October National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

House Resolution 991 designates October as National Breast Cancer Awareness month, reports State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129).

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women, Cox said. Early detection is the best way to prevent death. As such, women are encouraged to undertake breast self-examinations and clinical breast examinations beginning in their 20s. At age 40, women should start yearly mammograms and continue for as long as they are in good health.

Women at increased risk for breast cancer should talk with their physician about the benefits and limitations of starting mammography screening earlier, having additional tests or having more frequent exams.

“If you cannot afford preventative screenings, the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s HealthyWoman Program (HWP) provides free breast and cervical cancer screenings as part of an early detection program for eligible women,” Cox said.

For  information, including eligibility guidelines, click here.

October National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Communicable Disease Precautions

The Pennsylvania Department of Health is encouraging all  to take precautions against the flu and other communicable diseases with simple prevention measures and vaccination, reports State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129).

They recommend that you wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water often, and avoid touching your face, especially your eyes, nose and mouth, Cox said.

Although the flu vaccine can be administered without a prescription at many pharmacies, a consultation with a family physician is recommended before it, Cox said. The flu vaccine is available by shot or nasal spray. To find where one can be obtained, click here.

If you do get sick, prevent the spread of germs by staying home from school or the workplace, if possible, Cox said. Return to work only after being fever free for 24 hours, without the use of fever reducers.

For more tips on avoiding the flu, click here. 

Communicable Disease Precautions
Communicable Disease Precautions

Dew Point Key To Comfort

The old saw about it not being the heat but the humidity as the cause of summer misery is not the best summation. Dew point  is the key to comfort.

“Dew point” is a phrase often seen on weather reports but little pondered. The words describe the temperature at which water vapor — which is measured as humidity — condenses at the rate it evaporates. As this is dependent on air pressure, this is not a constant.

If the temperature is below the dew point, the water stays rather than goes.   High dew points mean discomfort. As it is the evaporation of perspiration that cools the skin, the slower the evaporation, the slower the cooling.

If you want to calculate the dew point yourself, this link explains how. We’ll stick to the weather report.

Dew Point Key To Comfort

Dew Point Key To Comfort

 

 

Fat Because Your Legs Have Nothing To Do

You’re fat because your legs have nothing to do.  Some machine is doing that for you.

At least that is the conclusion of an Stanford University School of Medicine study by Dr. Uri Ladabaum as reported by NPR.

Ladabaum looked at data collected by the federal NHANES program in 1988 and compared it to 2010 expecting to find that we have really started pigging out.

Nope. Caloric intake remained about the same. What was different, however, was that physical activity was a lot less. In the ’80s, 80 to 90 percent of people did at least some activity during their leisure time. About half say the same thing today.

For white and African-Americans — men and women — between 18 and 39 the number of those getting no activity more than tripled. For Mexican Americans, it doubled.

Dr. Tim Church, a professor of preventative medicine at Pennington Biomedical Research Center at Louisiana State University said that in 1960 about half of Americans had jobs that had a lot of physical activity. Today it’s about 1 in 10.  He said that American men were burning 140 fewer calories during the day while women were burning about 120 fewer calories daily.

As a pound is usually considered equal to 3,500 calories that is more than a pound a month not being burned off.

Blame the internet.

Anyway, here’s the soundtrack for the story that we were sure you were waiting for:

 

 

Fat Because Your Legs Have Nothing To Do

Fat Because Your Legs Have Nothing To Do

August Immunization Month

The Pennsylvania House with House Resolution 938 declared August to be “National Immunizations Month” says State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129).

“The Pennsylvania Department of Health offers assistance to obtain vaccinations through the federally funded Vaccines for Children program, which provides access to immunizations for low-income and underinsured children up to age 18,” Cox said. “Additionally, uninsured children in Pennsylvania are eligible for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), regardless of income.”

For  details on how to qualify, for Vaccines for Children visit here.

For details on CHIP, visit here.

The resolution also encourages adults to review their immunizations with their physicians. Adult vaccination recommendations can be found here.

 

August Immunization Month

August Immunization Month

Making Kids Love Brushing Teeth

Way back  before the internet ruled when newspapers thrived, editors would receive free copy courtesy of North American Precis Syndicate with plugs for businesses wrapped in useful advice.

The smaller papers were special targets.

By 2001, the copy was arriving on CDs. We recently found one from May of that year and we share for the sake of history this tidbit from Crest concerning how to make children love brushing their teeth.

We kind of like the idea of getting the recommended three minutes of brushing by timing it to a favorite song.

We also take comfort in learning that North American Precis Syndicate remains with us.

