Valley Fall Health Care 2018

FALL

HEALTH CARE OCTOBER 2018

Le Sueur County News St. Peter Herald

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FALL HEALTH CARE

October 2018

GET HEALTHY, STAY HEALTHY.

From treatment of serious medical conditions to wellness activities for you and your family, our experts in St. Peter and Le Sueur are here to deliver exactly the care you need.

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October 2018

FALL HEALTH CARE

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Potential benefits of a vegan diet

(Metro) A nutritious diet is an integral component of a healthy lifestyle. One of the great things about eating right is there are many ways to do so. A healthy diet that works for some people might not work for others with different tastes, and it doesn’t have to.

Eating right can boost immune systems and help people be more productive, and some people even tailor their healthy diets to align with their personal beliefs. One such example is veganism. Adherents to veganism do not eat or use animal products, and many do so to advocate for the ethical treatment of animals.

Regardless of why people choose vegan diets, the potential health benefits of such decisions are myriad.

• Shed excess weight: Vegan diets may help people shed excess weight. A 2015 study published in the journal Nutrition found that vegan diets may result in greater weight loss than more

modest recommendations. The vegan diets used in the study did not require participants to limit their caloric intake, though many might have simply by the nature of the vegan diet, which is packed with satisfying foods full of nutrients such as fiber that can help people feel full and maintain that feeling of fullness for long periods of time.

• Improve kidney function: Studies have indicated that people with diabetes who replace the meat in their diets with plant protein may reduce their risk for poor kidney function.

One such study, published in the Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, concluded that, while more studies are necessary, substituting soy protein for animal proteins usually decreases hyperfiltration in diabetic subjects and may reduce albumin excretion as well.

• Protect against certain cancers: The World Health Organization says that roughly onethird of all instances of cancer

across the globe can be prevented if people make the right lifestyle choices. That includes their choice in diets. Due to the nature of vegan diets, vegans tend to consume considerable amounts of fruits and vegetables. That’s good news, as an analysis of data from the Health Survey for England found that eating seven or more portions of fresh fruits and vegetables every day can reduce a person’s risk of dying from cancer by as much as 15 percent.

• Reduce risk for heart disease: Fruits, vegetables and fiber also have been linked to a lower risk of heart disease. A study from researchers in Japan found that intakes of plant-based foods, particularly fruits, were associated with reduced mortality from cardiovascular disease.

Vegan diets may necessitate an adjustment period when starting out. But over time, the benefits of such diets are numerous.

FALL HEALTH CARE 2018 A special publication of the Le Sueur County News and St. Peter Herald Publisher Chad Hjellming

Media Consultants Kathleen Davies Missy Daschner Gayle Stelten

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FALL HEALTH CARE

October 2018

The relationship between health and volunteering (Metro) Volunteering is often its own reward. Helping others can be just as beneficial to the people doing the helping as it is for the people being helped.

Though it can sometimes be hard to find time to volunteer, a close look at some of the various health benefits of volunteering may compel adults and children alike to find the time they need to volunteer.

nal Social Science and Medicine found that the more people volunteered, the happier they were. The researchers compared people who never volunteered to people who did, finding that the odds of being ‘very happy’ rose by 7 percent among people who volunteered monthly. Those odds increased by 12 percent among people who volunteered every two to four weeks.

Volunteering and happiness Veteran volunteers may have long suspected they’re happier when they volunteer, and research suggests that’s true. A study from researchers at the London School of Economics that was published in the jour-

Volunteering and mental health Psychologists have long known that social interaction can improve mental health. Psychology Today notes that interacting with others decreases feelings of depression while increasing feel-

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ings of well-being. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, exposing volunteers to people with shared interests.

That can be especially valuable to people who are new to a community, helping them to avoid feelings of loneliness after moving to an area where they have no preexisting social network.

Volunteering and long-term health Volunteering that requires social interaction can produce long-term health benefits that can have a profound impact on quality of life as men and women age. A recent study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease focused on participants without dementia who were involved in a highly interactive discussion group. Researchers compared those participants to others who participated in Tai Chi or walking or were part of a control group that did not receive any interventions. The former group exhibited improved cognitive function, and MRIs indicated they increased their brain volumes after being involved in the discussion group.

Larger brain volume has been linked to a lower risk of dementia. Many volunteering opportunities require routine interaction with others, potentially providing significant, long-term health benefits as a result.

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October 2018

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o o an benefit fo aving a et (Metro) Pets have been kept for centuries. Statistics from various sources indicate North Americans own millions of dogs, cats, birds, small mammals, and reptiles.

Pets’ affable nature and loving looks are enough for many people to welcome them into their homes, but the benefits of having a pet extends beyond their appearances and temperaments.

• Pets can help prevent loneliness. Loneliness affects people of all ages, but it is particularly problematic among seniors.

Older adults who may be isolated can benefit from having a pet around. According to a study published in Aging & Mental Health, older adults who owned pets were 36 percent less likely to say they were lonely compared to those who didn’t have an animal companion.

• Pets can save lives Pets can be trained to perform various tasks around the house and in the community. Rescue animals assist in finding people after natural disasters. Medical alert pets can help people with debilitating illnesses and assist physically impaired people with everyday tasks.

• Pets help lower allergy risks. Keeping pets around can reduce a child’s likelihood of developing allergies by as much as 33 percent, according to a study by pediatrician James E. Gern that was published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. People exposed early on to animals tend to develop stronger immune systems overall.

