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Health news, tips and features: Healia Health Blog

March 2008

March 28th, 2008

Lack of Spring and Sun May Lead to Seasonal Mood Disorder

Health News posted 2 years ago by The Healia Team

Today is March 28th—a time of the year when most of us consider Winter to be gone and Spring to be right around the corner. However, as we gaze out the window of our Bellevue, Washington office and watch the mix of rain and snow come down, we realize that Spring is still not quite in our grasp. Some people experience a serious mood change when the seasons change (or don’t change soon enough). This disorder is known as SAD, seasonal depression, or seasonal mood disorder.

When an individual suffers from seasonal mood disorder, they may sleep too much, have little energy, and crave sweets and starchy foods. They may also feel depressed. Though symptoms can be severe, they usually go away.

What causes SAD? According to the National Institutes of Health, it may be a lack of sunlight during winter, when the days are shorter. Seasonal mood disorder is much more common in the northern United States. Light therapy, where patients expose themselves to a special type of light for 30 minutes every day, often helps. Other treatments may include: 

  • Medications
  • Changes in diet
  • Learning to manage stress
  • Going to a sunny climate during the cold months


Tags: Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Depression, Mental Health and Behavior
March 26th, 2008

Education and Prevention are the Best Defenses Against Diabetes

Health News posted 2 years ago by The Healia Team
Since 1987 the death rate due to diabetes has increased by 45 percent, while the death rate for heart disease, stroke, and cancer have all declined. As more and more Americans are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, education and prevention, healthy eating, and physical activity should to be at the top of America’s priority list. Here are a few statistics from the American Diabetes Association: 
  • Approximately 4,110 people are diagnosed with diabetes each day in the United States.
  • An estimated 20.8 million children and adults in the United States, or 7% of the population, have diabetes.
  • Of the 20.8 million people with diabetes, an estimated 14.6 million have been diagnosed, but 6.2 million people are not aware that they have the disease.
  • In 2005, 1.5 million new cases of diabetes were diagnosed in people age 20 years or older.
  • Diabetes is the fifth-deadliest disease in the United States.

Type 2 diabetes is a life-long disease and the most common form of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body does not respond correctly to insulin (a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches, and other food into energy needed for daily life).

For information about diabetes, please see the Healia Health Guide: Diabetes. This resource features extensive information on the prevention and treatment of diabetes. Or visit Healia's new health social networking site and talk to members of the Diabetes Community. Still need more information? You can also Ask an Expert a question about diabetes at Healia Communities.


Tags: Diabetes Type 1, Diabetes Type 2, Gestational Diabetes, Prevention
March 26th, 2008

March is National Nutrition Month - Are You Eating Healthy?

Health News posted 2 years ago by The Healia Team

March is National Nutrition Month, a nutrition education and information campaign created by the American Dietetic Association. The campaign is designed to focus attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. Although education is crucial in helping people eat healthy, most American adults have not been formally educated in the area of nutrition since they were in grade school.

One tool that can help adults monitor their food habits is the MyPyramid Tracker. MyPyramid replaced the Food Guide Pyramid introduced in 1992. MyPyramid is part of an overall food guidance system that emphasizes the need for a more individualized approach to improving diet and lifestyle.

The interactive MyPyramid Tracker makes it easy for individuals to enter their age, gender, and physical activity level to obtain a personalized recommendation on their daily calorie level based on the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

There is also a child-friendly version of MyPyramid for teachers and children. MyPyramid for Kids has been developed for children six to 11 years old. More information can be found at http://www.mypyramid.gov/kids/.

Need more information about healthy eating? Visit Healia's new health social networking site and talk to members of the Nutrition Community. Or get your answer from a Healia Communities Health Expert.

To test your fitness and nutrition knowledge, you can take Healia’s Fitness and Nutrition Quiz. Here’s to healthy eating!  

Tags: Diet and Nutrition, Weight Management, Prevention
March 25th, 2008

Online Health Community Now Available at Healia.com Redefines Online Health Support Groups

Healia News posted 2 years ago by The Healia Team

 

Today, we are delighted to announce the launch of Healia Communities, a free online health community that enables people to get personal support for their health decisions from peers and experienced health professionals.

Healia Communities helps you make better health decisions by allowing you to:

  • Share your health knowledge, experiences, and favorite resources
  • Connect with people like yourself who’ve experienced your situation
  • Ask questions of the community, your peers, and health professionals

After more than one year in development, we are eager to offer this novel online health community to you and welcome your feedback. In the next several months, we will be adding additional features and functionality to both our search engine and the new online health community, in order for you to make better health decisions.

Head to Healia Communities to register and join one of our 200+ health communities including allergies, Alzheimer’s disease, asthma, breast cancer, diabetes type 2, heart disease, and weight management.

Visit us at http://communities.healia.com to be part of the community!

 

Tags: Healia
March 19th, 2008

10 Million Baby Boomers May Develop Alzheimer’s Disease

Health News posted 2 years ago by The Healia Team

The Alzheimer’s Association released a report Tuesday stating that Alzheimer’s disease is now the seventh deadliest disease in the nation and that women are at greater risk of the disease than men. The report also predicts that an estimated 10 million American baby boomers (1 out of every 8) will develop Alzheimer's disease in their lifetime.

