Health Briefs on Preventing Heat Stroke

Heat strokes can affect anyone who is outside in the sun on a hot day working or on a practice field for a sport. Health Briefs reminds readers about how to prevent a heat stroke and what to do if someone suffers one.

The symptoms of heat stroke are: nausea, headache, dizziness, vomiting, skin is hot to the touch and possibly a change in behavior such as agitation. When someone exhibits these signs of heat stroke, there are specific steps to take before an emergency teams are called.

The National Athletic Trainer's Association (NATA) issued new guidelines for coaches and adults who work with student athletes: cool the patient down before the medical response arrives.  If the patient’s core body temperature can be cooled down for at least 30 minutes before an ambulance arrives, the chances of saving that life improve greatly. The same rule should apply to anyone who seems to display symptoms of heat stroke.  The Health Briefs TV show encourages those who lead kids in summer athletic programs and school sports practices to start slowly when taking kids outside to practice when they have been indoors. Be aware of asking young athletes to don full uniform in the heat of the day. And always be sure there are plenty of cold drinks on hand from water to sports drinks to replenish fluids, vitamins and minerals lost to sweating. Be alert and safe summer training sessions. 

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Health Briefs on the Over Fortification of Food

Grocery store shelves are chock full of products touting how many vitamins and nutrients are in the products. But some health experts believe that over fortification can be harmful to children. Health Briefs takes a look into it.

The Environmental Work Group, an organization which found that nearly half of children eight years and younger, were consuming possibly dangerous amounts of vitamin A, zinc and niacin when they consume over fortified foods. Researchers found that of the approximately 2,550 products which were fortified 114 had 30% or more of the adult daily value for some vitamins and nutrients. This can cause liver damage, skeletal abnormalities and hair loss in some kids. While some additional vitamins and nutrients are healthy, adults caring for children should be aware of how many fortified foods they are giving to children every day. The Health Briefs TV show believes that a nutritious diet of whole grains, fresh fruit and produce is healthier for children of any age. If children are in need of extra vitamins and minerals in their daily diets, seek the advice of a pediatrician. There are other options which are better for children’s growing bodies such as vitamins and drinks.

Health Briefs Looks at the Level of Preservatives in our Food

Health Briefs recounts an old adage about eating fresh food:  never eat anything that won't spoil.  It is clear that the corporate food producers care more about the shelf-life of their products than nutrition or even customer health.  Heaven forfend that an item may pass its expiry date while still sitting on the store shelf.  While some less scrupulous grocers will simply change the date on the package, the industry solution is to add chemical preservatives to anything they produce that's perishable.  Is the notorious 100-year-old twinkie an urban myth, or is it a real possibility?  One hears of pastry confections found in perfect condition after being forgotten on a shelf for many years.  Just what are we getting when we bite into a packaged food product?  Even using the word "product" to describe our food doesn't sound very appetizing.

Health Briefs cautions consumers about how much of what they eat actually consists of chemical preservatives.

The Health Briefs TV show notes that the best food is that which was not produced by a corporation.  When the bottom line is the first priority, there are all kinds of chemical short-cuts to keeping food looking good on the store shelf.  For many years, apples were sprayed with a form of shellac so that they would shine for the purchaser.  One bit of trivia that is not so trivial and should stand as a warning to us all:  according to the mortuary industry, these days it requires 60% less chemical preservatives to embalm a human body than it once did.  That job is now largely being done by the food industry while we're still breathing ... and eating.  In stead of pumping so much chemical preservative into my dinner, I'd much rather concentrate on preserving my health.

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Why Gluten-Free Fad Diets are Not Healthy from Health Briefs

Gluten-free products are swiftly taking their place on grocery store shelves and many celebrities and others are snapping up the specialty food items in order to lose weight fast. Health Briefs explains why avoiding gluten is not healthy to those who are not allergic to it.

People who are diagnosed with Celiac disease are allergic to the gluten protein in wheat, barely or rye products. They feel physical pain and discomfort when gluten is ingested. For those who are not allergic to it, going gluten-free is not a good idea. Many of the wheat products we enjoy are full of needed fiber and vitamin B. Whole wheat also provides a good source of grains which gives us the roughage we need to stay regular. Also, Health Briefs learns that more gluten-free foods contain more sugar than those that are not gluten-free. In fact, the gluten-free craze gave food manufacturers an opportunity to roll out whole new lines of food and make a profit on them. However, people who have tried a gluten-free diet often quit shortly into it because they didn’t feel full. The proteins and vitamins in food with gluten is essential for healthy living for those who are not allergic to it. Why give up something good for you when you don’t have to? Read more here.

