The holidays are upon us. Tis the season two enjoy get-togethers with family and friends. It also is the season for an unwanted bug to attack us. Are you aware that colds, flu, most sore throats and bronchitis are caused by viruses? Did you know that antibiotics do not help fight viruses and that using them for viral infections only decreases their effectiveness overall?
Millions of Americans take antibiotics each year to fight illness, trusting that they will work; however, the organisms are fighting back. Within the past few years, new drug-resistant patterns have emerged, and resistance to common antibiotics has increased. “We can help this serious emerging problem by educating patients and healthcare workers about the proper use of antibiotics," said Dr. Daniel Uslan, assistant clinical professor of infectious diseases and director of the UCLA Antimicrobial Stewardship Program, which promotes the appropriate use of antibiotics for hospitals in the UCLA Health System.
Dr. Uslan notes that the public can also play a role in reducing the threat of antibiotic resistance, and he suggests the following:
If you are seeing your doctor for a cold or flu, discuss the use of antibiotics with your physician. If it is a viral infection, antibiotics aren't effective and will only add to the problem of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotics are appropriately prescribed for only bacterial infections.
If your doctor determines that you do not have a bacterial infection, do not pressure your doctor to prescribe antibiotics. Instead, ask about methods you can use to reduce your symptoms.
Take antibiotics exactly as prescribed by your physician, even if you feel better.
Do not save leftover antibiotics for the next time you become sick.
Do not take antibiotics prescribed for someone else.
Do not assume that yellow or green mucus means that you need antibiotics. It is normal for mucus to get thick and change color during a viral cold.
Air travel peaks during the holidays. It is not uncommon to come down with a bug shortly after a flight. The risk of infection is greatest from passengers seated nearby; germ transmission is via coughing, sneezing, or hand contact (either direct or indirect). Indirect contact occurs when one touches an object, which has been recently touched by another.
To reduce the risk of acquiring an airplane germ, the following steps will help:
Clean your hands frequently with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. We often infect ourselves, touching mouth, nose or eyes with our own hands that have picked up something.
Use an antiseptic wipe to clean off tray tables before using.
Avoid airline pillows and blankets—they are germ havens.
Avoid seat-back pockets––people stuff used tissues, soiled napkins, trash––and worse––into the pockets.
Avoid dehydration; drink water and keep your nasal passage moist with a saline spray.
Minimize or avoid alcohol.
Open your air vent; aim it so the air stream flows just in front of your face. Filtered airplane air can help direct airborne germs away from you.
Express concern to a flight attendant if air circulation is shut off for an extended period.
If you find yourself seated near a cougher, sneezer, or someone who appears ill, change seats if possible.
Express concern to a flight attendant if air circulation is shut off for an extended period.
Source:http://www.emaxhealth.com/11306/tips-healthy-holiday
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Friday, December 23, 2011
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Enjoy Christmas - and eat for health!
With the festive season now in full swing and people’s minds turning to the culinary delights over the Christmas period, the Public Health Agency (PHA) has come up with top tips on how to enjoy the holidays without overindulging on calories and fat.
Food is one of the central elements of celebrating over Christmas. However, many of us can end up eating a little too much, resulting in an average weight gain of 5lbs (2kg) over the festive season. And getting that weight off in the New Year is a lot harder than putting it on!
On Christmas Day itself, we can eat as many as 6,000 calories – three times what is needed for an average woman aged 18-54.
But enjoying Christmas time does not have to mean that weight gain is inevitable, and the PHA advises that making a few minor changes can keep, your Christmas enjoyable, but also healthier.
Angela McComb, Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement Manager, for the PHA, gives some simple suggestions for a happy and healthy Christmas.
The main event
For starters traditional vegetable soup is a great choice of starter as it is low in fat and packed full of vegetables. You could also serve melon to start with, or even some smoked salmon which is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids which help to keep our hearts healthy.
Turkey (without skin), especially the breast meat, is naturally low in fat, and stuffing flavoured with fruits or herbs, such as apricots, sage, parsley and thyme, is lower in fat than one made with sausage meat. For lower fat gravy, cool turkey juices in the fridge or freezer then skim off the fat and use as normal.
Traditional Christmas vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, peas and carrots are all good sources of vitamins, but be careful and avoid adding butter or oil to these.
