Health Briefs TV with Tips for Successful Weight Loss

Anyone who has tried to lose weight and keep it off knows that it is a daily struggle. But with a few helpful tips from Health Briefs TV, losing weight and keeping it off can be a success.

One of the keys to successful weight loss is to find and implement the best strategy or program that fits into our lifestyle. Not all programs are suitable for everyone. Take some time to look into the different ways to lose weight. Once one is chosen, follow it to the letter every day. Set small weekly goals instead of lofty long term goals. Each small goal met is a victory in the overall effort to shed pounds and live a healthier life.

Grocery shopping is a challenge and even more so when on a tight budget. Grab the weekly store sales circular and plan to stock up on the weekend. If dining out anytime during the week, choose a healthy entrée with plenty of vegetables. Divide food on the plate in half and take one part home. A healthy portion size for people wanting to lose weight is half the amount. Drink lots of water. Squeeze a lemon slice into the water for a little extra flavor and weight loss boost. Skip dessert. Take a walk when home. 

The Health Briefs TV show wants readers to know that the key to successful weight loss is you. Are you important enough to become healthier, more fit and active? We think you are.

***********************************************

Visit Health Briefs on Google+
Watch Heath Briefs videos on Youtube
View Heath Briefs Blogs

Health Briefs Remind Readers – National Prescription Take-Back Day

Saturday is National Prescription Take-Back Day across the United States. Health Briefs provides more information below.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has headed this initiative for the last four years and has held seven previous Take-Back Days. These are authorized by the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010. The agency has collected more than 780,000 pounds old and expired drugs.

This Saturday, September 27 is the day to take any unused pills to the nearest take-back spot. Why not rid the home of dangerous and poisonous prescription drugs? The less there are in the home, the less chance a child can find and ingest them. Getting rid of old medication also prevents someone from stealing it and selling it or overdosing on it. Health Briefs TV reminds readers to take back old medication and not toss it in the trash. The chemicals in them end up in the country’s landfills and water supply.

The DEA has set up Take Back sites across the nation from 10 AM to 2 PM, Saturday. Click here to find the closest one to you. Help keep your home and loved ones safe. Get rid of old medication at a take-back location.

***********************************************

Visit Health Briefs on Google+
Watch Heath Briefs videos on Youtube
View Heath Briefs Blogs

Health Briefs on How to Care for Child Concussions

If in doubt, take the child out of the game if hit in the head

Children of any age who play sports are at risk for a concussion. Health Briefs takes time to share tips on how to care for kids with concussions.

Concussions can cause symptoms as simple as a bad headache and sensitivity to light. But there are more serious complications to this type of head injury. Statistics show that head-related sports injury trips to emergency rooms went up 62% in the last decade. Below are the guidelines for spotting concussion-related symptoms and how to treat them from a panel of medical experts in the U.S. and Canada.

Symptoms:

• Physical: headache, nausea, dizziness, changes in vision or hearing, coordination and/or balance problems.
• Cognitive: confusion, slower than normal reaction times, problems concentrating, feeling dazed or in a fog.
• Behavioral: irritability, sadness or emotional swings.
• Sleep: falling asleep or sleeping more or less than usual 

Keep an eye on any child in sports who is hit in the head or on the face or neck. If they appear dizzy, take them out of the game. Keep watching them for hours after the game is over as some symptoms can present then. If there is any question,  take them to the ER or to medical professional right away.

Health Briefs TV urges parents whose child may have a concussion or has been diagnosed with a concussion to take away digital devices when the child is resting. Eye strain can exasperate the injury. Follow all of the guidelines for a concussion that the doctor offers. And be sure the child has as much rest as possible and for as long as the medical professional feels they need. A healthy child is one who can rejoin the team without risking a more serious outcome to the head injury later.

***********************************************

Visit Health Briefs on Google+
Watch Heath Briefs videos on Youtube
View Heath Briefs Blogs

Health Briefs TV Shares News on Teen Alcohol and Drug Abuse

Not cool at all.

The number of teens who smoke, drink, or use drugs has gone down significantly from 2002 to 2013, according to a new study. This is good news and Health Briefs reviews more information from this research.

Alcohol, binge drinking and tobacco use are also reduced for teens age 12 to 17 in the same time period. Illegal drug use is down also. Teens that have a substance dependence problem or abuse problems also went down. The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) also reports that in 2013, rates of illegal drug abuse fell among teens to just under nine percent. Alcohol abuse dropped to 11.6 percent from 13 percent in 2012. And binge drinking rates, one of the most dangerous forms of alcohol abuse, fell only one percent during the same time period. The Health Briefs TV show learns that the rate of preteens and teens that drove under the influence dropped three percent.