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Health Briefs Warns of Food That May Be More Dangerous Than It Looks

Health Briefs reports that according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, as many as one in six Americans are afflicted by illness from contaminated food, and each year 128,000 of these unfortunate souls end up in a hospital because of this.  Food borne pathogens such as salmonella, E. coli and listeria can lurk in a wide range of food that we consume, some of which can be cleaned with plain tap water prior to eating, but there are some which cannot be easily decontaminated. 

Health Briefs passes on a list of easily contaminated food compiled by the CDC.

The Health Briefs TV show cautions that at the top of the list of potentially contaminated food are leafy greens.  After all, they've been harvested from the ground and they are not cooked in any fashion before eating.  Be sure they are thoroughly washed by someone with clean hands before consumption.  Vegetables in general should be carefully washed, for the same reason as leafy greens.  Eggs must be refrigerated and cooked before consumption -- and the raw-egg shakes that Rocky Balboa would quaff in one gulp are not recommended.  Fish, notably tuna, can be hazardous if not carefully handled, and that is especially true of shellfish such as oysters.  While potatoes are not particularly dangerous, be extra careful of how you handle and store that potato salad.  Dairy products, notably cheese and ice cream, are often the villains in a contamination outbreak.  And, of course, all meat and poultry should be handled carefully, with special attention paid not only to the food, but also to the tools and preparation surface being used.  Eat well, but be sure to eat with care.

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Health Briefs Asks: Can I Eat This?

If reading food labels can be challenging, try to understand the terminology used to warn consumers when a food item is no longer safe to eat. Health Briefs explains the verbiage and what it means.

Can I eat this?

Most people look at or smell food to tell if it has gone bad or not. In fact, we tend to toss food out if it starts to look bad, smells a little off or may be moldy. Americans throw out 133 billion pounds of food per year, according to the 2010 figures from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service. So how can we tell if the food in the fridge is still good or is on the way out? Most would check the expiration date. However, sometimes those are not so easy to figure out. Health Briefs TV explains the wording actually means:

Sell by date is most important for retailers, telling them when they should take a product off the shelves. However, it does not mean that the food is no longer safe to eat.

Expiration date means a product should not be eaten after the date listed; throw it out.

Best if used by date refers to the quality of the product, not its safety. In short, it means that the product will maintain its maximum quality until that date, but it can still be safe to eat for a certain amount of time (depending on the kind of product) after the date has passed.

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Health Briefs TV on the Differences Between ER and Urgent Care

You bang your knee hard while playing soccer. You pass out in the heat. Where would you go if either one of these situations happened to you? Emergency room or urgent care center? Health Briefs explains the differences.

If you bang your knee hard, go to an urgent care center. There are about 10,000 of them nationwide that accept medical insurance and also take the uninsured. Some emergency rooms refuse to pay insurance companies for non-life threatening medical problems. Urgent care centers are good for injuries, vaccinations, minor illnesses and small medical concerns. If you pass out in the heat, it is better to be taken via ambulance to the emergency room. Cost is another good reason to visit an urgent care center versus the ER. You can find out what they charge before leaving the home by visiting their website. To note—they are one fifth less expensive than the emergency room and you are not as likely to be charged for services you did not receive.

Health Briefs outlines when to visit the emergency room:

  Chest pain

·         Difficulty breathing

·         Loss of consciousness

·         Sudden loss of vision

·         Major traumatic injury

When to visit an urgent care center:

Minor burns, cuts, or injuries such as sprains and strains

·         Minor bone fractures

·         Coughs, sore throats, fever, flu, vomiting

·         Ear infections

·        Non-life threatening allergic reactions and mild asthma attacks

Locate the nearest urgent care center online and review their costs. Sometimes, this is the better place to be for life’s less critical medical concerns and injuries.

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Health Briefs Warns of the Dangers of Insufficient Sleep

Health Briefs reports that, according to the CDC, there is a new epidemic ravaging America:  lack of sleep.  In a chart from the National Sleep Foundation that outlines the amount of sleep that would be ideal for people of each age group, the only ones who seem to be getting their proper amount of sleep are babies.  Children in school and adults are usually not getting the 9-11 hours the chart calls for.  Besides a grumpy disposition and difficulty concentrating, the ill effects of insufficient sleep can run the gamut of threats to one's overall health.  The list of health issues that can be brought on or severely exacerbated by lack of sleep includes obesity, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, depression, heart attack and stroke, as well as premature death.  And even if one merely considers the dangers of poor concentration, one could be looking at automobile accidents, industrial disasters, medical errors and the mishandling of other occupational obligations.