For the potatoes, use whole potatoes for roasting, rather than small chunks which absorb more fat; par-boil them, drain, then toss in a roasting tin with a small amount of unsaturated oil, like olive, rapeseed or sunflower oil rather than lard or goose fat.
Enjoy the Christmas pudding and consider lower fat alternatives to brandy butter and fresh cream Рtry low fat cr̬me fraiche or make your own custard using skimmed or semi-skimmed milk.
If you enjoy a glass of wine, it’s worth remembering that alcohol is high in calories, and can contribute to unwanted weight gain.
The nibbles
Perhaps the most difficult aspect about Christmas food is that it is right in front of us all day and it can be so tempting! Try keeping the tempting treats like mince pies, chocolates and crisps out of sight and make sure there are plenty of healthy options available:
Mandarins and satsumas are a great source of vitamins, and eating two counts as one of your five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.
Choose reduced fat crisps, or raw vegetables with low fat dips, or eat them less frequently.
Nuts tend to high in fat and they’re often coated in salt. Why not try roasting a few chestnuts instead, and these are also low in fat.
REMEMBER- being active will help to burn off some of those extra calories, so encourage the whole family to wrap up warm and get out for some walks over the holiday period. It’s also fun and a chance to spend time together.
Eat, drink and be healthy this Christmas - it only happens once a year, so really enjoy it. Be smart and avoid a pattern of eating more than you would normally, as this can quickly become a habit that is hard to break!
Source:http://www.healthcanal.com/life-style-fitness/24693-Enjoy-Christmas---and-eat-for-health.html
Food is one of the central elements of celebrating over Christmas. However, many of us can end up eating a little too much, resulting in an average weight gain of 5lbs (2kg) over the festive season. And getting that weight off in the New Year is a lot harder than putting it on!
On Christmas Day itself, we can eat as many as 6,000 calories – three times what is needed for an average woman aged 18-54.
But enjoying Christmas time does not have to mean that weight gain is inevitable, and the PHA advises that making a few minor changes can keep, your Christmas enjoyable, but also healthier.
Angela McComb, Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement Manager, for the PHA, gives some simple suggestions for a happy and healthy Christmas.
The main event
For starters traditional vegetable soup is a great choice of starter as it is low in fat and packed full of vegetables. You could also serve melon to start with, or even some smoked salmon which is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids which help to keep our hearts healthy.
Turkey (without skin), especially the breast meat, is naturally low in fat, and stuffing flavoured with fruits or herbs, such as apricots, sage, parsley and thyme, is lower in fat than one made with sausage meat. For lower fat gravy, cool turkey juices in the fridge or freezer then skim off the fat and use as normal.
Traditional Christmas vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, peas and carrots are all good sources of vitamins, but be careful and avoid adding butter or oil to these.
For the potatoes, use whole potatoes for roasting, rather than small chunks which absorb more fat; par-boil them, drain, then toss in a roasting tin with a small amount of unsaturated oil, like olive, rapeseed or sunflower oil rather than lard or goose fat.
Enjoy the Christmas pudding and consider lower fat alternatives to brandy butter and fresh cream Рtry low fat cr̬me fraiche or make your own custard using skimmed or semi-skimmed milk.
If you enjoy a glass of wine, it’s worth remembering that alcohol is high in calories, and can contribute to unwanted weight gain.
The nibbles
Perhaps the most difficult aspect about Christmas food is that it is right in front of us all day and it can be so tempting! Try keeping the tempting treats like mince pies, chocolates and crisps out of sight and make sure there are plenty of healthy options available:
Mandarins and satsumas are a great source of vitamins, and eating two counts as one of your five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.
Choose reduced fat crisps, or raw vegetables with low fat dips, or eat them less frequently.
Nuts tend to high in fat and they’re often coated in salt. Why not try roasting a few chestnuts instead, and these are also low in fat.
REMEMBER- being active will help to burn off some of those extra calories, so encourage the whole family to wrap up warm and get out for some walks over the holiday period. It’s also fun and a chance to spend time together.
Eat, drink and be healthy this Christmas - it only happens once a year, so really enjoy it. Be smart and avoid a pattern of eating more than you would normally, as this can quickly become a habit that is hard to break!
