Health Briefs TV Relays Tips for Preventing Hearing Loss

Imagine not being able to hear clearly or hear anything at all. Most people think that hearing loss is for the aging generations only, but this is not so. Younger people are losing their hearing too. Health Briefs TV relays tip for preventing hearing loss.

There are many ways in which hearing can change throughout life.

• Loud music a concerts, music festivals and in nightclubs affects hearing later on.
• Most people use ear buds with their smart phones to take calls or listen to music tend to turn the volume up.
• People who work with loud industrial equipment or at airports where jets takes off and land are subjected to a loud work environment.

Recent research has found that hearing loss in adolescents increased by 31 percent from 1988 to 2005, according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to prevent hearing loss.

• When going to a concert or music festival, do not stand or take a seat anywhere near the speakers. Sit back far enough from them to still see and enjoy the show.
• Wear ear plugs if you prefer to be closer to the stage. You can still hear and hear well and are still protecting your ears.
• If working in a loud environment, ask management for ear plugs. By law, employers have to offer ear protection if a job requires it.
• Medication and injury can also cause hearing loss.

Health Briefs TV also suggests getting a hearing test every year. This is a good idea for people who are getting older. Clean ear wax from ears as often as needed. Once hearing diminishes and is gone, it never comes back. Hearing aids are often used, and while there are several options, none give the user the hearing they once had. Background noise is not filtered the way it is naturally. Therefore, all noise is amplified with a hearing aid. Cochlear implants are another option, though expensive, may not work.

The best way to prevent hearing loss is to protect your ears whenever possible. 

Health Briefs TV Explores Mental Health

Mental health is making the news this week as the UK’s popular Duchess and the US’ First Lady publish online articles to raise awareness of the topic. Health Briefs TV explores some of the issues concerning mental health.

Even talking about mental health in a casual setting can invoke a negative stigma. No one wants to bring the topic up. Yet, millions of people manage every day live with depression, anxiety, nervousness, PTSD, and other afflictions of the brain and mind.  But no one is really talking about it.  Until now.

One in five Americans live with a diagnosable mental health illness today.

Many mental health problems can be treated with medication or therapy. Meditation and yoga are well-known to help calm an anxious mind, and come without the side effects of often prescribed drugs.  People from every background and age group live with depression and anxiety. Young and old, poor or wealthy, Veteran or civilian, executive or staff worker – anyone can battle through the symptoms silently, afraid of others finding out and thinking less of them.  The stigma can be almost as debilitating as the mental illness.

Health Briefs TV asks readers to learn and recognize the five signs of someone struggling through a mental health problem. If any of these signs are familiar, talk to the person privately about them. Learn more about it from changedirection.com.

1. Personality change
2. Agitation
3. Withdrawn from others
4. Change in personal care
5. Feeling hopeless

Every person in our lives matters. It’s easy to see when someone is feeling physically unwell. It is much more difficult to see when someone is feeling mentally not well.  Don’t be afraid to reach out to someone and ask them. It could save their life.

Health Briefs TV Reviews Food to Reduce Stress

Food is often used as a means to make on feel better. Comfort food, like a cheeseburger or macaroni and cheese, comes to mind. However, there are better choices to make which can make one feel calm, relaxed and generally less harried. Health Briefs TV reviews which foods can help reduce stress best.

Green leafy vegetables contain folate which produces dopamine, a pleasure-inducing brain chemical that helps one keep calm. A 2012 study found that middle-aged and elderly people who ate more greens such as spinach had a lower risk of depression than those that did not.

Have a turkey breast sandwich. It’s true that the tryptophan in it can relax people. It is an amino acid which is found in protein-rich foods which helps produce the serotonin. This amino acid releases a chemical which stabilizes hunger and feelings of happiness.

Grab a cup of yogurt. The bacteria in the gut might be adding to stress, and yogurt contains probiotics, which reduces brain activity in the area that handle emotion and stress. Eat one of the flavored ones or doctor a small cup of Greek yogurt with honey and cinnamon.

Get a handful of pistachios. The rhythmic motion of getting one, cracking it open and eating it is calming and can reduce stress. It also takes longer to eat them so the little nuts are diet-friendly. The Health BriefsTV show knows they are also good for the heart.

