Category: Health Tips

The Pennsylvania Department of Health has reported that cases of the influenza virus, or flu, are now widespread in the Commonwealth, with more than 6,000 cases since September, reports State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129).

Symptoms of the flu usually include fever, cough, headache, muscle aches and fatigue. Illness will usually begin very suddenly one to five days after exposure and commonly lasts for two to seven days.

To protect yourself and your loved ones from the flu:

• Wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water before and following food preparation, before eating and after using restrooms or changing diapers.

• Cover the nose and mouth with hands or tissues when coughing or sneezing. Wash hands afterward to prevent spreading germs to doorknobs and other items. Discard tissues right way.

• Get plenty of rest, eat properly and dress appropriately for the weather.

• When ill, prevent the spread of germs by staying home from school or the workplace, if possible.

• During flu season, minimize time in crowded areas, such as shopping centers, and avoid contact with those at high risk for the flu, such as the elderly and those with chronic illness.

• If over the age of 65, pregnant, or have a chronic illness or disease, talk with your doctor about a flu and pneumonia vaccination.

Visit BillLawrenceDittos.com for Fight Flu Pennsylvania

Visit BillLawrenceOnline.com for Fight Flu Pennsylvania

NASA has determined that sleeping on the job is good for you — at least if you are an airline pilot.

NASA and the FAA studied the matter during the 1980s and 1990s. Teams of commercial airline pilots flying scheduled routes between Hawaii, Japan and Los Angeles were picked. One team was allowed a 40 minute nap during the cruise portion. The other was not. Results showed that the sleepers had 34 percent fewer performance lapses during the later stages of the flight and better reaction time.

NASA Says Sleep

A Japanese study has found that TV changes young brains and for the worse, reports the U.K.’s Daily Mail.

The study looked at 276 children between five and 18. Brain scans showed that the ones who spent the most time before the tube had more gray matter around the frontopolar cortex. This gray matter needs to be pruned during childhood and the authors of the study say this was not happening.

This part of the brain is associated with intellectual abilities.

“TV view is directly or indirectly associated with the neurocognitive development of children . . . at least some of the observed associations are not beneficial and guardians of children should consider those effects when children view TV for long periods of time,” the authors said.

The study was almost evenly divided between boys and girls. The subjects watched between zero and four hours a day.

The effect TV had on the structural development of the brain had never been investigated according to the authors.

TV Changes Young Brains

A study at Cardiff University in the United Kingdom shows that exercise beats dementia reports the U.K. Independent.

Well, exercise along with following three of the other five key behaviors.

But exercise is by far the most important one according the study.

The five “key behaviors” are not smoking, having a low bodyweight,  a healthy diet and low alcohol intake.

Following four of them appears to reduce dementia risk by 60 percent while cutting the chance of heart disease and stroke by 70 percent.

Exercise Beats Dementia

Pennsylvania First West Nile Virus Cases — The Pennsylvania Department of Health has reported the likely first West Nile virus cases this year in Montgomery and York counties, says State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129)

The departments of Health and Environmental Protection are urging residents to minimize their exposure to mosquitoes.

The mosquitoes that transmit the virus breed in areas with standing and stagnant water. These areas can include catch basins, clogged gutters, discarded tires, poorly maintained swimming pools, flower pots and other types of plastic containers.

Simple steps to eliminate standing water around the home include:

• Removing tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots, discarded tires or any object that could collect standing water.
• Having roof gutters cleaned every year, particularly if the leaves from nearby trees have a tendency to clog the drains.
• Turning over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use.
• Aerating ornamental pools or stocking them with fish.
• Cleaning and chlorinating swimming pools and removing standing water from pool covers.

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) conducts regular surveillance and control to manage mosquito populations around the state. So far, DEP has detected West Nile Virus-infected mosquitoes in 36 counties.

For information on West Nile Virus and how to prevent its spread, click here.

Pennsylvania First West Nile Virus Cases