Source:http://www.healthcanal.com/life-style-fitness/24693-Enjoy-Christmas---and-eat-for-health.html
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Tips for choosing New Year’s fitness resolutiono
The holiday season is here and many of us will be enjoying the wonderful foods and family recipes that go along with the festivities. It can almost be guaranteed that many of us will also be choosing Jan. 1 to get back on track and make the ever famous New Year’s resolution. Here are some tips to help assure your resolution will be a lasting one.
LESS IS MORE: Goals are most easily achieved when they are structured as many small goals that will one day equal one big goal in days to come. If you have 20 pounds to lose do not approach it as 20 but rather battle it 5 pounds at a time. This provides you with a sense of achievement that will power you through the next level of your goal.
DON’T STRESS: Do not stress out about your goals for the new year. Look at them as a great adventure for you and your body. Fitness can be an exciting and interesting journey. Be sure not to focus so greatly on the end result that you forget to enjoy the journey along the way there.
ENJOYMENT COUNTS: When deciding how you will go about the achievement of your newly set resolution consider not just signing yourself up for torture but signing yourself up for a fitness minded activity you will enjoy. These days there are, more than ever, hundreds of avenues that will allow you to get moving, become active and place you steadily on your way toward making your goal a reality. Kickboxing, running, swimming, hiking, cycling and dancing are just a few methods of fitness achievement.
TALK TO EVERYONE: Get out there and utilize the resources around you. Talk to your fitness community. Reach out to speak to all the personal trainers, group instructors, doctors and other people in the fitness industry. Gather knowledge that will enable you. Subscribe to people in the fitness world on Facebook, read free blogs, join discussion groups. There is no short on resources so take advantage of them.
SURROUND YOURSELF WITH SUPPORT: If a well defined and designed fitness plan can get you 80 percent of the way there, a positive and encouraging support group can easily provide the other 20 percent to success. I always place myself in the company of the most upbeat, most driven, most health conscious, most amazing people I can find. Take inventory of your surroundings. If your gym is not offering the mindset you desire, try out new one. If your workout partner is not giving you that extra push, try out a new one. The energy these people provide absolutely without a doubt is contagious. Safeguard yourself by knowing that even on the days you feel you want to say no someone will be there to say yes, and when you want to say stop someone is there to say go, and when you want to say you can’t someone is there to remind you can.
Source:http://www.brightonpittsfordpost.com/community/blogs/fitness-league/x46242581/Tips-for-choosing-New-Year-s-fitness-resolutiono
LESS IS MORE: Goals are most easily achieved when they are structured as many small goals that will one day equal one big goal in days to come. If you have 20 pounds to lose do not approach it as 20 but rather battle it 5 pounds at a time. This provides you with a sense of achievement that will power you through the next level of your goal.
DON’T STRESS: Do not stress out about your goals for the new year. Look at them as a great adventure for you and your body. Fitness can be an exciting and interesting journey. Be sure not to focus so greatly on the end result that you forget to enjoy the journey along the way there.
ENJOYMENT COUNTS: When deciding how you will go about the achievement of your newly set resolution consider not just signing yourself up for torture but signing yourself up for a fitness minded activity you will enjoy. These days there are, more than ever, hundreds of avenues that will allow you to get moving, become active and place you steadily on your way toward making your goal a reality. Kickboxing, running, swimming, hiking, cycling and dancing are just a few methods of fitness achievement.
TALK TO EVERYONE: Get out there and utilize the resources around you. Talk to your fitness community. Reach out to speak to all the personal trainers, group instructors, doctors and other people in the fitness industry. Gather knowledge that will enable you. Subscribe to people in the fitness world on Facebook, read free blogs, join discussion groups. There is no short on resources so take advantage of them.
SURROUND YOURSELF WITH SUPPORT: If a well defined and designed fitness plan can get you 80 percent of the way there, a positive and encouraging support group can easily provide the other 20 percent to success. I always place myself in the company of the most upbeat, most driven, most health conscious, most amazing people I can find. Take inventory of your surroundings. If your gym is not offering the mindset you desire, try out new one. If your workout partner is not giving you that extra push, try out a new one. The energy these people provide absolutely without a doubt is contagious. Safeguard yourself by knowing that even on the days you feel you want to say no someone will be there to say yes, and when you want to say stop someone is there to say go, and when you want to say you can’t someone is there to remind you can.
Source:http://www.brightonpittsfordpost.com/community/blogs/fitness-league/x46242581/Tips-for-choosing-New-Year-s-fitness-resolutiono
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