Popular Vitamins-How Healthy Are They?

I am sharing this article with you because you, as many, may believe that vitamin supplements are good. You may even take them regularly.

Some nutrition experts recommend vitamin supplements when their is a deficiency or when the diet consists of inadequate amounts for a healthy eating.
These three vitamins , although are essential and are good when taken as supplements have experts worried that they may not be doing any good.
According to the article, their benefits in preventing cancer and heart disease have not been proven.

They have been known for immune function.

They are:
1-Vitamin- A
2-Vitamin-C
3-Vitamin-E

Vitamin A- Useful for reproduction and bone health.

Vitamin C -Known for infection fighting powers.

Vitamin E- Known for its fight against cancer.

To read this article/report Click Here
After reading the article you may or may not agree.

Giving For Health On Valentines Day

If you are planning on giving a gift of love on Valentines Day, why not give a gift of health instead.

If your valentine has health needs you can make a difference by giving him/her a gift of health.

Giving has benefits to both the giver and the receiver.


May be your Valentine needs:

• To get well soon


• Lose weight and be trimmer


• Be more physically active


• Daily nursing or caregiver care


• To make adjustments to daily living

Is your loved one battling with a disabling health problem or recovering from surgery? Giving gifts of health could improve their well being and hasten recovery.

What can you do?
Focus on giving for health, take a look at their health needs.

If you are a care-giver or if your loved one needs care in any way, why not give private care on Valentines, his or her own private nurse will be a nice change.

If your Valentine is overweight and his/her health is already compromised, why not give a gift that will promote weight loss. It will also protect their health.

If your valentine is not active enough, rather than a gift that will keep him/her more comfortable sitting, give a gift that will increase his physical activity.

If you've been giving support and encouragement during the year you can give something tangible on Valentines Day. There are many health gifts that can be wrapped for Valentines Day.
If you've not been giving support to your loved one with health needs, the problem may have caused a strain on the relationship. The problem may have forced a lifestyle change you were not prepared for. You can start by giving support instead of something wrapped. It is a good time to show your love and start making the changes that are often necessary.

Remember, unlike other gifts, gifts of health can last all lifelong and all year round.

Taking Care of The Family's Heart Health

You can be an advocate for the family's healthy heart by taking certain actions at home.

Each year cardiovascular diseases take the lives of 17 million people, with 80% of these deaths occuring in low and middle income countries. 7.3 percent of these are due to heart disease and 6.3 % due to strokes.
Cardiovascular disease is a major non-communicable disease and the # 1 cause of deaths globally. Fortunatley most of these deaths cna be prevented.

Cardiovascular diseases are:

• Strokes



• Coronary heart disease



• Congenital heart disease



• Peripheral artery disease



• Rheumatic heart disease

It is important that the global efforts to fight heart disease do not rest on policy makers and world leaders only, but on individual homes and families.

This year the them for World Heart Day was: 'One World.One Home. One Heart.'

The World Heart Federation and The World Health Organization (WHO) are challenging us all to take charge of our family's heart health and become our home's advocate for healthy living.


We have one heart and not two, if the heart is bad it leaves us without a good one. Fortunately most of the deaths by heart attacks can be prevented by:
1-Preventing cardiovascular disease
2-Knowing the warning signs of a heart attack

Prevention
Heart disease can be prevented by eliminating the risk factors that cause cardiovascular disease. Awareness of these risk factors and their impact on heart health is a major step in preventing heart attacks.

The majority of deaths can be prevented by healthy eating, regular exercise and no smoking. These lifestyle habits are the key actions in preventing heart attacks.

This year for World Heart Day we are raising awareness of the actions that families can take at home to prevent premature deaths due to heart disease.

These are some of the actions:
*Ban smoking from home
* Stock your home with healthy food for health eating.
Click Here for a guide to healthy eating and shopping.

*Limit the amount of time spent sitting for leisure- Less than two hours of watching TV

*Increase physical activity- Go cycling, hiking or on walking trips
* Walk or bicycle instead of using the car whenever possible
Click Here for easy ways to keep physically active

*Have your blood pressure, glucose levels and cholesterol checked by a health professional

*Assess your weight health using the body mass index (BMI)
Click Here to start

If your body mass index is over 25, plan to lose 5-10% of body, this applies to each member of the family.
Click Here To start

The Warning Signs
Over 70% of heart emergencies occur in the home with another family member present.
Knowing the warning signs of a heart attack can save the life of a family member.

