Healthy Home
Articles and information on Healthy Home
African Americans Hit Hard by Disease that Strikes without Warning
Millions of Americans are at high risk for kidney disease, but do not know it. Diabetes and high blood pressure are the two leading causes, accounting for 70 percent of new kidney failure cases among adults. A family history of kidney failure also increases risk.
AMA'S New Top Doc Focusing on Patients
Although he represents the largest physician group in the country, the American Medical Association's new president, John C. Nelson, M.D., M.P.H, promises that the focus of his year term will be on advocating for patients.
Americans Are Snuggling and Struggling to Get to Sleep
While some may feel love conquers all, environmental comfort factors such as room temperature and uncomfortable mattresses, cramped sleeping conditions and noises are robbing many American adults of a good night's sleep.
Are You at Risk for Heart Failure?
More than a half million Americans will be diagnosed with heart failure this year, and the number of people suffering from the ailment is expected to double during the next few decades.
Athletes Use New Technologies to Improve Reaction and Gain Competitive Edge
Being a great athlete in any sport means playing with speed, and since reaction is the mother of speed, "Improving your reaction -- that first spark between the nerve fibers and the muscle fibers -- is key to giving you the quickness, speed, power and endurance you need to make you a better athlete," says coach Dean Lotz...
Back to School Means Back to Germs
A recent survey released this week proves that most moms are concerned that their children may be bringing home more than just the daily homework assignments this fall. As students head back to school to learn, they may also be heading back to an array of germs.
Being Bald This Fall Could be Dangerous
The dropping temperatures and gray, rainy days of fall do more than curb our ability to spend time outside -- they can cause driving risks. Stopping on wet roads can take up to four times the normal distance.
Beware of Fire Ants at Nursing Homes
Whether recovering from a medical procedure or simply too frail to move, the elderly at nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the South should take precautions against the potential serious health threat caused by fire ants. Recently, a number of long-term care facilities felt the sting associated with not being prepared for fire ants in their facilities.
Checklist for Home Safety
As much as we might not like to admit it, as we age, we face physical challenges we didn't have to worry about in our youth. Weakened muscle strength, balance and coordination problems and failing eyesight are just some of the issues that will plague us as we get older.
Comprehensive Eye Exam Critical for Child's Academic Success
Parents fill their kids' backpacks with a host of school supplies ranging from newly sharpened pencils to state-of-the-art binders. They'll pack nutritional lunches, purchase fall wardrobes and make sure the required reading lists have been tackled. Parents want to give their children every educational advantage, but one tool vital to children's abilities to learn is too often overlooked -- their vision.
Consumer Reports Survey Rates Mental-Health Care Options for Depression and Anxiety
In one of the largest surveys of its kind, 3,079 Consumer Reports (CR) readers have rated the mental-health care they received for depression and anxiety. The survey results, plus CR's interviews with patients and experts, offer a compelling snapshot of how people fared given the mental-health care choices they made.
Cutting with Caution
Everyone seems to spend more time out in the yard these days -- dining on the patio, gardening, playing with the kids; but keeping your yard at its best also means more time spent cutting the grass.
Don't Count Your Carbs -- Make Your Carbs Count
Despite the ongoing low-carb craze in the United States, America continues to be the fattest nation in the world, and the obesity problem is affecting more people at a younger age than ever before.
Fad Diets and Diabetes
According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 90 percent of all people with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes are overweight. Studies have shown that type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed by keeping weight in control and by increasing physical activity.
Fall Marks Perfect Time for Car Care
The vacations are over, the kids are back in school and cooler evenings have begun. The pros and the nonprofit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) recommend that you take advantage of the lull to prepare your vehicle for the winter ahead.
Food Safety 101
Are you putting yourself and your family at risk with food borne illnesses?
Forget "the Big Talk"
It's the moment most parents dread. Happily going through their day, Mom or Dad is stopped short by the eternal question, "Where do babies come from?" They freeze, blush and mumble something about asking the other parent or stammer out answers ranging from the stork to the cabbage patch.
Fraud That Can Be Fatal
When purchasing a used vehicle the average buyer may never know whether the airbag is there or functioning correctly until it's too late. Airbag fraud is on the rise and may soon rank as the worst vehicle repair scam out there and a potentially fatal one.