Last but certainly not least is dark chocolate.  It contains cortisol which reduces stress hormones, and the antioxidants in cocoa can relax blood vessels.

Find a calming space to relax and let stress disappear with some of these goodies.

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Health Briefs TV Explains Why Everyone Needs a Power Nap

There is nothing like a power nap to refresh energy and boost brain power.  Health Briefs TV explains why we all need one of these.

Short naps are 30 to 45 minutes long and are most beneficial for memory retention and recall, according to researchers in Germany. The study involved two groups of people: a control group and a group of participants that took a power nap. Those who took the power nap were found to perform better than the control group when remembering work pairs during a performance test. Results such as these can be useful for college students and others who rely on information learned.

Power naps are beneficial to everyone. A short 20 to 30 minute nap refreshes a tired mind, boosts energy and increases stamina for the rest of the day and evening. The Health Briefs TV show suggests taking one on hot days when the sun is at its highest. Workers might want to use half of a one hour lunch break to grab a power rest.  Napping was once thought of for infants, small children and the very elderly. But the German study results prove that a power nap helps everyone retain more information, and endure a long day. For best results: close the office door, turn the lights off and set an alarm to go off in 20 to 30 minutes. Use a jacket or sweater for a pillow and stretch out at the desk or on the floor. Just be sure to get up when the alarm rings. 

Health Briefs TV Checks into the Sleep Business

Sleep. It can be elusive, fleeting, abundant, and is often interrupted.  And it is can also be big business. Health Briefs TV take a peek at the sleep business.

Did you get a good night’s rest? How many full hours of sleep did you get? Was your sleep interrupted by children, pets or smart phones buzzing with the arrival of incoming messages? These are all things that can interrupt and disrupt sleep every night. For insomniacs, this can be a rest killer.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control states that up to 70 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders. We spend extraordinary amounts of money on new mattresses, pillows, sleep aids, and even sleep spas to determine what’s keeping us from decent rest.  Sleep-related products are a $32 billion dollar industry, and include an incredible amount of products and remedies to help the sleep-deprived close their eyes and rest soundly.  The Health Briefs TV show counters that there are better ways to ease into sleep and rest well, and are free. Exercise, even moderate exercise such as a good after dinner walk, can be relaxing and help you distress to sleep better. Hit the sack at the same time every night. Turn the TV off and move smart phone and other digital devices away from bed side tables. A shower right before bed helps wash away stress and can ease you into a restful state.  

Sleep is big business because people spend a great deal of money to get the elusive rest they need. Always try the free ways first, though, and put that money someplace else. Like into a vacation.

Health Briefs TV Examines How to Choose the Best Hospital

Hospitals are graded on several categories and by several different organizations. Health Briefs TV reviews how to find the best one.

The hospitals people choose has much to do about where their surgeon or specialist practices than the grades they get. If the best doctor for the medical need is affiliated with a specific medical center then that is where one will usually go. There have been more than 100 mergers and acquisitions in the medical care field since 2012. How does this affect the rating the hospital gets?

Basically, the patient or someone in their family might want to ask others they know about the facility and its services. Patients can ask the doctor if there is any other medical center they are affiliated with since some medical professionals are affiliated with more than one. One can also go online and search for reviews for the hospital. Often, this is best place for the most honest information about rooms, nursing care, food and services for the medical facility someone is about be admitted to. The Health Briefs TV show also knows that there are a few organizations which grade hospitals. But until they all agree on a standardized format, the inquiring patient may find different scores.  Patients with questions about specific health care institutions should address to them their medical care professionals. 

Health Briefs TV Warns Readers about E-Cigarette Dangers

Quitting smoking is one of the most difficult things to do. Breaking that nicotine habit is hell. There is no other way to describe it. Today, there are nicotine patches, nicotine lozenges and e-cigarettes to help people who want to quit smoking. As many could guess, some of these helpers are not all that good for you.  Health Briefs looks at the dangers of e-cigarettes.

Electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes are a popular option for people who are trying to quit smoking. Shaped like a long cigarette, the item can be loaded with flavored vapors and a heavy dose of nicotine. Newer models of the e-cig allow the user to adjust the level of nicotine they get. But along with that comes a higher amount of formaldehyde, which is a probable human carcinogen. Health Briefs TV notes that cigarettes also contain formaldehyde. Researchers found that the higher the voltage chosen on the e-cigarette, the higher amount of formaldehyde. They also note that people who vaped three milliliters of e-liquid per day would inhale 14.4 milligrams of formaldehyde. This can possibility increase the risk of cancer up to 15 times.

While there are many options today to help the smoker kick the nicotine habit, our best suggestion is to ask a doctor. Most of the products on store shelves are expensive. But quitting sure beats the high cost of healthcare that a cancer diagnoses will eventually bring.

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Health Briefs TV Explains Why a Short Walk is Better than No Walk

A recent study from Cambridge University reports that a short daily walk is better than no walk at all. Health Briefs TV explains why a little daily exercise can prolong life.

Researchers studied nearly 300,000 people and found that a brisk 20 minute daily walk can help reduce the risk of developing diabetes and heart disease. The study also found that this short bout of activity is better for longevity than body weight. People that walk or do some other form of physical activity daily increase blood to the heart, raise their energy levels and the exercise improves mood. In contrast, someone who is sedentary can become lethargic, cranky and is at risk for becoming obese and suffer from the consequences. Those who work at jobs which require sitting all day should take breaks to move. Head outside for a quick walk, take the stairs instead of elevators and escalators and park farther from the office building. The Health Briefs TV show strongly encourages readers to add some kind of daily activity to their regular routine. The extra energy, health benefits and longer longevity that comes from daily exercise makes one feel physically better and stronger. Plus, it can lower health insurance rates .Get up and move now.

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Health Briefs TV on How to Prevent Getting Colds and the Flu

Offices are not the best places to work during cold and flu season. Open work environments and even those with cubicles are the perfect places for cold and flu germs to spread. Health Briefs TV offers some suggestions about how to prevent getting colds and the flu this season.

Wash your hands. The lesson we learned in early childhood still holds true today: wash your hands after using the bathroom and before touching any part of the face. Use warm water, if available, and soap and vigorously rub hands together for 15 seconds. Use a paper towels to dry them.

Cover your nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing. Cubicle walls do not stop the germs flying through the air. Ask co-workers to do the same. Keep tissues on your desk also. 

Get a flu shot. It takes two weeks after the injection for immunity to build so now is the best time to visit the pharmacy.  The strain of the flu which is circulating now is particularly dangerous to seniors.

Reduce chronic stress, reduce the amount of sugar consumed, reduce salt intake and quit smoking. All of these will further boost the body’s immune system which fights of the viruses that attack it.

Health Briefs TV also recommends eating a diet that is rich in vitamins, minerals, whole grains, lean meat and fish. Get off the sofa at home and walk around the neighborhood. Clean outdoor air is good for us. Finally, lead a meaningful life. It doesn’t have to be grand. Find something that is important to you and embrace it. All of these also help build stronger bodies which can fight off colds and the flu every year.

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Health Briefs TV Reviews Who Can Get Blood Clots

Most people know that blood clots can occur when we sit in one position for too long and when we lie still for too long. Health Briefs TV reviews the other ways we can be affected by a life threatening blood clot.

 Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) develops when a blood clot occurs deep in your body, usually in a leg, and travels to the lungs. This can happen after surgery or sitting for a very long flight. Results of blood clots are called venous thromboembolism and can cause fatal blockages of blood flow in the lungs. It is imperative that we know what the other risk factors are so a blood clot can be prevented.

Premature birth is a risk factor for infants, children and young adults to developing VTE which can affect DVT and other types of blood clots.

The genetic background of a person is also a risk factor when there is a history of factor V Leiden and deficiencies of proteins C and S.

Cancer, traumatic brain injury, birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy, pregnancy and childbirth, and vitamin D deficiency are other risk factors which can cause a fatal blood clot. Health Briefs TV suggests talking to a family physician if any of these risk factors affect you.

