Health Briefs TV Reviews Why We Are Living Longer

Americans are living longer and dying less from common medical ailments. What can we credit for the lowering rates of death from cancer, stroke, diabetes and heart disease? Health Briefs TV reviews why we are living longer.

Credit can be given to living healthier, eating better and getting more exercise. We are slimming down and lowering the obesity rate, which in turn lowers the chances of developing heart disease, diabetes and stroke. Eating smaller, more healthful meals, snacking on fruit and getting exercise are simple, easy ways to lower risk factors.

A recent report published by the Journal of the American Medical Association states that deaths from all of these causes have dropped by an overall 43 percent. Heart disease deaths dropped more than 50 percent, as did the death rate for stokes. Cancer and diabetes deaths dropped to 18 and 17 percent respectively.

The Health Briefs television show believes that prevention is the key to living a longer, healthier life.  We have learned that behavior, the environment, social circumstances and participating in our health care gave us the opportunity to improve our lives and live longer.  Take some active steps today to prevent an early death: eat a healthy snack, take a short, brisk walk after dinner, quit smoking for one day, and see how you feel. 

The Health Briefs TV Show Reviews Why We Need Sleep

We know it can be hard to get a good night’s rest sometimes. The worries on our minds can keep us tossing and turning all night long. Soon enough, it is morning and time to get up. But a good night’s rest can do more than just help us feel refreshed all day. The Health Briefs TV show reviews why we need sleep.

People who get less than six hours of sleep at night are more likely to incur the risk factors which increase the chance of developing diabetes, heart disease and strokes. High blood sugar, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, extra fat around the middle and extra fat cells in the blood are a dangerous combination of risk factors. “Short” sleepers, as they are called, can also develop metabolic syndrome which sometimes can lead to life threatening and chronic diseases. Loss of sleep also can lead to loss of brain cells. Cognitive motor performance can match that of someone with five alcoholic drinks in them with less than 24 hours without sleep, according to a study in Nature.

The Health Briefs television show suggests a few tips for getting to bed on time and having a restful sleep:

• Stick to a regular bed time every night and on weekends too.
• Stick to a regular time to wake up every day.
• Move digital devices to another room, draw the blinds, and prepare bed for a pleasant rest.
• Adjust the thermostat to a comfortable temperature.
• Read something until the eyes are tired and want to close.
• Force negative thoughts from the mind.

We need to sleep in order to maintain good brain health, overall health and wellness, and to be mentally alert for every moment life offers us.  

Health Briefs TV Reviews How to Recognize Postpartum Depression

The joy of bringing a baby into the world can be overshadowed by feelings of inadequacy, exhaustion, frustration and despair. But there is help and there is nothing wrong about asking for it. Health Briefs TV reviews how to recognize postpartum depression and what to do for it.

Four million women have a baby every year, and roughly 300,000 suffer from postpartum depression. Fifty-percent of it goes relatively unnoticed. And many more people think that giving birth is a happy, miraculous, life-changing, beautiful thing – which it is. But for the new mom, the realities of delivering the infant, its complications, and the mood changes, sadness, and irritability,  plus lack of sleep, can all add up to post partum depression. Most of the time, these symptoms fade in two weeks.

The Health Briefs television show relays that new mothers might want to talk to their health care providers about what to do. Even following basic healthy living guidelines can be beneficial: eat healthy meals regularly, get some exercise, try to get rest when possible, and remember that postpartum depression is common and is treatable. It takes an incredible amount of patience, stamina and love to bring a baby into the world and care for it 24/7. Don’t let postpartum depression get the better of you. 

The Health Briefs TV Show Review Tips for Healthy Travel

Planning a nice vacation? Heading to Mexico or overseas? The Health Briefs TV show shares tips for healthy travel. Because no one wants to get sick away from home.

Basic sanitary measures are needed everywhere we go no matter if it is in the next city or across the ocean to another continent.

Carry a packet or two of sanitary wipes or a few tubes of gel to clean hands when in public places such as airplanes, rest rooms or hotel rooms. Drink bottled water only. Avoid tap water when overseas. Wear protective clothing if going outdoors where mosquitoes are prevalent such as in some African countries. Get the recommended vaccines or prescriptions before leaving your country of origin.

