Showing posts with label how to stay healthy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label how to stay healthy. Show all posts

Saturday, July 4, 2020

Covid-19 and other Infectious Diseases: How to Lower Your Risk

As everyone knows by now, in the spring of 2020, a new coronavirus named Covid-19 swept around the world.  By July, over 525,000 people had died of the disease worldwide, and approximately 130,000 of those deaths were in the United States.  Since then, deaths have continued to rise daily.

Thousands of additional deaths from this disease have been estimated, but not been counted in the official tallies, because most of the early deaths, before the pandemic was recognized, were recorded as pneumonia or influenza.  Many other people died at home, and their deaths were not listed in the official numbers.  Some nursing homes still do not list the cause of death for their residents as Covid-19, when the deceased person also had other serious illnesses.  As a result, we may never know how many people actually died of Covid-19.  By the time the pandemic is over and a vaccine has been distributed, deaths are likely to exceed one million worldwide and at least a quarter of a million in the United States.

Of course, Covid-19 is not the only contagious disease we need to worry about.  We humans are also highly susceptible to other common communicable diseases including influenza, norovirus (the stomach flu), meningitis, whooping cough, MRSA, tuberculosis, strep throat, and the common cold.  The good news is that the steps we take to protect ourselves from Covid-19 may also protect us from some of these other illnesses. What are some actions we can take to keep ourselves safe?


How to Lower Your Risk of Covid-19 and Other Infectious Diseases

Stay home and Stay Safe - This is the best policy for anyone who is over the age of 70, or is immune compromised, or who is already fighting a chronic disease.  This could include a child fighting cancer, a young adult who is a smoker, a middle aged man with diabetes, or a senior citizen with chronic kidney disease or a history of heart attacks.  If you fall into a high risk group, you should stay home as often as possible and, in particular, avoid large indoor gatherings, which is where you are the most vulnerable.  This means avoiding bars, houses of worship, weddings, funerals, parties in a private home, concerts, sporting events, movie theaters, indoor restaurants and other places where it may be difficult to maintain a comfortable distance between you and everyone else.

Whenever possible, any gathering you choose to attend should be held outside, with only a few people, and the ability for individuals or couples to stay six feet or further from others attending the same event.  For example, a family barbecue could be arranged with separate tables, separate food, and separate utensils.  Ideally, people should sit much more than six feet apart, when possible.

Maintain at least a six foot distance from other people, and further, when possible -  Most of us cannot stay home all the time.  We may have to go to work, shop for food, get our car repaired, see a doctor, or handle other business.  We may also occasionally go to an event we cannot avoid.  As much as possible, we want to avoid inhaling the air being expelled from other people. If you are around people who are speaking, yelling, coughing or sneezing, you will want to stay as far away from them as possible, especially if you are indoors.  When people are excited and speaking loudly, coughing, or singing, they can expel large amounts of air.  A virus can travel 10 to 25 feet, especially after a sneeze, and hang in the air indoors for hours.  Air conditioning can further circulate it. This can happen even when the person carrying a disease does not know they are sick.  They could be a "super-carrier," despite appearing to be perfectly healthy.  In order to minimize your exposure, you have to assume that everyone you pass could be carrying either Covid-19, influenza, tuberculosis, or another contagious disease. 

Stop Shaking Hands and Hugging People - Of course, you can still hug and cuddle with someone you live with. However, stop touching people who do not live with you, including grandchildren and other relatives.  It is far better to keep some distance between you.  Greet your friends and neighbors with a smile, a nod and a friendly wave.



Wear a face mask when in public - Wearing face masks reduces the distance the virus can travel in a conversation, cough, or sneeze. A variety of styles and colors are available.  If you wear a mask and the other people around you are also wearing masks, everyone has dramatically decreased the risk that any of you could spread a respiratory disease to one another.  Wearing a face mask is a compassionate, thoughtful way to treat other people. 

Another option is to wear a face shield.  They may be a more comfortable option when walking outdoors, especially if you avoid being near other people.  You can even find hats with face shields attached, like the one I am wearing in this photo, while walking on a nearly deserted beach.  They come in a variety of styles and colors. When I am outdoors and no one else is nearby, I feel safe with just this hat with the detachable face shield. Indoors, I always add a face mask. (Ad)

Cover your mouth with your elbow when you sneeze or cough - This simple move will decrease the risk that you are spreading a virus.  It reduces the distance a virus can travel, and you will not be coughing into your hand and then touching doorknobs, handrails, elevator buttons, and similar items other people may touch.

Wash your hands often - Although most people get Covid-19 from inhaling particles containing the virus, researchers believe it is also possible to touch something with the virus on it, and then transfer it to your nose, mouth or eyes, giving it a foothold in your body.  When you cannot wash your hands, use hand sanitizer to kill any virus you may have picked up.  It is a good idea to always carry some with you in a small container.  Make sure it contains at least 65% alcohol, and do not leave it in a hot car. (Ad)

Try not to touch your face - That may seem like an impossible habit to break, because most of us touch our faces several times a minute.  However, the less you touch your face, the lower your risk of accidentally infecting yourself.

