Health Briefs TV and How Your Eyes and Brain are Tied Together

We all know that our eyes and brain work together. But there is more to it than that, as Health Briefs TV explains.

A study by Psychological Science found that the small vessels behind the eyes can reveal how healthy the brain is. The scientists found that people with wider veins behind the eyes scored worse on IQ tests in middle age than those with small veins. Eye vessels and brain vessels are similar in size, structure and function.  When the eye doctor takes a retinal image , it gives him the ability to see what shape and how healthy the veins are, which in turn can determine how healthy the brain is.  The Health Briefs TV show also notes that regular eye exams can help track changes in the brain, and determine if someone is at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease in mid-life.

So don’t wait too long to get an eye check-up. Not only will it be able to determine how healthy your eyes are, but it can also indicate how healthy your brain is too. Don’t forget to eat brain food: fatty fish, broccoli, leafy greens, healthy oils such as olive oil, and dark chocolate. 

Health Briefs TV and Why Hand-Washing Dishes Might be a Good Idea

Nearly every kitchen in America has a dishwasher in it. Most families use one to clean and sterilize dishes, glasses and utensils. However, some people prefer to hand-wash dishes. Health Briefs TV explains why this may be better.

Families with children who suffer from allergies may want to consider doing the dishes by hand rather than using a dishwasher.  Researchers found that kids were less likely to develop allergies if dishes were done by hand rather than by a dishwasher. Hand-washing usually leaves some microbes on the items which in turn are ingested during the next time used. These built up children’s immune systems which protected them from developing allergies.

The Health Briefs TV show learns that kids who parents hand-washed dishes had lower allergy rates than kids whose parents used a dishwasher. Although these study results seem promising, there is no recommendation to stop using a dishwasher. Seek the advice of a pediatrician or other health care professional if a child is struggling with the sneezing, itchy, watery eyes and stuffed nose that allergies cause. Keep homes clean and free from dust mites, mold and mildew. Get an allergy test early on to determine how to treat them. There are many options for children with allergies. 

Health Briefs TV Examines Reusable Medical Equipment Guidelines

Reusable medical devices called duodenoscopes are the culprits in the recent rash of hospital patients diagnosed with medical experts call the “Superbug”. Health Briefs TV examines what they are and reviews guidelines for their usage.

Duodenoscopes are the flexible tubes fitted with tiny lights and advanced cameras used to diagnose or treat disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. Roughly 500,000 procedures a year in the United States alone take place using this piece of medical equipment.  The scopes are inserted down a patient’s throat so the physician can get perfect view.  When done, the scopes are put in a device which sterilizes them.  This is the health industry standard for ensuring reusable medical equipment is clean and sterile.

There have been several cases from hospitals in the country which reported that the standard way to sterilize equipment is not doing the job. Medical professionals have suggested, and some are using alternative methods of ensuring equipment is safe to reuse. These methods utilize ethylene-oxide sterilization and swabbing the equipment after each use to collect any pathogens left on them. They expensive ways to clean the equipment, but have reduced the number of patients infected with pathogens and bacteria from “almost clean” devices.

The Health Briefs TV show notes that patient health and safety should come before expense. When patients become very ill after reusable medical equipment is employed again, the cost of treating one patient can be quite hefty.  Prevention is always the best way to work and more so in a health care setting.

Health Briefs TV and Why Increasing Activity Can Save a Life

The World Health Organization reports that physical inactivity is identified as the fourth-leading risk factor for death around the world. Health Briefs TV wants readers to know how to increase daily movement in order to save their life.

It is not too difficult to add movement into the day. Most of us commute to work sitting down in a vehicle or train, then we sit all day at a desk, sit all the way home, sit for dinner and lounge on the couch watching TV until bedtime. But it is not hard to add some movement into the day to reduce the chance of developing type 2 diabetes, obesity and heart disease. Below are some suggestions to get started easily.

Spend 30 minutes of a one hour lunch break walking. Walk around the block, around the building, or walk up and down a few flights of stairs if the weather is too cold.

Stand up every hour or two to stretch. Then walk to the break room for something to drink. Walk the long way back to the desk.

Park father away from doors when going to the supermarket or a department store.

Take a family walk after dinner.

The Health Briefs TV show urges readers to find the time during the day and evening to add some movement into lives. It all adds up in the end to a longer and healthier life. 

Health Briefs TV Celebrates “Go Red for Women” Friday

Today, February 13, is National “Go Red for Women” Friday. Health Briefs TV joins the nation in bringing awareness to women and heart disease.

