Your Check-Up Checklist

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Here is a really nice checklist to refer to before your doctor's visit. It is worth printing and sticking on your medical file! Why not get the most from your health check?

Before the visit:

• Complete a copy of the Healthwise Self-Care Checklist and take it with you.
• Take a list of any medications you are currently taking.
• If you have seen a doctor before for a similar problem, take the record from the visit with you.

During the visit:

• State your main problem first.
• Describe your symptoms (use the Healthwise Self-Care Checklist).
• Describe your past experiences with the same problem.

After the visit, write down:

• What's wrong.
• What might happen next.
• What you can do at home.

For medications, tests, and treatments, you may want to ask:

• What's the name of the medication (or test, or procedure)?
• Why do I need it?
• What are the risks?
• Are there alternatives?
• What happens if I do nothing?
• (For medications) How do I take this?
• (For tests) How do I prepare?

At the end of the visit, ask:

• Do I need to return for another visit?
• Can I phone in for test results?
• What danger signs should I look for?
• When do I need to report back about my condition?
• What else do I need to know?

Thank you, WebMD

More Fruits, More Veg, Less Disease!

According to WebMD, people who eat more fruits and vegetables as part of an overall healthy diet are likely to have a reduced risk of some chronic diseases. Vegetables provide nutrients vital for maintaining a healthy body. Here are 4 quick tips for getting eating more vegetables:

• Buy fresh vegetables in season. They cost less and taste better.
• Buy vegetables that are quick to prepare. Pick up pre-washed bags of salad greens and add baby carrots and grape tomatoes for a simple salad.
• Stock up on frozen vegetables for quick and easy cooking in the microwave.

 

Peas - Amazing Benefits

Peas are members of the Pea Family, making them relatives of beans and peanuts.

Peas are considered alkaline, neutral in temperature, moistening and sweet.

They:

• help tone the liver, spleen, pancreas, and stomach
• help reduce the risk of heart disease
• stabilize blood sugar levels
  
• help strengthen the stomach

Peas have been used to relieve anemia, boils, and high cholesterol, constipation,
coughs, diabetes, hypoglycemia, edema, coughs, spasms, and ulcer pain.

Swine flu factfile - Facts

Swine flu factfile - Facts

The facts on swine flu:

WHAT IS IT?
Swine influenza is a common and sometimes fatal respiratory disease
among pigs, first identified in 1930, that is caused by a Type A
influenza virus. Normally the disease is specific only to pigs. But
sometimes pigs can harbour more than one flu virus at one time, which
enables the pathogens to mix genes. As a result, a new viral strain
emerges that can cross the species barrier to humans, starting with
people in contact with infected pigs. The latest threat is a strain of
the H1N1 type of flu virus.

WHY THE ALARM?

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says the virus can be contagious
among humans in close contact and the outbreak has "pandemic
potential," meaning there is risk of a spread across regions or
continents. In the past century, novel flu viruses have killed tens of
millions of people and cost billions of dollars in economic costs.
Worries about a new pandemic have focused in recent years on the H5N1
strain of bird flu, which has killed around 250 people since 2003,
mainly in Southeast Asia. But H5N1 is hard to transmit among humans,
and its threat has been contained by culling infected poultry.

WHAT ABOUT THE UNKNOWNS?
Experts insist there is no certainty that a pandemic will happen or if
so that it will be a mass killer. There are many unknowns about the
new strain, especially how easily it spreads between people, how
virulent it is or could become. Figuring this out will be the work of
gene scientists and epidemiologists.

WHICH COUNTRIES ARE MOST AFFECTED?
Mexico is the epicentre of the outbreak, with 103 confirmed and
suspected deaths as of Monday and about 400 people hospitalised. In 10
other countries, there have been 57 confirmed or suspected cases, none
of them fatal, among people returning from Mexico. The United States
has had 20 confirmed cases, Canada six confirmed cases and Spain one
case. Several countries from Colombia to New Zealand are investigating
suspected cases.

HOW DOES THE VIRUS SPREAD?
Swine flu is thought to spread like typical flu, i.e. in viral
particles expelled in coughs and sneezes that are then breathed in by
someone nearby, or deposited on surfaces that are then touched by the
hand and transmitted to the mouth, nose or eyes. People with the virus
may be able to infect others beginning a day before symptoms develop,
and up to seven days or more after becoming sick. Young children may
be contagious for somewhat longer.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
Sudden fever above 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit),
cough, headache, aching joints, nasal congestion, general fatigue and
lack of appetite. Some people who have contracted the virus report
runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. In past cases,
swine flu has caused pneumonia and respiratory failure and worsened
chronic medical conditions.