The warning signs are:

• Chest discomfort


• Discomfort or pain spreading to one or both arms, the back, the neck, jaw or stomach


• Shortness of breath without discomfort


• Shortness of breath with discomfort


• Cold sweats


• Nausea or vomiting


• Unexplained weakness

If you suspect a person is having a heart attack, call for emergency help immediately.

Myths & Misconceptions About Diabetes

There are many mistaken beliefs about diabetes, there are myths surrounding the causes and treatment. This article will create awareness by identifying them and disclosing the facts.

They are:
1-Diabetes is not that serious

2-Eating too much sugar causes diabetes

3-Being overweight causes diabetes

4-Having diabetes means you must eat foods different from everyone else

5-A diabetes diagnosis means you automatically need insulin

6-Only older people get diabetes

Read the report and view the slides for details

Obesity Could Raise Risks of General Anesthesia - US News and World Report

Obese patients are at risk for serious complications during anaesthesia.

According to a recent study, they are twice as likely to develop air way complications as non-obese ones while under general anaesthetic.

Read about this study:
Obesity Could Raise Risks of General Anesthesia - US News and World Report

Obesity is an avoidable health risk factor that can be reduced by consumer/patient health education. Online programs are available to teach people how to eliminate or reduce it.

Knowledge and awareness of these health risk factors can prepare one for medical interventions such as general anaesthetic.

Read about one program:
http://wellingdigital.wordpress.com

How To Determine Your Risk For A Heart Attack

Do you know whether your blood is flowing freely or becoming blocked?
 You probably don't if you didn't have them checked out.

According to a recent study we can determine if we are at risk for a heart attack because we all fall into one of three categories:
1- High risk-You have existing diseases such as diabetes, heart and kidney disease.
2-At risk- You have more than one of the following:
-The risk factors mentioned in our program,
-A family history of early heart disease
-High blood pressure
-High cholesterol
-Metabolic syndrome
3-Optimal Risk-No risk factors.

The study involving women showed that only 4 percent were in the 'optimal risk' category. Almost 75 % fell in the 'at risk' category, many with the risk factors mentioned in our program. Fortunately most of those in this category can reverse their risk by making lifestyle changes.

This article has a video on things that one can do to correct blocked arteries.
How to Determine Your Heart Attack Risk - On Women (usnews.com).

By participating in this consumer health program one can learn to reduce these risk factors by making lifestyle changes.

8 Ways to Stick to Your Diet While Friends Indulge - On Fitness (usnews.com)

8 Ways to Stick to Your Diet While Friends Indulge - On Fitness (usnews.com)

Public Health- AN Online Version

When you think of public health the first thing that comes to mind may be health in your local community.
There is a online educational program offering a similar type of health education, only its online and global.
The program uses tutorials to educate and deliver health awareness, the awareness that is usuallly possible through public health services.
The tutorials are on how to eliminate avoidable health risk factors. Reducing them is not only realistic but achievable.

Whats In Volved?

1-Tutorials on Health Risk factors.

2-Workbooks- Contain examples of health scenarios that require the student to put a thinking cap on and apply them to real situations.

3-Assignments-consist of practice scenarios, questions and answers.

4-Links to reference-provide text material to enhance knowledge base.

5-Research reports-provide evidence-based data that can be used to make informed health decisions.

The program also uses a directoty style list of resources to deliver home care tools.

You can follow or fan this program on Facebook.

5 Reasons Never to Skip Breakfast - On Fitness (usnews.com)

Here are five good reasons not to miss breakfast:

1- You feel fuller longer
2-You get an energy boost
3-You might burn more calories
4-You feel more productive
5-You probably get more nutrients

Read on:
5 Reasons Never to Skip Breakfast - On Fitness (usnews.com)

Big Health Care Savings With Prevention & Wellness Programs

The Center for Health Research has released a report on Prevention & Wellness.

The report says health prevention and wellness initiatives are expected to save health care costs. The estmate is $1Trillion in savings.