• Pets provide sociali ation opportunities. A pet can be the common denominator to strike up new friendships and connect with others. Whether walking around the neighborhood or being part of a pet obedience class or interest group, pets can help their owners expand their social circles.

• Pets can help combat stress. Talking to or stroking

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Fall into a great place a pet can make stress easier to handle. A study from researchers at the State University of New York at Buffalo found that, when conducting a stressful task, people experienced less stress when their pets were with them. Various other studies and data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found having a pet around can lower blood pressure, ease anxiety and may even help to lessen aches and pains. Pets provide unconditional love, which can be beneficial to someone facing depression or post traumatic stress disorder.

• Pets help teach responsibility. Taking care of a pet can help children and adults become more responsible. According to the American Pet Product Association’s 2011-2012 National Pet Owners Survey, 58 percent of pet owners say their pets help teach their kids to be responsible through routine care, exercise and feeding of the animal.

Pets are more than mere companions. In fact, pets can offer numerous health and well-being benefits to people of all ages.

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FALL HEALTH CARE

October 2018

ig t t e it these strategies

(Metro) Influenza can rear its head any time of the year, but is known to be a particularly bad thorn in one’s side during times of year when the weather is cold.

According to WebMD, anywhere from 5 to 20 percent of the population will get the flu in an average year and it can take three to seven days for a regular case of the illness to go away, with some effects lingering for up to two weeks.

No one wants to get the flu, which is marked by fever, aches and pains, congestion, fatigue, and other symptoms. As a result, people do all they can to help prevent the flu - or at the very least shorten its duration.

The best way to stave off the flu is to get a flu vaccination each year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the vaccine is carefully curated to treat against the flu strains that research suggests will be the most common each flu season.

Getting vaccinated by the end of October is recommended.

Steer clear of sick individuals and make a concerted effort to avoid germs and the spread of germs. Diligently washing hands and avoiding touching your nose, eyes and mouth can help you avoid and spread germs. In addition, repeatedly clean and disinfect surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus.

You might want to consider prophylactic treatment with an antiviral medication. In 2000, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the use of oseltamivir phosphate, which is known by the brand name Tamiflu, as a flu preventative. However, many people only reach for the drug when symptoms already have set in. Instead, it can be especially helpful in preventing the flu when someone in the household has already contracted the illness. The results of several clinical studies show that Tamiflu, when taken once daily, is up to 92 percent effective in preventing influenza illness in adolescents, adults and the elderly.

Drink plenty of liquids during flu season to keep the body well hydrated so the immune system can be in top form. Fruit juices, water, broth-based soups, and sports drinks can help keep the respiratory system from forming thick mucus that can become laden with bacteria. Should a fever set in, fluids help prevent dehydration.

It also can be wise to take zinc supplements during cold and flu season. Neil Schachter, MD, medical director of the respiratory care department at Mount Sinai Medical Center and the author of ‘The Good Doctor’s Guide to Colds & Flu,’ says zinc may boost immunity, which can shorten the duration or severity of the flu.

The flu can quickly escalate and cause serious symptoms. Prevention and early treatment are essential during cold and flu season.

October 2018

FALL HEALTH CARE

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Explaining opioids

(Metro) For many years, law enforcement agencies have tried to educate and inform the general public about a growing opioid epidemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drug overdoes killed nearly 64,000 Americans in 2016, and roughly two-thirds of those deaths involved a prescription or illicit opioid.

The opioid epidemic is not exclusive to the United States.

In early 2018, Canada’s Special Advisory Committee on the Epidemic of Opioid Overdoses released a statement acknowledging that the country’s opioid epidemic had significantly worsened since 2016. In fact, the Public Health Agency of Canada noted that deaths from opioidrelated overdoses between January and September of 2017 had increased by 45 percent from the

same period just a year earlier.

What are opioids?

The term ‘opioid’ refers to a wide range of drugs, including illegal drugs such as heroin.

Whether an opioid is an illegal street drug or one prescribed by a doctor, the National Institute on Drug Abuse notes that all of these drugs are chemically related. Each opioid interacts with opioid receptors on nerve cells in the body and brain. Prescription opioids are often prescribed to relieve pain.

Why are opioids so often misused?

According to the NIDA, opioids are effective at reducing pain.

But while they are prescribed to treat pain, opioids also produce a feeling of euphoria. Opioid users, whether theyÕre using heroin or a prescription opioid such as Vi-

codin, can easily become dependent on opioids because of that euphoric feeling they get when taking them. When this happens, users are likely to misuse opioids, taking them in larger quantities than prescribed or looking to illegal opioids such as heroin in search of that euphoric feeling.

What are some types of opioids?

The CDC notes that there are three common types of opioids: prescription opioids, fentanyl and heroin.

• Prescription opioids: These are prescribed by doctors to treat moderate to severe pain.

Some common types of prescription opioids are Vicodin (hydrocodone), OxyContin (oxycodone), morphine, and methadone.

• Fentanyl: This is a synthetic opioid that the CDC notes is considerably more powerful

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than other opioids. Fentanyl is typically only prescribed to help patients dealing with severe pain, such as that caused by advanced cancers. However, illegally manufactured and distributed fentanyl is at the heart of the opioid epidemic. In fact, the CDC reports that death rates from overdoses involving synthetic opioids such as fentanyl doubled in 10 states from 2015 to 2016.

• Heroin: nlike fentanyl and prescription opioids, heroin is illegal. Despite that, heroin usage has risen sharply in recent years across nearly all demographics in the United States.

Opioids pose a significant health problem throughout much of North America. More information is available at www. drugabuse.gov.

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FALL HEALTH CARE

October 2018

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