Disinfect everything you touch frequently - Since it is so hard to avoid touching our faces, it is also wise to keep the things we touch as clean as possible.  Use alcohol wipes to clean electronic items we touch frequently, such as our cell phone and computer keyboard.  Use disinfectant cleaner on other items such as doorknobs, refrigerator handles, and similar items. If the items you touch are clean, and you also wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your face, you will have sharply decreased your risk of picking up any infectious diseases with your hands. (Ad)

If you take the above actions, you may not completely avoid getting Covid-19 or another infectious disease, but you will have substantially lowered your risk and, hopefully, will enjoy a generally healthier life.

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If you are interested in reading more about common medical issues as we age, where to retire, financial planning, Social Security, Medicare and more, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of the page to find links to hundreds of additional articles.

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Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Live a Long, Healthy Life - Try These Tips!

As we reach the last few years of our life, our ideal medical reports should read: "healthy, healthy, healthy, healthy, dead."  This statement was made by the instructor of a brain health class I recently attended.  The point she wanted to make was that we all should strive to live lives which are as healthy as possible, right up to the time we die at a very old age.  If these are our goals, how can we increase our odds of making that happen?  What can we personally do to live as long and as healthy a life as possible?

See Your Doctor and Dentist

It may seem obvious, but too many people believe they are better off avoiding doctors. As a result, they are unaware of what is actually going on inside their bodies and may miss the opportunity to avoid easily treated ailments.  Everyone needs to make sure they are engaged in the medical system and do the following:

Maintain a healthy blood pressure
Monitor their A1C or their blood sugar level
Get a colonoscopy
Women should get regular mammograms
Get flu and pneumonia shots
Get professional teeth cleanings
Be checked for other health conditions such as Hepatitis C, skin cancer, prostate cancer, C-reactive protein, and any other tests your doctor recommends.

Practice Self Examinations

While seeing your doctor and dentist regularly is important, your medical providers will not be with you all the time.  Everyone should examine their own bodies regularly and be aware of any changes.  In particular, you will want to check for:

Yellow eyes, which indicate liver problems
Drooping eyelids, which could indicate Bell's palsy or a stroke
Changes in moles
Changes in the color of your urine or bowel movements
Any other changes to your skin, breasts, teeth or mouth.

Sleep a Reasonable Amount Each Night

Get a regular amount of sleep each night, but not too much.  Ideally, you should sleep between 7 and 9 hours a night.  If you have trouble getting a restful night's sleep, check with your doctor and participate in a sleep study, if possible.  Work with your doctor to determine what could be causing your sleep problems ... sleep apnea, too much caffeine, medications you are taking, etc.  Our bodies need sleep to stay healthy and there have also been studies indicating that restful sleep may help remove toxins from the brain and reduce our dementia risk.

Exercise in a Variety of Ways

Any exercise you get is better than nothing at all.  However, the more you move in a variety of ways, the healthier you are likely to be and the longer you will probably live.  Your exercise plans should ideally include:

Aerobics such as walking, swimming, bicycling and dancing
Strength training such as weight lifting or Pilates
Flexibility through stretching or yoga classes
Balance exercises
Back exercises, which could help prevent chronic back pain

Eat a Healthy Diet

Following the Mediterranean Diet, the MIND Diet or the DASH diet, which are all very similar, are great ways to eat whole, healthy food which you will enjoy, while also maintaining good health.  You may also be interested in "The MIND Diet Plan and Cookbook" which, along with the other suggestions in this article, is a great way to keep your brain functioning at optimal levels. 

Below are a few things to include in your healthy diet:

Fish and poultry
Nuts and beans
25 grams of fiber a day
8 to 10 servings of fruit and vegetables daily
Healthy oils like olive oil

Reduce your consumption of the following foods:

Sugar and artificial sweeteners
Refined flour
Fried foods
Red meat and butter

Avoid other Dangers to Your Health and Life

No matter how much you exercise or how well you eat, an accident or excess stress can undo all your good intentions.  As a result, there are a few more dangers which you should avoid or minimize in your life.  While some of the items on the list below may seem unrelated to living a long, healthy life, research has shown that these can be problem areas which many people, especially senior citizens, need to address.  

Quit smoking
Drink only small amounts of alcohol
Stay off stepladders and stools
Learn how to deal with stress in healthier ways
Get help with your financial problems
Don't use your phone while driving
Avoid left turns while driving
Cut back on night driving
Ride in the back third of airplanes
Wear a life jacket whenever you are in a boat
Wash your hands and avoid sick people, when possible
Be suspicious of unexpected phone calls, emails or visitors
Avoid dangerous situations by shopping during the day and parking near the entrance to businesses.  The elderly are frequently the victims of crimes, so it is wise to be cautious.

Enjoy Your Life

Finally, living a long happy life is not only about avoiding illness and dangers.  It also means finding a way for your life to include joy and meaning.  Here are some ways to make that happen:

Volunteer doing something which is meaningful to you
Socialize frequently and make new friends
Spend time with family and grandchildren
Get a hobby which engrosses you
Take classes which interest you and chat with the other students
Attend religious services

All of the above activities will bring meaning and happiness to your life and give you reasons to want to live a long life!

If you are interested in learning more about common medical problems, financial planning, Social Security, Medicare, where to retire in the US and abroad and more, use the tabs or pull-down menu at the top of the page to find links to hundreds of additional articles in this blog.

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