HAVE THERE BEEN OUTBREAKS IN THE PAST?
From December 2005 through February 2009, only 12 cases of swine flu
were reported in the United States. In 1988 a pregnant woman died
after contact with sick pigs. In 1976, swine flu at an US military
base at Fort Dix, New Jersey killed one soldier. Four were
hospitalized with pneumonia. At first, experts feared the strain was
related to the Spanish Flu of 1918, which killed millions, but the
strain never spread beyond the base.

WHAT TREATMENTS ARE AVAILABLE?
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends
oseltamivir (marketed as Tamiflu) and zanamivir (marketed as Relenza)
for treating or preventing infection. These drugs work by preventing
the virus from reproducing. Most of the previously reported swine flu
cases have recovered fully without requiring medical attention and
without antiviral medicines.

IS THERE A SWINE FLU VACCINE?
There is a vaccine for pigs, but not for humans. It is unclear whether
current "seasonal" vaccines, designed to combat smaller genetic shifts
in major strains of flu virus that are in circulation, may provide a
shield.

WHAT ARE THE PREVENTATIVE MEASURES?
Public health authorities in many countries have installed classic
control measures, screening points of entry and isolating people
suspected to have fallen ill. Mexico has ordered the closure of
schools and cancelled public gatherings. Individuals can wear a face
mask, avoid greeting someone with a kiss or a handshake, wash their
hands frequently and clean commonly-touched surfaces such as
telephones, door handles, tables and lift buttons.

CAN SWINE FLU BE CAUGHT FROM EATING PORK?
No. The virus is respiratory, and not transmitted by food. Cooking
pork to an internal temperature of 71 F (160 C) kills viruses and
bacteria.

SOURCES: WHO, the US CDC, European Centre for Disease Prevention and
Control (ECDC), French Ministry of health

4 tips to healthy nails

It can feel great to show off a healthy and pretty set of nails. After all, they are the crowning glory of your fingers that are visible most of the times. The good news is - you don't really have to run off to the salon to groom, shape or polish your nails - because you can do it at home. Here are some tips:

1. Clean your nails - gently

When you shower every day, scrub around and under the tips of your finger nails and toe nails with a clean nail brush. Get rid of the yellowish cellular debris on the nails with your loofah. Remember to clean your nail cleaning tools every day with soap!

After cleaning, dry your nails and apply an all natural cuticle cream to prevent hard skin from forming, keeping your nails shiny and healthy.

2. Feed your nails

Nail health is maintained by three important minerals and these are zinc, copper and silica - whose antioxidant properties can protect your nails from damage. They also support tissue growth and make your nails long and strong.

Good sources of copper are seafood, nuts, legumes, chocolate, bran cereals, fruits, vegetables, and blackstrap molasses. You may also like to supplement with 2-3 mg of copper per day.

You can get zinc by including these in your diet: wheat germ, oysters, pumpkin seeds, chicken, eggs, and fish. Zinc supplements up to 15 mg per day is recommended.

Silica is well known as a natural remedy for strong, healthy nails. Prevent dull and brittle nails through silica rich foods like sprouts, bell peppers, cucumbers, and potato skins. If you want to take a supplement - go for 25-50 mg per day.

3. A quick manicure

Choose a good quality nail cream with essential oils. Gently rub some on to your hands and nails, exfoliating and hydrating them. Don't forget your feet.

4. Polish your nails

The last step is to apply a coat of your favorite color. Start with a clear base coat then two thin coats of color and then a top clear coat that will protect your nails.

If you follow the above regimen, you too can enjoy healthy nails!

5 cooking oil tips you MUST know

Health is important. If you think you can cut costs by re-using cooking oil in your kitchen, then think again. Why? Because re-used oil has varnish-like compounds in it that can expose you to many health risks like cancer and heart disease. Then imagine the medical expense!

Here are some cooking oil tips:

1. It is worth it to buy the best quality cooking oil that you can afford
2. If you are frying chips, soak the raw chips in water and pat them completely dry
before you fry. This will delay the oxidation of oil and protect you from the
harmful effects of the resulting substances.
3. Always filter oil after you use it to remove pieces of food
4. Always store oil in a closed container in a cool dry place
5. If the oil is brownish and smelly, or tastes unpleasant, simply throw it away.

6 reasons why you should watch your diet.

Are you on the right diet? Why should you monitor your diet?

For one thing, if your doctor has warned you about any health problems or risk factors that can be controlled or resolved with a better diet, then you MUST assess your diet. Which conditions can you improve with a proper diet? Read on:

1. ~ High blood pressure
2. ~ High cholesterol
3. ~ Where there is a family history of heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes or cancer
4. ~ Obesity or overweight conditions
5. ~ If you have doubts about the foods you eat
6. ~ If you need to take vitamins and other supplements.