable risk factors are age, gender, family history, and race. Risk factors you can influence include alcohol use, obesity, high-fat diets, and lack of exercise.
These ‘lifestyle’ factors may put you at an increased risk of breast cancer. Use of alcohol is clearly related. Women who have as little as one drink a day show an increased risk. Being overweight is also linked, especially if the weight gain was in adulthood. The risk is higher if the extra fat is around the waist. Studies have shown that exercise can reduce the risk of breast cancer. The ACS suggests exercising for at least 45 to 60 minutes, 5 or more days of the week.
The current decline in breast cancer is possibly a result of advanced screening for the disease. The earlier the cancer is found, the better the chances the treatment will work. By following the screening guidelines from the ACS, thousands of lives can be saved through early detection:
- Women in their 20s should perform self breast exams (SBE)
- Women in their 20-30s should have a clinical breast exam (CBE) every 3 years, women age 40 or older should have a CBE every year
- Women age 40 or older should have a mammogram every year
- Women considered high risk should talk to their doctor about the best methods of screening (this may include starting mammograms early, having extra tests, or more frequent exams)
The Susan G. Komen Foundation is the largest global grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists. They fight to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care, and energize scientists to find a cure for this devastating disease. The Komen Foundation is dedicated to stopping breast cancer at every stage - from the causes to the cures, to the pain and anxiety of every moment in between. Through events like Rally for the Cure, the Susan G. Komen Foundation has raised nearly $1 billion, strictly dedicated to the fight for breast cancer eradication and awareness.
October 1st, 2007
Did your state pass or fail? According to a report by Trust for America’s Health (TFAH), obesity rates for 31 states have risen since last year. Twenty two states experienced an increase for the second year in a row, while no states saw a decrease.
Mississippi started off the list as the state with the highest rate of adult obesity in the country for the third year in a row and also the first state to reach an adult obesity rate of over 30 percent. Colorado finished out the list as the leanest state in the country, even so, they still saw an increase in obesity rates as well. Ten of the top 15 states with the highest obesity rates are in the South. Could this be attributed to that good ole’ home cookin’?
South Carolina ranks fifth in the nation in the adult obesity epidemic at 27.8 % and seventh in the nation for childhood obesity at 18.9 %. In 1991, none of the states had obesity rates that were above 20%, now 19 states have obesity rates exceeding 25 %. According to Jeff Levi, PhD and Executive Director of TFAH, “poor nutrition and physical inactivity are robbing America of our health and productivity”.
Read more about this report by Trust for America’s Health and see how your state measured up. Also see the TFAH’s recommendations for combating the nation’s leading epidemic.
August 27th, 2007
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