There are studies available which note that many Americans who travel abroad don’t get vaccinations as a precaution. The Health Briefs television show reminds readers that every step taken to be and stay healthy on vacation should be on travelers’ agendas. From the food and water consumed to knowing what health concerns are common at destinations, know before you go.

Health Briefs TV Reviews How to Find Affordable Health Care

The price of medical tests and exams can be vastly different within the same city or even just a few blocks away. Health Briefs TV reviews how to find affordable health care in your neighborhood.

Several factors go into the price of one medical test: location of the medical office or diagnostic center, overhead costs, rental price of the facility, and the methods used to testing. But what can cost less than a hundred dollars in one area, can cost more than 200 dollars just a few miles away. Here’s how to find the best and most affordable health care:

If insured, log in to the health insurance website and locate providers for the test. Call each one and ask for the cost of the test or exam. Keep a list of the providers called and compare proximity to home and price. Choose the best one for both.

The Health Briefs television show also recommends going online to find resources for comparing and calculating health care costs. Most health insurance websites offer some sort of resource for estimating the cost of medical needs. And there are other good sites that do the same such as the one at Fair Health Consumer. People should spend a little time researching the best options for the most affordable cost. 

Consider urgent care centers instead of going to the emergency room for less serious concerns such as fevers, cuts, and sprains. Pharmacy healthcare clinics are another good source for life’s minor health concerns. Write down any questions for the medical provider and be sure to ask them all.  It is up to each one of us to be our own medical advocate.

Health Briefs TV Provides a Sepsis Update

Sepsis is the body’s response to overwhelming and life-threatening response to an infection. It can lead to tissue damage, organ failure and death. It is also a growing medical issue around the country, as Health Briefs TV learns.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been more than one million cases of sepsis each year in the US. Symptoms include:

• Presence of an infection
• Elevated or lowered body temperature
• Fast heart rate
• Fast breathing rate
• Low blood pressure

If caught early enough, sepsis is treatable with fluid and antibiotics. If it progresses quickly and is not treated quickly, patients can experience an abrupt change in mental status, significantly decreased urine output, abdominal pain and trouble breathing. Septic shock happens when someone has all of the above symptoms, plus very low blood pressure, and does not respond to fluid replacement.  

The Health Briefs television show relays that sepsis can happen to anyone with any type of infection. People can get sepsis in the hospital or in the community. Medical professionals with training know that the golden standard for treating sepsis is within one hour of diagnosing it. Antibiotic treatment and fluid replacement is recommended but within that “golden hour”.  Readers should know that for every hour delayed after sepsis is determined, the mortality risk of the patient increases.

Sepsis -- also known as septicemia, blood infection or blood poisoning, takes the lives of 258,000 people annually. This makes it the ninth leading cause of disease-related death in the country. Don’t let someone you love become another statistic. Insist on immediate action. 

Health Briefs TV Examines the Lesser Known Breast Cancer Symptoms

Most men and women know to perform a monthly self-exam of their breasts. This is one of the most commons ways to find lumps in the tissue.  Health Briefs TV examines the other, lesser known breast cancer symptoms to look for.

 

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In this light, we share information we find with readers on the topic to help raise awareness. Lesser known symptoms of breast cancer are:

• Persistent pain in one particular spot of the breast should be mentioned to doctors, even if no lump or lumps are felt.
• Red spots or a rash that does not go away on the breast should be examined by a doctor.
• Skin changes on the nipple such as flaking or discharge are signs to call the doctor. It may not be breast cancer, but it is always better to find out than not.
• Any distinct asymmetry or dimpling, creasing or puckering of the skin on your breasts with arms raised and leaning forward are signs to call the doctor. Why take any chances?

It is said that the most common sign of breast cancer is no sign at all. The Health Briefs television show encourages readers to get a mammogram or other screening between the ages of 40 and 50.  Most health insurance plans cover this with no co-pay. Schedule a screening today. It’s always better to know than to not know.