Weak Fitness

What is pre-diabetes?

In pre-diabetes, blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not as high as with diabetes.

Pre-Diabetes is becoming more common in the United States. As many as 50 million individuals  have pre-diabetes.

What if you’ve pre-diabetes?

Pre-diabetes increases your risk for developing Type 2 diabetes. A lot of people  with pre-diabetes create Type 2 diabetes within 10 years.

Individuals  with pre-diabetes are also at risk for developing heart illness, or having a stroke.

Diabetes can damage nearly every part of your body. It could make you blind, damage to your heart and blood vessels, or cause kidney problems, stroke, or nerve damage. For women, diabetes can complicate pregnancy.

When you’ve pre-diabetes, you can reduce your risk of developing diabetes by –  

•  Losing some weight. If you’re overweight, attempt to lose ~5% of your body weight by making small changes in your diet and getting regular physical activity. This can help to delay, or even stop you from having Type 2 diabetes.

Need some helpful tips on losing weight?

•  Speak with your healthcare team for help in losing weight.

Second-hand smoke is the smoke that is exhaled by a smoker and the smoke released from a pipe, or the burning end of a cigar or cigarette.

Second-hand smoke is a cancer causing-agent for men, women and children.

o  Second-hand smoke contains at least 60 cancer causing-substances.

o  Breathing second-hand smoke is a risk factor for the development of lung cancer.

o  Second-hand smoke is responsible for nearly 3,000 deaths each year.

o  It’s a known risk factor for cancer in the nasal sinus, lung infections and heart illness.

o  Second-hand smoke is linked with cervical cancer, breast cancer and lung cancer.

Second-hand smoke contains poisonous substances, including carbon monoxide, tar, arsenic and lead.

Chronic coughs, wheezing, chest discomfort, poorer lung function, irritation of your eye and nose, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and low birth weights are all linked to second-hand smoke.

No amount of second-hand smoke is safe.

Talk with your loved ones who smoke and encourage them to quit – for your health and theirs.

Consider wearing a mouth guard.

A mouth guard can help to protect your teeth from injury during sports.

What is a mouth guard?

A mouth guard is designed to help cushion the mouth and your teeth.  The guard typically covers the up per teeth and minimizes risk of broken teeth and injuries that can occur from broken or chipped teeth. Mouth guards range from being ready made to custom fitted.

Who ought to wear a mouth guard?

Children and adults ought to use a mouth guard.

If you participate in an activity that could cause  injury to your mouth or play contact sports – football, ice hockey, basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer or volleyball – you ought to consider wearing one.

A mouth guard can decrease the risk of mouth-related injuries to your lips, tongue and soft tissues of mouth. They also can help to avoid chipped or broken teeth, nerve damage to a tooth and even tooth loss that can result from a blow to the mouth.

Your teeth are meant to last a lifetime. Taking care and protecting your teeth can help them to stay healthy.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is also called coronary artery disease (CAD), is the most common type of heart disease.

CHD develops when one or more of the coronary arteries (arteries that supply blood to the heart muscles itself) becomes narrow. This results from a buildup of cholesterol. This buildup decreases the blood flow to the heart muscle.

What can happen?

As coronary heart illness develops, damage to the heart occurs and the following conditions may create –  

Angina

When the heart is not getting enough oxygen, a person may feel pain or discomfort in the chest. This is known as angina. Signs of angina include –  

•  Discomfort or pressure felt in the chest.

This can range from a vague ache to a crushing sensation.

•  Pain or pressure in the left arm, shoulder, or throat.

•  Difficulty catching your breath.

Heart Failure

Heart failure occurs when a weakened heart cannot pump efficiently. Fluid builds up in the ankles, legs, and lungs.

Heart Attack

If blood flow to any part of the heart is completely blocked, the cells in that part of the heart start to die. This causes a heart attack. Signs of a heart attack can include –  

o  Pain or pressure in the chest, shoulders or arms (most commonly on the left side), neck or lower jaw

o  Shortness of breath

o  Weakness

o  Rapid heart beat

o  Lightheadedness or faintness

o  Profuse sweating

o  Nausea or vomiting

When these signs occur, get help fast.  Call 911 right away.