While these statistics are encouraging and positive, preteens and teens must learn from the adults in their lives that there is nothing cool about alcohol use or illegal substance abuse. Drinking and drunk driving are not normal teen activities and can lead to injury, death and jail time. Substance abuse ruins lives immediately.  Please help America’s preteens and teens get the help they need to kick an addiction before it kicks them.

***********************************************

Visit Health Briefs on Google+
Watch Heath Briefs videos on Youtube
View Heath Briefs Blogs

Health Briefs Reports on the New OSHA Regulation

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is instituting a new rule which aims to help employees, employers and the government stay abreast of serious workplace accidents. It is requiring companies to notify the agency whenever an employee is hospitalized for an on-the-job injury or suffers an amputation or the loss of an eye at work. Currently, Health Briefs notes that companies only have to notify OSHA when a work accident kills a worker or at least workers are hospitalized. So why are some companies upset about this rule change?

The new rules take effect January 1, 2015. Some industry groups are already annoyed with the new reporting mandate saying it will burden businesses without really helping the employees. However, when these smaller and significant injuries occur at the worksite, it is often due to some safety protocols not being followed. If the new rule can save even one employee’s limb, eye or life, it well worth the extra documentation and paperwork. Health Briefs TV thinks that it is important to identify and address safety hazards in all workplaces before lives are lost and preventable injuries occur. The new rule will also spur companies into better compliance on safety issues which is needed throughout the country. Quite frankly, it’s about time this new OSHA workplace rule is put in place. Workplace safety can be pushed aside in the desire to make money. But there is nothing more valuable than the health and safety of every worker in every industry.

***********************************************

Visit Health Briefs on Google+
Watch Heath Briefs videos on Youtube
View Heath Briefs Blogs

Health Briefs and How to Prevent the Spread of Germs in the Office

Recently, a team of scientists added samples of a virus like the common cold to everyday workplace surfaces such as doorknobs, tables, desks, and bedrails. They learned that within two to four hours, it had been picked up by about 40 percent of the workers in that office and detected on more surfaces. Below are some easy, everyday ways Health Briefs suggests to prevent the spread of germs in the office.

Instruct the cleaning company to use a disinfectant spray or wipe on all doorknobs, stairway rails, elevator buttons, sinks, counters, desks, light switches and other common surfaces.

Remind employees to clean up break room messes using provided disinfectant wipes.

Wash hands after using the bathroom, before eating or touching food and use a hand sanitizer when needed.

Health Briefs TV also reminds readers of some basic hygiene etiquette: cover mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing and stay home if not feeling well.  

Bring a box of tissues and hand sanitizer to use at the desk.

Fist pump a co-worker for a job well done instead of shaking hands since hand shaking spreads germs. Avoid hugging as this brings germs of the mouth closer to a healthier person’s face.

These same reminders should be shared with children of all ages. Let’s stay healthy this year.

***********************************************

Visit Health Briefs on Google+
Watch Heath Briefs videos on Youtube
View Heath Briefs Blogs

Health Briefs on the Benefits of Eating Healthier Foods

People who enjoy healthier foods and meals benefit in ways that have nothing to do with weight loss. Health Briefs shares what the benefits are with readers.

Most people will eventually admit when they eat unhealthy foods such as those bought at fast food restaurants, that they do not feel all that great later. Over indulging at meal times is another way in which to feel unwell.

Healthy eating is not just about consuming nutritious foods. It is also about reducing portion size. Here are some of the super benefits people can gain when they eat more mindfully:

A New Zealand study found that a higher consumption of fruits and vegetables resulted in the participants’ reporting better moods, more energy and that they felt calmer. Another study found that the test subjects got more sleep and were more rested than those who did not consume five or more servings of produce per day. Skin looks healthier and is glowing when people eat more produce. The vitamins and minerals in them boosts cell growth too. Health Briefs TV knows that a healthy lifestyle also means healthier brains. A person who consumes beans, nuts, fish and produce as well as enjoying small servings of olive oil is more likely to have strong brain functions and be less prone to the smaller infarctions which lessen cognitive ability. Eating healthier is better for everyone and its benefits outweigh any objections anyone might think of.

***********************************************

Visit Health Briefs on Google+
Watch Heath Briefs videos on Youtube
View Heath Briefs Blogs

Health Briefs TV Reports on the Respiratory Illness Affecting American Kids

It seems to be mostly affecting children who suffer from mild asthma and those who live in the Midwest. Health Briefs reports on the respiratory illness that is sending kids to the hospital.

