Washing for Prevention
 
Did you know that viruses and bacteria can live up to two hours (or more) on doorknobs, tables, desks and other surfaces that schoolchildren touch? One way to prevent the spread of germs among children is to encourage them to wash their hands with soap and warm water, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For those times when soap and water aren't feasible, have disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers handy. The gel should be rubbed on the hands until it is dry.
A Hand-Washing Checklist
 
Check your hand-washing technique against this advice from experts:
Wash in warm or hot running water. Hot water is much more effective than cold at dissolving materials, such as oils, on your skin's surface. But simply running water over your hands is not enough.
Use soap. Soap works to break up and dissolve the substances -- primarily mucus, fecal material and food residue -- that likely contain disease-causing germs. Although your hands harbor millions of bacteria, the dangerous ones arrive in these materials.
Rub your lathered hands together for about 15 seconds. The rubbing action helps to further loosen any material still adhering to the skin.
Start Moving
The risk for heart disease is 1.5 to 2.4 times greater for people who are sedentary, compared with people who are physically active, according to the American Heart Association. The increased risk for heart disease by being sedentary is comparable to the increased risk because of high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure and cigarette smoking.
Smoking Deadlier Than Suspected
 
Smoking is bad for your health: It can cause lung cancer, emphysema and heart disease, among other health problems. That's not news. What is news, is that smoking contributes to a host of other diseases, as well: cataracts, acute myeloid leukemia and cancers of the cervix, kidney, pancreas and stomach, according to the U.S. Surgeon General. Smoking kills about 440,000 Americans each year.
Excess Weight and Health Problems
 
Being overweight can lead to a number of health problems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These health problems include:
Heart disease
Stroke
Diabetes
Cancer
Gallbladder disease
Sleep apnea
Osteoarthritis
Fatty Acids and Heart Health
 
Consuming 1 gram of the fatty acids EPA and DHA every day can keep the heart from lapsing into erratic rhythms, says the American Heart Association. This will make blood clots less likely to form and lower blood levels of triglycerides. You can get the fatty acids from eating plenty of fish or by taking fish oil supplements.
Healthy Eyes
 
Eye diseases may seem to be only a problem for older adults, but young and middle-aged adults also may be affected by them. All adults should have a complete eye exam at least once between the ages of 20 and 29, at least twice between the ages of 30 and 39, and every two to four years between the ages of 40 and 65, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. People older than 65 should have their eyes examined every one to two years. People with diabetes should have an eye exam every six months to a year, or as recommended by their ophthalmologist.
Babying Your Eyes
 
If you have to be on the road for a long trip, keep in mind that hours of staring at the road can irritate your eyes. If your eyes become strained and dry, insert a few drops of artificial tears to soothe and refresh them, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Spotty and blurry vision can occur after many miles of driving. Take a break and use artificial tears to clear your vision.
Easing Computer Eyestrain
 
The following exercises can relieve eyestrain caused by working at a computer. Sit comfortably with your back and neck straight but not stiff. Start by holding each posture for a few minutes; gradually increase the time.
Without blinking, focus your gaze on the tip of your nose. Remain focused as long as you can, then close your eyes and relax.
Again, without blinking, focus on the area between the eyebrows above your nose. Then close your eyes and relax.
Without turning your head, focus both eyes on your left shoulder as long as you can. Then close your eyes and relax. Repeat this sequence with the right shoulder.
Rub your hands together and then place the palms of your hands on your closed eyes when you're finished.
Diabetes and High Blood Pressure
 
Having diabetes as well as high blood pressure dramatically increases the risk for having a silent stroke, according to the American Stroke Association. This, in turn, can increase the risk for having a regular stroke. People with high blood pressure and diabetes need to control these chronic conditions to reduce their future stroke risk.
Diagnosing Diabetes
 
Because the symptoms of diabetes may be subtle, many people with this disease aren't aware they have it. A dentist may be the first to diagnosis diabetes, according to the Academy of General Dentistry. Because of high glucose levels, people with diabetes often have problems with their teeth and gums; increased glucose helps bacteria thrive. Oral symptoms related to diabetes include chronic bad breath, gum disease and sore or loose teeth.
Diabetes Costs Are Soaring
Diabetes Costs Are Soaring
Diabetes costs $132 billion a year in medical costs and lost productivity, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) found in a 2003 study. Those costs have gone up 35 percent since 1997. Medical costs for people with diabetes are about 2.4 times higher than those of people who don't have diabetes. Possible solutions: Better access to preventive care, more widespread diagnosis, better disease management and new medical technologies.
Avoid Alcohol When Planning Pregnancy
Avoid Alcohol When Planning Pregnancy
Women who are planning to become pregnant should not drink alcoholic beverages. That's because it can take four to six weeks before a woman knows she is pregnant. Those early weeks of pregnancy are critical for fetal development, and alcohol can have a profound effect. Fetal alcohol syndrome is the leading preventable cause of mental retardation, according to the March of Dimes.
Help Prevent Listeriosis During Pregnancy
Health Tip: Help Prevent Listeriosis During Pregnancy
(HealthDay News) -- Listeriosis is a bacterial infection that's contracted from contaminated food or drink. The infection can cause serious effects for a pregnant woman and her growing fetus, including miscarriage or early delivery.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture offers this advice about how pregnant women can reduce their risk of contracting listeriosis:
Avoid eating processed meats such as hot dogs and deli or lunch meats, unless you heat them in the microwave or regular oven until steaming.
Avoid meat spreads, smoked seafoods and pate that require refrigeration.
Don't drink unpasteurized (sometimes called raw) milk or foods made with this ingredient. Cheeses that say "made with pasteurized milk" are OK.
Avoid store-bought pre-made ham salad, chicken salad, egg salad, tuna salad and seafood salad.
Pregnancy and Medications
Pregnancy and Medications
Talk to your doctor before using any medication while you're pregnant. More than 90 percent of prescriptions that have come on the market since 1980 haven't been adequately screened to ensure they don't cause birth defects, according to a report in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.