Health Briefs cautions that sleep is not in the category of "nice to have", but is vital to our health and safety.

The Health Briefs TV show has learned that 28 percent of American adults report getting less than six hours of sleep each night.  It's long been thought that sleep is when the body repairs and rejuvenates itself in order to be ready for another day.  Researchers have found support for that idea, in that this is when metabolic waste is eliminated from the brain.  If the cycle of this cleansing is not completed, we enter the next day literally with the garbage of the previous day still in our systems.  Expecting to catch up with brief naps later on never does properly reset the body to the state it needs to achieve.  For those who have the time to sleep but difficulty getting and staying asleep, suggestions for improving sleep patterns involve consistency of sleep time, getting enough exercise and avoiding caffeine and alcohol if possible.

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Standing and Walking Spur Creativity – Health Briefs

Recent studies have pointed out that standing during meetings and walking during the day leads to more productivity and creativity than being expected to stay seated. Health Briefs explores how kicking sedentary work practices are better for everyone.

The next time the department needs to get together, remove all the chairs from the conference room and gauge the flow of energy. A new study suggests that standing during meetings benefits work performance where knowledge is the key to productivity. The report found that standing meetings produced more energized team members and ones who were more likely to share ideas. The study researchers were from Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis, MO and reported their findings in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science. Health Briefs also learns that walking is a great way to boost creativity. Walking helps the blood flow more freely moving more oxygen to the brain which then powers up the creative juices.

Creativity and productivity was raised by 60% for those who were allowed to get up and walk during the day as opposed as to those who were expected to stay seated. Even those who walked on a treadmill in a bland setting were found to be just as creative as those who took a 15 walk outside. Medical researchers have been saying for years that walking is an easy way to get moving again. It is now considered a great way to keep our minds active as we age, as well as boost productivity and creativity.

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Health Briefs TV shares How to Beat Dehydration

Summer inevitably brings high heat and the possibility to become dehydrated. Luckily, there are some easy ways to tell if you are and easy ways to prevent it. Health Briefs shares what these are.

If you are exercising or working outdoors in the sun, you may experience some of these symptoms of dehydration:

A headache – Sweating can cause the body to lose valuable salt and potassium. Salt loss causes a change in the chemistry in blood. Your brain is super sensitive to this and a headache starts. The more water the body loses, the more the blood volume lowers which causes a drop in oxygen to the brain. So, drink plenty of water when working outside.

Urine is yellowish – This basically means your urine is over-concentrated with waste. Drink plenty of water to fully flush out the waste.

Constipation – Sure, there are other factors which can cause constipation. However, a lack of water in the body can block things up. Water helps waste move through the colon and out of the body efficiently. So, drink up and things will loosen up.

There are some tasty ways to stay hydrated over the summer months. Health Briefs suggests enjoying some homemade lemonade, a glass of iced sport drink (the potassium helps prevent leg cramps too), and of course, plenty of water. Make it taste better with a squeeze of lemon or lime, cucumber slices and some strawberries or a sprig of fresh mint. Beat hydration this summer and all year round.

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Health Briefs and How to Protect Yourself from Mosquito Bites

Summer brings hot and humid air and plenty of rain to fill spaces on porches, balconies and in yards where mosquitoes lay eggs. HealthBriefs shares some suggestions about how to protect yourself from mosquito bites this summer.

The chikungungya virus is a mosquito born virus which is mainly contained in the Caribbean. However, there have been some cases of it reported in some southern states. This virus produces headaches, muscle pain, swelling of the joints or a rash, all of which can be managed with pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs. The symptoms usually last about three to seven days. Take time before going out to be sure you are protected from getting bit from mosquitoes:

Use bug repellent with DEET, an insecticide that deters the biters. Be sure to spray your hands and then pat the face, ears and neck.

Wear lightweight long sleeved shirts and long pants if going outside when the bugs are most present: dawn and dusk.

Remove standing water from objects near the home like birdbaths, water bowls, empty flower pots, wheelbarrows, holes in the ground, etc. Dump water out after every rain storm.

Health BriefsTV encourages readers to always protect themselves from all the bugs that annoy us in the summer.

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Food to Keep Your Brain Working Well from Health Briefs

Everyone knows that healthy eating is good. But do you know that there are specific foods which can keep your brain active and working well? Health Briefs explains.

There are certain vitamins and minerals in food which are beneficial to how our minds work. Foods with antioxidants are especially useful in warding off memory problems and dementia. Blueberries are considered a superfood because they are rich in antioxidants. They reduce the oxidative stress on the brain and have been proven to improve learning skills and motor skills. Toss a handful of blueberries in a fiber-rich cereal, in a single service size container of Greek yogurt or pop a few in your mouth instead of some chips.