The Heart Association notes that heart disease is the number 1 killer of women. It kills one in three women each year. The Go Red for Woman campaign began in 2004 and since then, 275 women a day have been saved from strokes and heart disease.  A compelling fact for women and men to note is 80% of cardiac events is preventable through healthy living. This includes preparing healthier meals at home in smaller portions. It also means getting at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day, not smoking and being sure to get plenty of rest every night.

Health living is easy to achieve. But one must be committed to maintaining it every day and make it a lifestyle change and not a temporary change. The Health Briefs TV show urges women and men to institute changes into daily lives for everyone in the family.  Invite children into the kitchen and teach them how to help make a healthy dinner.  Sit down at the table as a family and enjoy a good meal while catching up on each person’s day. Take an after dinner walk together and include the family dog if there is one.  Heart health is good for everyone. Wear red today and every Friday in February to demonstrate how important heart health is for women.

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Health Briefs TV with Lyme Disease Information

Lyme disease is a growing health concern in the United States. It can cost the country up to $1.3 billion dollars a year to treat.  Health Briefs TV explains some common facts about Lyme disease.

Someone can get Lyme disease from a tick bite. Ticks can come from pets that haven’t been treated for them. Ticks bites can also come from being outdoors.

To protect yourself from ticks, swear latex gloves when treating pets and use tweezers instead of fingernails to remove from pets and human skin.

If the signature target shaped rash appears, please visit a physician as soon as possible. There are treatments for it and there are certain doctors who know more about it than others. Lyme disease symptoms can reoccur. This is called post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome of PTLDS. Patients can feel fatigued, have nerve pain. Join pain, memory and thinking problems. And they are more than 5 times as likely to be diagnosed with extreme fatigue.  The Health Briefs TV show learns that there are an estimated 240,000 to 440,000 new cases of Lyme disease diagnosed every year.

Lyme disease can make a normal, active and lively person feel lethargic, despondent and hopeless. But there are treatments for it. Finding the best doctor to help you or someone you know with Lyme disease is imperative. Research local doctors online or through health care plans with experience in working with people diagnosed with Lyme disease.

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The Health Briefs TV Show Looks at What Stresses Americans

A good stress reliever

Stress is a prime source of health-related problems. It causes high blood pressure, poor eating and sleeping habits, and heart trouble. The Health Briefs TV show looks at what stresses Americans.

American Psychological Association reported results from a recent survey that money is the root of most stress symptoms.  Even as the economy is improving, Americans worry about their finances.  Inflation and wage stagnation are the culprits. The cost of most basic every day needs continues to rise but pay is not budging a cent. This leads people to work longer hours or take on another job to make ends meet.  Family issues are another cause of stress. Whether people are worried about elderly parents, children, and grandchildren, it causes undue stress on the body.

Fortunately, there are ways to work through stress which are healthy. Take some alone time. Go for a short walk. Listen to music. Avoid drinking alcohol or eating something unhealthy. Get a little exercise.  Find someone trusted to talk to about money or family problems. Health Briefs TV believes lack of quality sleep and wallowing in misery about the issues causing stress can only lead to more stress. Engage in a quiet online game like solitaire. Avoid games which are excessively violent.  Also, avoid spending too much time alone.  Call a friend or go visit one. Humans are social creatures and we’re not wired to go it alone.  Need more money to bring home? Search online for creative ways to earn extra income. Or post a sign in the neighborhood offering pet sitting services.  Just walking a dog for 20 minutes can not only reduce stress, but bring joy, peace and a little extra cash into your life.

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Health Briefs TV on Which Care Facility to Use

Where does a worried parent take a child with a sports-related injury? Where do adults go when they have a fever, body aches and congestion? Who can stitch a wound received when slicing tomatoes?  Health Briefs TV answers these questions.

Worried parents should take a child with a sports injury to the ER.  The emergency room is the best place to get CT scans, X-rays and immediate care if a child is knocked unconscious.

Adults with a fewer below 103 who feel they have the flu might want to go to a retail medical clinic such as the kind found in drug and discount stores.

A finger wound from slicing tomatoes which is not too terribly deep can be taken to an urgent care center where it can be butterfly stitched or stitched by a doctor. One can usually get in and out in about an hour.

Health Briefs TV also notes that urgent care centers are well-placed around the country where people live. They can perform a wide variety of services for less money and time than the hospital emergency room. However, if a fever spikes at 103 and up, or chest pain is felt, it is best to visit the ER. The operative word is “emergency”.  Don’t take chances with your life or anyone else’s.

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