Adults in their 40’s can have a slow loss in being able to see small objects or print. They also have trouble seeing things close-up. This is known as far-sightedness or presbyopia. It might be easier to read print if you hold reading materials further away. “Reading” glasses can help.

Another change related to age is cataracts. A cataract is a cloudy area in eye lens. This causes loss of eyesight. Cataracts are easily detected with a routine eye exam. Cataracts can be removed with surgery. Surgery could  be needed if these changes in vision interfere with every day activities.

As you age, you’re less able to make tears and your eyes may feel dry, itchy or burning. A home humidifier or special eye drops may help. Speak with your eye care provider about what would be best for you.

Over time, when glaucoma is not treated, it can result in loss of vision or blindness.  The risk of glaucoma increases when you’re over 65 years of age or an African American over 40. Glaucoma may not have any signs. It’s detected with an eye exam. There are many treatments for glaucoma ranging from eye drops to surgery.

See an eye care professional immediately when –  

•  you suddenly cannot see

•  vision is dim, or

•  you see flashes of light

You also need to be seen when you experience –  

•  eye pain,

•  fluid coming from eye,

•  double vision, redness or

•  swelling of eyelid

And remember… when you are outdoors, wear sunglasses that block UV rays.

The tetanus / diphtheria / pertussis shot (Tdap) protects against three serious diseases.

Tetanus also known as ‘lockjaw’ is a serious illness. People  with Tetanus usually have painful tightening of the jaw and neck muscles. As a result, they can’t open their mouths or swallow. Tetanus does not spread from person to person. People  get tetanus when their skin is cut or broken, in particular if they’re around dust, soil and manure.

Diphtheria is a very serious infection of the upper chest.  The infection can lead to breathing problems, heart failure, paralysis and even death. A individuals who’s diphtheria can give it to somebody else by coughing. Today, hardly whoever in the United States  gets diphtheria because almost everybody gets the vaccine (shot).

Pertussis (whooping cough) is an infection of the chest that causes individuals  to cough very hard for a long time. Sometimes individuals  cough so hard they break a rib. A individuals with whooping cough also has trouble breathing. Whooping cough can lead to pneumonia. Whooping cough spreads easily from one individuals to another.

The Tdap shot is the best way to protect against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough. When you’re between 19 – 64 years old, you should get the Tdap shot one time. When it’s time for you to get your tetanus diphtheria booster shot, that’s a good time to get the Tdap shot instead. Your provider may recommend Tdap as soon as 2 years from your last tetanus/diphtheria booster because Tdap also protects you against whooping cough.

After you get Tdap shot, your skin may  be sore where the needle went in.

The warmer weather brings us outdoors also brings some unwanted “guests”. Here are some helpful hints to prevent being bit by a tick.

Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) are common in the United States. Both are the result from a Tick bite.

Ticks are typically harmless, unless the tick is infected.  The tick that causes Lyme disease is the Black-legged Deer Tick. It’s the size of the head of a pin and typically lives on deer.  The American dog tick and the Rocky Mountain wood tick are the ticks that cause RMSF.

Here are some ways to protect yourself from ticks –  

•  Apply insect repellant. Make certain to use a repellant that contains DEET to exposed skin. Remember to read the product’s instructions before use.

•  Avoid wooded areas and areas with high grass and with lots of litter. Ticks are found in these areas.

•  Wear long-pants, long-sleeves and sock when you’re going to be in wooded areas. Tuck your clothing –  pants into socks; shirts into pants. This will help to keep ticks on the outside of clothing.

•  Stay in the middle of trails to avoid contact with high grass, bushes and leaf litter.

•  Be sure to take extra care in the months of May, June and July. Ticks are most active these months.

•  Remove outer clothing before coming indoors.

•  Be certain to check yourself daily for the presence of ticks.