Get the Facts to Protect Your Largest Investment
Most homeowners don't wake up one morning and decide, "Today, I am going to put new siding on the exterior of my home." It's a decision that usually takes some research, thought and procrastination. After all, your home is one of your largest and most prized investments.
Get Your Car Ready for Winter
Dark skies, icy roads and rain or snow coming at you from all directions. Soon, this will be the reality for drivers across the country. How will your car handle the challenge?
Going Back to School Can Hurt, but Back-to-school Shots Don't Have to Be Painful
With school drawing near, it is important to remember that children need to maintain their active summer lifestyle by incorporating play and exercise in between time spent at school and doing homework. Not only does regular exercise promote good physical health, it has also been linked to achievement in school.
Good Old Fashioned First Aid
With a new diagnosis every three minutes and more than 230,000 estimated new cases expected in the United States this year alone, prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed non-skin cancer among American men.
Grape Juice Ranks as Number One Juice in a New USDA Database
According to a newly published USDA database, purple grape juice made from Concord grapes tested higher in total proanthocyanidins -- natural plant compounds that function as antioxidants and may contribute to good health in a variety of ways -- than any of the juices or beverages it tested on a per serving basis, including red wine, tea, cranberry juice cocktail and apple juice.
Hand Surgeons Warn of Pumpkin Carving Dangers
The American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) urges pumpkin carvers to use caution this Halloween season and take steps to prevent hand injuries when carving.
Has a Cat Crossed Your Path? Find Out More About Our Feline Neighbors
When most of us recall the summer months of our childhood, we think of the thrill of that last day of school, an afternoon at a local pool or a nearby lake, riding bikes with the neighborhood kids, going to see fireworks or enjoying picnics at a local park. But for many children, summer is a considerably more trying time of the year, one that may not include a roof overhead.
Hearing Loss Increases Among Baby Boomers
Rock 'n roll, loud cars, and noisy lifestyles are taking their toll on the baby boomers.
Highway Safety: Steering Clear of Road Debris
Shredded tires and rusty car parts can often turn otherwise beautiful roadways into unsightly landscapes, but this road-borne litter is more than just harmful to the eyes, it's a serious threat to safe driving.
Home is Where the Health Is
It happened so gradually -- things just steadily got bigger. Heaping meals served on plates that look more like dog bowls. Drinks so large they have an undertow.
How to Protect Your Family from Foodborne Illness
During the warmer months it is important to take some steps to protect kids and the rest of the family from contracting food-related diseases.
How to Protect Your Home from Pests
As the seasons change and temperatures get cooler, people aren't the only ones taking refuge inside. Right now, bugs of all shapes and sizes are trying to find their way into your home.
It's Not Your Age Showing…
Just like your tan lines, the long sunny summer days have faded. Those hours spent soaking up the sun are becoming just a memory, but your skin won't forget.
Keep Hands Safe Around Fireworks
Every year, thousands experience hand injuries in accidents caused by fireworks.
Keep on Drivin'
Age alone does not determine a person's ability to drive safely; however certain physical changes that are a natural part of the aging process do affect one's capacity to anticipate and react to dangerous driving situations. More than 19 million people over the age of 70 are driving in the United States.
Kids and Sports: Playing it Safe
With the school year fast approaching, kids are getting back to the books and enjoying all of their favorite extracurricular activities, including team sports. With sports injuries being one of the leading causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs), knowing what precautions to take can help prevent serious brain injuries.
National YMCA Health Initiative
Back to school means a fresh start. New teachers, books and classmates all help kids start the school year off with hope and optimism. It also means that many parents are looking for a safe, fun and healthy environment for their children during the commonly unsupervised and inactive hours of 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., often referred to as the "danger zone."
On a Mission to Make a Difference
Every time retired psychologist Dr. Lewis Young, 72, straps himself into the cockpit of his twin engine piper, he's on a mission. Sometimes it's to get a patient to a far-away hospital for surgery, chemotherapy, or dialysis...
Pain Keeping You Awake? What You Can Do
Insomnia often strikes out of the blue, sets up camp for a few nights and then vanishes just as quietly as it arrived. At least that's how it works for most people.
Professional Chefs Put Low-Carb Products to the Taste Test
Did you know that an estimated 59 million Americans were watching their carbohydrates this past year? And, the popularity of this new lifestyle and eating pattern prompted more than 1,000 new low-carb products introduced this year alone, as food manufacturers continue to provide new choices to meet consumers' demands?