It starts off as a cold and quickly turns much more serious when a child cannot breathe and his or her face is turning blue. The human enterovirus 68 starts off mimicking the symptoms of the common cold. But within hours, it can become fatal if parents do not rush kids into the emergency room. It has sent thousands of kids in 10 states to the hospital. Doctors believe that with summer over and school back in session, kids are picking up viruses from other kids and bringing them home to siblings. Symptoms can be the same as the common cold: runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes, and some experience wheezing. But when that wheezing becomes more labored, it’s time to get the child to an urgent care center or hospital. Health Briefs TV notes that the CDC recommends basic sanitary practices to avoid spreading germs and the virus such as washing hands often, avoid those who are sick, and covering the mouth when coughing or sneezing. Parents of asthmatic children should be sure inhalers are up to date and kept in a handy place. Caregivers and teachers should know how to handle a child suffering an asthma attach. The key to preventing a serious respiratory illness is knowledge.

***********************************************

Visit Health Briefs on Google+
Watch Heath Briefs videos on Youtube
View Heath Briefs Blogs

Health Briefs and What Irritates Seasonal Allergies

Fall is creeping up on us and with it come the allergies of the season. To make matters more watery, there are some odd things that can make them worse, as Health Briefs points out.

Pollen found on some very common fruits can wreak havoc on those who suffer seasonally allergies. The irritants are usually on raw produce like apples, tomatoes, and cantaloupe. People who suffer from this secondary type of allergy have what is called OAS or Oral Allergy Syndrome. Peel or cook the produce before eating it to prevent a severe attack.

Soft contact lenses can trap pollen under them which can cause serious eye problems for allergy sufferers. Allergy-prone people might want to go with disposable soft lenses until the worst of allergy season is over.

Health Briefs TV learns that alcohol, and especially red wine, can cause someone with allergies to suffer from a stuffed up nose more than usual. The sulfites in red wine can be bothersome for some people and more so for those with allergies.

Perfumes, candles and chlorine are also big irritants. Eliminate anything too fragrant from the home and stay away from chlorine, which is a strong irritant to even those without allergies.

To rid allergens even more, wash clothes in hot water after wearing to rid them of allergens. Avoid wool and stick with cotton and blends, which tend to release allergens.

***********************************************

Visit Health Briefs on Google+
Watch Heath Briefs videos on Youtube
View Heath Briefs Blogs

Health Briefs on What Affects Our Memory

There are many different factors that affect our memory. Lack of sleep, medications and stress are a few. Health Briefs details some other unknown things that can affect memory.

Get a thyroid check-up from the doctor. When this small organ is out of whack, it can make us tired, anxious, and depressed and even have some memory and concentration problems.

Hot flashes which happen in peri-menopause and menopause can also cause women to experience foggy brain syndrome. This is turn can affect the ability to remember. Fortunately, it is a short term condition and there is no long-term affect on memory.

Lack of sleep can result in an impaired memory. It also results in impaired attention spans and a reduction in reaction time. Health Briefs TV suggests getting about six to eight hours of rest every night.  And sometimes, a short 20 minute nap in the middle of the day can be mentally refreshing.

Some prescription drugs can also affect our memory. Antidepressants like Xanax and Valium can hinder the brain from moving life events from short-term to long-term memory. Heart medication like a statin does the same. Never stop medication without consulting the doctor first.

Smoking damages the brain by restricting blood flow to it. It also builds abnormal proteins in the brain which impairs it from processing thoughts. There are many great programs to help smokers quit the habit.

These are just a few suggestions about what can affect our memory.  Find new ways to improve brain health and memory by eating a more healthful low-fat diet and de-stressing at the end of the day.

***********************************************

Visit Health Briefs on Google+
Watch Heath Briefs videos on Youtube
View Heath Briefs Blogs

Health Briefs Asks Which Weight Loss Plans are Best

The debate over which weight loss plan is the most effective is ongoing. Is it the low carb one or the low fat one? Or is it one which offers a change to an overall healthier lifestyle? Health Briefs TV reviews which weight loss plans are best.

Every weight loss program has an abundance of fans that are loyal to it. But which ones are better than others depends on many factors: overall physical health before starting a weight loss program, health during the weight loss program, participant health goals and overall health when the program is completed. In a recent study, people who followed a low-carb plan lost more weight and reduced body fat more than those on a low-fat plan. They also tested better in good HDL cholesterol and triglycerides.  However, those following a low-carb lifestyle tended to not get enough fiber in their daily diets, compared to those who were on the low-fat diet plans. The Health Briefs TV show believes that the best weight loss plan is the one which fits one’s lifestyle best and one which is does not adversely affect health. There are many good weight loss programs and plans to choose from.  Ask friends and family if they can recommend one that worked best for them.  The success of each plan is entirely up to the person trying to lose weight and keep it off for more than a year.

***********************************************

Visit Health Briefs on Google+
Watch Heath Briefs videos on Youtube
View Heath Briefs Blogs