Weight Debate

There are certain risk factors for heart disease that you have no control over and cannot change, such as getting older or having a family history of early heart disease. But you do have control over other major risk factors for heart disease that you “can” change, such as being physically inactive, not maintaining a normal weight, being overweight, smoking, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, not eating healthy, and diabetes.

1. Physical Activity
You can become physically active and stay physically active. Physical inactivity is one of the several major risk factors for heart disease, and the good news is… you can do something about it. Get up and get moving!! Regular physical activity helps to lower your risk of heart disease by burning extra calories, which helps you to lose excess weight or stay at your desirable weight. read more »

Some people are afraid to be physically active after they have had a heart attack. The good news is… regular, moderate physical activity can

• Help reduce a persons risk of having another heart attack.
• Improve a persons chances of survival.
• Help a person to perform everyday tasks more easily and to do so without chest pain or shortness of breath.

If you have already had a heart attack, it is very important for you to talk with your doctor. read more »

The Pancreas
The pancreas produces juices that help break down (digest) food and the pancreas also produces hormones that help control blood sugar levels, such as insulin and glucagon.

The digestive juices are produced by exocrine pancreas cells and the hormones are produced by endocrine pancreas cells. About 95 percent of pancreatic cancers begin in exocrine cells. read more »

Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected blacklegged tick.

Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics.

The ticks that transmit Lyme disease can occasionally transmit other tick-borne diseases as well.

Typical symptoms of Lyme disease include: read more »

Rickets is most common in children. If babies and children don’t get enough vitamin D, which is necessary for proper bone growth, or their body has problems using vitamin D properly, they can develop rickets. We need vitamin D to absorb calcium and phosphorus from the food we eat. Vitamin D deficiency makes it difficult to maintain proper calcium and phosphorus levels in bones.

Rickets, also called rachitis, is a condition in which children’s bones don’t develop properly, resulting in soft and weak bones, and skeletal deformities such as bowed legs, abnormally curved spine, thickened wrists and ankles, dental defects, and breastbone projection. read more »

No!! A flu shot cannot cause flu illness.

The influenza viruses contained in a flu shot are inactivated (killed), which means they cannot cause infection.

Flu vaccine manufacturers kill the viruses used in the vaccine during the process of making vaccine, and batches of flu vaccine are tested to make sure they are safe.

The most common side effect of seasonal flu shots in adults has been soreness in the arm and redness at the injection site, which usually lasts less than two days. The soreness is often caused by a person’s immune system making protective antibodies to the killed viruses in the vaccine. These antibodies are what allow the body to fight against the flu. read more »

A lot of food has microorganisms, or germs, in and on it that can cause foodborne diseases. Microorganisms are living things, like bacteria, that are too small for you to see without a microscope.

The photo on the right is Campylobacter bacteria, pronounced camp-ee-low-BACK-ter. Campylobacter bacteria is spiral shaped, very dangerous, and can make a person very sick.

The next photo on the left is an extreme close-up of E. coli bacteria, as seen under a powerful microscope. E. coli can also make a person very sick.

Although some microorganisms are good for you, like the bacteria in your stomach that helps you digest your food, other bacteria can make you very sick if you eat them by mistake.

To keep your food safe:

• Put food in the refrigerator
• Cook meat very well
• Wash fruits and vegetables

Baked desserts are delicious, and they are much safer for you to eat than raw batter!!

Source: www.ars.usda.gov/is/kids
United States Department of Agriculture

Some people with knee problems have a form of arthritis called osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is common in the knee joint. The cartilage in the joint gradually wears away and changes occur in the adjacent bone.

Osteoarthritis may be caused by joint injury or being overweight. It is associated with aging and most typically begins in people age 50 or older. A young person who develops osteoarthritis typically has had an injury to the knee or may have an inherited form of the disease.

Cartilage is a rubbery tissue at the end of bones that allows the joint to move easily. With osteoarthritis, cartilage breaks down over time. The knee can become painful, stiff, and swollen. read more »

Anyone can have high cholesterol, it’s not just from the meat you eat. Even a vegetarian can have high cholesterol, especially if it runs in their family.

Eating a healthy diet and exercising is important to help lower cholesterol, but cholesterol doesn’t just come from food. Cholesterol is produced in your body, and also cholesterol is based on your family history.

Many people need medications to help lower their cholesterol levels, along with eating right and exercising. read more »

Lower Your Risk of Stroke
The best treatment for stroke is prevention by living a healthy lifestyle. Even if you are in perfect health, follow these suggestions:

If you you are overweight, have high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, or high cholesterol, getting these conditions under control – and keeping them under control – will greatly reduce your chances of having a stroke.

• Overweight - If you are overweight, start maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly to lose weight.
• Exercise regularly - Make physical activity a part of your everyday life. Take a brisk walk, ride a bicycle, swim, and/or work around the yard to lower your chance of stroke. Check with your doctor before you begin if you are over 50 and are not used to energetic activity.

read more »