Oral health can have a significant impact on overall health and well being of kids yet more than 50 percent of 5- to 9-year old children have at least one cavity or filling, according to the U.S. Surgeon General’s report on oral health in America. The report also states that tooth decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease, five times more common than asthma.
Every family needs to make oral health a priority. These simple tips from Crest make brushing a fun and enjoyable routine for kids.
•    Brush with the right tools
Kid-inspired toothbrushes come in fun shapes, colors and patterns that are specially sized with smaller heads and larger handles to aid in control. Select a toothbrush with soft bristles and rounded ends that provide gentle cleaning.
•    Fun-flavored toothpaste means fun brushing
Children’s toothpaste comes in an array of flavors and colors, such as bubble gum and sparkles, so let the kids choose their own tubes. Make sure to choose toothpaste that has fluoride to help strengthen tooth enamel and prevent cavities. Children under 6 should brush twice a day using a pea-size dab of toothpaste.
•    Music Makes the Minutes Go By
One of the best ways to make sure kids are brushing for the recommended three minutes is to pick a fun song of the same length to play while they brush. Start the song as soon as the toothbrush touches the first tooth and continue to brush for the duration of the song.
•    Award gold stars for outstanding oral practices
Children should brush their teeth twice a day, so keep track of their daily brushing on a calendar by using gold stars. At the end of each week, award a special prize if there are two stars for each day of the week.
•    Keep toothbrushes in view and within reach in the bathroom
Make sure the kids can reach their toothbrushes and toothpaste by keeping them on the counter or in a stick-on cup attached to the wall. If the dental tools are always in sight, they act as reminders that it’s brushing time.
•    Get the kids in the right frame of mind
Trips to the dentist can be a scary experience for some young children, so prepare them beforehand. Give kids an idea of what to expect during a dental visit with role-playing exercises, or using picture books to familiarize kids with dental tools. Children should see the dentist every six months for a complete oral checkup.
•    Brush with your kids
The more the merrier! Lead by example to teach your kids that brushing and flossing is an important part of their daily routine.

In response to the U.S. Surgeon General’s report, Crest has teamed up with Boys & Girls Clubs of America on Crest Healthy Smiles 2010, a program designed to provide oral health education and tools to underprivileged children nationwide.

The paragraphs below would have likely been snipped out as the publication wasn’t the one getting paid for by Crest for the publicity. For the sake of history we are including them with a link to the Crest site for April 2001, the nearest match available via Wayback Machine. Putting an actionable link in an article was not something that would have been possible on newsprint, of course. And we wonder how Healthy Smiles 2010 worked out.

For a free brochure with oral health tips and more information on Crest Healthy Smiles 2010, call 1-877-289-6322. Also, check out the Crest Family Care Center on the Web at www.crest.com.

Boys & Girls Clubs of America kids practice good oral health skills in a giant way by brushing a 25-foot mouth.

 

Making Kids Love Brushing Teeth

Making Kids Love Brushing Teeth

Coffee Vs Tea

Coffee Vs Tea, the tale of the tape.

Coffee protects the liver against cirrhosis while tea has fluoride for your teeth. Coffee helps prevent type 2 diabetes while tea helps prevent type 1 diabetes.

Here is the video. Hat tip PJ Media.com

 

Coffee Vs Tea

 

Coffee Vs Tea

 

West Nile Virus Alert 2014

April marked the beginning of the mosquito breeding season, reports State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129). As such, public officials are reminding residents to take steps to protect themselves against West Nile virus.

West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne illness that can cause brain inflammation. The disease can be contracted from a single mosquito bite by an infected insect. Individuals over the age of 50 are at the highest risk of contracting the disease. Symptoms include fever, headache, and body aches, occasionally with a skin rash on the trunk of the body and swollen lymph glands. Although there is currently no vaccine, the virus usually clears up on its own.

The best way to reduce the risk is to eliminate potential mosquito breeding habitats, which are usually small areas of stagnant water. This can include anything from bird baths to trash cans. Other ways to reduce risk include wearing protective clothing and insect repellent.

For information on West Nile virus, click here.

West Nile Virus Alert

Lyme Disease Season Starts

House Resolution 757 designated May 2014 as Lyme Disease Awareness Month in Pennsylvania, reports State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129)

Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness, carried through the deer tick, that causes a general infection throughout the human body. If left untreated it can have serious consequences including nervous system damage and debilitating arthritis.

In Pennsylvania, the risk for contracting Lyme disease is highest during the months of April through July. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, roughly 4,000 cases have been reported in Pennsylvania annually, with the highest incidence in the southeastern parts of the Commonwealth.

Experts advise avoiding tick-infested habitats, including heavily wooded areas, tall grass and other areas where deer may frequent. If that is not possible, individuals should take precautions and wear protective clothing, including long sleeves and pants; use insect repellents; and check themselves, their children and their pets for ticks following outdoor activities.

While Lyme disease symptoms often manifest in the form of a bulls-eye rash at the site of the tick bite, the rash may not always appear. Other symptoms include fever, malaise, fatigue, headache, muscle aches and joint pain. Most cases of Lyme disease in their preliminary stages are readily treated with antibiotics.

Lyme Disease Season Starts

Easy Weight Loss

To lose a lot of weight without a lot of pain cut out soda, drink your coffee black, drink a glass of water before every meal and walk 10,000 steps, according to GQ.

The walking cuts 3,500  calories per week;  water, 1,358; omitting soda, 1,350; and cutting creamer, 360.

The total cut is 6568 calories per week.

The 10,000 steps is between 4 and 5 miles for most people. Obviously, length of stride hence height is the factor.

If one feels that is a bit extreme, GQ claims that people have lost 14 pounds over a year simply by walking their dog 20 minutes a day which would be less than two miles for most people.

And don’t substitute diet soda for the sugar stuff. There is pretty good evidence that it actually causes weight gain.

More tips are at the link.

 

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