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Health Briefs TV with an Update for Flu Season

Last year’s flu epidemic left many people seriously ill for longer than necessary. This year, a new strand of the flu virus is active. Health Briefs TV reminds readers how to lower the chance of catching the flu virus and what to do if one thinks they have it.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control report that only 48% of the flu virus samples taken through last month were related to this year’s North American vaccine. While this may be a little alarming, it is imperative to note that this year’s flu shot still provides some level of protection. It covers several strains of the virus, including H1N1 and several strains of influenza B, which is strong match with current viruses. The Health Briefs TV show encourages readers to get the flu shot.

The medical community provides treatments for people who develop flu symptoms that can reduce the severity of the illness and shorten the length of time one is sick at home. Tamiflu (oseltamivir) and Relenza (zanamivir) lower the flu virus’ ability to reproduce and they are effective on almost all strains of the flu. If symptoms are apparent, visit the doctor for advice and prescribed medications. Have a healthier year.

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Health Briefs TV Reviews Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Factors

People with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or CFS are exceptionally tired no matter how much sleep they get and for more than six months. It is often not diagnosed and sometimes dismissed by healthcare workers. Health Briefs TV wishes to review the factors of this debilitating medical concern.

When a patient visiting a family doctor complains of being exhausted all the time and for a prolonged period of time, the physician may not know what to do. There is no blood test for CFS nor is there brain scan which can identify the condition. A recent study conducted on 15 patients with CFS and 15 without it – all the same age and gender – found less white matter in the brains of those with CFS. The white matter contains the brain’s communication material which allows parts of the brain to communicate with each other. Other tests conducted in the research included looking at the right hemisphere of the brain of each participant group. Researchers noticed that the patients with chronic fatigue syndrome had thicker connection points than those of the healthy patients. The study was small but shows us that if the doctor is willing to prescribe the brain scan and the patient is willing to pay for it, it may be helpful in determining what’s wrong with someone who is constantly overly tired. Health Briefs TV learns this may be a useful tool for patients whose complaints are often met with accusations of being a hypochondriac or just ignored.

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Health Briefs TV Dispels Common Myths about the Cold and Flu

The cold and flu season runs from October to February and generally peaks January. Roughly 20% of Americans can catch a virus which can cause severe health issues. Despite this, there are some common beliefs about the cold and flu which Health Briefs TV will try to dispel.

The flu shot does not make us sick with the flu. The vaccine is made with dead viral particles so it can’t infect us. The mist which kids use utilizes a crippled version of the virus which cannot make kids sick. It takes two weeks for our bodies for form antibodies to the vaccine to fully protect us.

Young and healthy people do not need the flu shot. While it is true that young, healthy people are less vulnerable than the very young and old, everyone should get the flu shot. At the very least, it prevents the receiver from passing the virus to others. And it prevents the transmission of the virus from infecting us.

Other myths that Health Briefs TV has heard about the flu which are not true:

The shot didn’t work if someone gets the flu. If this is the case, a variant strain of the flu that was not in the shot is at work. Antibiotics can cure the flu which is not true as antibiotics do not work on viruses. What other myths have our readers heard?

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Health Briefs TV Reminds Readers of the More Common Viruses

Please cover your mouth much better than this.

There are several viruses which are more worrisome than the Ebola virus. Health Briefs TV reminds readers of what they are and how to prevent catching one.

The Flu – Droplets from an ill person’s sneeze or cough can travel up to six feet away.  Please remember to cover your nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing around others.

Enterovirus – This is the virus that is mostly affecting young children. It can be passed by touching an infected person or surface. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water or use a hand sanitizer. Don’t touch the face anywhere.

Norovirus – This virus spread when an infected person touches a surface, food or water and other people tough or eat the same surface or food. Again, wash hands thoroughly before touching food or any common surface.

HIV – HIV is transmitted through bodily fluids and shared needles. To prevent transmission, don’t shares needles and wear condoms or other items to block transmission during sex.

Hepatitis – The virus is transmitted through sharing dirty needles. Don’t share needles and be sure any medical worker is using a clean, sterilized one on you, if needed.

RSV – RSV stands for Respiratory Syncytial Virus. It mostly affects very young children and the elderly. It is spread through coughing and sneezing.  Health Briefs TV urges readers to teach young children to cover noses and mouths when coughing and sneezing, and reminds seniors to do the same.

These six viruses are more contagious and easily spread than the Ebola virus.

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