•  Remove ticks using a pair of tweezers. When you find a tick, remove it using tweezers. Dispose of the tick in a plastic bag.

•  Cleanse the area where the tick was with an antiseptic.

Remember –  Ordinarily, a tick needs to be on the skin for about 36 hours or more for it to spread Lyme disease or RMSF.

Notify your main care provider if create a fever, nausea, muscle aches, headache, loss of appetite and/or a rash after a tick bite.

Measles, Mumps and Rubella (German measles) are each caused by a virus. These illnesses are highly contagious. They are spread by coughing, sneezing, or drinking from the same cup or using the same fork or spoon as someone who has one of these illnesses.

•  Someone with the measles will have a rash, cough, runny nose, runny eyes and fever.  The illness can result in more serious problems like ear infections or pneumonia. Sometimes, it can even cause seizures and brain damage.

•  Someone with the mumps will have a rash, fever and swollen glands in the cheeks and neck. It can also lead to more serious problems, like deafness, meningitis, or painful swelling of the testicles or ovaries.

•  Rubella signs are a rash and mild fever. When a pregnant woman gets rubella, she may lose the baby or it may be born with a birth defect.

The MMR vaccine protects against all of these diseases.

Consult with your main care provider about the MMR vaccine when you –  

•  Were born after 1957 and don’t have proof of vaccination as a child.

•  Are a female old enough to become pregnant.

•  Were vaccinated for measles before 1968.

•  Plan to travel outside the U.S.

•  Be sure to work in a healthcare facility

After the shot, you might experience some soreness where the needle went in, fever or a mild rash.

You don’t need the MMR vaccine if –  

•  You were born before 1957.

•  Blood tests show that you have protection against measles, mumps and rubella.

When you eat, your body turns some food into a sugar called glucose.  The cells that make up your body need this glucose to give you energy. Your body also makes insulin. Insulin assists glucose get into your cells. Type 2 diabetes is a illness where your body does not use insulin well or does not make enough insulin. Additionally, the glucose can’t get into your cells. It stays in your blood, while your cells are starved for energy.  The high levels of glucose in your blood damage nerves and blood vessels. This could cause  heart illness, eye illness, kidney illness, and nerve problems. These problems can lead to heart attacks, stroke, blindness, amputation, and dialysis.

How can you tell if you have type 2 diabetes?

More than six million people  in the United States have Type 2 diabetes and do not know it. You mightn’t have any signs. Or, your signs could  be so mild that you do not even notice them.

You might’ve diabetes if you –  

o  Are thirsty most of the time

o  Are hungry even though you eat enough

o  Are tired all the time

o  Need to urinate a lot

o  Notice that things look blurry

o  Make sure to get a sore that does not heal

Sometimes individuals  have symptoms but do not think they have diabetes.  The earlier you find out that you have diabetes, the better. Treatment can stop diabetes from damaging your body. If you have symptoms that you think might  be related to diabetes, consult with your physician.

How can Type 2 diabetes be prevented?

Make these changes to help reduce the risk of getting diabetes –  

o  Reach and maintain a healthy body weight

o  Make wise food options

o  Be physically active every day

Good stress or bad stress, it is something that we experience every day.

The good news….you can help prevent everyday goings-on from causing undue stress.

Here are some things to do –  

•  Make sure to set realistic goals both at work and at home.

•  Make sure to look at the large picture and put things into perspective.

•  Make a plan for dealing with the problem.

•  Manage tasks or projects by breaking into smaller more doable steps.

•  Do not “sweat the small stuff”.

•  When something is not important, try to not get upset over it.

•  Be sure to help yourself –

o  Think about a stress management class.

o  Consider a time management class.

•  Find activities you enjoy and take part in them on a regular basis.

•  Be physically active.

•  Be certain to maintain a positive outlook.

Change your thinking –

When you are doing something new – think of it as an exciting opportunity

•  Task seems too hard – attempt a different tactic

•  Not enough time – reorder your priorities

•  Not enough resources – is not this a great time to get those creative juices flowing

Reward yourself for the good things you do each day