According to the study a focus on health,wellbeing and prevention in any form is a necessity.

We expect that our patient health education program will not only save health care costs, but will keep people healthier as they live longer.

Read the data on this report.

http://makinghealthdecisions.com/index.php/pages/Health%20program/

How to Decide if an Assisted Living Facility Is a Good Fit - US News and World Report

How to Decide if an Assisted Living Facility Is a Good Fit - US News and World Report

Final Ruling ControlsThe Use Of Tobacco

A final rule has been issued by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on the marketing and use of tobacco.

Tobacco smoke is the number 1 cause of many fatal diseases and unhealthy lifestyles.

The patient health education program at makinghealthdecisions.com emphazises smoking as a health risk factor to teach people to self care.

The rule will restrict the sale, distribution and use of cigarettes and smokelesss tobacco. It will make it difficult to advertise, sell and promote cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. The rule controls how tobacco is promoted; it prohibits their sale.

• To people younger than 18


• In packages of less than 20
  
• In vending machines, self service displays

Read more

Valentines Day- A Gift Of love Is A Gift of Health

Have you ever thought of giving someone you love a gift of health instead of material things?
During sickness and ill health, the people most affected are the ones closest to us.

During sickness relationships can also grow colder or warmer.
When lifestyle changes are necessary and health is not good, relationship issues may prevent or promote these changes.
If these changes are necesssary to save a life, the life can be affected.
Giving gifts of health is a another way to show support and encouragement, not abandonment.
The gifts on this site can be ideal health gifts on Valentines day.

Why Give Gifts Of Health?

Outcomes Of Giving Gifts Of Health:

• When you give a gift of health you may be providing financial help at a time of health needs.


• Since ill health can accompany financial difficulties. you are helping in more than one ways.


• You will be showing support and not abandonment when lifestyle changes are necessary.


• You can be a valuable source if information to that person.
• You have a happier, healthier family or friend

Giving Gifts For Health & Wellbeing

We may not be able to give a gift of life, but we can all give gifts of health instead of another.

Text Messaging Linked to Smoking Cessation

It is good news for smokers planning to quit. According to a recent report, text messaging and email are linked to smoking cessation.

Researchers analysed data from 4 trials in the UK, New Zealand and Norway.

The interventions were:

1. Text messages with advice and encouragement sent regularly to smokers' mobile phone
2. Text messages to the phone in conjunction with email

They found that mobile phone intervention appeared to increase the prevelance of self reported smoking abstinence at 4 weeks after cessation.

They also found an increase in long term self reported quitting with the Internet and text messsages. data was taken from the same trials.

More studies are planned on the long term effects of mobile phones

It has also been proven that help from family and friends is effective in bringing about that change.
If you know of someone whose goal is to quit, give them one of these instead of a pair of shoes, for example. Give them that gift of health. Read the report here

Related Post

This is an example of text messaging available in both a US & a UK version.

A Report On Alcohol

Do you know someone with an alcohol problem struggling to make changes? Is their lifestyle affecting yours?
According to scientists 1 person will die every hour as a result of excess alcohol. The number of alcohol related deaths has tripled in the last 25 years.

Researchers explored the link between consumption of alcohol and alcohol related deaths.
They found the number of alcohol related deaths had increased from 3,054 in 1984 to 8,999 in 2008.
In the UK 1/3 of men said they drank more than 21 units in an average week, while 1/5 of women said they drank more than 14 units.
These persons need peer and family support and involvement.

Give them a gift of health to assist and encourage the change of behaviour instead of another. There are many available online.

Related Post

Behaviour Change & Health

I remember when behaviour modification programs for conditioning new behaviour was only possible through 1:1 interaction and face to face with a health professional.
Today it is possible at home, online, on mobiles and even while travelling.
Advances in technology and the trend towards self care have contributed to this shift.
For example:
*Text messaging can be delivered to your mobile at a time when the change is required.
* Subliminal messaging through CD's, DVD's and MP3 can reach the subconscious mind to help bring about change.
*There are online programs with 1:1 coaching
If you know of someone who is struggling with a behaviour change problem. Instead of giving them just a gift, give them one of these for health 'With love.'