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive and fatal brain disease, and the most common form of dementia. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's destroys brain cells, causing problems with memory, thinking, and behavior severe enough to affect work, life-long hobbies, or social life. Alzheimer’s gets worse over time, has no current cure, and is fatal.

This projected rise will make a huge impact on baby boomers' lives, their families, and the nation's health-care system. Most people with Alzheimer's are eligible for Medicare, so a high number of Alzheimer's patients will put a major strain on the federal health insurance program. The increase in Alzheimer's cases will also burden the long-term care system.

Researchers have found a connection between Alzheimer's and cardiovascular disease. Diet, exercise, and blood-pressure control may help fight cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease. To find out more information about Alzheimer’s disease, visit healia.com.

Tags: Alzheimer's Disease, Seniors'Health, Dementia
March 14th, 2008

Screening Highly Recommended for Those at High-Risk for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Health News posted 2 years ago by The Healia Team

Many people are unaware of the dangers of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Unless screened and found early, an abdominal aortic aneurysm can rupture, producing catastrophic bleeding. Less than 40% of patients survive a ruptured abdominal aneurysm.

An aneurysm occurs when a blood vessel becomes abnormally large or balloons outward. The abdominal aorta is a large blood vessel that supplies blood to your abdomen, pelvis, and legs. The larger the aneurysm, the more likely it is to rupture. It is a medical emergency when an abdominal aortic aneurysm ruptures.

The cause of abdominal aortic aneurysms is unknown. However, they have been linked to risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, male gender, emphysema, genetic factors, and high cholesterol.

Aneurysms develop slowly over many years and often have no symptoms at all. Your physician may recommend periodic evaluations if an aneurysm is small and there are no symptoms. However, surgery may be recommended for patients with aneurysms larger than 5.5 cm in diameter and aneurysms that rapidly increase in size.

If you have any of the risk factors mentioned, you should consult with your doctor about an abdominal aortic ultrasound screening. To find additional information about abdominal aortic aneurysms, search healia.com.

Tags: Aneurysms, Blood, Heart, and Circulation
March 7th, 2008

A Few Simple Tips for Minimizing Impact of Lost Sleep this Sunday

Health News posted 2 years ago by The Healia Team
Don’t forget that Daylight Savings Time is scheduled for this Sunday, March 9, 2008. To help minimize the impact of lost sleep due to the time change, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine suggests planning ahead and following a few simple tips.
  • Begin to readjust your sleep schedule a few days prior to the time change by going to bed an hour earlier.
  • Modify your eating schedule by having dinner one hour earlier.
  • Be careful when driving or operating machinery on the day of the time change.
  • Avoid napping, particularly before bedtime.
  • Keep a light schedule -- such as minimizing driving and avoiding strenuous physical activity -- on the Monday after the time change.
  • Eat properly, stay hydrated and remain physically active.

So remember to change your clocks, get some extra sleep, and “spring forward” this Sunday!

Tags: Sleep Disorders, Mental Health and Behavior
March 6th, 2008

Allergy Season Can Lead to Pink Eye Infections

Health News posted 2 years ago by The Healia Team

Many adults find themselves with a pink eye infection this time of the year—as seasonal allergens fly in the air causing itchiness and the desire to rub or touch the eyes. Pink eye, also known as conjunctivitis, is an inflammation or infection of the transparent membrane (conjunctiva) that lines the eyelid and part of the eyeball. The cause of pink eye is typically a bacterial or viral infection or an allergic reaction.

According to the Mayo Clinic, pink eye may make you feel as if you've got something in one or both of your eyes that you just can't remove. The whites of the eyes may begin to have a pink discoloration, and you may not see as clearly as you did before. When you wake up in the morning, your eyes may seem to be pasted shut from discharge from your eyes.

Since pink eye can be highly contagious, it should be diagnosed and treated early. This is especially important for preschool-age children, who commonly develop both viral and bacterial conjunctivitis. For information on how to prevent pink eye, see Healia’s blog: Five Simple Tips for Preventing Pink Eye. You can also visit Healia Communities to Ask an Expert a question or to connect with others about Allergies or Eye Diseases.


Tags: Eye Diseases and Injuries, Infections, Child Health
March 4th, 2008

Allergy Test Can Help Determine Cause and Treatment of Allergies

Health News posted 2 years ago by The Healia Team

Achooo!  As the weather warms and the flowers bloom, so do allergy symptoms for many. And depending on where you live, allergy season may be headed your way. Many people simply deal with allergies as a fact of life. However, one way to pinpoint the best treatment plan is to have an allergy test.

If you are allergic, you are reacting to a particular substance that can trigger an allergic reaction called an allergen. To determine which substances are triggering an allergy, your allergist/immunologist may safely and effectively test your skin, or sometimes your blood, using tiny amounts of common allergens.

Allergy tests can provide specific information about what you are and are not allergic to. Once you have identified the specific allergen(s) causing your symptoms, you and your physician can develop a treatment plan aimed at preventing, controlling, or eliminating your allergy symptoms. Your allergist/immunologist can provide you with more information on allergy testing.

Healia has compiled allergy information into one extensive resource: the Healia Health Guide: Allergies. Make sure to check it out! You can also visit Healia Communities to talk to Allergy community members or to Ask an Expert an allergy question.



Tags: Allergy

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