Citrus fruits are also good for preventing cognitive decline. There are so many ways to include some citrus in your daily meals: squeeze some lime juice in a small bowl and add some cracked pepper for a zippy salad dressing. Squeeze some orange or lemon juice in a glass of ice water for a fresh taste. Citrus fruits are not expensive and also helpful when trying to lose weight.

Almonds are packed with protein and Vitamin E which not only help you feel full but pack some power into cognitive decline prevention and memory loss. They are also a great quick mid-afternoon snack and are easy to store in small baggies for work or travel.

Health Briefs TV suggests eating at least one serving of an omega-3 fatty fish per week. Salmon is a good choice and is readily available in most stores. The omega-3’s in them prevent cognitive decline and act as an inflammation reducer. Eat healthy and fight off dementia at the same time, readers.

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Health Briefs TV on the Top Five Healthiest Counties in the U.S.

U.S. News commissioned a set of rankings for the healthiest counties in the U.S. with assistance from the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, which evaluates health data for the U.S. population as part of its County Health Rankings and Roadmaps program, a collaboration with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Below, Health Briefs lists the top five healthiest counties in the country.

As counties across the nation take a break from school, the nutritional needs of school age children will be considered. A part of this is to make sure that children have the right food in their bellies to help them stay awake and alert. The counties below top the list as those taking active steps to ensure America’s children are getting what they need:

1. Marin County, CA
2. Norfolk County, VA
3. Hunterdon County, NJ
4. Chittenden County, VT
5. Nassau County, NY

America’s 50 Healthiest Counties for Kids represents a national assessment on the health and environmental factors which affect the well-being of children younger than 18. Some of the results for the top five were: few lower birth rates, fewer deaths from injuries, fewer teen births and fewer children in poverty. Some counties utilize food pantries to deliver healthy snacks to schools located in lower income areas. To see how your home county is ranked, click here.

Health Briefs believes healthy kids are kids that will learn better in school.

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Health Briefs TV Shares Heart Risk News

A recent study found that men had a higher risk of heart problems when they ate more processed red meat than those who ate less of it. Health Briefs TV shares what it learns and how to lower heart-related medical problems.

The American Heart Association journal Circulation: Heart Failure found that men who eat moderate amounts of processed red meat may have an increased risk of death from heart failure. Processed red meat usually contains sodium, nitrates, phosphates and other food additives. Smoked and grilled meats also contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons which could contribute to an increased risk of heart failure. Unprocessed meat is free of food additives and usually contains less sodium. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that near 5.1 million people in the U.S. have heart failure, and about half of those who develop it die within five years of diagnosis.

Health Briefs offers some healthy living tips for men of all ages to reduce their risk of heart failure and to live long and healthy lives.

Grilled and smoked meat tastes great and most men love it. Plan to enjoy these treats once a week.

Throughout the week, enjoy some locally caught fish and organic chicken. Be sure to add lots of sautéed or roasted vegetables with them. Get some carbs in with brown rice, roasted new potatoes or a while what sandwich thin toasted and spread with goat cheese. Drink plenty of water all day and into the evening.

Take a walk at a moderate pace after dinner for about 30 minutes. This greatly aids digestion.

We know it’s hard to give up grilled foods. It is summer and grilling is America’s favorite way to cook when the weather outside is nice. Consider healthier choices to grill other than a rib eye and live a healthier life.

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Health Briefs Asks: Is Medicine an Art or Science?

Health Briefs has found a schism in the healthcare field.  There is a debate that reaches to the deepest depths of the medical profession.  Is medicine an art or a science.  Practitioners line both sides of the argument, and some acknowledge that, at best, it's an inexact science.  It's a matter of doctors preferring either a holistic approach, tempering each treatment to the individual patient, or the hard science concept where a book or database will tell the doctor exactly which medications to prescribe for which illness.  It comes down to the fundamental question:  do you treat the patient or the disease?

Health Briefs looks at the uneasy alliance between the healing arts and medical science.

The Health Briefs TV show cites a series of articles by Dr. Robert Pearl, called "Medical Myths".  The internet has made virtually all medical reference material, studies and histories available to any doctor, whether a renowned physician at a major medical facility in an urban population center, or a practicing country doctor in a small, isolated community.  So it's not access to information that determines a doctor's chosen approach.  Either one has its own validity, but the ideal is a blend of the humanist approach involving modern medical solutions.  Go ahead and prescribe the newest wonder drug, but first be sure the patient isn't allergic to it.

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