Putting Allergies to Rest
The fall months offer the anticipation of sunny days, cool autumn nights and the inevitable start of another allergy season. While most people think of spring as allergy time, managing allergens can be just as difficult in the late summer and early fall thanks to an influx of mold spores, ragweed and house dust mites.
Research Strikes a New Cord in Spinal Injury Treatment Development
Crushing the lives of approximately 4,000 people in the United States, motor vehicle accidents account for 40 percent of spinal cord injuries (SCI) annually. Falls, acts of violence (primarily gunshot wounds) and recreational sporting activities are the other main causes of this life-altering injury.
School-Age Children with Diabetes: What Parents Should Know
This fall, school staff, parents and students will need to work together to ace the most important test of the year: managing the health of children with diabetes. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), approximately 151,000 children in the United States have diabetes and that number is on the rise. More than 13,000 children are diagnosed every year.
Securing Your Home with Style
Those concerned with home security will be intrigued by new door and glass technology that can help make homes safer without the "iron bar" look. Combining several design innovations and a remarkable new glass similar to the security glass being used in U.S. government buildings...
Sharing the Road Safely
If it seems like bicycles are everywhere these days, it's not your imagination. More bicyclists hit the roads between May and September than any other time of the year, so it should come as no surprise that most accidents involving riders happen during the summer and fall.
Sleep Well, Be Well
Many people are familiar with Ben Franklin's observation that "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." This founding father clearly understood the connection between a good night's sleep and a better quality of life.
Solutions for Back Problems of Seniors and School Children
When it comes to misunderstood diseases, epilepsy is at the top of the list. Erroneous beliefs abound when it comes to this physical condition, which occurs when there is a sudden, brief change in the brain's inner workings, leading to epileptic seizures.
Stress Getting You Down? Perk Up with a Good Night's Sleep
Stress. We've all felt it at one time or another and we know it's not healthy. How we handle that stress differs from person to person.
Sunglasses . . . More Important to the Health of Your Eyes Than You May Think
While a lot of people consider sunglasses a fashion accessory, the real benefit of donning your shades is protection from the sun's harmful rays.
SUVs and Trucks Take Over the Road
Anyone who's been out driving in the last few years knows light-duty trucks and SUVs have surpassed passenger cars as the vehicle of choice for most Americans.
Sweet Secret to Cutting Carbs
Everyone seems to be talking about low-carb diets these days -- especially now that we are in the middle of diet season. Magazines are featuring Atkins and South Beach success stories, food companies are creating low-carb versions of familiar favorites...
Take Simple Precautions Now to Ensure a Sting-free Season
Americans spend a lot of time in their backyards, playing games, working in the garden, or hosting family picnics. But even the most tranquil afternoon is not without hazards, thanks mostly to Mother Nature.
Technology Creates Safer Home Heating Traditions
While new hearth products have made fireplace ownership much more convenient, maintenance requirements have remained steady. Many American homeowners assume that their chimneys only need to be cleaned and inspected if they burn wood in their fireplaces or wood stoves.
Tennis Tips from Andy Roddick
Anyone can fall at any time, and certainly no one intends on falling, but the risk is higher for older people. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, falls occur in about a third of people aged 75 or older who are living in their homes.
The Power of Garlic
Some yearn for its robust aroma and savory, often creamy taste; others look to it as a cure for ailments. Garlic has long been shrouded in mystery. Whether it is used for medicinal purposes, to lure love interests or as an enhancement to any dish, it plays a significant role in dining, cooking and culture.
Think You're a Safe Driver? Think Again
A recent survey has found that 99 percent of us think we're safe drivers. But, are we checking under the hood, kicking the tires or even buckling our seatbelts? Surprisingly, nine out of 10 Americans are not.
Tips for a Healthy Cold-Weather Season
The transformation of seasons always seems to usher in other lifestyle changes -- whether it's setting a weight loss goal, following a different routine or just taking on a new list of chores around the house.
Vision Care Needs Increase As We Grow Older
Older Americans have special concerns in caring for their eyes; but seniors needn't be frustrated by the gradual onset of reduced visual acuity.
Watch Out for Foraging Fire Ants This Fall
Fall is a time of year people love to spend outdoors. The cooler temperatures make back-to-school activities, sports, and working in the yard more enjoyable. Unfortunately, fire ants also enjoy the cooler weather, creating a potential health threat for millions of southern homeowners.
